Only an objective realization of the need for unity prevailed Roland from attacking the man. He was jealous, too, and he was ashamed of that. Somehow, these people had taken him from the Birth Center when he was born, and had kept him hidden and had taught him to be a true, pre-World Brain human. He should be grateful, very grateful. And he determined to be.
Berti was crossing the room toward a panel. “Well, Prometheus, we start right now, right here. And here’s how—”
He tensed, eyes narrowing.
The form was only a faint mist at first. Roland hardly knew it was materializing until he saw its wavering, translucent shadow in the middle of the room. A flash of panic and fear jerked him to his feet and sent him backing toward the further wall. He saw Frances and Berti standing stiffly, perspiration oozing visibly from their bronzed skin.
Roland had never seen anything so grotesque and alien before. At least he couldn’t remember having seen—but then, he couldn’t remember.
“Roland!” he heard Berti say tensely. “You’re now being treated to the personal appearance of a Martian menace. Take a good look, because it just might be that you won’t see another.” Berti moved with shocking agility, a blur in the corner of Roland’s fixed eyes. He dropped the cap over the fluorobulb. The room was plunged into pitch blackness.
Roland saw a high, narrow column of shimmering phosphorescence dart about the room. He couldn’t tell whether the thing was attacking or in flight. Something about its alien contortions suggested panic.
But then he felt a hand grasping at his. It gripped hard and pulled. The voice was a hurried whisper, either that of Berti or Frances. It had to be Frances. “Follow me! Keep running!”
He followed blindly. The hand was soft and small. Berti? Frances? Frances had to be with him. That was the only thing that really mattered. They plunged through the thick blackness and onto a levitation platform and down. They paused once, briefly. Roland heard a panel opening. Then they were in a room, smaller even than the first one. A slight glow bathed the room in a soft blue haze. It was light enough for him to see that Frances wasn’t with them.