Within Ark One the slaves stumbled off to their narrow beds in the crowded rooms at the perimeter of the city. The drug introduced into their evening meal took its usual effect and they slept.

In their separate quarters workers, soldiers and Lords prepared themselves for bed. Promptly at ten o'clock a stimulus in their lifepaks released a natural chemical into each person's brain.

Soon they too were asleep.

STILL AWAKE were the eighteen from Ark Three. This was their third night as prisoners.

“I still cannot believe that these awful people came from our university, that they once shared our ideals,” said Athena for the fourth or fifth time.

“Believe it,” Karol answered grimly. “You've seen the slaves. You've felt the soldiers' guns in your back. Ruth's freedom song spoke the truth.”

“Hate and love. The two opposites in the nature of human-kind...

“These people may be hateful, but we in Ark Three were certainly not all that good.” Angela's voice trembled. “We talked about a loving Web, but how loving were we to Ruth? How loving was I?”

“Don't.” Miriam felt for Angela's hand in the darkness. “You know you're forgiven by Ruth. By everyone.”

“ Except myself. That's harder.”

The crowded store room was dark and silent. Only the air conditioning whispered. Then someone shifted uneasily.

“ It's I who should be asking forgiveness. If it hadn't been for me…” “Now, Luke …”

“... showing off my telekinetic powers, we wouldn't be in this mess. “

“ I just wish they'd work as well in here. Have you ...?”

“Yes, of course I have. Over and over. I've no strength at all. Right now I couldn't bend a grass stein with my mind. I can't understand it…”

“We should sleep.” Raef said softly.” Perhaps in the morning…”

“Let us try and make a Web once more,” Thomas suggested, and in the darkness they linked hands and joined minds. A flint flicker ran like a golden bracelet around the room. It was strong enough to strengthen each of them with the surety of each other's caring love; but when they tried to reach out to Ruth and the Initiator it was like running into a blank wall.

“Sleep,” said Raef again. ''If they had been caught they would surely have been put in here with the rest of us. They are still free and we must trust them to do what they can for us. “

ON TIIE SAME level, in a storage unit in South Quad, Ruth, Tomi and the Overlord were still awake. “What can your people do that I cannot?” the Overlord objected. “Why, you don't even utilize your own computer fully. How do you expect to understand ours?”

Ruth swallowed. The Overlord's piercing eyes seemed to scorn such alien ideas as Web making and telekinesis.