"Then, one by one, he'll ray the entire area of those circles—concentrating as many ships as necessary for the job."
Deisanocta came very close to him. The pleading in the depths of her eyes shook Barry Williams. Without realizing it, he put out his hands and again grasped her elbows.
This time she did not draw away. She moved closer, until her lips almost brushed his as she spoke. He could feel her slim figure tremble, not with fear, but with struggling to repress the tears that were welling into her grey orbs, the sobs that were fighting her breath!
"Then this is defeat?" she whispered. "My loyal followers wiped out—the mist, our weapon, swept from the planet?"
"The only alternative," he said with sudden fierce tenderness, "is to order the units turned off and buried in the sand. Tell your men to split into small bands and hide in the desert. Their camouflage will protect them from Grey's scouts.
"That way, Grey will think he's won, and your forces will be intact for the future."
Deisanocta's small hand found his and held it as she issued the necessary orders.
When the screen was again blank, Barry Williams spun the dials.
"What are you doing?" she asked.