Hotang Lu faced Billy Thompson bitterly. "This secret weapon of yours," he demanded, "it was to win for us?"
"It is," said Billy.
"IS? Is it not time that it be used? The Loard-vogh are upon the planet itself. Death looks us in the face."
"It is not yet time."
"Once before you were under their control," said Hotang Lu sharply. "Your actions now—and for the past weeks of terror—lead me to believe you are again."
"I am not."
"And who can prove it?" argued Hotang Lu.
Kennebec shook his head. "He is the one who might prove it—if you cannot trust him, who can be trusted?"
"For this, Toralen Ki died," said Hotang Lu bitterly. "My friend—dead! He died in the hope that this very thing would not happen. He met death quickly, even argued with you for the chance. A friend walked into the valley of the shadow for Terra, and Terra sits by and spits on his life by doing nothing. I would—"