 What's really happening on Mercury?
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. The night was very hot; but then it is always hot on Mercury, the newest, the wildest, the hottest of Earth's frontiers. "No! Mercury is not ready for freedom. On the hot, teeming planet of Mercury it was as refreshing as a cold plunge. He had fought in the deadly little wars of the Moons of Jupiter for years, then the Universal Debacle of 3368, after that the Martian Revolution as well as dozens of skirmishes between the Federated Venusian States. Unless Karfial Hodes is stopped immediately there will be a bloody uprising all over the planet during the Festival of the Rains.
 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.