e to us, who are so
different; make it possible that in the future trade and cultural
intercourse might spring up between the two alien ways of life. There
will be no peace without understanding, you realize!"

"I quite agree with your views, and will help you in any way that I
can," I said loudly, for the old Jivro seemed to be hearing with
difficulty. He leaned back at my words, seemed to relax as if pleased.

The queen turned to her companion, smiled and said:

"Genner, you will see that he is taken care of as a guest, and endeavor
to learn what you can from him. I will hold you responsible for the
success of this experiment."

"Very well," Genner murmured, "but it seems to me, Wananda Highest, that
we can never allow the wall of secrecy between ourselves and the people
of this planet to be breached. To consider doing otherwise ..." for an
instant his eye hesitated upon hers, then he went on, "... could hardly
be logical, but of course, there is much we could learn from them, and
they from us. That, I see, as the only purpose of this exception."

Just then a great hullabaloo broke out in the corridors outside, the
door burst open, and into the room three captives were borne,
half-carried, half-pushed. I stood back out of the way, and the three
were prodded into a row in front of the low table. Among them I
recognized with a start my erstwhile guard, Holaf, of the Zervs.

Wananda leaned forward, her eyes glittering with sudden triumph, her
voice thrilling with a cruel mocking note.

"More of the skulking Zervs fail to avoid our warriors! Where did you
find them, Officer?"

"They were attempting to release the captive Croen female in the crystal
prison of the cave of the Golden statue, your highness. Our spies among
the Zervs informed us of the attempt."

Wananda's eyes blazed at Holaf. Her voice became more shrill with
something almost like fear. The three men shrank back visibly from her
fury.

"So it is not enough you plot treason, you must also turn against your
Gods? You know the Croen powers, you know what she would do to us all,
you included. But so that you can overcome the Schrees, nothing else to
you is sacred, nothing too vile for you to do. Away with them, let them
become the least among the mindless men."

The tall Schree warriors, their long faces expressionless, started to
hustle the three captives toward the door again. Holaf wrenched free,
turned, his face contorted with hatred.

"You ha