Hesitantly Herndon opened his cupped palm and stared at the gem. It was broad-faceted, with a luminous inner light, and—he gasped—a face, within the stone. A woman's face, languorous, beckoning, seeming to call to him as from the depths of the sea—
Sweat burst out all over him. With an effort he wrenched his gaze from the stone and cocked his arm; a moment later he had hurled the gem with all his force into the farthest corner of the room. He whirled, glared at Benjin, and leaped for him.
"Cheat! Betrayer!"
His hands sought Benjin's throat, but the little man jumped lithely back, and Dorgel and Razumod interposed themselves hastily between them. Herndon stared at Razumod's sweaty bulk a moment and gave ground, quivering with tension.
"You might have warned me," he said.
Benjin smiled apologetically. "It would have ruined the test. We must have strong men in our organization. Oversk, what do you think?"
"He threw down the stone," Heitman Oversk said heavily. "It's a good sign. I think I like him."
"Razumod?"
The commoner gave an assenting grunt, as did Dorgel. Herndon tapped the table and said, "So you're dealing in starstones? And you gave me one without warning? What if I'd succumbed?"
"We would have sold you the stone and let you leave," Benjin said.