Robert Silverberg

“ Marik smiled. "We of Carthule have no need of such things, friend. We need no external guides here."
The Earthman worried a tangled wisp of hair. "Nothing at all? How do you find your way around in the desert?"
"We know how to travel," said Polla San quietly, emerging from his reverie.
"But—how can I get back to Corolla without a compass? I'll just get lost again!" The Earthman looked anxiously from one impassive blue face to another.
"Carthule will help you, friend," Marik said. "Carthule helps all who love Him." ”

“ Marik looked down at the Earthman. I'll never get used to their pale skins, he thought. And they talk so much. "Yes," he said. "I know many of your people find our planet a difficult one to live on. We are better adapted for such life than you."
"Sure," the Earthman said. "Say, could I get some rest now? I'm pretty well shot after that tour of your desert."
"Certainly," said Marik. "Kenra Sarg, will you show our guest to one of our rooms? Feel free to stay as long as you care to," he said to the Earthman. "Carthule's generosity is unbounded." ”

“ Marik said, as the night winds began to lower in intensity. "If you postulate an evil force of as great power as the good, you deny the factors on which our morality—" Marik broke off, seeing that Polla San had slipped off into the near-sleep of a reverie.
He stood up, his long legs cramped after the afternoon and night of sitting, and walked up and down. The desert was settling into its morning calm after the tempestuous night. He stared out across it, thinking of the Earthman who had set out for Corolla with the priceless eye of Carthule in a pouch by his side. ”