negligently some
distance from the three, as if in attendance upon her. I deduced he was
her paramour, husband or close relative, perhaps a brother.

I stood eyeing them silently, waiting. I gathered the three heads of the
government were here, and the extra one represented the balance of power
in the hands of the queen. His negligent lack of interest seemed to me
to be an evident giving of his voice to the queen, if he was a part of
this gathering.

The queen's voice had lost its sleepy, mocking tones, was sharp,
incisive:

"You present a problem new to us, earthman. Sooner or later, if we
decide to remain upon this planet permanently, we will have to meet and
conquer, or meet and engage in commerce with the other members of your
race. You are the first educated member of your race who has fallen into
our hands. We must study your people, and we would like your willing
cooperation. Will you give it willingly? Or must we put you to death?
Which would perhaps symbolize, even indicate directly, our future
attitude toward your races."

"I am quite willing," I said, before I had a chance to bungle it worse,
"quite willing to exchange information on your people for the same about
my own. However, I doubt that your people will find this planet
congenial to an invader who ignores the natives as you have done."

"We did not come here to colonize, earthman. We came in pursuit of
renegades from our law, fugitives who fled when their plots were
uncovered. But we are considering the possibility of a permanent colony
here, and you could help us...."

For an instant her eyes dwelt upon mine with a peculiar warning
expression, as evident as a wink, and the expression was evanescent as a
breath. I caught on, and made my face agreeable and subservient.
Immediately her own reassumed a harsh, proud set, her voice became even
more incisive and cold.

My eyes drifted casually to the blank, cold stare of the old Jivro, to
the mournful liquid eyes of the Schree, on to the apparently
disinterested gaze of the queen's friend. The only ominous feeling I got
was from the eyes of the aged insect-man, and my deduction that they
were the source of the evils of these people was strengthened. The
chills ran down my back, and something within me thrilled as I
understood that this queen was playing a part to please the Jivros, that
her interests were actually divergent. Her voice was saying:

"You could help us greatly by explaining your lif