BELIEVEINMANNATURRISWITHYOU.
Yet sometimes there were suggestions of profound, even disturbing truths:
REMEMBERMANISNOTALONENEARMANISCOUNTRYOFOTHERS.
But of course everyone knew that — though could one be sure that the message merely referred to the Overlords?
George was growing very sleepy. It was high time, he thought drowsily, that they headed for home. This was all very Intriguing, but it wasn’t getting them anywhere and you could have too much of a good thing. He glanced around the table.
Benny looked as if he might be feeling the same way, Maia and Rupert both appeared slightly glazed, and Jean — well, she had been taking it too seriously all along. Her expression worried George; it was almost as if she were afraid to stop — yet afraid to go on.
That left only Jan. George wondered what he thought of his brother-in-law’s eccentricities. The young engineer had asked no questions, shown no surprise at any of the answers. He seemed to be studying the movement of the plate as if it was just another scientific phenomenon.
Rupert roused himself from the lethargy into which he appeared to have fallen.
“Let’s have one more question,” he said, “then we’ll call it a day. What about you, Jan? You’ve not asked anything.”
Surprisingly, Jan never hesitated. It was as if he had made his choice a long time ago and had been waiting for the opportunity. He glanced once at the impassive bulk of Rashaverak, then called out in a clear, steady voice: