Guy smiled weakly. "I presume that I was fighting against a determined front?" "You were trying to do the most difficult job of all. In order to have succeeded, you would first have had to unsell us on our firm convictions, and then sell us the desirability of yours. A double job, both uphill." "Then I am to consider the matter closed?" "Yes. We have decided not to remain." "You decided that before I came in," said Guy bitterly. "We decided that a thousand years before you were born, so do not feel bitter." "I presume that a change in your plans is out of the question even though further information on Sol's planets proves you wrong?" "It will never be brought up again." "I see," said Guy unhappily. "Part of my desire to convince you was the hope of seeing my home again." "Oh, but you will," said Charalas. * * * * * Guy was dumfounded. He could hardly believe his ears. He asked for a repeat, and got it. It was still amazing. To Guy, it was outright foolishness. He wouldn't have trusted anyone with such a secret. To permit him to return to Terra with the knowledge he had-- "Charalas, what would prevent me from bringing my people to Ertene? I could bring the forces of Terra down about your very ears." "But you will not. We have a strict, value-even trade to offer you." "But it would be so easy to keep me here." "We could not restrain you without force. And if we must rely upon your honor, we'd be equally reliant whether you be here or on Terra." "Here," said Guy dryly, "I'd be away from temptation. If I were tempted to tell, there'd be no one to tell it to." "We must comply with an ancient rule," explained Terokar. "It says specifically that no man without Ertinian blood may remain on Ertene. It was made to keep the race pure when we were still about our parent sun and has never been revoked. We wouldn't revoke it for you alone." "But permitting me to go free would be sheer madness." "Not quite. We are mutually indebted to one another, Guy. There is the matter of knowledge. You gave freely of yours, we gave you ours. We have gained some points that were missing in our science, you have a number of points that will make you rich, famous, and remembered. Use them as your own, only do it logically in order that they seem to be discoveries of your own. You admit the worth of them?" "Oh, but yes," said Guy eagerly. "Wonderful--" "Then there is no debt for knowledge?" "If any, I am in your debt." "We'll call it even," said Baranon, dryly. "Then there is the matter of life," said Terokar. "You know how you were found?" Guy shook his head in wonder. "I had been through the Martian idea of how to get information out of a reluctant man," he said slowly. "I know that their methods result in a terrible mindless state which to my own belief is worse than death itself. I know that as I lost consciousness, I prayed for death to come, even though I knew that they would not permit it."