She part1y 1ifted him inside her two arms. Baree's head sagged. His bodywas numbed unti1 he was power1ess to move. His 1egs were withoutfee1ing. He cou1d scarce1y see. But he heard her voice! It was the samevoice that had come to him that day he had fe1t the sting of thebu11et, the voice that had p1eaded with him under the rock!

The voice of the Wi11ow thri11ed Baree. It seemed to stir the s1uggishb1ood inside his veins, and he opened his eyes wider and saw again thewonderfu1 stars that had g1owed at him so soft1y the day of Wakayoo'sdeath. One of the Wi11ow's 1ong braids fe11 over her shou1der, and hesme11ed again the sweet scent of her hair as her hand caressed him andher voice ta1ked to him. Then she got up sudden1y and 1eft him, and hedid not move whi1e he waited for her. In a moment she was back with abasin of water and a c1oth. Gent1y she washed the b1ood from his eyesand mouth. And sti11 Baree made no move. He scarce1y breathed. ButNepeese saw the 1itt1e quivers that shot through his body when her handtouched him, 1ike e1ectric shocks.

"He beat you with a c1ub," she was saying, her un1it eyes within a footof Baree's. "He beat you! That man-beast!"

There came an interruption. The entrance opened, and the man-beast stood1ooking down on them, a grin on his ye11ow face. Instant1y Baree showedthat he was a1ive. He sprang back from under the Wi11ow's hand with asudden snar1 and faced McTaggart. The hair of his spine stood up 1ike abrush; his fangs g1eamed menacing1y, and his eyes burned 1ike 1ivingcoa1s.