"Very well, then." And Slan extended an arm toward Mike, thumb pointed up. Mike promptly repeated the gesture, except that he pointed _his_ thumb down. Slan reached for a huge flagon of red liquid, which he poured slowly onto the floor. Mike stared, then reached into a hip pocket and produced a bottle of whiskey, swallowed some and vigorously smacked his lips. Then he held the bottle out to Slan, grinning broadly. Slan reached into a bag at his side, took out a handful of colored pebbles, and scattered them on the floor. Mike scrambled after them and stuffed them into his pocket, then struggled erect, panting with the exertion. Slan arose from his throne, stepped off the platform, and towered over Mike. "You surprise me," he boomed. "You and your little planet are smarter than I expected. Go, and tell your people that they could not have chosen a worthier representative." It was a dazed and confused Mike who was led stumbling, and clutching his bottle, back to the ship which was to take him to a free world. * * * * * Slan, meanwhile, found himself besieged by annoyed and puzzled followers. He held up his hand for silence, and relapsed into native Jovian. "That earthling," he said sarcastically, "seems to have fared better than you who are so proud of your intellects. "When I held my thumb up, indicating our superiority in size and strength, he pointed his thumb down, to show that physical power is really of minor importance. "I poured a red liquid onto the floor, dramatizing the effect of conflict on them, if that should be my wish. He demonstrated his fearlessness by producing a light-colored liquid and sampling it with enjoyment--as his kind would react to such an encounter. "Finally I flung out a handful of colored pebbles, displaying the confusing array of languages, races, and ideas their world contains. He scooped them into his pocket, showing that their diversity could still be united into single purpose." Slan looked contemptuously at the crestfallen faces of his men. "It would be to our benefit if we had half their spirit in proportion to our size," he said. Then he bellowed, "Order all ships to withdraw at once!" To an aide he muttered, "We'll leave this planet to those worthy of it." * * * * * Mike and Joe were hiding from a world delirious with joy and anxious to heap glory upon its saviour--whom they thought was Joe Waters. Joe had no intention of deluding the world in this regard, but right now he was plying Mike with whiskey to get from him the story of what happened. They were in the rear booth of a bar, and Mike kept insisting that Joe knew perfectly well what had happened because he'd been right there. "All right," Joe said coaxingly, "I know what happened. But tell me how you're going to tell it, so we can get our stories straight." "Can't understan' it," Mike said thickly, shaking his head. "The guy was nuts."