* * *
Two hours went past in the crowded, noisy place. Thorn had been forced to swallow more of the musty, powerful fungus wine than he wanted, and he was glad when night fell outside, for Kribo was a little drunk and was giving him a candid opinion of the political situation. And a thin faced Saturnian nearly seemed to be listening.
"The Chairman keeps saying we've got to arm to the teeth and take territory from the inner worlds because we're poor,” Kribo declared. “But it seems to me we're poor because we spend everything on this big fleet of battle-cruisers we've built."
"Shut up, Kribo;” Thorn warned anxiously. “That kind of talk will get you into trouble."
Kribo winked at him. “It's all right, lad. I know you feel the same way. I saw your partner choke off a laugh on our way here, when we said, ‘The Chairman is always right.’”
Thorn knew the peril of such talk, and determined the time had come for the Planeteers to get started, since it was already full night outside. Sual Av and Gunner rose quickly at his nod.
"We've got to be on our way, Kribo,” Thorn told the big hunter. “Thanks a lot for what you've done for us."
He and his two comrades started for the door. But the thin-faced Saturnian he had noticed barred their way.
"Stand where you are!” snapped this individual. “You three and that hunter are under arrest — authority of the SP."
As he spoke, the thin-faced Saturnian turned back his jacket to show a viridiurn badge with the dreaded emblem.