She brought him up to date on the progress of his case. As Counselor Freemason had reported, his imprisonment merely increased the vigor of his supporters. Now they were at their highest pitch: a pitch which would be difficult to maintain. "I'm just worried sick," she said. "If the Party can hold out another week or two. I don't want to worry you, Shamar, but I want you to know how you stand. Counselor Freemason says the worst that could happen would be a short prison sentence, no more than a year, for not filing tax forms. We could keep you out on appeal for quite a while." "Ge-Ge, how much have we spent so far?" "About three hundred thousand dollars." "Good God! They'll have it all when they get through! If I ever get back to Earth--" "I don't care about money, Shamar! I just want you free!" He took her shoulders. "Ge-Ge, suppose the Party can't afford to back down? Maybe they feel they have to stand firm to prevent a lot of future trouble. And when Freemason gets all the money ... then what chance will we stand? They might railroad me for years. They'll make an example out of me. Now, are you willing to gamble? Everybody would jump at the chance to vote them out. If we could--" "Please, Shamar," Ge-Ge said. "All this voting thing you've always been so sold on is all right, I guess--but it just won't work. To begin with, there isn't any way to vote." "Maybe there is," he said. * * * * * Shamar was still in jail the following day when Ge-Ge appeared on the TV program. PAMDEN had been reluctant to release time to her. PAMDEN was Itra's largest industrial co-operative--Plastics, Agricultural Machinery, Detergents, Electricity and Newsprint--and, being the most efficient, was responsible for operating the TV networks. "Good heavens," said the station executive. "Nobody can say we haven't already given you coverage. Miss Germadpoldlt." "They've ordered you to stop!" she protested. "They? The Party? Miss Germadpoldlt, do you honestly believe that? Nobody tells a station manager what to program. Believe me. There is no prior censorship whatsoever. But, on the other hand, we can't turn over the TV stations to minority propaganda either." Ge-Ge argued and pleaded, and in the end the executive sighed wearily. "I think we've been more than fair. But for you--and this is a personal favor, Miss Germadpoldlt, because you are a young and attractive woman--for you, I will phone our program director and see if he can get you on the Noon Interview Show for tomorrow. It gives you the Itra-wide network, which is certainly more than anyone has the right to ask. You'll have ninety seconds to make your case. That's the best I can do." "Oh, thank you, thank you," Ge-Ge sobbed. "You're so fair and generous." Outside his office she took a deep breath, crossed her fingers and went home to revise her speech. She had only expected sixty.