"A handful of rulers, with blind ambition, caused the war. They're mostly gone. I want peace, a chance to bring both sides together." "Stop his traitor mouth!" cried someone far back. "Who's afraid to hear?" I yelled. "You almost walked into a trap, and I stopped you. These defenders have mined the cavern beyond--" "He tells the truth, you Newcomers!" Klob seconded me. "If you can't understand truth and tell it from lies--_look out_, they come!" He meant his own late comrades. Gederr had urged a fresh body at us. "Quick!" I cried. "They heard me tell of their ambush, they want to silence me! Won't anyone help!" "I will," gurgled Harvison, wounded as he was. He stepped past me, sword in his left hand, and engaged a Dondromogon warrior. Another big Newcomer leaped forward to do likewise. I seized my opportunity. "Don't move without my order!" I addressed the remainder of Harvison's party, as if they were my allies again. "These defenders have the advantage of you in their planted explosives!" "Then destroy them some other way," growled an under-officer. I whirled toward the Dondromogon front. The attackers fell back. "You still scare any man you look at, Barak," said Harvison. He was a little tottery from loss of blood, but game. "Well, shall we charge?" He managed a grin. "I've been trying to keep you from doing that," I groaned. "I don't want tragedy here and extermination afterward. Can't this world stand peace--" "If you can do it," someone said behind me, "I give you full authority." I knew him. He was Dr. Thorald--high in the Newcomer command. With him were the other leaders, Parkeson and Captain Cross. "Danger!" I gasped at them. "Don't come through here. Doriza, see that they do not--" I looked for her. She was not there. "She slipped away while we fought," said Klob. "First setting the glare-lamp to run--" My heart sank. "Which way did she go? Toward the Newcomers, or toward Dondromogon?" "Toward Dondromogon," he said, and my heart sank the rest of the way. She had decided to betray me after all. "Wait here, all," I commanded, and moved clear of the glare-field. Moved straight toward the host of Dondromogon. Gederr laughed again. I could read his thoughts. He had clinched his own power by judicious murders. Now he thought I was in his hands. "Shoot him down," he bade. "Let no man shoot," I warned. "A pellet flying past me will strike and set off the glare-field. It's still swords, and in the open we can use their rays." I flicked on my own. The blade glowed like hot iron. "Come and fight," I invited. "All of you. Or withdraw and explode this trap on me alone." "He's tired of life," snarled Gederr, hidden in the ranks. "I'm tired of this fighting," was my reply. "If I die alone, the Newcomer force remains intact. It can move upon you and force you to peace. Men of Dondromogon, overthrow this coward tyrant Gederr, who defends his pride and power with your bodies!"