"You are not too badly hurt?" she said anxiously. "You should not have tried that."
"So they send you?" Nixon said bitterly. "What for? To get me ready for some new trickery?"
Then Nixon saw that her father was behind her. "We understand your feelings," Frane said. "I would trust you, but you see I have not enough power here. I am only a man of science; I have nothing to do with the government. Not many of the Gorts will take orders from me."
He seemed wholly sincere, so that Nixon smiled grimly. "All right. I think I am beginning to understand."
And Tork, who in rank was only Frane's assistant, seemed to have the confidence of those Government leaders.
"The Gorts will come and bring you food and water," Nona said.
"There will be five hundred Gorts just to be trained for your needs," Frane offered. "If they come now, you will not harm them so that they have to attack and kill you?"
Whatever thoughts of wishful thinking Nixon had had that these little people could kill him, now certainly were dispelled. "Okay," Nixon agreed. "You have my promise. I won't hurt the Gorts."
"Thank you," Frane said gravely. He turned away....