Han Vollard looked at him. "It's not their attitude toward us that matters. They couldn't do anything if they tried. It's what they are that matters, what they will be that matters even more." "I take back what I said before!" Clarey flared. "You talk too damn much!" There was a chilling silence. "Nerves," said Blynn nervously. "Every agent lets go when he's back among his own kind. Nothing but release of tension." * * * * * Several days later the staff ship was ready to go back to Earth. "Don't forget to tell your wife how much I enjoyed the pies," Spano said; then, "Oh, I was forgetting; you could hardly do that. But do see if you can work out something with the dehydro-freeze. I'd hate to have to wait three years before tasting them again. You can keep your marac rolls, though; I'll take my smoke-sticks." "Try not to get any more involved, Clarey," Han Vollard said as they stood outside the airlock. "Maybe you ought to move on--to a city, perhaps, another country--" "When I want your advice, I'll ask for it!" he snapped. After they'd gone, Blynn turned on him. "Man, you must be out of your mind, talking to Secretary Vollard like that." "Why does she have to keep meddling? It's none of her business--" "None of her business! Secretary of the Space Service, and you say it's none of her business?" Clarey blinked. "I thought she was Spano's secretary." Blynn laughed until the tears dampened his dark cheeks. "Spano's only Head of Intelligence. She's his Mistress." "Of course--_mistress_, feminine of _master_! I should have realized that before." Then Clarey laughed, too. "I'm a real all-round alien. I can't even understand my own language." On the way back home he couldn't help thinking that Han Vollard might be right. It could be the best thing for him to disappear now; the best thing for himself, the best thing for Embelsira. He could pretend to desert her--better yet, Blynn could fake some kind of accident, so her feelings wouldn't be hurt. A pension of some kind would be arranged. She could marry again, have the children she wanted so much. If he waited the full ten years, she might never be able to have them. He had no idea at what age Damorlant females ceased to be fertile. But she wasn't just a Damorlant female--she was his wife. He didn't want to leave her. Maybe he never would have to. Hadn't Spano said that when his term was over he could pick his planet? He would pick Damorlan. * * * * * When Clarey came home from Barshwat, Embelsira said nothing more about her suspicions, but greeted him affectionately and prepared a special supper for him. Afterward, he wondered if making love to an Earth girl could be as pleasant. He wondered how it would be to make love to Han Vollard.