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289
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
·
Various
171
"You
come
to
us
as
spies,"
the
thought
of
the
Radiant
Woman
impinged
upon
the
brains
of
Sarka
and
of
Jaska,
"and
as
spies
you
should
be
given
to
the
Cone.
But
if
you
swear
eternal
allegiance
to
me,
to
obey
me
in
all
things,
to
forego
your
allegiance
to
Earth,
your
lives
will
be
spared!
What
say
you?"
Boldly
Sarka
stared
into
the
almost
opaque
eyes
of
the
woman.
Then
his
glance
went
to
the
face
of
Dalis.
"What,"
he
asked
boldly,
in
the
language
of
Earth,
"does
the
traitor
Dalis
say?"
"I
have
sworn
allegiance
to
Luar,
who
addresses
you,
and
am
her
ally
in
all
things!
I
have
but
one
addition
to
make
to
what
she
says:
Jaska
belongs
to
me!"
The
sudden
leering
grin
of
Dalis
was
hideous.
Sarka
peered
at
Jaska,
framing
his
answer.
But
Jaska
spoke
first.
"For
myself,
O
Dalis,"
she
said
swiftly,
"I
can
answer
in
but
one
way.
Return
me
to
the
Place
of
the
Blue
Light,
and
forget
me
there!"
Sarka
smiled,
while
his
heart
leaped
with
joy.
"And
I,
O
Luar,"
he
said
mentally
to
the
Radiant
Woman,
"prefer
death
with
Jaska,
at
the
Place
of
the
Blue
Light,
than
life
as
a
traitor
to
the
world
of
my
nativity!"
Instantly
Luar
began
the
clucking
sound
which
was
the
language
of
the
Gnomes,
at
the
same
time
allowing
her
thoughts
as
she
spoke
to
impress
themselves
upon
the
brains
of
the
prisoners.
"Take
them
away!
Take
them
to
the
Cavern
of
the
Cone,
and
when
they
have
suffered
as
much
as
such
inferior
beings
are
capable
of
suffering,
thrust
them
into
the
base
of
the
Cone!"
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