“THAT’S JUST IT; YOU don’t,” MacMaine interrupted. “Thanks for trying to find an excuse for me, Tallis, but I’m afraid it isn’t so. Listen.
“I had to find out what Earth was up against. I had a pretty good idea already that the Kerothi would win—would wipe us out or enslave us to the last man. And, after I had seen Keroth, I was certain of it. So I sent a message back to Earth, telling them what they were up against, because, up ‘til then they hadn’t known. As soon as they knew, they reacted as they have always done when they are certain that they face danger. They fought. They unleashed the chained-down intelligence of the few extraordinary Earthmen, and they released the fighting spirit of even the ordinary Earthmen. And they won!”
Tallis shook his head. “You sent no message, Sepastian
