hat he would remember that slaves
could always be killed, and that it wouldn't hurt to ask a few
questions first. Curiosity won and the knife dropped back into the
sheath while Jason let his breath out in a relieved sigh. It had been
entirely too close, even for a professional gambler; his own life on
the board was a little higher stakes than he enjoyed playing for.

"Release him from the bar and bring him to me," Edipon ordered, then
strode agitatedly away. The other slaves watched wide-eyed as the
blacksmith was rushed out, and with much confusion and shouted orders
Jason's chain was cut from the bar where it joined the heavy staple.

"What are you doing?" Mikah asked, and one of the guards backhanded
him to the ground. Jason just smiled and touched his finger to his
lips as his chain was released and they led him away. He was free from
bondage and he would stay that way if he could convince Edipon that he
would be better off in some capacity other than dumb labor.

* * * * *

The room they led him to contained the first touches of decoration or
self-indulgence that he had seen on this planet. The furniture was
carefully constructed, with an occasional bit of carving to brighten
it, and there was a woven cover on the bed. Edipon stood by a table,
tapping his fingers nervously on the dark polished surface. "Lock him
up," he ordered the guards, and Jason was secured to a sturdy ringbolt
that projected from the wall. As soon as the guards were gone he stood
before Jason and drew his knife. "Tell me what you know or I will kill
you at once."

"My past is an open book to you, Edipon. I come from a land where we
know all the secrets of nature--"

"What is the name of this land? Are you a spy from Appsala?"

"I couldn't very well be one since I have never heard of the place."
Jason pulled at his lower lip, wondering just how intelligent Edipon
was, and just how frank he could be with him. This was no time to get
tangled up in lies about planetary geography: it might be best to try
him on a small dose of the truth. "If I told you I came from another
planet, another world in the sky up among the stars, would you believe
me?"

"Perhaps. There are many old legends that our forefathers came from a
world beyond the sky, but I have always dismissed this as religious
drivel, fit only for women."

"In this case the girls happen to be right. Your planet was settled by
men whose ships crossed t