"I think we have finally reached our decision," Hawkins said soberly.
"But before we announce it, we have one request to make, and I do not
think you will find it an unreasonable one. As you yourself pointed
out, ours is an incredibly emotional race. Had we not been so, we could
have given you our answer much sooner."
The alien's voice came booming into the control room. "I will listen to
your request, but you surely realize that none of the terms that I have
given you can be changed."
"Yes, we realize that, and our request is along slightly different
lines," said Hawkins. "As I said, we are an emotion-ridden race. But
you must have realized that we aboard the _Sunward_ are probably much
more stable than are the majority of our peoples back on our home
planets. It is always so with explorers and scientists. Therefore, we
were able to reach a logical decision, and we will be able to hold to
it.
"Unfortunately, we anticipate a little more trouble than this with 'the
folks back home,' if you understand that term. And to make things much
easier, not only for us, but also for you, we have a request to make."
"I understand the semantic import of the term and will give you my
decision on the request if you will but come to the point," came the
alien's voice. "We are wasting valuable time, and I have other things
to do."
Hawkins was beginning to sweat a little. He was purposefully needling
the alien, and he had no idea of how far he dared to go.
"Well, we of the _Sunward_ are convinced that you can carry out your
threats if we attempt any rebellion. We have seen you stand untouched
by all the power this ship could muster. But defense against our meager
weapons is one thing. The ability to destroy a star is another....
"The folks back home would accept our decision without hesitation, and
would never dream of giving you or your people any trouble, if we could
show them authentic pictures of how powerful you are offensively. We
request, therefore, that you unleash your weapons and turn this entire
solar system into a nova while we photograph the procedure."
Lan Sur's answering voice sounded frighteningly loud to Hawkins.
"What you request is impossible for several reasons. First, the Dakn
Empire has no desire to destroy potentially valuable property simply
to demonstrate its powers. Second, the procedure would occupy too much
time, for while my small ship could outrace the enveloping flames of
the nova, your larger ship, unequipped as it is with the C^{2} drive,
would be caught in the destruction and you would perish. I recognize
that from the emotionality index of your race, such a demonstration
would probably aid in the peaceful absorption of your culture into
ours, but it is impossible."
Hawkins allowed himself the luxury of a quick smile. His analysis of
the situation had been absolutely correct. "Well, look," he said in
reply. "According to our survey, the outer planet in this system is
pretty small and of little use to anybody. Could you possibly destroy
it instead?" He paused for just the smallest fraction of a second, but
then hurried on before the alien could reply. "Of course, if you can't
do it without destroying all the rest of the planets too, why, we'll
understand. But it would help...."
The alien's voice boomed back, interrupting the man. "You obviously
still underestimate the technological level of the Dakn Empire." The
alien paused, as if checking something. "According to my analysis of
this system, the fourth and outer planet is of no value whatsoever to
my people. Therefore, I accede to your request. The planet will be
destroyed at once."
"Hey, wait a minute," Hawkins cried in a startled tone of voice.
"You need not worry," came the alien's flat response. "I fully realize
that your visual recording equipment cannot function at such a
distance. Therefore, you will raise ship at once and locate yourself to
take advantage of the best recording angles."
Hawkins had to hold himself in his chair to keep from dancing a jig. He
had set a trap for the alien, and somehow, some incredible how, it had
worked. At least he dared hope that it had....
* * * * *
The _Sunward_ came to a full stop just inside the orbit of the third
planet. The alien ship danced on ahead of them towards the tiny outer
world. "You can come closer than that," Lan Sur informed Hawkins,
noting that the _Sunward_ had stopped sooner than expected.
"No, thank you," Hawkins replied. "We can get excellent pictures from
this distance, and you must remember that we haven't the protective
devices that you have."
Hawkins noted that Lan Sur's voice carried with it an almost petulant,
disdainful note. "There is a great deal of difference between the
destruction of one small planet and the creation of a nova. However,
if you feel safer there, you may remain where you are." A few moments
later, the alien added, "Are your recording devices in readiness?"
Hawkins indicated to the alien that they were.
"Then watch," Lan Sur said.
It took perhaps three minutes for the first burst of light to reach
their position. The tiny planet, scarcely 500 miles in diameter,
began to glow slightly, then suddenly came alive with fire. Bursts of
flame danced up hundreds of miles above its surface, then fell back,
exhausted, into the boiling cauldron the planet had become. For almost
ten minutes the small world seethed in agonized torment, and then, all
at once, it seemed to shake apart at the seams. There was no sound, but
those watching on board the _Sunward_ mentally supplied the missing
component to the greatest explosion they had ever witnessed. The
cameras recorded the scene noiselessly.
A few minutes later, after most of the fragments of the once-world had
disintegrated in flaming splendor, Lan Sur's voice broke the silence.
"I used only one of many possible means of destruction. However, it
promised to be, under the circumstances, the most spectacular. And so
you have seen the offensive might of the Dakn Empire. Are you ready to
give me your decision?"
The control board in front of Hawkins displayed all green signals.
"Yes," he said. "I think we're finally ready. Here is our answer to the
choice you gave us." His finger pressed firmly on a single red key.
* * * * *
The _Sunward_ had been hurling itself back towards Earth for almost an
hour when Broussard discovered Captain Hawkins, standing by himself in
the observation room, staring out into the black of subspace.
"Well," the psychologist said. "I don't suppose it looks quite so bleak
to you now as it did on the trip out."
Hawkins turned and smiled at the man. "No, I don't guess it does. Funny
what the presence of one small pinpoint of light does to the blackness
of a field, eh?"
Broussard nodded in assent. "I wonder what our alien friend thought
when suddenly Clarion, Trellis, the two other planets, and us too, just
up and disappeared and left him behind?"