She frowned thoughtfully and then looked up at me with a strange, half-puzzled look. She pursed her lips.

"I will do as you suggest," she said at length. "But even at their fastest our aircraft will take several days to reach Mishim Tep—and an army will take even longer getting here. We will have difficulty resisting so long a siege!"

"But outlast it and resist it we must—for Varnal and for the security of your neighboring states," I told her. "If the Argzoon conquer the Karnala, then they will sweep on across other nations. They must be stopped at Varnal—or your entire civilization could go under!"

"You have a clearer idea of what is at stake than I." She smiled slightly. "And you have only been with us a short time."

"Warfare," I said quietly, thinking of my own experiences, "does not seem to change much anywhere. The basic issues remain much the same—the strategy, the aims. I have already encountered two of your Blue Giants and hate to think of this lovely city being ruled by them!"

I did not add that it was not only the city I feared for but Shizala, too. Try as I might, I could not make myself forget the emotion I felt for her. I knew now she was betrothed to another and that whatever she or I felt it was impossible that anything could come of it. Evidently her code was quite as strong as mine and would not let her weaken, just as I did not intend to weaken.

For a long moment we looked into each other's eyes and all this was there—the pain, the knowledge, the resolution.

Or did I simply imagine that she was to some degree attracted to me? I must not think such thoughts, in any case. It was over—and Varnal must be protected.

"Have you more suitable arms for me than this?" I said, indicating the Argzoon sword.

"Of course. I will call a guard. He will take you to the arms room where you can select whatever weapons you wish."

At her command, one of the guards stepped forward and she ordered him to take me to tie arms room.

He led me down several flights of steps until we were deeper below the palace than I had been before.

At last he stopped at two huge, metal-studded doors and cried:

"Guard of the Tenth Watch-it is Ino-Pukan Hara with the guest of the Bradhinak! Please open." An Ino-Pakan, I now knew, was a warrior with a rank about equivalent to sergeant.

The doors moved slowly open and I stood in a long hall of great size, dimly lit by the waning blue bulbs in the roof. The guard who admitted us was an old man with a long beard. At his belt were twin pistols. He carried no other weapons.

He looked at me quizzically.