penetrating.

"You will be two, yet alone, above the all." She said other words whose
meanings I did not know. My head swam, my soul seemed to be floating in
a sea of new and strange emotions. I sank into a dream state, and with
her low suggestive words in my ears, a new world came gradually into
form about us, we were two lovers walking among plumed fern-trees,
beside deliciously tinkling streams, the songs of birds rang like little
bells all about. I was conscious of her warm lips upon my own and of her
eyes like two deep dark pools in which my own gaze swam and sank and
rose.

Suddenly a rude, loud voice broke in, the dream of paradise vanished
from about us.

Before us stood Genner, his face angry, and in the wall I saw the panel
by which he had entered where I had thought was only blank wall. He
cried:

"You, Zoorph, I had thought not to interfere. But you are not going to
enslave this man to your will. We need him, and your people need him
too, and what you do is not right, for you know as well as I that if he
falls entirely under your spell he will be left no will of his own!"

Carna, not even abashed at the intrusion, almost spit as she angrily
retorted:

"What is the difference whose will he obeys so long as it is what we all
desire that gets accomplished? He would be better off with my
experienced direction than with his own ignorance of our ways, in
anything you plan. Do you think I want to be left out? Do you think I do
not desire freedom from the Jivros, too? Do you think I want to be made
into a mindless thing when I fail to please them?"

"Never mind; get back where you came from. This man is our ally, not our
slave, and your behavior is bad. I will hold this against you. Go!" He
pointed at the window with one rigid, outstretched arm, and Carna moved
slowly away, saying:

"No, Prince, do not think me an enemy! It is only that my heart _is_
moved toward this strange one, I wanted him _very_ much, and how else
can a Zoorph love than as she has been taught?"

The prince smiled at her words, his arm fell to his side.

"Very well, little temptress. Kiss your love goodbye. It may be a long
time before I let you see him again. If he desires it, you may meet
later on. But I will warn him, so that he does not become your slave."

"I would not rob him of his self, my Prince. I have an affection for
this one!"

"We will see that you do not, sweet Carna. Now get out, and be quick.
The time approaches