"But how?"
"Merely by being here. My father made a long study of the cause and determined that our two races are simply incompatible. The infinitesimal, almost imperceptible radiations that have long been known to emanate from human beings are nearly lethal to the Martians. They produce the desiccation that we see.
"As a result of his work my father was filled with a tremendous sympathy for the Martians and resolved to find a way out of the dilemma. It occupied years of his life, but he found no way.
"On the other hand, the Martians themselves found a way to defeat Earth and extract revenge. They discovered harmeena. I suppose I don't need to tell you about its effects, but what you know are only the surface effects. You don't understand the long-range results of use of the drug."
"What are they? The initial effects are bad enough."
"It is in the second generation of addicts that the true results appear. The children of anyone who has used harmeena a single time and obtained the full effect of it will have minds distorted so that they can be made subject to the telepathic controls of the Martians.
"The Martians are an old race, and time means nothing to them. For a century they have placidly carried on business and social life with us, all the time secretly planning to destroy us when the time was right and a weapon could be found. Now they have begun. Harmeena is being introduced into the lowest level of our society, but it will be carried to the highest levels if their plans are fulfilled. And then, in another century, perhaps, they will be ready to strike the final blow and take over Earth. All Earth will eventually become enslaved to the Thousand Minds when those who are robots under Martian control are finally directed to kill off all those who aren't."
"These Thousand Minds—the SBI has heard rumors using that term, but nothing concrete has ever come to our attention."
"The Thousand Minds are the secret ruling body of the Martians. The premier accepted by Earth is only a puppet. By mental control, the Thousand Minds are in direct contact with every Martian on the planet and it is they who are most expert in the science of mind control."
"What is the secret of the phantom tavern, Starhouse? Is it only an illusion?"