It was a large room but startlingly bare. A huge table of Martian _majagua_ wood, with a dozen surrounding chairs, occupied the center. The only other article was a magnificent Ethero-Magnum, with screen reaching nearly to the ceiling--an instrument powerful enough for communication with Venus, Mars, even the Callistan colonies. To Ketrik's surprise, only one Member of Council was present. This man had risen as Ketrik entered. Ketrik stared and it took him fully a minute to recognize this man. It had been four years since he had last seen him, out there at Perlac--but now Mark Travers seemed to have aged twenty years! Mark came slowly around the table, hand thrust out in greeting. Ketrik's voice was like a whiplash. "Nice going, Travers! I trusted you, so I came right into your little trap! What is it you want--the Frequency Tuner? Or am I just plain under arrest?" Mark stopped in his tracks. A pained look swept across his features. Ketrik went on mercilessly. "And I expected a better reception than this! Where's the rest of the Council? I'll save you time, though, and tell you that Perlac has ceased negotiating. We're prepared to fight for our independence and free enterprise in the System!" "I know that, Ketrik. I'll continue to champion Perlac's cause against all odds here!" Grim-faced, Mark began pacing the room. "As for the other eleven Council Members--they don't even know that you've arrived on Earth. I'm risking my position in Council, perhaps my very life, by bringing an outsider into these chambers without a quorum present!" Ketrik's mien underwent a change. "You mean I'm not under arrest?" * * * * * Mark laughed. "Of course you're not! That little show at the spaceport was faked, had to be. And," he smiled a little, "thanks for adding the touch of realism. Moreover, your spacer is in safe hands." "Well, son, congratulations!" Ketrik grinned broadly. "You sure had me fooled. But what about the rest of the Council, if they learn that I'm on Earth--" "By the time they do, it won't matter. You won't be here." Mark stopped his pacing, turned to the famed adventurer. "Ketrik, I sent for you because I need you desperately! Earth needs you! I have reason to believe that Earth is facing the greatest danger in its history." "Earth." The bronzed exile spoke the word quietly, but with a world of contempt. "Well, then, the entire System! Even Perlac. I believe it will strike first at Earth, in fact may already have done so." "And this danger. Danger from what?" "Ketrik, you'll probably think me a fool--but I don't know! It's so damned vague it's terrifying. I do have an accumulation of data that points to Mars. I want you to go there." "Mars? A second-rate power. Their race is dying out, and their science goes with it."