o
come. In the city they are losing their war against this planet. Each
year there are less of them, and some day they will all be dead. Knowing
how they feel I am sure they will destroy their ship first, and the
entire planet as well, if that is possible."

"How can we stop them?" someone called out.

"By hitting _now_," Jason answered. "I know all the details of the city
and I know how the defenses are set up. Their perimeter is designed to
protect them from animal life, but we could break through it if we were
really determined."

"What good would that do?" Rhes snapped. "We crack the perimeter and
they draw back--then counter-attack in force. How can we stand against
their weapons?"

"We won't have to. Their spaceport touches the perimeter, and I know the
exact spot where the ship stands. That is the place where we will break
through. There is no formal guard on the ship and only a few people in
the area. We will capture the ship. Whether we can fly it or not is
unimportant. Who controls the ship controls Pyrrus. Once there we
threaten to destroy it if they don't meet our terms. They have the
choice of mass suicide or co-operation. I hope they have the brains to
co-operate."

His words shocked them into silence for an instant, then they surged
into a wave of sound. There was no agreement, just excitement, and Rhes
finally brought them to order.

"Quiet!" he shouted. "Wait until Jason finishes before you decide. We
still haven't heard how this proposed invasion is to be accomplished."

"The plan I have depends on the talkers." Jason said. "Is Naxa there?"
He waited until the fur-wrapped man had pushed to the front. "I want to
know more about the talkers, Naxa. I know you can speak to doryms and
the dogs here--but what about the wild animals? Can you make them do
what you want?"

"They're animals ... course we can talk t'them. Th'more talkers, th'more
power. Make 'em do just what we want."

"Then the attack will work," Jason said excitedly. "Could you get your
talkers all on one side of the city--the opposite side from the
spaceport--and stir the animals up? Make them attack the perimeter?"

"Could we!" Naxa shouted, carried away by the idea. "We'd bring in
animals from all over, start th'biggest attack they ev'r saw!"

"Then that's it. Your talkers will launch the attack on the far side of
the perimeter. If you keep out of sight, the guards will have no idea
that it is anything more than an animal attac