"Why do you suppose they ever happened to bring me here in the first place?" Mercer wanted to know. "That's what I can't figure out."
"They knew not that Alan was here," said Miela. "I think they wanted to show you to our people as their captive—one of the earth‑men."
Mercer chuckled.
"They didn't know what a good runner I was, or they'd never have taken a chance like that."
I told Miela then my plan for enlisting the sympathy of the women of the Light Country and for securing the active coöperation of the girls in ridding us of the disturbing presence of these Tao emissaries.
We planned that whatever we did should be in secret, so far as possible. Mercer and I talked together, while Miela consulted with Lua at length.
I explained to Mercer that Tao might at any time send an expedition to invade the Light Country.
"How about that car we came from earth in?" he suggested. "He could sail over in that, couldn't he—if he should want to come over here?"
I knew that was not feasible. In the outer realms of space the balancing attractions of the different heavenly bodies made it easy enough to head in any specified direction; but for travel over a planet's surface it was quite impractical. Its rise and fall could be perfectly governed; but when it was directed laterally the case was very different. Just where it would go could not be determined with enough exactness.
Miela turned back to us from her consultation with Lua.