“Personal?” Narvi was clearly puzzled. “What can be personal about a Spacer and an alien race?”
He looked at his friend levelly. “I can’t leave this planet, Narvi, because of Beth Danson. I’m in love with her.”
“Love!” Narvi exploded.
[p105]
CHAPTER TWELVE
In the heavy silence that followed, the two men stared at one another. Lors regarded his friend with matter-of-fact calmness, but Narvi’s mouth was open in astonishment. The situation wasn’t covered in the manual.
“Love,” Narvi choked finally. “With an alien? You must be joking.”
“I’m serious.”
“That blow on the head must have been solid as a rock.”
Thesa just stared, without speaking.
“Beth is a wonderful woman and I’m in love with her. If the blow on the head did that ... well then, I’m glad the ship cracked up.”