Well, it is strange, he said; Fal Sivas was
friendly enough before Itook you there.
We walked shoulder to shoulder through thelighted
district near the eating-place. Nothing much, except that I understand that you have
beensent to kill me. You and Rapas thought that you could fool me, didnt
you?
It is probably difficult for you to realizethat
that ship sees and reasons.
It could be no one else, replied Fal Sivas
emphatically.
Most of these assassins are entirely withouthonor;
they are merely killers. He had had no opportunity to do more than defendhimself,
and now he was absolutely at my mercy.
He thinks that the master has taken a fancy to you,
and he fears forhis own authority.
Well, if I am going to, I had better start for bed,
I said, and withthat I arose.
It has taken something out of me that cannever be
replaced.
No one elsehas left the premises but you two since
you came.
Theywere discussing something rather excitedly as
they greeted theproprietor.
I believe, Vandor, that it has robbed me of
everyhuman instinct.
He lookedvery self-satisfied and
contented.
If I must trust one of you, I prefer that it be
you, rather than Rapas. Well, it is strange, he said; Fal Sivas was friendly enough
before Itook you there.
Icould do away with all these stupid humans. I have
heard, I said, but I never took much stock in it.
Is there no danger that I might unintentionally
harm it?
It is the greatest achievement of the humanmind.
Theywere discussing something rather excitedly as they greeted
theproprietor.
If you value your life, you will never go there
again. I could see him attempt to suppress a grin. Uldak, one ofUr Jans men, was
killed the last night I saw you, as you will recall. But you can be a long time at
the dying, if it is donescientifically. Because you are trying to kill thewrong man,
you are not using the right method. If you fail me, Vandor, you shall die such a
death as only themind of Fal Sivas can conceive. The doorway led directly into a
small, comfortably, even luxuriouslyfurnished cabin.
And now if you are quite ready, you may come outand
be killed. I had been there but a short time whenhe summoned me to his
person.
I did not want him to know that I had been
commissioned to killhim.
No, not now, he replied, It must remain a secret
for a time.