human
Y'know, hon, she whispered,
gpt
I keep having the funniest feeling there's somebody _extra_ here, somebody who doesn't belong. I haven't quite seen him; he always seems to slip by so fast, but I don't even think he's a man.
human
Don't be silly, Lyddy, he said, almost sharply.
gpt
You know no extraterrestrial would dare to crash a human party!
human
I guess not.
gpt
You'll want a home of your own, he said.
human
Otherwise you'll get bored.
gpt
I'm never bored, said Lyddy.
human
But where will we go? I mean what system?
gpt
Well, Erytheia is a pleasure planet, so I thought we might as well stay here. There are some attractive residential neighborhoods on this continent--or, if you'd prefer, the other one.
human
You mean we're going to stay _here_?
gpt
If you'd rather, I could build you a city of your own, Lyddy,
human
I'd like to go away from here, she told him.
gpt
Far away.
human
Just because you want a change--is that it?
gpt
That's partly it. But there's more. Somehow, ever since we've been married, I keep feeling all the time like--like I'm being watched.
human
Well, naturally, in 'Rytheia City, people will tend to--watch. Let's go far away from where people are. There's an island on this planet, way off in the western seas. I'll buy you that island, Lyddy. I'll build you a villa there--a chateau, a castle, whatever you want.
gpt
No, nothing like that. I want to go to another system. It's not that I don't want to be where people are. I like crowds. I just want to be where there are _different_ people.
human
What's gotten into you, Lyddy? In the old days, you used to be so calm.
gpt
I keep seeing things, shadows that shouldn't be there, reflections of nothing. Only, when I turn, they don't get out of the way fast enough to be nothing.
human
They?
gpt
I only see one at a time, but I don't know if it's always the same one.
human
It must be your nerves. He went on resolutely,
gpt
Maybe you do need a change of scene. Actually it was absurd to feel so apprehensive about the Jump. She'd be safer in hyperspace in his ship than anywhere else in the universe. And a large metropolis might provide distractions to take her mind off--shadows.
human
How would you like to go to Burdon?
gpt
That would be real nice!
human
Honey, she began tentatively,
gpt
Of course not, dear, he said awkwardly.
human
It just seems that way to you. Pressure of business....
gpt
But why do you play chess with yourself all the time?
human
I've spent so much time in space that I got into the habit of playing alone. Many spacemen do that.
gpt
Sometimes--sometimes when you're alone in your room, I hear your voice. Why do you talk to yourself?
human
When you're alone a lot of the time, sweetheart, you have to hear the sound of a voice even if it's your own, or you start hearing voices.
gpt
But you have me, she said.
human
You're _not_ alone. But you still do it.
gpt
Old habits are hard to break, dear.
human
Would you like me to learn to play chess?
gpt
Would you like to?
human
I--don't know, she murmured doubtfully.
gpt
I've never been much good at mind things. But I want to be _everything_ to you.
human
You are, sweetheart. He stooped and kissed her.
gpt
Don't force yourself to do anything you don't want to for my sake. I'm used to playing alone.
human
But I want you to do things with _me_!
gpt
I'll do everything else with you,