human
That was to distract him,
gpt
That's enough,
human
How strange, he said.
gpt
Alfern dead. Good friend ... just a freak accident. He ran into it, out there. Didn't have a chance. But it doesn't happen often.
human
He's thinking out loud, Malley whispered, although there was no possibility of the Ambassador's hearing them.
gpt
Vocalizing his thoughts. His friend must have been on his mind for some time.
human
Of course, the Ambassador went on,
gpt
Alfern had to die sometime. No immortality--yet. But that way--no defense. Out there in space they just pop up. Always there, underneath, just waiting for a chance to boil out.
human
His body isn't reacting to the hypnotic as a menace yet,
gpt
Well, the Ambassador told himself,
human
Clever. That's the first time that particular trick has been played on me, and the last time. But, gentlemen, it didn't do you any good. I don't know, myself, how to go about killing me.
gpt
Besides, he continued,
human
That does it! Darrig cried.
gpt
He's not invulnerable. Something killed his friend Alfern.
human
Something out in space, Cercy reminded him.
gpt
I wonder what it was.
human
Let me see, Darrig reflected aloud.
gpt
The regularizing principle. That must be a natural law we knew nothing about. And underneath--what would be underneath?
human
He said the colonization team would find us anyhow,
gpt
First things first, Cercy said.
human
He might have been bluffing us ... no, I don't suppose so. We still have to get the Ambassador out of the way.
gpt
I think I know what is underneath! Darrig exclaimed.
human
This is wonderful. A new cosmology, perhaps.
gpt
What is it? Cercy asked.
human
Anything we can use?
gpt
I think so. But let me work it out. I think I'll go back to my hotel. I have some books there I want to check, and I don't want to be disturbed for a few hours.
human
All right, Cercy agreed.
gpt
But what--?
human
No, no, I could be wrong, Darrig said.
gpt
Let me work it out.
human
What do you think he's driving at?
gpt
Beats me, Cercy shrugged.
human
Come on, let's try some more of that psychological stuff.