But that was his last cry and action. Another eddy, larger and swifter, suddenly came into the picture behind him. From it sprang a pale shaft of light. The scout went down on his face as if in sudden prayer. He moved no more. Toward the dark end, Dondromogon figures seemed to move. There was a great spatter of spark-pellets. But the eddy of the new power-shield had scurried forward, enveloping and vanishing the two bound men. It retired as quickly. No movement, no figure, except those of the dead scout and the charred remains of the man he had killed. "There will be little action here for some time to come," announced Gederr. "Switch it off, Sporr." Sporr did so. I shook myself, as if to rid my body of unpleasant dampness and chill. "Exciting," I said. "Unusual. I suppose this goes on all the time." "Not all the time," Elonie demurred. "As Yandro has heard, the battle-areas are limited, in the region of the poles. There is much maneuvering, but not too much contact. This incident was an order." "Order?" I repeated. "We sent the man you saw, knowing that you would want this televiso view of how we made war." I snorted and faced her angrily. "You sent him to his death? So that I could see a show? You value life very cheaply, Elonie." III She smiled, as if I had complimented her. "Oh, the man was up for elimination. He was supernumerary. Of course, if he had succeeded in his capture of prisoners and one of the devices that make those power-shields--" I remembered what Stribakar had said to Gederr. "He was brave," I said, "and it was a shame that he had to die. You want me to be a leader in war like that? I have other ideas of warfare." All of them looked at me, and one spoke from behind Gederr: "We had hoped that Yandro would say that. Yandro means to lead us in person--in a great and decisive battle." "At least it would be cleaner than this mole-digging and sneaking," I said hotly. Gederr rose. "Sporr, tune in whatever terminal you can find among the Newcomers. I shall say something to them." Obediently Sporr manipulated levers, push-buttons and dials near the speaking-tube. Gederr crossed to it and spoke harshly: "Newcomers, ill be your fate! Your defeat is at hand! We give you warning! Our engines will burrow a mighty cave near the north pole. Let you come there, with all your hosts--and so shall we, so shall we!" His voice rose to a scream. "With us--leading us--comes the greatest fighter that Dondromogon has ever known, and the sight of him shall _break your hearts_!" My ears rang, as the ears of all listeners must have rung, with those last words. Gederr turned away, and Sporr dialed the power off. "Now," Gederr said, "is there not some plan for amusement? A pleasant hour in the Pavilion? Great Yandro's heart is troubled--for it is as great as himself--by thoughts of war and its pains. Let him come with us for solace."