The silence did not last very long.
At last the Commander said, "Kina, order Captain Stang to resume
his usual patrol activities. Arrange to follow the _Stella_ with a
long-range recording beam. Prepare for the Interstellar Command's
order ... to proceed with a punitive expedition against the Beolin
system." He looked long down the catwalk, and his fingers slowly closed
about the one personal touch to his office.
His voice was very low. "No more messages are to be received from the
_Stella_."
And he opened his hand.
* * * * *
Later, after the Commander had gone down the catwalk to walk about for
a while on the soft, Earthlike greenness of this world's vegetation,
Kina bent to pick up that which had fallen to the floor.
It was a color photograph, and the cold plastic sheen of the film
somehow managed to convey the impression of the blonde, young woman's
soft, warm loveliness.
It was inscribed, "_With all my love, John. Myra._" Kina had often seen
Commissioner Brullar's daughter.
He dropped the photograph in to a disposal chute, and turned to some
papers that had to be filed.