knew that he was free. The alien had removed the bracelet!

Quickly Reese seized it, grabbing it from the alien's paws. Despite Kuhli's protests, Reese hurled the bracelet as far into the underbrush as he could.

He grinned and patted the blubbering alien on one scaly shoulder. "That's all right, Kuhli. Good boy, Kuhli. When this thing is over remind me to get you a new bracelet."

He began to run, moving with grim determination now. He was free again—and now he knew where Tersen and his generator were located. He didn't intend to fail a third time.

Tersen had set up his headquarters in one of the small domes near the stream that ran past the colony. Blaster in hand, Reese ran to the dome.

Someone stood in the door. Not Tersen.

Lois.

"Don't go in there," she said—in her normal voice. "Tersen's in there."

"I know." He stared at her. She didn't have the same zombie-like appearance she had had earlier. "Get out of my way," he told her. "I'm going in."

She put her hand on his arm tenderly. "No Jim. Give me the gun. I've broken out of his control. He doesn't know it yet. Let me go in there—and I'll take him by surprise. He won't expect it when I blast him down."

A grin lit Reese's features. The voice was unmistakably Lois'. "Okay. Great idea, darling. Here."

He handed her his blaster and waited for her to go inside. But instead she levelled the gun at him.

"Lois! What is this—a trap?"

Words came from her mouth in reply—words spoken in a deep, distorted voice. "Well done. Now kill him." It was the voice of Dr. Tersen.

Her finger tightened on the trigger as Reese stood frozen in utter horror. Tersen had used a shrewd ruse—by pretending to have let Lois escape his power he had gotten Reese to surrender his weapon.

But Lois stood facing him without firing. Sweat broke out on her face. She became deadly pale.

"Fire!" Tersen urged, speaking through her mouth. "Shoot him!"

"I—I can't," she said hesitantly, "I—love—him."

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