"The sector," said Wanbecq slowly, "will belong either to the human
race or to the beast, but it cannot belong to both."
"Federation," said Durham, answering his own question. And suddenly
many formless things began to fit together into a shape that was still
cloudy but had a sinister solidity. In order for a solar system to
become a member of the Federation its member planets were required
to have achieved unity among themselves, with common citizenship, a
common council, common laws. And in order for a sub-sector to become
federated, all its solar systems must have reached a like accord.
In this case, since the system of the two Diks was the only inhabited
one in the sub-sector, the two things were the same. The fate of 9G
rested solely on the behavior of two planets.
If 9G remained unfederated, the company or companies engaged in mining
or other business under local license could continue to operate in
almost any way they chose as long as they kept the local officials
happy. They could strip the whole area of its mineral resources, pile
up incredible fortunes, and leave the native worlds with nothing.
But if 9G became a member of the Federation, Federation law would
immediately step in, and Federation enforcement of same, and if there
were any abuses of native rights, the people responsible would suffer
for it.
Postulate a company. Postulate a connection between it and Hawtree.
Postulate and postulate.
At around three hundred miles an hour the taxi plunged into the
twilight zone. Light sprang on automatically. Outside it became dark
very swiftly, and the darkness roared, and glittered with a million
lamps.
"Who," asked Durham, "is principally against your two worlds uniting so
that the treaty can go through?"
"All of us," said Wanbecq fiercely. "Shall we give up our rights, our
independence, our human institutions, everything our race has stood
for--"
Wanbecq-ai cried out, "We will never unite, never! No one can force us
to betray our species!"
Susan began to cry.
"Please," said Durham. "Baby. You're all right."
"You hit me."
"I had to. I'll apologize later. Be quiet now, Susan, please." He
turned back to the Wanbecqs. "Everybody on Nanta Dik feels that way?"
"There are traitors everywhere," said Wanbecq darkly. "Some of them,
unfortunately, are in positions of power."
"They won't be for long," said Wanbecq-ai. "Look here, Mr. Durham,
you're going to Nanta Dik with a message. We aren't the only ones who
want to know what it is. Jubb has sent a darkbird for you. Take my
advice. Tell us your message and go back to The Hub."
Susan said in a nasty muffled voice, "You're insane. Nobody would trust
him with a message to the milkman. He lost his job because he couldn't
be trusted."
Without rancor, Durham said, "You're absolutely right, darling. And
wouldn't it be strangely fitting if that's why I got my job back
again?" He said to the Wanbecqs, "Somebody tipped you off about me.
Who?"
"We know him only as a friend of humanity."
"Somebody must have sent you here from Nanta Dik."
"On our world there are many friends of humanity. Think of them, Mr.
Durham, when you kiss the Bitter Star."
* * * * *
The taxi slowed, strongly, smoothly. The blurred panorama of lights and
ships became separable into individual shapes. Durham stared out ahead.
There was the squat form of a freighter, ugly and immensely powerful,
on a landing apron only partially lighted. The _Margaretta K_.