The Schrees were the ancient tools ofthe Jivros, and have always held positions as tributary rulers, sincethe insect-men themselves found subject peoples obeyed the Schrees morereadily. They have always kept the priest-like power and, by poisoningand other devices, remove any Schree puppet who displeases them."
"Go on," I said huskily, her rapt face and intent manner, her utterlylovely ivory body, glittering everywhere with the shining powder whichshe used, the subtle penetrative scent of her--I was hard put toconcentrate upon her words.
"I plan to have the crystal pillar opened, perhaps, have Cyane broughtto my own chambers, and I will pretend to set up apparatus to read hersleeping mind and so learn from her. Naturally the Jivros will becomesuspicious of me if I do so, as they fear the knowledge of the Croenwhich has always proved too great for them. There will be but a few daystime between my action in bringing her here, and my own death or herconfiscation by the Jivros. But in order to overrule me in this, theywill have to make a pretext, charge me with infidelity, convince the oldJivro that I intend harm to him and his. During that time you must finda way to release Cyane and escape with her."
"Why don't you yourself release her and escape with her?" I asked.
"Because I can be useful to her when she attacks us. Besides, I amconstantly under the Jivro eyes, and they know me so well they would seemy perturbation, they would know something was wrong and forestall me.You alone could do it, and, too, I depend upon your alien knowledge toprovide a barrier or two to their overcoming you. Your weapons which youbore when we captured you--do they fear them?"
"I never shot any of them; I don't know."
"Perhaps I will send you with the party to get Cyane. That way you canfind a chance to inject the stimulant when they are not looking. Theymust remove the crystal from about her to move her; it is too heavy tocarry otherwise. Then when she awakes, you can find a way to diverttheir pursuit, provide a false trail. Do you understand?"
"I could try, but I cannot tell if I could outwit them or not."
"They are really very stupid things, the Jivros. Like an insect, theirpatterns are fixed and repetitive. They are almost incapable of originalthought. Once you know them, you can always outwit them. With you willgo my brother, Genner. He may be successful where you are not."
"It is agreed then." I stood up; this low couch made my knees stiff. Shetook my movement as a dismissal of her, and flushed deeply. I smiled ather embarrassment, and went down on one knee to bring my face level withhers where she half reclined on the bench-like lounge.
"Dear lady," I said in English, not finding the necessary Schree wordsin my artificial memory for a term of respect--then in Schree phrases,"I will do my utter best to help you and your people. It is my duty tomy own race, too, as it is yours to yours. Trust me, so far as good-willmay go. Together, we will rid ourselves of these unclean Jivros ofyours!"
She rose then, and I stood too, still holding her hand that I had seizedin my own to impress her with my sincerity. For an instant she lookedat our two hands clasped together, then she placed an arm on myshoulder, leaning against me and trembling slightly with emotion. Tearssprang out in her eyes. She brushed them aside.
I did not know what to do. For fear of offending her, I restrained theimpulse to take her in my arms, and it took great willpower.
Something about her aroused my deepest admiration. Here was a woman whohad been playing a difficult part for years, whose heart was sore withsorrow for her blighted people, and who must yet seem to approve. Thesigns of long strain were very plain on her face. I understood that thiswas one of her greatest fears, that her mind would give way and betrayher true emotions to the Jivros.
Clumsily I patted her bare shoulder. For an instant her wet cheek waspressed against my own, then she went gliding swiftly away, her faceonce again proud and empty of all human feeling. At the door she turned,swept her palm once over her face, removing the tears and as the handpassed upward she smiled as sweetly as a young girl, with a pathetic andutterly charming mischievous expression. Then the palm passed downward,and her face was left again stiff and masklike, the lips twisted alittle into a cruel thinness, her eyes hard as agates on my own. She wassuperb, and I silently applauded. Then she was gone.
As I stood there, musing on the nature and the strange life of Wananda,a mocking, sultry laugh made me whirl, for I had thought I was alone.
Standing beside the tall, open window--a window I had examined and foundimpossible of exit because beneath it was a straight drop of someseventy or eighty feet--was my erstwhile companion and prisoner, theZoorph, Carna!
Still in her hand was the long, fantastically ornamented drape behindwhich she had been concealed during my "secret" interview with thepuppet queen.
"You!" I exploded. "Where did you come from and what did you hear?"
"Very interesting things, friend Keele. She is a fascinating woman, isshe not?" Carna made a pretty mouth, as if kissing something, and withher fingers a gesture new to me, but one unmistakable in meaning. "Shenow has your simple heart in her hand, to do with as she wishes. You area fine fool, you!"
"I thought you had psychic powers. You claim to read minds and foretellthe future, and you do not understand that she is fine and honest andutterly admirable! You are the fool, Carna!"
She laughed.
"You are right, and not so simple. I said that only to know if yourperceptions were keen enough to know that what she said was true."
"Now you know. How did you get here, what do you want, what have theydone to you?"
She snapped her fingers, and gave the Zerv equivalent of "pouf."
"They gave me their tongue, as they did you, I notice. They questionedme much longer than you, as they thought I knew the Zervs might becaught. I did not tell them much. But it was my fault that poor Holafwas caught. I did know he was going to try to revive the Croen captive.They wrung that out of me, and then put me in a room directly above thisone. I knew that you were below me from the talk of the guards. I made arope from the hangings and slipped down to see you. I may go back upwhen I get ready."
She came toward me as she spoke, her hips undulating exquisitely, thatsultry smile of completely improper intent on her beautiful face. Shewore still the silkily gleaming black net in which I had first met her.It was torn now and even more revealing.
I fixed my eyes on the wide web of linked emeralds at her throat to keepmy eyes from hers, for she had a disturbing power to make a man's headswim and his will disappear. It was perhaps no greater power than manyanother woman possesses, but to me she was particularly devastating. Imoved back as she came toward me, smiling a little, and said in spite ofmy liking for her:
"Keep away from me, Zoorph! You will destroy my soul!"
She laughed huskily.
"What is a soul or so to the passion that could burn us, my Carl? Do youreally fear me, stranger from a strange people? Don't you know how muchI thirst to drink of your lips! Look at me, you coward. Are you afraidof a woman? Don't you know how curious I am as to how you of this planetmake love? I who am a student of love, am most curious about you. Standstill. Here we are prisoners, about to die, perhaps, and you refuse meone sup of pleasure before we die? You are a cruel, and a spinelesscreature. I despise you, and yet I want you very much."
I kept backing away, around the room, and she pursued me at arm'slength, her long graceful legs dramatically striding, making of herpursuit a humorous burlesque, yet I knew she was quite serious about it.If little Nokomee had not warned me against her, I might have succumbedthen and there, for, as she said--"What good is a tomorrow that maynever exist for us?"
"What did you come for, Carna? To make a fool of me?"
"I thought we might try to escape again, but this pretty queen of theaccursed Schrees has charmed you to her will, and I must await a betteropportunity. But that does not prevent me from trying to outdo herattraction for you. Do you love her already, Carl?"
"Of course not, I just met her."
This was utterly ridiculous, yet it w
as a lot of fun and I could see noreal reason why I should resist Carna's advances. To me she was aboutthe most attractive woman I had ever met, and I might never see heragain. I gave up my retreat, seized the girl almost roughly in my arms,bent her back with a savage, long-drawn kiss and embrace. Then Ireleased her, to see what she would make of an earthman's kiss.
She stood for an instant, her hand pressed to her lips, her eyes widewith surprise, one hand raised as if to push me away. Then she giggledlike a young girl, and put both hands on my shoulders.
"So that is what you call love, strange one? Shall I show you how we offar-off Calmar do the first steps of courtship?"
"That would be interesting," I said huskily, my lips burning.
Her voice became low and penetrating.
"You will be two, yet