“Look at her,” said Dave. “She’s swarming with them. They’ll follow her and the rest of us out.”
Carrie rubbed her face, where most of the placktoids had hit. The idea of being pursued around the spaceship by the small, vicious creatures didn’t appeal. She watched Belinda as she gyrated. Why were they attacking only her? What was different about her? What had she said about herself? A crease formed between Carrie’s eyes. That was it, she thought, she said she was half-dandrobian.
“Oh, please—ow—someone help me,” called Belinda.
“Gavin, what’s a dandrobian?” asked Carrie.
“The predominant sentient species of the planet Dandrobia.”
Carrie sighed. “Is there something about them that planktoids hate?”
“Not that I’m aware of. I do not believe the two species come into regular contact, in
