"You are indeed, but we have another task for you."
"But Alfred? He'll—"
"Your husband is waiting for you in a ship which is almost ready to go out."
"Out? But Alfred? He mustn't ever fight again. You can't make him do that. Send me instead. I promised him, but—send me in his place."
"We are sending you both, Mrs. Wilson. And I think it is proper to assure you that the tide has turned."
"Oh!"
"Just a little more time. Just a little more work."
"Oh!"
"For nearly two years the balance of strength has been swinging in our favor. We have purposely let ships through in the later years, but those that got inside the orbit of Uranus never got out again. The attrition has at last given us overwhelming strength, for we have produced."
The man paused. Sue sat numb.