Her lips were perfumed and yielding, her arms went behind him, hands joining behind his neck, then playing with his hair. The Plague, his exile from Hamilton Village, the fight with Keleher, the long trek, even captivity in the Citadel--all were a small price to pay, he thought dreamily, then abruptly drew back. "We don't want to stay here all our lives," he said. "I'll go anywhere with you, Johnny." "Save that for later, darling--but I love to hear it. I don't think we'd have much trouble leaving the Citadel." "Not if we go tonight, we wouldn't. Every day I work with Starbuck, but if we left at once, now, tonight!" Her new-found enthusiasm not only matched his, but added wings to it. He was on the point of saying yes, of leading her through the corridors in a dash for freedom, when he remembered. "We can't," he said. "Not tonight. We've got to include Amos Westler in our plans." "Westler is here?" Johnny explained the situation to her, then added, "Tonight Westler went looking for some information about the Robots. He feels certain they have an Achilles Heel someplace, if only he can find it. Actually, it won't be easy dragging him away from the Citadel, even tomorrow night." "We can wait one night longer, sweetheart. You convince him tomorrow." "I don't like the thought of leaving you alone again until tomorrow night." Diane stilled his words by placing cool fingers to his lips. "We have no choice. I can take care of myself one night more." "Starbuck?" "I can take care of myself in that respect, too. Go back to your dormitory and get some sleep." "Tomorrow night. Same time, same place. Westler will be with me." They came close and drank of each other again. They parted, Johnny edging down the corridor backwards until the last shaft of light disappeared from the entrance to Diane's cubicle. His head was whirling in a giddy new delight, in a rapture which clouded his mind with a buoyant optimism which almost made him forget the Citadel, the Robots, and men like Harry Starbuck.... Footsteps pounding down the hall, heavy, too heavy for a woman's. Quickly, Johnny flattened himself in the darkness of a niche which served some nameless purpose. With the light behind it, a shadow loomed, reared up toward him. It was Harry Starbuck. Johnny held his breath until the big man with the smug boy's face strode past. Heading for Diane? In all probability, yes. Follow him? Stop him? Attack him? Wild thoughts ran their course through Johnny's head. And lose everything, all they were looking forward to, for his impulsiveness? Footsteps receded. The shadow vanished. Even if he could follow Starbuck, overpower him and escape with Diane, their secret would be secret no longer, which would leave Amos Westler to fare for himself. Wait for tomorrow, Johnny Hope. His course seemed clear, yet he had to fight himself all the way back down the corridor until he had reached the male dormitories.