Abruptly, his desire to leave the arena ebbed. He sat up. "What happens when you get no for an answer, Jessup?"
"Mister Jessup, you chitza!" Pfaff snarled. But the hairless man himself only smiled faintly.
"A wise man knows when not to talk, Dane," he observed. "For you, this is one of those times. You've done well. I like you. So human or not, I'll look after you so long as you behave."
"And Nelva?"
"She's no concern of yours, Dane. And as I said once, a wise man knows when not to talk." A pause. "I may not repeat that again."
And from Nelva: "Please, Clark. Let it go."
Dane eyed her soberly. "Why?"
The panic flaring in her eyes was more than enough answer.
To no one in particular Dane said, "Everything that can happen to me has already happened. That gives me leeway to take care of a few things."
He started to rise.