"No, my government has no knowledge of my expedition. I came purely to get gold and for no other reason. Mining is my business." She gave a little exclamation of frustration. Then after a pause she asked: "Do you think our way of life and your own could live together in peace, could grow to be one?" Again I made futile efforts to hide my revulsion and fear of them all. It was no use. The flood of force pouring through my head was more effective than any truth serum. "No, to me you are horrors, and my people would never consent to live at peace with you. You could never conquer us. Until the last of our cultured members were dead they would resist the horrible practices of your culture." "That is as I surmised," she mused. "But I would have you tell me why this is so. What is it you find so revolting about us." "What have you done to my companions? Do you think men want that to happen to them?" "That was a punishment for entering here without permission. That would not happen to any but enemies." "Men could never accept the altering of the shapes of workers, the tinkering with the hereditary form of their children, the artificial grafting upon our race of revolting and unnecessary form changes. Your whole science is a degeneration of wisdom into evil, tampering with life itself. You are horrors, and you do not know it." I could hear her steps as she turned and left, tapping angrily upon the floor. After her I could hear the shuffling, heavier tread of her retinue. As the flood of vibration ceased, I began to curse aloud for the undiplomatic truths I had been forced to utter. In seconds my arms were free, and I was led out, a tall grim-faced guard on each side, with a firm grip on my arms. I wondered what was happening to the lovely Zoorph, but I did not get a chance to look. I was thrown into a cell, and the heavy wooden door shut. The thud of a bar dropped in place punctuated the evening's experience with a glum finality. * * *