He must smash that plan. Still empty-handed he braced his feet against the bottom and dived. The Chosen One's knife made one startled lunge and then Barry's hand caught Czerki's wrist. For a second Earthman and Venusian glowered face to face, the Venusian's expression of surprise changing to pain as Barry's Earth-trained muscles tightened. Barry clutched, digging his fingers into the tendon of Czerki's wrist. Czerki's face contorted. His free hand clawed out, but Barry caught the Chosen One's middle finger and forced it back. Joints strained and the Venusian whimpered under his breath as Barry increased the crippling pressure. The knife dropped from Czerki's numbed fingers, and then with a twist Barry brought him helpless to his knees. The faces of the watching Venusians seemed to consist almost entirely of gaping mouths and staring eyes. Barry considered the situation. Perhaps he could do more against Komso and his Chosen by discrediting and releasing this one than by killing him. "Enough?" he gritted. The Venusian nodded. "Next time you bother Xintel you die," Barry warned. Czerki got to his feet. "Look out!" Xintel screamed, just as the Chosen One's hand flashed to his belt. Barry leapt. His right hand, straight-arming, jolted the Venusian's head back, and at the same instant his left whipped a deadly palm-edge judo chop to Czerki's neck. There was a sound like the breaking of a dry twig. Czerki's body jerked once and the dart of his tube-weapon plowed into the bottom. With a gesture of revulsion the Earthman dropped the limp body and stepped back. He looked about for Komso, angry enough now to force an immediate showdown, but the priest had prudently withdrawn. Xintel took his arm and smiled proudly for all to see. "Come, Barry," she said. "It is over for now." The uneasy stares of her people followed them, and only the long-standing superstitious fear of appearing to criticise the Chosen kept them from breaking into excited comment. The stranger had not only defied a Chosen One but had killed in the manner of a Leader, with the touch of an empty hand. All knew now he did not come from another yort. And his companion was Xintel! As soon as they were alone Barry turned to the girl. "What now?" he demanded. "Next time Komso will not underestimate you." "What do you think he'll try?" Xintel frowned. "Not force. One of the secret methods which have kept the Chosen in power. Perhaps the Curse with which he killed my father." "Your father?" Barry asked. She had never spoken of her family before. The subject was obviously painful, but she forced herself to talk. * * * * *