The End Of "Inside Earth"

"Inside Earth."

The story does end with an explanation of the strange imperial policy of encouraging, then defeating, rebellions.

This empire, like the Terran Empire in the same author's Technic History, has Nova- and Supernova-class battleships.

On the planet where the rebels conceal their underground Main Base, the wind:

is crazed;

mutters;

whines;

chews flesh;

is cold like a knife;

whistles its scorn;

rails;

is old and immortal;

moans;

blows;

wanders.

When the rebels are defeated and taken prisoner, one of them screams at their commander:

"'Levinsohn, you dirty Jew, you sold us out!'" (in VIII)

He did not. But the narrator cites this incident as showing that Terrestrials are still fatally divided. The Empire is only beginning to understand and control great social forces but aims to unite all intelligences long term.