"As Emperor of Sol, I will tell you," continued Guy, indifferent to the snarl, "how and when to collect the yearly tribute from each and every Terran, Martian, and Ertinian. You may suit yourselves to any other arrangements. Mephisto is mine, and will stay mine. But I shall require money, merchandise, and supplies to stock the planet. "And if you think differently, you may try to defeat me! _And I hope you try!_" "We'll pay nothing--" "I hope you try that, too," snapped Maynard. "You have no idea of how tough a real tyrant can get! A single lesson might convince you. A super-toroid hurled into the Manhattan area--?" "You're a fiend!" Guy nodded. "Never make me prove it," he said quietly. "Now, gentlemen, you will receive your instructions as you leave, if you prefer to leave. I offer you the chance to join me--but remember that I can read your mind and find out how true you intend to be. I intend to be very harsh with spies." "I'm leaving--but I'll be back!" promised Mantley. He tried to sound ominous, but his position was not firm to carry it away. He knew that he sounded flat and it enraged him. "We'll both be back, together!" snapped Ilinoran. "Ertene will be back, too!" added Thomakein. "You wouldn't permit us to leave, and I know it!" Guy nodded. "I'll be waiting. But don't forget that I am still master of you all. And I'm going to stay master. I've spent ten years being pushed around, and now I'm going to do some pushing myself! I have very little affection for any of you; Terra disowned me, Ertene did not want my offer of fidelity; Mars wanted to torture me and did, partly. Had any one of you taken me for what I had to offer, this would never have happened." Mantley and Ilinoran left. But Thomakein came forward and put out a hand. Guy looked at the hand and then at Thomakein. "Why?" he said sharply. "You did it!" "I did it, all right. But look at me. And what have you to offer?" "You still do not know. Guy, forgive me. I tried, myself, and failed. Your plan is superior to mine--yours works." "Plan? Know?" "I forced you into this." "Yes, but you had no plan except a sort of self-aggrandizement." Thomakein shook his head. "You didn't read my mind deep enough, Guy. The instrument you carried was never perfect and deep-seated concepts are often hidden because of the more powerful surface thoughts. I thought of conquest--and realized that sleepy, lazy Ertene couldn't conquer the Solar System and keep it conquered. What Sol needed was a man with drive and ability. No one wanted you, Guy, because you were continually torn between your own promises. I was responsible for that, I fear. I took you because of your latent ability, those long years ago, and planned well." "And so you forced me into this place?"