"What does this mean? Enemy ships and all that?"
"It ain't good, baby. From somewhere has come the inevitable transgalactic culture, only with guns instead of gifts."
"But it isn't like us to run."
He nodded soberly. "Yes, it is," he told her positively. "The first man lived to start the human race by knowing when to run like hell. He ran until he could pick up a handy rock to throw. That's what our men have done. Run home to get our rocks."
Alice looked wistful. "And Ted?"
Jock shrugged. "I wouldn't know," he said. "He'll probably get busted a few grades for insubordination. They took his command away. That's one way of preventing full insubordination from an officer who might have a lot of public sentiment on his side, or good high-rank material in him. They take away his command before he disobeys, slap him down a few steps for trying, and let him sweat it out."
"I'm glad," she said simply and her voice was calm.
Norton looked at her strangely.
She caught his look and smiled, almost serenely.