A member of Viggon Sarri's crew came into the room and spoke quietly into his commander's ear in his native Bradian. He spoke in too low a voice for it to be picked up by the microphone.
Viggon said, "You'll be glad to know that your friends are all three conscious, Commodore Wilson."
"Alice is all right?" Wilson cried.
"This man will take you to see her," Viggon Sarri smiled.
Wilson headed for the door behind the orderly as fast as he could. By the time the orderly had reached the portal, Wilson was almost on the Bradian's heels.
Viggon Sarri turned to his two lieutenants and said, "We can learn much from these Earthmen. Eagerness, for instance. Eagerness—and emotional love." He looked at his hands, flexing them outward, then inward. He was thoughtful for some time before he said, "Lay a course to Sol, Naylo. We'll take them all home. And you, Twill, see if you can connect with Brade on a person-to-person private channel. I'd like to talk to Valdya. Maybe she's as lonesome as I am now."