Barton paused before answering, then spoke softly.

^es, maybe I am. But what does that have to do with any- thing?"

212.

"Everybody else gets off this damned ship, and I don't!

Are you trying to tell me that's not deliberate?"

"I'm not trying to tell you anything-I don't have to.

You take orders, mister!"

Ap Fenn's face reddened. "The great god Barton!

You know something? I've half a mind to break you in two, right here!"

Thinking it wouldn't be right to give this dumb clown what he was asking for. Barton restrained both his rage and his smile. "Stay with the other half, ap Fenn. It's bet- ter for your health. And now I think-"

"Don't tell me what you think! I may have to take or- ders from you, but I don't have to listen to what you think.

If my uncle were here-"

And that did it. "Shut up!" Barton shifted his voice down a few gears. "Get out of here. You've been told what to do. Not by me-by Tarleton. Go do it." He was down to a gravelly monotone. "Now. You hear me? Now."

Full of breath, ap Fenn exhaled explosively, wheeled, and made his exit.

So much for that, thought Barton. One more such scene and by God he would put ap Fenn in with Hishtoo. If pushed, Tarleton would buy it...

Myra Hake and Cheng Ai, the rest of the duty watch, had listened without comment. Now, in a subdued tone, Myra said, "Sometimes he's a little hard to take, isn't he?"

"No," said Barton. "Not bard to take. Hard to leave alone."

He gave up the idea of calling Limila. In his present mood it would do no good for either of them. Instead, he went to his quarters. Compartment Two. It was lonely there,

Leaving the ship for the gala occasion. Barton decided that he still wasn't in one of his better moods. Only one groundcar was at hand. He and Tarleton, Alene Grover, Myra and Cheng boarded it-the rest would have to wait until a second car arrived. The Tilaran driver assured them that one would soon be there. A

The ride was short; the destination was new to Barton -a building considerably larger than the site of the ear- lier party. It would have to be, he thought, to accommo- date nearly four hundred from Earth and probably several times as many Tilarans-and others.

213.

Inside, under a high-domed ceiling, artificial clouds of vapor, lit by constantly moving beams of colored light, drifted above the crowd.

"Pretty spectacular," said Alene. Tarleton murmured agreement. Absently, Barton nodded. As they moved through the assemblage, his gaze scanned everyone -he passed.

"Looking for someone?" said Tarleton. Barton gave a start, then grinned. Of course he was, though he hadn't realized it-livajj. ".So young she is, but of good thought." Oh, knock it off, Barton told himself-you old tomcat....

They came upon a wine-laden table-one of many- surrounded by a group of TUarans, with a sprinkling of Larka-Te. It was time for refreshment and discussion.

Barton tried to follow the conversation, making polite noises and hoping they were the right ones. His gaze wan- dered.

He saw a Tilaran woman move close to Cheng Ai. He could not see what happened but he could guess, for Cheng first looked startled, then smiled, and shook his head. Smiling also, she patted his cheek and moved away. Cheng and Myra whispered to each other-her expression was questioning, his was smiling disclaimer.

He'd give a pretty. Barton decided, to have heard that exchange. When in Rome....

He found himself in a conversational vacuum of his own making, and drifted away from the group-solitary among the hundreds. His glass was full-his attention was diffused and free-floating. When he recognized someone he exchanged greetings, then moved on.

A Tilaran greeted him by name. The man's face seemed familiar, but Barton couldn't place it. "I am of regret," he said, "not to recall your name."

"We are only now of direct acquaintance. I am Tevann -Limila may have said of me."

Tevann-he who had once been Limila's most need- ful person. No wonder Barton hadn't recognized him;

he had seen him only once, a brief glimpse. "Yes, of course," he said, "and that it was good to be with you again. It is of pleasure to know you." On the males. Bar- ton had decided, the Tilaran hairline resembled a beard- less Shakespeare rather than Elizabeth I. Like all TUarans, Tevann was tall and lean. Barton found his air of vitality attractive; he liked the man.

214.

is.

~~ **I would speak of Limila," said Tevann. "You Earth-

"fcpi are of different ways between men and women-our Ways may be of disturbance to you?"

Barton shook his head and smiled. "For a time, per- haps. Now I am of understanding for Limila's joy and your sharing of it. She has said you once were her most needful person-for that, I am of respect for you."

In silence, they sipped wine together. Barton had learned that the Tilari did not drink toasts, as such-in- stead, after an appreciated statement, the listener drank ' lightly, without comment. The pause was brief.

"Persons may change," said Tevann. "The one most ^ needful may become of less need-and another, in her "' place, of more. Always, such changes, of agreement be- t tween all. But had Limila not been taken by Demu, I am of the thought that Tevann aod Limila would not have changed."

Barton braced himself. "Your want is of Limila-to ^ return to you?"

Tevann clasped Barton's wrist gendy, then released F it. "No, Barton-that is not a thought of what may be.

[ What I say is this-that Limila was of such need to me, and I to her, that it is of good, that you and she are now each so needful of each other."

"I am not yet of understanding-only of willingness to hear."

"She and I were of such closeness that our life was of one house together-a thing of rareness among us. She had a son of me. Then our friend Renade implored that his first child be of Limila, and we were of agreement.

Then followed, a daughter, of me. I am of great fondness for the young of Limiia, of Renade and me. Even now that they are of full growth and finding persons needful of themselves."

"You speak, though, of Limila." Barton was absorb- ing the news that Limila was the mother of three-and had never mentioned it. But he was still waiting for the kicker....

"Yes-I would say of Limila. When I knew she was taken, I was of despair. For long and long, I was of no in- terest for any other, in her place-and when one came to my acquaintance, I was of blankness and could not see."

"Yes," said Barton, "I can understand.*'

Tevann smiled. "Then, as it will. a time happened that I saw, and knew Uelein, who is not of your acquaintance.

215.

And now for long we have been most needful, each to the other."

"I am of joy for you-for you and Uelein. I would be, if I may, of her acquaintance. But-what more of Limila?"

"That. when you came here-when Limila came here

-again I was of despair. For I had promised Limifa of all time, and now I had promised Uelein also. And though