The ring of seven planets, which forms the empire of seven worlds, is lit by great airships. It promises protection against future invasion. The ring is illuminated by the light of a great airship, which was prepared for combat. In the ring, there is nothing to see except the two of them. The supreme director tells the clown that he has seen something in the center of the ring. He says that the clown is imagining things and that he just feels like it. The clown says that he would like to challenge the supreme director to a duel, but that his father would kick him behind "til it bleeds." The clown asks if he is in love, and the clown replies that he is not. He then tells the young man that if he wants to start his exercises earlier, he should hold off on calling him "little." He tells him that he was about to discuss his recent decisions with Mr. Murilo, and that it is his job to discover if there is any truth to the rumor of a war fleet assembling at the southern door. He also says that they have gotten little from the project, only the "slightest vestiges" of ancient technology. He adds that the excavations have been halted until further notice and that the project will resume at a later time