"These men of Neen became the enemies of Libar, and of us who call ourselves Libars, and follow His ways. In that warm country they became brown, and their hair darkened. They increased more rapidly than did the Libars, and as they forgot their learning, their bodies developed in strength. "Yet they have always envied us; envied us the beauty of our women, and of our cities. Envied us those things which He taught us to make, and which their clumsy hands cannot fashion, and which their brutish brains do not understand. "And now they have the overwhelming strength that makes us powerless against them." His voice broke, he turned his face away, that I might not see the agony written there. "Toma annerson!" he muttered. "Ah, toma annerson!" The words were like a prayer. "Just a minute, Artur!" I said sharply. "What weapons have they? And what means of travel?" He turned with a hopeless gesture. "They have the weapons we have," he said. "Spears and knives and short spears shot from bows. And for travel they have vast numbers of monocars they have stolen from us, generation after generation." "Monocars?" I asked, startled. "Yes. He Who Speaks gave us that secret. Ah, He was wise; to hear His voice was to feel in touch with all the wisdom of all the air!" He made a gesture as though to include the whole universe. * * * * * There were a score of questions in my mind, but there was no time for them then. I snatched my menore from its clip on my belt, and adjusted it quickly. It was a huge and cumbersome thing, the menore of that day, but it worked as well as the fragile, bejeweled things of today. Maybe better. The guard posted outside the ship responded instantly. "Commander Hanson emanating," I shot at him. "Present my compliments to Mr. Correy, and instruct him as follows: He is to withdraw the outside guard instantly, and proceed with the _Ertak_ to the large domed building in the center of the city. He will bring the _Ertak_ to rest at the lowest possible altitude above the building, and receive further orders at that time. Repeat these instructions." The guard returned the orders almost word for word, and I removed the menore with a little flourish. Oh, I was young enough in those days! "Don't worry any more, Artur," I said crisply. "I don't know who _He_ was, but we'll show you some tricks you haven't seen yet! Come!" I led the way down the ramp, Hendricks, Artur, and the three Zenians following. As we came out into the daylight, a silent shadow fell across the great avenue that ran before the entrance, and there, barely clearing the shining roof of the auditorium, was the sleek, fat bulk of the _Ertak_. Correy had wasted no time in obeying orders. Correy could smell a fight further than any man I ever knew. * * * * *