The girl smiled at him. Her eyes were like wells of interstellar space silvered with sparkling stars.
He sat down on his haunches, too weak to stand. He'd almost forgotten that women of flesh and blood existed. He'd almost begun to believe that women were memories hidden in dark corners of his mind or flickering images striding across a micro-movie screen.
"We have presents for you," the young Sirian said, smiling down at him.
Captain Torkel forced his eyes away from the girl. He saw that older women and children were standing beside him, smiling, their arms filled with strange containers.
"Wine for the Star People," said a white-haired woman. She seized a golden flagon and filled golden cups held by children.
"Food for the Star People," said another.
More smiling women and children appeared carrying greenish, transparent bowls filled with slices of a yellow, porous substance.
Taaleeb chuckled at Captain Torkel's hesitancy. "It is good food," he said. "Everything is good. There is no end to food and no end to wine. There is plenty for all."
Lieutenant Washington and Fox and Kelly squatted beside Captain Torkel, accepting the strange bowls and the golden flagons.
Fox whispered, "Captain, shall we let Kelly test the food first? It could be poisonous."