Beyond Pluto, dark worlds Stuart had not known. Until finally he was alone. The last of his companions had been drawn into one of the vampire alcoves of the Long Orbit. He went on. There was another recess in the wall at his left. It was filled with night. Jet blackness, cold and horrible, brimmed it. Something like an invisible current dragged him forward, though he fought with all his strength to resist. Instinctively he sent out a desperate call to the Protectors. "We cannot aid you. We must leave you ... you will die instantly." "Wait! Don't--don't give up yet! Give me your power--" "We cannot. While you wear the cloak." The edge of blackness touched Stuart with a frigid impact. He felt something, avid with horrible hunger, strain forward from of the alcove, reaching for him. The cloak billowed out-- Sweat stood out on Stuart's face. For, suddenly, he had seen the way. It might mean death, it would certainly mean frightful agony--but he could go down fighting. If the cloak could not be removed in any other way--perhaps it could be ripped off! He gripped the half-living fabric at its bottom, brought his arm behind him--and tore the horror from him! * * * * * Stark, abysmal nerve-shock poured like a current of fire up his spine and into his brain. It was like tearing off his own skin. Sick, blind, gasping dry-throated sobs, Stuart stumbled away from the black alcove, tearing at the cloak. It tried to cling to him-- He ripped it away--hurled it from him. And as it fell--it screamed! But he was free. For an instant sheer weakness overwhelmed him. Then into him poured a racing, jubilant torrent of strength, of mighty, intoxicating power that seemed to heal his wounds and revivify him instantly. Into him surged the power of the Protectors! From the alcove a finger of darkness tendrilled out. He was borne away from it ... along the passage. Dimly, through drifting mists, he sensed that he was moving up a ramp ... through a wall that seemed to grow intangible as he approached it ... up and up.... He was in the hall of the Aesir. Above him the cyclopean pillars towered, dwarfing the thrones set between them. Before him hung the shifting wall of light. He was carried toward it--through it. He stood on a black dais. Facing him was the cloaked, cowled figure he had last seen with Kari. And beside the Aesir stood Kari! The creature lifted its arm ... a red flame spouted toward Stuart. Sudden, mocking laughter spilled from his lips. He no longer fought alone. The tremendous power of the Protectors blazed within him, power and energy and force that could smash suns. In midair the fiery lance failed and died. The Aesir drew back a step, drawing its cloak about it as if in surprise. And Kari--Kari shrank back, too, and something strangely like hope flashed for a moment across her dazzling, her more than mortal loveliness. Hope? But she was of the Aesir now. And if they failed, she died. Then why--