Dully, head throbbing, Jarl remembered _rey_ Gundre's mad, unexplained rush. Now it needed no explanation. Outside, someone was pounding on the door. Dim sounds of tumult sifted through the portal. So the guards had come already.... Struggling to his feet again, Jarl made his way to the viziscreen. He had lost all track of time. He half expected to find Ceres already blasted, broken. It still was there. But the clustered pinpoints that were the Federation fleet had begun converging high above, readying for the final plunge. With trembling fingers, Jarl set a cross for the lead ship; switched on the communicator unit. Harshly, in _rey_ Gundre's name, he rasped out orders. The wheeling ships veered; peeled off on a different course. Ceres was saved. Jarl sagged against the screen. He felt incredibly old, incredibly weary. The pounding on the door grew louder. Jarl thought: _Another minute and they'll break in_.... And he would die. * * * * * Only all at once, he didn't care. His job was done. What difference did it make, what happened now? His only regret was that Ylana would never know that at the last, when the crisis came, her father had broken clean and died to save him. And Sais.... What things had been in her mind when she raised that blaster to try to kill the man she claimed to love? It was strange, though: he felt no hatred towards her. But, neither did he feel love, or sorrow, or pity. It was as if she were an utter stranger, some passer-by he'd never known. So different from Ylana.... Ylana the golden. He spoke her name aloud, and liked its sound. Ylana the golden. Red lips, grey eyes, and rippling hair. Such queer things to be thinking about at a time like this. But then, his whole state of mind just now was somewhat queer. Out in the hall, some heavy object smashed against the door. Soon, he knew the panel would crash down. Why wait for it? Why not go out and meet death as a raider should? Jarl laughed drunkenly. Reeling, he stumbled to the door; with a clumsy jerk threw back the bolt and braced himself to take the blasts. Then the door burst open. Beings of half-a-dozen planets charged in upon him--and Big Ungo of Jupiter was in their van. Jarl knew then that this was a nightmare--the delirium of a fevered, over-weary brain. He closed his eyes and let himself go limp; slumped to the floor. But when he looked up again, Ungo was still there, and now Ylana, too, knelt beside him, whispering, "Jarl--! Jarl Corvett...." while the red lips quivered and tears spilled from the cool grey eyes. Ungo said: "She made us come, Jarl--all of us that were left from Bor Legat's ships. With her to talk for us, we didn't even have to fight to get in here." "You're lying!" Jarl accused him, twisting as pain stabbed along his wounded side. "You're not here. I'm just dreaming. When I wake up, if I'm not dead, you'll all be gone."