“You realize, of course,” Chay said, and his voice had become brisk, almost businesslike, “that I cannot take any of what you say on faith. Despite what appears to be an act of heroism, I must consider that every word you say could be a lie.”

“And that the pills I have brought you are in fact poison,” Nolan said. He nodded. “I did realize that. But your own doctors and scientists should be able to duplicate my experiments. There is nothing here so abstract they will not be able to follow it.”

“And I must be tested, and my associates must be tested, and the results must be analyzed. This all takes time.”

“Yes. I am prepared to wait.”

Chay stepped backward and touched a dial on his desk. Nolan heard nothing, but presumed it was a signal to call a guard. “You must be prepared to wait under arrest,” he said. “I will make your quarters as comfortable as I can, but I must treat you as highly dangerous.”

“I understand.”

“You will not be allowed to leave your quarters without an escort and my permission. You will not be permitted to see anyone except the guard.”

This time Nolan risked a full glance at Kitrini. “May I be allowed to speak to Kit from time to time? If she will see me?”

“Oh, yes,” Chay said, “for she will share your quarters.”

Nolan was still looking at Kit, so he saw her start forward, suddenly wakened from her frozen state. “Share exile with him,” she said. “But I had nothing—I did not know—”

The door opened, and two guards walked in. They were both at least six and a half feet tall, burly and uncompromising. Chay addressed Kit as if they were the only two in the room. “If this is a war,” he said, “you must choose your side.”

“I choose yours,” she said instantly.

Chay shook his head. “Your blood chooses for you,” he said. “Your face. Your heritage.”

“But I love you,” she whispered.

“There is no love in a war,” Chay said, and turned away from her.

The guards were between Chay and the visitors. Nolan did not resist as one of the men took him none too gently by the arm and marched him from the room. Behind him, he heard no more protests from Kit. It was a struggle to keep up with the rapid pace down the sunny granite hall, past dozens of doorways, through a maze of corridors. Nolan just concentrated on not falling flat on his face and having to be dragged by his heels down the endless hallways.