"Where is that ship?" Retief rapped out. "You never learn, do you? You're still convinced you can hide the whole thing and forget it. I'm telling you you can't."
"We return to the city now," Fith said. "I can do no more."
"You can and you will, Fith," Retief said. "I intend to get to the truth of this matter."
Fith spoke to Shluh in rapid Groacian. The police chief gestured to his four armed constables. They moved to ring Retief in.
Retief eyed Fith. "Don't try it," he said. "You'll just get yourself in deeper."
Fith clacked his mandibles angrily, eye stalks canted aggressively toward the Terrestrial.
"Out of deference to your diplomatic status, Terrestrial, I shall ignore your insulting remarks," Fith said in his reedy voice. "Let us now return to the city."
Retief looked at the four policemen. "I see your point," he said.
Fith followed him into the car, sat rigidly at the far end of the seat.
"I advise you to remain very close to your consulate," Fith said. "I advise you to dismiss these fancies from your mind, and to enjoy the cultural aspects of life at Groac. Especially, I should not venture out of the city, or appear overly curious about matters of concern only to the Groacian government."