Blakes 71978

Belkov:
Look, d'you realize the problems I had setting up this entire mining operation? Theirs is a very ancient civilization, you know.

Commissioner Sleer:
I didn't come here for a history lesson.

Belkov:
It is relevant!

[Belkov shows Sleer a crystal necklace in a glass case]

Belkov:
The Mecronian high priests used these as a symbol of their power. Now there is a legend about the feldon necklaces. A chief once stole one, the gods became angry and struck him down. Of course, the gods' anger was merely an electrical storm in which a hunk of polished feldon crystals that size would absorb enough energy to blow holes in any number of recalcitrant chiefs.

Commissioner Sleer:
[impatient] How fascinating.

Belkov:
Yes, but you see, the priests have been cashing in on this piece of luck for generations, so I decided to join them. I said their gods had sent me to collect the crystals. Well, not unnaturally, they were not particularly impressed, well not at first anyway.

Commissioner Sleer:
I can imagine.

Belkov:
So I borrowed a necklace. All it needed then was a well-placed remote-controlled laser rifle to ensure that only the chosen one could wear it. After six of them had died in the attempt, they found my survival quite miraculous.

Commissioner Sleer:
Your survival is becoming more miraculous by the moment.