Making up his mind suddenly, he left the ship and approached the girl. Her eyes never left him. Undoubtedly she was dumbfounded at his backward behavior.
He leaned toward her. A stinging slap creased his cheek. It hurt.
"Don't tell me I'm going to kiss her again!" he thought, prepared to defy that possibility.
He kissed her.
Leyloon's eyes were big and full of fear. He hadn't kissed her yet but she must have been frightened by his menacing attitude. He scrutinized her face. It was thrillingly beautiful. But it showed no comprehension. No recognition. No faintest glimmer of affection. She did not know him.
Cursing all the planets and asteroids in the universe, Darrel swung around and threw himself back into the ship.
He sat with his back against the cold metal hull of the ship smoking Martian cigarettes nervously, lighting a new one from the butt of the one he had just smoked.
She had escaped him. Slipped into the past. He had ceased to exist for her. Five short days ago he had stepped out of his ship and been kissed by Leyloon. Biff! Like that. She had gushed over him. His arrival must have been a departure in her eyes. She had been sad to see him leaving. Heartbroken perhaps.
But now she didn't know him from Adam. He hadn't even entered her life yet. It was all over unless....
Unless he could take her to Earth? No. Impossible! It would be the same farce all over again. Absolutely preposterous!