"Hello, Thuni," said Hammond cheerfully. "How goes it?"
"Bad," said the woman. "But I must go."
"I wouldn't," advised Steve. "Your sister Thani and her husband would like to talk to you."
"Oh," said Thuni in a strained voice. "I'd like to speak, too. But this expenditure of power ... I fear—"
"Nonsense. Thani has been nine light-years away for almost a year. Think, Thuni, the light that started from our star is only one ninth of the distance on the way, and Thani has been there and back."
"I know, but this power—"
"What's power?" laughed Hammond. "We've plenty of power."
"But we have not. Realize that the entire city of Indilee is in darkness because of my desire to speak."
"So what?" asked Hammond. "You have the chance, have you not?"