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Then you will be more of a help than a hindrance, I told her.
He was trying to
speak to me, but I could not understand him any morethan he could understand
me. I would kill either Jat Or or myself, she replied.
Returning to the ground,
I reported my findings to Jat Or and Zanda. I have been thinking of it, I
replied a little gloomily. When I explained this to Umka, he growled
impatiently.
If I am not your slave, she asked, what am I?
Please stay on
board, pleaded Jat Or solicitiously; but Zanda onlyshook her head.
Jat Or and I
will take care of the fighting. I should like very much to see them, I told
him. You may need an extra sword hand, she replied.
His upper mouth stretched
sideways; he cametoward me.
Imust discover if there were anyone on board. I
went to the port and looked out over his shoulder.
Her seeming convulsions had
been her struggles against these unseenassailants.
We wish tospeak to the lord
of the castle.
Scarcely ever before in my life have I felt so futile, so
impotent. The circular wall was pierced by half a dozen tall, narrow windows. I
dont like the idea of landing on a strange world at night, saidJat Or. It will
not be long now before we know our fate, I said.
I would kill either Jat Or or
myself, she replied.
I will prepare it, master, and serve you in the cabin, she
said.
Hereturned immediately with a jar of water and a bowl of food which heset
on the bench beside me.
I can tell you, he said, but that does not mean that
you will beable to see them. He seemed to derive agreat deal of pleasure from
this, as he purred constantly.
It never quite succeeded, however, asmy
cell-mate always withdrew his finger in time.
It looks as though our adventure
on Thuria might be short-lived, hesaid.
Jat Or had been closer to her; and he
had almost overtaken her when Iheard him shout, Issus!
She is coming, he said
in a tense whisper. She was struggling as though in the throes of convulsions.
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