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When the marriage priest and the friend of the bride and friend of the groom appeared at the gate； exiting； the priest made a sign that the marriage had been performed。 A bined sigh of hope from thousands of throats swept down the hill like a wind。
All eyes were fixed on the highest tower now； for they knew that the sacrificial bride and the hated Gris were there； alone。 Nobody from the crowd left： they knew that at midnight the wife would depart the prison。 They prayed for her。 Would the therapy work？ Would she ever be seen again alive？
The sun went down。 The moon Niko rose： it bathed the ancient fortress with an eerie light； it made the uplifted faces a greenish haze on the hill。
The crowd did not miss the fact that an ambulance stood outside the gates； a medical team ready。 As the Homeview announcer said； when the cameras panned it； it was there to grasp the possible hope that the bride； no matter how abused； could be treated and kept alive。
But what went on outside the prison and what went on inside were two different things。
During the ceremony； Gris had been numb as stone。 Pratia Tayl； on the other hand； with sparkling eye； had been chattering like a loose cogwheel。 And when the two friends and priest had left； she was not even disconcerted by the fact that a guard remained at the blastgun slot； ready to intervene。
Pratia had brought a basket containing a wedding feast which had survived the minute inspections and tests given it。 With movements not unlike a golden songbird； she hopped about； spreading the estibles upon a glittering cloth。 She was popping bits and pieces at Gris's mouth…and missing much of the time…even before they sat down formally。 They were missing because Gris was too numb to open his lips。
〃Oh； you just wait；〃 prattled Pratia； 〃we'll have such fun。 You won't have to work anymore； for you'll be out of the Apparatus。 And all you'll have to do is simply lie on a bed and I'll throw food at you like this。 Your heaviest exertions will consist of simply sleeping and （bleeping）。 Isn't it marvelous？ Have another berry。〃
Gris was in the total grip of unreality。 He had been peacefully in this tower for months； his only panions a vocoscriber and his materials。 Occasionally； the inmate in the next cell would scratch on the wall； now and then a bird would sit on the window ledge and chirp and fly away。 All this motion sounded to him like a din。 There seemed to be； as well； some sort of a swelling moan outside he could not account for； for he was still under orders not to go near a window。
Sex was far from attractive to him these days。 Since Prahd had changed his anatomy； women had given him nothing but solid trouble。 Also this marriage had not bought him any time。 He really didn't believe he'd have a trial。 He had confessed his life away； the best he could hope for was the most painless execution Lord Turn could give him。 During the ceremony； the more he had looked at Madison； the less he believed what Madison had said。 The record of J。 Warbler Madman was a proven thing to Gris。 After his momentary hope； Gris had backslid。
〃Oh； have some of this pink sparklewater。 It is the very best： extremely nutritious；〃 said Pratia。 〃It will get your strength up。〃 And she laughed a little bell…like laugh。 〃You're really going to need it。〃 Then she shook a finger at him。 〃Don't be so unresponsive！ You simply must stop worrying。 Three of the very best attorneys in all Voltar will defend you。 Trust me！〃
〃I don't think any of you understand；〃 said Gris。 〃I am Heller's prisoner。 For some reason His Majesty has not issued orders to finish me off。 But he will。 He will。
Even if you could help me； I just confessed to every crime in the book。 I don't believe you and I don't believe； Gods forbid； Madison。〃
〃Oh； don't be so gloomy。 Look there！ It's already dark outside！ Now have you had enough food and drink to feel really fortified？ You have。 Good。 Now you just turn your back and I'll fix up the bed there and WHEEE！〃
He sat facing the blank wall and heard her working busily in the stone alcove。 She had brought a roll of bedding and he had no idea at all what she was up to。
Finally； she tapped him on the shoulder。 Woodenly； he turned around。 She wore a gown that was so transparent it made her nakedness an exclamation point。
The alcove had been draped with white gauze and a blue blanket of shimmercloth lay upon it。
She was plucking at his clothes； unfastening things。 Like some sort of statue； he stood there and let himself be stripped。 The only motion he made was to step out of his boots and pants。
〃Oooooooooh！〃 cried Pratia； standing back and staring。 〃LOOK what we have here！ Oooooh！ Why； Soltan； what has happened？ WHAT an imPROVEMENT！ Oh； Soltan； that is positively DIVINE！ I never DREAMED there could be one like THAT！〃
Gris looked at her with resignation。
She was staring round…eyed。 〃No WONDER you never answered my postal cards。 Women must have been haunting you in MOBS！〃
Gris looked like he had been whipped。
She frowned。 〃But I see you are not responding。〃 Then she smiled in inspiration。 〃Oh； I know what will get you excited。 A picture of our son。 It will make you want to have another one just like him！〃
She rummaged in her purse。 〃I had this taken just yesterday。 Here it is。 Isn't he BEAUTIFUL？〃
Gris looked at it。 It was a baby； two or three months old。 It was smiling and wide…eyed。
Abruptly Gris took hold of it and approached the light。 Yes！
Straw…colored hair！ Green eyes！
He glared at her。 〃This is Prahd's baby！〃
〃Oh； no； it's yours。 There's lots of hair like that in my family and green eyes； too。 Just because you have brown hair and eyes doesn't mean a thing。 He's your son； all right。 The registry papers show it。 And now he's all legal； not even a bastard since this afternoon。 Aren't you proud？〃
It was just like Nurse Bildirjin's baby。 〃This is Prahd's；〃 he said。
She laughed delightedly。 〃Why； you're jealous！ Oh； this is wonderful！ So you do love me a little bit after all。 Well； e right over to this bed and you'll get all the love you want！〃
She dragged him over to the inset bunk and through the gauze。
The guard was watchful as he stared into the cell across the sights of his blastgun。
The white curtains that hid the bed were moving。
Pratia's robe was thrown out of them and hit the floor。 Her voice was reproving。 〃e ON； Soltan。 This is no time to be shy。〃
The guard was very watchful as Pratia's voice said； 〃Now； now； Soltan。 Don't be naughty。 You've been living in all this stone。 Use it as an example。〃
A bird lit on the cell window ledge and listened。 Pratia's voice was a little strained。 〃Well； I suppose it is the lot of women to do all the work。〃
The guard frowned。
〃Oooooooh！〃 cried Pratia as the startled bird stared。 〃What QUANTITY！〃 The bird flew hastily away。
The guard's face glowered。 Pratia said； 〃Now； Sol…tan； be a good boy。 Aaaah； that's better。 Now let me concentrate。〃
The white gauze curtains were twitching。
Pratia's face was staring up at the close…to ceiling of the inset bed。
Gris was staring down at her wonderingly。
Pratia's face was very rapt； looking upward。
Puzzled； Gris was looking down at her。 He decided she must be staring at something above his head。
Gris turned sideways