e to the scout over the helicopter screen."

"Good! Point out to them that the _Gemsbok_ also has such equipment."

Haruhiku engaged in another long talk. The Kappans began to show signs
of uneasiness at the end. They remained silent.

"And that therefore," added Mayne, "the Terran who served this machine
should rank in their eyes as a servant of Meeg just as much as Igrillik.
The cargo in the ship was no more his than a message belongs to the
messenger bearing it."

The pilot put this into Kappan, with gestures.

"And furthermore," said Mayne, before it could be suggested that the
owner might be Meeg, "what I have arranged here with Melin and Voorhis
is that the cargo now belongs to all of the Terran people."

Eemakh began to scowl, an impressive contortion on a broad, olive Kappan
visage. Mayne hurried on.

"This being the case, the Kappans _have absolutely no right_ to deny us
the privilege of contributing all these goods to the glory of their
temple!"

"Oh, boy!" grunted Haruhiku. He rattled off the translation.

Mayne watched it hit home. Igrillik leaned over to peer at him
unbelievingly. Eemakh seemed to have difficulty in focusing his glowing
eyes on the Terran.

There were, of course, requests for clarification. Mayne left the
repetitions to the pilot.

In the end, Eemakh arose and embraced him, a startling action that left
Mayne feeling introspectively of his ribs. Igrillik called out something
to the bodyguard attending the chief, causing Mayne to repress a shudder
at the flashing display of big Kappan teeth. He assumed that a smile was
a humanoid constant.

Haruhiku's pilot approached with a new message.

"Now they have to land near here, in half an hour or less," said the
spacer.

"There's just one more thing," Mayne told him. "Voorhis is satisfied,
Melin--look, he's gone to sleep on the table!--is relieved, the Kappans
are friendly, and J. P. McDonald will be happy when he lands. Now I have
to get myself off the hook for two million!"

He turned to the _Gemsbok_ crewmen loitering before the hut.

"Who was the communications man?" he demanded.

A lean, freckled youth with a big nose admitted to the distinction.
Mayne draped an arm about his shoulders and told him he was back in
business.

"Say to them," he instructed Haruhiku, "that if they are to learn how to
use the equipment Meeg has provided for their temple, they must not
delay one minute in taking our friend here into the ship ..