"She's one of ours," the Oligarch said with nice possessiveness. Bud would know better: that was all that mattered. He would know that the girl was Norma and that the girl was safe. The delicate equation of his decision was once more in balance. "Help me get them aboard the ship."
A small crowd was gathering, and an Army major pushed his way forward. The C.I.D. man, over-awed by the Oligarch's presence, and uncertain of what to do now, held back watching.
"What's this?" the major demanded. "What's this?"
George stood up. "It's our personal problem. This renegade—"
"Is he the one who escaped from you? The nutty one?"
"Yes," George said.
"What about your other two ships? They exploded. They just exploded."
Instantly the surrounding Earthmen rustled suspiciously.
"He—" George said.... "It was sabotage. He is responsible. Terrible. Terrible. I'm stunned. We haven't any time to waste. I've got to get this girl back to our big ship out there in space for medical attention."
"We've sent for a doctor," the major said stiffly.