"We regret the necessity. But the lack of time made it necessary. The
attack on the camp had to be delayed and the Maldia chose to act almost
too quickly," said the High Superior. "At least we have been able to
cause a delay of that wanton act."
"Now or later," said Telis carelessly. "It will come."
"And with it death to those who offer us redemption and life?"
"Redemption?" asked Telis hotly, his eyes full on the girl. "Slavery!"
The High Superior sank back in his chair wearily. "I should have
known," he muttered disgustedly. "Well, so be it, then. You will
remain here in Dorliss until we are able to evolve some scheme for the
protection of our friends. In time even you will see that we act for
the best good of Laurr.
"These other-worldlings have narrowly averted on their own world the
catastrophe of atomic war that wrecked ours. Hence, they are no longer
a warrior race. They have devoted themselves to science in ways that
we never knew even in the golden haads. Their technics can be our
salvation, if we are only intelligent enough to accept their offered
hand of friendship!"
Telis was listening with only half an ear now. A plan was forming in
his mind. A plan of escape.
"... remember that the races of both Terra and Laurr are sprung from
the loins of a single great transgalactic people," the High Superior
was saying, "and together they might one day rule the Solar System.
Think of it, Telis of Lars! Even the knowledge of interplanetary travel
will be ours if we join in brotherhood with Terra! All the might of our
Temple science could not achieve that in the short haads left to us ...
but the Tellurians offer it _now_! And the only payment they ask is
some of the deadly iron that eats away our atmosphere and drains us of
our precious water!
"Think of these things, young sir, until next we speak."
The old man sank back, exhausted by his speech and made a sign that
the audience was over. He knew somehow that he had failed ... and that
other measures were now in order.