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The lead officer licked his firm lower lip. “But, sir....”

Extrone toyed with his beard. “About a year ago, gentlemen, there was an alien ship around here then, wasn’t there? And you destroyed it, didn’t you?”

“Yes, sir. When we located it, sir.”

“You’ll destroy this one, too,” Extrone said.

“We have a tight patrol, sir. It can’t slip through. But it might try a long range bombardment, sir.”

Extrone said, “To begin with, they probably don’t even know I’m here. And they probably couldn’t hit this area if they did know. And you can’t afford to let them get a shot at me, anyway.”

“That’s why we’d like you to return to an inner planet, sir.”

Extrone plucked at his right ear lobe, half closing his eyes. “You’ll lose a fleet before you’ll dare let anything happen to me, gentlemen. I’m quite safe here, I think.”

The bearer brought Extrone his drink.

“Get off,” Extrone said quietly to the four officers.

Again they turned reluctantly. This time, he did not call them back. Instead, with amusement, he watched until they disappeared into the tangle of forest.