her, quite as casually as might any two guests
relaxing at the resort, and found chairs in the semi-darkness
overlooking the moonlit lowland.

Deimos hung near the zenith, a tiny globe of light, virtually
stationary. Phobos, larger and brighter, was not long risen, and it
moved swiftly and smoothly across the sky, like the cold searchlight of
some giant aircraft. Touched and transformed by the shifting shadows,
Maya and Dark sat and chatted like old friends.

Dark talked now, and he told her of his past life, of his coming to
Mars, of his joining the rebel movement upon realizing how the
government was holding back man's progress toward Martian
self-sufficiency. He spoke soberly, with intense conviction, and Maya,
listening, began to realize that there was another side to this conflict
than the one she had been taught.

She began to waver and to wonder, for the grave voice of this man was
like a deep music she had never heard before but seemed to remember from
some time before there was hearing, a music that touched the depths of
her being.

Then his arm slid around her waist and he drew her gently toward him.
For an instant, she responded, turning her face upward.

And, on that instant, she remembered.

With a lightning twist, she was free, and on her feet before him. She
stepped back, and the lighter-gun was in her hand.

"I thought you said I could trust you," she said coldly. "Evidently, I
was foolish to do so."

He looked up at her, and there was nothing but surprise on his face.
Then, slowly, he smiled at her.

"It depends on your interpretation of the word," he said. "I was merely
attempting to kiss you, my dear."

She let her hand sag, feeling rather foolish.

"Well, don't," she said, her sharpness covering her confusion. "We
aren't lovers, Mr. Kensington."

"No," he said, quite seriously. "And I find that I rather regret that we
aren't."

She stood looking at him, fighting off a sneaking regret of her own that
he hadn't succeeded in his intention.

"I think this moonlight has had an unfortunate effect on us both," she
said. "We'd better go inside. Besides, if I'm to keep watch over you all
night, I want to get into something more practical than an evening
gown."

Without protest, Dark preceded her inside. They went to the manager's
office, and Maya issued instructions to Gren.

"Have a maid move my things from my third-floor room to a room on the
top floor," she ordered. "We'll wait here u