"Gold," echoed Xax, awed.
* * * * *
Kortha grinned broadly, hefting the thing in his palm. "Pure gold.
Heavy, but somewhat soft, Xax. I was right. Blessed be the mythmaker,
for he shall help us find truth!"
"It can't be true," protested Xax, his faceted eyes glued to the amber
bar in the giant's hand. "You don't turn one thing into another, not by
just a--a color!"
"Of course not by a color. That green light was something that got
down to rock bottom, affecting the very nature of the wood. What's so
odd about it? All matter is composed of electrons. Those electrons
move in certain orbits within the atom. If it is possible to alter the
vibratory rate of those electrons--why, then your substance itself is
changed. It is something else. In this case, it's gold."
The voice interrupted him. It came from the outer chamber: harshly
gloating, unrelievedly triumphant.
It called: "Kortha. Come where I can see you, Kortha. I want to talk to
you."
"Guantra," whispered Kortha, and ran.
He found the quartz-crystal televisi-screen finally, perched in a niche
in the hall, where it could command a view of the closed doors. Kortha
went and stood before it. He drew back his lips, and spat.
* * * * *
The image of the man in the screen recoiled slightly, then thrust
forward again, pushing the lean hawk's face with jutting, black-bearded
chin and hooked nose and slightly bald forehead almost to the limits
of the screen. The thin lips twisted in a savage smile. The dark eyes
glittered under thin brows.
"I have you, Kortha. At last, I have you where I want you. I have
searched for a long time without success. Where did you hide yourself?
Ah, well--it makes no difference. You are to die, Kortha, and
I--Guantra!--am to be your executioner.
"Did you suspect that I learned the secret of Yassa, Kortha? If you
did, and I think as much, you are right. It cost ten men's lives, but I
learned it. It was a lethal ray that blasted whoever passed those black
doors. We smashed it out of existence, reluctantly. It was a hellish
thing. I would have given much to have saved it, but," sighing, "it
could not be done. But I found other articles to take its place."
"Two of them," assented Kortha dryly.
Guantra seemed startled, then nodded. "Two, yes. A lightning-blaster
and a--no, I'll not tell you the other. That is _my_ secret.... I see
the lightning-blaster surprises you."
"Another myth," whispered Xax, looking up at Kortha.
"Myth?" puzzled Guantra, brows meeting over its hooked nose. "Oh. You
mean the one concerning the weapons of the Great War. The rhyme that
goes--
"They culled the lightnings from the sky,
"And summoned all who were to die--"
"A neat bit of doggerel, but let's talk of living men. Kortha, I know
you for my enemy. If you were my friend, now--"
Guantra jerked suddenly, drawing back. His lean face looked tense,
thoughtful. His thin lips drew down at the corners, and slowly curved
into a smile. It was not a nice smile to see.