Jeff hesitated for a moment.
“Not quite — but if it wasn’t him, it was another Overlord. I wondered if I ought to thank him. But he’s gone now, hasn’t he?”
“Yes,” said George. “I’m afraid he has. Still, perhaps we’ll have another chance. Now go to bed like a good boy and don’t worry about it any more.” When Jeff was safely out of the way, and Jenny had been attended to, Jean came back and sat on the rug beside George’s chair, leaning against his legs. It was a habit that struck him as annoyingly sentimental, but not worth creating a fuss about. He merely made his knees as knobbly as possible.
“What do you think about it now?” asked Jean in a tired, flat voice. “Do you believe it really happened?”
“It happened,” George replied, “but perhaps we’re foolish to worry. After all, most parents would be grateful — and of course, I am grateful. The explanation may be perfectly simple. We know that the Overlords have got interested in the Colony, so they’ve undoubtedly been observing it with their instruments — despite that promise they made. Suppose one was just prowling round with that viewing gadget of theirs, and saw the wave coming. It would be natural enough to warn anyone who was in danger.”
“But he knew Jeff’s name, don’t forget that. No, we’re being watched. There’s something peculiar about us, something that attracts their attention. I’ve felt it ever since Rupert’s party. It’s funny how that changed both our lives.”
George looked down at her with sympathy, but nothing more. It was strange how much one could alter in so short a time. He was fond of her: she had borne his children and was part of his life. But of the love which a not-clearly-remembered person named George Greggson had once known towards a fading dream called Jean Morrel, how much remained?
His love was divided now between Jeff and Jennifer on the one hand — and Carolle on the other. He did not believe that Jean knew about Carolle, and he intended to tell her before anyone else did. But somehow he had never got round to it.
“Very well — Jeff is being watched — protected, in fact. Don’t you think that should make us proud? Perhaps the Overlords have planned a great future for him. I wonder what it can be?”
He was talking to reassure Jean, he knew. He was not greatly disturbed himself, only intrigued and baffled. And quite suddenly another thought struck him, something that should have occurred to him before. His eyes turned automatically towards the nursery.