The air was fresh. The sky was blue. Clouds floated in the sky, and
growing things gave off a not-unpleasant odor, and a breeze blew
uncertainly. But such things happen on appropriate planets in most
sol-type solar systems.

Huks came toward them. Stiffly. Defiantly. The most conspicuous
difference between Huks and humans was of degree. Huks grew hair all
over their heads, instead of only parts of it. But they wore garments,
and some of the garments were identical and impressive, so they could be
guessed to be uniforms.

"How-do," said the voice that had guided the ship down. "We are r-ready
to listen to your message."

Sergeant Madden said heavily:

"We humans believe you Huks have got a good fleet. We believe you've got
a good army. We know you've got good rockets and a fighting force that's
worth a lot to us. We want to make a treaty for you to take over and
defend as much territory as you're able to, against some characters
heading this way from the Coalsack region."

Silence. The interpreter translated, and the Huks muttered astonishedly
among themselves. The interpreter received instructions.

"Do you mean others of our r-race?" he demanded haughtily. "Members of
our own r-race who r-return to r-recover their home worlds from humans?"

"Hell, no!" said Sergeant Madden dourly. "If you can get in contact with
them and bring them back, they can have their former planets back and
more besides--if they'll defend 'em. We're stretched thin. We didn't
come here to fight your fleet. We came to ask it to join us."

More mutterings. The interpreter faced about.

"This surpr-rises us," he said darkly. "We know of no danger in the
direction you speak of. Per-rhaps we would wish to make fr-riends with
that danger instead of you!"

Sergeant Madden snorted.

"You're welcome!" Then he said sardonically: "If you're able to reach us
after you try, the offer stands. Join us, and you'll give your own
commands and make your own decisions. We'll co-operate with you. But you
won't make friends with the characters I'm talking about! Not hardly!"

More hurried discussions still. The interpreter, defiantly: "And if we
r-refuse to join you?"

Sergeant Madden shrugged.

"Nothing. You'll fight on your own, anyhow. So will we. If we joined up
we could both fight better. I came to try to arrange so we'd both be
stronger. We need you. You need us."

* * * * *

There was a pause. Patrolman Willis