She saw his gaze and smiled. "It's an Earthman's habit," she said. "It's harmless and rather nice. Try one?"
He pushed away the proffered package. "No. I want information."
Elizabeth leaned back and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"It's very simple," she said. "All of us have been exiled illegally. We've been put on this barbaric planet for crimes we haven't committed. We're organizing to take over the Earth government. We're going to get a spaceship built that can take us out of here."
There was a hum at the door that led to the inner office, and the door swung quietly open. Elizabeth stood up. "Come along, John; Matt Skardoth, our leader, will talk to you."
There were several men and women working in the inside office. A few of them glanced up, then went back to the work they were doing. It looked like a pretty efficient organization.
It was when Stern stepped into the inner office that he got his big shock. The man sitting behind the desk was a pleasantly smiling individual with dark, close-cropped hair and a wide, easy smile. But Stern had seen that face before; it was the man who had killed Bargon Frosz; the man who had committed the crime for which Yorkan Varr had been condemned!
Stern's eyes widened, then he regained control of himself.
"I'm Matt Skardoth," the man behind the desk said. His voice was deep, mellow. "Welcome to our little group, Mr.—ah—"