"you have the gall," qorn stormed, "to stand here in the center of qornt hall—uninvited, at that—and in chains—"

"oh, these," retief said. he tensed his arms. the soft aluminum links stretched and broke. he shook the light metal free. "we diplomats like to go along with colorful local customs, but i wouldn't want to mislead you. now, as to the evacuation of roolit i—"

zubb screeched, waved the guns. the qornt were jabbering.