He eyed Melin with some amusement. The insurance man stared very quietly at the board beneath his elbows. His complexion held a tint of green. Even Eemakh, plodding ponderously up, lowered himself to a bench with a sigh. The high priest seemed less affected by the celebration, and Mayne was proud when Haruhiku walked over with his normal bland alertness. "They're getting near?" he asked. "Doing braking circles," reported the pilot. "I sent an order for the scout to give them a beam. There may still be time to send them somewhere else--" "One more try here first," Mayne decided. "Tell Eemakh we want to straighten out some confusion about Meeg and the cargo." * * * * * Haruhiku permitted himself a small shrug and translated. Eemakh aroused himself to a show of interest, while Igrillik turned a suspicious orange stare upon Mayne. The latter strove to frame in his mind an argument that would strike them as logical. "Tell him," he instructed, "that we believe this Meeg was known on Terra, but by another name. Then describe the mythical Hermes and see what he says." Haruhiku began a conversation that lasted several minutes. Igrillik, as an authority, obviously felt moved to deliver a lengthy opinion. At last, the pilot turned to Mayne. "They say we are to be congratulated," he reported. "Is that all?" "Well, they do seem a bit more friendly. I was going to try drawing a picture of that famous statue, with the winged heels and hat, but it would never match their own conception. Igrillik asks if you claim belief in Meeg." "Avoid that," said Mayne. "Now--do they know about ship communications?" "They are aware that it is done," said Haruhiku. "After all, they just saw me send a message to the scout over the helicopter screen." "Good! Point out to them that the _Gemsbok_ also has such equipment." Haruhiku engaged in another long talk. The Kappans began to show signs of uneasiness at the end. They remained silent. "And that therefore," added Mayne, "the Terran who served this machine should rank in their eyes as a servant of Meeg just as much as Igrillik. The cargo in the ship was no more his than a message belongs to the messenger bearing it." The pilot put this into Kappan, with gestures. "And furthermore," said Mayne, before it could be suggested that the owner might be Meeg, "what I have arranged here with Melin and Voorhis is that the cargo now belongs to all of the Terran people." Eemakh began to scowl, an impressive contortion on a broad, olive Kappan visage. Mayne hurried on. "This being the case, the Kappans _have absolutely no right_ to deny us the privilege of contributing all these goods to the glory of their temple!" "Oh, boy!" grunted Haruhiku. He rattled off the translation. Mayne watched it hit home. Igrillik leaned over to peer at him unbelievingly. Eemakh seemed to have difficulty in focusing his glowing eyes on the Terran.