Within five minutes, all of the Munams had assembled behind me and
Ramma, who stood between them and the Daemians. They huddled closely
together and quaked slightly in fear, for they evidently thought that
their plans had been discovered and their enemies had come for revenge.
I, myself, thought that they had come for me, and Ramma's opinion could
not be guessed, for he was a statesman first and foremost, and when his
people were in need he rose to the occasion with all the power and grace
allotted to mortal beings.

Wagner and Bernibus broke the Canitaur's ranks and drew near to us in
the center, as did the King from the Zard's. They reached us in silence,
and for a long moment there was no talking, for all present knew that
something grave was about to happen, something that would decide the
fate of the men of this age, whether they would pass or fail the test.
Bernibus looked at me with entreating eyes, showing his sorrow at my
recapture and asking for forgiveness, but I had none to give him, for he
had done no wrong to need it. He had no power among the Canitaurs, but
was only a titled commoner, more like Wagner's groom than counsel.

I noticed that the Canitaurs were not wearing their anti-electron suits,
which was strange, for they had brought a few hundred atomic anionizers,
though I didn't question them about it, for the answer was evident
enough when I had given it some thought: the Zards had no such suits,
and were afraid that the Canitaurs would destroy them and Munams at the
same time, for while they were allies against foreigners, they still did
not trust each other. I still wore my suit given me for the raid on
Nunami, though I had forgotten about it due to its comfort. That made me
the only person on the earth still wearing one, the only one safe from
the anionizers.