Ross reeled back, clutching for her wrists. "Stop it!" he roared.
"Why should I?" Veta tore free and twice more dealt stinging slaps before he could pinion her arms. "You call me names—you, Lewis Thigpen, the man who helped Tornelescu murder all those hundreds of innocent people, testing that catalyst!" She was panting and sobbing at once. Tears streaked her cheeks.
Ross said tightly, "I'm sorry I lost my temper. I apologize. But when you wouldn't tell me why you were trying to keep me off Japetus—when you wouldn't even answer my questions—"
"When I wouldn't tell you—?" The girl's tears streamed faster. "How do you want me to say it? Like this?"
Once again, she tore free—and then, flinging her arms about Ross' neck, buried her streaked face against his shoulder.
For an instant he stiffened. A tremor ran through him. Drawing the girl even closer, he held her to him.
Her voice came muffled: "Don't you see? If you go down, they'll kill you! You're all alone. You won't have a chance."
"That may be," Ross agreed quietly. "Or then again, it may not." A pause. "Have you ever heard of a man named Zoltan Prenzz?"
"Prenzz—?" Veta lifted her face. "No, I haven't. Who is he?"
Ross smiled faintly. "Just a name; a man I knew once." Gently, he tilted Veta's head back and kissed her. "First installment. You'll get the second after we land."