"Why was I brought here like a prisoner?" she demanded.
Langsmith appeared honestly startled. "But I told you last night that I'd send somebody for you."
Speidel chuckled easily. "Some of our Security boys are a little grim-faced," he said. "I hope they didn't frighten you."
She took a deep breath, began to relax. "Is this about the request I made last night?" she asked. "I mean for help in this new line of research?"
"In a way," said Langsmith. "But first I'd like to have you answer a question for me." He pursed his lips. "Uh ... I've never asked one of my people for just a wild guess before, but I'm going to break that rule with you. What's your guess as to why these Galactics are here?"
"Guess?"
"Logical assumption, then," he said.
She looked down at her hands. "We've all speculated, of course. They might be scientists investigating us for reasons of their own."
"Damnation!" barked the civilian beside her. Then: "Sorry, ma'm. But that's the pap we keep using to pacify the public."
"And we aren't keeping them very well pacified," said Langsmith. "That group that stormed us last night called themselves the Sons of Truth! They had thermite bombs, and were going to attack the spaceship."