Kalinoff grinned. "We'll leave his punishment up to him. Suppose he reports you've found me. Then his pals won't come for him, and he's going to stay here indefinitely."
"What if he reports you haven't been found?"
"Then they come for him, discover he's a liar, and there's hell to pay. Either way, he's in for a lousy time."
"They'll murder him."
"Oh, no. We'll let them know that we're reporting the facts of the case to the Interplanetary Commission. They'd never dare commit murder."
Lamoureux objected doubtfully, "Wouldn't the Mercurians kill him?"
"If he treats them right, they'll treat him right. They're not as intelligent as I thought at first—maybe you've discovered that—but they have their points."
"They're wonderful chess players."
"Fair," said Kalinoff critically. "Only fair. I always beat them, but then, naturally, I'm very good. Maybe that's why they admire me. They have great mathematical abilities, and they can visualize well, but their language is primitive and in some ways they're halfwits. There have been plenty of mathematical prodigies on Earth just like them—wonders at calculating, and fools at everything else. To hell with them. Let's get started."
"Wait a minute, Kalinoff. What about those huge beasts? Won't they be dangerous to Carvalho?"