human
Ludovick, a soft, beloved voice whispered,
gpt
I have come to ask your help....
human
Corisande....
gpt
Ludovick....
human
Against my will, I have been involved in the family plot. My uncle has invented a secret weapon which he believes will counteract the power of the barriers.
gpt
But I thought you devised it!
human
So it _was_ you in the courtyard. Well, what happened was I wanted to gain time, so I said I had a secret weapon of my own invention which I had not perfected, but which would cost considerably less than my uncle's model. We have to watch the budget, you know, because we can hardly expect the Belphins to supply the components for this job. Anyhow, I thought that, while my folks were waiting for me to finish it, you would have a chance to warn the Belphins.
gpt
Corisande, he murmured,
human
How do you know? When he remained silent, she said,
gpt
I suppose you've already tried to warn them about us.
human
I--I said _you_ had nothing to do with the plot.
gpt
That was good of you. She continued in a warmer tone:
human
How many Belphins did you warn, then?
gpt
Just one. When you tell one something, you tell them all. You know that. Everyone knows that.
human
That's just theory, she said.
gpt
It's never been proven. All we do know is that they have some sort of central clearing house of information, presumably The Belphin of Belphins. But we don't know that they are incapable of thinking or acting individually. We don't really know much about them at all; they're very secretive.
human
Aloof, he corrected her,
gpt
You must warn as many Belphins as you can.
human
And if none listens to me?
gpt
Then, she said dramatically,
human
But no human being has ever come near him! he said plaintively.
gpt
You know that all those who have tried perished. And that can't be a rumor, because your grandfather said----
human
But they came to _attack_ The Belphin. You're coming to _warn_ him! That makes a big difference. Ludovick.... She took his hands in hers; in the darkness, the jewel swung madly on her presumably heaving bosom.
gpt
This is bigger than both of us. It's for Earth.
human
Corisande, wouldn't it be much simpler if we just destroyed your uncle's secret weapon?
gpt
He'd only make another. Don't you see, Ludovick, this is our only chance to save the Belphins, to save humanity.... But, of course, I don't have the right to send you. I'll go myself.
human
No, Corisande, he sighed.
gpt
I can't let you go. I'll do it.