lie afterwards? You couldn't uncreate something ...

"A spaceship," Glaudot said suddenly. "Can you create a spaceship out of
nothing?"

* * * * *

Robin nodded slowly. "I can. Yes, I can. It tells all about spaceships
in the book. But I don't know if I want to."

Glaudot let it pass. There was no hurry. He was thinking about the
future, though. If Purcell opposed him, as Purcell would, and managed
to escape in the exploration ship, Glaudot would need a ship to leave
this world ...

"Why not?" he asked, his voice quite calm now, the mania which had
seized him under control now, and only his iron purpose motivating him.

"I--I don't know. You have one spaceship. I guess that's why. What do
you need another one for?"

"It was just a thought," said Glaudot. "It doesn't matter." He kneeled
near the heaps of sun-dazzled jewels. He let them trickle through his
fingers. No, the desire wasn't gone yet. It was still fighting with his
will. And, since he knew his will could win at any time, it pleased him
to give his desire free rein.

He scooped up a handful of jewels. He found a necklace and came close to
Robin and dropped it over her head. The pearls were very white against
her sun-tanned skin. The pearl pendant hung almost to the start of the
dusky valley which cleaved her breasts delightfully and disappeared with
the tanned swell of flesh on either side into the gold-mesh halter.
Glaudot fingered the pendant. His fingers touched flesh. Abruptly he
drew the surprised Robin to him and kissed her lips hungrily.

For a moment she remained passive. She neither returned his ardor nor
fought it. But when his hands began to stroke her back she pulled away
from him and stood there looking at him. She took the necklace off and
threw it at his feet.

"I don't want that any more," she said. "Why did you do--what you did?"

* * * * *

He felt the fire in his veins. He willed it to subside. He needed his
control now. All of it. But this girl, in the full flower of her youth
... No, she was not a girl, not to Glaudot. He must not think of her as
a girl. She was power. Power. The power was his--if he didn't alienate
the girl.

"We do such as that on my world," he said. "It is a kind of homage to
loveliness. I hope you didn't mind."

"I--it was strange. With Charlie sometimes I hope--but with Charlie it
is ... different. Please don't touch me again. Please promise