w hundred in a great ship, and
they settled upon a small uninhabited and airless satellite of our home
planet, were there for many years before they were discovered. When the
Jivros attacked them to destroy them, they found in spite of their
innumerable ships and countless warriors they could not harm them. But
their attacks angered the superior ones, and they began a campaign of
extermination against the insect men's empire. Since the Croen were
few, they began to recruit from among the Zervs and other groups who
were subservient to the Schrees. The Schrees were the ancient tools of
the Jivros, and have always held positions as tributary rulers, since
the insect-men themselves found subject peoples obeyed the Schrees more
readily. They have always kept the priest-like power and, by poisoning
and other devices, remove any Schree puppet who displeases them."

"Go on," I said huskily, her rapt face and intent manner, her utterly
lovely ivory body, glittering everywhere with the shining powder which
she used, the subtle penetrative scent of her--I was hard put to
concentrate upon her words.

"I plan to have the crystal pillar opened, perhaps, have Cyane brought
to my own chambers, and I will pretend to set up apparatus to read her
sleeping mind and so learn from her. Naturally the Jivros will become
suspicious of me if I do so, as they fear the knowledge of the Croen
which has always proved too great for them. There will be but a few days
time between my action in bringing her here, and my own death or her
confiscation by the Jivros. But in order to overrule me in this, they
will have to make a pretext, charge me with infidelity, convince the old
Jivro that I intend harm to him and his. During that time you must find
a way to release Cyane and escape with her."

"Why don't you yourself release her and escape with her?" I asked.

"Because I can be useful to her when she attacks us. Besides, I am
constantly under the Jivro eyes, and they know me so well they would see
my perturbation, they would know something was wrong and forestall me.
You alone could do it, and, too, I depend upon your alien knowledge to
provide a barrier or two to their overcoming you. Your weapons which you
bore when we captured you--do they fear them?"

"I never shot any of them; I don't know."

"Perhaps I will send you with the party to get Cyane. That way you can
find a chance to inject the stimulant when they are not looking. They
must remov