“What do you want then?”

“To talk to Seventy-Three.”

“Why her? What d'you know about her?”

“That she's the Bentt family slave. That through her I can arrange a secret meeting with Tomi.”

“The New Lord? It is a trap, Eight-Forty-Two.”

Scarface caught Ruth by the chin and forced her face up so that her eyes met his. “What do you have to do with the Lords? With the son of the Overlord?”

“The Overlord? I don't know. I just want to meet Tomi, to give him a message from Outside.”

“Go on!”

Ruth bit her lip. Should she tell them the whole truth about Tomi? Suppose they didn't believe her? They might get extra privileges by giving him away to the Overlord or the soldiers. The son of the Overlord. They should have told her. It was even more complicated than she had thought.

“Well?” The hand on her chin tightened.

“He's helping them - the escaped slaves - to build a community Outside. He'll help you, too.'

“A Lord?” He spat in her face and pushed her away so that she fell against the frame of a bed. She crouched against it, swallowing anger and nausea, wiping the spittle from her face over and over again.

“Watch her. Don't let her out of your sight.” He spoke abruptly to one man and jerked his head to the others. In a moment the room was empty except for Ruth and one slave, standing stolidly against the door, picking his teeth.

The Lords

IT SEEMED that hours went by while the stolid slave stood, back against the door, staring at Ruth. She tried desperately to link her mind to Luke's, to the others, but she could feel nothing out there but the continuous numbing heartbeat of the city.

Perhaps I could distract him, she thought, looking around for something that she could knock over or throw with her mind.

But there was nothing in the room. Anyway, where would I go? I have to be patient and talk to Tomi. It's the only way.

The door opened and a small woman slid through the opening, with Scarface close behind. Though she was obviously a slave, her tunic was neatly mended, and the dark hair that hung down below her shoulders was untangled and clean.

She stood in front of Ruth and stared at her suspiciously. Why, she's hardly any older than I am, Ruth thought, and wondered what it really must be like to be a slave, without family, possessions, learning, freedom.

“What do you want with my Lord Tomi?”

“You are Seventy-Three? Thank goodness! I thought you were never coming. ''

“What do you want with my Lord?” she asked again.

“I have to talk to him. “

“Slaves do not talk to Lords.”

“He'll talk to me. If you'll give him my message.”

“I daren't. He might be angry. The Lords are all upset. Something ... He could beat me. Or dismiss me.”