se guys I would
say they are getting ready to throttle the next Ryke they see instead of
knuckle under to him."

"I hope you're right," said Hockley fervently. "I certainly hope you're
right."

* * * * *

By evening there was increasing evidence that he was. Hockley passed up
the afternoon lecture period and spent the time in the lounge doing some
thinking of his own. He knew he couldn't push the group. Above all, he
mustn't give way to any temptation to push them or say, "I told you so."
Their present frustration was so deep that their antagonism could be
turned almost indiscriminately in any direction, and he would be
offering himself as a ready target if he were not careful.

On the other hand he had to be ready to take advantage of their
disaffection and throw them a decisive challenge when they were ready
for it. That might be tonight, or it might be another week. He wished
for a sure way of knowing. As things turned out, however, the necessity
of choosing the time was taken from him.

After dinner that night, when the group began to drift into the lounge,
Silvers and Carmen and three of the other men came over to where Hockley
sat. Silvers fumbled with the buttons of his coat as if preparing to
make an address.

"We'd like to request," he said, "that is--we think we ought to get
together. We'd like you to call a meeting, Hockley. Some of us have a
few things we'd like to talk over."

Hockley nodded, his face impassive.

"The matter I mentioned to you the other night," said Silvers. "It's
been happening to all the men. We think we ought to talk about it."

"Fine," said Hockley. "I've been thinking it would perhaps be a good
idea. Pass the word around and let's get some chairs. We can convene in
ten minutes."

The others nodded somberly and moved away with all the enthusiasm of
preparing for a funeral. And maybe that's what it would be, Hockley
thought--somebody's funeral. He hoped it would be the Rykes.

The room began filling almost at once, as if they had been expecting the
call. In little more than five minutes it seemed that every member of
the Earth delegation had assembled, leaving time to spare.

The senators still wore their looks of puzzlement and half-frightened
anxiety, which had intensified if anything. There was no puzzlement on
the faces of the scientists, however, only a set and determined
expression that Hockley hardly dared interpret as meaning they had