Planet of Dread

by Dwight V. Swain

Time stood still. Silence echoed.

Again Craig lashed out: "Do you love her, Zenaor? Do you want her to burn?"

He could hear the rasp of the other's quick-drawn breath. "Curse you, Earthman—!"

"And curse you, Zenaor!" New recklessness surged through Craig. "Curse you for all the blood you've shed; your arrogance, your lust for power, your cruelty!" And then: "Vydys! Bring me that crystal!"

Tension. The fire-gun's muzzle, leveling.

Wordless, the woman obeyed.

Craig gripped the jewel-case. "I'm leaving now, Zenaor—and Narla goes with me! Warn your guards of that!"

Silence again, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing.

Craig drew Narla back, tight against him, a living shield. Holding her close, he backed through the exit door. The girl was trembling now. He could feel her heart pound.

Then they were out in the corridor once more ... the same bleak, echoing passageway through which he'd come with dark Vydys.