"We will go, International!" He flung with one final sneer, as the hatred of a trapped beast flamed in his eyes.
As Mark Lynn manipulated the keys and cut the connection, he found a warm body being pressed against his, and a tear-wet face that burrowed beneath his chin. His arms went about Lucero.
"Crying, indeed! Where is the dignity of a scientist, Doctor Fortun?" He smiled with a vast tenderness.
"Damn scientists," she exclaimed inelegantly, and burrowed deeper. "All I want is to be a woman, Mark!"
At that moment the tele-panel lighted signaling and Mark connected again. It was Palanth.
"Mark! Mark!" His face was alight with triumph. But Mark did not answer, for a new dawn was rising in his heart, and Lucero's lips were pressed to his.
The Martian went silent, scowled for a moment and shrugged his shoulders, then pressed a square of Venusian silk to his supercilious nose in order to hide a spreading grin.
[Transcriber's Note: No Section V heading in original.]