Toralen Ki went to his desk and took a quick drink from the tall tube,
and then inhaled the aroma deeply. It had no smell to Terrans, nor
taste, but Toralen Ki loved it for its powers--_not too much, Toralen
Ki, you have a job to do!_
He went over and slipped the headset on.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I did want this last minute--"
He took up the hypo, inserted the needle in the vein of his arm, and
pushed the plunger home.
* * * * *
Countless light-years away, Lindoo watched his meters rise higher and
higher as he increased the penetration. Ever seeking, ever tuning,
Lindoo strove to find another man whose mind was at balance and
receptive. Given time--
And with a rush, all meters hit zero. A backlashing surge of power
drove Lindoo back from his position. He turned and faced Vorgan.
"As with Kregar--" he started.
"Kregar died," said the Lord of All, ominously.
"Kregar died of mental overload. I received no such punishment. Kregar,
recall, was in charge of the mind of the Susceptible One who thought
of himself as Tawmpsahn. He was forced out and away, and pursued by
Tawmpsahn and the Toralen Ki himself."
"So--?"
"Toralen Ki is dead."
"Good!"