After dinner that evening, Malacar carefully placed his utensils across his plate, looked at Morwin and said, "Do you want to accompany us to Summit?"

Morwin nodded.

"What's on Summit?" he asked, after a period of silence.

"A man I've been looking for," Malacar said. "A man who might be able to help us. At least, I think he is there. I could be mistaken. It could be the wrong place. If so, I will simply have to keep looking. The indications are pretty good, though. What I want to do is locate him and persuade him to assist us."

"What has he got that makes him so special?"

"Diseases," said Malacar.

"Beg pardon."

"Diseases, diseases! At certain times this man becomes a walking infection, a plague-bearer!"

"To what use would you put this condition?"

Malacar chuckled.

Morwin sat unmoving for several seconds, then resumed scooping at his lemon sherbet.

"I think I see," he said, finally.

"Yes, I think you do too. A living weapon. I intend for him to walk among our enemies. How does the idea strike you?"

"It-- It is hard to say. I will have to think about it."

"But you _will_ come?"

"Yes, I will."

"Jackara will be accompanying us, and Shind."

"Very good, sir."

"Have you no questions?"

"Not really. Not at the moment. Though I am sure I will think of some later. Well ... What is the man's name?"

"Heidel von Hymack."

He shook his head.

"Never heard of him, sir."

"Yes you did. Only you called him Hyneck--the man Pels was looking for."

"Oh, him. Yes."

"Ever hear of a man called H?"

"It seems to me that I have, though I forget the circumstances. It was not as a disease-carrier, though. Doesn't he have a rare blood type or something?"

"Something. I will send some articles to your room later."

"Thank you."

He glanced at Jackara and returned to his sherbet.

God! It's like looking down into hell! she decided. It has been an entire week, and this is the first time I have seen it at night.

She stared into the smoldering place, nearer-seeming now that night had come.

I wonder how far down it has to go to find those fires? she thought. I will not ask. It would show my ignorance. No volcanoes on Deiba. Too old, perhaps. Dust and rain. I remember descriptions, pictures of volcanoes. Never realized they were like this ...

The building trembled, slightly, and she smiled. It was good living so close to so much power, to dwell on the periphery of chaos.

Will he allow me to remain when this is all over? she wondered. Perhaps. If I prove useful on Summit. I could learn to help with things around here. I will make myself useful. He will come to rely on me.

She looked about.

He must know I am out here, she thought. He knows everything that happens in his home. I never walked alone up here before, but I don't suppose it would bother him. No. He told me to make myself at home. He would have said something if he did not want--

"Hello. What are you doing up this late?"

"John! --Oh, I couldn't sleep."

"Neither could I. So I decided to get up and take a walk. --Pretty spectacular, isn't it?"

"Yes. It is the first time I have seen it at night."

He moved near to her and pretended to study the flames.

"All set for the trip?"

"Yes," she said. "Malacar told me it would only take about eight days, sub-time."

"That sounds right. Are you related?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you and Malacar relatives?"

"No. We're just--friends."

"I see. I'd like to be your friend too."

She seemed not to have heard him.

He turned then and stared down, and the smoke arced to the right and the left, came together, formed a great sparkshot heart in the midst of which her name appeared, then his. An arrow of flame pierced its center.

"Be my valentine," he said.

She laughed. Turning, he took her shoulders quickly and kissed her on the mouth. For a moment she relaxed, then struggled with surprising strength and pushed him away.

"Don't do that!"

Her voice was shrill, her face twisted.

He stepped back.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean-- Look! Don't be angry. It's just that you looked so pretty standing there . I hope my beard didn't tickle too much. I-- Oh hell! I'm sorry."

He turned and regarded the dissolving heart.

"You surprised me," she said. "That's all."

He glanced at her again, and she was nearer to him.

"Thanks for the valentine," she said, and she smiled.

He hesitated, then reached forward slowly and touched her cheek. He moved his hand down it, traced her chin, her throat, then around to the back of her neck, rested it there a moment, then drew her toward him. She stiffened then, and he relaxed but did not remove his hand.

"If you don't have a man just now," he said, "and you might be interested ... If you and Malacar are _just_--friends--I would like to be considered in the running. That is all I was trying to find out and to say."

"I can't," she said. "It's too late. Thanks, though."

"What do you mean 'too late'? All I know is now, and now is all I care about."

"You don't understand."

"... And I don't care either. If you and Malacar are not really together, well, perhaps, you and I ... You know. For a while, at least ... If you decide you don't like it-- Well, no hard feelings. I was thinking along those lines. Say something."

"No, not yet. Not now."

He marked the "yet" and, "Of course," he said, "I expected as much. Think about it, though. Yes, do that. Think about it. Please."

"All right. I'll think."

"Then I'll shut up. Whatever--at least--I hope that you will consider me a--friend."

She smiled, nodded, drew away.

"I think I had better be going now," she said.

He nodded.

She left him then, and he watched the exploding night.

That's something, anyway, he said to himself.

The heart had long ago turned to vapor.

Heidel burst upon the city like a pod spreading seeds. He pointed his finger and people fell.

Enough, he said to the thing within him. They go now the way of all the others.

As he departed, before he entered the place of mists, he encountered a boy with a hammer in his hand.

Standing well back, he inquired, "What are you doing, boy?"

The youth turned and said, "Collecting stones, sir."

He laughed, then, "Chop into that yellow place on your left," he said. "There should be blue crystals there."

The boy turned and obeyed him.

"Sir!" he cried out, after perhaps ten minutes. "There are indeed blue crystals!"

He continued to dig and chip.

Heidel shook his head and contorted his face.

"I had better be away," he said. He hurried off toward the mists.

Hammering at the hillside, the boy did not notice him go.