They were all there—­two dozen heavy grey aliens, sitting, standing, staring quietly at the floor.  There was little movement among them, but nevertheless he could feel the excitement which pervaded the Temple.  No, not excitement—­anxiety.  Fear.  Watching those huge bodies huddling into themselves, he heard an echo of Horng’s screams in his mind.  These creatures were afraid of battle, of conflict, and yet they had thrust themselves into a fight which they must lose.  Did they know that?  Could they believe what the machine of the Outsiders told them, after it had been proven fallible?

The Eye of Kor glowed dully in the dark inner room; two of the Hirlaji stood silently before it, watching, waiting.  But the religion of Kor had played no part in the lives of the Hirlaji for generations.  Now that the ancient, muddled religion had been brought to life again, could it have the same hold on them that it had once had?

Mara was on the floor of the Temple, leaning with her back against the wall.  One of the doorways from the outer colonnade was nearby, but five of the Hirlaji surrounded her.  And with a start Rynason noticed that her left arm hung limp and twisted at her side, and blood showed on her forehead.  Her face showed no emotion, but as he watched she raised her right hand to run fingers through her long dark hair, nervously.

She had not seen him, but she was waiting.  When he made his move she would follow him.  Rynason slipped back from the doorway and circled the building again until he had reached the entrance nearest the girl.  He drew out his stunner from its holster and looked at it for a moment.  He would have to be fast; his weapon would give him no advantage against the disintegrators of the Hirlaji, but surprise and speed might.  And, perhaps ... fear.

He broke around the corner of the doorway at a dead run, firing as he went.  Two of the Hirlaji fell before they could even turn; they crumpled to the floor heavily.  Then he screamed—­a high scream, like Horng’s, and as loud as he could make it, a wail, a cry of anguish and terror and pain.  They felt it, and it touched a response in them; the Hirlaji who surrounded Mara twisted to look at him, but they instinctively shrank away.  He continued to fire, bringing down three more of them while the confusion lasted.  He broke through to Mara, who was already on her feet; without breaking his stride he grasped her by her good shoulder and pulled her along with him as he ran through.

But some of the Hirlaji recovered in time to block their escape.  Rynason wheeled, looking frantically around the room for an unguarded exit.  None of those within reach were clear.  He fired again, and ran for the altar.

One of the Hirlaji had raised a disintegrator; Rynason caught him with the stunner as he fired, and the beam of the alien’s weapon shot past his leg, digging a pit into the floor beyond him.  Other weapons were raised now; they had only seconds left.