She looked at him oddly. "He was wrecked on Stormland. I rescued him from the storm. He stays here, seeking the secret of what causes the Change to come across my world. With it he says he can go out into his own land and be a king. He wants me to help him." "And?" Althaya shuddered. "I am afraid of him. He is hard. Ruthless. I have watched you. You can be a hard man, too. If you and I were to learn the secret of the Force--instead of Black Randolph--" The Viking throwback laughed. "What you mean to say, beautiful, is that you think I'd be easier to manage than Black Randolph--once we got to be kings." She slapped him hard across the face, and her face writhed in passion. She whispered, "For that you'll go to my torture-knives, you _passat_!" Grim laughed, "Don't play it so thick, Red. A woman only gets as mad as that when a man turns her down because she isn't intriguing enough--not because he won't go spacebad with her." Althaya laughed harshly. Her green eyes approved him. Her bare shoulders lifted casually. Grim said, "But while we're on the subject, what _is_ the force that makes the change?" "Kohonnes does it. He is the god of all this world." "Is he a man? A beast? What?" She shook her red head. "Kohonnes is made of metal. He has a thousand eyes that glow. He--" "A machine," mused Grim. "But what kind of a machine does what this one will? And--who operates it?" "Kohonnes. I do not know what a machine is, but Kohonnes is the All. He--" Grim laughed, "How do you intend to steal a god?" Althaya looked troubled. She said, "Black Randolph will know ... and that reminds me. He will want to see you." * * * * * Black Randolph went hysterical when he saw Grim. He threw back his head and roared. He slapped his hand against his thigh, making a sharp, flat sound. Tears of mirth sprang from his deep-sunk eyes. He came across the tiled floor of the room to stand spraddle-legged before Grim, hands slammed into lean hips. His thin lips twitched amusedly. "So you found me at last, Thorssen! You've come to the end of your eight-year trail. Congratulations! Too bad you aren't going back to Unions Council. You could tell 'em you're the only Fleet man ever to meet Black Randolph face to face." Fury and hate seethed in the man's face. He brought his hard palm flat against Grim's cheek. "For eight years you've hounded me, Thorssen. You never caught me, but you smashed my empire. One by one--from Antares to Betelgeuse--you got my best men. But you'll suffer for it. Oh Lord, how you'll suffer!" Black Randolph's eyes flickered when they brought Tlokine in. He grinned at her, running his eyes over her lissome body. He chuckled, "Too bad she has to go on your altar, Red. I could use that myself." Althaya went white. She whispered sibilantly, "My patience is strained already. See that you don't test it further."