Instantly came Shan Kar's voice. "I will promise that, Nelson."
"Sure, and we'll stick by it," Sloan chimed in. "Won't we, Piet?"
"Then let Shan Kar come here and I'll surrender to him — but only to him," Nelson said.
There was a pause, a silence from the huge wrecked turbine. Then came the Humanite leader's voice.
"I am coming, Eric Nelson. Remember that if you kill me it will only seal your own doom."
Shan Kar came out into the light. He had sword in hand and his head was high, his stride confident as he came back toward the shadows. He glimpsed Nelson, standing with Nsharra and Tark in the shadows beyond the platinum pillars. He came toward them, his hand extended for the pistol that Nelson was holding out butt-foremost.
And then, as he stepped between the two quartz spheres on the pillars, Shan Kar stopped. A bewildered look came upon his face.
"What — what—?" he faltered, amazed.
Nelson knew. He knew that in Shan Kar's mind was now sounding that thought-record, that solemn message of the ancients.
"Take warning!"