Part 15 (1/2)

”As near as I can,” said the Monitor. ”I shan't rest easy while he lives.”

”But he must be harmless now or they'd not have left him.”

”Is that a risk that you're prepared to take? Could you live in the same world as Dalroi now?”

”I take your point,” said Korch. ”There's a blaster out in the truck. Wouldn't a pistol be quicker?”

”I said a heavy blaster, d.a.m.n you! Nothing less than ashes will convince me that this limb of Satan won't reach down at me out of the darkness. Nothing less than ... ” He looked round, but Korch had already gone about his errand, suddenly infected with the Monitor's more than mortal fear.

Something coming back to life ...

The Monitor did not know, could not have known that Dalroi was already conscious and listening - listening to the first pulses of a throbbing rhythm deep in his brain. Yet with some unknown, unknowable perception he felt the growing eddy and flow of menace, cold and chill upon his brow.

”Korch, where the h.e.l.l's that blaster?”

A growing pulse of something coming back to life ... something incredible ... something terrible ...

something ... G.o.d! How they underestimated the old cunning!

”Korch, for Christ's sake! He's coming round!”