weakened. Hurt. These human metapsychics, the elite of their race, have been driven to the extreme of Exile, a course officially forbidden to them. Ergo, they can only be outlaws from the Galactic Milieu. But that is a contradiction in terms! All metapsychics of the future world partake of a mental fellowship called Unity. There can be no outcasts. No rebels.
"None that we know about, Battlemaster," said Gomnol aloud. "But Tanu knowledge of the Elder Earth comes perforce from human time-travelers. And what did normal humans, even latents like myself, really know what the metapsychic faction and the inner workings of the Galactic Concilium?" His smile had a wry twist as he touched the golden torc behind the blue-glass gorget of his armor. "We had to come here, to the Pliocene, to find the true kinship of shared thought, the exercise of godlike powers. Thanks to you Tanu."
· The sun-flood that was Nodonn's mind illumined dark cysts of malice deep within the human coercer's heart; but Apollo's face was serene, as always.
"Your gratitude to us is noted. Adopted Brother. Now demonstrate it tangibly! You arc capable, as we are not, of asking these alien invaders who they are and what they want. You will use the human mode of farspeech that we Tanu cannot perceive."
Gomnol's guilty spurt of fear brought insouciant reassurance from the Battlemaster. "Oh, yes, Eusebio Gomez-Nolan. We know about it. A harmless bit of schoolboy secrecy to bolster the pride of you human gold-torcs. But now it can be useful. Mindspeak to these invading Lowlives, Second Coercer. And be sure that you tell me truthfully what response they make."
Gomnol's glowing blue form seemed to toner, his face went ashen within the fantastic helmet, and the cigar fell from his mouth. The metapsychic grip of the Battlemaster, compounded of ali five mental faculties focused in precise neural assault, closed upon him for the briefest instant. It was the most frightful pain that Gomnol had ever experienced. It was replaced at once by lingering pleasure.
Nodonn waited patiently until the human recovered his cqui PROLOGUE ?
librium. Then he repeated, "Mindspeak, Second Coercer-"
Gomnol slowly exhaled. His own mental screens were up now to mask his discomfiture, his hatred. "You - -. and the Craftsmaster must stand by. In case the invaders react aggressively. That photon cannon could, "
Old Aluteyn said, "Nodonn and I can act in concert and put up a tough little shield. As long as we know what to expect. we can shelter the lot of us. Get on with your job, son."
Gomnol's confidence rapidly restored itself. He nodded gravely, struck a pose, and reached out with all of his coercive power. His thought-pattern was now indecipherable to the Tanu;
but they were hilly aware of its superlative technique, the gentle insinuating flow through the force-field, the abrupt concentration into a tidal thrust, and the irresistible impact of the Second Coercer's mind upon that weary-alert pattern of cold consciousness lurking inside the mirrored sphere. Gomnol spoke and the hidden watcher was constrained to answer.
Leyr's bitter commentary on the performance of his subordinate crackled on the Tanu intimate mode;
Just look at that pushy little runt's operation. Brothers! Only len years since we gave him gold, and already his powers of coercion nearly rival my own! How long will he be content to be Second, eh?
The others kept their minds shuttered. It was an uncomfortable question.
After a time, Gomnol withdrew his mind from the hemisphere and spoke to the others with great effort. "He says.. his people only want to be let alone. They'll leave Europe, because of the Tanu hegemony. They'll go to North America. Never return."
"Tana be thanked!" Bonnol growled. "And speed the day."
But Gomnol made urgent protest. "You don't understand. This whole group.. -all of them arc masterclass operants! There's been some kind of failed metapsychic coup d'etat in my world, six million years in
"None that we know about, Battlemaster," said Gomnol aloud. "But Tanu knowledge of the Elder Earth comes perforce from human time-travelers. And what did normal humans, even latents like myself, really know what the metapsychic faction and the inner workings of the Galactic Concilium?" His smile had a wry twist as he touched the golden torc behind the blue-glass gorget of his armor. "We had to come here, to the Pliocene, to find the true kinship of shared thought, the exercise of godlike powers. Thanks to you Tanu."
· The sun-flood that was Nodonn's mind illumined dark cysts of malice deep within the human coercer's heart; but Apollo's face was serene, as always.
"Your gratitude to us is noted. Adopted Brother. Now demonstrate it tangibly! You arc capable, as we are not, of asking these alien invaders who they are and what they want. You will use the human mode of farspeech that we Tanu cannot perceive."
Gomnol's guilty spurt of fear brought insouciant reassurance from the Battlemaster. "Oh, yes, Eusebio Gomez-Nolan. We know about it. A harmless bit of schoolboy secrecy to bolster the pride of you human gold-torcs. But now it can be useful. Mindspeak to these invading Lowlives, Second Coercer. And be sure that you tell me truthfully what response they make."
Gomnol's glowing blue form seemed to toner, his face went ashen within the fantastic helmet, and the cigar fell from his mouth. The metapsychic grip of the Battlemaster, compounded of ali five mental faculties focused in precise neural assault, closed upon him for the briefest instant. It was the most frightful pain that Gomnol had ever experienced. It was replaced at once by lingering pleasure.
Nodonn waited patiently until the human recovered his cqui PROLOGUE ?
librium. Then he repeated, "Mindspeak, Second Coercer-"
Gomnol slowly exhaled. His own mental screens were up now to mask his discomfiture, his hatred. "You - -. and the Craftsmaster must stand by. In case the invaders react aggressively. That photon cannon could, "
Old Aluteyn said, "Nodonn and I can act in concert and put up a tough little shield. As long as we know what to expect. we can shelter the lot of us. Get on with your job, son."
Gomnol's confidence rapidly restored itself. He nodded gravely, struck a pose, and reached out with all of his coercive power. His thought-pattern was now indecipherable to the Tanu;
but they were hilly aware of its superlative technique, the gentle insinuating flow through the force-field, the abrupt concentration into a tidal thrust, and the irresistible impact of the Second Coercer's mind upon that weary-alert pattern of cold consciousness lurking inside the mirrored sphere. Gomnol spoke and the hidden watcher was constrained to answer.
Leyr's bitter commentary on the performance of his subordinate crackled on the Tanu intimate mode;
Just look at that pushy little runt's operation. Brothers! Only len years since we gave him gold, and already his powers of coercion nearly rival my own! How long will he be content to be Second, eh?
The others kept their minds shuttered. It was an uncomfortable question.
After a time, Gomnol withdrew his mind from the hemisphere and spoke to the others with great effort. "He says.. his people only want to be let alone. They'll leave Europe, because of the Tanu hegemony. They'll go to North America. Never return."
"Tana be thanked!" Bonnol growled. "And speed the day."
But Gomnol made urgent protest. "You don't understand. This whole group.. -all of them arc masterclass operants! There's been some kind of failed metapsychic coup d'etat in my world, six million years in
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