others had failed for sixty years, to
then sit and wait. The situation on Vogar was already very critical
when we left." Y'Nor scowled at the chronometer again. "Every hour we
waste waiting here will delay our return to Vogar by an hour--I
presume you realize that?

"It does sound like a logical theory," Kane agreed.

Y'Nor's face darkened dangerously. "You will--"

Quick, hard-heeled footsteps sounded in the corridor outside. The
guard officer, Dalon, stepped through the doorway and saluted; his
eyes like ice under his pale brows and his uniform seeming to bristle
with weapons.

"The native is here, sir," he said to Y'Nor.

He turned, and made a commanding gesture. The leader of the Saints
appeared; the man whose resistance Y'Nor would have to break.

A frail, white-bearded old man, scuffed uncertainly into the room in
straw sandals, his faded blue eyes peering nearsightedly toward Y'Nor.

"Go to the commander's desk," Dalon ordered in his metallic tones.

The old man obeyed and stopped before Y'Nor's desk, his hands clasped
together as though to hide their trembling.

"You are Brenn," Y'Nor said, "and you hold, I believe, the impressive
titles of Chief Executive of the Council Of Provinces and Supreme
Elder of the Churches Of The Golden Rule?"

"Yes, sir." There was a faint quaver in old Brenn's voice. "I welcome
you to our world, sir, and offer you our friendship."

"I understand you can produce Elusium X fuel?"

"Yes, sir. Our Dr. Larue told me the process is within our ability.
We--" He hesitated. "We know you haven't enough fuel to return to
Vogar."

Y'Nor stiffened in his chair. "What makes you think that?"

"It requires a great deal of fuel to get through the Whirlpool star
cluster--and even sixty years ago, the Elusium ores of Vogar were
almost exhausted."

Y'Nor smiled thinly. "That reminds me--you would be one of the Saints
who murdered their guards and stole a ship to get here."

"We killed no guards, sir. In fact, all of them eventually joined our
church."

"Where is the ship?"

"We had to cut it up for our start in mechanization."

"I presume you know you will pay for it?"

"It was taking us to our deaths in the radium mines--but we will pay
whatever you ask."

"The first installment will be one thousand units of fuel, to be
produced with the greatest speed possible."

"Yes, sir. But in return"--the old man stood a little straighter and
an underlying resolve was suddenly revea