 What's really happening on Mercury?
Red Witch of Mercury By EMMETT McDOWELL Death was Jaro Moynahan's stock in trade, and every planet had known his touch. But now, on Mercury, he was selling his guns into the weirdest of all his exploits—gambling his life against the soft touch of a woman's lips. [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Summer 1945. On the stage of Mercury Sam's Garden , a tight-frocked, limber-hipped, red-head was singing " The Lady from Mars ." The night was very hot; but then it is always hot on Mercury, the newest, the wildest, the hottest of Earth's frontiers. Fans spaced about the garden's walls sluggishly stirred the night air, while the men and women sitting at the tables drank heavily of Latonka, the pale green wine of Mercury. "No! Mercury is not ready for freedom. The revolution is scheduled to break during the Festival of the Rains. If it does, the Terrestrials here will be massacred. "There is one man; he is the leader, the very soul of the revolution. The Mercurians worship him. You've got to find him, Jaro. He's stirring up all Mercury." "Ah," said Jaro Moynahan; "so that's the way it is." One moment the garden was glowing in light, the next the hot black night swooped down on the revelers, pressing against their eyes like dark wool. Unexpectedly, the deep, ringing voice of Mercury Sam boomed out from the stage.
 Peet is lying to stop Earth from granting Mercurians their freedom.
 The Mercurians are rebelling against Peet and will do what it takes to get their freedom.  Peet wants to sell his Lotonka Trust and get back to Earth.  Karfial Hodes is taking hostages to win his battle against Terrestrials.  Peet is lying to stop Earth from granting Mercurians their freedom.