woman to forget she was a prisoner.

YOU HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

Horza couldn’t tell if this was a question or not. “I have been to Schar’s World before," he confirmed. “I was one of the

Changer sentinels."

There seemed little point in telling the creature when; the Dra’Azon called every time “now" even though

their language used tenses. The screen

went blank, then repeated:

YOU HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

Horza frowned and wondered what to say. Balveda muttered, “Obviously hopelessly senile."

“I have been here before," Horza said. Did the Dra’Azon mean that because he had already been there he could not return.

“I can feel it, I can feel its presence," Dorolow whispered.

THERE ARE OTHER HUMANS WITH YOU.

“Thanks a lot," said the drone, Unaha-Closp, from somewhere near the ceiling.

“You see." Dorolow said, her voice almost whimpering. Horza heard Balveda snort. Dorolow staggered slightly; Aviger and Neisin

had to

hold on to her to stop her from falling.

“I have not been able to set them down elsewhere," Horza said. “I ask your indulgence. If need be, they will stay on board

this vessel."

THEY ARE NOT SENTINELS. THEY ARE OTHER HUMANOID SPECIES.

“I alone need alight on Schar’s World."

ENTRY IS RESTRICTED.

Horza sighed. “I alone request permission to land."

WHY HAVE YOU COME HERE.

Horza hesitated. He heard Balveda snort quietly. He said, “I seek one who is here."

WHAT DO THE OTHERS SEEK.

“They seek nothing. They are with me."

THEY ARE HERE.

“They…" Horza licked his lips. All his rehearsing, all his thoughts about what to say at this moment, seemed to be useless.

“They are not all

here by choice. But I had no alternative. I had to bring them. If you wish, they will stay on board this

craft in orbit around Schar’s World, or further

away inside the Quiet Barrier. I have a suit, I can—"

THEY ARE HERE AGAINST THEIR WILL.

Horza hadn’t known Dra’Azon to interrupt before. He couldn’t imagine it was a good sign. “The… circumstances are… complicated.

Certain species in the galaxy are at war. Choices become limited. One does things one would not normally do."

THERE IS DEATH HERE.

Horza looked at the words written on the screen. He felt transfixed by them. There was silence on the bridge for a moment.

Then he heard a

couple of people moving awkwardly.

“What does that mean." the drone Unaha-Closp said.

“There… there is." Horza said. The words stayed on the screen, written in Marain. Wubslin tapped at a few buttons on his side

of the

console, buttons which would normally control the display on the screens in front of him, all of which now repeated

the words on the main

screen. The engineer was sitting in his seat, looking cramped and tense. Horza cleared his throat, then

said, “There was a battle, a conflict

nearby. Just before we got here. It might still be going on. There may be death."

THERE IS DEATH HERE.

“Oh…" Dorolow said, and slumped into Neisin and Aviger’s arms.

“We’d better get her to the mess," Aviger said, looking at Neisin. “Let her lie down."

“Oh, all right," Neisin said, glancing quickly at the woman’s face. Dorolow appeared to be unconscious.

“I may be able to…" Horza began, then gave a deep breath. “If there is death here I may be able to stop it. I may be able

to prevent more

death."

BORA HORZA GOBUCHUL.