"God!" said Dr. Carewe, her old face quite white.
"When?" snapped Weems, taking out pencil and paper.
"Note delivered to Venus F. O.—that's the note from Earth—and ten minutes or so later lynching of Venusians on the staff of the Earth Embassy by an outraged populace. Foolish defense by Earthmen attached to the Embassy. Several of them killed. Stronger note from Earth. Why didn't Venus F. O. notify immediately and offer indemnities? Very strong reply from Venus F. O.—chip on the shoulder. Earth knocks off chip. That's the last you saw at your party. Then ultimatum from Venus giving Earth twelve dicenes to apologize profoundly and offer an indemnity in good faith."
"And when is the time up?"
"The twelve dicenes will come to an end—" the Ambassador consulted his watch "—about forty-eight hours from now."
There was a long pause, broken at last by a muffled groan from the Ambassador. "Damn it—oh, damn it!" he wailed. "Why do the idiots have to fight? There's trade enough for everybody, isn't there?"
"And, of course," said Weems, "Earth will never back down. Not in a million years. They're built like that. And if they did back down Venus would be sure of herself and force a war."
"Well," said the woman quietly. "Are you just going to sit here?"
"Suggestions are in order," said the young man unhappily.
"You'll have to work like hell to stave this off," warned the woman.