‘Not for us. Just for some scientists. I'm talking about us. They don't let us go down there.’

‘In time,’ said Aurinel cheerfully.

‘Sure, when I'm an old woman. Or dead.’

‘Things aren't that bad. Anyway, come on out of here and into the world and make your mother happy. I can't stay here. I have things to do. Dolorette-’

Marlene felt a buzzing in her ears and she didn't hear exactly what Aurinel said after that. It was enough to hear - Dolorette!

Marlene hated Dolorette, who was tall and - vacuous.

But what was the use? Aurinel had been hanging around her, and Marlene knew, just by looking at him, exactly how he felt about Dolorette. And now he had been sent to find her and he was just wasting his time. She could tell that was how he felt and she could also tell how anxious he was to get back to that - to that Dolorette. (Why could she always tell? It was so hateful sometimes.)

Quite suddenly, Marlene wanted to hurt him, to find words to give him pain. True words, though. She wouldn't lie to him. She said, ‘We're never going back to the Solar System. I know why not.’

‘Oh, why's that?’ When Marlene, hesitating, said nothing, he added, ‘Mysteries?’

Marlene was caught. She was not supposed to say this. She mumbled, ‘I don't want to say. I'm not supposed to know.’ But she did want to say. At the moment she wanted everyone to feel bad.

‘But you'll tell me. We're friends, aren't we?’

‘Are we?’ Marlene asked. She said, ‘OK, I'll tell you. We're not ever going back because Earth is going to be destroyed.’

Aurinel didn't react as she had expected. He burst into a loud squawk of a laugh. It took him a while to settle down, and she glared at him indignantly.

‘Marlene,’ he said, ‘where did you hear that? You've been viewing thrillers.’

‘I have not!’

‘But what makes you say anything like that?’

‘Because I know. I can tell. From what people say, but don't say, and what they do, when they don't know they're doing it. And from things the computer tells me when I ask the right questions.’