‘Yes, but what is the purpose of all this?’

Genarr kept on, quietly. ‘Has she ever laid claim to having strange intuitive powers? Has she ever expressed herself as certain that something, some particular something, was sure to happen, or was sure not to happen, for no reason other than that she was certain?’

‘No, of course not. She clings to evidence. She doesn't make wild claims without evidence.’

‘Yet in one respect, perhaps only in one respect, she does. She is certain that the Plague cannot touch her. She claims that she experienced this utter confidence, this certainty that Erythro cannot harm her, even on Rotor, and that it grew stronger when she reached the Dome. She is quite determined - completely determined - to remain here.’

Insigna's eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth. She made an inarticulate sound and then said, ‘In that case-’ and remained staring at him.

‘Yes,’ Genarr said in sudden alarm.

‘Don't you see it? Isn't this the Plague striking? Her personality is changing. Her mind is being affected.’

Genarr sat frozen at the thought for a moment, then he said, ‘No, it can't be. In all the cases of Plague, nothing like this has been detected. This is not the Plague.’

‘Her mind is different from those of others. It would be affected differently.’

‘No,’ said Genarr desperately. ‘I can't believe that. I won't believe that. I believe that if Marlene says she is certain she is immune, that she is immune, and that her immunity will help us solve the puzzle of the Plague.’

Insigna's face whitened. ‘Is that why you want her here on Erythro, Siever? To use her as a tool against the Plague?’

‘No. I don't want her here only to use her. Nevertheless, she wants to stay and she may be a tool, quite apart from whether we want her to be one or not.’

‘And just because she wants to remain on Erythro, you are willing to allow her to do so? Just because she wants to stay out of some perverse desire she can't explain and in which you and I can see no reason or logic. You seriously think she should be allowed to remain here merely because she wishes to? Do you dare tell me that?’

Genarr said with an effort, ‘As a matter of fact, I am tempted in that direction.’

‘It is easy for you to be tempted. She is not your child. She is my child. She is the only-’

‘I know,’ said Genarr. ‘She is the only thing you have left of - Crile. Don't stare at me like that. I know that you have never overcome your loss. I understand how you feel.’ He said this last softly, gently, and looked as if he wanted to reach out and touch Insigna's bowed head.

‘Just the same, Eugenia, if Marlene really wants to explore Erythro, I think nothing will stop her from doing so in the end. And if she is absolutely convinced that the Plague will not touch her mind, perhaps that mental attitude will prevent it from doing so. Marlene's aggressive sanity and confidence may be her mental immune mechanism.’

Insigna snapped her head up, her eyes smoldering. ‘You are speaking nonsense, and you have no right to give in to this sudden streak of romanticism in a mere child. She is a stranger to you. You do not love her.’

‘She is no stranger to me and I do love her. More important, I admire her. Love would not give me that depth of confidence that would permit the risk, but admiration would. Think about it.’

And they sat there, staring at each other.