CHAPTER TWELVE
IN THE HEAVY SILENCE that followed, the two men stared at one another. Lors regarded his friend with matter-of-fact calmness, but Narvi’s mouth was open in astonishment. The situation wasn’t covered in the manual.
“Love,” Narvi choked finally. “With an alien? You must be joking.”
“I’m serious.”
“That blow on the head must have been solid as a rock.”
Thesa just stared, without speaking.
“Beth is a wonderful woman and I’m in love with her. If the blow on the head did that ... well then, I’m glad the ship cracked up.”
“But, Lors! She’s an alien! It’s like a farmer, falling in love with his stock! It’s crazy! You couldn’t live on this planet the rest of your life, and she couldn’t live with you!”
Lors shrugged.
“What about Jela,” Narvi demanded swiftly.
He didn’t answe
