best space crew ever assembled to satisfy their impatience or the UN would be forced into a full-scale attack.

"Here's the Mayor of Estival, sir," the radio operator said.

Grimes took a handset. "Captain Grimes ... Spaceship Vulcan ... Mister."

He waited for the acknowledgment. The mayor's voice was high-pitched and unsteady, but his command of English was more than satisfactory.

"Mister of Estival," he said. "Greetings, Captain Grimes. Will you land?"

"We ... will ... not ... land ... at ... once. Our ... mission ... may ... be ... the ... last ... peaceful ... one ... to ... visit ... Primus ... if ... the ... mystery ... of ... the ... Terranians' ... deaths ... is ... not ... solved."

"I understand you very well, Captain. You may speak more readily with me. What can I do to help you?"

Grimes relaxed and winked encouragingly at the doctor and Manson, then turned his attention back to the radio.

"We want a complete explanation of the cause of death of all Terranians who have landed on Primus. Have you performed autopsies on any of the bodies?"

"We are not equipped to operate as you are, Captain. We have almost no medical science on Primus. We are doing what we can but so far we have discovered nothing."

"My orders are to exploit every possibility. After us will come only a task force, Mayor of Estival."

The mayor's voice carried a certain anxiety in spite of its sing-song quality. "Of course we will try to defend ourselves, but it would be hopeless. Our civilization is much further advanced than yours in many ways, but we have none of your weapons of war. We wouldn't even know how to take care of our wounded."

"My service knows that, Mister. But we can't reason with a mob, and that's what we have against us at home. I have expert medical personnel with me and a completely equipped laboratory. We intend to experiment extensively, both on your people and on our own. I am authorized to demand your full cooperation."

"Cooperation is freely offered, Captain, but coercion is unknown on Primus. I cannot make personal bargains for the citizens of Estival."

"You won't need to. We'll make our 

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