"The Ganelons!" Governor Cameron gave Joel a shrewd glance. "We know
that you've been in contact with the natives. Frankly, Hakkyt, that's
why you're here!"
"But I don't see...."
General Roos smiled grimly. "Oh, we're not afraid of the Ganelons
themselves. But they've organized an underground movement to overthrow
the government. That's us!"
Priscilla took Joel's hand, gripped it convulsively. "That wouldn't
be so bad, Joel, even though we stand to lose everything. But they've
organized the maladjusted, the criminally insane! The worst elements
among the unfit!"
"But can't you put down a revolt?"
General Roos laughed savagely. "I've a handful of police with
paralyzers. Paralyzers, mind you! Don't you understand? There hasn't
been a war in a thousand years! There are no weapons! No factories to
make them. No officers with even the most rudimentary knowledge of
tactics."
"But the Unfit haven't weapons either...."
"That's where you're mistaken! Our spies have reported a ray type
projector that destroys the red blood corpuscles! They've been
manufacturing them in hidden laboratories in the jungle!"
Silence fell over the conference table--a breathless anxious silence.
Joel could feel their eyes on him and he shifted uncomfortably.
"But what do you expect me to do?" he asked defensively.
Governor Cameron stared at Joel with his penetrating green eyes.
"Hakkyt, we want to treat with the Ganelons. There's room for both our
races. You're in communication with their Thinkers. You're our only
contact with them."
Joel said suspiciously, "If you were anxious to treat with the
Thinkers, why did you murder their spies?"
"Murder their spies?" Priscilla echoed. Half a dozen voices burst out
in protest.
Joel stared pointedly at General Fredrik Roos. The dark, handsome
general smiled, shrugged.
"But no one's killed any Ganelons!" the governor said. "You're
mistaken, Hakkyt."