Crystal gripped his hands and seemed to hold him back from the edge of Eternity by sheer strength of will.
"Where? Where can we go?"
The eyes fluttered open again, the shadow of death lurked in their depths. "Go ... the place where the Five Valleys meet ... beware ... Zeburzac."
His breath drifted out in an effortless sigh. The tortured body was still. Crystal rose unsteadily to her feet. She turned blindly and Brian took her in his arms, trying to comfort her as her wild sobbing got out of control. He patted her shoulder awkwardly.
"Take it easy, kid," he muttered helplessly. His laboratory experience hadn't covered any such contingency as this.
"Brian, take me away. I can't stand this. Hide me somewhere before that fiend comes back."
"I thought we were part of a revolution that was going to clean them off the planet," Brian reminded her grimly.
"We can't fight this. We haven't got a chance. Zeburzac has everything."
"He hasn't got us yet. Where's this Five Valleys place? Can we get there?"
"Yes, but it will be no use. I want to quit now."