Uezen. Snowdon King

could not get farther. More than that, their food and power supplies were limited. When they reached Megara the capsules were uncoupled, each of them carrying a male and a female. Thus they could reach various places of the Galaxy, systems that did or did not support life.… We were lucky to get to Nede.”

      “You?!” Lerman said. “Are you from Eden?”

      “Yes. She is Mud, my partner. And I am…Uezen!”

      “Uezen?”

      Tarek and Lerman remembered the horrors bearing that name.…

      “I know what you are thinking…but it is not your fault. Everyone chooses their own way. And you have too.…”

      “Wait a minute,” Lerman said. “If you have embodied new forms of life throughout the universe, it means…you’ve also got to Terra?”

      “I knew you would ask that, Lerman. You are the creation of the beings of light. You are the continuity of our race. We are what you call…God. But we are all the creation of great Democles.”

      Lerman was astounded, not believing his ears. Tarek looked suspicious. First Lerman’s strange story, then the stories of the two.…

      “But why do you look so different?” he asked, somehow trying to find them out in a lie.

      “Mud has passed through the same mutations I could have if I had exposed myself for a long time to Nagur, the sun. Our DNA code changes and our powers decrease. Sooner or later we will lose them all.… But not before teaching you what we know. Therefore, we decided one of us should get in touch with the people on Nede. It is only thus that you will really know your nature and powers.”

      “What about youth?” Tarek asked eagerly.

      “Youth too, and everything we have received from Democles.”

      “Why us?” Lerman asked.

      “Because you have always believed in love. Even if the darins have biased your judgment, even if alcohol and women have pushed you away from the right path, deep inside you were still able to love. And we felt that. Like we can feel all the thoughts of those who live on Nede.”

      “How about the ones that died? Didn’t they believe in love?” Tarek asked sharply.

      “Not all of them died. Only the ones that were too greedy and chose the Nedean stones. Blinded by the urge to get rich they perished in the middle of the desert. They could choose. It is not everyone that can receive our teachings, it is not everyone that can follow this path. Tarek, if you had not loved Goya, you would not have ended up in the outpost and I had not tempted you, for so many years, with Nedean stones. Lerman, if you had not loved Suara, you would not have met Naej and Mud and come here. Or do you really think these are pure coincidences?”

      “I know that everything has a price,” Tarek said. “Love in particular.…”

      “Tarek, Tarek.… Indeed, there is a price for everything. But not the way you imagine.… You see, inside a capsule that reached Nayur was only one survivor. His name is Anuk. Unfortunately the woman could not make it. The Edenean, revengeful, took advantage of his powers and created the Vorex, or the elixir of youth as some call it, an extremely dangerous drug by means of which he has managed to control Serenia, Nayur, and Neteria. And I have just learned that the Tzulu merchants and Anuk have made a pact and before long they will start an invasion.…”

      “So what do you want from us?” Tarek asked.

      “What I want? I want you to help me stop them.”

      “We? How could we stop an invasion?”

      “We are trying to put together an army with the help of the Edeneans from the other systems. But it is not easy at all, not with us living so isolated.… We are fewer and fewer. That is why we need disciples.… That is why we need you.…”

      “Oh yeah? And what’s in it for us? If what we were looking for was just a drug, how am I gonna get my youth back?”

      “Relax, Tarek. There is another way by which you can get what you want.…”

      “OK, OK, I get your point,” Lerman said. “It’s a nice story. Drugs, armies, beings of light.… But what if we say no?”

      “It is your choice, of course. But think.… Tarek will never be young again.… And you…you will never be with Suara again.…”

      “Suara? What are you talking about? Isn’t she gonna.…”

      “No, Lerman, you are wrong.”

      All of a sudden, at a sign of Uezen, Suara made her appearance in the room. As beautiful and young as when she had got off the Tzulu merchants’ shuttle.

      “It can’t be!!!… It can’t.… It can’t!!”

      “Yes, it can, my love,” Suara said approaching.

      She hugged and kissed him the way only she knew how to.

      “I missed you so much, Lerr!”

      “Suara, my love!” Lerman said and broke into tears.

      Then Uezen told them how Naej had managed to persuade her to give up the idea of leaving for Serenia and follow the Zettic path instead.…

      “Naej, I knew it.…”

      “Hey, what about me?” Tarek asked.

      Uezen came up to him and patted his shoulders.

      “As I said…be patient, Tarek. All in good time.…”