"And if there was no more vote? Jery Delvin, Interplanetary Security is currently the most powerful organization in your world. Its agents possess the most invincible of weapons, the collapser ray-gun. Philip Baxter wields the power, even now. But he desires that it should become known." "Known?" said Snow uncertainly. "He means, Snow, that it's no fun being the boss if nobody knows it. The more I think of it, the more I think Baxter can actually get away with it." I returned my attention to the Martian. "If he's held off taking over until you people were unhitched from our universe, then you must be a threat to him!" "Only in his mind, Jery Delvin. He learned that we exist. He also learned that we had non-Earthly abilities. He decided that we therefore were superior in knowledge of weapons of destruction. One cannot be a successful dictator when another being has more power, or if one thinks such is the case." "Then you haven't such weapons?" "We have. But, as I told you, physical contact between our races is impossible." It gave a shrug. "Any attempt on our part to use our weapons would result in that very jolt we are trying so desperately to avoid." "I get it. You can shoot the charging rhino, but the recoil knocks you off the cliff." "Overly metaphoric but substantially correct. So you must destroy Baxter for us." "I'd like nothing better. I can get back to Earth, and alert the president, and maybe get the wheels rolling for an investigation of IS." "Impossible!" the Martian snapped. "We dare not wait any longer. As yet, Baxter has confided his _modus operandi_ to no one. Once he tells another man, then that man tells a third, and soon we become hopelessly vulnerable. No, the man himself must be destroyed, not just his power. When he dies, the power will die with him if you then tell your story." "But I can't just walk up to him and kill him," I said. "Since we are completely aware that you can, I must take it that you mean you will not." "No, not that, exactly. But look, he's been a stinker, I know, but it's not in my power to destroy a fellow human being in cold blood." "Then we shall heat your blood, Jery Delvin," the Martian replied. "We will warm it with the racking anger you shall feel against us, knowing that these human children shall perish if you fail!" A cunning light came into the Martian's eyes. "And not only these children," it said. "But your woman as well!" "No!" I cried, grabbing hold of Snow in both my arms. "I'll do it, but just leave her alone!" "She stays here with us until you return successful." "She does not!" I yelled, shaking. "I can't leave the woman I love with a creep that looks to her like a blob of black sparklers! I--" With cold horror, I realized that my arms were embracing nothingness. Snow was standing, wide-eyed, ten feet away. "Jery!" she cried, trying to come toward me. Instead, her steps slid over that shimmering metallic blur, and she remained in place.