“This started a war between the two races once more, and my people were conquered because, while the enemy had succeeded in manufacturing their red ray projectors, our scientists had been unable, thus far, to reproduce the green ray projectors of their ancestors. For hundreds of years thereafter the heirs of P’an-ku ruled only as viceroys for the emperors of the white race. This lasted until half a century ago, when our people were freed by a magnanimous and peace loving ruler of the white people named Mazo Khan. The languages of the two races were, meanwhile, fused into one, which is now the universal speech of Ma Gong. “Our scientists had been quietly at work for centuries, endeavoring to regain the secret of the green ray, as well as to reconstruct interplanetary vehicles as efficient as those of their ancestors. When they were set free by the magnanimous Mazo Khan work went on with redoubled vigor and, as you see, we now have both. “The present ruler of the white race, who still calls herself ‘Maza of Ma Gong,’ the hereditary title of the supreme ruler of Ma Gong, is the granddaughter of the man who set us free, and even though she may desire to once more enslave us, she cannot do so because we now have the green ray and the interplanetary vehicles. “We, on our part, could enslave her and her people only† by a terrific loss of life on both sides, so we prefer to leave her unmolested as long as she does not bother us, and extend our conquests along lines of less resistance for the present. Of course we must conquer her people eventually, for there cannot be two rulers of Ma Gong, but the time is not yet ripe. “The arrested motion of the vehicle tells me that we are now at our destination, so I must leave the globe for a while. If you will give me your word that you will not attempt to escape I will permit you the freedom of my ship.” “Where are we?” asked the professor. “We are in the capital city of the descendants of that P’an-ku who visited your world many thousands of years ago. I am to meet some of his descendants in conference.” “I will give you my word not to try to escape,” said the professor. “Very well. So long as you stay on the ship you will be unmolested.” He pressed a button in the wall behind him, and Lin Ching instantly opened the door. “You will permit the wise Khan, Am-Er-I, the freedom of the ship, Lin Ching,” he said, “but you will see that he is either recaptured or killed if he attempts to leave it.” “Lin Ching hears, and Lin Ching obeys,” replied that individual, bowing the professor out of the room.