Steve said hotly, "I'm here not only to free you, but maybe to free all Earth, Chuck!"
And in swift sentences he told his friend all that had transpired since their parting. Of Rodrik's death and the false Lord Okuno. Of his visit to the Supreme Council and the results thereof.
"And so," he concluded, "that gives you some idea of the organization we've formed. One huge enough to reclaim Earth for mankind—if we can find some way of immobilizing the Venusian spacefleet here on Daan until our forces have destroyed the invaders. But—" And he shook his head sadly—"that's the stumbling block, Chuck. I've got to find an answer to it somehow ... but it's a tremendous problem. One hundred war-ships cradled at the spaceport, just waiting the word to go into action ... and we have no arms to throw against them!
"Lord!" he moaned bitterly, "if the legends of the Clans had only been true! If only we did have that precious secret the Women expected the Slumberers to bring from their tomb!"
"Good goddlemitey!" cried Chuck. "I ain't told you?"
"Eh? What's that? Told me what?"
Chuck's eyes were wide. His words tumbled in hectic confusion from his lips.
"What I've learned since I've been here, Steve. Maybe that legend about our bringing earthmen a weapon ain't so cockeyed after all. Do you know the work they set us at here in these swamps? Reclaiming the marshes, destroying the rank vegetation that grows wild here, acres and acres of—"
Steve interrupted softly, "Yes, Chuck. I know. It has been horrible. But we'll try to change all that—"
"Shut up, you fool," howled Chuck. "Change it? You're damn right we'll change it. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Them acres upon acres of what the Venusians think is good-for-nothing vegetation ... the stuff we're clearing away ... do you know what is it?"