Then, presently, the little malicious flames frothed to life again, and the voice said:
"My greatest problem is amusement. Here in this black shell I am forced to devise pleasures from my own imagination."
Falken gasped. "The hunters, the cleft that vanished, and that hellish castle?" He was suddenly cold and hot at once.
"Clever, eh? I created my hunt some eons ago. According to my plan the beast can neither escape nor the hunters catch him. But, owing to the uncertainty factor, there is one chance in some hundreds of billions that one or the other event may occur. It affords me endless amusement."
"And the castle?" said Falken silkily. "That amused you, too."
"Oh, yes! Your emotional reactions.... Most interesting!" Falken raised his blaster and fired at the core of the light.
Living fire coiled and writhed. The Sun-child laughed.
"Raw energy only feeds me. What, are there no questions?"
Falken's voice was almost gentle. "Do you think of nothing but amusement?"
Savage colors rippled against the dim, sad mauves. "What else is there, to fill the time?"