"The darkbirds can destroy it," said Jubb. "If they will."
The Nantan officer, speaking from lips the color of ashes, said to the image of Jubb on the screen, "You have one minute to get it out of here before I fire."
Jubb turned his face away and spoke, to something they could not see.
Durham turned to Karlovic. "He said, 'If they will.' Does that mean—"
"I told you," said Karlovic, looking out the port, "that the darkbirds were created to guard the Star. And that, in a way, they love it. Who can say how much?"
They watched.
Out in space the little cloud of darkbirds moved toward the Star. Then, hesitantly, they stopped.
"They won't," said Karlovic, in a whisper. "Not even for Jubb."
Again Jubb spoke to the unseen messenger, as quietly as though it was a casual order. And presently a troubled movement rippled the swirling darkbirds.
Suddenly they moved, again herding the Star. Slowly at first, then more and more swiftly until it was only a streak of brilliant light, the darkbirds drove the Star straight toward the sun. And it was less a driving than an urging, a tempting, a promise of glory, a sweet betraying call from the mouth of the eternal Judas. The darkbirds led it, and it followed them.