Acton stepped forward to within a foot of the older man. "Look well," he said. "Is it a disguise?"
"But you're dead. I know you're dead. I—"
"Yes, Father. I should be." Acton's eyes were steady, but without hate. They looked hurt and pitying. "I was at Druro, and you signed the order for my execution yourself. It was carried out, you thought, and the last witness against you was stilled. You thought."
The young man threw back his cloak. He had no left arm. "They took me for dead. The Q-rays burned away my arm and I fell with the others. I was buried among the corpses. But my friends found me later. There wasn't much life in me, but they nourished it, and I am here."
"No!" screamed Rastol. "It's not true! It's a lie!"
"No!" screamed Rastol. "It's not true ... it's a lie!"
He wavered away from his son's gaze and half fell into a chair.