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"
But how could I if you were always with me?" she asked. "And even if I wished to
run away where could I go? I do not know even the direction of Helium. It must
be very far. The very first night the banths would get me, would they not?"
"
They would," said Ghek. "I will ask Luud about it."
The following day he told her that Luud had said that she was to be taken into
the fields. He would try that for a time and see if she improved.
"If you do not grow fatter he will send for you anyway," said Ghek; "but he will not
use you for food."
Tara of Helium shuddered.
That day and for many days thereafter she was taken from the tower, through the
enclosure and out into the fields. Always was she alert for an opportunity to
escape; but Ghek was always close by her side. It was not so much his presence
that deterred her from making the attempt as the number of workers that were
always between her and the hills where the flier lay. She could easily have eluded
Ghek, but there were too many of the others. And then, one day, Ghek told her as
he accompanied her into the open that this would be the last time.
"
"
Tonight you go to Luud," he said. "I am sorry as I shall not hear you sing again."
Tonight!" She scarce breathed the word, yet it was vibrant with horror.
She glanced quickly toward the hills. They were so close! Yet between were the
inevitable workers--perhaps a score of them.
"Let us walk over there?" she said, indicating them. "I should like to see what they
are doing."
"It is too far," said Ghek. "I hate the sun. It is much pleasanter here where I can
stand beneath the shade of this tree."
"All right," she agreed; "then you stay here and I will walk over. It will take me but
a minute."
"No," he answered. "I will go with you. You want to escape; but you are not going
to."
"
"
I cannot escape," she said.
I know it," agreed Ghek; "but you might try. I do not wish you to try. Possibly it
will be better if we return to the tower at once. It would go hard with me should
you escape."
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