Drake could stay—
“No use of putting all our eggs in one basket,” I broached the subject. “I'll go down by myself while you stay and help Ruth. You can always follow if I don't turn up in a reasonable time.”
His indignation at this proposal was matched only by her own.
“You'll go with him, Dick Drake,” she cried, “or I'll never look at or speak to you again!”
“Good Lord! Did you think for a minute I wouldn't?” Pain and wrath struggled on his face. “We go together or neither of us goes. Ruth will be all right here, Goodwin. The only thing she has any cause to fear is Yuruk—and he's had his lesson.
“Besides, she'll have the rifles and her pistols, and she knows how to use them. What d'ye mean by making such a proposition as that?” His indignation burst all bounds.
Lamely I tried to justify myself.
“I'll be all right,” said Ruth. “I'm not afraid of Yuruk. And none of these Things will hurt me—not after—not after—” Her eyes fell, her lips quivered, then she faced us steadily. “Don't ask me how I know that,” she said quietly. “Believe me, I do know it. I am closer to—them than you two are. And if I choose I can call upon that alien strength their master gave me. It is for you two that I fear.”
“No fear for us,” Drake burst out hastily. “We're Norhala's little playthings. We're tabu. Take it from me, Ruth, I'd bet my head there isn't one of these Things, great or small, and no matter how many, that doesn't by this time know all about us.
“We'll probably be received with demonstrations of interest by the populace as welcome guests. Probably we'll find a sign—'Welcome to our City'—hung up over the front gate.”