Radwick nodded his silver head. "Like the Ideals."
"How come you never met your Ideal, Radwick?"
He sighed. He played with the blocks. "I did. She was destroyed."
"You killed her?"
"She was destroyed."
In the red time there were suggestive mists that whispered. Radwick watched me with amusement. I had never seen a mist-woman before, and I forgot about the Ideals when I saw these graceful, half-solid creatures that drifted past the ship. In the distance they were alien forms but as they divined our own forms and wants they shifted into reasonable facsimilies of earth-women and smiled and whispered as we drew alongside.
"Sirens," I breathed, feeling cold fear inside.