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a big man.
    "Because
you are the most important citizen on the whole planet at this moment and I
wish to discuss matters with you which affect the well-being of everyone on the
planet."
    Mordin
took a moment to look at the statement, and Bragan got the impression of
ruthless thoroughness, that every word and shade of meaning was scrupulously examined.
The reply came.
    "There
is no such idea as the most important citizen' in our way of thinking. You, who
seem to know our language and our ways so well, should know that much."
    "There
is a great deal about your people that I do not yet know, just as there is much
about us that you do not know. For one thing, I am the most important person in this force of the Zorgan Empire. I am in
command here, over all the Zorgan forces present on the planet. We do have such an idea. I am the embodiment of it. I suggest that a discussion
between us will be of mutual benefit. But first a question. Have you .had
anything to eat and drink this morning?"
    "My needs have been
met. I thank you."
    "All
right. Now, let me put the large picture to you, as it stands. We have taken your
planet."
    "All
fifteen million of us?" Mordin's voice, still mild, held a tinge of sarcasm. Bragan sailed right past it confidently.
    "All
fifteen million. Like this. Stopa is your largest city. My ship, Unit One,
holds it fast. Five other ships hold your next five major cities in the same
manner. We also hold securely all your chief citizens, your people in
authority, and many hundreds of women and children. The rest of you, aU the rest of you, will obey us, will do as we say."
    "Or
what?" Mordin queried, and again Bragan was shaken by the sheer speed of
the response and its lack of emotion.
    "If
there is trouble, resistance, refusal, call it what you like—if the Scartanni
refuse to work for us, to obey our orders, then you will suffer. We will
broadcast our instructions over your radio network. If those instructions are
not obeyed, we will count one in every ten of the prisoners we hold, and kill
them. And then again, one in ten, and so on. Understand that." Bragan
waited a moment for it to penetrate, then went on: "Should the resistance
be troublesome we will smash Stopa flat to the ground, destroy it totally. If
that does not convince, we will select the next largest city and destroy that.
And so on. And the other ships will act in a similar manner. Do you still understand me?" Mordin nodded, his
craggy face still watchfully intent.
    "That is the general pattern. We can
vary it, of course. I tell you all this because I know you are powerless to
stop us. This you know, because you have tried and failed. You cannot stop
Zorgan. Well?"
    Mordin took a full minute to consider, his
face giving no clue at all to his thoughts. When he did speak, it was a question. "How long do you think you can keep it up?"
    Bragan
gave him a hard stare. "When a man is killed do you
ask how long he will be dead? Why ask such a question, man? If your people do
not see reason, you will not see tomorrow. Could it be any simpler?"
    Mordin
moved his shoulders in a shrug. "They are not my people. I have no people. Such talk means nothing." Bragan digested
that, tried a sharper attack.
    "You have a wife?"
    "There
is a woman who shares my life, yes." Both men had used the same Scartan
phrase, but Mordin's inflection gave it a subtly different meaning from that
which Bragan had intended. He glanced interrogatively at the lieutenant.
    "Third one along. Her. Name's Edina
cal-Mordin."
    Bragan
paced along to stand before her, to study her face. Years had been kinder to
her than to the old man. She must have been comely once, was attractive still.
    "I
want your man to cooperate -with me," Bragan told her, "to do as I
order. If he refuses, you will be killed. What do you say?"
    She
looked puzzled for a moment, then composed herself. "He will do whatever
he thinks best. Why ask me?"
    Bragan
controlled his face, swung back to Mordin. "You heard? You will