"Don't talk like that!" she snapped with annoyance.
"Why?" he inquired listlessly. "Everybody knows a civilized human being can't possibly survive in the wilderness. That's why no one ever comes here. And I'd just as soon die right now, if you have anything suitable for killing."
The woman stared at him with a tight frown between her eyebrows. Then she shook her head with wonder. "How you people can call yourselves civilized is beyond me. You yourself don't seem so bad, except that you don't have any guts. They've trained it all out by now."
"Please," begged Hal. "You sound like that uncouth engineer that works for us. Impertinent."
"That what engineer?" she demanded spiritedly. "Who are you, anyway?"
"I'm Webber. Hal Webber. The engineer is a savage—oh sorry." He smiled weakly. "You're a savage, too. Guess you Outlanders don't regard yourselves as such."
"No we don't," she snapped. "And if it weren't for us, you silly fools here on Earth would have died out long ago."
"Outlanders are noted for their misplaced pride, of course," Hal commented with a mildness that was impelled by fatigue rather than civilized conditioning.
"Oh are we now?" she said angrily, standing up and bending over him. "And who do you think you are, Lord Proprietor? Some humble god, perhaps? Let me tell you something, Hal Webber, I've heard about you. You know who I am? My name is Lois Bruchner. That uncouth engineer you just referred to happens to be my father."
Hal was puzzled. "What on earth is the matter?" he asked. "Why are you so excited?"