"I was talking about language moving away from emotion," she said. "Take Japanese, for example. Instead of saying, 'Thank you' they say, 'Katajikenai'--'I am insulted.' Or they say, 'Kino doku' which means 'This poisonous feeling!'" She held up her hands. "This is ritual exclusion of showing emotion. Our Indo-European languages--especially Anglo-Saxon tongues--are moving the same way. We seem to think that emotion isn't quite nice, that...." "It tells you nothing!" barked Speidel. She forced down the anger that threatened to overwhelm her. "If you can read the emotional signs," she said, "they reveal if a speaker is telling the truth. That's all, General. They just tell you if you're getting at the truth. Any good psychologist knows this, General. Freud said it: 'If you try to conceal your feelings, every pore oozes betrayal.' You seem to think that the opposite is true." "Emotions! Dancing!" Speidel pushed his chair back. "Smitty, I've had as much of this as I can take." "Just a minute," said Langsmith. "Now, Dr. Millar, I wanted you to have your say because we've already considered these points. Long ago. You're interested in the gestures. You say this is a dance of emotions. Other experts say with equal emphasis that these gestures are ritual combat! Freud, indeed! They ooze betrayal. This chopping gesture they make with the right hand"--he chopped the air in illustration--"is identical to the karate or judo chop for breaking the human neck!" Francine shook her head, put a hand to her throat. She was momentarily overcome by a feeling of uncertainty. Langsmith said: "That outward thrust they make with one hand: that's the motion of a sword being shoved into an opponent! They ooze betrayal all right!" She looked from Langsmith to Speidel, back to Langsmith. A man to her right cleared his throat. Langsmith said: "I've just given you two examples. We have hundreds more. Every analysis we've made has come up with the same answer: treachery! The pattern's as old as time: offer a reward; pretend friendship; get the innocent lamb's attention on your empty hand while you poise the ax in your other hand!" * * * * * Could I be wrong? she wondered. _Have we been duped by these Galactics?_ Her lips trembled. She fought to control them, whispered: "Why are you telling me these things?" "Aren't you at all interested in revenge against the creatures who murdered your husband?" asked Speidel. "I don't know that they murdered him!" She blinked back tears. "You're trying to confuse me!" And a favorite saying of her husband's came into her mind: "_A conference is a group of people making a difficult job out of what one person could do easily._" The room suddenly seemed too close and oppressive. "Why have I been dragged into this conference?" she demanded. "Why?" "We were hoping you'd assist us in capturing that space ship," said Langsmith. "Me? Assist you in...."