"There has to be a war," Walt said. "Forential told us there was."
"There isn't. Not now." Forential? A non-human? An alien?
"He told us," Walt said.
"He lied," Julia said.
"He doesn't lie."
Julia shrugged. Walt is a loyal follower, she thought. "There's no war. Maybe he meant there would be one shortly; maybe it was a premature announcement." Lord! do these aliens have some way of prodding the Russian bear? she thought. Or how the devil are they—Forentials, wherever they are—thinking of starting a war?
Walt refused to consider her denial. He did not look her in the face. "I like you," he said. He was desperate to change the subject. "Your smile. You're so ... so ..." nice. He thought the last word; he took the risk that she might peep his other thoughts. He was almost certain she could not; he hoped to peep hers if she thought a reply. Forential couldn't be a liar!
Julia knew they were both incorrect: his statement and his conviction. But she liked to hear him say he liked her. I guess, she thought, he's trying to lull my suspicions. Maybe I better lull his, too....
She smiled sweetly.
"You see, I've never seen a Lyrian female before," Walt said. "... except one on the ship just the other day; but just one, before."