"And?" Snow said, sensing my distress, and going tense.
"And they wound up neatly jailed by the Ancients," I said. "The
Ancients had made sure to select a man--me--that could be coerced by
threats to those poor kids."
"You mean if you don't do what they want...?" Snow said, but couldn't
complete the sentence.
"The kids pay," I finished for her. "So, tell me, lady, what's my move?"
"I don't know," she said, kind of startled, as if just beginning to
realize the desperation of our situation. "I'm not sure who's right or
wrong in this, Jery."
"Neither am I!" I said bitterly. "Baxter's a stinker, but he does
represent Earth, of which I'm currently in favor. The rebels may be
violent, but they have a few points in their favor, too. And the
Ancients--"