An hour before sunrise, Telis was awake and ready for action. He arose
and dressed himself, broke his fast on the remains of his late evening
meal, for he dared not guess how long it would be before he ate again.
He banged at the door of his apartment until an attendant appeared,
rubbing his eyes sleepily.
Telis made a long face. "I--I must see Brother Gorla," he demanded,
"the Priest who brought me here. I--I feel the need of spiritual
guidance."
The attendant, a Temple novice, showed benign pleasure at his words.
"Could I not be of service, my son?"
Telis shook his head. "The words of the High Superior have caused me to
reweigh the values of my long and sinful life. Brother Gorla has long
been my spiritual father and counsellor. I must see him." It was not
altogether a lie. The kindly old scientist's words had made him think
a bit, in spite of himself. The old man had seemed so sure. And Gorla
had long been his source of advice and even companionship for a good
five haads.
The novice was disappointed, but understanding. He departed to waken
Brother Gorla.
Three quarters of an hour of darkness remained when Gorla appeared at
the door. Telis met him, looking carefully up and down the hall to see
that they were alone. How careless these Temple people were with their
prisoners!
"Telis, my friend! What is it? Brother Alto said that you needed
some...." Gorla began.
Telis measured him carefully and swung. With all the power and
co-ordination of a soldier's superbly conditioned body behind it,
Telis' fist caught the Priest on the point of his jaw and knocked him
sprawling to the thick carpet. Quickly dropping to his knees, Telis
relieved the fallen man of his two swords and stun-gun. He strapped
them to his own harness and looked about for a means of reviving the
Priest. Taking the wine bottle from the table, he splashed some of the
dark fluid into Gorla's face. For a moment, Telis had the feeling that
it had all been too easy. But he drove the misgivings from his mind and
concentrated on the next steps in his break for freedom.
The young Priest sat up fingering his jaw gingerly. There was a
reproachful look in his eyes.
"Telis, you can't escape if that's what you intended by striking me.
Give me back my weapons."
Telis smiled savagely. "Oh, no, my good and faithful friend. Now get
up. Up I say, or I'll spit you where you lie!"
Gorla gave him a rueful smile. "By the Goddess, I believe you'd do it,
too."
"There is a girl here," Telis snapped. "What do you know about her?" If
the girl actually were a Tellurian, she would be an invaluable hostage.
"Girl?" Gorla looked puzzled.
"Quickly!"
"It's true that there is a girl here, but--"
"Who is she? Why was she brought here?" demanded Telis.
"She was found by one of our patrol sleds ... lost in the desert and
near dead. They picked her up and brought her here. Since then she has
remained ... voluntarily."