Morka Kar lay there outstretched, unmoving. Jonathan grinned hugely and rubbed his knuckles. It began to penetrate after a while that the others were staring at him in complete horror.
Adatha Za gasped and sobbed, then came and stood silently beside him, her soft hand reaching for his fist. She held her dark head high, and her eyes glared defiance.
"A beast—"
"—useless to expect help from things still ruled by emotion—"
"—a mistake. Shar Bytu should not—"
He heard the murmurs and the whispers, but Adatha Za was speaking, saying, "Morka Kar insulted him before the assembly was called. He is not like us, this Earthling. He fights when he is attacked!"
Shar Bytu waddled forward, his reptilian face grave. He blinked a little curious, at Jonathan.
"We cannot have disturbances among ourselves," he said. "We need scientific and philosophic calm to meet the shadow menace."
"It wasn't what he said," Jonathan said softly. "It was the way he said it. He was asking for it."
"Asking for what?" puzzled Shar Bytu, looking about.