"In so far as it is a philosophical entity, yes."
"And you say I am one of you now?"
"You are considered one of us. Your employer and his secretary are also suspected."
"But I'm entitled to a trial, or at least a hearing."
"Not now, Mr. Craig. It would do you little good, anyway. The 'position' of the Assembly on subversion is that it 'rightly behooves every loyal Terran so to conduct his behavior that a suspicion of membership in the Liberty party is unthinkable.'"
Craig found himself regretting every minute of his stay on Terra. Old Brockman had been right—it was no place for a spaceman. Now it was probably too late. No Terran space freighter would accept him and Intergalactic could not. There was not even a way for him to recover his service records.
"Will you join us, Mr. Craig?" asked one of the men. "We can use your skills, particularly your knowledge of space."
"Look, how do I know you aren't a bunch of traitors? Maybe all this you've told me is true. I've seen plenty of that bureaucracy and there seems to be damned little freedom of action left on Terra. But how do I know you can do any better when you get in power?"
"Liberty will never be 'in power,' Mr. Craig," Cocteau said quietly. "Liberty will attempt to reach the minds of the people with our message of hope, of freedom in true democracy."
Another of the group joined Cocteau. "We are now hunted as criminals. We have only this small stronghold in the old city."