The Star Kings

resisting any attempt to invade through their realms. It also counts on the Lyra, Cygnus and Cassiopeia fleets joining us immediately when we flash the 'ready' signal. But are they going to fulfill their engagements? I must know if the allied Kingdoms are going to stand with us, before I make my dispositions.'

Gordon realized the tremendous gravity of the problem that faced Commander Giron far away in that southern void.

'Then you have already sent the 'ready' signal to the allied Kingdoms?' he asked.

'I took that responsibility two hours ago, in view of the alarming League fleet movements inside the Cloud,' was Giron's curt answer. 'So far, I have had no reply from the star-kingdoms.'

Gordon sensed the crucial nature of the moment. 'Give me twenty-four more hours, Commander,' he asked desperately. 'I'll try in that time to get positive commitments from the Barons and the Kingdoms.'

'In the meantime, our position here is vulnerable,' rasped the Commander. 'I suggest that until we are certain of the Kingdoms' allegiance, we should shift our main forces westward toward Rigel to be in position to counter any stroke through Hercules and Polaris.'

Gordon nodded quickly. 'I leave that decision entirely in your hands. I'll contact you the moment that I have positive news.'

Hull Burrell looked at him soberly, as the image of the Commander saluted and vanished.

'Prince Zarth, you'll not get the Kingdoms to stand by their alliance unless you prove to them we can wield the Disruptor!'

'I know,' Gordon muttered. He came to a decision. 'I'm going to see if my brother can talk to me.'

He realized now that as the Antarian had said, only a clear demonstration of the Disruptor would hold the wavering Kingdoms.

Could he dare try to wield that mysterious force? He knew something of its operations from what Jhal Arn had explained, but that something was not enough. If he could only learn more!

The physicians were worried and discouraging when he went to Jhal Arn's apartments.

'Prince Zarth, he's under drugs and is not able to talk to anyone! It would strain his strength-'

'I must see him!' Gordon insisted. 'The situation demands it.'

He finally had his way but they warned him, 'A few minutes is all we can allow, or we must reject all responsibility for whatever may happen.'

Jhal Arn opened drugged, hazed eyes when Gordon bent over him. It took him moments to realize what Gordon was saying.

'Jhal, you must try to understand and answer me!' Gordon begged. 'I've got to know more about the operation of the Disruptor! You know I told you how Shorr Kan's brain-scanner made me forget.'

Jhal Arn's voice was a drowsy murmur. 'Strange, it made you forget like that. I thought none of us would ever forget, the way every detail was drilled into us when we were boys.'

His whisper trailed weakly, sleepily. 'You'll remember it all when you have to, Zarth. The force-cones to be mounted on your ship's prow in a fifty-foot circle, the cables to the transformer follow to the binding-posts of the same color, the power-leads to the generators.'

His murmur became so faint that Gordon had to bend his head close. 'Get an exact radar fix on the center of your target area. Balance the directional thrust of the cones by the gauges. Only switch in the release when all six directional thrusts are balanced-'

His voice dribbled slowly away, weaker and weaker until it was inaudible. Gordon desperately tried to arouse him.

'Jhal, don't go out on me! I've got to know more than that!'

But Jhal Arn had subsided into a drugged slumber from which he could not be awakened.

Gordon ran it all over in his mind. He knew a little more than he had before.

The procedure of operating the Disruptor was clear. But that wasn't enough. It was like giving a savage of his own time a pistol and telling him how to pull the trigger. The savage might hold the pistol's muzzle in his own face as he pulled that trigger!

'But I've got to pretend at least that I'm going to demonstrate the thing,' Gordon thought tensely. 'That may hold the envoys of the Kingdoms until I can learn more from Jhal Arn.'

He went down with Hull Burrel to that deep-buried level of the palace in which lay the Chamber of the Disruptor.

The Antarian could not enter that corridor of deadly force that was tuned to blast every living being but Jhal Arn and himself. Gordon went in alone, and brought back the brackets for mounting the force-cones.

Hull Burrel looked even at these simple brackets in awe, as they took them up through the palace.

By tubeway, he and Hull Burrel sped to the naval spaceport outside Throon. Val Marlann and his men were waiting by the great, grim bulk of the Ethne.

Gordon handed over the brackets. 'These are to be mounted on the prow of the Ethne so that they will form a circle exactly fifty feet in diameter. You'll also make provision for a heavy power connection to the main drive-generators.'

Val Marlann's swarthy face stiffened. 'You're going to use the Disruptor from the Ethne, highness?' he exclaimed excitedly.

Gordon nodded. 'Have your technicians start installing these brackets immediately.'

He used the ship's stereo to call Tu Shal, the envoy of Polaris Kingdom. 'As you can see, Tu Shal, we are preparing to make the demonstration of the Disruptor. It will take place as soon as possible,' Gordon told the ambassador, with assumed confidence.

Tu Shal's troubled face did not lighten. 'It should be quickly, highness! Every capital in the galaxy is badly disturbed by rumors of the movements of Cloud fleets!'

Gordon felt almost hopeless, as he sped back to the palace. He couldn't stall like this much longer. And with Jhal Arn still comatose, he couldn't learn more about the Disrupter now.

As night fell, thunder grumbled over the great palace of Throon from an electric storm moving in from the sea. When Gordon went wearily up to his apartments, he glimpsed violet flares of lightning outside its windows, eerily illuminating the looming Glass Mountains.

Lianna was waiting for him there. She greeted him anxiously.

'Zarth, terrifying rumors of impending League attack are being whispered through the palace. It is to be war?'

'Shorr Kan may only be bluffing,' he said numbly. 'If only things hold off, until-'

He had almost said, until he could get to Earth and re-exchange bodies so the real Zarth could return to bear this fearful responsibility.

'Until Jhal recovers?' Lianna said, misunderstanding. Her face softened. 'Zarth, I know the terrible strain all this is to you. But you're proving that you're Arn Abbas' son!'

He wanted to take her into his arms, to bury his face against her cheek. Some of that must have showed in his face, for Lianna's eyes widened a little.

'Zarth!' cried an eager feminine voice.

He and Lianna both turned sharply. Gordon immediately recognized the lovely, dark-haired girl who had entered his rooms.

'Murn!' he exclaimed.

He had almost forgotten this girl who was the real Zarth Arn's secret wife, and whom the real Zarth loved.

Amazement, then incredulity, crossed her face as she looked at Lianna. 'Princess Lianna here! I did not dream-'

Lianna said quietly, 'There need be no pretense between us three, I know quite well that Zarth Arn loves you, Murn.'

Murn colored. She said uncertainly, 'I would not have come if I had known-'

'You have more right here than I have,' Lianna said calmly. 'I shall go.'

Gordon made a movement to detain her, but she was already leaving the room.

Murn came toward him and looked up at him anxiously with soft, dark eyes.

'Zarth, before you left Throon you said you would be different when you returned, that all would be with us as before.'