y miles from the planetary capital. He
set his controls for a very gradual descent. He went out to where his
followers made grisly zinging noises where they honed their knives.

"We'll land," said Hoddan sternly, "in about three-quarters of an hour.
You will go ashore and loot in parties of not less than three! Thal, you
will be ship guard and receive the plunder and make sure that nobody
from Walden gets on board. You will not waste time committing atrocities
on the population!"

He went back to the control room. He turned to general-communication
bands and listened to the broadcasts down below.

"_Special Emergency Bulletin!_" boomed a voice. "_Pirates are landing in
the city of Ensfield, forty miles from Walden City. The population is
instructed to evacuate immediately, leaving all action to the police.
Repeat! The population will evacuate Ensfield, leaving all action to the
police. Take nothing with you. Take nothing with you. Leave at once._"

Hoddan nodded approvingly. The voice boomed again:

"_Special Emergency Bulletin! Pirates are landing ... evacuate ... take
nothing with you.... Leave at once...._"

He turned to another channel. An excited voice barked:

"_... Seems to be only the one pirate ship, which has been located
hovering in an unknown manner over Ensfield. We are rushing camera crews
to the spot and will try to give on-the-spot as-it-happens coverage of
the landing of pirates on Walden, their looting of the city of Ensfield,
and the traffic jams inevitable in the departure of the citizens before
the pirate ship touches ground. For background information on this the
most exciting event in planetary history, I take you to our editorial
rooms._" Another voice took over instantly. "_It will be remembered that
some days since the gigantic pirate fleet then overhead sent down a
communication to the planetary government, warning that single ships
would appear to loot and giving notice that any resistance--_"

* * * * *

Hoddan felt a contented, heart-warming glow. The emigrant fleet had most
faithfully carried out its leader's promise to let down a letter from
space while in orbit around Walden. The emigrants, of course, did not
know the contents of the letter. They would not send anybody down to
ground, because of the temptations to sin in societies other than their
own. Blithely, and cheerfully, and dutifully, they would give the
appearance of monstrous piratical st