Revered Parma!
Did you know that, by convention, no Foundation missionaries may enter the Korellian territory?"
The missionary was trembling,
"I can but go where the Spirit leads, my son.
If the darkened ones refuse enlightenment, is it not the greater sign of their need for it?"
"That's outside the question, revered one.
You are here against the law of both Korell and the Foundation. I cannot in law protect you."
The missionary's hands were raised again.
His earlier bewilderment was gone.
There was the raucous clamor of the ship's outer communication system in action, and the faint, undulating gabble of the angry horde in response.
The sound made his eyes wild.
"You hear them?
Why do you talk of law to me, of a law made by men?
There are higher laws.
Was it not the Galactic Spirit that said: Thou shalt not stand idly by to the hurl of thy fellowman.
And has he not said: Even as thou dealest with the humble and defenseless, thus shalt thou be dealt with.
"Have you not guns?
Have you not a ship?
And behind you is there not the Foundation?
And above and all-about you is there not the Spirit that rules the universe?"
He paused for breath.
And then the great outer voice of the Far Star ceased and Lieutenant Tinter was back, troubled.
"Speak!" said Mallow, shortly.
"Sir, they demand the person of Jord Parma."
"If not?"
"There are various threats, sir.
It is difficult to make much out.
There are so many - and they seem quite mad.
There is someone who says he governs the district and has police powers, but he is quite evidently not his own master."
"Master or not," shrugged Mallow, "he is the law. Tell them that if this governor, or policeman, or whatever he is, approaches the ship alone, he can have the Revered Jord Parma." And there was suddenly a gun in his hand. He added,
"I don't know what insubordination is. I have never had any experience with it.
But if there's anyone here who thinks he can teach me, I'd like to teach him my antidote in return.''
The gun swiveled slowly, and rested on Twer.
With an effort, the old trader's face untwisted and his hands unclenched and lowered.
His breath was a harsh rasp in his nostrils.
Tinter left, and in five minutes a puny figure detached itself from the crowd.
It approached slowly and hesitantly, plainly drenched in fear and apprehension.
Twice it turned back, and twice the patently obvious threats of the many-headed monster urged him on.
"All right," Mallow gestured with the hand-blaster, which remained unsheathed. "Grun and Upshur, take him out."
The missionary screeched.
He raised his arms and rigid fingers speared upward as the voluminous sleeves fell away to reveal the thin, veined arms.
There was a momentary, tiny flash of light that came and went in a breath.
Mallow blinked and gestured again, contemptuously.
The missionary's voice poured out as he struggled in the two-fold grasp,
"Cursed be the traitor who abandons his fellowman to evil and to death.
Deafened be the ears that are deaf to the pleadings of the helpless.
Blind be the eyes that are blind to innocence.
Blackened forever be the soul that consorts with blackness-"
Twer clamped his hands tightly over his ears.
Mallow flipped his blaster and put it away.