“If he does, I’ll kill him.”He pulled her close and kissed her with brutal savageness. She kickedhim ineffectively in the shins, struggling to get free. At last, hereleased her. His eyes held a cruel, lustful look. “I should takeyou right now!”
She slugged him in the stomach.He lifted her off the ground and bodily threw her across the room.She crashed into the bedside table, her side hitting the table edgewith intense impact. She crumpled up in agonizing pain as the roomtilted and whirled around her. Her vision blurred and she feltlightheaded.
“Want to play more games?”Cadmus asked, glaring down at her.
She stared at him with dread,while hearing the baby’s cries fill the room.
“Get up!”
She grasped the table, attemptingto pull herself up. Cadmus grabbed her arm and yanked her to herfeet. She cried out in pain, her body broke into a sweat and vomitrose in her throat. She swallowed it back down.
“What is it?” he demanded.
“My side,” she gasped,clutching it. “I think I broke a rib.” She swooned and Cadmusgathered her into his arms. She was hardly aware of anything but thesearing pain, stabbing into her side like a thousand needles.
“We have to get out of here.”
She gazed at the cradle,distressed at the thought of never seeing her child again.
Baymond lay on his back; hislittle face was red and his tiny hands clutched into fists as hecontinued to scream. She sent him love while inwardly reaching out toMichio. Comequickly. Baymond needs you; I need you.She was in such agony that the inner communication wasn’t clear anddirect. Her hand went to the heart locket that hung around her neckas she thought of Michio.
Cadmus’s eyes followed hergesture. He snatched the locket from her, breaking the chain, andthrew it on the floor. “You’ll wear no man’s gifts but mine.”
He carried her downstairs wheretwo of his men waited. When Toemeka saw them, she was terrified thatMichio would arrive home and be killed. What chance did he haveagainst three men? All hope of being rescued drained away and herfight and strength left her. She broke down sobbing against Cadmus’thick shoulder.
He took her outside and liftedher into an air-car. They traveled at high speed for what seemed likean eternity to Toemeka with her pain-ridden body. She continued toweep until she was drained of tears and only partially conscious ofwhat was happening around her. Her side ached unmercifully and everyjerk of the vehicle caused new waves of torturous, stabbing pain.
At last the car stopped. Cadmusgot out and lifted her into his arms. “We’ll be on the ship in afew minutes. You can rest there,” he said.
Once inside his cabin, he placedher on a bed and sat beside her. She caught a glimpse of tendernessin his eyes, but when her eyes met his, the look was immediatelyreplaced by an unyielding expression.
“It’s your own fault you gotinjured. You shouldn’t have resisted me.” He lifted a bottle fromthe dresser and handed her some pills. “Take these.”
“What are they?”
“Something to help ease thepain.”
“I don’t want them.” Sheturned away from him. The roar of the engines started up and sorrowfilled her. She didn’t know if she would ever see her husband andchild again.
Cadmus sat on the bed next to herand pulled her into a sitting position. He put a pill in her mouthand forced her to swallow it with some sweet-tasting liquid. She layback on the bed, resting again. After a while, bright colors startedflashing through her head, then they turned into evil cartoon-likefigures.
MasterBakka, where are you? I need to feel your presence, shethought. Whatdid he give me?Distorted images clouded her mind and sent her into a terrible regionin the lower astral world. Monsters and other grotesque creaturesappeared. “Go away! Go away!” she moaned.
“Having a bad trip?” Cadmusasked.
She opened her eyes and gasped.Cadmus’s face was greatly distorted, like a trick circus mirror.
“Don’t be frightened,”Cadmus said in a thick voice. “It’s the drug.”
The distortion gradually fadedand she felt more in touch with reality. Cadmus lay next to her onthe bed, raised up on his elbow, studying her. By the glazed look inhis eyes, she could tell he was also high. He reached up and turnedon some soothing music. “This should help.”
A drugged lethargy came over herand she floated off to a place filled with bright colors.
5
Tests
Michio landed his spacecraft,then jumped out and ran into the house, yelling for Toemeka. He knewsomething was wrong; he’d felt her distress and picked up her innermessage. She wasn’t downstairs so he dashed upstairs, taking twosteps at a time, and ran into the bedroom where he heard the babycrying. Signs of a struggle met his eyes: a broken lamp lying on thefloor and things strewn about.
Michio picked up Baymond androcked him in his arms until the baby quieted. The window was openand a strong wind blew, causing the shutters to bang against thehouse. He closed them and sat on the bed still holding his infantson. “Master Bakka, who took Toemeka and why?” he asked out loud,his shoulders slumping. He didn’t know where to begin searching anddespair came over him as he thought about all the dark possibilities.
The baby cooed and touched hisface, bringing him back. He gazed lovingly at the small infant in hisarms. The child’s innocence reached through his pain. Calmer, helooked around the room. “I have to figure out what happened to yourmother and bring her back,” Michio said as he began searching theroom for clues.
Almost immediately he found thebroken golden chain and heart-shaped locket. He gazed at the twointertwined roses on one side, then turned it over and read theinscription engraved on it: “Our love will never die.” He felt alump in his throat and opened the locket. Toemeka’s pretty, youngface gazed back at him on one side and his own portrait smiled backon the other.
He took a deep breath beforecontinuing his search. At last he found the small label on the floor.Something was hastily scribbled on it. He deciphered an indistinctletter “C” followed by “ad” and then it hit him: Cadmus!
His heart stopped. Couldit
