"I know he is the Father of Evil," I said.
"You are wrong--he is not that--he is merely
different--older--wiser--but not evil."
It was my turn to laugh, and I did although it hurt my throat and made
my chest ache. "It is you who are the fool," I said.
She shrugged. "It may be," she agreed, "but you will learn that
Wolverton is master here, and what he wants he keeps. Nor will you
escape again."
"Why not?"
"Try," she said, "He has turned the field off."
I tried--and panic flooded me! I did not move--nor could I feel the
slightest trace of the doctor although I tried to reach her with all my
strength. Then I screamed! And my screams were echoed by her laughter.
The spasm died quickly enough--for I am not a coward. It is the unknown
which is frightening--the feeling of helplessness in the face of
powers greater than one's own. But then I realized I had chosen this
course--that it was not forced upon me, and that Zard was guiding my
faltering steps.
"You are lying," I said with forced calmness. "The field is still on."
She looked at me with pitying contempt, rose quietly into the air and
floated over my head! "So it's on, is it?" she asked.
My mouth dropped open in a gape of unmannerly surprise. "You're an
Adept!" I gasped.
"I was. Now I'm a doctor."
"But why?--why haven't you reported back to Hosanna? You are free. What
keeps you here?"
"I do not wish to leave," the doctor said calmly.
"You're conditioned!"
"You could call it that," she agreed. "I prefer to think I have learned
some sense, that I have forgotten the silly superstitions of my
childhood when I came here to kill. Ten years ago I was like you, but
now--"
"Now," I said bitterly, "you are a minion of Evil."
The doctor's laugh was merry and unforced. "Every year they get worse!"
she chuckled. "I see what Wolverton means when he says there's no hope
for this world." She floated quietly back to the floor.
I felt crushed and angry at the same time. Who was she to laugh at
the Word? Once again I tried to rise. With all my strength I tried,
but again I didn't move. There was something warm encircling my neck.
I raised a hand to it and touched smooth metal--a close fitting ring
about my throat.
"Yes," the doctor said, answering my unspoken question. "That is what
restrains you. And it will stay on until he removes it. Nothing can
cut that ring." She smiled ruefully. "I wore one once--for nearly five
years--"
She kept on talking, something about taking time for the electronics
section to develop a wave form that would cancel my powers--which
was why I had lived under the field--and why I had a chance to try
to escape, but I didn't really hear her. I hadn't figured on this
development. It shocked me into utter numbness.
It was two days later before I could rise. The braces were gone from my
leg and I was whole again. Whole, but helpless.
* * * * *
Unmolested, I walked through Wolverton's stronghold. I passed the
Halsite whom I had struck down. He looked at me and grinned. There was
no malice in him.
"You fool me," he said cheerfully. "I not very smart--but next time you
try I run you down--bring you back. You no do that thing twice."
"If you can catch me," I answered.
"I catch, all right. You wear ring now. You no get away."