"These are called edicts," Brenn said, after greeting him, "but I possess no law-making powers and they are really only suggestions."
Brenn shoved the paper to one side. The script was somewhat different from that of Vogar.
The Vogarian inspection and guard system is no more than an expected precaution against sabotage. The Vogarians must be regarded as potential friends who now treat us with suspicion and arrogance only because they do not yet realize the sincerity of our desire to help them to any extent short of surrender—
Kane looked up from the uncompleted, surprisingly humble, edict and Brenn asked:
"Your commander, sir—he is now pleased with our actions?"
"Not exactly. He will disintegrate a town seven days from sunrise this morning if all the fuel isn't produced by then."
"Seven—only seven days?" There was startled disbelief on Brenn's face. "But how can he expect us to produce so much fuel in so short a time?"
"I don't know. I'm sorry—it's something I would have argued against if I hadn't had too much sense to try."
"Seven days—" Brenn said again. "We can only pray that God will let it be time enough."