A second man reached me and I threw him all the way
across the room.
I had acquired the typical inferiorityof a true
hormad. What difference could it make that I was a littlemore hideous? He appeared
to have a most evil disposition. How differently it worked out and what abizarre
plan finally developed, you shall learn in time. Itseemed absolutely incredible that
any creature could be so strong. There is no reasonwhy I should not live another
thousand years. If youare loyal, you will receive an extra allowance of food and
manyprivileges.
You are goingto give me a beautiful new body and
face? My fellow guardsmen were most uninteresting companions.
I could scarcely resist the tremendous urge I
feltto take her in my arms.
I could scarcely resist the tremendous urge I
feltto take her in my arms.
One of my guardsmen says you are the strongest
person in Morbus,continued the Third Jed. I chanced to be standing in the frontrow,
facing the oncoming hormads. The suspicions of thefirst person who saw us together
would be aroused.
He says that you can toss a man to the ceiling and
catch him again. I think it an excellent idea, I said, for I wanted all the friends
Icould get.
There can be no hope, she said, but tell him that I
have notforgotten him and never shall. Like moststupid people they talked
principally about themselves and were greatbraggarts.
Your face is really your greatest asset, he said,
after looking at mefor a long time. Then the fighting began as the other jedsordered
their warriors to prevent our escape. You know, of course, thatyou were considered
one of the handsomest men in Helium. One day, as I came to the end of a corridor, a
hormad stepped from thedoorway and confronted me. It is this, he said, that gives me
so much freedom. Forgetful of everything else, I started to cross toward
her.
As I set him on his feet, he looked at me in
astonishment. If there ever was a shambles it was there inthe great council chamber
of the seven jeds of Morbus.