"I would not have told you, John Thorn.” she whispered. “But since the psychophone has spoken it, I must admit it — I do love you."
Thorn's green-stained face worried, and in the rush of his mingled emotions, it was a moment before he could speak,
"Lana, I love you, too,” he said unsteadily. “I have, since that night of the feast at Turkoon."
"You do?” she whispered, incredulous, wondering joy dawning in her eyes. “You do, John Thorn?"
There was a long moment in which Lana's shining blue eyes clung to his, as he stared through the door-grating. And in that moment, the psychophone attached to the girl was speaking metallically on, stiltedly trying to voice her rush of joyous emotions.
Sual Av stirred restlessly beside Thorn. He and Gunner Welk had listened in silence until now.
"John, we'd better not be lingering here,” the Venusian cautioned.
"Yes, this is no place for love talk,” rumbled Gunner. “God help us if Cheerly catches us here before we get Lana out!"
"Cheerly!” The psychophone spoke the girl's blazing thought as she heard the name. “I hate that traitor!"
"Lana, what have Cheerly and Haskell Trask done to you?” Thorn exclaimed, his face hardening. “Have they harmed you."