"Granted," he said. Better to give in than to argue. Centaurian scientists could spot a major hoax on Kendall's part instantly, and Kendall was under great pressure. Resist at this moment and he might defy them, even with his wife's life at stake.
"You will proceed at once to Yellowstone." He gave Kendall careful instructions concerning the rendezvous and cut the connection.
Kendall sat for a long time staring at the blank screen—smoking endless cigarettes. After a while, he got wearily to his feet and looked at his watch. In seven hours and twenty-five minutes he would be on a Centaurian ship that would lift out of Terra's orbit and start bending space into time until....
The pale, green globe of Centaur hung in a black sky; greatened and darkened and Kendall was looking out across the huge rocket port from which the Centaurians planned to launch Terra's destruction.
Now, for the first time, he saw the Centaurian without the mask. The man was handsome. He had the cruel black eyes of all Centaurians. He smiled coldly. "We've come a long way, Kendall. I suppose you want to see your wife."
"No."
That was a surprise. "I don't quite understand. Your feeling for her is—"
"Such that I wouldn't dare allow myself close to her or I wouldn't have the courage to let her go again."
"It's unnecessary that you do. We Centaurians keep our bargains."