"I have to," Len said. "He's my partner."
Her blue eyes widened in shock. "Then you've been doing more than just trading with the hyperspacers. You've been associating with them, and they're even worse than extraterrestrials because they're so much more—extraterrestrial!"
She went on talking in this vein, but Mattern ignored her and turned his attention to the boy. "I suppose you told her not to eat or drink anything so she'd see the hyperspacer?"
Raines nodded, his face essaying contempt but imperfectly concealing terror.
"And I suppose you yourself did the same thing, not knowing the men weren't going to be drugged this trip?" Len sat down behind his writing table and looked thoughtfully at the young man. "You must have done the same thing before, on other trips, to know as much as you seem to. You must have heard and seen a great deal, eh?"
"Plenty," Raines said, through brave, stiff lips. "Plenty."
Obviously the boy hates me, Mattern thought. But why? Is Lyddy enough reason?
"Why did you bring her into this?" he asked, almost mildly.
Lyddy didn't give Alard a chance to answer. "Because he wanted me to see you as you really are!" she shrieked.