"The same thing they did before," Arcot groaned. "I'm tired. Let's get some sleep first, anyway." "Sure; that makes good sense," Wade agreed. "Sleep on it, yes. But go to sleep on it--well, that's what the not-so-bright Sonorans tried doing. "And off-hand, I'd say we were elected. The Kaxorians undoubtedly have a nice, two thousand year old hatred for the Sonorans who so snobbishly ignored them, isolated them, and considered them unfit for association. The Sonorans, on the other hand, are now thoroughly scared, and will be feeling correspondingly vindictive. They won this time by a fluke--our coming. I can just see those two peoples getting together and settling any kind of sensible, long-term treaty of mutual cooperation!" Arcot and Morey both nodded wearily. "That is so annoyingly correct," Morey agreed. "And you know blasted well none of us is going to sleep until we have some line of attack on this white elephant disposal problem. Anybody any ideas?" Fuller looked at the other three. "You know, in design when two incompatible materials must be structurally united, we tie each to a third material that is compatible with both. "Sonor didn't win this fight. Kaxor didn't win it. Earth--in the _persona_ of the _Solarite_--did. Earth isn't mad at anybody, hasn't been damaged by anybody, and hasn't been knowingly ignoring anybody. "The Sonorans want to be let alone; it won't work, but they can learn that. I think if we run the United Nations in on this thing, we may be able to get them to accept our white elephant for us. "They'll be making the same mistake Sonor did if they don't--knowingly ignoring the existence of a highly intelligent and competent race. It doesn't seem to work, judging from history both at home and here." The four looked at each other, and found agreement. "That's something more than a problem to sleep on," Morey said. "I'll get in touch with Sonor and tell 'em the shooting is over, so they can get some sleep too. "It's obvious a bunch of high-power research teams are going to be needed in both countries. Earth has every reason to respect Sonoran mental sciences as well as Kaxorian light-engineering. And Earth--as we just thoroughly demonstrated--has some science of her own. Obviously, the interaction of the three is to the maximum advantage of each--and will lead to a healing of the breach that now exists." Arcot looked up and yawned. "I'm putting this on autopilot at twenty miles up, and going to sleep. We can kick this around for a month anyway--and this is not the night to start." "The decision is unanimous," Wade grinned. BOOK THREE THE BLACK STAR PASSES PROLOGUE