Brinna stepped forward. "And what about me?"
"I have that planned," said Makvern sternly. "You'll learn about it in good time."
Wyatt smiled, but did not say anything.
He had no chance to say anything later on, when the ship had landed on the desert near the mesa and Makvern and Brinna had shaken hands with him for the last time, standing on the cool sand in the moonlight at the foot of the ship's ladder. Makvern had moved so quickly while Brinna was occupied with her farewells that she did not realize he was already in the lock and the ladder drawn up until it was too late to follow him. He looked down at her and grinned, and said,
"This seemed to be the best solution to your problem, Brinna. It'll be a long time before Earthmen get into space, and by then you'll be too old to make trouble and I'll be too old to care."
"You mean you're leaving me here?" she shrieked.
"In the care of Wyatt, a brave and stubborn man. Goodbye. And clear away now, we're taking off."
Wyatt hauled the temporarily speechless Brinna to a safe distance. She watched the ship take off into the starry sky and Wyatt did not dare say anything then.
He wasn't at all sure he had made a good bargain. But he was determined to make the best of it.
He started out by kissing her.