Capt. Shaeffer said, "I think it would be best if Ge-Ge and I were to board your ship immediately. Her life may be in danger. Some old-line Party men might resent her role in the revolution. Actually, she had more to do with it than I did."
"Oh, now, I'm sure you must be exaggerating a bit on that, Captain Shaeffer. Her life in danger? Surely, now! Speaking frankly, Captain—and mind you, I have no personal objection at all; this is none of my business. But she is, after all, an Itraian. You know these mixed marriages—"
"I don't give a damn what you personally think," Capt. Shaeffer said. "Is that understood once and for all? She goes."
"Of course. I was just—now don't get huffy. Of course she goes. Just as you wish, Captain."
The angry exchange over an unknown but fearfully expected issue caused Ge-Ge to blink back tears.
A week later, Gene Gibson came for the first time to visit them. Capt. Shaeffer inquired as to progress.
"Well, Captain, things are progressing. We are establishing a government which will be more responsive to the will of the people of Itra. We've had several very pleasant, informal chats with the Party Leader, himself. Really a wonderful man. Once he got all the facts—which were kept from him the first time we landed—he strikes me as being quite responsible. I think we may have misjudged him. I'm not too sure but what he isn't just the exact man to head up the new government. We've discussed a few details on trade agreements and, I must say, he's been very reasonable."
Capt. Shaeffer said nothing.
"Yes," Gene Gibson said, "he's really an exceptional individual. A wealth of administrative experience. A fine grasp of practical politics. I don't regard him as a typical Itraian at all. He feels that, with us backing him, we can get this whole mess straightened out in a few months."