Rellin went under me, crying out. I kicked, and it must have hurt -- because it gave a yell of rage -- no, a roar, an inhuman screeching howl; it squirmed, reared up to a crouch and it --

Changed!

Before my eyes, Rellin's face melted. That's the only way to describe it. Karsten shrieked at me in warning, but I was already backing away. It had dropped the whip-thing; I kicked it, slid and tripped, my horrified eyes fastened on the incredible transformation taking place in the dikri. Flesh seemed to flow like water, the crouched form hunched, rippled into a grayish rugose clawed mass. Where a man-form had stood -- there now roared at me ... THE BRASS DRAGON!