"The object I have in mind, if it seems at all possible, is to put Captain Voorhis back in business without costing Mr. Melin his job. Now, let's put our heads together on that problem and worry about justifying ourselves later." The most difficult part was to convince Voorhis to surrender his dream of fantastic profits; but sometime before Mayne got hoarse, the captain was made to see that he could not have his cake and eat it, too. Melin agreed that he might pay the paper value of the _Gemsbok_ if he could pay likewise for the cargo, in which case he would admit a loss. After all, a spaceship anchored by a temple might reasonably be termed unspaceworthy. He would take over the cargo and cut his losses by allowing the government to buy it at two million. "You wanna come with me next trip?" invited Voorhis when he heard this. "If that's how you cut loose, we'll make a fortune!" "Well, there it is," said Mayne, straightening up to ease his aching back. He must have been leaning tensely over the table longer than he had thought. "The captain gets two and a half million, Mr. Melin gets off with paying only half a million, and you've stuck me for the rest." "Congratulations, Judge!" said Melin. "You now own a ship and cargo which I presume you will present to the Kappans." "How can he?" demanded Voorhis. "They figure they own it already." "We'll worry about that later," said Mayne. "_You_ will!" Voorhis guffawed. "I hope you get _some_ credit out of it." Haruhiku interrupted to inform Mayne that the Kappans, who had been interested if bewildered listeners, had invited the Terrans to a small feast. "I translated enough to let them understand there would be no attempt to disturb their temple building," he explained. "They now feel they owe us hospitality." "Good, that's something," said Mayne. "I'll tell you what else will be something," grunted Voorhis. "The food!" The assemblage repaired to the Kappan village. The Terrans--though it took some doing--survived the feast. Mayne thought it best not to inquire into the nature of the dishes served. Eemakh was evidently determined to display his village's finest hospitality, so the Terrans even tried the Kappan beer. Mayne absorbed enough to get used to it. _Or did it absorb me?_ he wondered. _Igrillik's beginning to look almost human!_ Eventually, carts were brought, and they rode bumpily out to admire progress made on the temple. A fresh breeze helped Mayne to remember that it was now late afternoon and he had yet to settle one matter with Eemakh. When they arrived at the site, crewmen from the _Gemsbok_ saw fit to take Voorhis in charge and carry him into their hut. Mayne sank down at the table outside, watching Melin grope to a place beside him. He noticed that Haruhiku's helicopter pilot handed him a message as soon as the lieutenant alighted. "That will be from the _Diamond Belt_," Mayne guessed.