uses to bow to the most
reasonable of arguments. Please leave me; solve the problem
yourselves!"

Tresqu bowed and moved toward the cruiser. "We obey, Mighty Guide of
our fathers. Let me say in parting that I, too, am grieved by our
talk, much more because of the pain our visit has caused your noble
greatness than because our race is threatened with annihilation. My
deepest hope is that the ravages of war will never reach this peaceful
place which is so dear to your gentle being."

"Wait!" groaned the Weapon. "To slay, or not to slay, that is the
dilemma. Ah, had my old masters of Zoz only left within my powers the
seed of my own destruction, I would gladly seek the consummation of
ultimate peace. But, no, that door is closed to me by deathless locks.
Bring me a Human, that I may learn to hate him. Choose the most
ignoble specimen available. I will converse with him at length so as
to become exasperated with all the despicable traits of his race.
Then, in my contempt for those traits, I will be able to cleanse the
Universe of all Humans."

Tresqu turned quickly to his Fool. "Are there any Humans on Hova?"

"Yes, in the biological research laboratories."

"Then go quickly, Fool, and fetch one. This is a grave matter, and I
trust you to choose the most monstrous specimen available. Hurry!"

The Fool ran into the cruiser and was on his way, leaving Tresqu,
Wert, and several guardsmen with the Weapon. If the Weapon was
conscious of the fact that the Lord of Hova was staying behind out of
courtesy, it did not show it. Instead, it wandered indifferently away,
mumbling a soliloquy of guilt and misery.

* * * * *

The sight of the Fool's specimen of humanity repaid Tresqu for the
tediousness of the waiting. It was a particularly sordid-looking
creature with a dirty growth of hairs on its head and face. Its body,
thin as the Fool's, but with no compensating grace of movement, was
clad in a blue garment of roughly woven vegetable fibers, and the
extremities of its nether limbs were enclosed in evil-smelling boxes
of animal hide. Its fierce eyes darted ominously from one Hovan to
another. Its jaw kept working in a slow rhythm, and occasionally a
stream of black liquid exploded through its mouth.

"You have done well, Fool," said Tresqu. "You will be rewarded
highly." Raising his voice he called, "Mighty Weapon, your specimen
awaits!"

"I come!" Once more the Weapon floated into view.