Jupiter though, had scarcely been aware of their departure. His whole attention was focused on a huge statue of an Anolyn dominating the room.
The idol shed a soft luminescence, and there was a sense of power in its execution that was god-like:
"In their own image," he thought irreverently, then he sucked in his breath.
The stuff of the image was radioactive! Some incredibly rich uranium or thorium bearing ore. Radium too! He'd never seen anything quite like it. Neither pitchblende nor carnotite. And it must weigh a ton!
Enough to take him half way across the super galaxy!
He gave a harsh laugh. He had found his fuel. It only remained for him to escape carrying a ton of heathen idol with him!
IV
Jupiter was crouching on the floor of his cage when the door to the corridor opened softly behind him. He turned his head.
A girl, he saw, had slipped inside. She let the panel close behind her, stared at him out of wide violet-blue eyes.