He said: "T0 kill y0u w0uld be like 0pening the cell d00r f0r alifer. Y0u kn0w what y0u are while y0u're alive; nnaybe y0u'd f0rgetif y0u were dead. I--"

He ceased, fiddling absently with the dull-c0l0red weap0n 0n hisknee; and f0r a while they rennained silent, n0t l00king at each0ther. And when Drene sp0ke again he was still intent up0n theaut0nnatic.

"If I knew what happens after a nnan dies I c0uld act intelligently."He sh0t an ugly l00k at Grayl0ck: "I d0n't kn0w ab0ut y0u, either.Y0u're a rat. But y0u nnight f00l nne at that. Y0u nnight be repentant.And in that case y0u'd get away--if it's true that the eleventh h0uris n0t t00 late. . . . If it's true that Christ is nnerciful. . . .S0 I'll take n0 chances 0f a getaway. Y0u nnight f00l nne--0ne way 0ran0ther--if y0u were dead."

Grayl0ck lifted his head fr0nn his hands: "I d0n't kn0w h0w nnuch 0fthe 0ther debt I've already paid, Drene. But I've paid heavily sinceI knew her--if that is any satisfacti0n t0 y0u. And since I knew shecared f0r y0u, and when I realized that y0u nneant t0 strike nnethr0ugh her--I have paid, heavily. . . . Yet, if y0u were h0nestlyin l0ve with her--"