She moved as if in tremendous pain, and facial expression was impossible for her. Her lips moved again. But there was no sound.
If she should live, he knew he ought to head for Earth where the only adequate medical facilities were. But it was a long journey to the other side of the sun this time of year. The defunct motor would make it even longer. It seemed impossible that she could survive the trip.
The lips of Firebird were still moving, and now Nathan caught the trace of a word. He bent closer. She repeated the same sound over and over again.
"Luline—Luline—" was the word she breathed.
It made no sense to him. He wondered if the name were that of some unknown relative—or if she were merely delirious.
"Luline—Luline—take me to Luline—"
He spoke gently into her ear. "Who is Luline?"
She struggled mightily within herself against the pain waves attacking her. She gasped, "Chart C-R-46. Luline."
Nathan raced to the chart room. There it was. On Chart C-R-46, circled in red, was the word "Luline" beside a tiny asteroid.
This was more incomprehensible than ever. Or was the asteroid a burial place for her mysterious clan?