made sure that the same box reposed on the ground beside the Acruxian.

Dtilla reached out and coiled a tentacle about Manning's hand. "It is a pleasure to meet a political observer so astute," he said. There was no doubt that he was referring to the night before. If there could have been he soon removed it. "I shall miss my little pet, but the gods have truly noted your greatness."

"Thanks," Manning said. Then, still holding Dtilla's tentacle, he kicked as hard as he could against the side of the box on the ground.[12]

[12] On Acrux, the supreme insult that can be offered an individual is to strike or in any way attack his personal property, since Acruxians consider material possessions immeasurably superior to the person.

Manning couldn't be certain, but it seemed to him that the box almost tipped over and that the tipping started even before his foot reached it. He also thought that the top of the box started to rise just before two of the Acruxian's tentacles clamped down on it. But whether he was right or not wasn't important; the reaction of Dtilla Raishelle was.

"Dtona grooush!" he shouted angrily. No one there could understand the shout, since it was not in Acruxian but in some obscure dialect, but it was obviously either a curse or a command. At the same moment, the tentacle which still held Manning's hand tightened in an almost bone-crushing grip. There was an expression of murderous anger in the eye-stalks as they inclined toward Manning.

"You—" he began.

"Your attention please," another voice called out, interrupting the Acruxian. It was the Regulusian host and he seemed amused. "Our good friend, Xelia Zon, wishes to make a declaration of political importance. You will kindly give him your attention." He stepped down from the small stand and Xelia Zon took his place.

"My friends," said Xelia, "I have come before you this afternoon to place in nomination for the office of Regulusian Senator to the Assembly of Stars of the Federation the name of that stalwart son of Terra, that friend of the people, that intrepid defender of Regulusian rights—Manning Draco!"

"Hear, hear!" a number of Regulusians murmured politely.

"So," exclaimed Dtilla Raishelle, once more bending his angry eye-stalks toward Manning, "not only have you insulted me in a more despicable fashion than 

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