"I am not without heart, outlander. My father has given you an impossible task. I have brought Tark and Hatha and Ei to help you."
"Without Kree's knowledge," growled Tark, who had obviously been persuaded against his will.
Hatha snorted and added, "The lightning will not equal his anger when he learns of it."
Nelson told the girl, "You're not doing this for me."
She looked at him steadily and answered, "The one goes with the other. If you fail, my brother Barin will die. My father would sacrifice him if necessary, as he would sacrifice me or himself for the good of the Clans. But I want to save him. Therefore I must save you."
"That's all clear," said Nelson grimly. "Well, I'm ready."
But they waited in silence until full dark.
Then Tark rose and shook himself. He ordered, "You will wait here, Nsharra."
When she started to protest they all three cried her down, Hatha refusing to carry her. She went to the very edge of the forest with them, sat down sulkily to wait. Then her face cleared.
"Good luck," came her thought and, for a second, Nelson had a queer feeling that she meant that for him too — for Eric Nelson, apart from Barin or anything else.