Quiet, placid formalities. The Keeper of Foodstuffs murmured that the ransom paid to Rahn had been recaptured after the fight. The Keeper of Rolls reported with savage satisfaction the number of enemies who had been slain in battle. He added that the loss to Yugna was less than one man to ten of the enemy. And he added with still greater emphasis that the shops being fitted with automatic controls had released now--it had grown so much--two thousand men from the necessary day-and-night working force, and further releases were to be expected.
The demands of the machines were lessened already beyond the memory of man. Eyes turned to Tommy. There was an expectant pause for his reply.
"I have been Commander of Defense Forces," he told them slowly, "in this fighting. I have given you weapons. My two friends have done more. The machines will need fewer and fewer attendants as the hints they have given you are developed by yourselves. And there is some hope that one of my friends may show you, in ultra-sonic vibrations, a weapon against the jungle itself. My own work is finished. But I ask again for friendship for my planet Earth. I ask that no war be made on my own people. I ask that what benefits you receive from us be pa.s.sed to the other surviving cities on the same terms. And since there can be no further fighting on this scale, I give back my commission as Commander of Defense."
There was a little murmur among the men of Yugna, looking on. It rose to a protesting babble, to a shout of denial. The bearded old Keeper of Foodstuffs smiled.
"It is proposed that the appointment as Commander of Defense Forces be permanent," he said mildly.
He produced the queer black box and touched it in a certain fashion.
He pa.s.sed it to the next man, and the next and next. It went around the table. It pa.s.sed a second time, but this time each man merely looked at the top.
"You command the defense forces of Yugna for always," said the bearded old man, gently. "Now give orders that your requests become laws."
Tommy stared blankly. He was suddenly aware of Aten in the background, smiling triumphantly and very happily at him. There was something like a roar of approval from the men of Yugna, a.s.sembled.
"Just what," demanded Tommy, "does this mean?"
"For many years," said a hawk-faced man ungraciously, "we have had no Commander of Defense. We have had no wars. But we see it is needful.
We have chosen you, with all agreeing. The Commander of Defense"--he sniffed a little, pugnaciously--"has the authority the ancient kings once owned."
Tommy leaned back in the curious benchlike chair, his eyes narrow and thoughtful. This would simplify matters. No danger of trouble to Earth. A free hand for Denham and Smithers to help these folk, and for Denham to learn scientific facts--in the sciences they had developed--which would be of inestimable value to Earth. And it could be possible to open a peaceful trade with the nations of Earth without any danger of war. And maybe....
He smiled suddenly. It widened almost into a grin.
"All right. I"ll settle down here for a while. But--er--just how does one set about getting married here?"