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know that business in there was traumatic for you, but it’s affected us all. What’s got into you?”
    â€œShe’s tired, Dad. That ... business took a lot out of her,” said Richard placatingly.
    â€œIn that case you had better go to bed and rest now. I want you at your best for tomorrow evening. I’ve invited someone over for dinner.”
    â€œWhat about the new Aliens?” asked Richard hastily, seeing that Carrie was about to speak again.
    â€œOh, yes. We must get to them first. If they came in a scouter, it couldn’t have come far, so they must have a Mothership. I’m assuming the survivors will have some way of contacting their people, and if we help them, they might return the favor by sending a message to Earth.
    â€œThey may even help us against the Valtegans. Unless we can do something to rid the planet of them, we must stop that colony ship before it reaches midpoint. Can you imagine the catastrophic effect of our technology, scientists, engineers, and such falling into Valtegan hands?”
    â€œWhat do you want us to do?” Richard inquired.
    â€œOur agent is officially courting a girl here so he can’t leave for a day or two. Get some pigeons sent with coded messages to the agents in the other towns. Tell them to contact the other members of our group and get them to keep their eyes and ears open for anything resembling another species of Aliens. Tell them to be careful. They’re to report anything out of the ordinary to you or me. I also want a message about what’s happened tonight sent to our contact in Seaport.
    â€œYou’d better get started now,” he ordered.
    â€œAll right,” said Richard. “I don’t suppose you have the slightest idea of what these Aliens look like, do you?”
    â€œNone. But since the Valtegans are humanoid, I expect they’re likely to be the same. The bodies were apparently bilateral.”
    When her brother had left, Carrie got to her feet. “Did you ask about Elise?”
    A shadow crossed her father’s face and he turned away from her. “Yes. They said they had already disposed of her body.
    â€œGo and rest, Carrie. You shouldn’t have been working in the taproom. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have asked you. Next week when you’re stronger, you can start teaching the children again. Until then, I want you to take things easy.”
    â€œBut, Dad!” exclaimed Carrie, taking a step toward him. “I’m fine now, really I am.”
    â€œCarrie, for God’s sake, go and rest!” her father said, turning angrily on her. “Will you do things my way for a change? First your mother, then Elise. I don’t want to lose any more of my family. If I hadn’t let myself be persuaded to allow Elise to do a Mata Hari act with the Valtegans, she would be with us now.
    â€œYou aren’t a strong person, Carrie,” he said, gripping her by the arms and speaking in a quieter voice. “Your health has never been good. Will you please me and go and lie down?”
    Carrie sighed mentally. Now her father had a new form of moral blackmail to use against her. Reluctantly, she nodded her head and her father released her.
    â€œGood. Off you go, then. I’ll send Meg up with a hot drink for you.”
    She left the office and returned to her room. She felt sorry for her father, trying to run the Inn under these extreme circumstances, but even sorrier for herself. Life on Keiss was an impossible situation for an unmarried girl of her age who was dependent on her father. Add to that the fact that she was known to be “different,” now that she was being seen as the next thing to the village witch, finding a suitable man prepared to have her would be difficult, to say the least.
    Of the three or four young men interested in her, none had visited her or even inquired after her while she was still bed-ridden except for David and she wanted