CHAPTER NINETEEN
She stood there for a moment and stared at the two of them, and he couldsee from her face that she was not sure which one was her husband. Lorscame to his feet and looked at her, not quite sure what to say or do.
"Beth..."
"Don't explain, Lors," she told him. Her voice was as calm and asunruffled as though she found men from outer space in the cabin everyafternoon.
"I brought him back," Lors began and felt silly. He wondered vaguely howshe had known about him and his being a spaceman.
She came into the room and up to where he stood, her eyes boring intohis. "Why did you bring him back? You could have come back by yourselfand continued the whole thing."
The realization of her words dawned upon him slowly and he blinked. "You_know_ about me? How..."
"I'll tell you later. Why did you bring him back?"
"You want him, don't you? It couldn't work out. Any fool can see that."He reached out and gripped her shoulders firmly. "It wasn't supposed tohappen this way, Beth. It was all supposed to go like clockwork; wenever figured on the scout ship being wrecked, and I never figured onfalling in love with you..."
"That's why you brought him back? Because you love me?"
He nodded, trying vainly to brush aside the trembling emotion thatlifted within him at the touch of her flesh. It was a weird feeling.
"I thought about taking his place, Beth. I thought about it - but I knewit wouldn't work. It was a half crazy thing in the beginning. I ... I'msorry."
A faint smile tugged at her lips. "Don't be. I'm not the least bitsorry, but I'm glad I know the truth. Now it doesn't seem so ridiculous- Brice disappearing into thin air." She looked about the room. "Whereis he?"
"Dead."
"Dead?" Her eyes widened.
Lors nodded. "I brought your husband back against my Commander's orders.When I tried to get Brice out of the hospital, he went berserk and beganshooting things up. One of the spacers killed him."
"Poor Nolan," she whispered and he could see the tears welling in hereyes. Then she looked at him sharply. "You acted against orders?"
He nodded again.
"What will happen to you?"
"Nothing. It'll all come out all right. But, Beth, how did you know? Whotold you about this?"
"I did."
Lors whirled about, his eyes swinging against those of the husky blondin the dress suit who stood in the doorway of the cabin. Automatically,his hand dropped toward the pistol at his side, but the blond stoppedhim.
"Don't bother with that, Lors," he grinned. "I'm not about to draw."
"Who are you," Lors demanded.
"Here, I'm Cartwell, of the Secret Service. But actually I'mFirstspacer Nesso of the 6th. Terran Command."
"You told her?" Lors asked, amazed.
The blond nodded. "I had to. I came here to check on Brice and found herready to call the police because first Nolan had disappeared and thenyou had. I had to think of something to keep her quiet, and the onlything I could think of was the truth. I'm a lousy agent," he addedgrinning.
Lors nodded and bit his lower lip. "How do things stand now?" He asked.
"Not too bad," Cartwell told him. "I've made arrangements to have thewrecked ship hauled out of the area for study. This will be hush-hushfor awhile, then left to dissolve of itself. Everyone will forget it..."
"What about Brice?"
Cartwell pursed his lips. "That was a rough break, but unavoidable. Wecan cover up by saying that he was searching the wooded area with therescue squads and apparently became lost. After searching and findingnothing, we can let the people draw their own conclusions."
"Risky," Lors told him.
"It'll work, unless you have a better idea."
Lors shook his head. "You can handle things down here, Cartwell. I havemy own problems up there." He pointed at the ceiling to indicate thestarship. "And I'd better get Danson's uniform off and move."
Beth caught has arm. "Let him keep it, Lors. It won't get into the wronghands. I promise."
Lors looked at Cartwell, who nodded. "Let them have it," he said."They're on our side anyhow."
"All right." He paused. "I'll be going..."
Beth linked her arm in his. "I'd like to walk to the ship with you."
"I'd like that."
He grinned at Cartwell and led her outside into the afternoon sunlight.They didn't speak until they reached the small clearing where the scoutship waited for them. Then Beth pulled his head down and kissed him.
"Good-by, Lors," she whispered.
"I'll come back, Beth, I'll come back. One of these days both our peoplewill be friends and we'll meet again."
"I hope so."
He glanced up at the sky and saw two of the scout ships flashing about,high above the clouds. "My escort," he told her grinning.
"You'll have trouble..."
He kissed her lightly on the mouth. "No. I'll marry the Commander'sdaughter and it'll all be okay."
"Is she beautiful?"
"Yes." He caught the sudden flash of womanly hurt rise in her eyes andsmiled. "Almost as beautiful as you."
He kissed her lightly again and leaped to the cockpit of the scout ship.He motioned her away from the blast area and eased the ship up above thetrees. She waved to him and looked very small among the trees. He lifteda hand to her, then swung the ship upward, slamming the throttle forwardto head back to the starship.
And Jela.
THE END
Transcriber's note: Punctuation preserved as originally printed.
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