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this to me is unbearable。 Yet I know the creature will not really harm it。 The feast is planned for later； on the Setian hell planet。
James brings the child to each beast； and each one pokes at it a bit。 The child does not cry out and this seems to annoy both the visitors and James。 Finally it is brought to Croka； but before he can touch it my eyes fasten on the child's eyes； and so； in effect； the Setian mander's eyes are also focused； against his will actually； on the same spot； on the profound gaze of the infant。 It is only then that Croka bees aware that I am sitting deep within his mind； and I understand that this is the moment of greatest danger。 For Croka； like most advanced Setians； is a master of seedling； the manipulation of will； and I feel his furious will suddenly rise up against mine。
He reaches for me too late； because I already have the kavach of the child's gaze； the armor or protection of the avatar； and seedling loses all power in the presence of a saint。 Like Ory of old； Croka carries a dagger in his silver belt； and I reach for it with Croka's own arm。 Before the Setian can stop me； before James even knows what I am up to； I stab the blade in James's left eye。
Then all at once I am back in my vampiric body。
Back in the desert with only James and the child standing before me。 The saucer and the Setians appear to be gone。 But James is in pain； and I realize that I have already stabbed his own knife into his eye。 Well； I think； this time I must have e out of nowhere on him。 Quickly； before he can recover； I withdraw the knife and poke it in his other eye； effectively blinding him。 He howls in pain and the blood that pours from his wounds is black and foul smelling。
He drops the child and puts his hands over his torn eyes。
I catch the child before he hits the ground and set him down gently。
Then I turn back to James。
〃Jimmy；〃 I say sweetly； 〃where do you want me to put the poison？ It is a new and improved brand。 Guaranteed to kill even a slimy lizard like you。〃
He swings at me with his right arm and misses； spinning helplessly in front of me； and I stab the knife in his spine behind his heart； just where he shot my daughter。 Screaming in agony； he falls to his knees and bows his head。 His flaying hands desperately strain to pull out the knife but I know just how powerful the poison is； soaked deep in the folds of the blade itself。 He is already doomed。
〃Sita；〃 he gasps。 〃You don't understand what this moment means to this part of the galaxy。 You can't interfere。〃
I laugh。 〃Are you talking about your lizard friends？ They are probably still here right now。 I'm sure they are； but they don't have a physical body like mine。 They have to work through scummy agents like you。 And right now their poor agent can't even see well enough to tie his own shoes。 Oh my。〃
His face is a mass of black blood。 Yet it is as if he is weeping。
〃You can't do this；〃 he says。 〃This night was planned for ages。〃
I kick him and he cries out again。
〃Yeah？〃 I say。 〃Who planned tonight for ages？ Not Suzama。 Not me。 I just wish there were a swarm of flies here and I had the luxury of killing you slowly。 But I have other things to do right now。〃 I grab him by his mane of messy hair and pull his head back； exposing his throat。 〃This； I am going to enjoy。〃
〃Wait！〃 he cries。 〃I have not pleted my mission！ I will not be allowed to transfer to another body！〃
I pull out the dagger impaled in his spine。
〃James；〃 I say。 〃I honestly don't care。〃
〃Stop！〃 he screams。 〃I don't want to die！〃
Ah； there is a divine sweetness to total revenge。
God might not agree but I would argue the point。
〃Then you should never have been born；〃 I say。
His blood； when I open his neck； flows like black ink。
There is a loud hiss in my ear。 The wind tugs at my hair。
A flash of red light momentarily blurs the stars。
The Setians have left； and in a hurry。
I let go of James and he falls dead on the sand。
Drawing in a deep breath of fresh air； I laugh out loud。
The child laughs with me as I carry him back to the road。
I think he likes me。 Really； he is so cute。
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