"Good! Stand by, at your present position in space." Gray switched off.
Kina spoke softly at his side. "That one cruiser, Commander, is more
than a match for the entire Beolin fleet." He paused. "Here is your
call to Sirius Headquarters, sir."
[Illustration: "That one cruiser, Commander, is more than a match for
the entire Beolin fleet."]
The Commander turned back to the screen. "Over-Commissioner Branu, are
you aware of the present stage of relations with Beolin?"
The Over-Commissioner frowned at him. "Certainly! Why are you asking,
Commander?" There was an imperious sharpness in his voice.
"What are they?"
Branu hesitated, said, "Relations are somewhat strained at present, of
course, but not seriously. I--"
"Suppose proof was given that Beolin was back of the recent
disappearances of spacecraft?"
"My dear Commander Gray! You--you must not say that! Such an intimation
might _easily_ cost you your post! Why--"
The Commissioner cut him off.
"You see, Commander," said Kina, "the Command simply cannot think of
such a thing."
"Yes ... but they could be made--forced--to think of it."
"There is only one way to do _that_," said Kina. "Only one way."
"Yes." Commander Gray fell silent for a minute, and then said quietly,
"Kina."
"I am listening, sir."
"The hands of one man," said the Commander, "were never meant to hold
personal power such as this. We can do only the best we can ... and it
will never be perfect. We must be prepared to--" he hesitated slightly
before going on "--to set aside all personal things, and substitute the
stars for them. Because only in that way can we approach perfection."
Kina was silent and attentive, but his eyes flickered for a second
across the one personal item in the office.
"I am not a god, Kina. And yet I must be. Because there are men--such
as Krraula--who think they are." He fell silent.