"Stop sounding like one of King Arthur's knights. Men of sense and good
judgment don't request their enemies to meet them on a field of honor.
Instead, a state of war is assumed and from that instant on 'A' is
looking for a chance to stab 'B' in the back because he knows that 'B'
will cut him off at the hips if he turns his back for a moment. So both
sides know that open warfare means total destruction and the process is
one of boring from within, or gnawing at the foundation. But this is no
place to get involved in a discussion of ethics, Charles. Where do we
go from here?"
"If I knew how to run that ka-dodie in the Lancaster we'd head for
Sol--if I knew where Sol was."
"And how about Howard?"
"I don't know about Clevis," he told her. "The thing to do would be
to hike it home as fast as we could and spill our tale to the people
who'd know what to do. Let's face it, Norma. They can mingle with
Terrans because they can speak our language. But I couldn't mingle with
them to locate Howard. I'd be picked up in a minute."
"So how do we get back?"
"Why do you think they brought the Lancaster?"
"Probably to fit her out as a bona-fide hellflower runner."
"Okay, then, we'll hide out in my cubby until they run her back."
"You hide out," said Norma. "If they find me missing from here they'll
know that something smells."
Farradyne chuckled. "They're as arrogant as the Gods of Olympus. Part
of their gang is still expecting me to turn up near Terra on an escape
course, and the only smart thing I've done in this game is to be where
they didn't dream I'd be. So we'll be where they don't expect us, and
maybe we'll get away with it. Come on, let's hide out."