She stood on a ledge, the heap of spears at her feet, looking down over the battle and chanting as she sent forth the flying death. He noticed even then how her hair was a red glory about the fine white loveliness of her head.
"Valduma," he whispered, as he struck at her.
She was not there, she sat on a higher ledge and jeered at him. "Come and get me, Basil, darling, darling. Come up here and talk to me!"
He looked at her as Lucifer must have looked back to Heaven. "Let us go," he said. "Give us a ship and send us home."
"And have you bring our overlords back in?" She laughed aloud.
"They aren't so bad, Valduma. The Empire means peace and justice for all races."
"Who speaks?" Her scorn flamed at him. "You don't believe that."
He stood there for a moment. "No," he whispered. "No, I don't."
Stooping, he picked up the sheaf of spears and began to crawl back down the rocks. Valduma cursed him from the heights.
There was a break in the combat around the hard-pressed Terran ring as the Arzunians drew back to pant and glare. Donovan ran through and flung his load clashing at the feet of Takahashi.