"You cannot, because no such asteroid and no such metal exists! You
would try to frighten us with this story of a demon asteroid and a
super space fleet! It would not be that you seek to gain time for your
people to rally to you, now that they know you have escaped the Prison
Swamp? Or perhaps you need time in which to coordinate your resources
with those of Dar Vaajo of Mars! Let us advise you, Aladdian, that
within a week the main body of our fleet will be at Venus, and it will
not go well with your Irreconcilables. We shall know how to handle them
this time, we shall not be so lenient as before! Perhaps, in order
to spare them, you will wish to give yourself up to us, daughter of
Bedrim!"
Aladdian's slender body grew taut as though struck by a whip lash. With
a single sweep of the control lever she cut off the beam. Dazedly she
crossed the room, oblivious to the murmurs of the others; her usually
alabaster face was now chalk white beneath her curling blue-black hair,
her lips were pressed tight but they trembled nevertheless.
At the laboratory door Mark caught her arm, walked beside her.
"Aladdian," he choked. "I--"
She became aware of him then, smiled up at him through her bitterness.
"Aladdian, I am--I just wanted to say--I'm sorry I'm an Earthman!"
She stopped suddenly, faced him, took one of his hands in both of hers.
"No, Mark! Do not say that, do not ever say it. For you are more than
that ... much more...."