"Why not?" drawled Ross. Turning to face Moore, he winked. "We know a lot that will pay our way with the new Kingdom."
Moore blinked. "Of course!" he assented hastily. "Sure!"
Horta stared suspiciously at the two flyers. "Make sure, then, that you have no secret longings to return to Earth," he warned heavily. "For henceforth there shall be no intercourse between Moon and Earth. The truce is ended."
Ross ventured a question. "What'll you do with the men of the Peaks?"
Horta smiled grimly. "They will submit, or die." He gestured imperiously, and the guards pushed the flyers forward as Horta strode from the room.
As they trailed behind, Moore whispered, "He doesn't look like a killer."
"Probably a fanatic," Ross muttered.
"What's the play?"
"Watch our chance, and wreck the ray machine."
"And us with it," grumbled Moore.