I could see, behind me, the shadowy bulk of the _Ertak_. Before me, a black, shapeless blot against the star-sprinkled sky, was the great administrative building of the Chisee. And in there, somewhere, was Anderson Croy. I glanced down at the luminous dial of my watch. Fifty minutes. In ten minutes more-- "John Hanson!" My name reached me, faintly but clearly, through the medium of my menore. "This is Croy. Do you understand me?" "Yes," I replied instantly. "Are you safe?" "I am safe. All is well. Very well. Will you promise me now to receive what I am about to send, without interruption?" "Yes," I replied, thoughtlessly and eagerly. "What is it?" * * * * * "I have had a long conference with the chief or head of the Chisee," explained Croy rapidly. "He is very intelligent, and his people are much further advanced than we thought. "Through some form of communication, he has learned of the fight with the weird birds; it seems that they are--or were--the most dreaded of all the creatures of this dark world. Apparently we got the whole brood of them, and this chief, whose name, I gather, is Wieschien, or something like that, is naturally much impressed. "I have given him a demonstration or two with my atomic pistol and the flashlight--these people are fairly stricken by a ray of light directly in the eyes--and we have reached very favorable terms. "I am to remain here as chief bodyguard and adviser, of which he has need, for all is not peaceful, I gather, in this kingdom of darkness. In return, he is to give up his plans to subjugate the rest of Antri; he has sworn to do this by what is evidently, to him, a very sacred oath, witnessed solemnly by the rest of his council. "Under the circumstances, I believe he will do what he says; in any case, the great canal will be filled in, and the Antrians will have plenty of time to erect a great series of disintegrator ray stations along the entire twilight zone, using the broad fan rays to form a solid wall against which the Chisee could not advance even did they, at some future date, carry out their plans. The worst possible result then would be that the people in the sunlit portion would have to migrate from certain sections, and perhaps would have day and night, alternately, as do other worlds. "This is the agreement we have reached; it is the only one that will save this world. Do you approve, sir?" "No! Return immediately, and we will show the Chisee that they cannot hold an officer of the Special Patrol as a hostage. Make haste!" * * * * * "It's no go, sir," came the reply instantly. "I threatened them first. I explained what our disintegrator rays would do, and Wieschien laughed at me.