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“What happened on Mars?” Sorensen asked.

“All life died,” the Quedak mourned. “All except the Quedak. It happened a long time ago. For centuries there was peace and prosperity on the planet. Everything and everyone was part of the Quedak Cooperation. But the dominant race was basically weak. Their breeding rate went down; catastrophes happened. And finally there was no more life except the Quedak.”

“Sounds great,” Sorensen said ironically.

“It was the fault of the race,” the Quedak protested. “With sturdier stock—such as you have on this planet—the will to live will remain intact. The peace and prosperity will continue indefinitely.”

“I don’t believe it. What happened on Mars will happen again on Earth if you take over. After a while, slaves just don’t care very strongly about living.”

“You wouldn’t be slaves. You would be functional parts of the Quedak Cooperation.”

“Which would be run by you,” Sorensen said. “Any way you slice it, it’s the same old pie.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” the Quedak said. “We have talked long enough. I am prepared to kill one man in the next five minutes. Are you or are you not going to join me?” Sorensen looked at Drake. Drake turned on the transmitter.