rim Hagen's men. And as they touched them,
the cold of space came flowing through. They fell one by one. And the
hoar-frost covered them like spiderwebs across the faces and bodies of
long-dead mummies.

There was a spattering sound, as of sleet falling against a distant roof.
A strange smell filled the air.

And one by one Grim Hagen's men went down.

CHAPTER 18

All this happened while Grim Hagen was rushing toward Odin and Maya. A thin
trickle of blood was flowing down the corner of Hagen's mouth. Odin heard
the voices. Out of the corner of his eye he saw some men go down. The room
felt cold now, and a thin breeze was going through it, as though blown
gently across the star-spaces.

He saw a light dart down toward Grim Hagen.

But at that instant Grim Hagen reached him and swung his sword. Jack
Odin stepped aside. His foot slipped upon the unsteady planking of the
improvised balcony. He thrust for Grim Hagen's throat, but his blade
went high and wide. It gashed Grim Hagen from the lower corner of his
chin clear back to the jawbone. Blood streamed and as Odin slipped to
his knee Grim Hagen swung again.

Then Maya was between them, both hands grasping Hagen's sword-arm. Hagen's
free hand closed about her wrists. He swung her aside and the point of his
sword came down to rest upon her throat.

"Now," Grim Hagen screamed, and his voice was the shriek of a man who
has nothing left to lose. "Let no light come near me and Maya or we die
together. Wolden, I caught scattered words about your work as I fled
through space. I held the stars and planets in my hands and I flung them
away, for they were no more than the sparks that fly out from flint. They
were worthless and I flung them away. And there was nothing to match
my desire. Not even Maya. Now, listen, if you care for her life."

The descending lights hesitated and drew back. Jack Odin righted himself
and chanced a thrust at Hagen. The thrust failed as Grim Hagen moved Maya
between them.

"No more of that, Odin. Drop your sword or she dies. Drop it now!"

And Odin lowered his hand and let his sword fall to the table beneath him.

Grim Hagen continued: "The ship is yours. This world is yours. Let me
have your secret, Wolden. I would not care to be with such as you. I
would laugh at space with the comets. I would make the stars cringe. I
would watch the generations go by like falling snow. I would--"

"No, you would be like Lucifer, wreaking his venge