CHAPTER THIRTEENRingg was still bending over Meta's hand when Vorongil came into the cabin. He started to speak, then noticed Ringg. "I might have known," he growled, "if there was anything to find out, you'd find it."
"Shall I go, rieko mori?"
"No, stay. You'll find it out some way or other, you might as well get it right the first time. But first of all—are you all right, Meta?"
Her chin went up, defiantly. "Yes. And why have you lied to us all these years—all of you?"
Vorongil looked mildly startled. "It wasn't exactly a lie. Nine out of ten Lhari captains believe it with all their heart—that humans die in warp-drive. I wasn't sure myself until I heard the debates in Council City, last year."
"But why?"
Vorongil sighed. His eyes rested disconcertingly on Bart. "I presume you know
