She turned to walk, but Sparline caught her hand. "Not me-I'm not for climbing today, especially in a hurry. You two go ahead, but don't take too long. Even Hawkman wouldn't care to fly the pa.s.s in twilight, and six of us would sleep cramped in Bran's cabin." She squeezed Rissa's hand, smiled, and walked away.

Rissa's brows raised; Ernol nodded and they climbed the trail, breathing faster as they reached the viewsite. For a time they watched, as shadows crept out across the plain.

Then she turned to him. For a moment, until he smiled, she thought she would have to ask.

And this time her joy matched his.

Each still holding the other, Ernol said, "I'm glad for you." "I wished you to know-and this was the last chance. I feared I would have to merely tell you, but-" "Sparline's guessed for some time. It's good she was right." "Sparline is often right. As, for instance- concerning you."

Both laughed; they dressed and ran down the trail. They reached the cabin soon enough that goodbyes, when they came, were not unduly brief.

Too quickly, even so, came time for parting. "We'll be together again-"

"On Earth, and here, too-"

"It's not so long if you look at it right-"

"-and stay in freeze a lot-"

"Unfreezing's the best part-a new world-"

"-or the same one again-"

"The same us!"

"Oh, d.a.m.n it, I'll miss you-"

"-and I you, but-"

248.

"We love you-"

"If we don't get into the air soon," said Hawkman, "the four of us won't get home today." So the final round of kisses went quickly. And then Tregare and Rissa stood looking after the aircar.

"Oh, Bran! Will we ever see them again?"

WONDERINGwhat had roused her, she came awake. Tregare? He breathed evenly enough, but...

"Bran?"

"You should be asleep."

"And you-but we are not." Her hand found his cheek. "Why?"

For a time he did not answer. Then, "When we lift tomorrow-ready or not, we're staking all of it."

"Of course. We have known that."

She felt his head shake. "For us, sure-and even for Earth. But it's just now got to me- we're risking the Hidden Worlds, too."

"I do not understand. What new danger?''

"UET's been playing it close to home-not ranging out here, much. I'd figured it was our raids, held them back. But-" His laugh held no humor. "Not to sound conceited, you see, it's not me or anything I really have that scares them-"

"Oh! As Ivan told-on Earth, the Underground rumors, But, Bran-" In sudden comprehension she fell silent.

"Yeah-you get it now. Those rumors-they only work as long as I don't show up. If we fail at Stronghold . . ." Shuddering, he sighed. "You see, Rissa? It's not just Stronghold, or even Earth. It's all the marbles!"

While she thought, her fingers kneaded his neck's rigid cords. "Of course, Bran- how could it be otherwise?" She paused. "Have you lost confidence in your plan? I have not."

"No. With what we have, it's as good as can be done.

But..."

"Tregare! We have agreed that this must be tried, and who else could attempt it? So-do we go ahead?"

gripped her. At first his laughter wrenched him, as 249.

though he sobbed-then it came freely. "Yes, Rissa-peace knows it, yes! I'll be all right."

And when at last he slept, in the moments before she herself found sleep, Rissa thought: Whatever happens-here is where my life belongs.