im off the hook, he figures he's safer where he is."

Roz's face darkened. 'Why must you always think the worst?!" 'Because

I've been inside his head!" cried Cadillac.

'And part of him is in me now! I know how his mind works!" 'You have

no right to judge him!" Roz thrust him away and walked towards the

hut. Cadillac followed her. Snatching her skirt off the ground with

an angry gesture, she wrapped it around her waist and fastened the ties

with trembling fingers. Thrusting her arms into the fringed sleeves of

the leather tunic, she pulled it on and turned to face him, eyes

blazing. 'I am the only one who knows the pressure he's under! It's

something you have never experienced! And I pray to Mo-Town you never

will!'

'I bear heavy responsibilities? protested Cadillac.

'And you've got me to help you! It's not the same thing. Here, you've

got room to think!" Roz pointed to the ground. 'Down there is a

different world. I know Steve is still with us. And he's going to do

his very best to get Clearwater and her child out of the Federation the

same way he got you out of Ne-Issan."

'With a great deal of outside help,' said Cadillac sourly.

'And you may like to know that I built the aircraft which enabled us to

reach the Hudson River! He didn't carry me. I played an active part

in that escape!" 'Oh, really? That's not what Clearwater told me.

She said you were the one who didn't want to leave! Go on!

Admit it! You were having too good a time!" ?'I was until your

kin-brother came along!" The words tumbled out before Cadillac could

stop himself.

'Exactly!" cried Roz. 'You had sold out to the Iron Masters!"

'That's not true!" shouted Cadillac. 'That's not how it was!" 'All

right, I believe you. You had your reasons- just as Steve has equally

valid reasons for what he's doing now.

I know he hasn't sold out. And deep down, so do you, don't you?"

Cadillac didn't reply.

Roz tried again. 'Why can't you bring yourself to trust him?"

It took a while, but when his anger had subsided, the answer came:

'Because he seeks to know everything, but he does not use that

knowledge to change himself- only to gain power over those around

him."

'Give him time." Roz's voice was also calmer now. 'I did not see

things clearly at first, even though a voice deep within told me I did

not belong to the underground world. Knowing is not the same as

Understanding. How much have you changed since our life-streams were

drawn together?"

'Whose side are you on?!" cried Cadillac, his new spirit of

reasonableness wearing thin.

'Yours!" said Roz. 'But this jealousy, this rivalry between you must

end! The four of us are bound together by ties far deeper and

stronger than mere blood and friendship! The resentment and distrust

you harbour gnaws at that bond like a cancer. Cut them out swiftly and

cleanly, like a surgeon wielding a knife!

Act like the warrior you're supposed to be!" She saw her words strike

home and laughed at his crestfallen expression. 'Do you realise we've

just had our first quarrel?"

'I've a feeling it won't be the last,' said Cadillac.

Roz ran a teasing finger down his bare chest. 'So how can I make it up

to you?"

'I can think of several ways,' said Cadillac. 'But first, this pale

imitation of a warrior needs a paint job."

Protective colouring was not the only thing they needed.

The long journey Cadillac had in mind called for horses and some extra

security en route. There was little doubt that Roz Could ward off

almost any threat they were likely to meet but Cadillac was looking for

a way to keep trouble at arms' length. He had seen how the act of

summoning earth-magic had left both Mr Snow and Clearwater physically

weakened and looking utterly drained.