"Lete!" he yelled after the girl; "Lete!" His own bearers were carrying his cage straight ahead. The girl waved at him forlornly and called:
"A'towee, Jupiter."
It meant, "Goodbye forever" as near as he could translate it. He felt lonely—more lonely even than after Briggs' suicide.
Good Lord! he thought in alarm. He'd better watch himself. He'd been in space so long that he was growing overly fond of this naked little barbarian. The biological urge could be a damned traitorous emotion, and there was no place for a woman in his plans.
He frowned. Unless he should need Lete to lead him back to his ship....
"Where are they taking the others?" he demanded of Reiloc who still paced soundlessly beside his cage.
"To the training pits."
"And me?"
Reiloc appeared puzzled. "To the house of the Radiant God. But it's very strange."
Before Jupiter could voice the questions rising to his lips, a door opened in the wall ahead. He was borne inside an enormous vaulted chamber, his cage dropped on the floor. Reiloc hadn't entered, and the porters retreated through the door. It closed behind them.