Xephous and Armadron saw to it。 With precise and careful movements； they lifted the remains
of Magos Ipharod into position。 He was in a poor state。 With the exception of his skull and teeth； the
few biological elements left over from his human form had rotted away almost completely。 His
missing left arm and the absence of his legs spoke of violent damage prior to his seeking refuge here
in Dar Laq。 What had happened to him？ If the procedure was successful； Sennesdiar would soon
know。
said Sennesdiar；
said Xephous； reaching up to pull back his hood。 His fingers worked a
panel on the side of his metal head。 There was a brief whining noise as tiny motors lifted a square
section and rotated it away； revealing sockets sunk into the tissue of his living brain。
Sennesdiar detected no fear in his adept’s tone； but he sensed an increase in secretions from his
biological systems that suggested he was less than happy。 Giving one’s systems over to the control
of another tech…priest’s intelligence core was a dangerous and highly irregular affair。 Ipharod was
even older than Sennesdiar； and had enough authority to demand permanent control of the adept’s
body。 Officially； Sennesdiar would be unable to refuse； but he valued Xephous enough to resent the
idea。 He did not want to lose his adept quite yet。
No； he decided； Ipharod’s 1C module will reveal the information I seek； and then I will
deactivate it for eventual return to Mars。 If Ipharod wishes to live again； let it be inside another body
constructed for just that purpose。
said Armadron。 He lifted a small cylinder of metal； covered in traceries of
gold； from a hatch in Ipharod’s grinning skull。 It glowed ever so slightly in the dark； still charged
with the energy needed to maintain its integrity。
ordered Sennesdiar。
said Xephous； presenting the top of his head to his fellow adept。
said Sennesdiar。
said Xephous。
Armadron carefully plugged the intelligence core into Xephous’ brain and closed the metal
hatch。
Xephous shuddered。 Green diodes on his metal face winked out。 His head lolled slackly onto his
shoulder。
Sennesdiar and Armadron waited。 Nothing happened。
asked Sennesdiar。
said Armadron。
157
A faint； tinny voice issued from Xephous’ vocaliser。
158
CHAPTER TWENTY…EIGHT
Ipharod’s recall was absolute。 Had his rescuers thought to bring a hololithic projector； they could
have watched a perfect record of events in three dimensions as seen though his lenses。
Unfortunately； not all Martian priests were equal。 Ipharod was not impressed with Sennesdiar。 He
had come unprepared and under…equipped。 He was probably no older than four centuries； and he
was incompetent like all the new breed。
For all its flaws； its inherent ambiguities； Ipharod had no recourse but to employ spoken
language。 The first thing he shared with the other three tech…priests； however； was nothing to do
with the past。
he told them。
said Sennesdiar。
asked Armadron。
said Sennesdiar。
asked Sennesdiar。
said Ipharod。
asked Sennesdiar。
said
Ipharod。
said Sennesdiar。
There was a moment of silence while Ipharod tried in vain to rise； but Xephous’ body would not
follow his neural commands。
said Sennesdiar。
insisted Ipharod。
Sennesdiar reached forward and touched a recessed button on Xephous’ head。 The metal panel
whined open again to reveal the adept’s soft grey brain。
said Ipharod。
Sennesdiar yanked the tiny； lambent cylinder from its socket and closed the panel。 Moments
later； the diodes on Xephous’ face glimmered to life again。
Sennesdiar told him。 He raised the intelligence core in front of the adept’s face。
The first thing the adept did was to pull his cowl up over his head。
Armadron nodded once。
said Sennesdiar。
Without further discussion； he crushed Ipharod’s intelligence core between his metal thumb and
forefinger。 The cylinder crumpled easily。 Its dim glow went out。 Then Sennesdiar threw the ruined
core over his shoulder with a very deliberate and precise motion。
It hit something soft before it struck the ground。
It hit Jarryl Katz。
“You may come forward now； Cadian；” said Sennesdiar in Low Gothic。 “We have known of
your presence for qu