Story Summary

Having just concluded a good trade on Ceti-2, both knew an attack was very likely. But when it came, the luck was not on their side. Almost totally crippled, the smallest ship drifted away toward the galactic rim. And only after many hours of supreme patience and a bit of luck did they finally get the ship moving.

Days later, the duo chanced upon a small yellow star. While not wasting energy, they opted for the third planet, and though Roak tried, it was a bouncy, jolting landing. Realization of being marooned, A0ry constructed a pulsar signal. This was done only after instilling great fear and respect in the barbaric primitive, then the signal was initiated. Soon, under strange, awesome circumstances, a startled Roak named the infant Aquina.

Soon afterward, Roak died from a poisonous bite. Dien has been entrusted by the Ancient Ones to raise, teach, and guard Aquina until she is of age. As centuries pass, Aquina grows and develops remarkable mental and language skills, blossoming into a statuesque ethereal beauty.

It is the era of the crude airplane, and the great war that raged in the South is finished. Aquina knows she and Dien are different. Slowly, with great care and skill, they enter the primitive native society.