"The Great Zipher will guard me," she snapped. "He gives peace and security in our times."
"Sure, sure." Ray frowned impatiently. "But the rest of us want peace and security, too. If you make trouble—"
"Why is a young man like you consorting with these sinners?" She looked at him with sudden curiosity. "You don't belong here!"
Ray stared at her. What was her name? Oh, yes, Ellenor.
"If you repent in time—"
He laughed harshly. "Nothing doing. This may be no healthy job, maybe I'll quit after this, but don't get ideas. What I came to—"
"I know what you came to beg," she said scornfully. "I will make no deal with evil. You can't harm me. You will all slay yourselves. The ship is doomed!"
She spoke with such certainty that for a moment Ray wondered if she might know something. Perhaps she was aware of coming rescue. Still, that was ridiculous. She had been caged with the rest. She was bluffing, perhaps to allay her own fears.
He tried another tack. Sympathy. He asked her about herself.
She was a missionary's daughter, born on Venus, and had grown up among the words of the Great Zipher.