"What is this?" Watson rapped. "I'm not at all amused."
The Honorable Russ stood also. "There is no use prolonging this. I have
heard you Earthlings say, more than once, that man adapts to preserve
himself. Very well, we of Genoa and Texcoco are adapting to the present
situation. We are of the belief that if you are allowed to remain in
power we of the Rigel planets will be destroyed, probably in an atomic
holocaust. In self-protection we have found it necessary to unite, we
Genoese and Texcocans. We bear you no ill will, far to the contrary.
However, it is necessary that you all return to Earth. You have
impressed upon us the aforementioned truism that _man adapts_ but in the
_Pedagogue's_ library I have found another that also applies. Power
corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
There were heavy automatics in the hands of Natt Roberts and Dick
Hawkins. Barry Watson leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrow. "How'd
you ever expect to get away with this sort of treason, Taller?"