"How many are there altogether?"
Parr hesitated. "Only twenty, Parr said. I think less than that. It won't be necessary to scorch the planet."
Again silence. Then the Flagship itself cut in, "All right. We'll pick you up. Where are you?"
"Denver." He made out the street signs in the darkness. "I'm here at a street corner. Eighteenth and Larimer."
"Someone who knows the territory from the Advanceship can pick you up. Ten minutes. Hold on."
"Hurry!" Parr pleaded.
He cut off the comset. He realized he was frightened. The night was growing cold and he took two deep breaths. He let the comset slip from his fingers and shatter on the pavement. He kicked it away in savage annoyance, and snarled a curse.
Lauri shuddered inwardly at his violence, but he did not notice. And she forced a smile and touched him with a warm thought.
"I told them I was Kal," he said. "I ... asked them to pick me up."
Lauri half gasped in surprise.