"I was against it from the first," said the Kimonian. "Now I know that I was right. But the children wanted you - "
"The children?"
"Certainly. I am Elaine's father."
He didn't say Elaine, however. He said the other name - the name that Elaine had said no Earthmen could pronounce.
"Your hand?" asked the man.
"It's all right," said Bishop. "Only burned a little."
And it was as if he had not spoken, as if he had not said the words - but another man, a man who stood off to one side and spoke the words for him.
He could not have moved if he'd been paid a million.
"This is something," said the Kimonian, "that must be recompensed. We'll talk about it later."
"Please, sir," said the man who talked for Bishop. "Please, sir, just one thing. Send me to my hotel."