instructions. All the cables in your valley have been cut.There is a storm now ready to break.
"In fifteen minutes or so, everything will be destroyed, except thedomes. Regrettable, but...." He shrugged.
Jill's temper blazed, choking her so that she could hardly speak.
"Look at him, Gray," she whispered. "That's what you're so proud ofbeing. A cynic, who believes in nothing but himself. Look at him!"
Gray turned on her.
"Damn you!" he grated. "Do you expect me to believe you, with the worldfull of hypocrites like him?"
Her eyes stopped him. He remembered Moulton, pleading for her life. Heremembered how she had looked back there at the tunnel, when they hadbeen sure of death. Some of his assurance was shaken.
"Listen," he said harshly. "I can save your valley. There's a chance ina million of coming out alive. Will you die for what you believe in?"
She hesitated, just for a second. Then she looked at Dio and said,"Yes."
Gray turned. Almost lazily, his fist snapped up and took Caron on hisflabby jaw.
"Take care of him, Dio," he grunted. Then he entered the ship, herdingthe white-faced girl before him.
* * * * *
The ship hurtled up into airless space, where the blinding sunlight layin sharp shadows on the rock. Over the ridge and down again, with theProject hidden under a surf of storm-clouds.
Cutting in the air motors, Gray dropped. Black, bellowing darknessswallowed them. Then he saw the valley, with the copper cables fallen,and the wheat already on fire in several places.
Flying with every bit of his skill, he sought the narrowest part of thevalley and flipped over in a racking loop. The stern tubes hit rock. Thenose slammed down on the opposite wall, wedging the ship by sheerweight.
Lightning gathered in a vast javelin and flamed down upon them. Jillflinched and caught her breath. The flame hissed along the hull andvanished into seared and blackened rock.
"Still willing to die for principle?" asked Gray brutally.
She glared at him. "Yes," she snapped. "But I hate having to die in yourcompany!"
She looked down at the valley. Lightning struck with monotonousregularity on the hull, but the valley was untouched. Jill smiled,though her face was white, her body rigid with waiting.
It was the smile that did it. Gray looked at her, her tousled blackcurls, the lithe young curves of throat and breast. He leaned back inhis seat, scowling out at the storm.
"Relax," he said. "You aren't going to die."
She turned on him, not daring to speak. He went on, slowly.
"The only chance you took was in the landing. We're acting as lightningrod for the whole valley, being the highest and best conductor. But, asa man named Faraday proved, the charge resides on the surface of theconductor. We're perfectly safe."
"How dared you!" she whispered.
He faced her, almost angrily.
"You knocked the props out from under my philosophy. I've had enoughhypocritical eyewash. I had to prove you. Well, I have."
She was quiet for some time. Then she said, "I understand, Duke. I'mglad. And now what, for you?"
He shrugged wryly.
"I don't know. I can still take Caron's other ship and escape. But Idon't think I want to. I think perhaps I'll stick around and give virtueanother whirl."
Smoothing back his sleek fair hair, he shot her a sparkling look fromunder his hands.
"I won't," he added softly, "even mind going to Sunday School, if youwere the teacher."
* * * * *
Transcriber's Note:
The following typographical errors in the original text have beencorrected in this eBook:
Page 62: "smill" changed to "small"
Page 63: "and" changed to "end"
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