Arklund’s smile faded. “Ah. Well, you see, before I can ask the Lesser Lights to give their lives for me, with complete assurance they will do so, I need one thing: I need proof that I am speaking for the Conqueror of Time and Space. Otherwise, I might find some of the oaths sworn by my followers are fragile things on which to depend—the fear of death being a great leveller of high ideals. For years I have struggled with this problem, prayed to God to give me a sign that I could then reveal to my followers.
“And at long last, God answered my prayer. Lesser Lights in the military reported that something strange was approaching our system, decelerating from relativistic speed. I did a little rummaging in the data banks and realized what it must be.” His voice lost its sardonic edge, became
