Tsalnor answered proudly, "By long study and careful translation, uff course. For many of your centuries we haff been listening to the speech transmitted via etherwaves by what you call your radio. Our people have long studied your three most-used languages against the ever-hoped-for day when our empire should be resurrected."
"But," demanded Gary shrewdly, "since you know our tongue, how is it you never attempted to communicate with us? If you have receivers to pick up our radio conversation, certainly you should be able to build transmitters as well?"
"Certainly, we could do so, Earthman. But we would not dare. We are not fools, but neither are our adversaries. Were we to build transmitting units here on Magog's Darkside, by directional finders they could locate our cities and send a space armada to wipe us out uff existence.
"No, we haff had to wait and build and hope and plan for just such a day as this.
"But now—" And his eyes lighted raptly—"Now at last you haff come! Working together, we shall overthrow the Magogeans, stay the disaster you haff told me threatens our ancient universe, and again be free to look upon the sun."
Captain Hugh Warren spread his hands in a gesture of despair. "You know you have our friendship. We would do anything within our power to help you, but—what can we do? If you, with a great army, have never been able to breach the Magogean defenses, what can our pitiful group do—?"
"You," said Tsalnor promptly, "can do what no Gogean can do ... effect entry to Magog's capital, and there work from within to destroy the barrier wall which protects it. When that wall falls our warriors will flood into the city of Khundru in hordes—"
"We? But why we—?"
Tsalnor smiled mirthlessly. "It is a matter uff hue."