"Why, I suppose I am," Janus said. "Either me or Professor Brownell, here."
"Professor?" Her mind seemed to grope for the meaning. "Ah! That word means a man of scientific learning, does it not?"
"In this case, yes," he answered.
Brownell spoke softly. "Madam, we come in peace. We want to be friends and we want to help you, if we may. You need have no suspicion of us."
"No suspicion? You come from the dark side! From the Perlacs!" She spat the last word venomously.
Donli, standing there, seemed troubled. He said:
"We only found them near the twilight zone. They were most friendly in manner and speech! They seem—"
Man waved a hand, and he was silent. She said:
"Men of Earth, you wonder why I am suspicious? Know, then, that we observed your ship five days ago, crossing our land with tremendous speed and heading for the dark side! Why have you waited until now to come here? It could be that you have allied yourselves with the Perlacs! Have they sent you here?"
There was a moment of stupefied silence. They could scarcely believe that she was serious, but her cold manner assured them of it. Then the answer must have dawned on all of them at once.