Out of Phaze

5. Search

Bane stared. The landscape was absolutely barren. There were no trees, no bushes, no plants at all. There was only dry sand and grayish mist as far as he could see. It was dusk, but he realized that even by full daylight he would not have seen much more.

"The country - where be it?" he asked, horrified.

"This is the country, Bane," Agape said through the speaker-grille in her helmet.

"But it can't be! There be no life here!"

"There is no life on Proton," she said. "Except within the domes. Did you not know?"

"I - I thought it would be like Phaze, only less so," he admitted. "This-how did it happen?"

"I do not know much about the history of this planet, but I believe it was once alive. But the residents paid no heed to the quality of its environment, and so gradually it became as it is now, with good air and life in the dome-cities, and bad air outside. It is not this way where you live?"

"It be all sunshine and forest and meadows where the unicorns graze and rivers and magic," Bane said. "Oh, what a horror be here!"

"But that means that the one you seek is comfortable, for he is there," she pointed out. "You can seek him as you intended."

"But - this," he said, baffled by the desolation.

"We can walk, or perhaps ride."

"Ride? There be no animals here!"

"There are vehicles. I think serfs are permitted to utilize them."

"Vehicles?"

"I do not know the specifics, but I am sure some are near, for the residents of the domes do not like to walk far outside. Let us look."

Bane let her take the lead. She moved around the curve of the building they had just exited, and there was an alcove with several squat shapes within. She trudged to one and lifted its glassy upper section. Inside there were two deep holes. She climbed into one. "This will do," she said. "Take the other seat, Bane. I think I can drive this."

He climbed into the other hole. The transparent top settled down, shutting them in. Then there was a hissing, and gas swirled up. He tried to scramble out, but Agape restrained him. "It is not evil, Bane! It is air, so I can breathe without the helmet. When the light shows green, it will be all right."

And in a moment a green light appeared before them, on a panel in the vehicle. Agape removed her helmet. "It will not release until I reseal my suit," she said. "The gas out here would be harmful to my metabolism."

"But I want not to stay in here!" he protested. "I want to look for mine other self!"

She smiled. "I think it is good that I am with you. I will make this machine perform." She touched buttons before her, and took hold of a handle, bringing it out and down toward her.

Suddenly the vehicle lurched forward. Bane almost leaped out of his seat, but this time padded straps appeared and restrained him.

He peered out the forward glass. The terrain was coming toward him, as though he were riding a horse. "This-this be a wagon!" he exclaimed. "It moves by itself!"

"Yes, it is a machine, like your body, but not as intelligent as yours."

"A machine," he repeated, assimilating the concept. "Like a golem, or an enchanted object."

"I think your world is as alien to this one as is mine," she said.

"My world is natural. This be the alien one."

"With that, too, I can agree." She glanced at him. "Where would you travel, Bane?"

"I-I hadn't thought. I mean, I had expected to circle in the forest, seeking to intercept mine other self. But now I know not."

"The forest remains there, for him," she reminded him. "I can circle if you wish." And she guided the vehicle into a broad loop.

"No, I have other thoughts, now. I think he would not have remained in the glade. There be dangers." He peered out again. "The night be closing rapidly. He would seek shelter."

"Would he know where to find it?"

That question did not ease Bane's mind. "I fear not. He could follow the path, but it forks, and the one fork goes to the Unicorn Demesnes, while the other-Oh, I hope he took that one not!"

"Where does it go?"

"To the swamp, where there be monsters. Of course, if they took him for me they would stay clear." He brightened. "The clothing marks me as of the Blue Demenses."

"Clothing?"

"Yes. We wear clothing there. So-" "But he is of Proton," she pointed out. "Would he wear clothing?"

Bane's heart sank. "Nay, I fear not. But if he followed that path naked-" He shuddered.

"If he should follow it, and wear his clothing so he was not harmed, where would he finish?" Agape asked.

"It goes to an old empty crater the ogres used. But we cleaned them out. Sometimes Fleta and I would go there to play." He smiled privately.

"Who is Fleta? A girl-companion?"

He laughed. "Companion, yes; girl, no. Tell me not thou'rt jealous of her, Agape!"

"I am your companion, and I am not a girl," Agape said. "Am I permitted to be jealous?"

He mulled that over. "I suppose there be a parallel, after all. Fleta and I were very close, as children, though I have seen not much of her recently. Thou mayst be jealous if thou dost wish." He smiled.

"Thank you."

Suddenly he realized something. "I have reverted to mine own mode of speech! I should have talked to thee-to you not thus!"

"Please, Bane, do not change your speech for me. I like it as it is. I know what it is to be in a strange society."

"But if others realize mine origin, there could be trouble." He was also embarrassed to think that it had probably happened because he had been distracted by her voluptuous body.

"I will not tell others," she promised.

He believed her. He had no magic here, but he had a sense about people, and he liked her. "Then let's find mine other self."

"Of course."

"But let's assume he followed the correct path. That would take him to the Herd, and they would recognize him with or without clothing, and bear him home to the Blue Demesnes."

"The herd?"

"The local unicorn herd. They be all oath-friends with Neysa, and Neysa is oath-friend to my father Stile, so none would e'er do me harm. They would believe that Mach is me, under some hostile spell, so would take him home right away."

"And home is these blue demesnes? Where are they?"

"North of the herd demesnes. In Phaze every type of creature of any significance has its own region, called its demesnes, and so do the Adepts, the leading magicians. Of course there be a number of unicorn herds, just as there be many werewolf packs, but the important ones to us be the oath-friends."

"Wolves too?"

"It all dates back to when my father made the Oath of Friendship with Neysa, so powerful it embraced all the members of the Herd and the Pack too. Because I be the child of Stile, I can safely go anywhere in those demesnes, because no unicorn or werewolf would harm me, and no lesser creature would dare to, for fear of the Herd and the Pack. So Mach will be safe."

"If he took that path," she said.

"He has to have taken that path!" he said vehemently. "Otherwise-"

"Surely he took it," she agreed.

"So we can go to the Blue Demesnes, and find him there," he concluded.

"And these are north of here?"

"Should be northeast of here."

"But-"

"They be north of the Herd, but the Herd be east of the glade where we exchanged identities. That glade coincides with Mach's room in the dome; that be why I was able to locate him there, and finally to achieve rapport with him. Since the two geographies be identical, I can find the spot here by taking the same route I would there." He peered again into the darkening gloom. "I hope."

"There should be a map," she said.

"A map?"

"A map of Proton. All planets have maps." She touched buttons, and a screen illuminated. Soon the map appeared.

Bane stared at it. "That be Phaze!" he exclaimed.

"It says it is Proton," she said. "See, here is our city, Hardom, with our vehicle location glowing." She pointed to the blinking spark of light on the map.

"That be the Harpy Demesnes!" he said. "Right above the Purple Mountains."

"Harpy Demesnes? Was the city named after the harpies?"

"Impossible! There be no harpies in Proton." But then he reconsidered. "Still, that does sound like har as in harpy, and since it be a dome-Har-dome. Hardom. I wonder." He focused on the other points of the map. "Down here be the Mound Folk of Phaze-and here be Moudom! And here, farther to the east, be the demesnes of the Gnomes-and here be Gnodom! They do match!"

"It really is a map of Phaze? This seems remarkable, if there has been no contact between the frames."

"Maybe not. Up until twenty years ago, the frames were more closely connected. There was a curtain that some folk could cross. My father crossed it, to woo my mother. How long ago were these cities named?"

She touched another button. "It says three hundred years ago, for most."

"Then that's it! They were named when Phaze and Proton were one, before they separated, and long before that separation became complete. The original settlers knew they were the same!"

"This is very interesting," she said. "My own planet has only one aspect."

"That's probably the case with most-you call them planets?"

"The satellites of other stars, far away."

He was distracted for a moment. "How far away be thine?"

"About fifty light years."

He shook his head. "That means naught to me."

She smiled. "Magic means nothing to me, but I accept your information on it."

He returned the smile. "I question not thy word, Agape. And thou art not a human being?"

"I am not. I assume this form so that I may participate without offense in this human society."

"Just as Fleta assumed human form to play with me," he said. "I have no trouble with that."

"I am most pleased that you do not. Though my form in its natural state does not resemble yours, my protoplasm is similar and my emotions similar too. I wish to be your friend."

"Thou art my friend, Agape. Thou art helping me greatly."

"I am pleased to do so. Do you wish me to program this vehicle for the Blue Demesnes?"

"Program it?"

"To give it a directive that will guide it there without further guidance from us," she explained.

"But there be no Blue Demesnes here! Just the spot where they be in Phaze."

"The map shows a location titled 'Blue,' " she said. "Does this coincide?"

He looked. "It does! But how could that be? Sure I be that the Blue Demesnes have been there not for three hundred years!"

"I do not know; I have been only briefly on this planet."

"Well, go ahead and send the machine there. This is not much different from magic."

She operated the buttons. The vehicle turned, assuming the new course, and accelerated.

It was full night now, but no stars showed; the gloom masked whatever light might have tried to shine through. The vehicle's front lamp shone forward, showing nothing but sand rushing past. This seemingly mindless progress made Bane nervous, so he averted his gaze.

That brought Agape into view. "How long will it take to reach the Blue Demesnes?" he asked.

She touched another button. "About fifteen minutes. The vehicle is very fast."

"Fifteen minutes to accomplish a trip that would require a horse two hours!" he exclaimed.

"Space travel is much faster."

That reminded him of her origin. In the dim light of the interior of the vehicle she looked completely human, and beautiful. Her hair framed her face with the color of a pale sunset, and her eyes seemed preternaturally deep. "Thou really art alien?" he asked, finding this hard to believe.

"Completely," she agreed. "In physical form."

"Thou art the loveliest woman I have seen!"

"That is because I have shaped myself to be what your kind considers attractive. You would not find me so, in my natural state."

"Canst thou assume thy natural state now?"

"I can. But I think I would prefer not to. Your machine self perceived me in that state, and was not repulsed, but you are human, and I want to attract you, not repulse you."

"Why dost thou care how I react to you? If thou art as different as thou sayst, I must appear to be a monster to thee."

"Oh, no, Bane!" she protested. "You are a fine figure of your species, to me. I would like to be your girlfriend."

"Just because mine other self helped thee?"

"I like him well for that, but now I know you better, and I like you better. You are more alive."

"How could an alien creature be a-a girlfriend to me?"

"I was hoping you would be able to show me that."

He shook his head, still having trouble reconciling her words with her appearance. She was infernally beautiful, and he liked her personality; it really did not seem

alien. "Methinks I could show a real woman. But an alien might understand not at all."

She leaned close to him. "Please, Bane, I want very much to learn! I will do anything you suggest."

Still that nagging doubt. "Why dost thou want to learn? The human means of association and-and the rest should not concern a completely different creature."

"My species is amoebic," she said. "Your kind calls our world Moeba. We have had no experience with the pairing of sexes. We pair any with any, as we choose. But we observe that most other species of the galaxy are twin-sexed, and this appears to confer an advantage in evolution, so that they achieved technology and space before we did, and now we are dependent on them for interplanetary trade and travel between the stars. We can learn whatever they teach us, so now we are constructing our own ships of space, but we believe we should also master their secret of evolution. This is one reason I have come to the Planet of Proton. To learn about the sexes. I have assumed the female form because it is relatively passive; I believe I can learn better this way. But learn I must, so I can report to my kind and they can judge whether this is a feasible course."

"I thought thou didst plan to stay here," he said, finding himself disappointed.

"I do. I will stay just as long as I can. I will become a Citizen if I can. I will send my reports by spacemail; I will remain here. There is more to learn here than sexual reproduction."

"Then thou willst be a human being for the rest of thy life, or seem to be."

"Yes, Bane. Already I feel somewhat human, with you."

"Willst thou show me, at least a little, thy true form?"

"I do not wish to revolt you, Bane."

"I will make thee a deal," he said. "Show me thy true nature, and I will show thee how to-to be a human woman. Some."

"Some? Bane, I must learn it all!" "But these things are not done just as a business," he protested. "It-I have never done it all with a human woman, actually. Just games with Fleta and the like."

"Show me a little, and I will show you a little," she offered.

He laughed, somewhat uneasily. "Fair enough, Agape. Here be a little." He leaned farther toward her, tilted his head, and touched her lips with his own.

Her lips were unresponsive. It was like kissing mush.

He drew back. "That was it?" she inquired.

"Thou dost have to kiss back!" he exclaimed.

"You mean, to purse my mouth while you purse yours?"

"Aye. Only with some feeling. This be supposed to be an emotional contact, knowest thou not?"

"Ah, now I understand. To feel desire during the act."

"Thy kind does feel desire?"

"It does. It merely expresses it in another fashion."

"Shallst try again?" He leaned forward, and touched her lips with his for the second time.

And this time hers were firm and highly responsive. He found it easy to get into the spirit of the kiss. He reached his arms about her, and she emulated his action. He pressed her in close, and she pressed him in close, and it was several times the experience he had anticipated, despite the bulkiness of her suit.

Except for one thing. She was doing what he did-too perfectly. She was like a three-dimensional mirror image. Nothing originated with her; it all was a reflection of him.

He drew back. "Much improved," he said. "But thou must not copy me in every detail. That makest thou seem-like a machine."

She laughed. "I understand! One must not be mechanical."

"Perhaps Mach would have had different advice," he agreed, smiling.

"I did not know you had changed identities, but I think I will know the difference hereafter. Though your body is a machine, your mind is alive."

He nodded. "I wonder how that be possible? I certainly feel not like a machine."

"I believe our forms determine our natures to a degree," she said. "I do not feel like an amoeba, either." She sighed. "And now I must make my small showing, and perhaps you will never kiss me again."

"I'll make the effort," he promised.

She peeled back her suit, so that she became bare to the waist. "Watch me."

"I be watching thee."

"My hand, not my torso."

"Oh." He modified his gaze accordingly.

She held up her left hand. It was a fine, esthetic extremity, with four slender fingers and an opposed thumb, each nail delicately tinted. But slowly it changed. The fingers lost firmness, becoming floppy balloons. They sank back onto the body of the hand, which melted into a glob.

Bane stared. "Thou hast no bones?"

"No bones anywhere in my body. Only tissue that I make firm, patterned after human bones, to support the structure."

"When Fleta changes, she does it instantly. One moment she be a pretty girl; the next she be a hummingbird. Of course that's magic."

"I cannot do that," Agape admitted. "It does require a little time for me to change, and I must melt into my natural state before assuming an alternate form. And-I do not know the hummingbird. Is it of similar mass to the human form?"

Bane snorted. "Hardly! It's a tiny thing, hardly bigger than my thumb. Size matters not, with magic."

"I find that hard to believe."

"I think anyone in Proton would find it hard to believe."

"My mass remains constant. I could assume the form of a bird, but it would be of my present weight, and could not fly."

"Thy hand-it could become something else?"

For answer, she concentrated. The lump of protoplasm at the end of her arm grew projections, each of which sprouted further projections, until she had about thirty thin fronds there. "A Formican appendage," she said. "I remember that form from the time I visited their planet."

"So thy magic be limited in speed and size, but unlimited in form," he concluded. "I think thy ability be as good as Fleta's."

"Thank you-I think," she said. The new appendage dissolved, and the human hand began to reform. "You are not revolted?"

"Agape, I be used to shape-changing. Once did I envy the werewolves their ability to change from human form to canine form, and have all the powers of the animal. And I liked Fleta in all three of her forms."

"Then I am relieved. I will change form for you, when you ask me to." She leaned toward him, and he, understanding her desire, kissed her. This time she was responsive without mirroring him. She was a rapid learner!

The vehicle slowed. They broke. "We are there," Agape said, hauling up her suit and restoring her helmet. "We shall search for your other self now."

Bane was almost disappointed. He cared less about shapes than about personality, thanks to his experience with the magical creatures of Phaze, and both her human form and her attitude were easy to accept. It was too bad he would lose contact with her when he exchanged places with his other self and returned to Phaze.

They opened the vehicle and stepped out. They found ruins. There had evidently once been a small dome here, with a castle in it of the same type as that of the Blue Demesnes in Phaze, but all was wreckage now. The desert sand was doing its best to bury the remains.

But there was no wreckage in Phaze. Bane walked around the oddly familiar premises, seeking some hint of his other self. If he overlapped the space, or even came close, he would know. It would not work for any other person; he could be walking right through others in Phaze, and never know. But his own self he could not miss.

It wasn't here. There was no sign of the self at all. Bane criss-crossed every part of the ruin, finding nothing.

"He didn't get here," he said at last.

"Surely some delay," Agape said quickly. "Proceeding afoot, unfamiliar with the terrain-it might require days."

"It might. It also might mean he's dead."

"We must not believe that!" she said. "I-I have no experience with this phenomenon of dual selves, but I conjecture-wouldn't you feel something if there were demise? Is there not some continuing connection between the two of you?"

"I suppose there should be," Bane agreed thoughtfully. "I tuned in to him in the first place by going with the flow. The closer I got, the more I felt it, when I listened."

"Listen now!" she urged.

He stood and listened. He tried to extend his awareness out, to become perceptive to the soul of his other self, wherever it might be. He could almost see his ambience reaching out in a great circle, sensitive to the ambience of his other identity in Phaze.

He found it! Faintly in the distance, like an echo, he felt the rapport. "He be alive!" he exclaimed. "There!" He pointed to the southwest.

"Back the way we came," Agape said. "Or a little west; the vehicle curved eastward."

"We can go directly toward him!" Bane said, relieved. "Oh, thank thee for the notion, Agape!" He took hold of her, intending to kiss her, but discovered it was impossible while she was in suit and helmet.

They returned to the vehicle. The dome of it sealed, and the air came in. Agape lifted back her helmet. "Did you have something in mind, Bane?"

"Just to go toward my other self until we intercept him," he said. Then, becoming aware of her expectant attitude: "Oh, yes." He leaned over and kissed her. This time it was about as good as it seemed likely to get, in this circumstance.

That gave him pause. "When I-thou willst be left here, with Mach."

"I know you must return to your own land," she said. "For you, Proton is more alien than it is to me."

"Dost thou know, Agape, I almost wish I could take thee with me."

"I almost wish I could go," she agreed. "But even as your place is there, my place is here. I have a duty to my species that I must fulfill. So I think that even were it possible, I would not go with you to your magic realm. I remain glad to have been with you these hours."

There didn't seem to be much more to say. Agape started the vehicle moving, and guided it in the direction he indicated, this time keeping it under her own control. They proceeded slowly toward the rendezvous with his other self.

After an hour of travel through the wasteland, they were startled by a voice from the vehicle's speaker grille. "Directive: Serf Mach return immediately to base at Hardom. Serf Agape return immediately to base at Hardom."

"They are addressing us!" Agape said. "I must acknowledge."

"Wait!" Bane snapped. "Thou meanest we can speak to them?"

"When I invoke the communication code," she said. "It will only require a moment." She reached for the panel.

He blocked her hand. "Nay! If we speak to them, they will know we hear them. I must find my other self before we leave this course."

"But to disobey would be very bad," she protested.

"To obey might cost me my rendezvous! We have been getting closer; I can feel it. I can quit not now!"

"But there will be punishment." "They can punish me not after I'm gone!" Then he reconsidered. "But thou willst still be here-and Mach too. That be bad."

"Serf Mach and/or serf Agape," the speaker said. "Your vehicle is occupied and moving. If you are alive and conscious, respond immediately."

"We must answer!" she said.

"But if we don't, they'll think we be dead or unconscious, and I can reach mine other self."

"I should not do this," she said, keeping her hands away from the panel.

"I'll make it up to thee!" he said. "I'll show thee all I know about-about being a girlfriend."

She smiled with a certain resignation. "Before or after you return to Phaze?"

"Before, of course! I can do it not after."

"Then that must be now."

Now he realized the significance of her question. If he took time now, he might lose his chance to achieve rapport with his other self, because there was no way to tell what threat the other might be under in Phaze. He couldn't afford to wait a moment longer than he had to. But if he didn't do it now, it wouldn't get done at all.

"Mayhap thou canst tell the vehicle to move by itself, as thou didst before," he suggested.

"I must give it a destination-and I think there is none it will understand, for this."

She was right again. He had to tune in on the other self, and she had to direct the vehicle to the spot he indicated. They could not let the vehicle run itself.

"We shall have to stop for a while, then," he said heavily.

"No, Bane, I would not interfere with your desire. Go to meet your other self."

"And leave thee here, without thine information, to be maybe sent back to thy world because thou didst help me," he said. "I can do that not."

"I think Mach would show me, if I explained. Do not delay."

"I want to show thee myself!" he said. "It be my job."

"I release you from it."

"Nay, what be right be right. Anyway-" He paused with realization. "I really do want to do it myself. I mean, not because I said I would. I-"

"Do not forget, I am an alien creature," Agape said.

"Thou'rt a nice person, in human form," he said. "Stop the vehicle."

"But you must not delay! I understand that."

"We have a conflict of interests. My father taught me to do what is right, no matter what the cost. Thou mayst have cost thyself thy stay on Proton, by helping me; I must risk my return to Phaze, helping thee. It be right. But more: I haven't known thee long, Agape, but I like thee very well already. I want to do what thou dost want me to."

She had a notion. "Perhaps we could keep the vehicle going, on a semi-automatic course, and you can tell me when to correct it. So no travel time would be lost."

"Will that work?"

"We shall find out." She adjusted the buttons on the panel, then settled back. The vehicle kept moving.

"Oh, Agape, I wish I had met thy like in Phaze!" he exclaimed, leaning over to kiss her. This time the experience was intensely rewarding.

In moments she was out of her suit and hugging him hungrily. But the seat restraints would not release their lower extremities while the vehicle was moving, and threatened to confine their upper portions too whenever there was a bump. This severely limited the action.

"I will deactivate the restraints," Agape said, touching the panel again.

"Serf Mach and/or serf Agape," the speaker said, startling them both. "Vehicle safety restraints have been deactivated. This indicates conscious activity. Acknowledge status immediately."

"Canst silence it?" Bane asked.

"Serf Mach return immediately to base at-" the speaker said, cutting off as she touched another button.

"What should I do now?" Agape asked.

"Come join me in my seat-no, I'll join thee in thine-" Bane hesitated, finding neither location suitable. Each place was made for one person; there really was not room for two, especially not for this type of activity. They needed more space.

"In my natural state, there are no such problems," Agape said. "But of course our forms are not fixed."

"Don't change thy form!" Bane cried. "There has to be a way!"

They tried for some time to find a way, but the confines of the vehicle were simply too restricted. Kissing and some handling were all they could manage.

Then there was a crash. Both were thrown against the front panel. The vehicle tilted and tumbled. It came to rest abruptly, and the smell of the polluted air outside came in.

"Dome's cracked!" Agape exclaimed, scrambling desperately back into her suit.

"We watched not, and we hit something," Bane said, chagrined.

They forced up the canopy and climbed out. The headlamp shone off at an angle, but the beam of light was enough.

"The Lattice!" Bane cried. "I forgot the Lattice!"

"This is an interruption in the terrain?"

"Worse than that! It be a pattern of cracks in the ground, very deep. Demons lurk in their depths. Only a unicorn can cross it without falling in, and not all of them. I forgot that the same pattern exists in Proton, only without the demons. We be lucky we crashed in the shallow part of it!"

Agape leaned into the vehicle and caused the map to appear. "Yes, it is there-LATTICE," she said. "I should have checked for hazards of terrain. Now I see why the vehicle traveled in a curve going north."

"We'll have to go around," Bane said.

"I fear not, Bane. The wheel is broken, and we have not the means to repair it. We shall have to walk."

"Around the Lattice? That would take forever!"

"Will your other self cross it? How will he do it?"

"He would have to skirt it to the south," Bane said. "But I want him not to do that, because the demons watch the path. They'll come out and grab him. I need to intercept him before he gets here."

"Then won't the demons grab you?" she asked, alarmed.

"Me? Hardly! I would float them into the river. But Mach won't know magic; it takes years to learn to do it properly, and only a few even have the talent. He may not."

"Then I suppose we had better walk," she said.

"Will help come for thee, if thou dost ask for it in the vehicle? Thou couldst wait there, out of danger, while I go on."

"The cracking of the canopy would have caused an automatic distress signal to be launched," she said. "They will be on the way already."

"Then I'll get caught!" he said. "I must get going!"

"I will come with you," she said. "There may still be some assistance I can lend."

Bane doubted this, but liked her company, so he agreed. At the same time he felt guilty, because he had made her a promise he was unable to keep. She was likely to pay heavily for her involvement with him. He wished again that he didn't have to leave her.

They walked, skirting the network of cracks, still homing in on the other self. Bane now judged it to be in the region of the crater; evidently Mach had taken the wrong path, but somehow made it through the swamp to relative safety. But there was no way out of the crater except back through the swamp, and if he tried that path again, the monsters would be twice as ferocious as before. Bane had to intercept him and make the exchange before Mach started moving again.

Something glittered in the air. "Oh, no," Bane said. "A night dragon!"

"Or a flying machine," Agape said. "I fear they have discovered us."

"We must hide!"

"We cannot; it is my suit and the metal in your body they orient on. Oh, Bane, I am sorry you were not able to complete your quest."

Bane took her suited form in his arms, unspeaking. He discovered that he was not as sorry as he thought he should have been. They waited for the flying machine to capture them.