"Oh, yes, I dare, Snithian." Her voice had a firm ring now. Snithian
stared at her. "Who ... are you...?"
"I am the Ivroy."
Snithian wilted. The gun fell to the floor. His fantastically tall
figure drooped, his face suddenly gray.
"Return to your home, Snithian," the girl said sadly. "I will deal with
you later."
"But ... but...." His voice was a thin squeak.
"Did you think you could conceal your betrayal from the Ivroy?" she
said softly.
Snithian turned and blundered from the room, ducking under the low
door. The Ivroy turned to Dzhackoon.
"You and your Service are to be commended," she said. "I leave the
apprehension of the culprits to you." She nodded at Blote. "I will rely
on you to assist in the task--and to limit your operations thereafter
to non-interdicted areas."
"But of course, your worship. You have my word as a Vegan. Do visit me
on Vorplisch some day. I'd love the wives and kiddy to meet you." He
blinked rapidly. "So long, Dan. It's been crazy cool."
Dzhackoon and Blote stepped through the Portal. It shimmered and winked
out. The Ivroy faced Dan. He swallowed hard, watching the play of light
in the shoulder-length hair, golden, fine as spun glass....
"Your name is Dan?"
"Dan Slane," he said. He took a deep breath. "Are you really the Ivroy?"
"I am of the Ivroy, who are many and one."
"But you look like--just a beautiful girl."
* * * * *
The Ivroy smiled. Her teeth were as even as matched pearls, Dan
thought, and as white as--
"I _am_ a girl, Dan. We are cousins, you and I--separated by the long
mystery of time."
"Blote--and Dzhackoon and Snithian, too--seemed to think the Ivroy ran
the Universe. But--"
The Ivroy put her hand on Dan's. It was as soft as a flower petal.
"Don't trouble yourself over this just now, Dan. Would you like to
become my agent? I need a trustworthy friend to help me in my work
here."
"Doing what?" Dan heard himself say.
"Watching over the race which will one day become the Ivroy."
"I don't understand all this--but I'm willing to try."
"There will be much to learn, Dan. The full use of the mind, control of
aging and disease.... Our work will require many centuries."
"Centuries? But--"
"I'll teach you, Dan."
"It sounds great," Dan said. "Too good to be true. But how do you know
I'm the man for the job? Don't I have to take some kind of test?"
She looked up at him, smiling, her lips slightly parted. On impulse,
Dan put a hand under her chin, drew her face close and kissed her on
the mouth....
A full minute later, the Ivroy, nestled in Dan's arms, looked up at him
again.
"You passed the test," she said.