"Nuwell, I'd rather not talk about that. I didn't succeed, so can we forget it?"
"I think it's best that we do," agreed Nuwell. "The only thing I can think is that you were slightly hysterical over Kensington's having gained the upper hand, after the strain of guarding him for so long, and your action was an unconscious expression of resentment at their having to take over his custody where you had failed. But we might have learned a great deal through questioning the man at length, and that action of yours made it necessary for them to kill him."
Nuwell could not know how deeply those words struck her. She turned her face away from him, and the tears came to her eyes.
"At any rate," went on Nuwell, unaware, "I think this demonstrates that these espionage activities have been far too much of a strain for you, and I think it's time you stopped. We have one of the two major leaders captured and the other one dead, and I don't think they're going to give us much more trouble even if we don't locate all the fugitives. So I want you to give up this idea of wandering around from city to city, helping identify rebels."
"I think you're right," she agreed in a choked voice. She had no more interest now, certainly, in tracking down rebels.
"And," continued Nuwell, even more firmly, "marry me when we get back to Mars City."
Well, why not? Nuwell loved her. What else was there for her?
"Yes, I'll do that, too," she said. "As soon as we get back, I'll make out my report, and send my resignation with it back on the first ship to Earth. Then I'll marry you, Nuwell."
His face was radiant and triumphant as he turned to her. He put his arm around her shoulders, drew her to him and kissed her.
The helicopter flew northwestward. Passing over the Solis Lacus Lowland, it crossed the Thaumasia Desert and the Tithonius Lacus Lowland, and whirred above the Desert of Candor. Ahead of it, after a time, there rose on the horizon the white stone forms of a distant group of buildings.