Above all, was he never to know the truth as to Eileen's fate? Did this mark the end of his last dim chance to save her? For all illusion had died in him. Whatever else might be, there was no mercy in Martin Krobis. Ego, vengeance, ambition--those were the man's three key dynamics. Nothing else mattered to him; not truth, nor justice, nor even the life of Eileen Rey. He'd laugh at theories ... gloat over his triumphs ... sacrifice the rest of the human race if need be for the sake of the Cartel and his own fame and power. "Get moving," the guard clipped. "We're going in." Wearily, Boone turned and stumbled down the slope through the brush towards the ramped carrier. But for all despair, fatigue, a spark still burned within him. Krobis must not win! He must not! Ahead, the ground fell away more sharply; and there were trees and bushes, saplings. With cold deliberation, Boone tripped--pitched forward--let himself fall headlong. But as he fell, he caught the limb of a slender treelet. It bent almost double. Prone now, Boone clung to it. The guard ran to him, blaster ready. "Get up, you!" Face a mask of wary menace, he stepped closer. Too close. Boone let go of the limb. The treelet snapped back. Branches slashed into the guard's face. Out of reserves he had not known existed, Boone drew strength to hurl himself into spasmodic action. He twisted, kicked for the guard's legs with all his might. The man went down with a hoarse, choked shout. Boone lurched down upon him. His elbow smashed at the other's temple. The guard sagged, glaze-eyed and groggy. Snatching up the blaster, Boone hit his adversary with the butt, a savage blow. The guard went limp, unconscious. Sick, sobbing for breath, Boone slumped beside him. But only for a moment. Then, rallying, he fumbled the rations from the other's belt-case, gulping down the concentrates in great, gagging, half-chewed bites. His protesting stomach writhed. For long seconds he thought he was going to vomit. But that, too, passed. The sugars, the ectoids, began to reach his bloodstream. Strength came with them. Tight-lipped, clutching the blaster, Boone began the long, weary climb back up the hill. ... Back, and beyond, to the strange, domed city of the Helgae ... and to Eileen Rey.... CHAPTER VII He saw the light-shafts first--two glowing cones of color that speared down from a single halo-source high in this vastest of all the bubble-chambers. The beam on the left shone rich with hues of deepest purple. The other, the one on the right, shimmered golden as Earth's September sun. Numb, wordless, Boone moved forward with unsteady steps. Now he saw the cones' bases as well as source; and all at once his heart was pounding, pounding, till he thought that it must surely burst. For each light played on a separate transparent sphere that floated, somehow invisibly suspended, at eye-level in the bubble-room.