Garstang went on slowly. "Earth may be old and partly helpless, but she is not so blind as to let five powerful hungry Governors go unwatched. We've seen this grab coming for a long time. The only thing we didn't know, and couldn't find out, was which one of the five would try it first. But now I think we know." "What do you think you know?" said Kirk. Garstang looked at him steadily. "Ferdias was the only Governor who sent a squadron to Earth, for the Commemoration. Why?" Kirk cried, "To protect Earth from Solleremos! It's Orion who's going to try the grab!" "I thought you'd say that, Kirk. Maybe you believe it. But ask yourself--if that's so, why didn't Ferdias warn us openly? Why did he have you sneak off to this undercover rendezvous?" Garstang shook his head. "No, Kirk. I think you're an honest man. And I think you've been had. I think you've been had all the way." CHAPTER VII Kirk began to laugh. He laughed until tears of rage and desperation stood in his eyes. "Christ," he said, "If Earth agents are all as bright as you are, Joe, God help her." He pointed to Tauncer. "Allow me to introduce you. This is Tauncer, Solleremos' right-hand man." Garstang nodded. "I know." "I've just fought him off, and now I have to fight you. A fine thing. A damn fine thing. Listen, Joe. The Fifth was sent here by Ferdias to protect Earth. Solleremos will attack--" "When?" asked Garstang. "I don't know. Ferdias' agent was supposed to meet me here and give me final orders. Tauncer has taken care of that. Why do you suppose he did that? Why do you suppose he came here and attacked me? He--" Garstang turned to Tauncer. "Yes," he said. "Why did you?" Tauncer said quietly, "You were perfectly right, Garstang. Ferdias _has_ been planning to grab Earth. We knew that, in Orion. We had to know when and how Ferdias would do it--and it was my mission to find out. I was trying, there in the cluster. I tried here, but the Commander was too much on guard." "You're lying," said Kirk between his teeth. "Not two minutes ago you were telling me I couldn't stop Solleremos from taking over Earth. Lyllin, you heard it--" Lyllin whispered, "I am sorry--but you sent me away from the room. Remember?" Tauncer turned to the Earthman. "Harper will tell you I'm not lying. You heard every word, didn't you, Harper?" The Earthman wrinkled his seamy cheeks and said in a tone of ringing honesty, "I sure did." Kirk was not yet able to stand up and kill him, or Tauncer, so he shut his jaws tight and tried to think. I mustn't be drawn into a verbal slanging match, he thought. That's what Tauncer wants. The more I yell and swear the worse I look. What must I do? Something. Something.... "--so we're going to act suddenly to disarm the Fifth Squadron," Garstang was saying. "Charteris has been suspicious from the first, and what I told him there last night made him more so. And--"