"What you did doesn't matter anymore."
"Listen," he said. "Listen, Lauri. You better leave. Don't stand here any longer."
She did not move.
He gritted his teeth. "Hurry up!"
Her mind touched his gently, cloudlike, and drew away. "Let me go with you."
"You know that wouldn't work."
After a minute she turned reluctantly.
"Wait!" he cried after she had gone only a few steps.
Eagerly she turned.
"Listen!" He glanced at his watch. "Listen. The Fleet is nervous. The Knougs are nervous. It might not take much after that Coly bunch revolted.... They're yellow inside, and the seeds of doubt are there. If we could just make them believe you really had a weapon. An hour from now—give me one hour—you're to contact the Fleet on my comset and tell them the Oholos are going to destroy their Advanceship right before their eyes. Then tell them to get out, the whole Fleet, or you'll destroy every ship. That may make them think! That may make them believe!"