"Oh," said Thuni in a strained voice. "I'd like to speak, too. But this expenditure of power ... I fear--" "Nonsense. Thani has been nine light-years away for almost a year. Think, Thuni, the light that started from our star is only one ninth of the distance on the way, and Thani has been there and back." "I know, but this power--" "What's power?" laughed Hammond. "We've plenty of power." "But we have not. Realize that the entire city of Indilee is in darkness because of my desire to speak." "So what?" asked Hammond. "You have the chance, have you not?" "But I am not Sandrake, who would think nothing of expending the entire power-availability of a whole city just to talk." "Sandra is pretty much a human being in spite of her faults," said Hammond. "I'm certain that any of us would have done it, just in the same manner. In fact, I'm not too certain that Drake is inclined to be a little inefficient, not knowing too much about the finer points of operation. _I'd_ probably divert the power output of the whole planet just to be sure I was heard." "Does nothing stop Terrans?" "Not for long," laughed Hammond. "And here's Thani. And the operator won't be asking for another thirty thousand dollars after the first three minutes, because there's no operator." "I fear," started Thuni, and then ceased her worry. She finished: "I'll hold this open until Theodi comes, at least." "Good. That's learning to use the gifts of the universe to your own comfort and pleasure. See you later, Thuni." To Thani, standing at his side, he said: "Here's your sister. She needs cheering up." Thani flashed him a smile that might have been enticing in a Terran woman, and then turned to talk to her sister. * * * * * "Meanwhile," said McBride, "I've a thought. Not a good one, but a couple of dark ones. We know that silicon is a tough character. It doesn't take to planetary changes with the ease of xenon, for instance. It is way high up on the electronic-stability table." "That's correct," said Hammond. "But we've been thinking in terms of not trying to add the silicon, but to combine the sulphur to the rest of the compound containing the silicon already." "Frankly, not too much is known about the electro-combining processes with the more complex organic compounds. But what I'm thinking is this: A chain is as strong as its weakest link, and the attempt to add silicon to the compound only fails. When the more active sulphur is added, it automatically forces the silicon out of the compound, and will continue to do so until the right electro-negative charge is reached. Electro-combining silicon at a level less than its electro-stability level is impossible." "That means trouble, Mac," said Hammond slowly. "Want to try the decomposition of silicon-fluoride?"