She closed her eyes again. A slight shudder ran through her body and she shook her head dazedly.
"The One," she murmured, "is after us all now. It began by entering your ship. Then It sent Its people against mine—against me. It won't stop until It has destroyed us all, and It—It's something I'd just as lief not describe.
"My people call it something which I have translated as 'The One'. To them, it means 'first', or 'leader', or something like that. It was in control of all the people here on Thisbe when the Survey arrived, and I'm afraid It still is. It wants to remain in control. You see, It's quite intelligent."
"I can believe that," Pritchard said. "It not only figured out how to get into the ship, but it also figured out how to find McManus."
"Oh, no, I don't believe it just went after him. Wasn't his cabin the nearest to the place it entered?"
"Well, yes, as a matter of fact, it was."
"Oh, you don't understand The One as I do," she cried. "It would never be satisfied with just one. It came into your ship to feed on all of you. McManus was just the first person It found. From what you tell me, It wasn't even finished with him. There wouldn't be—anything—left...."
"Then why did It go away?"
"I couldn't tell you. Perhaps when your blower short-circuited, it arced a little. The One is very sensitive to fire. But It's not through. It will come back, one way or another."