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re that stood before her spun on its axis； swept up to the globe at her head； glided from it to the globe at her feetas though whispering。 Ruth moanedher body bent upright； swayed rigidly。 Her eyes opened； they stared through us as though upon some dreadful vision； and strangely was it as though she were seeing with another's eyes； were reflecting another's sufferings。
The globes at her feet and at her head swirled out； clustering against the third spherethree weird shapes in silent consultation。 On Ventnor's face I saw pity and a vast relief。 With shocked amaze I realized that Ruth's agonyfor in agony she clearly waswas calling forth in him elation。 He spokeand I knew why。
〃Norhala！〃 he whispered。 〃She is seeing with Norhala's eyesfeeling what Norhala feels。 It's not going well with Thatout there。 If we dared leave Ruthcould only； see〃
Ruth leaped to her feet； cried outa golden bugling that might have been Norhala's own wrathful trumpet notes。 Instantly the two pyramids flamed open； became two gleaming stars that bathed her in violet radiance。 Beneath their upper tips I saw the blasting ovals glitter menacingly。
The girl glared at usmore brilliant grew the glittering ovals as though their lightnings trembled on their lips。
〃Ruth！〃 called Ventnor softly。
A shadow softened the intolerable； hard brilliancy of the brown eyes。 In them something struggled to arise； fighting its way to the surface like some drowning human thing。
It sank backupon her face dropped a cloud of heartbreak； appalling woe； the despair of a soul that； having withdrawn all faith in its own kind to rest all faith； as it thought； on angelssees that faith betrayed。
There stared upon us a stripped spirit； naked and hopeless and terrible。
Despairing； raging； she screamed once more。 The central globe swam to her； it raised her upon its back； glided to the doorway。 Upon it she stood poised like some youthful； anguished Victorya Victory who faced and knew she faced destroying defeat； poised upon that enigmatic orb on bare slender feet； one sweet breast bare； hands upraised； virginally archaic； nothing about her of the Ruth we knew。
〃Ruth！〃 cried Drake； despair as great as that upon her face was in his voice。 He sprang before the globe that held her； barred its way。
For an instant the Thing pausedand in that instant the human soul of the girl rushed back。
〃No！〃 she cried。 〃No！〃
A weird call issued from the white lipsstumbling； uncertain； as though she who sent it forth herself wondered whence it sprang。 Abruptly the angry stars closed。 The three globes spundoubting； puzzled！ Again she called now a tremulous； halting cadence。 She was lifted； dropped gently to her feet。
For an instant the globes and pyramids whirled and danced before herthen sped away through the portal。
Ruth swayed； sobbing。 Then as though drawn； she ran to the doorway； fled through it。 As one we sprang after her。 Rods ahead her white body flashed； speeding toward the Pit。 Like fleet…footed Atalanta she fledand far； far behind us was the blue bower； the misty barrier of the veils close； when Drake with a last desperate burst reached her side； gripped her。 Down the two fell； rolling upon the smooth roadway。 Silently she fought； biting； tearing at Drake； struggling to escape。
〃Quick！〃 gasped Ventnor； stretching out to me an arm。 〃Cut off the sleeve。 Quick！〃
Unquestioningly； I drew my knife； ripped the garment at the shoulder。 He snatched the sleeve； knelt at Ruth's head； rapidly he crumpled an end； thrust it roughly into her mouth； tied it fast； gagging her。
〃Hold her！〃 he ordered Drake； and with a sob of relief sprang up。 The girl's eyes blazed at him； filled with hate。
〃Cut that other sleeve；〃 he said； and when I had done so； he knelt again； pinned Ruth down with a knee at her throat； turned her over and knotted her hands behind her。 She ceased struggling； gently now he drew up the curly head； swung her upon her back。
〃Hold her feet。〃 He nodded to Drake； who caught the slender bare ankles in his hands。
She lay there； helpless； being unable to use her hands or feet。
〃Too little Ruth； and too much Norhala；〃 said Ventnor； looking up at me。 〃If she'd only thought to cry out！ She could have brought a regiment of those Things down to blast us。 And wouldif she HAD thought。 You don't think THAT is Ruth； do you？〃
He pointed to the pallid face glaring at him； the eyes from which cold fires flamed。
〃No； you don't！〃 He caught Drake by the shoulder； sent him spinning a dozen feet away。 〃Damn it； Drake don't you understand！〃
For suddenly Ruth's eyes softened； she had turned them on Dick pitifully； appealinglyand he had loosed her ankles； had leaned forward as though to draw away the band that covered her lips。
〃Your gun；〃 whispered Ventnor to me； before I had moved he had snatched the automatic from my holster； had covered Drake with it。
〃Drake；〃 he said； 〃stand where you are。 If you take another step toward this girl I'll shoot youby God； I will！〃
Drake halted； shocked amazement in his face； I myself felt resentful； wondering at his outburst。
〃But it's hurting her；〃 he muttered； Ruth's eyes； soft and pleading； still dwelt upon him。
〃Hurting her！〃 exclaimed Ventnor。 〃Manshe's my sister！ I know what I'm doing。 Can't you see？ Can't you see how little of Ruth is in that body therehow little of the girl you love？ How or why I don't knowbut that it is so I DO know。 Drakehave you forgotten how Norhala beguiled Cherkis？ I want my sister back。 I'm helping her to get back。 Now let be。 I know what I'm doing。 Look at her！〃
We looked。 In the face that glared up at Ventnor was nothing of Rutheven as he had said。 There was the same cold； awesome wrath that had rested upon Norhala's as she watched Cherkis weep over the eating up of his city。 Swiftly came a changelike the sudden smoothing out of the rushing waves of a hill…locked； wind…lashed lake。
The face was again Ruth's faceand Ruth's alone； the eyes were Ruth's eyessupplicating； adjuring。
〃Ruth！〃 Ventnor cried。 〃While you can hearam I not right？〃
She nodded vigorously； sternly； she was lost； hidden once more。
〃You see。〃 He turned to us grimly。
A shattering shaft of light flashed upon the veils； almost pierced them。 An avalanche of sound passed high above us。 Yet now I noted that where we stood the clamor was lessened； muffled。 Of course； it came to me； it was the veils。
I wondered whyfor whatever the quality of the radiant mists； their purpose certainly had to do with concentration of the magnetic flux。 The deadening of the noise must be accidental； could have nothing to do with their actual use； for sound is an air vibration solely。 No it must be a secondary effect。 The Metal Monster was as heedless of clamor as it was of heat or cold
〃We've got to see；〃 Ventnor broke the chain of thought。 〃We've got to get through and see what's happening。 Win or losewe've got to KNOW。〃
〃Cut off your sleeve； as I did；〃 he motioned to Drake。 〃Tie her ankles。 We'll carry her。〃
Quickly it was done。 Ruth's light body swinging between brother and lover； we moved forward into the mists； we crept cautiously through their dead silences。
Passed out and fell back into them from a s