esident Wong asked the
Manager of Defense, a short, slim black man with flaming red hair.

The Manager of Defense considered his reply carefully. "Not if they
are willing to pay a terrific price to destroy it," he said finally.
"After all, it's thirty-three years away. While we can send out a
fleet immediately that would get there at the same time as the
Ambassadors, and before they could mount an attack, we hardly could
send reinforcements and replacements once the battle is joined. But
from the best information available, I think that a small force of
twenty or twenty-five thousand troops should be able to frighten the
Gnii out of doing anything foolish. They aren't very far advanced."

"Thirty-three years," President Wong said frowning. "That means a
mixed crew with facilities for children. I am told that things often
go wrong on that type of mission."

The Manager of Defense nodded. "They do," he agreed shortly. "However,
I have analyzed that problem in detail in my report."

President Wong sighed. "If you gentlemen will leave your reports with
me, I will make my decision by tomorrow morning."

Each of the Managers gave him several rolls of tape. Those of the
Manager of Trade felt by far the heaviest. President Wong slipped them
into the racks in his upper left-hand desk drawer.

"Ask the Gnii to come in," he said to Al.

* * * * *

Al pushed a button on the arm of his chair, and the door swung open.
Four large spidery creatures entered the room, followed by a small
bald man. Their round bodies were encased in plastic globes, in which
a whitish translucent gas swirled. They walked over to the President's
desk, and the leader extended a hairy leg.

With an effort, President Wong forced himself to take the leg with his
hand and pump it up and down. He noticed that the creature withdrew
the leg as soon as it was decently possible, and smiled a bit as he
concluded that their aversion was mutual.

The Gnii stepped back and began waving his two front legs.

"He is asking for your reply to his ultimatum," the small bald man
interpreted.

"Tell him I'll give him a definite decision tomorrow," President Wong
said. "Apologize for my not being able to reply today, and point out
that since it will take him thirty-three years to get home, one day
will not make much difference."

[Illustration]

The bald interpreter waved his hands. The four Gnii went into a small
huddle, waving th