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Vince turned away from the camera to glance at Cabell and Penn。 〃Were sorry； Veidt。 But all this doesn't mean we can stand by and do nothing。〃
The Haydonite's shoulders seemed to shrug under his robe。 〃The Awareness must be persuaded to release all offworlders…immediately。〃
Awareness is no longer responding to us； mander；〃 Veidt sent with a touch of impatience。 〃We are responding to it。 In any case； all offworlders will be released in due course。 In the meantime； everyone is being well cared for。 Exadore and the Sterlings are in good health： I have even seen to it that they have been equipped with a monitoring device linked to the Awareness itself。〃
Louie put a hand down on the munication console's interrupt stud and turned his back to the optical pickup。 〃Ask him if he can put us on…line with Exedore。〃
Vince studied Louie's face for a moment； then reactivated the system's audio feed。 〃Listen； Veidt； can't you at least allow us to get in touch with Exedore and Max； just so we know they're all right？〃
Veidt puted the feasibility。 〃I can so arrange；〃 he said； at last。
His back still turned to the screen； Louie smiled。 〃That may be all we need；〃 he whispered。
Exedore； Max； Miriya； and the Sterling daughters listener attentively while Cabell brought them up to date on current events and the speculative history of Haydon IV。 The five of them were huddled around the monitor； hands gripping on another's arms in contained excitement。
〃Yes； yes； it all fits precisely with the facts；〃 Exedore was telling the old sage。 〃The experiment shaped by Haydon has finally succeeded。 The Invid have exited the continuum and opened a breach to a new realm。 And the SDF…3 is trapped there。〃 He shook his head in astonishment。 〃This could account for all the irregularities； Cabell…this tightening of the cosmic fabric。〃
〃We think so；〃 Cabell said。 〃The creation of that breach as you call it； has possibly doomed the world we know to ultimate collapse。 It is as though Haydon's ‘success' has rendered all evolving life in this Quadrant obsolete。 Only one was needed to achieve that passage。〃 The Tiresian shook his head。 〃For the rest of us； a pat on the back and an accelerated heat death。〃
〃Jeez； you guys；〃 Dana cut in； 〃try not to sound so cheerful about it； huh。〃
〃Tough break； but they're right about it； Lieutenant；〃 Louie said； his goggled； smiling face on…screen all at once。 〃Louie！〃 Dana yelled。
〃Hey； Dana。 Told you you'd see me again before long。〃 Dana recalled the send…off party Louie's gang had thrown for the 15th aboard Wolff's ship。 The memory stirred thought of Jonathan and their last night together。 〃So where'd you spend the occupation； mechie？〃 she asked。
Louie grinned。 〃No time to go into that now； Dana。〃 He looked to Exedore。 〃We need to know whether the device Veidt gave you can access the Awareness。〃
The Zentraedi scratched at his thatch of barn…red hair。 〃Only in the most limited of capacities。〃
〃But you can get in？〃 Louie pressed。
〃Yes； but I don't see…〃
〃We're going to find out where Haydon's headed by hook or by crook； Exedore。 The Karbarrans； God help them； are finalizing their plans。 But their attack is going to provide us with the diversion we need。〃
〃Well； we're all set down here；〃 Dana enthused。 Catching sight of Max and Miriya's concern； Vince said； 〃Now look； Dana； don't try anything rash。 Veidt's already told us you'll be released。〃
〃Sorry； mander；〃 Dana countered with a dismissive wave at the screen； 〃but we're all out of trust down here。 Besides； there's no harm in creating a second diversionary front while you're running your op； is there？ Who knows； we might even be able to place a coupla monkey wrenches of our own。 〃
〃Dana；〃 Max and Louie said at the same time。 Max motioned for Nichols to continue。
〃There's one more thing we're gonna try first； Dana；〃 Louie told her。 〃We've got someone on board who might be able to tell us where the Regis went。〃
Dana flashed him a dubious look。 〃Yeah？ What'd you do； Louie； bring an Invid along for the ride？〃
Louie stroked his cleft chin。 〃Never was any fooling you； Lieutenant。〃
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
e let me show you our mon bond；
it's the reason that we live。
Flower； let me hold you。
We depend upon the Power that you give。
We should protect the seed； or we could all fade away；
Flower of Life； Flower of Life； Flower 。 。 。
Tiresian chant of the Cult of the Three…in…One
For once even Vard was concerned。 are you certain of what you're acplishing here？ he would ask at least once a day。 And Zor could answer only with that maniacal grin that had bee his ever…present look on Optera： Of course he was certain。 And wasn't this exactly what their elders in Tiresia expected of them： to return from these technovoyages with something extraordinary？ And if that wasn't enough； who were these Invid that they should have these incredible flowers to themselves？ That they alone should possess the ability to reshape the world about them？ No； this was for all worlds； Zor had suggested to Vard for the galaxy in all its wondrous variety！
Mad； in those times； possessed； though he would not recognize it in himself。。。
But to achieve it； thus； Vard would point out。 To achieve it by deceiving the hive queen of the race…this Regis。 To lay claim to royalty by pretending to be the long…expected one returned； the Bringer of the Flower。 And to resort to seducing the secrets from this naive being 。 。 。
This was central to Vard's concern…the fact that Zor had done nothing less than make love to this creature。 In her approximation of human guise and human…made raiments。 In her very chambers and in her very bed 。。。 For such was the only way that the secrets could be revealed。 The process； dear Vard； required a plete joining…mind…to…mind； body…to…body…and passion to acpany it。 Or； in Zor's case； an approximation of passion； a semblance of love。
Oh； in a sense he did love her； he supposed。 He certainly envied her； lusted after the knowledge the Flower of Life had imparted to her。 But as to all this mindspeech about remaining on Optera； about actually relinquishing some of his physicalform so that they might remain mates here 。。。 Well；