"And so you think the Plan will fail."
"No, no, I did not say that. I would like—"
"What would you like, Tragor?"
"One more chance. One more chance with both the man and the woman. I want to take them to Mars."
Kraii stared at Tragor for an instant as if unable to believe what he had heard. But he controlled himself with an effort and spoke in a calm tone.
"Why?" he asked.
"We have taken both the man and the woman captive. The woman remained in his room when he went to her apartment, expecting him to return. We captured him first and then we captured her. She is very beautiful, almost as beautiful as the android woman. Perhaps that is why he was able to resist the android woman the first time."
A totally irrelevant thought crept into Tragor's mind. She is very beautiful, with red-gold hair. The woman I took captive this morning has hair of almost the same color. But she loves the man and I am not loved. Would it matter so much if Kraii killed me? Why should I be afraid to die? Why should I care?
"Well, Tragor," the Coordinator said, impatiently. "I am waiting to hear why you want to take them to Mars."
"I have a plan."