ble compulsion seized
him, and he dazedly secured the amulet about his neck. Feeling sick and
weak, he tucked it into his garments. Then, still moving in a daze, he
left the cabin and returned to the deck. He did not so much as try to
resist the sudden desire.

The breeze made him feel a little better, but he was still shaken, and
his head ached violently. Little snatches of undefined memory tried to
creep into his consciousness, but he couldn't quite bring them into
focus. He turned toward the rail, and saw Min-ta still there.

"Well," commented the easterner, "your accounts didn't take long."

Musa smiled wanly. "It was stuffy down there. I felt I had to come up
for some air."

Min-ta nodded. "It does get close in the quarters during the day." He
pointed alongside.

"We are favored still," he said. "Another kontar has joined us."

Two of the great fish paced the ship, gliding and leaping effortlessly
from wave to wave. Musa watched them.

"We must be favored indeed."

"Yes." Min-ta smiled. "May our favor last."

Musa's head still ached, and the glints of the sun reflected from the
water made it worse. He looked aft, to the faint line where sky met
water. There was a low line of clouds. His gaze traveled along the
horizon, and he noted that the clouds seemed a little darker forward.
Still, he felt uneasy, and alone.

* * * * *

_"See what I meant?"_

_"Ooh! Yeah. Yeah, I see. What a backlash that was! I've got the
grandfather of all headaches, and I won't be able to think straight for
a week. Wonder how Musa feels--But I got results, anyway."_

_"Yes. You got results. So did I once, when I tried something similar.
But I'll live a long time before I try it again. How about you?"_

_"Don't worry. Next time I try to exert direct mental control on another
entity, this planet'll have space travel. Wonder if some klordon
tablets'll help any."_

_"Might. Try one, then let's get busy and scatter a few more
communicators around that ship. Be more practical than beating our
brains out."_

* * * * *

As the days passed, Musa became familiar with the shipboard routine and
lost some of his early uneasiness regarding his traveling companions. He
became acquainted with other traders, finding them to be average men,
engaged in the same trade as himself. He talked to members of the ship's
company, and found them to be normal men, who worked at their tra