But a misty barrier rose between them ... a barrier of heart and mind that seared like a white-hot iron: _How can I face her? What can I say, if her father dies?_ He cried aloud, a hoarse, choked cry, and Sais' face vanished. Once more, the room closed in upon him. Again he lay straining on the bunk--tasting the blood, drinking in the stink of doloid dust and _jeol_. Sais, and Wassreck. Wassreck, and Sais. He wondered if he'd ever see either of them again. Somewhere outside, a vague new stir of movement broke the stillness. Jarl stiffened. For a moment he grasped the knife. Then, relaxing, after a moment's hesitation, he slid the sleek blade out of sight beneath his leg. The sounds drew nearer; finally paused outside his cell. A blur of muffled, grumbling words seeped through the door. The bolt clicked back. It was the _ktar_, a dead-white, four-armed _kroy_ of Ganymede. Flicking on the light, adjusting the vocodor translator, the creature brushed smoothly into the room. Behind him, the _fala_ guard lounged idly back against the jamb, thumbs hooked in belt. * * * * * Jarl shifted, then lay still again, not speaking. He was thankful to Atak--thankful the _Malya_ had sent a Ganymedan _ktar_. Few were more talented or highly skilled or kind. The _ktar_ crossed to him and set down the globe that held the impedimenta of the healing craft. "How is it, raider?" Jarl grunted and lifted his shoulders a fraction in a shrug. The _ktar_ probed the cuts that gashed Jarl's back with deft, sure, pseudopodal fingers. "Nasty. That thrice-cursed _stanal_ buckle bit deep." Swiftly, he cleaned the wounds and applied the healing gel. Jarl winced and clenched his teeth. "Up, now," the _ktar_ commanded. "Let me at your face." Stiffly, Jarl twisted. Keeping the precious knife covered with his buttocks, he swung his legs to the floor and sat up. The _ktar_ worked on in silence for a time. Then, at last, he straightened. "That does it." He laughed--wry, almost bitter. "By the time you get to Venus, you'll be in the best shape to die." Picking up the globe, he pivoted and, with the peculiar floating motion of his kind, moved towards the door. Jarl gripped the haft of the telonium _skrii_. Tension came alive in him, hot and quivering. Rising from the bunk, he followed the _kroy_, holding the knife out of sight behind him. "I thank you, _ktar_...." He dared say no more for fear his voice might betray him. The Ganymedan muttered something incoherent and passed out into the hall. The _fala_ guard, in turn, planted a many-jointed arm appendage hard against Jarl's chest and roughly shoved him back. His mottled throat-sac quivered. "No farther, _chitza_!" Wordless, Jarl swayed. He made a show of cringing. The _fala_ laughed harshly. His bulging eyes flicked to the hall outside. Turning, he gripped the door-handle and started to pull the portal shut.