"Do you think I have a chance of becoming Royal Physicist?"
"I am certain of it." She came very close to him. "You could give us the atomic drive, design space ships ... weapons ... for us, couldn't you, darling?"
"I could." He looked troubled. "But it's one thing to become an extraterrestrial, another to betray my own world."
Iximi put her arms around him. "But Uxen will be your world, Peter. As prince consort, you would no longer be concerned with the welfare of the Earthlings."
"Yes, but...."
"And where is there betrayal? We do not seek to conquer Earth or its colonies. All we want is to regain our own freedom. We are entitled to freedom, aren't we, Peter?"
He nodded slowly. "I ... suppose so."
"Moolai Uxen." She thrust a package of cigarettes into his hand. "Let us summon the Almighty One to bless our betrothal."
Peter obediently lit two cigarettes and gave one to her.