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orse than death。
Even as the Enforcer guard was delivering his warning； Jean Grant surreptitiously adjusted a control on the life…signs monitoring equipment。 Oscillators oscillated and alarms buzzed； lights flashed and electronic tones made urgent warbles。
The Enforcer swung its barrel around。 〃What's this？〃
Jean pretended to be studying the healing devices。 〃I think their thalmic excrescences have formed a medullary fistula！〃 To her former patients she snapped； 〃Quick； all of you！ Lie back down！ Your refraction's stuck in the optical reciprocator！〃
The Enforcers were teetering a little； overwhelmed。 〃Wh…what are you saying； female？ Explain yourself！〃
Jean demonstrated her impatience。 〃They're having a relapse； you big worm…in…a…can！ Quick； you and your partner go get help！ Get the healers！ Get the Regent！ Can't you see they're dying？〃
Karen was the first to pick up her cue and fall back on the floor moaning。 Lisa gaped at her for an instant； then went into her own pretended fit； staggering around and twitching exaggeratedly； making some very strange faces。 Rick caught on and flopped to the floor in a gatoring paroxysm； Miriya swooned onto a treatment couch and began uttering piercing sounds of pain。
The two Enforcers were so nonplussed that for a moment they nearly did turn to go get help。 But they caught themselves and covered the prisoners again。 揝tand fast； you！ None of your tricks now！〃
〃Trick？ Does this look like a trick？〃 Jean said； pointing to the inprehensible sound and light show of the Haydonite medical apparatus。
And I hope you don't say yes！
The Enforcer stumped over to the machine to have a look for itself； motioning Jean aside with the gun barrel。 She only moved a step or two away； but that didn't bother the Invid； she was nothing but an unarmed female Human。 The second Enforcer moved up nearby； covering the oddly contorting afflicted ones just in case they were planning something。 Unnoticed； Vince Grant slipped from sight between two stacks of equipment。
The first Enforcer gazed at the baffling displays of the instruments while the supposedly relapsed patients drooled； howled like dogs； and went into vigorous spasms。 Jean watched from a step away； her hands behind her back。
〃What does all this mean？ Explain！〃 the Invid demanded。
Jean produced one hand so that she could point。 〃It's all right there on the middle scanner！ See？〃
As the thing leaned in for a closer look； she whipped around the power…delivery cable she had yanked loose and thrust it against the armored torso。 Crackling wreaths of pure energy swathed the thing； sending it into convulsions。 Jean made a silent prayer of thanks that the cable's thick insulation kept her from being fried as well。 Nevertheless； the field generated by the furious current made her short hair stand on end。
The radiant wrath of it drove her back after only a second or two； though； forcing her to drop the cable。 The Enforcer was still shuddering and lurching； Jean thought she might have succeeded in mortally wounding the embryolike Invid inside； or the systemry of its mecha。
The second Enforcer was angling for a shot at her； careful to keep the afflicted Sentinels and Max and Wolff in its field of fire。 But as it raised its massive rifle； a hand pulled the pistol from its belt。 Vince Grant took a quick step back and shot the thing straight in the back of the helmet。
Smoke and steam and green goop burst from the gap in the Invid armor； along with the smell of incinerated tissue and forge…spatterings of molten alloy。 Vince had to dodge quickly as the second guard collapsed backward； nearly pinning him。
The other captives were all on their feet now； closing in on the fallen Enforcers。 〃D'you think they got off an alert？〃 Max wondered。
〃Probably not； but that doesn't mean we're in the clear；〃 Wolff surmised。 He gingerly touched the fallen rifle of the one Jean had zapped； it was warm； but intact and apparently still functional。 He hoisted the rifle onto his shoulder。
Vince passed his pistol to Rick and took up the other rifle。 Lisa took the zapped guard's handgun before Max could grab it。 It was shaped something like a giant Protoculture staple gun。 〃Rank Hath Its Privilege； and all that。〃 She smiled。
Max gave her a lopsided smirk。 〃Use it in good health； Lisa。 Only； let's get goin'！〃
There was universal agreement on that。 Rick weighed the bulky Invid sidearm as he led the way； grateful that the Sentinels had all done familiarization fire with enemy weapons against such an emergency。 He paused in the doorway and turned to find Lisa a pace behind him； ready to back him up。
They started off down the corridor。 At the first corner； Rick came face to face with Veidt and almost shot him。
〃e。 Hurry。〃 Veidt pirouetted and sailed away at high speed； leaving the others to pound after him。 They followed him to a liftfield that bore them up to the roof of the place。
〃How did you know we escaped？〃 Max demanded as the field drifted him out onto the sunlit roof landing stage。
〃We can keep surveillance on anything that transpires in the Halls of Healing；〃 Veidt replied。 〃After all； one is well advised to keep a close watch on patients。 Quickly now： put those on。〃
He pointed toward a pile of sleeveless Haydonite robes lying on a medium…smallish flying carpet。 They dove at the disguises； tumbling onto the carpet。 It took some reshuffling for Vince to wind up with the longest garment； and even then his legs were exposed from midshin down。 He settled for kneeling； the bulky Invid rifle held between his knees。
The others were more easily concealed； and in another moment Veidt had the carpet aloft。 Lisa realized that there was no way to confine her hair； or for the others to keep theirs from flying； un…Haydonitelike； in the wind； but there was no help for that now。 At least the high collars helped camouflage them somewhat。
Of them all； only Miriya hadn't recovered pletely。 Max kept one arm around her as she hung onto him woozily。
They passed through plex traffic patterns of carpets； cone…fliers； offworld aircraft； and Invid vehicles； but Veidt negotiated it with no apparent effort； and nobody appeared to notice t