"A year, Earth time. Two years at the outside."
"And the period of human gestation?"
"Nine months, ten days and--what gives?"
"I shall marry Twitty, give Homekind a human specimen--my own--in nine
months and ten days. You tell Homekind of my plan. Let them hear the
recording. Then return and be with me. I shall, one hour very soon,
invite Twitty to sojourn with me on the completion of this mission,
father. I guarantee you, Homekind be with me, he will not want to see
me go the rest of the way alone."
Threlkeld said, "My daughter's mind is full of strange logic, but it
makes good sense. But be extremely careful my dear. The human is a
deceitful thing. He will kiss your lips while stabbing your back."
Gelerie turned to Twitty and said, "How would you like to have six legs
and swing from the tree by your tail?"
She turned and spoke, "See, father? He faints so readily. He will be
quite easily handled." But her human eyes had not adjusted perfectly
to Earth's thick atmosphere. She suddenly did not see the vehicle
containing her father. Then, far beyond the clouds of sunset, she
detected a small dot sailing off into the deep blue, its side
reflecting gold. "Farewell for now, my father," she whispered.
* * * * *
Turning to the helicopter, she carried three subdued men and placed
them aboard. Then she lifted Twitty softly to her shoulders and
muttered. "Homekind, fly me to their quarters. I am weary for the
moment and do not feel like operating the controls."
The copter lifted silently, swinging out over the East River. Though
cramped, Gelerie found a place beside her for Twitty.
When he had stopped shaking, she whistled softly as the Oriental girl
had and kissed him as an Amazon might.