She started to answer. Her mouth opened. Then her eyes filled with tears and she leaned against Hector and began crying.
He put his arms around her. “It’s all right. Gen. It’s all right, I know how much it hurts. But . ., you can’t expect me to be just as much of a murderer as he is … I mean, well, it’s just not the way to-…”
“I know,” she said, still sobbing. “I know, Hector. I know.”
For a few moments they remained there, holding each other. Then she looked up at him, and he kissed her.
“I’ve missed you,” she said, very softly.
He felt himself grinning like a circus clown. “I … well, I’ve missed you, too.”
They laughed together, and she pulled out another tissue and dabbed at his nose with it.
“I’m sorry about the flowers.”
“That’s all right, they’ll,…” She stopped and stared toward the doorwayTurning, Hector saw a blue-anodized robot, about the size and shape of an upended cargo crate, buzzing officiously at the open doorway. Its single photoeye seemed to brighten at the sight of his face.
“You are Star Watch Lieutenant Hector H. Hector, the operator of the vehicle parked in the flower bed?” it inquired tinnily.
Hector nodded dumbly.
“Charges have been lodged against you, sir: violations of flight safety regulation regarding use of traffic lanes, failure to acknowledge radio intercept, unauthorized flight patterns, failure to maintain minimum altitude over a residential zone, landing in an unauthorized area, trespass, illegal and violent entry into a private domicile, assault and battery. You are advised to refrain from making any statement until you obtain counsel. You will come with me, or additional charges of resisting arrest will be lodged against you. Thank you.”