"Officially, we are supposed to be neutral. But if you attack The Bubble and rescue the poor devils in the dark hemisphere I'll help!" But The Manager shook his enormous head slightly. "That we can not do. That satellite is too far out in space. There is no concealment, and we can not yet fight their patrol ships in space." "Listen!" Sine persisted. "There is a man there I know. He's about ready to die, unless he gets away. And he has a girl, a kid of fourteen or fifteen. The rays haven't made a freak out of her yet. I want to save her. Give me a ship and I'll take her out myself!" "That we can not do. Individuals do not count. One, or a hundred, may die. We can not endanger our plan." The counselors had drawn a little away from the Earthmen, unconsciously symbolizing their support to The Manager. Again he raised his bony arm. "Up above there our ships are destroying every city of the First Race on the planet. Our power-beams for the glowing ships are encircling Jupiter in a network of red and death--death to the oppressors! The Pleasure Bubble's turn will come. And when it is dashed down, master and slave must die together. To save the slaves might let some of the masters escape." "Gentlemen!" Kass was trying to smooth over the situation, "We have been sent here on a voyage of discovery, not of war. We regret your troubles here--but we can take no part in them. Our attitude is friendly to...." "No! Damned if I will!" Sine shouldered his iron-hard body through the close-packed counselors, so that he stood directly before The Manager, who did not shrink from the formidable young man. "If you murder those poor Mugs in the black hemisphere, I'm your enemy from now on!" "And I!" The words boomed and reverberated in the vaulted chamber, and Lents moved his bulky body beside Sine. "And I too!" Kass' naked, skinny torso glistened with sweat. "The First Race may be murderers, but they're magnificent murderers. They wouldn't forget their friends!" The Manager's large, liquid eyes seemed suddenly filmed over. He jerked his enormous head sharply, snapped: "We waste time. Put these meddlers out through the locks, that they may feed the fish." * * * * * But Gnom again interposed. "If The Manager will permit--there is much water on Earth. They may know how to swim--might go to the top and escape--" "True, Gnom. I have a truly great brain, as all the oppressed admit, but details escape me. Call one of the watch, put them to death first." Gnom turned, looked into one of the larger passages that centered on that room. He turned his blank, scaly face. "The watch is not here!" "Perhaps he was called. See!" But before Gnom could execute the order a commotion arose in the passage. A voice called from outside: "Officer of the hour prays audience with The Manager." "Enter." An officer with an extreme hunchback dashed in, bowed low before The Manager.