“What is this ‘fuel?’ ” the chief asked, haltingly because there was no equivalent for it in the Cascellan language.
“It makes our ship go.”
“And where is it?”
“In the metal spire,” Fannia said. “If you would just allow us—”
“In the holy shrine?” the chief exclaimed, shocked. “The tall metal church which the gods left here long ago?”
“Yeah,” Fannia said sadly, knowing what was coming. “I guess that’s it.”
“It is sacrilege for an outworlder to go near it,” the chief said. “I forbid it.”
“We need the fuel.” Fanna was getting tired of sitting cross-legged. Space armor wasn’t built for complicated postures. “The spire was put here for such emergencies.”
“Strangers, know that I am god of my people, as well as their leader. If you dare approach the sacred temple, there will be war.”
“I was afraid of that,” Fannia said, getting to his feet.