“THERE ARE REWARDS,” the Old Woman said with the deadly coldness of outer space, “for Earthmen found in a Venus woman’s company, and for her leaving her planet.”
“Shut up!” His Excellency’s ear beards were standing straight out sideways. “I’ll handle this!”
“May I remind His Excellency,” the Old Woman snapped, “that I represent Earth and her dominion of space gained by right of original flight!”
“May I remind the Captain,” His Excellency declared fit to be heard back to his planet, “that I am the Personal Ambassador of the President of Venus and this thing can mean war!”
“Yes! War in which people will actually die!” As His Excellency paled at that grisly remark, the Old Woman spoke through her teeth at O’Rielly, Callahan and Trillium. “All right, come along!”
O’Rielly joined the death
