Broderick nodded agreeably. "I am the governor and I am well acquainted with your case, Mr. Masur. Shall we talk it over? Please sit down."
"I don't understand. The Earthmen...." Zotul paused, coloring. "We are about to lose our plant."
"You were about to say that the Earthmen are taking your plant away from you. That is true. Since the House of Masur was the largest and richest on Zur, it has taken a long time—the longest of all, in fact."
"What do you mean?"
"Yours is the last business on Zur to be taken over by us. We have bought you out."
"Our government...."
"Your governments belong to us, too," said Broderick. "When they could not pay for the roads, the telegraphs, the civic improvements, we took them over, just as we are taking you over."
"You mean," exclaimed Zotul, aghast, "that you Earthmen own everything on Zur?"
"Even your armies."
"But why?"