I could tell that he was, unaware of my presence, really teasingLuke, because I had figured it out for myself and knew it would takeonly a moment to tell him, if one could speak.

Then I was disengaging and dropping as fast as I could, for Luke wasswinging Werewindle, and I'd no desire to be severed. I really did notknow what would happen if this were to occur--if both segments wouldwind up as wise, witty, and conscious as myself; or, perhaps, whether Iwould be destroyed in the process. And having no desire to learn thisinformation firsthand, flight seemed most prudent.

I hit the floor before the blow fell. A section of the guisel'shead also dropped, still writhing. I squirmed toward Luke's nearestankle. Flora picked up a heavy chair and brought it down on the thing'sback with considerable force, despite her broken fingernail. And sheswung it a couple of more times, with some effect, while Luke was in theprocess of cutting it in half.

I found my way to where I was headed, crawled up, and caught hold.

Can you hear me, Luke? I tried then.

"Yes," he replied. "What are you?"

Merlin's strangling cord, Frakir.

Luke swung at the hind section then as it whipped toward him, tinylegs clawing. Then he whirled and halved the attacking forepart. Florastruck its rear end again with the chair.

I know what the sorcerer knew, I said.

"Oh, what's that?" he asked, slicing off another section andslipping on its gooey exudation as he retreated.

You might well be able to draw enough energy through Werewindle todestroy a world.

"Really?" he said, struggling to regain his feet as a section of thecreature thrust itself upon him. "All right."

He touched it with the point of his blade and it withdrew from himas if shocked. Then he rose to his feet.

"You're right," he said. "There's something to it." He touched the