human
You'll bide with me, of course, he said when we reached his house, a flourishing grocer's store in the main street of the little town.
gpt
I don't have any one in the house nights. We'll have a bite of food and then talk things over.
human
There's nothing black against you, is there?
gpt
Nothing to make me afraid to face any man in the Empire,
human
I only asked, because I have to be very careful,
gpt
Now, you'd like to tell me your story,
human
I'm sorry for you, my lass, he said to her.
gpt
Very sorry; you're only one among too many thousands; and you shall get away all right. They're not particular about women and girls, you know, he added to me.
human
But it's different with men. Their orders are to shoot first and ask questions afterwards. Three were found trying to jump the frontier last week and were shot. Two the week before; and one of 'em was our only engineer. So if that's what's brought you here, I can't help you. We'd all the trouble we wanted over the last affair.
gpt
I'm no skulker, I assure you. If they call 'em up, I'm ready any time.
human
You'll give me your word to stop here then?
gpt
Unless I have to go anywhere else. I'm pretty handy at my job, you know.