But the similarity was only incidental. There was a grace and a gentleness to Thralna's beauty; a grace and gentleness that was the result of fifty thousand years of civilization. Beneath the superficial beauty of the barbarian girl lay only an animal-like vitality and potential violence.... "Yes, Father?" Thralna asked again in her carefully modulated voice. "Are you going to the theatre tonight, Thralna?" "Yes. Tonight's play was written by D'ret-Thon and it's supposed to be almost as good as one of the classics. Why do you ask, Father?" "I called to tell you that I have to work late tonight. I may not be home until morning." "Couldn't you let a robot do it?" "No. I have to do it, myself." "Does it have to do with those two aliens?" "Yes." A little frown of worry appeared and as quickly disappeared. Her slim fingers touched her forehead for a moment, to smooth away any vestige of a wrinkle, then she said, "It will be such a relief when they're finally disposed of. Whenever I think of how they might escape and get into the City, it frightens me. Are you sure they can't escape, Father?" "There is no possibility of their escaping," he said. "You go ahead with your plans for the evening. Will you come home when the show is over?" "Not for a while. Kin is taking me dancing, afterward." "Where you went last time--the place where they were reviving the old dances?" "No. Nobody goes there anymore. Those old dances were rather fun but they were so--so tiring. Our modern dances are much slower and more graceful, you know." "All right, Thralna," he said in dismissal. "Enjoy yourself." "Yes, Father." She was reclining on the couch again, her eyes closed, when he switched off the image. He sat for a little while before turning on the tape projector, recalling his conversation with her and a feeling growing within him that he was almost on the verge of discovering still another menace to Tharnar. * * * * * Virginia held her hands to her face to shade her eyes as she looked out the window. "What you can see of the city from here is all bright with lights," she said, "but there's no one on the streets. Only some robots. Everyone in the city must be in bed." "That's the way it's been every night," he said. "Early to bed and late to rise--they're an odd race. I've wondered what they do to pass away the time. But what they're doing now is something you should be doing--resting." She turned away from the window. "I'm not sleepy. I keep thinking of _The Cat_ out there waiting for us and how we might get to it if we could only get hold of a blaster." "Which we can't try to do until they come for us in the morning. Some rest now might mean a lot then." "All right, Bob." She went to him and sat beside him on his cot. "What is it now--how much more time?" "About three hours." She leaned her head against him and he put his arm around her. "I guess I am a little tired," she said. "But don't let me go to sleep."