"You did not kill."
For a moment, Stanton found it hard to believe that the hissing, guttural voice had come from the crouching monster.
"You did not even try to kill."
"I have no wish to kill you," Stanton said evenly.
"I can see that. Do you ... Are you...." He stopped, as if baffled. "There are not the proper words. Do you follow the Customs?"
Stanton felt a surge of triumph. This was what George Yoritomo had guessed might happen!
"If I must kill you," he said carefully, "I, myself, will do the honors. You will not go uneaten."
The Nipe sagged a little, relaxing all over. "I had hoped it was so. It was the only thinkable thing. I saw you on the television, and it was only thinkable that you came for me."
Stanton blinked, stunned. What was the Nipe thinking? But, of course, he knew. And he saw that even his brother's return had been a part of the plan.
"I knew you were out in the asteroids," the Nipe went on. "But I had decided you had come to kill. Since you did not, what are your thoughts, Stanley Martin?"