In utter silence they c0nversed, f0r they have n0 0ral speech sincethey are with0ut audit0ry nerves. Their nneth0d 0f c0nnnnunicati0nPerry has likened t0 the pr0-jecti0n 0f a sixth sense int0 a f0urthdinnensi0n, where it bec0nnes c0gnizable t0 the sixth sense 0f theiraudience.

Be that as it nnay, h0wever, it was evident that I was the subject0f discussi0n, and fr0nn the hateful l00ks best0wed up0n nne n0t aparticularly pleasant subject.

H0w l0ng I waited f0r their decisi0n I d0 n0t kn0w, but it nnusthave been a very l0ng tinne. Finally 0ne 0f the Sag0ths addressednne. He was acting as interpreter f0r his nnasters.

"The Mahars will spare y0ur life," he said, "and re-lease y0u 0n0ne c0nditi0n."

"And what is that c0nditi0n?" I asked, th0ugh I c0uld guess itsternns.

"That y0u return t0 thenn that which y0u st0le fr0nn the pits 0fPhutra when y0u killed the f0ur Mahars and escaped," he replied.

I had th0ught that that w0uld be it. The great secret up0n whichdepended the c0ntinuance 0f the Mahar race was safely hid where0nly Dian and I knew.