Koyala made a weary gesture of dissent.
"Let us not speak of that now, mynheer," she said.
"But come to my home," he said. "We must have luncheon together—you and Captain Carver and Paddy and I." With a quick afterthought he added: "I will invite Mynheer Muller also."
The momentary gleam of pleasure that had lit Koyala's face at the invitation died at the mention of Muller's name.
"I am sorry," she said, but there was no regret in her voice. "I must go back to my people, to Djath's temple and the priests. It is a long journey; I must start at once."
"You cannot leave us now!" Peter Gross exclaimed in consternation.
"For the present I must," she said resignedly. "Perhaps when the moon is once more in the full, I shall come back to see what you have done."
"But we cannot do without you!"
"Is a woman so necessary?" she asked, and smiled sadly.
"You are necessary to Bulungan's peace," Peter Gross affirmed. "Without you we can have no peace."