When Tory reached Turan and Sybil in the outer chamber, she slammed the door behind her and began to pace.

'Will she not aid you?' Turan enquired, concerned by her behaviour.

'Oh, she agreed alright.' Tory's words were filled with contempt. 'She'd cut off her nose to spite her face, too.'

'What is eating you.' Turan pulled her to a standstill. 'I don't understand?'

Tory took a deep breath, looking at him fondly to say, 'You will, my sweet. Once I am gone, everything will make perfect sense.'

Ray had almost finished revising the specifications of Merlin I and Merlin II on the psychokinetic computer in Turan's lab to give them the same new systems that were planned for the Goddess. But cabin fever was starting to set in. He'd been locked up in this same room for a week.

When Shar Jerram popped by and offered to take Ray for a test drive in a hovercraft, he jumped at the chance to explore the world beyond these walls. Just as important as installing the systems was knowing how to handle them once they were functional.

Turan had sensed Ray was getting a little restless, and so had given Jerram the all-clear to take him outside for a spell - with the proviso that they kept a low profile.

They clothed Ray in a long white robe with a huge hood to cover his face. This was the normal attire of the Higher Orders of learning here in the golden city so, except for his lack of height, Ray thought he blended in quite well.

With his head constantly swivelling from left to right, and back again, the entire way, Ray ambled along beside Jerram to the fourth and final island ring. The main harbour and the boat docks were located here, and the town's marketplace sprawled along the streets. Ray marvelled at the wild array of people, livestock, and foods on display, and nearly had a heart attack when a tiger just wandered past down the road.

'Shouldn't that be in a cage or on a leash or something?' Ray directed Jerram's attention to the tiger.

Jerram laughed. 'Whatever for?' He stopped to look over the baskets of fruit along the roadside and selected a couple of large, bright blue berries, tossing one to Ray.

'Thanks.' Ray looked it over. It certainly smelt quite palatable. Ray took a bite and was pleasantly surprised.

'Hey, this is really good.'

'Aphrodisiac!' Jerram stirred him up with a wink.

'Help! Somebody, please!' Annora spied Shar Jerram as she darted through the crowd, and headed straight for him.

'Speaking of which ...' Jerram muttered sideways to his companion.

'Shar Jerram, quick.' She grabbed hold of his arm to hoist him away. 'One of the natives - he's Antillian, I think - is beating a woman. He's going to kill her.'

Both Jerram and Ray leapt into action, racing after her through the multitudes on the docks.

'Good Lord.' Ray spotted the eight foot tall native who was the cause of the dispute, and slowed to a stop.

Shar Jerram didn't seem fazed by the giant's size. He stormed up to the irate man, yelling threats up at him in his native dialect. Ray rushed to the battered woman, beside whom Annora crouched. He struggled a little as he took the ailing female native up in his arms. 'Where do you want her?'

'It's you?' Annora spied the face underneath the hood. But, as there were greater concerns at present, she stood to guide him. 'This way, hurry.'

'What are you doing?' Jerram called out, as he watched Ray follow Annora back towards the city. 'I knew I shouldn't have given him that fruit.' Jerram said to himself and set off in pursuit of his charge.

Once they'd delivered the ailing woman to the Temple of Healing, Ray loitered out front in the hope that Annora would be curious enough to come seek him out.

'There you are.' Jerram bounded up the stairs of the Shi-im-ti temple, and took hold of Ray's arm. 'Let's go.'

'Just five minutes,' Ray implored him, not budging an inch.

'Five what?' Jerram didn't really care, they were going.

'Stop right there!' Annora descended the stairs. 'I think I deserve an explanation.' Coming to a stop before the hooded double of Zadoc, she peeked under his disguise to address him. 'You're not my husband.'

'Well, not exactly, no,' Ray confessed, controlling his urge to smile. She was so lovely, and so familiar. It wasn't just that Annora resembled Tory; Ray felt that he'd met her somewhere else, but he couldn't place it.

'It was the kiss that gave me away, wasn't it?'

Annora raised both eyebrows with a smile, and gave a nod. ''Twas tamer than I'm used to.' She shrugged.

'But nice all the same.'

As the pair stood staring into each other's eyes, Jerram rolled his. 'Yeah, alright ... we've got to go.' The Shar dragged his lovesick captive away.

'Where are you going?' Annora came after them. 'I am at leisure today.'

'That's great news!' Ray nudged Jerram, pleading with his eyes to let her come.

'This is not what I call keeping a low profile ...

nobody is supposed to know.' Jerram said anxiously.

'I'm very good at keeping secrets,' Annora vowed first to Ray, then looked at Jerram ... 'Really. I am.'

'Heaven forbid! Alright, already, she can come.'

Jerram caved in.

'Good.' Annora took Ray by the arm. 'Where are we going?'

'To the E-na-mu.' Jerram advised her. This was the 'abode to ascend to the skies' where the hovercraft awaited.

'Flying ... excellent.' Annora greatly approved.

In the wake of her dispute with herself, Tory floated away her frustrations in the hot spa pool in Turan's palace chambers. Although Turan communicated with her in English, she was pondering if he also could read the language. Too risky, Tory decided. She had to be sure Turan understood her parting message. I shall leave a mental note in his computer. That's not telling him. She justified her scheming. It's more a thought transference, really. She grinned broadly at her rationalisation.

The sound of the door vanishing warned her that company was arriving. Tory immediately transported herself elsewhere.

'Alaric!' Turan casually arose from his seat, but his eyes jumped from his brother in the doorway to the spa pool behind him. Tory was gone, and he quickly looked back to his visitor. What can I do for you?

His brother appeared rather puzzled as he entered. I could have sworn I saw a woman in your bath. He approached the pool to take a closer look.

If only. Turan smiled, and steered Alaric in the other direction when he noticed Tory's clothes piled in a corner.

Weird, Alaric mused. She looked rather like Lamamu I thought.

Now you're really teasing. He motioned his brother to the lounge. Please, sit.

No, no, Alaric declined. I just wanted to make sure your expenditure details for next semester have been handed in to the council.

All taken care of, Turan assured him. En Seba has them.

Very good then. Alaric headed for the door, pausing to look once more at the pool, and then at his brother. I could have sworn ... He shook his head with a smile.

Sorry it couldn't be so.

Not as sorry as I. Turan waited for Alaric to depart before he gathered Tory's gear up in his arms and hurried off to his lab. He knew she would be there.

Ray was reeling from his sightseeing flight over Chailidocean and the surrounding area, and his elation was more intense for having spent the afternoon in Annora's company.

Jerram did not seem to share his good humour.

Jerram knew Turan would fry him if he found out what had happened. Still, when they returned to Turan's lab to find Tory wearing nothing more than one of the large sheets used to cover the equipment, Jerram's mood perked up considerably. 'Get that off,' he demanded with a laugh. 'It's filthy.'

'Tell me about it,' she grumbled, clutching it tighter.

'Here you go.' Ray removed his bloodstained disguise and handed it to her.

'Spoilsport.' Jerram folded his arms, amused to see how Tory would go about the change.

'Turn around, please,' she requested politely.

Jerram chuckled at this. 'Not if my life depended on it.'

'It does,' she warned with a sweet grin.

The Shar thought a moment, recalling her prowess in battle. 'Ah,' he waved it off, 'it will be worth it.'

' Jerram.' She was getting annoyed.

'Tory!' Turan came racing through the door, whereupon Jerram's hands shot into the air.

'I didn't touch her. She was already like that.'

'Did he see me?' Tory beseeched Turan.

'Long enough to know it was you.' The Shar's huge form came to block her from the view of the other two men, and he handed her the clothes he carried. 'And as he knows about your teleportive abilities, I dare say he might have guessed.'

'Hey, not fair. Why does he get to watch?' Jerram protested, but was ignored.

'How long are those parts going to be?' Tory struggled to put her attire on as quickly as possible, not even looking to catch Turan's reaction.

'A couple of days.'

She didn't have to look, she could hear the smile in his voice. 'Have you got a safer place for us to hide till then?'

'Annora will hide us,' Ray coyly suggested. 'She even said she would.'

'When did she say so?' Tory came out from behind Turan, fully clothed.

Jerram frantically motioned Ray to refrain from further comment.

'This afternoon,' Ray admitted, at which time Jerram started to back out of the room.

'Is that so?' Turan raised a hand in his younger brother's direction, willing him closer. Jerram was hauled back for interrogation through no will of his own.

'I had nothing to do with it.' Jerram washed his hands of the affair.

'You were supposed to be watching him.' Turan was feeling edgy. 'Alright, here's what's going to happen. I'll seek the permission of the High Priestess to hide you in the Temple.'

'She'll never agree to hide a man there,' Jerram pointed out.

'Let Annora hide us.' Ray was more insistent this time.

Tory had to agree with Ray. 'I don't think anyone would think to find me there. Annora and I have never even met.'

'But what if Zadoc returns?' Turan didn't like it one bit, nor did he trust Ray with his brother's wife.

'I doubt he will.' Jerram offered his viewpoint. 'I heard the trial has been suspended while they search for a piece of missing evidence. He could be weeks yet.'

Tory. Turan bethought her only, appealing to her common sense. You know why I hesitate to condone this arrangement, don't you?

Yes. She understood his fears. But I assure you, I have the situation well in hand.

How can you be so sure? The Shar frowned. There was no controlling the attraction between such obvious soul mates as Zadoc and Annora - or in this case Ray and Annora. But Tory knew something Turan did not, and she was fairly confident she had a deterrent that would keep Ray out of harm's way. Trust me.

I just knew you were going to think that. The Shar held his head in his hands.

'Well, don't just stand there staring at each other.'

Ray pushed for a decision. 'What's it going to be?'

'You win.' Turan answered Ray's question, though his eyes did not move from Tory. Again.

Annora had a lovely home on the eastern side of the second island ring, close by the healing temple where she was head of midwifery.

It was far more pleasant staying here, with the lovely garden of fruit-laden trees and flowering foliage.

The abode wandered in curves, with no corners to be found anywhere. The furniture, too, was moulded out of the whitewashed interior architecture, giving the place a Mediterranean appearance. The cushions were made of woven fabric featuring earthy designs in rust, brown and black. Large terracotta pots bearing healthy, green-leafed plants brightened the interior.

Tory was soaking up a few rays by the long, narrow pool, perfect for swimming laps, which had been built half inside and half outside the house.

'I must come here more often,' she decided, for it seemed to be the only place in the whole of time and space where she actually had a chance to relax. She heard a splash from inside and Ray swam out to join her.

'Hey, I really have to thank you for bringing me here, Alexander.' He floated on top of the water, next to where Tory lay baking. 'I'm having the time of my life.'

'Yeah, right ... I think you owe me a hundred bucks, Murdock.' She rolled onto her side, supporting her head on one hand.