"And the new power source will take up where the Stone left off?"
"Yes. Even the wall of rays that protected me and fed my body while I slept will go on. The power of the Stone was broadcast to it, and to the sunballs. There were no mechanical leads."
Ciaran said softly, "And you love this Marsali? You're happy in this dream world you created? You could go back there?"
"Yes," whispered Bas. "Yes. Yes!"
Ciaran turned. "Then help us destroy the androids. Give us our world, and we'll give you yours. If we fail—well, we have nothing to lose."
Silence. The crystal web hummed and sang—death whispering across the world. The Stone of Destiny throbbed like the breast of a dying bird. The boy's grey eyes were veiled and remote. It seemed almost that he was asleep.
Then he smiled—the drowsy smile of pleasure he had worn when Ciaran found him, dreaming on the stone cross.
"Marsali," he whispered. "Marsali."
He moved forward then, reaching out across the crystal web. The long nails on his fingers scooped up the Stone of Destiny, cradled it, caged it in.
Bas the Immortal said, "Let's go, little man."