George closed his eyes thoughtfully and rocked back on his heels. There was a moment of tense silence as he swayed forward. "Okay!" he said. "It's a deal. Not that I have any particular feeling one way or another about this city of yours. Actually, I'm only doing it as a personal favor to you. After all, I can understand why you don't want to move on to the next world to make room for someone else. It takes time to get adjusted to the idea that...." "Stop orating," Toffee put in harshly. "If you're going to let us loose, you ghoul, then do it." "Hurry, George!" Marc said. Happily George went about the business of releasing first Marc, and then Toffee. "Now don't try any funny stuff," he said to Marc. "Remember you made a bargain." "I won't," Marc promised gravely. "Good!" George said. "I've been dying to use that catapult anyway." He chuckled softly. "You'll die when I do. Isn't that funny?" "Screaming," Toffee said, and followed Marc as he moved swiftly into the shadows. They crept quietly forward to a position behind an enormous dynamo. Marc stopped and peered around. A few yards away, the Blemishes toiled with the enormous bomb, adjusting it to the catapult, getting it ready to be fired. They paused briefly in their activities. "Is it time yet?" Gerald asked excitedly. Cecil consulted his watch. "A quarter after eight," he said. "Just fifteen minutes to go." "I can't wait," Gerald said. Toffee moved closer to Marc and put her hand on his arm. "You aren't really going through with that deal, are you?" she asked. "With George, I mean?" "I don't see how I can avoid it," Marc said. He nodded over his shoulder toward George, who was watching them from a close distance. "He isn't letting me out of his sight for a second. I'm so weak now from lack of sleep and food, I may not even be able to handle those two out there. Then too, if it weren't for George, we'd still be helpless." "There must be some way out of all this," Toffee said miserably. * * * * * Marc turned to her for a moment, his eyes clinging worriedly to hers. "I only hate doing this to you," he said. "I know you'll go when I do, and I can't really believe you aren't completely real any more. Sometimes, I feel that I've known you for years and years." "You have," Toffee said softly. "You have." Then, boosting herself to the tips of her toes, she reached up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "It's all right. Do what you have to. I'll help if I can." "I'm sorry," Marc said. They waited a bit longer. Marc glanced around for a weapon and found the length of pipe Toffee had given him the night before. He picked it up and moved cautiously to the edge of the dynamo. The rain sounded ragingly against the metal coverings over the turrets. He watched the demented brothers until their backs were turned toward him, then sprang forward.