He was worried, and worn down. Tending to Kwangtan, and within reaching distance of the ruby, had been difficult. Worse yet, there was the problem created by Falana. Whenever he convinced himself that once back in the Venusian Domes, he would forget the Terrestrian girl, his argument went into reverse: and he knew that regardless of distance, the bond could not be broken in fact. Then, pursuing the endless debate from its other alternative, neither could he remain an exile from Venus, and stay away from Linda by any choice of his own.
And all this went with him, oppressing him as he rode toward the new valley which would so enrich Ardelan's people.
VI
Verrill was still well short of his destination when he heard a rider behind him: a horse blowing and wheezing, ridden nearly to death, yet carrying on. He wheeled about. It was Falana who had overtaken him.
"You little idiot, go back home!"
"I won't."
"You will, and now."
"Yes, if you carry me back."
"What's the idea? You know I'm coming back, and you know there's a lot of trouble ahead, where I'm bound for."