“You are accusing me of egomania,” she retorted.
“That’s what it sounds like.”
“All right,” she snapped. “You’ve given your views. I’ll give mine. You’ve shown reasons why both your informant and mine would tell their stories in support of your own view. Now admit that I can do the same thing!”
“O.K.,” laughed Barden uproariously. “I admit it. So what?”
“So what!” she cried furiously. “You’ll play with the future of an entire stellar race by rushing in where angels fear to tread!”
“Careful, Miss Ward. Metaphorically, you’ve just termed me a fool and yourself an angel.”
“You are a fool!”
“O.K., lady, but you’re no angel!”
“Mr. Barden,” she said icily, “tossing insults will get us nowhere. I’ve tried to give you my viewpoint. You’ve given me yours. Now—”
“We’re at the same impasse w
