I couldn't answer, and I didn't try. I said instead, "The thing seems plausible to me, Croft." "Plausible," he repeated. "It shall be accomplished. Now, Koryphu may start upon his mission, while every shop and forge in Himyra roars." I asked a question. "By the way, how does the populace cotton to this fresh Zollarian move?" "They don't know it yet, old fellow." He gave me a glance. "You know, Murray, Tamarizia, even yet, isn't earth. There's only the wireless between Himyra and Zitra, and a telegraph across the Gateway to Scira in Cathur--but in view of what's going to happen in Himyra almost at once--the preparations, I mean--I think I'll tell them, and suggest that in Zitra the masses be informed by Zud--that Zollaria has struck at the Mouthpiece of Zitu in order to coerce the nation. It won't do any harm to have the sympathy of the populace behind us in this." "Nor in Scira," I said. "Cathur hasn't forgotten how nearly she was enslaved, I imagine--or that her fate would have been the same as Mazhur's for fifty years, if it had not been for the Mouthpiece of Zitu's intervention in hers and Tamarizia's behalf. And see here, Croft--if you've a telegraph up there, why don't you send Koryphu a message instead of going after him yourself? You've enough to tend to in the matter of the blimps without trapesing about." * * * * * He smiled for the first time. "It might do here, but not on Palos, Murray. They're great for delegations, personal representation--the old ways. You can't change them all at once. But--it won't do any harm to announce my coming or its reason, or that the Mouthpiece of Zitu comes in person to the house of Koryphu. That in itself might even serve in preparing the mind of Cathur's prince for the proposition I shall make him once I arrive. According to Palosian standards, Murray, even though it sounds bald for me to say so, such an occasion should be an important event in Koryphu's life." "Yes," I agree and nodded. More and more it impressed me that Croft's mind was working again in its normal fashion, now he had actually decided on a definite course. "Being honored by a visit from the Mouthpiece of Zitu, publicly announced in connection with Zollaria's action, ought to impress him favorably, I guess. His fellow citizens can scarcely fail to draw the connection, and besides it will give him a chance to put a spoke in Kalamita's wheel, perhaps--at least to meet the woman who brought disgrace and death upon his brother face to face. If he's human, Jason, he'll accept."