John Brunner Read online

  Abruptly she begame aware that Horst was watching too—not the ship, but her. She laughed self-consciously and smiled at him. He didn't return the smile.

  He said, "I said you were extraordinary. The most extraordinary thing of all is—well, I've realized just this minute that none of us know anything about you. Even after a year, jammed together aboard this floating box of ours. No wonder we're all a little afraid of you. You seem like a machine, a computer full of miracles."

  "I know," Kynance said after a pause. "I had to be, didn't

  ir

  rYes-"

  "Well, I've hated it. And thank you for reminding me before it was too late and I got into the habit for life!" She laughed this time without embarrassment.

  "I'll tell you something I've never told anyone else," she went on. "When I left Earth, I had this secret dream. I was going to come home wearing a zygra pelt and a blase expression, just to jolt the hell out of all my friends who said I'd never make it. By the time I ran into Shuster, I was ready to settle for a square meal and a ticket home, and I didn't give a damn about zygra pelts. Now, if I go home, I'll be able to take cases and crates and shiploads of the things, and this is simply ridiculous!"

  " 'If' you go home ... ? Don't you want to go back to Earth?"

  "Surely. It has its points. But—I've been on Earth, Horst. I don't mind going back the long way around."

  "I used to think Earth was the only place in the galaxy where I might fit in," Horst muttered. "But that's not true any longer, is it? There's a planet called Zygra where people like me can fit in. ... I wonder if they'll realize that."

  "I think so. I estimate—oh—half a year before the first applicants for immigration show themselves."

  "I tell you one thing," Horst smiled. "If you're going to stop behaving like a machine and start acting like a woman, there had damned well better be some more women among those early immigrants!"

  She gave him a mischievous grin and took his hand. "Let's join the others," she said. "After all, it's the first official function held by the Zygran Government, so it ought to be quite an occasion."

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