Exiles of the Stars

carved on that rugged wall, so intently did she regard it. I took a couple of strides to join her, but I could see nothing, though I searched, believing that she must have come upon something such as the cat mask.

'What is it now?' I ventured to break her concentration.

For the first time she made no answer. Her mind was closed as tight as any defense gate barred to the enemy. Still she stared, her head turning a fraction right, left, right again. But I could detect nothing to keep her so scanning stone.

'What is it?' Harkon echoed my question.

'I don't know. Maelen does not answer.' I touched the raised crest on her head.

She drew back from even that small physical contact. Nor did she open her mind or show that she was aware of me. Never before had this happened.

'Maelen!' I made of her name a challenge, a demand for attention. And I thought that even so I had not reached her. That fear she had implanted in me, the suggestion that she might surrender to her beast body, was sharp.

Then that swinging of the head, the unblinking stare, broke. I saw her red tongue flick out, lick her muzzle. Both her forepaws scraped upward along the sides of her head in a gesture which aped the human. She might have been trying to close her ears to some sound she could no longer stand, which was racking her with pain.

'Maelen!' I went to my knees. Our eyes were now nearly level. Putting out my hand, I caught those paws holding her head, urged her face a little around to meet my gaze. She blinked and blinked again— almost as one rousing from sleep.

'Maelen, what is the matter?'

There was no longer that solid barrier. Rather I was answered by a flood of confused impressions which I could not easily sort out. Then she steadied her chain of thought.

'Krip—I must get away—away from here!'

'Danger?'

'Yes—at least to me. But not from those we seek. There is something else. It has prowled at the edge of my thoughts since first we set foot on this dark world. Krip, if I do not take care there is that here which can claim me! I am Thassa—I am mistress—' I felt she did not say that to me, but repeated the words to herself to steady her control. 'I am Thassa!'

'You are Thassa!' Straightway I hastened to say that, as if merely repeating my conviction would be a life line thrown to one struggling against dire danger.

She dropped her forepaws to earth. Now her whole body was shaken by great shudders, such as might result from violent weeping. I dared to touch her again, and when, this time, she did not repulse me, I drew her close for such companionship as that hold might give her.

'You are Maelen of the Thassa.' I held my thought firm. 'As you will ever be! Nothing else can claim you here. It cannot!'

'What is the matter?' Harkon's hand was on my shoulder, giving me a small shake as if to summon my attention.

'I do not know.' I told him the truth. 'There is something here that threatens esper powers.'

'Harkon!' The other Patrolman, who had gone along the cliff, now stepped away from it. 'Set-down marks here. A flitter—big one by the looks of them.'

Harkon went to see; I remained with Maelen. She had turned her head, was nuzzling against my jacket in an intimacy she had never before displayed.

'Good—good to have you here,' her thought came. 'Keep so, Krip, keep so with me. I must not be less nor other than I am—I must not! But it is calling—it is calling me—'

'What is?'

'I do not know. It is like something which wishes help that only I can offer. Yet I also know that if I do go to it—then I am no longer me. And I will not be not-Maelen! Never while I live will I be not-Maelen!' The force of that was like a shout of defiance.

'No one but Maelen. Tell me how I can aid. I am here—' I gave her quickly what I had to offer.

'Remember Maelen, Krip, remember Maelen!'

I guessed what she wanted and built in my mind the picture I liked to remember best of all—of Maelen as I had first seen her at the Great Fair in Yrjar, serene, sure, mistress of herself, untroubled, proud of her little furred people as they performed before the awed townsfolk. That was Maelen as she would always be for me.

'Did you indeed see me so, Krip? I think you draw a picture larger and more comely, more assured, than I was in truth. But you have given me that to hold to. Keep it ever for me, Krip. When I need it—have it safe!'

Harkon was back. 'Nothing more to do here.' His tone was impatient. 'We had better head back. They lifted in a flitter, all right, which means they can be anywhere on this continent. Can you pilot your own flyer?'

I nodded, but looked to Maelen. Was she ready, able, to return? She wriggled in my hold and I loosed her. Perhaps she was well pleased to be on the move again. She scrambled into the flitter, curled up in the second seat as I settled in front of the controls.

The Patrol flitter headed straight back toward theLydis and I matched its speed. Maelen, curled still, seemed to sleep. At least she made no attempt at mind-touch. However, we were not to be long without a new problem. My com clicked and I snapped it on.

'Can you raise your ship?' was Harkon's terse demand. I had been so absorbed with Maelen I had not thought of sending any report to theLydis . Now I pressed the broadcast button. There was a hum—the beam was open. But when I punched out our code call I got no answer. Surprised, I tried again. The beam was open; reception should have been easy. Surely with us out on search the ship's receiver would have been constantly manned. Still no reply.