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Show at the table gaped in horror at the huge r e d - h e a d down, sharp beak open, and advancing with a menace terrible to behold... . . . s t r a i g h t for Dr'Anya! Chu and Brandon sprang from their chairs, crying out in alarm, and both Lodyan-the-Zett and the terrified Pym crouched to spring at the creature. Phrapp gathered himself together to make a lunge for the extended neck. Erica reached for her little dagger, tucked in the top of her right boot. But the protective Nell had already picked up the disintegrator. Dr'Anya saw her and half raised out of her chair. "Nay," Dr'Anya said to the android, her mouth dry with terror. "Nay, Nell " Hoqqam came to himself at that and, unmindful of the danger to himself -for this was a disastrous turn of events-jumped up from the ground as though equipped with springs. "Nay!" he screamed at Nell in outrage, running toward the android. "By the mass, 'twill be all over! I won't have it, I. . . !" ZZZZzzzzzzuuuuuuuuuuuuuuttttttt ! There followed an absolute silence after Nell's shot-full accurate and effective-while Hoqqam and the group around the table looked dazedly at a heap of ashes, much, much smaller than a teacup, on a spot which once supported the furious DragonGoose. Dr'Anya and Janni held each other, the good Doctor's mouth so like dust inside that she was unable to speak, nay, nor even swallow. Phrapp turned around to see where the android had gone. She was at the far end of the table, filling a beaker with cool water, and this seemed to him passing strange. 364 |