Savage told him in a few brief sentences and when he was finished Loong said:
"This is better than I had hoped."
"Better than you'd hoped," Savage exclaimed. "What am I, a target for your friends to shoot at?"
"They are no friends of mine," Loong answered. "You've been in Space for a long time. I'd better fill you in on recent history right now."
III
It was at that point that Savage was shocked to find that the anger seething inside him was not that of Terran toward Trygonian, but of one Trygonian toward another, or one Terran toward another. He found too that, in spite of the uncertainty he felt about Loong, he was actually beginning to like him. He wondered then if Doctor Phillip's tests were accurate.
"That's better," Loong smiled when Savage sat down. "Here, have a drink and I'll tell you what I think the shooting is about."
Savage took the proffered glass and waited expectantly.
"As you know," Loong began, "Kalnor was Emperor until Hlar, then High Commissioner, staged a coup d'etat. Kalnor and his family were murdered and Hlar proclaimed himself Emperor. Czako, our present High Commissioner, was Captain of the household Guard and was elevated to his present lofty position as a reward for his part in the conspiracy.