"I hadn't mentioned the matter of reward," said Trevor. "That goes without saying."
"No, thanks," said Sutton. "I'd like to keep on living."
Trevor flipped a clip at the inkwell and it missed.
"You're slipping," Sutton said. "Your percentage is way off."
Trevor picked up another clip.
"All right," he said. "Go ahead and have your fun. There's a war on and we'll win that war. It's a hellish way to fight, but we're doing it the best we can. No war anywhere, no surface indication of war, for you understand the galaxy is in utter and absolute peace under the rule of benevolent Earthmen. We can win without you, Sutton, but it would be easier with you."
"You're going to turn me loose?" Sutton asked, in mock surprise.
"Why, sure," Trevor told him. "Go on out and beat your head against a stone wall a little longer. In the end, you'll get tired of it. Eventually you'll give up out of sheer exhaustion. You'll come back then and give us the thing we want."
Sutton rose to his feet.
He stood for a moment, indecisive.