I think they indicated that they knew the truth of that, and Gederr knew it, too. At any rate, he moved boldly to reestablish his influence. "I'll prove he lies! I hide nowhere!" The words fairly rang out. "Retreat, quickly, to the positions behind. Leave me to face him." * * * * * They fell back, quickly and orderly. Of a sudden I found myself in that big cave, and Gederr before me, no more than twenty paces distant. He held his ray-saber, glowing and ready, in his right hand. In his left was some sort of silvery cylinder. He grinned murderously. "You offer yourself as a sacrifice," he said, "and I accept you." I moved toward him, my body in line with the glare-field. "You overgrown bully-swordsman," he taunted. "An ounce of my brain can defeat a ton of your big lumpy muscles." "Explode the mine," I said. "It will take us both. You can't retreat out of both my reach and the explosion's." "Can't I?" He held up his cylinder. "Here's the fuse. By remote control it can set off all, or any part I select. Understand before you die, Barak. I'll blow up a small area, and you with it, as soon as you set foot where I want." His broad face sniggered. "Oh, you've played into my hands from the first! You tried to disrupt--you only gave me an excuse to wipe out the rest of that Council, and take all power for myself. Now I'll kill you. Will you come on? Or retreat, and die as you flee? Or just stand there, like a captive statue?" I continued my advance upon him. "You're lying," I said, but my heart told me that for once he was not. "Your life is in my hands," he said. "You don't know what moment will see your own feet carrying you to your death. Come, pursue me, brave Barak, stupid Barak. Let your last thought be this--your death helps me immeasurably." "You're lying," I said again, and he laughed again. "Reflect. Let your thick skull filter these facts. I shall destroy you. To my followers I will be a hero. Your own Newcomers will pause and wonder. I can re-order my defenses, and most of the planted mines will remain to check any advance--" Forgetting all caution, all planning, I charged him. He turned and ran like Dondromogon's outer winds. But I had taken no more than half a dozen steps in pursuit when all the thunders and lightnings of the universe seemed to burst around me. I fell, swiftly and deeply, into black nothingness. * * * * * I was able to establish which way was up, which down, and that I lay horizontally, as if floating in liquid or upon clouds. My ears hummed a trifle, and a voice spoke. "He will be all right." Dr. Thorald! I opened my eyes, and they were blurred. I lifted a hand to them, and moaned despite myself. "Were you killed, too?" I muttered.