"An ancient seal," said Usdon bitterly. "Made of precious metal and gems. It has been with us since the beginning."
"And the photograph," said Vestaler. "The one you brought with you. It is of no importance."
Dumarest said, quietly, "I wasn't counting the photograph. There was something of far higher value. A safeguard in case he should be caught. With it, he could bargain for his life."
"The Eye!" Usdon turned to Vestaler. "Master, he is talking of the Eye of the Past!"
He knew! He had to know. For a moment relief made Vestaler giddy, so that he had to clutch at the table for support. The brooding, the regret was over. Now, at last, he could sleep easily at night instead of spending endless hours in self-recrimination. He should have known, suspected. But how to even imagine the possibility of such an event?
For a boy to act so! The very concept was incredible.
He said, fighting to control the tenor of his voice, "You know? He told you?" And then, as Dumarest remained silent, he shouted, "If you know where it is, man, tell us! I beg you!"
"I will," said Dumarest. "The moment I reach the town."
* * * * *
The price-always there seemed to be a price. First, his life and that of the woman. Now, the demand to leave the valley, to travel safely under escort to the city. To be taken to the field where ships landed and departed for other worlds.
A danger. A thing contrary to the rule-yet how could he refuse?
Vestaler felt that his world had overturned, conscious that he dealt with a man accustomed to things beyond his experience. One who had early learned to take advantage of every chance life had to offer, to gain any edge in order to survive.
"The Eye, Phal," urged Usdon. "The Eye of the Past."
The most sacred object they possessed. One which had been stolen and now, by an incredible series of events, could be regained.
If Leon hadn't met Dumarest. If he hadn't died. If Dumarest himself had died in the crash, or in the mountains-surely fate had guided him.
Or-had he lied? It was possible. Vestaler strained his mind, trying to remember if he had given any clue, any hint which could have been caught, inflated and bounced back as a boy would bounce a ball against a wall. The photograph? Three things, Dumarest had said. Had the photograph been originally one of them, the story changed as he dismissed its importance? Had Usdon spoken too quickly? Provided the essential clue?
Vestaler groped for the wine, filled a goblet with trembling hands, wine spilling as he lifted it to his mouth and gulped it down. How to be sure?
"The Eye, have you seen it?"
Dumarest remained silent.
"How large is it, then?" Usdon was more devious. "You can see that we need proof of what you say."
"It isn't very large-and you need no proof. I will deliver it once I reach the town."
So it was on Shajok! Again Vestaler reached for the wine, halting his hand as it touched the jug. Now was the time for a clear head, and he regretted what he had already taken.
"So it is in the town," he said. "You could tell us where it is and, when we have recovered it, you will be free to leave."
"No."
"You doubt my word?"
"It's my life," said Dumarest harshly. "Too many accidents could happen on the journey. We do it my way, or not at all."
An impasse, but Usdon had a suggestion. "The woman, are you willing to leave her behind?"
"To join me later? Yes."
A possible way out, yet would Dumarest really care if she joined him at all? A chance they had to take, and there would be armed men accompanying him with firm instructions to kill if he should attempt to elude them, or fail to do as he promised.
"Very well," said Vestaler. "Let us make the arrangements."
Iduna glanced at them as they left the house. She stood several yards away, facing the end of the valley away from the mountains.
She stiffened as Dumarest touched her.
"Earl! You promised-"
"To leave you alone and I shall. I'll be leaving soon. You will follow in a few days."
"Leaving? No, Earl, you can't! You mustn't leave me here alone!"
"You'll be safe, Iduna." His voice hardened at her expression. "There's no help for it. It has to be this way."
"You could wait another few days."
"Wait for what?"
"For-" Her eyes moved from his face, focused on the sky, grew alight at what she saw. "For that, Earl. For that!"
A raft which dropped quickly to the ground, to settle close. A raft which held two figures dressed in flaming scarlet, one holding a laser, both adorned with the great seal of the Cyclan.
Chapter Fifteen
Hsi dominated the Council chamber. He stood like a living flame at the end of the table, the acolyte at his side. The cyber's voice was a careful modulation, only the words held an implacable threat.
"I have a device buried within my body. Should my heart cease to beat a signal will be sent and received by those to whom I belong. They will know when and where I died. If it is in this valley, then total destruction will follow. Every man, woman and child, every plant, every animal will be burned to ash."
"You wouldn't dare," said Vestaler. "You haven't the power."
"It would be a mistake for you to think that," said Hsi evenly. "I have no concern for you in this valley-once I depart you may continue your life as before. My only interest lies in Earl Dumarest."
And he had him, finally caught, unable to run, prevented from killing by his concern for others. A weakness which no cyber would be guilty of. Hsi felt the warm satisfaction of mental achievement, the only real pleasure he could know.
"You followed me."
"Of course, Once you had been located on Tradum, your capture was inevitable. Did you really think you could continue to elude the Cyclan?"
"The boy," said Dumarest. "You found him."
"A simple prediction. He was an innocent, a dreamer who tried to get close to you by the use of a name. Nerth-there is no such place, but the name was close enough to another to arouse your interest. He must have picked up a rumor, or overheard you talking, the details are unimportant. The drug sold you by the apothecary was useless. A harmless sedative. Your use of the raft to gain access to the field was ingenious."
Dumarest said, dryly, "I was in a hurry."
"With reason. You would have been caught within the hour. As it was, Captain Shwarb knew what to do."
Bribed, as every other captain had been bribed.
"You told the boy what ship I was on," said Dumarest harshly. "He came aboard after I did. And you paid Dinok and the engineer to lie about his planet of origin. Leon had to be killed, of course-you red swine!"
"He was expendable."
"You sent me to Shajok," said Dumarest bitterly. "Offered me a bait I couldn't refuse. I should have guessed."
"Every man has a weakness," said Hsi. "And no man can have the kind of luck forever which has saved you so often. The accident of chance and circumstance which, coupled with your quick thinking, has enabled you to escape the Cyclan until now."
"Why did you wait so long. You know where I was headed. You could have had a reception committee waiting at the field."
"Time was against us. Ships few and far between. And precautions were taken."
"Yes," said Dumarest. He looked at the woman. "What did they promise you, Iduna?"
"Earl?"
"At first I suspected Chaque. Your brother was too obvious and the Cyclan are never that. Chaque was a last-minute replacement. Then, when he was dying, he tried to tell me something about you. What happened? Did he see you using a radio in your tent one night? Spot something else when he was watching you undress? Threaten to betray you unless you saw things his way?"