I clutched my weapon, with its lever adjusted to give the stabbing flash. It seemed to aim readily, very much like an automatic. There was a reassuring security in the feel of it. At a hundred feet I could drill any one we might come upon. There were inner doors to rooms in this courtyard wall. We crept upon them one by one; flung them open, tense to meet what might be within. All were empty. Small empty rooms, with evidence of the Gian garrison here hastily departed. We passed the inner wall door. No one here. We climbed the long metal ladder up the cliff-face to the gate-house. I led, with Tad next. “Easy, Jeff! Hang on--don’t get dizzy. By the infernal, what a place!” The ladder seemed to sway under us. In spite of all my flying experience, I found myself clinging, with senses whirling for a moment. It seemed that ladder was a spider web hanging over the chaos of water. The white turmoil of spume engulfed us. A slow, patient climb. We stood at last on a small metal grid, the platform at the top of the ladder. The gate-house door was ajar. Tad gripped me as we braced ourselves in the wind. “You’ve kept the projector dry?” “Yes.” I had shielded it with a fold of my robe. He gestured. “I’ll shove the door, Jeff. We’ll rush in together. Get back, Entt. Ready, Jeff?” “No! Stoop here, on one side. I’ll kick it open. We’ll wait and see--” With my foot I swung the door inward. We crouched to one side. Nothing came out, nor was there any sign of movement in there. Weapon ready, I advanced to where I could see all the room. A square metal apartment of perhaps twenty feet, it seemed to occupy the entire little house. One window was here beside the door, another window faced the maelstrom of the dam. A bunk, a few pieces of furniture. A table near the farther window held a square metal tablet, no larger than my chest. The dim interior light shone on it; switches and wires; dials; a glowing bowl of radiance, like the fluorescence of an atomic tube. The gate mechanism! My heart pounded as I gazed at it. This little thing--diabolical! But Entt knew how to operate it. A minute now and we would start it closing the great gates. We advanced into the room, cautiously, then with a rush. I whirled with my weapon ready. Tad stood alert, tense, his eyes roving every corner. Entt dashed for the mechanism, and hastily seated himself at the table. * * * * * There was a movement behind me! In the outer doorway stood Rhana! She flung off a long, wet cloak. “So? You did come?” She advanced a step and then leaped for Entt. A panther’s leap! I met it with the stabbing light of my weapon; caught the sheathlike shield of her body; struck her full. There was a flare--a wave of vibration came surging back at me. She was unharmed. A glow was around her; it streamed like a mantle down from her headdress. Her leap carried her to Entt. He rose up, was caught half turning. And then he crumpled, slumped and fell at her feet.