Flip stared at her a long time and neither spoke.
"Lady," he said finally, "must this game go on forever?"
"Not for you," she replied.
"Earthman," said the woman, "in the hills, I am Queen. On the mainland, I am Terror. In the swamps, I am Death. Whatever defies me on this—my planet—dies. It needs be so, for the resources of Venus have been plunder to the Universe. Imperialism ruled until my father, king before me, died fighting it. You, Earthman, are a symbol of those that killed him, those that drove my people to poverty—until I came. I am a symbol of the Venus that was—and, as I live, shall be again. You understand now why you die...."
Flip looked at the woman and the rain molded her hair into golden ringlets, the wind shaped her body in the sheer lines of an ancient goddess. The mist softened the chill beauty of her face and her green eyes were misty in the deepening twilight.
The wind was keen and Flip shivered.
"You are the coldest woman I ever knew," he said.
"And you are the coolest man."
"Since I am to die," said Flip, "you may tell me why you wanted that worthless mine."