Joris shook his head. "You can be put away so quickly and quietly that no one will ever hear of you." "Good," said Trehearne. "Put me away. Put away all the officers of the ship. Put away all the passengers. Put away all the crew. That's a lot of people to keep quiet." Shairn broke in triumphantly. "Yes, Joris! How are you going to silence me?" "And," said Edri, "me." Joris looked from one to the other and back again, his brows drawn angrily together. But he said nothing. Kerrel leaned over the table. "Joris," he said, "do you understand? The man is trying to blackmail you with an open threat of treason." "Yes," said Trehearne, "I am." His voice was suddenly very quiet, and he spoke straight to Joris. "When I made that flight and lived I won my right to the freedom of the stars. I won my right to fly deep space, and I will use any weapons I can get my hands on against any man who tries to keep me from it." Then, for quite a long while, no one spoke. "By God," said Joris slowly, "I take it back. There can't be any mongrel blood in you. Only a Vardda could have that kind of insolence." He got up and came round the table. "You, Shairn. In spite of your political views, you'll back him up in this?" "I will. And it's probably the only real accomplishment the Orthists will ever make." "And you, Edri?" "All the way." Kerrel swore. It was the first time Trehearne had ever heard him do it, and it was aimed directly at Shairn. "For God's sake, watch what you're saying! Joris, she doesn't mean it, and she won't do it. I know her feelings on the subject too well for that." Shairn said, "Try me." Joris had become very thoughtful. "You know," he said to Kerrel, "whether she does or not, there's a great deal of truth in what the Earthman says. Far too much, I'm afraid, to be overlooked." "Bluff," said Kerrel. "Look here, Joris, if you turn this man loose, I'll have to report...." "Oh, report and be damned! The law says I have to shut him up, and shut him up I will, and there my duty ends. And I don't need you to tell me my business." He went to the recorder, took out the spool, dropped it on the floor and crushed it under his boot. "Now clear out, all of you. Dismissed. And I'd advise you all to keep your mouths shut. Especially _you_," he said to the two very young men. "You have enough work to keep you busy. Go and do it. You stay here, Trehearne." Trehearne stayed, and there was a bitter thought in him that he had failed. The faces of the others, as they left, were full of doubt. Presently he was alone with Joris in the sweep of golden light from the windows. From the eastern quadrant of the port Trehearne saw a great ship rise and clear away for distant suns.