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diff --git a/28346-h/28346-h.htm b/28346-h/28346-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d77582 --- /dev/null +++ b/28346-h/28346-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11516 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Deathworld, by Harry Harrison + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + sub {vertical-align: text-bottom; font-size: small;} + h2 {font-weight: normal;} + h1 {text-align: right;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + tb {width: 65%; margin: 2em auto;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .bq {margin: 1em 10%;} + .center,h2 {text-align: center;} + .figcenter {margin: 1em auto; width: 350px;} + .figc {margin: 0 auto 2em; width: 700px;} + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; padding: 0; width: 337px;} + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 1em; padding: 0; width: 167px;} + img {border: none;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .figcap {float: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-right: .5em; padding: 0; width: 51px;} + .figcap img {border: double 3px;} + .firstp {text-indent: -0.3em;} + .bk1 {float: left; width: 335px; margin: 0;} + .bk2 {float: right; width: 335px; margin: 0;} + .bk3 {margin: 2em 0 2em 100px; text-align: justify;} + .clr {clear: both;} + .hd1,h1 {margin-top: 2em;} + .figt {float: left; clear: left; margin: 15px; padding: 0; width: 144px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Deathworld, by Harry Harrison + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Deathworld + +Author: Harry Harrison + +Illustrator: H. R. van Dongen + +Release Date: March 17, 2009 [EBook #28346] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEATHWORLD *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht, Stephen Blundell +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figc"><img src="images/001.png" width="700" height="355" alt="" title="" /> + +<div class="bk1"><h1>DEATHWORLD</h1></div> + +<div class="bk2"><h2><b>BY HARRY HARRISON</b></h2> + +<div class="bk3"><i><b>Some planet +in the galaxy must—by definition—be +the toughest, meanest, nastiest +of all. If Pyrrus wasn't it ... it was +an awfully good approximation!</b></i></div> + +<div class="center"><small>Illustrated by van Dongen</small></div></div></div> + +<div class="clr"><div class="figcap"><img src="images/002.png" width="45" height="45" alt="J" title="J" /></div> + +<p class="firstp"><span class="dcap">ason</span> din<span class="dcap">Alt</span> sprawled +in soft luxury on the +couch, a large frosty +stein held limply in +one hand. His other +hand rested casually on a pillow. The +gun behind the pillow was within +easy reach of his fingers. In his line +of work he never took chances.</p></div> + +<p>It was all highly suspicious. Jason +didn't know a soul on this planet. +Yet the card sent by service tube +from the hotel desk had read: <i>Kerk +Pyrrus would like to see Jason dinAlt</i>. +Blunt and to the point. He signaled +the desk to send the man up, then +lowered his fingers a bit until they +brushed the gun butt. The door slid +open and his visitor stepped through.</p> + +<p><i>A retired wrestler.</i> That was Jason's +first thought. Kerk Pyrrus was +a gray-haired rock of a man. His +body seemingly chiseled out of flat +slabs of muscle. Then Jason saw the +gun strapped to the inside of the +other man's forearm, and he let his +fingers drop casually behind the +pillow.</p> + +<p>"I'd appreciate it," Jason said, "if +you'd take off your gun while you're +in here." The other man stopped and +scowled down at the gun as if he was +seeing it for the first time.</p> + +<p>"No, I never take it off." He seemed +mildly annoyed by the suggestion.</p> + +<p>Jason had his fingers on his own +gun when he said, "I'm afraid I'll +have to insist. I always feel a little +uncomfortable around people who +wear guns." He kept talking to distract +attention while he pulled out his +gun. Fast and smooth.</p> + +<p>He could have been moving in +slow motion for all the difference it +made. Kerk Pyrrus stood rock still +while the gun came out, while it +swung in his direction. Not until the +very last instant did he act. When he +did, the motion wasn't visible. First +his gun was in the arm holster—then +it was aimed between Jason's eyes. +It was an ugly, heavy weapon with a +pitted front orifice that showed plenty +of use.</p> + +<p>And Jason knew if he swung his +own weapon up a fraction of an inch +more he would be dead. He dropped +his arm carefully and Kerk flipped +his own gun back in the holster with +the same ease he had drawn it.</p> + +<p>"Now," the stranger said, "if +we're through playing, let's get down +to business. I have a proposition for +you."</p> + +<p>Jason downed a large mouthful +from the mug and bridled his temper. +He was fast with a gun—his life had +depended on it more than once—and +this was the first time he had been +outdrawn. It was the offhand, unimportant +manner it had been done that +irritated him.</p> + +<p>"I'm not prepared to do business," +he said acidly. "I've come to Cassylia +for a vacation, get away from work."</p> + +<p>"Let's not fool each other, dinAlt," +Kerk said impatiently. "You've never +worked at an honest job in your entire +life. You're a professional gambler +and that's why I'm here to see +you."</p> + +<p>Jason forced down his anger and +threw the gun to the other end of the +couch so he wouldn't be tempted to +commit suicide. He <i>had</i> hoped no +one knew him on Cassylia and was +looking forward to a big kill at the +Casino. He would worry about that +later. This weight-lifter type seemed +to know all the answers. Let him plot +the course for a while and see where +it led.</p> + +<p>"All right, what do you want?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Kerk dropped into a chair that +creaked ominously under his weight, +and dug an envelope out of one pocket. +He flipped through it quickly and +dropped a handful of gleaming Galactic +Exchange notes onto the table. +Jason glanced at them—then sat up +suddenly.</p> + +<p>"What are they—forgeries?" he +asked, holding one up to the light.</p> + +<p>"They're real enough," Kerk told +him, "I picked them up at the bank. +Exactly twenty-seven bills—or twenty-seven +million credits. I want you to +use them as a bankroll when you go +to the Casino tonight. Gamble with +them and win."</p> + +<p>They looked real enough—and +they could be checked. Jason fingered +them thoughtfully while he examined +the other man.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you have in +mind," he said. "But you realize I +can't make any guarantees. I gamble—but +I don't always win ..."</p> + +<p>"You gamble—and you win when +you want to," Kerk said grimly. "We +looked into that quite carefully before +I came to you."</p> + +<p>"If you mean to say that I cheat—" +Carefully, Jason grabbed his temper +again and held it down. There was +no future in getting annoyed.</p> + +<p>Kerk continued in the same level +voice, ignoring Jason's growing anger. +"Maybe you don't call it cheating, +frankly I don't care. As far as +I'm concerned you could have your +suit lined with aces and electromagnets +in your boots. As long as you +<i>won</i>. I'm not here to discuss moral +points with you. I said I had a proposition.</p> + +<p>"We have worked hard for that +money—but it still isn't enough. To +be precise, we need three billion credits. +The only way to get that sum is +by gambling—with these twenty-seven +million as bankroll."</p> + +<p>"And what do I get out of it?" +Jason asked the question coolly, as +if any bit of the fantastic proposition +made sense.</p> + +<p>"Everything above the three billion +you can keep, that should be fair +enough. You're not risking your own +money, but you stand to make enough +to keep you for life if you win."</p> + +<p>"And if I lose—?"</p> + +<p>Kerk thought for a moment, not +liking the taste of the idea. "Yes—there +is the chance you might lose, +I hadn't thought about that."</p> + +<p>He reached a decision. "If you +lose—well I suppose that is just a +risk we will have to take. Though +I think I would kill you then. The +ones who died to get the twenty-seven +million deserve at least that." +He said it quietly, without malice, +and it was more of a promise than +a threat.</p> + +<p>Stamping to his feet Jason refilled +his stein and offered one to Kerk who +took it with a nod of thanks. He +paced back and forth, unable to sit. +The whole proposition made him +angry—yet at the same time had a +fatal fascination. He was a gambler +and this talk was like the taste of +drugs to an addict.</p> + +<p>Stopping suddenly, he realized that +his mind had been made up for some +time. Win or lose—live or die—how +could he say no to the chance to gamble +with money like that! He turned +suddenly and jabbed his finger at the +big man in the chair.</p> + +<p>"I'll do it—you probably knew I +would from the time you came in +here. There are some terms of my +own, though. I want to know who +you are, and who <i>they</i> are you keep +talking about. And where did the +money come from. Is it stolen?"</p> + +<p>Kerk drained his own stein and +pushed it away from him.</p> + +<p>"Stolen money? No, quite the opposite. +Two years' work mining and +refining ore to get it. It was mined +on Pyrrus and sold here on Cassylia. +You can check on that very easily. +I sold it. I'm the Pyrric ambassador +to this planet." He smiled at the +thought. "Not that that means much, +I'm ambassador to at least six other +planets as well. Comes in handy +when you want to do business."</p> + +<p>Jason looked at the muscular man +with his gray hair and worn, military-cut +clothes, and decided not to laugh. +You heard of strange things out in +the frontier planets and every word +could be true. He had never heard +of Pyrrus either, though that didn't +mean anything. There were over thirty-thousand +known planets in the inhabited +universe.</p> + +<p>"I'll check on what you have told +me," Jason said. "If it's true, we can +do business. Call me tomorrow—"</p> + +<p>"No," Kerk said. "The money has +to be won tonight. I've already issued +a check for this twenty-seven million, +it will bounce as high as the Pleiades +unless we deposit the money in the +morning, so that's our time limit."</p> + +<p>With each moment the whole affair +became more fantastic—and more +intriguing for Jason. He looked at +his watch. There was still enough +time to find out if Kerk was lying or +not.</p> + +<p>"All right, we'll do it tonight," he +said. "Only I'll have to have one of +those bills to check."</p> + +<p>Kerk stood up to go. "Take them +all, I won't be seeing you again until +after you've won. I'll be at the Casino +of course, but don't recognize me. It +would be much better if they didn't +know where your money was coming +from or how much you had."</p> + +<p>Then he was gone, after a bone-crushing +handclasp that closed on +Jason's hand like vise jaws. Jason was +alone with the money. Fanning the +bills out like a hand of cards he +stared at their sepia and gold faces, +trying to get the reality through his +head. Twenty-seven million credits. +What was to stop him from just walking +out the door with them and vanishing. +Nothing really, except his own +sense of honor.</p> + +<p>Kerk Pyrrus, the man with the +same last name as the planet he came +from, was the universe's biggest fool. +Or he knew just what he was doing. +From the way the interview had gone +the latter seemed the better bet.</p> + +<p>"He <i>knows</i> I would much rather +gamble with the money than steal it," +he said wryly.</p> + +<p>Slipping a small gun into his waistband +holster and pocketing the money +he went out.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>II.</h2> + +<p>The robot teller at the bank just +pinged with electronic shock when he +presented one of the bills and flashed +a panel that directed him to see Vice +President Wain. Wain was a smooth +customer who bugged his eyes and +lost some of his tan when he saw the +sheaf of bills.</p> + +<p>"You ... wish to deposit these +with us?" he asked while his fingers +unconsciously stroked them.</p> + +<p>"Not today," Jason said. "They +were paid to me as a debt. Would you +please check that they are authentic +and change them? I'd like five hundred +thousand credit notes."</p> + +<p>Both of his inner chest pockets +were packed tight when he left the +bank. The bills were good and he felt +like a walking mint. This was the first +time in his entire life that carrying +a large sum of money made him uncomfortable. +Waving to a passing +helicab he went directly to the Casino, +where he knew he would be safe—for +a while.</p> + +<p>Cassylia Casino was the playspot +of the nearby cluster of star systems. +It was the first time Jason had seen +it, though he knew its type well. He +had spent most of his adult life in +casinos like this on other worlds. The +decor differed but they were always +the same. Gambling and socialities in +public—and behind the scenes all the +private vice you could afford. Theoretically +no-limit games, but that was +true only up to a certain point. When +the house was really hurt the honest +games stopped being square and the +big winner had to watch his step very +carefully. These were the odds Jason +dinAlt had played against countless +times before. He was wary but not +very concerned.</p> + +<p>The dining room was almost empty +and the major-domo quickly rushed to +the side of the relaxed stranger in +the richly cut clothes. Jason was lean +and dark, looking more like the bored +scion of some rich family than a professional +gambler. This appearance +was important and he cultivated it. +The cuisine looked good and the cellar +turned out to be wonderful. He +had a professional talk with the sommelier +while waiting for the soup, +then settled down to enjoy his meal.</p> + +<p>He ate leisurely and the large dining +room was filled before he was +through. Watching the entertainment +over a long cigar killed some more +time. When he finally went to the +gaming rooms they were filled and +active.</p> + +<p>Moving slowly around the room he +dropped a few thousand credits. He +scarcely noticed how he played, giving +more attention to the feel of the +games. The play all seemed honest +and none of the equipment was rigged. +That could be changed very +quickly, he realized. Usually it wasn't +necessary, house percentage was +enough to assure a profit.</p> + +<p>Once he saw Kerk out of the corner +of his eye but he paid him no +attention. The ambassador was losing +small sums steadily at seven-and-silver +and seemed to be impatient. Probably +waiting for Jason to begin playing +seriously. He smiled and strolled on +slowly.</p> + +<p>Jason settled on the dice table as +he usually did. It was the surest way +to make small winnings. <i>And if I +feel it tonight I can clean this casino +out!</i> That was his secret, the power +that won for him steadily—and every +once in a while enabled him to make +a killing and move on quickly before +the hired thugs came to get the money +back.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The dice reached him and he threw +an eight the hard way. Betting was +light and he didn't push himself, just +kept away from the sevens. He made +the point and passed a natural. Then +he crapped out and the dice moved +on.</p> + +<p>Sitting there, making small automatic +bets while the dice went around +the table, he thought about the power. +<i>Funny, after all the years of work we +still don't know much about</i> psi. <i>They +can train people a bit, and improve +skills a bit—but that's all.</i></p> + +<p>He was feeling strong tonight, he +knew that the money in his pocket +gave him the extra lift that sometimes +helped him break through. With his +eyes half closed he picked up the +dice—and let his mind gently caress +the pattern of sunken dots. Then they +shot out of his hand and he stared +at a seven.</p> + +<p>It was there.</p> + +<p>Stronger than he had felt it in +years. The stiff weight of those million-credit +notes had done it. The +world all around was sharp-cut clear +and the dice was completely in his +control. He knew to the tenth-credit +how much the other players had in +their wallets and was aware of the +cards in the hands of the players behind +him.</p> + +<p>Slowly, carefully, he built up the +stakes.</p> + +<p>There was no effort to the dice, +they rolled and sat up like trained +dogs. Jason took his time and concentrated +on the psychology of the players +and the stick man. It took almost +two hours to build his money on the +table to seven hundred thousand credits. +Then he caught the stick man +signaling they had a heavy winner. +He waited until the hard-eyed man +strolled over to watch the game, then +he smiled happily, bet all his table +stakes—and blew it on one roll of the +dice. The house man smiled happily, +the stick man relaxed—and out of the +corner of his eye Jason saw Kerk +turning a dark purple.</p> + +<p>Sweating, pale, his hand trembling +ever so slightly, Jason opened the +front of his jacket and pulled out one +of the envelopes of new bills. Breaking +the seal with his finger he dropped +two of them on the table.</p> + +<p>"Could we have a no-limit game?" +he asked, "I'd like to—win back +some of my money."</p> + +<p>The stick man had trouble controlling +his smile now, he glanced across +at the house man who nodded a quick +<i>yes</i>. They had a sucker and they +meant to clean him. He had been +playing from his wallet all evening, +now he was cracking into a sealed +envelope to try for what he had lost. +A thick envelope too, and probably +not his money. Not that the house +cared in the least. To them money +had no loyalties. The play went on +with the Casino in a very relaxed +mood.</p> + +<p>Which was just the way Jason +wanted it. He needed to get as deep +into them as he could before someone +realized <i>they</i> might be on the losing +end. The rough stuff would start and +he wanted to put it off as long as possible. +It would be hard to win smoothly +then—and his <i>psi</i> power might go +as quickly as it had come. That had +happened before.</p> + +<p>He was playing against the house +now, the two other players were obvious +shills, and a crowd had jammed +solidly around to watch. After losing +and winning a bit he hit a streak of +naturals and his pile of gold chips +tottered higher and higher. There was +nearly a billion there, he estimated +roughly. The dice were still falling +true, though he was soaked with sweat +from the effort. Betting the entire +stack of chips he reached for the dice. +The stick man reached faster and +hooked them away.</p> + +<p>"House calls for new dice," he said +flatly.</p> + +<p>Jason straightened up and wiped +his hands, glad of the instant's relief. +This was the third time the house +had changed dice to try and break +his winning streak, it was their privilege. +The hard-eyed Casino man opened +his wallet as he had done before +and drew out a pair at random. Stripping +off their plastic cover he threw +them the length of the table to Jason. +They came up a natural seven and +Jason smiled.</p> + +<p>When he scooped them up the +smile slowly faded. The dice +were transparent, finely made, evenly +weighted on all sides—and crooked.</p> + +<p>The pigment on the dots of five +sides of each die was some heavy +metal compound, probably lead. The +sixth side was a ferrous compound. +They would roll true unless they hit a +magnetic field—that meant the entire +surface of the table could be magnetized. +He could never have spotted +the difference if he hadn't <i>looked</i> at +the dice with his mind. But what +could he do about it?</p> + +<p>Shaking them slowly he glanced +quickly around the table. There was +what he needed. An ashtray with a +magnet in its base to hold it to the +metal edge of the table. Jason stopped +shaking the dice and looked at them +quizzically, then reached over and +grabbed the ashtray. He dropped the +base against his hand.</p> + +<p>As he lifted the ashtray there was +a concerted gasp from all sides. The +dice were sticking there, upside down, +box cars showing.</p> + +<p>"Are these what you call honest +dice?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The man who had thrown out the +dice reached quickly for his hip pocket. +Jason was the only one who saw +what happened next. He was watching +that hand closely, his own fingers +near his gun butt. As the man dived +into his pocket a hand reached out of +the crowd behind him. From its +square-cut size it could have belonged +to only one person. The thick thumb +and index finger clamped swiftly +around the house man's wrist, then +they were gone. The man screamed +shrilly and held up his arm, his hand +dangling limp as a glove from the +broken wrist bones.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>With his flank well protected, Jason +could go on with the game. "The +old dice if you don't mind," he said +quietly.</p> + +<p>Dazedly the stick man pushed them +over. Jason shook quickly and rolled. +Before they hit the table he realized +he couldn't control them—the transient +<i>psi</i> power had gone.</p> + +<p>End over end they turned. And +faced up seven.</p> + +<p>Counting the chips as they were +pushed over to him he added up a +bit under two billion credits. They +would be winning that much if he left +the game now—but it wasn't the three +billion that Kerk needed. Well, it +would have to be enough. As he +reached for the chips he caught +Kerk's eye across the table and the +other man shook his head in a steady +<i>no</i>.</p> + +<p>"Let it ride," Jason said wearily, +"one more roll."</p> + +<p>He breathed on the dice, polished +them on his cuff, and wondered how +he had ever gotten into this spot. +Billions riding on a pair of dice. That +was as much as the annual income of +some planets. The only reason there +<i>could</i> be stakes like that was because +the planetary government had a stake +in the Casino. He shook as long as +he could, reaching for the control that +wasn't there—then let fly.</p> + +<p>Everything else had stopped in the +Casino and people were standing on +tables and chairs to watch. There +wasn't a sound from that large crowd. +The dice bounced back from the +board with a clatter loud in the silence +and tumbled over the cloth.</p> + +<p>A five and a one. Six. He still had +to make his point. Scooping up the +dice Jason talked to them, mumbled +the ancient oaths that brought luck +and threw again.</p> + +<p>It took five throws before he made +the six.</p> + +<p>The crowd echoed his sigh and +their voices rose quickly. He wanted +to stop, take a deep breath, but he +knew he couldn't. Winning the money +was only part of the job—they now +had to get away with it. It had to +look casual. A waiter was passing +with a tray of drinks. Jason stopped +him and tucked a hundred-credit note +in his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Drinks are on me," he shouted +while he pried the tray out of the +waiter's hands. Well-wishers cleared +the filled glasses away quickly and +Jason piled the chips onto the tray. +They more than loaded it, but Kerk +appeared that moment with a second +tray.</p> + +<p>"I'll be glad to help you, sir, if you +will permit me," he said.</p> + +<p>Jason looked at him, and laughed +permission. It was the first time he +had a clear look at Kerk in the +Casino. He was wearing loose, purple +evening pajamas over what must +have been a false stomach. The +sleeves were long and baggy so he +looked fat rather than muscular. It +was a simple but effective disguise.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/003.png" width="350" height="221" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>Carefully carrying the loaded trays, +surrounded by a crowd of excited patrons, +they made their way to the +cashier's window. The manager himself +was there, wearing a sickly grin. +Even the grin faded when he counted +the chips.</p> + +<p>"Could you come back in the morning," +he said, "I'm afraid we don't +have that kind of money on hand."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter," Kerk shouted, +"trying to get out of paying him? +You took <i>my</i> money easy enough +when I lost—it works both ways!"</p> + +<p>The onlookers, always happy to see +the house lose, growled their disagreement. +Jason finished the matter +in a loud voice.</p> + +<p>"I'll be reasonable, give me what +cash you have and I'll take a check +for the balance."</p> + +<p>There was no way out. Under the +watchful eye of the gleeful crowd the +manager packed an envelope with +bills and wrote a check. Jason took a +quick glimpse at it, then stuffed it +into an inside pocket. With the envelope +under one arm he followed +Kerk towards the door.</p> + +<p>Because of the onlookers there was +no trouble in the main room, but +just as they reached the side entrance +two men moved in, blocking the way.</p> + +<p>"Just a moment—" one said. He +never finished the sentence. Kerk +walked into them without slowing +and they bounced away like tenpins. +Then Kerk and Jason were out of the +building and walking fast.</p> + +<p>"Into the parking lot," Kerk said. +"I have a car there."</p> + +<p>When they rounded the corner +there was a car bearing down on +them. Before Jason could get his gun +clear of the holster Kerk was in front +of him. His arm came up and his +big ugly gun burst through the cloth +of his sleeve and jumped into his +hand. A single shot killed the driver +and the car swerved and crashed. The +other two men in the car died coming +out of the door, their guns dropping +from their hands.</p> + +<p>After that they had no trouble. +Kerk drove at top speed away from +the Casino, the torn sleeve of his +pajamas whipping in the breeze, giving +glimpses of the big gun back in +the holster.</p> + +<p>"When you get the chance," Jason +said, "you'll have to show me how +that trick holster works."</p> + +<p>"When we get the chance," Kerk +answered as he dived the car into the +city access tube.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>III.</h2> + +<p>The building they stopped at was +one of the finer residences in Cassylia. +As they had driven, Jason counted +the money and separated his share. +Almost sixteen million credits. It still +didn't seem quite real. When they got +out in front of the building he gave +Kerk the rest.</p> + +<p>"Here's your three billion, don't +think it was easy," he said.</p> + +<p>"It could have been worse," was +his only answer.</p> + +<p>The recorded voice scratched in the +speaker over the door.</p> + +<p>"Sire Ellus has retired for the +night, would you please call again in +the morning. All appointments are +made in advan—"</p> + +<p>The voice broke off as Kerk pushed +the door open. He did it almost effortlessly +with the flat of his hand. +As they went in Jason looked at the +remnants of torn and twisted metal +that hung in the lock and wondered +again about his companion.</p> + +<p><i>Strength—more than physical +strength—he's like an elemental +force. I have the feeling that nothing +can stop him.</i></p> + +<p>It made him angry—and at the +same time fascinated him. He didn't +want out of the deal until he found +out more about Kerk and his planet. +And "they" who had died for the +money he gambled.</p> + +<p>Sire Ellus was old, balding and +angry, not at all used to having his +rest disturbed. His complaints stopped +suddenly when Kerk threw the money +down on the table.</p> + +<p>"Is the ship being loaded yet, +Ellus? Here's the balance due." Ellus +only fumbled the bills for a moment +before he could answer Kerk's question.</p> + +<p>"The ship—but, of course. We began +loading when you gave us the +deposit. You'll have to excuse my confusion, +this is a little irregular. We +never handle transactions of this size +in cash."</p> + +<p>"That's the way I like to do business," +Kerk answered him, "I've canceled +the deposit, this is the total sum. +Now how about a receipt."</p> + +<p>Ellus had made out the receipt before +his senses returned. He held it +tightly while he looked uncomfortably +at the three billion spread out +before him.</p> + +<p>"Wait—I can't take it now, you'll +have to return in the morning, to the +bank. In normal business fashion," +Ellus decided firmly.</p> + +<p>Kerk reached over and gently drew +the paper out of Ellus' hand.</p> + +<p>"Thanks for the receipt," he said. +"I won't be here in the morning so +this will be satisfactory. And if you're +worried about the money I suggest +you get in touch with some of your +plant guards or private police. You'll +feel a lot safer."</p> + +<p>When they left through the shattered +door Ellus was frantically dialing +numbers on his screen. Kerk answered +Jason's next question before +he could ask it.</p> + +<p>"I imagine you would like to live +to spend that money in your pocket, +so I've booked two seats on an interplanetary +ship," he glanced at the +car clock. "It leaves in about two +hours so we have plenty of time. I'm +hungry, let's find a restaurant. I hope +you have nothing at the hotel worth +going back for. It would be a little +difficult."</p> + +<p>"Nothing worth getting killed +for," Jason said. "Now where can we +go to eat—there are a few questions +I would like to ask you."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>They circled carefully down to the +transport levels until they were sure +they hadn't been followed. Kerk +nosed the car into a darkened loading +dock where they abandoned it.</p> + +<p>"We can always get another car," +he said, "and they probably have this +one spotted. Let's walk back to the +freightway, I saw a restaurant there +as we came by."</p> + +<p>Dark and looming shapes of overland +freight carriers filled the parking +lot. They picked their way around +the man-high wheels and into the +hot and noisy restaurant. The drivers +and early morning workers took no +notice of them as they found a booth +in the back and dialed a meal.</p> + +<p>Kerk chiseled a chunk of meat off +the slab in front of him and popped +it cheerfully into his mouth. "Ask +your questions," he said. "I'm feeling +much better already."</p> + +<p>"What's in this ship you arranged +for tonight—what kind of a cargo +was I risking my neck for?"</p> + +<p>"I thought you were risking your +neck for money," Kerk said dryly. +"But be assured it was in a good cause. +That cargo means the survival of a +world. Guns, ammunition, mines, explosives +and such."</p> + +<p>Jason choked over a mouthful of +food. "Gun-running! What are you +doing, financing a private war? And +how can you talk about survival with +a lethal cargo like that? Don't try and +tell me they have a peaceful use. Who +are you killing?"</p> + +<p>Most of the big man's humor had +vanished, he had that grim look Jason +knew well.</p> + +<p>"Yes, peaceful would be the right +word. Because that is basically all we +want. Just to live in peace. And it is +not <i>who</i> are we killing—it is <i>what</i> +we are killing."</p> + +<p>Jason pushed his plate away with +an angry gesture. "You're talking in +riddles," he said. "What you say has +no meaning."</p> + +<p>"It has meaning enough," Kerk +told him, "but only on one planet in +the universe. Just how much do you +know about Pyrrus?"</p> + +<p>"Absolutely nothing."</p> + +<p>For a moment Kerk sat wrapped +in memory, scowling distantly. Then +he went on.</p> + +<p>"Mankind doesn't belong on Pyrrus—yet +has been there for almost +three hundred years now. The age +expectancy of my people is sixteen +years. Of course most adults live beyond +that, but the high child mortality +brings the average down.</p> + +<p>"It is everything that a humanoid +world should not be. The gravity is +nearly twice Earth normal. The temperature +can vary daily from arctic to +tropic. The climate—well you have to +experience it to believe it. Like nothing +you've seen anywhere else in the +galaxy."</p> + +<p>"I'm frightened," Jason said dryly. +"What do you have—methane or +chlorine reactions? I've been down on +planets like that—"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Kerk slammed his hand down hard +on the table. The dishes bounced and +the table legs creaked. "Laboratory +reactions!" he growled. "They look +great on a bench—but what happens +when you have a world filled with +those compounds? In an eye-wink of +galactic time all the violence is locked +up in nice, stable compounds. The atmosphere +may be poisonous for an +oxygen breather, but taken by itself +it's as harmless as weak beer.</p> + +<p>"There is only one setup that is +pure poison as a planetary atmosphere. +Plenty of H<sub>2</sub>O, the most universal +solvent you can find, plus free +oxygen to work on—"</p> + +<p>"Water and oxygen!" Jason broke +in. "You mean Earth—or a planet +like Cassylia here? That's preposterous."</p> + +<p>"Not at all. Because you were born +in this kind of environment you accept +it as right and natural. You take +it for granted that metals corrode, +coastlines change, and storms interfere +with communication. These are +normal occurrences on oxygen-water +worlds. On Pyrrus these conditions are +carried to the nth degree.</p> + +<p>"The planet has an axial tilt of almost +forty-two degrees, so there is a +tremendous change in temperature +from season to season. This is one +of the prime causes of a constantly +changing icecap. The weather generated +by this is spectacular to say the +least."</p> + +<p>"If that's all," Jason said, "I don't +see why—"</p> + +<p>"That's <i>not</i> all—it's barely the beginning. +The open seas perform the +dual destructive function of supplying +water vapor to keep the weather going, +and building up gigantic tides. +Pyrrus' two satellites, Samas and Bessos, +combine at times to pull the +oceans up into thirty meter tides. And +until you've seen one of these tides +lap over into an active volcano you've +seen nothing.</p> + +<p>"Heavy elements are what brought +us to Pyrrus—and these same elements +keep the planet at a volcanic boil. +There have been at least thirteen super-novas +in the immediate stellar +neighborhood. Heavy elements can be +found on most of their planets of +course—as well as completely unbreathable +atmospheres. Long-term +mining and exploitation can't be done +by anything but a self-sustaining colony. +Which meant Pyrrus. Where the +radioactive elements are locked in the +planetary core, surrounded by a shell +of lighter ones. While this allows for +the atmosphere men need, it also +provides unceasing volcanic activity as +the molten plasma forces its way to +the surface."</p> + +<p>For the first time Jason was silent. +Trying to imagine what life could be +like on a planet constantly at war with +itself.</p> + +<p>"I've saved the best for last," Kerk +said with grim humor. "Now that you +have an idea of what the environment +is like—think of the kind of life +forms that would populate it. I doubt +if there is one off-world species that +would live a minute. Plants and animals +on Pyrrus are <i>tough</i>. They fight +the world and they fight each other. +Hundreds of thousands of years of +genetic weeding-out have produced +things that would give even an electronic +brain nightmares. Armor-plated, +poisonous, claw-tipped and +fanged-mouthed. That describes everything +that walks, flaps or just sits and +grows. Ever see a plant with teeth—that +bite? I don't think you want to. +You'd have to be on Pyrrus and that +means you would be dead within seconds +of leaving the ship. Even I'll +have to take a refresher course before +I'll be able to go outside the landing +buildings. The unending war for survival +keeps the life forms competing +and changing. Death is simple, but +the ways of dealing it too numerous +to list."</p> + +<p>Unhappiness rode like a weight on +Kerk's broad shoulders. After long +moments of thought he moved visibly +to shake it off. Returning his attention +to his food and mopping the +gravy from his plate, he voiced part +of his feelings.</p> + +<p>"I suppose there is no logical reason +why we should stay and fight this +endless war. Except that Pyrrus is our +home." The last piece of gravy-soaked +bread vanished and he waved the +empty fork at Jason.</p> + +<p>"Be happy you're an off-worlder +and will never have to see it."</p> + +<p>"That's where you're wrong." Jason +said as calmly as he could. "You +see, I'm going back with you."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>IV.</h2> + +<p>"Don't talk stupidly," Kerk said +as he punched for a duplicate order of +steak. "There are much simpler ways +of committing suicide. Don't you realize +that you're a millionaire now? +With what you have in your pocket +you can relax the rest of your life on +the pleasure planets. Pyrrus is a death +world, not a sightseeing spot for jaded +tourists. I cannot permit you to +return with me."</p> + +<p>Gamblers who lose their tempers +don't last long. Jason was angry now. +Yet it showed only in a negative way. +In the lack of expression on his face +and the calmness of his voice.</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me what I can or cannot +do, Kerk Pyrrus. You're a big +man with a fast gun—but that doesn't +make you my boss. All you can do is +stop me from going back on your +ship. But I can easily afford to get +there another way. And don't try to +tell me I want to go to Pyrrus for +sightseeing when you have no idea +of my real reasons."</p> + +<p>Jason didn't even try to explain his +reasons, they were only half realized +and too personal. The more he traveled, +the more things looked the same +to him. The old, civilized planets +sank into a drab similarity. Frontier +worlds all had the crude sameness of +temporary camps in a forest. Not that +the galactic worlds bored him. It was +just that he had found their limitations—yet +had never found his own. +Until he met Kerk he had acknowledged +no man his superior, or even +his equal. This was more than egotism. +It was facing facts. Now he was +forced to face the fact that there was +a whole world of people who might +be superior to him. Jason could never +rest content until he had been there +and seen for himself. Even if he died +in the attempt.</p> + +<p>None of this could be told to Kerk. +There were other reasons he would +understand better.</p> + +<p>"You're not thinking ahead when +you prevent me from going to Pyrrus," +Jason said. "I'll not mention any +moral debt you owe me for winning +that money you needed. But what +about the next time? If you needed +that much lethal goods once, you'll +probably need it again some day. +Wouldn't it be better to have me on +hand—old tried and true—than +dreaming up some new and possibly +unreliable scheme?"</p> + +<p>Kerk chewed pensively on the second +serving of steak. "That makes +sense. And I must admit I hadn't +thought of it before. One failing we +Pyrrans have is a lack of interest in +the future. Staying alive day by day +is enough trouble. So we tend to face +emergencies as they arrive and let the +dim future take care of itself. You can +come. I hope you will still be alive +when we need you. As Pyrran ambassador +to a lot of places I officially +invite you to our planet. All expenses +paid. On the condition you obey completely +all our instructions regarding +your personal safety."</p> + +<p>"Conditions accepted," Jason said. +And wondered why he was so cheerful +about signing his own death warrant.</p> + +<p>Kerk was shoveling his way +through his third dessert when his +alarm watch gave a tiny hum. He +dropped his fork instantly and stood +up. "Time to go," he said. "We're on +schedule now." While Jason scrambled +to his feet, he jammed coins into +the meter until the <i>paid</i> light came +on. Then they were out the door and +walking fast.</p> + +<p>Jason wasn't at all surprised when +they came on a public escalator just +behind the restaurant. He was beginning +to realize that since leaving the +Casino their every move had been +carefully planned and timed. Without +a doubt the alarm was out and the +entire planet being searched for them. +Yet so far they hadn't noticed the +slightest sign of pursuit. This wasn't +the first time Jason had to move just +one jump ahead of the authorities—but +it was the first time he had let +someone else lead him by the hand +while he did it. He had to smile at his +own automatic agreement. He had +been a loner for so many years that he +found a certain inverse pleasure in +following someone else.</p> + +<p>"Hurry up," Kerk growled after a +quick glance at his watch. He set a +steady, killing pace up the escalator +steps. They went up five levels that +way—without seeing another person—before +Kerk relented and let the +escalator do the work.</p> + +<p>Jason prided himself on keeping +in condition. But the sudden climb, +after the sleepless night, left him +panting heavily and soaked with +sweat. Kerk, cool of forehead and +breathing normally, didn't show the +slightest sign that he had been running.</p> + +<p>They were at the second motor +level when Kerk stepped off the slowly +rising steps and waved Jason +after him. As they came through the +exit to the street a car pulled up to +the curb in front of them. Jason had +enough sense not to reach for his gun. +At the exact moment they reached the +car the driver opened the door and +stepped out. Kerk passed him a slip +of paper without saying a word and +slipped in behind the wheel. There +was just time for Jason to jump in +before the car pulled away. The entire +transfer had taken less than three +seconds.</p> + +<p>There had been only a glimpse of +the driver in the dim light, but Jason +had recognized him. Of course he had +never seen the man before, but after +knowing Kerk he couldn't mistake +the compact strength of a native Pyrran.</p> + +<p>"That was the receipt from Ellus +you gave him," Jason said.</p> + +<p>"Of course. That takes care of the +ship and the cargo. They'll be off-planet +and safely away before the +casino check is traced to Ellus. So now +let's look after ourselves. I'll explain +the plan in detail so there will be no +slip-ups on your part. I'll go through +the whole thing once and if there are +any questions you'll ask them when +I'm finished."</p> + +<p>The tones of command were so automatic +that Jason found himself listening +in quiet obedience. Though +one part of his mind wanted him to +smile at the quick assumption of his +incompetence.</p> + +<p>Kerk swung the car into the steady +line of traffic heading out of the city +to the spaceport. He drove easily +while he talked.</p> + +<p>"There is a search on in the city, +but we're well ahead of that. I'm sure +the Cassylians don't want to advertise +their bad sportsmanship so there +won't be anything as crude as a roadblock. +But the port will be crawling +with every agent they have. They +know once the money gets off-planet +it is gone forever. When we make a +break for it they will be sure we still +have the goods. So there will be no +trouble with the munition ship getting +clear."</p> + +<p>Jason sounded a little shocked. +"You mean you're setting us up as +clay pigeons to cover the take-off of +the ship."</p> + +<p>"You could put it that way. But +since we have to get off-planet anyway, +there is no harm in using our +escape as a smokescreen. Now shut up +until I've finished, like I told you. +One more interruption and I dump +you by the road."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Jason was sure he would. He listened +intently—and quietly—as Kerk +repeated word for word what he had +said before, then continued.</p> + +<p>"The official car gate will probably +be wide open with the traffic through +it. And a lot of the agents will be in +plain clothes. We might even get onto +the field without being recognized, +though I doubt it. It is of no importance. +We will drive through the gate +and to the take-off pad. The <i>Pride of +Darkhan</i>, for which we hold tickets, +will be sounding its two-minute siren +and unhooking the gangway. By the +time we get to our seats the ship will +take off."</p> + +<p>"That's all very fine," Jason said. +"But what will the guards be doing +all this time?"</p> + +<p>"Shooting at us and each other. We +will take advantage of the confusion +to get aboard."</p> + +<p>This answer did nothing to settle +Jason's mind, but he let it slide for +the moment. "All right—say we <i>do</i> +get aboard. Why don't they just prevent +take-off until we have been +dragged out and stood against a +wall?"</p> + +<p>Kerk spared him a contemptuous +glance before he returned his eyes to +the road. "I said the ship was the +<i>Pride of Darkhan</i>. If you had studied +this system at all, you would know +what that means. Cassylia and Darkhan +are sister planets and rivals in +every way. It has been less than two +centuries since they fought an intra-system +war that almost destroyed both +of them. Now they exist in an armed-to-the-teeth +neutrality that neither +dare violate. The moment we set foot +aboard the ship we are on Darkhan +territory. There is no extradition +agreement between the planets. +Cassylia may want us—but not badly +enough to start another war."</p> + +<p>That was all the explanation there +was time for. Kerk swung the car out +of the rush of traffic and onto a bridge +marked <i>Official Cars Only</i>. Jason had +a feeling of nakedness as they rolled +under the harsh port lights towards +the guarded gate ahead.</p> + +<p>It was closed.</p> + +<p>Another car approached the gate +from the inside and Kerk slowed +their car to a crawl. One of the guards +talked to the driver of the car inside +the port, then waved to the gate attendant. +The barrier gate began to +swing inwards and Kerk jammed +down on the accelerator.</p> + +<p>Everything happened at once. The +turbine howled, the spinning tires +screeched on the road and the car +crashed open the gate. Jason had a +vanishing glimpse of the open-mouthed +guards, then they were skidding +around the corner of a building. A +few shots popped after them, but +none came close.</p> + +<p>Driving with one hand, Kerk +reached under the dash and pulled out +a gun that was the twin of the monster +strapped to his arm. "Use this +instead of your own," he said. "Rocket-propelled +explosive slugs. Make a +great bang. Don't bother shooting at +anyone—I'll take care of that. Just +stir up a little action and make them +keep their distance. Like this."</p> + +<p>He fired a single, snap-shot out the +side window and passed the gun to +Jason almost before the slug hit. An +empty truck blew up with a roar, raining +pieces on the cars around and +sending their drivers fleeing in panic.</p> + +<p>After that it was a nightmare ride +through a madhouse. Kerk drove with +an apparent contempt for violent +death. Other cars followed them and +were lost in wheel-raising turns. They +careened almost the full length of the +field, leaving a trail of smoking chaos.</p> + +<p>Then the pursuit was all behind +them and the only thing ahead was +the slim spire of the <i>Pride of Darkhan</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The <i>Pride</i> was surrounded by a +strong wire fence as suited the begrudged +status of her planetary origin. +The gate was closed and guarded by +soldiers with leveled guns, waiting +for a shot at the approaching car. +Kerk made no attempt to come near +them. Instead he fed the last reserves +of power to the car and headed for +the fence. "Cover your face," he +shouted.</p> + +<p>Jason put his arms in front of his +head just as they hit.</p> + +<p>Torn metal screamed, the fence +buckled, wrapped itself around the +car, but did not break. Jason flew off +the seat and into the padded dash. By +the time Kerk had the warped door +open, he realized that the ride was +over. Kerk must have seen the spin +of his eyeballs because he didn't talk, +just pulled Jason out and threw him +onto the hood of the ruined car.</p> + +<p>"Climb over the buckled wire and +make a run for the ship," he shouted.</p> + +<p>If there was any doubt what he +meant, he set Jason an example of +fine roadwork. It was inconceivable +that someone of his bulk could run so +fast, yet he did. He moved more like +a charging tank than a man. Jason +shook the fog from his head and +worked up some speed himself. Nevertheless, +he was barely halfway to +the ship when Kerk hit the gangway. +It was already unhooked from the +ship, but the shocked attendants stopped +rolling it away as the big man +bounded up the steps.</p> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/004.png" width="337" height="500" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>At the top he turned and fired at +the soldiers who were charging +through the open gate. They dropped, +crawled, and returned his fire. Very +few shot at Jason's running form.</p> + +<p>The scene in front of Jason cranked +over in slow motion. Kerk standing +at the top of the ramp, coolly +returning the fire that splashed all +about. He could have found safety in +an instant through the open port behind +him. The only reason he stayed +there was to cover Jason.</p> + +<p>"Thanks—" Jason managed to +gasp as he made the last few steps +up the gangway, jumped the gap and +collapsed inside the ship.</p> + +<p>"You're perfectly welcome," Kerk +said as he joined him, waving his gun +to cool it off.</p> + +<p>A grim-jawed ship's officer stood +back out of range of fire from the +ground and looked them both up and +down. "And just what is going on +here?" he growled.</p> + +<p>Kerk tested the barrel with a wet +thumb, then let the gun slide back +into its holster. "We are law-abiding +citizens of a different system who +have committed no criminal acts. The +savages of Cassylia are too barbarous +for civilized company. Therefore we +are going to Darkhan—here are our +tickets—in whose sovereign territory I +believe we are at this moment." This +last was added for the benefit of the +Cassylian officer who had just stumbled +to the top of the gangway and +was raising his gun.</p> + +<p>The soldier couldn't be blamed. He +saw these badly wanted criminals getting +away. Aboard a Darkhan ship as +well. Anger got the best of him and +he brought his gun up.</p> + +<p>"Come out of there, you scum. +You're not escaping that easily. Come +out slow with your hands up or I'll +blast you—"</p> + +<p>It was a frozen moment of time +that stretched and stretched without +breaking. The pistol covered Kerk +and Jason. Neither of them attempted +to reach for their own guns.</p> + +<p>The gun twitched a bit as the ship's +officer moved, then steadied back on +the two men. The Darkhan spaceman +hadn't gone far, just a pace across the +lock. This was enough to bring him +next to a red box set flush with the +wall. With a single, swift gesture he +flipped up the cover and poised his +thumb over the button inside. When +he smiled his lips peeled back to show +all of his teeth. He had made up his +mind, and it was the arrogance of the +Cassylian officer that had been the +deciding factor.</p> + +<p>"Fire a single shot into Darkhan +territory and I press this button," he +shouted. "And you know what this +button does—every one of your ships +has them as well. Commit a hostile +act against this ship and <i>someone</i> will +press a button. Every control rod will +be blown out of the ship's pile at that +instant and half your filthy city will +go up in the explosion." His smile +was chiseled on his face and there was +no doubt he would do what he said. +"Go ahead—fire. I think I would enjoy +pressing this."</p> + +<p>The take-off siren was hooting now, +the <i>close lock</i> light blinking an angry +message from the bridge. Like four +actors in a grim drama they faced +each other an instant more.</p> + +<p>Then the Cassylian officer, growling +with unvoicable frustrated anger, +turned and leaped back to the steps.</p> + +<p>"All passengers board ship. Forty-five +seconds to take-off. Clear the +port." The ship's officer slammed shut +the cover of the box and locked it as +he talked. There was barely time to +make the acceleration couches before +the <i>Pride of Darkhan</i> cleared ground.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>V.</h2> + +<p>Once the ship was in orbit the +captain sent for Jason and Kerk. Kerk +took the floor and was completely +frank about the previous night's activities. +The only fact of importance +he left out was Jason's background as +a professional gambler. He drew a +beautiful picture of two lucky strangers +whom the evil forces of Cassylia +wanted to deprive of their gambling +profits. All this fitted perfectly the +captain's preconceptions of Cassylia. +In the end he congratulated his officer +on the correctness of his actions and +began the preparation of a long report +to his government. He gave the +two men his best wishes as well as +the liberty of the ship.</p> + +<p>It was a short trip. Jason barely had +time to catch up on his sleep before +they grounded on Darkhan. Being +without luggage they were the first +ones through customs. They left the +shed just in time to see another ship +landing in a distant pit. Kerk stopped +to watch it and Jason followed his +gaze. It was a gray, scarred ship. With +the stubby lines of a freighter—but +sporting as many guns as a cruiser.</p> + +<p>"Yours, of course," Jason said.</p> + +<p>Kerk nodded and started towards +the ship. One of the locks opened as +they came up but no one appeared. +Instead a remote-release folding ladder +rattled down to the ground. Kerk +swarmed up it and Jason followed +glumly. Somehow, he felt, this was +overdoing the no-frills-and-nonsense +attitude.</p> + +<p>Jason was catching on to Pyrran +ways though. The reception aboard +ship for the ambassador was just what +he expected. Nothing. Kerk closed the +lock himself and they found couches +as the take-off horn sounded. The +main jets roared and acceleration +smashed down on Jason.</p> + +<p>It didn't stop. Instead it grew +stronger, squeezing the air out of his +lungs and the sight from his eyes. He +screamed but couldn't hear his own +voice through the roaring in his ears. +Mercifully he blacked out.</p> + +<p>When consciousness returned the +ship was at zero-G. Jason kept his +eyes closed and let the pain seep out +of his body. Kerk spoke suddenly, he +was standing next to the couch.</p> + +<p>"My fault, Meta, I should have told +you we had a 1-G passenger aboard. +You might have eased up a bit on +your usual bone-breaking take-off."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem to have harmed +him much—but what's he doing +here?"</p> + +<p>Jason felt mild surprise that the +second voice was a girl's. But he +wasn't interested enough to go to the +trouble of opening his sore eyes.</p> + +<p>"Going to Pyrrus. I tried to talk +him out of it, of course, but I couldn't +change his mind. It's a shame, too, I +would like to have done more for +him. He's the one who got the money +for us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's awful," the girl said. +Jason wondered why it was <i>awful</i>. It +didn't make sense to his groggy mind. +"It would have been much better if +he stayed on Darkhan," the girl continued. +"He's very nice-looking. I +think it's a shame he has to die."</p> + +<p>That was too much for Jason. He +pried one eye open, then the other. +The voice belonged to a girl about +twenty-one who was standing next to +the bed, gazing down at Jason. She +was beautiful.</p> + +<p>Jason's eyes opened wider as he +realized she was <i>very</i> beautiful—with +the kind of beauty never found in +the civilized galaxy. The women he +had known all ran to pale skin, hollow +shoulders, gray faces covered with +tints and dyes. They were the product +of centuries of breeding weaknesses +back into the race, as the advance +of medicine kept alive more +and more non-survival types.</p> + +<p>This girl was the direct opposite +in every way. She was the product of +survival on Pyrrus. The heavy gravity +that produced bulging muscles in men, +brought out firm strength in straplike +female muscles. She had the figure of +a goddess, tanned skin and perfectly +formed face. Her hair, which was cut +short, circled her head like a golden +crown. The only unfeminine thing +about her was the gun she wore in a +bulky forearm holster. When she saw +Jason's eyes open she smiled at him. +Her teeth were as even and as white +as he had expected.</p> + +<p>"I'm Meta, pilot of this ship. And +you must be—"</p> + +<p>"Jason dinAlt. That was a lousy +take-off, Meta."</p> + +<p>"I'm really very sorry," she laughed. +"But being born on a two-G +planet does make one a little immune +to acceleration. I save fuel too, with +the synergy curve—"</p> + +<p>Kerk gave a noncommittal grunt. +"Come along, Meta, we'll take a look +at the cargo. Some of the new stuff +will plug the gaps in the perimeter."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," she said, almost clapping +her hands with happiness. "I +read the specs, they're simply wonderful."</p> + +<p><i>Like a schoolgirl with a new dress. +Or a box of candy. That's a great +attitude to have towards bombs and +flame-throwers.</i> Jason smiled wryly at +the thought as he groaned off the +couch. The two Pyrrans had gone and +he pulled himself painfully through +the door after them.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>It took him a long time to find his +way to the hold. The ship was big +and apparently empty of crew. Jason +finally found a man sleeping in one +of the brightly lit cabins. He recognized +him as the driver who had +turned the car over to them on Cassylia. +The man, who had been sleeping +soundly a moment before, opened +his eyes as soon as Jason drifted into +the room. He was wide awake.</p> + +<p>"How do I get to the cargo hold?" +Jason asked.</p> + +<p>The other told him, closed his eyes +and went instantly back to sleep before +Jason could even say thanks.</p> + +<p>In the hold, Kerk and Meta had +opened some of the crates and were +chortling with joy over their lethal +contents. Meta, a pressure canister in +her arms, turned to Jason as he came +through the door.</p> + +<p>"Just look at this," she said. "This +powder in here—why you can eat it +like dirt, with less harm. Yet it is +instantly deadly to all forms of vegetable +life ..." She stopped suddenly +as she realized Jason didn't share her +extreme pleasure. "I'm sorry. I forgot +for a moment there that you weren't +a Pyrran. So you don't really understand, +do you?"</p> + +<p>Before he could answer, the PA +speaker called her name.</p> + +<p>"Jump time," she said. "Come with +me to the bridge while I do the equations. +We can talk there. I know so +little about any place except Pyrrus +that I have a million questions to +ask."</p> + +<p>Jason followed her to the bridge +where she relieved the duty officer +and began taking readings for the +jump-setting. She looked out of place +among the machines, a sturdy but supple +figure in a simple, one-piece shipsuit. +Yet there was no denying the +efficiency with which she went about +her job.</p> + +<p>"Meta, aren't you a little young to +be the pilot of an interstellar ship?"</p> + +<p>"Am I?" She thought for a second. +"I really don't know how old pilots +are supposed to be. I have been piloting +for about three years now and +I'm almost twenty. Is that younger +than usual?"</p> + +<p>Jason opened his mouth—then +laughed. "I suppose that all depends +on what planet you're from. Some +places you would have trouble getting +licensed. But I'll bet things are different +on Pyrrus. By their standards you +must rank as an old lady."</p> + +<p>"Now you're making a joke," Meta +said serenely as she fed a figure into +the calculator. "I've seen old ladies +on some planets. They are wrinkled +and have gray hair. I don't know how +old they are, I asked one but she +wouldn't tell me her age. But I'm sure +they must be older than anyone on +Pyrrus, no one looks like that there."</p> + +<p>"I don't mean old that way," Jason +groped for the right word. "Not old—but +grown-up, mature. An adult."</p> + +<p>"Everyone is grown-up," she answered. +"At least soon after they leave +the wards. And they do that when +they're six. My first child is grown-up, +and the second one would be, too, +only he's dead. So I <i>surely</i> must be."</p> + +<p>That seemed to settle the question +for her, though Jason's thoughts +jumped with the alien concepts and +background, inherent behind her +words.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Meta punched in the last setting, +and the course tape began to chunk +out of the case. She turned her attention +back to Jason. "I'm glad you're +aboard this trip, though I am sorry +you are going to Pyrrus. But we'll +have lots of time to talk. There are so +many things I want to find out about +other planets, and why people go +around acting the way they do. Not +at all like home where you <i>know</i> why +people are doing things all the time." +She frowned over the tape for a moment, +then turned her attention back +to Jason. "What is your home planet +like?"</p> + +<p>One after another the usual lies he +told people came to his lips, and +were pushed away. Why bother lying +to a girl who really didn't care if you +were serf or noble? To her there were +only two kinds of people in the galaxy—Pyrrans, +and the rest. For the +first time since he had fled from Porgorstorsaand +he found himself telling +someone the truth of his origin.</p> + +<p>"My home planet? Just about the +stuffiest, dullest, dead-end in the universe. +You can't believe the destructive +decay of a planet that is mainly +agrarian, caste-conscious and completely +satisfied with its own boring +existence. Not only is there no change—but +no one <i>wants</i> change. My father +was a farmer, so I should have +been a farmer too—if I had listened +to the advice of my betters. It was unthinkable, +as well as forbidden for me +to do anything else. And everything I +wanted to do was against the law. +I was fifteen before I learned to read—out +of a book stolen from a noble +school. After that there was no turning +back. By the time I stowed aboard +an off-world freighter at nineteen I +must have broken every law on the +planet. Happily. Leaving home for +me was just like getting out of +prison."</p> + +<p>Meta shook her head at the +thought. "I just can't imagine a place +like that. But I'm sure I wouldn't like +it there."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you wouldn't," Jason +laughed. "So once I was in space, +with no law-abiding talents or skills, +I just wandered into one thing and +another. In this age of technology I +was completely out of place. Oh, I +suppose I could have done well in +some army, but I'm not so good at +taking orders. Whenever I gambled +I did well, so little by little I just +drifted into it. People are the same +everywhere, so I manage to make out +well wherever I end up."</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean about people +being alike—but they are so <i>different</i>," +she said. "I'm not being clear +at all, am I? What I mean is that at +home I know what people will do +and why they do it at the same time. +People on all the other planets do act +alike, as you said, yet I have very +much trouble understanding why. For +instance, I like to try the local food +when we set down on a planet, and +if there is time I always do. There are +bars and restaurants near every spaceport +so I go there. And I always have +trouble with the men. They want to +buy me drinks, hold my hand—"</p> + +<p>"Well, a single girl in those port +joints has to expect a certain amount +of interest from the men."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know that," she said. +"What I don't understand is why they +don't listen when I tell them I am +not interested and to go away. They +just laugh and pull up a chair, usually. +But I have found that one thing works +wherever I am. I tell them if they +don't stop bothering me I'll break +their arm."</p> + +<p>"Does that stop them?" Jason asked.</p> + +<p>"No, of course not. But after I +break their arm they go away. And the +others don't bother me either. It's a +lot of fuss to go through and the +food is usually awful."</p> + +<p>Jason didn't laugh. Particularly +when he realized that this girl <i>could</i> +break the arm of any spaceport thug +in the galaxy. She was a strange mixture +of naivete and strength, unlike +anyone he had ever met before. Once +again he realized that he <i>had</i> to visit +the planet that produced people like +her and Kerk.</p> + +<p>"Tell me about Pyrrus," he asked. +"Why is it that you and Kerk assume +automatically that I will drop dead as +soon as I land? What is the planet +like?"</p> + +<p>All the warmth was gone from her +face now. "I can't tell you. You will +have to see for yourself. I know that +much after visiting some of the other +worlds. Pyrrus is like nothing you +galaxy people have ever experienced. +You won't really believe it until it is +too late. Will you promise me something?"</p> + +<p>"No," he answered. "At least not +until after I hear what it is and decide."</p> + +<p>"Don't leave the ship when we +land. You <i>should</i> be safe enough +aboard, and I'll be flying a cargo out +within a few weeks."</p> + +<p>"I'll promise nothing of the sort. +I'll leave when I want to leave." Jason +knew there was logic in her words, +but his back was up at her automatic +superiority.</p> + +<p>Meta finished the jump settings +without another word. There was a +tension in the room that prevented +them both from talking.</p> + +<p>It was the next shipday before he +saw her again, then it was completely +by accident. She was in the astrogation +dome when he entered, looking +up at the sparkling immensity of the +jump sky. For the first time he saw +her off duty, wearing something other +than a shipsuit. This was a loose, soft +robe that accentuated her beauty.</p> + +<p>She smiled at him. "The stars are +so wonderful," she said. "Come +look." Jason came close to her and +with an unthinking, almost automatic +movement, put his arm around her. +Neither did she resent it, for she +covered his hand with hers. Then +they kissed and it was just the way +he knew it would be.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>VI.</h2> + +<p>After that they were together constantly. +When Meta was on duty he +brought her meals to the bridge and +they talked. Jason learned little more +about her world since, by unspoken +agreement, they didn't discuss it. He +talked of the many planets he had +visited and the people he had known. +She was an appreciative listener and +the time went quickly by. They enjoyed +each other's company and it was +a wonderful trip.</p> + +<p>Then it ended.</p> + +<p>There were fourteen people aboard +the ship, yet Jason had never seen +more than two or three at a time. +There was a fixed rotation of duties +that they followed in the ship's operation. +When not on duty the Pyrrans +minded their own business in an intense +and self-sufficient manner. Only +when the ship came out of jump and +the PA barked <i>assembly</i> did they all +get together.</p> + +<p>Kerk was giving orders for the +landing and questions were snapped +back and forth. It was all technical +and Jason didn't bother following it. +It was the attitude of the Pyrrans that +drew his attention. Their talk tended +to be faster now as were their motions. +They were like soldiers preparing +for battle.</p> + +<p>Their sameness struck Jason for the +first time. Not that they looked alike +or did the same things. It was the <i>way</i> +they moved and reacted that caused +the striking similarity. They were like +great, stalking cats. Walking fast, +tense and ready to spring at all times, +their eyes never still for an instant.</p> + +<p>Jason tried to talk to Meta after +the meeting, but she was almost a +stranger. She answered in monosyllables +and her eyes never met his, just +brushed over them and went on. +There was nothing he could really +say so she moved to leave. He started +to put his hand out to stop her—then +thought better of it. There would be +other times to talk.</p> + +<p>Kerk was the only one who took +any notice of him—and then only to +order him to an acceleration couch.</p> + +<p>Meta's landings were infinitely +worse than her take-offs. At least +when she landed on Pyrrus. There +were sudden acceleration surges in +every direction. At one point there +was a free fall that seemed endless. +There were loud thuds against the +hull that shook the framework of the +ship. It was more like a battle than a +landing, and Jason wondered how +much truth there was in that.</p> + +<p>When the ship finally landed Jason +didn't even know it. The constant +2 G's felt like deceleration. Only the +descending moan of the ship's engines +convinced him they were down. Unbuckling +the straps and sitting up was +an effort.</p> + +<p>Two G's don't seem that bad—at +first. Walking required the same exertion +as would carrying a man of his +own weight on his shoulders. When +Jason lifted his arm to unlatch the +door it was heavy as two arms. He +shuffled slowly towards the main lock.</p> + +<div class="figright"><img src="images/005.png" width="167" height="500" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>They were all there ahead of him, +two of the men rolling transparent +cylinders from a nearby room. From +their obvious weight and the way they +clanged when they bumped, Jason +knew they were made of transparent +metal. He couldn't conceive any possible +use for them. Empty cylinders +a meter in diameter, longer than a +man. One end solid, the other hinged +and sealed. It wasn't until Kerk spun +the sealing wheel and opened one of +them that their use became apparent.</p> + +<p>"Get in," Kerk said. "When you're +locked inside you'll be carried out of +the ship."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, no," Jason told him. +"I have no particular desire to make a +spectacular landing on your planet +sealed up like a packaged sausage."</p> + +<p>"Don't be a fool," was Kerk's +snapped answer. "We're <i>all</i> going +out in these tubes. We've been away +too long to risk the surface without +reorientation."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Jason did feel a little foolish as he +saw the others getting into tubes. He +picked the nearest one, slid into it feet +first, and pulled the lid closed. When +he tightened the wheel in the center, +it squeezed down against a flexible +seal. Within a minute the CO<sub>2</sub> content +in the closed cylinder went up +and an air regenerator at the bottom +hummed into life.</p> + +<p>Kerk was the last one in. He checked +the seals on all the other tubes first, +then jabbed the air-lock override release. +As it started cycling he quickly +sealed himself in the remaining cylinder. +Both inner and outer locks ground +slowly open and dim light filtered in +through sheets of falling rain.</p> + +<p>For Jason, the whole thing seemed +an anticlimax. All this preparation for +absolutely nothing. Long, impatient +minutes passed before a lift truck appeared +driven by a Pyrran. He loaded +the cylinders onto his truck like so +much dead cargo. Jason had the misfortune +to be buried at the bottom of +the pile so he could see absolutely +nothing when they drove outside.</p> + +<p>It wasn't until the man-carrying +cylinders had been dumped in a +metal-walled room, that Jason saw +his first native Pyrran life.</p> + +<p>The lift truck driver was swinging +a thick outer door shut when something +flew in through the entrance +and struck against the far wall. Jason's +eye was caught by the motion, +he looked to see what it was when it +dropped straight down towards his +face.</p> + +<p>Forgetful of the metal cylinder +wall, he flinched away. The creature +struck the transparent metal and clung +to it. Jason had the perfect opportunity +to examine it in every detail.</p> + +<p>It was almost too horrible to be +believable. As though it were a bearer +of death stripped to the very essentials. +A mouth that split the head in +two, rows of teeth, serrated and pointed. +Leathery, claw-tipped wings, +longer claws on the limbs that tore +at the metal wall.</p> + +<p>Terror rose up in Jason as he saw +that the claws were tearing gouges +in the transparent metal. Wherever +the creature's saliva touched the metal +clouded and chipped under the assault +of the teeth.</p> + +<p>Logic said these were just scratches +on the thick tube. They couldn't matter. +But blind, unreasoning fear sent +Jason curling away as far as he could. +Shrinking inside himself, seeking +escape.</p> + +<p>Only when the flying creature began +dissolving did he realize the nature +of the room outside. Sprays of +steaming liquid came from all sides, +raining down until the cylinders were +covered. After one last clash of its +jaws, the Pyrran animal was washed +off and carried away. The liquid +drained away through the floor and a +second and third shower followed.</p> + +<p>While the solutions were being +pumped away, Jason fought to bring +his emotions into line. He was surprised +at himself. No matter how +frightful the creature had been, he +couldn't understand the fear it could +generate through the wall of the sealed +tube. His reaction was all out of +proportion to the cause. Even with the +creature destroyed and washed out of +sight it took all of his will power to +steady his nerves and bring his breathing +back to normal.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Meta walked by outside and he +realized the sterilization process was +finished. He opened his own tube and +climbed wearily out. Meta and the +others had gone by this time and only +a hawk-faced stranger remained, waiting +for him.</p> + +<p>"I'm Brucco, in charge of the adaptation +clinic. Kerk told me who you +were. I'm sorry you're here. Now +come along, I want some blood samples."</p> + +<p>"Now I feel right at home," Jason +said. "The old Pyrran hospitality." +Brucco only grunted and stamped out. +Jason followed him down a bare corridor +into a sterile lab.</p> + +<p>The double gravity was tiring, a +constant drag on sore muscles. While +Brucco ran tests on the blood sample, +Jason rested. He had almost dozed off +into a painful sleep when Brucco returned +with a tray of bottles and +hypodermic needles.</p> + +<p>"Amazing," he announced. "Not +an antibody in your serum that would +be of any use on this planet. I have +a batch of antigens here that will +make you sick as a beast for at least +a day. Take off your shirt."</p> + +<p>"Have you done this often?" Jason +asked. "I mean juice up an outlander +so he can enjoy the pleasures of your +world?"</p> + +<p>Brucco jammed in a needle that felt +like it grated on the bone. "Not often +at all. Last time was years ago. A +half-dozen researchers from some institute, +willing to pay well for the +chance to study the local life forms. +We didn't say no. Always need more +galaxy currency."</p> + +<p>Jason was already beginning to feel +light-headed from the shots. "How +many of them lived?" he mumbled +vaguely.</p> + +<p>"One. We got him off in time. +Made them pay in advance of +course."</p> + +<p>At first Jason thought the Pyrran +was joking. Then he remembered they +had very little interest in humor of +any kind. If one-half of what Meta +and Kerk had told him was true, six +to one odds weren't bad at all.</p> + +<p>There was a bed in the next room +and Brucco helped him to it. Jason +felt drugged and probably was. He +fell into a deep sleep and into the +dream.</p> + +<p>Fear and hatred mixed in equal +parts and washed over him red hot. +If this was a dream, he never wanted +to sleep again. If it wasn't a dream, +he wanted to die. He tried to fight up +against it, but only sank in more +deeply. There was no beginning and +no end to the fear and no way to +escape.</p> + +<p>When consciousness returned Jason +could remember no detail of the +nightmare. Just the fear remained. He +was soaked with sweat and ached in +every muscle. It must have been the +massive dose of shots, he finally decided, +that and the brutal gravity. +That didn't take the taste of fear out +of his mouth, though.</p> + +<p>Brucco stuck his head in the door +then and looked Jason up and down. +"Thought you were dead," he said. +"Slept the clock around. Don't move, +I'll get something to pick you up."</p> + +<p>The pickup was in the form of another +needle and a glassful of evil-looking +fluid. It settled his thirst, but +made him painfully aware of gnawing +hunger.</p> + +<p>"Want to eat?" Brucco asked. "I'll +bet you do. I've speeded up your metabolism +so you'll build muscle faster. +Only way you'll ever beat the gravity. +Give you quite an appetite for a while +though."</p> + +<p>Brucco ate at the same time and +Jason had a chance to ask some questions. +"When do I get a chance to +look around your fascinating planet? +So far this trip has been about as interesting +as a jail term."</p> + +<p>"Relax and enjoy your food. Probably +be months before you're able to +go outside. If at all."</p> + +<p>Jason felt his jaw hanging and +closed it with a snap. "Could you possibly +tell me why?"</p> + +<p>"Of course. You will have to go +through the same training course that +our children take. It takes them six +years. Of course it's their first six +years of life. So you might think that +you, as an adult, could learn faster. +Then again they have the advantage +of heredity. All I can say is you'll go +outside these sealed buildings when +you're ready."</p> + +<p>Brucco had finished eating while +he talked, and sat staring at Jason's +bare arms with growing disgust. "The +first thing we want to get you is a +gun," he said. "It gives me a sick +feeling to see someone without one."</p> + +<p>Of course Brucco wore his own gun +continually, even within the sealed +buildings.</p> + +<p>"Every gun is fitted to its owner +and would be useless on anyone else," +Brucco said. "I'll show you why." He +led Jason to an armory jammed with +deadly weapons. "Put your arm in this +while I make the adjustments."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>It was a boxlike machine with a +pistol grip on the side. Jason clutched +the grip and rested his elbow on a +metal loop. Brucco fixed pointers that +touched his arm, then copied the results +from the meters. Reading the +figures from his list he selected various +components from bins and quickly +assembled a power holster and gun. +With the holster strapped to his forearm +and the gun in his hand, Jason +noticed for the first time they were +connected by a flexible cable. The gun +fitted his hand perfectly.</p> + +<p>"This is the secret of the power +holster," Brucco said, tapping the flexible +cable. "It is perfectly loose while +you are using the weapon. But when +you want it returned to the holster—" +Brucco made an adjustment and the +cable became a stiff rod that whipped +the gun from Jason's hand and suspended +it in midair.</p> + +<p>"Then the return." The rod-cable +whirred and snapped the gun back into +the holster. "The drawing action is +the opposite of this, of course."</p> + +<p>"A great gadget," Jason said, "but +how <i>do</i> I draw? Do I whistle or something +for the gun to pop out?"</p> + +<p>"No, it is not sonic control," Brucco +answered with a sober face. "It is +much more precise than that. Here, +take your left hand and grasp an +imaginary gun butt. Tense your trigger +finger. Do you notice the pattern of +the tendons in the wrist? Sensitive +actuators touch the tendons in your +right wrist. They ignore all patterns +except the one that says <i>hand ready to +receive gun</i>. After a time the mechanism +becomes completely automatic. +When you want the gun—it is in your +hand. When you don't—it is in the +holster."</p> + +<p>Jason made grasping motions with +his right hand, crooked his index finger. +There was a sudden, smashing +pain against his hand and a loud roar. +The gun was in his hand—half the +fingers were numb—and smoke curled +up from the barrel.</p> + +<p>"Of course there are only blank +charges in the gun until you learn +control. Guns are <i>always</i> loaded. +There is no safety. Notice the lack of +a trigger guard. That enables you to +bend your trigger finger a slight bit +more when drawing so the gun will +fire the instant it touches your hand."</p> + +<p>It was without a doubt the most +murderous weapon Jason had ever +handled, as well as being the hardest +to manage. Working against the muscle-burning +ache of high gravity, he +fought to control the devilish device. +It had an infuriating way of vanishing +into the holster just as he was +about to pull the trigger. Even worse +was the tendency to leap out before +he was quite ready. The gun went to +the position where his hand should +be. If the fingers weren't correctly +placed, they were crashed aside. Jason +only stopped the practice when his +entire hand was one livid bruise.</p> + +<p>Complete mastery would come with +time, but he could already understand +why the Pyrrans never removed their +guns. It would be like removing a +part of your own body. The movement +of gun from holster to hand +was too fast for him to detect. It was +certainly faster than the neural current +that shaped the hand into the +gun-holding position. For all apparent +purposes it was like having a +lightning bolt in your fingertip. Point +the finger and <i>blamm</i>, there's the +explosion.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Brucco had left Jason to practice +alone. When his aching hand could +take no more, he stopped and headed +back towards his own quarters. Turning +a corner he had a quick glimpse +of a familiar figure going away from +him.</p> + +<p>"Meta! Wait for a second—I want +to talk to you."</p> + +<p>She turned impatiently as he shuffled +up, going as fast as he could in +the doubled gravity. Everything about +her seemed different from the girl he +had known on the ship. Heavy boots +came as high as her knees, her figure +was lost in bulky coveralls of some +metallic fabric. The trim waist was +bulged out by a belt of canisters. Her +very expression was coldly distant.</p> + +<p>"I've missed you," he said. "I +hadn't realized you were in this building." +He reached for her hand but +she moved it out of his reach.</p> + +<p>"What is it you want?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"What is it I want!" he echoed +with barely concealed anger. "This is +Jason, remember me? We're friends. +It <i>is</i> allowed for friends to talk without +'wanting' anything."</p> + +<p>"What happened on the ship has +nothing to do with what happens on +Pyrrus." She started forward impatiently +as she talked. "I have finished +my reconditioning and must return to +work. You'll be staying here in the +sealed buildings so I won't be seeing +you."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you say 'with the rest +of the children'—that's what your +tone implies? And don't try walking +out, there are some things we have to +settle first—"</p> + +<p>Jason made the mistake of putting +out his hand to stop her. He didn't +really know what happened next. One +instant he was standing—the next he +sprawled suddenly on the floor. His +shoulder was badly bruised, and Meta +had vanished down the corridor.</p> + +<p>Limping back to his own room he +cursed women in general and Meta in +particular. Dropping onto his rock-hard +bed he tried to remember the +reasons that had brought him here in +the first place. And weighed them +against the perpetual torture of the +gravity, the fear-filled dreams it inspired, +the automatic contempt of +these people for any outsider. He +quickly checked the growing tendency +to feel sorry for himself. By Pyrran +standards he <i>was</i> soft and helpless. +If he wanted them to think any better +of him, he would have to change a +good deal.</p> + +<p>He sank into a fatigue-drugged +sleep then, that was broken only by +the screaming fear of his dreams.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>VII.</h2> + +<p>In the morning Jason awoke with +a bad headache and the feeling he +had never been to sleep. As he took +some of the carefully portioned stimulants +that Brucco had given him, he +wondered again about the combination +of factors that filled his sleep +with such horror.</p> + +<p>"Eat quickly," Brucco told him +when they met in the dining room. +"I can no longer spare you time for +individual instruction. You will join +the regular classes and take the prescribed +courses. Only come to me if +there is some special problem that the +instructors or trainers can't handle."</p> + +<p>The classes—as Jason should have +expected—were composed of stern-faced +little children. With their compact +bodies and no-nonsense mannerisms +they were recognizably Pyrran. +But they were still children enough to +consider it very funny to have an +adult in their classes. Jammed behind +one of the tiny desks, the red-faced +Jason did not think it was much of a +joke.</p> + +<p>All resemblance to a normal school +ended with the physical form of the +classroom. For one thing, every child—no +matter how small—packed a +gun. And the courses were all involved +with survival. The only +possible grade in a curriculum like +this was one hundred per cent and +students stayed with a lesson until +they mastered it perfectly. No courses +were offered in the normal scholastic +subjects. Presumably these were studied +after the child graduated survival +school and could face the world alone. +Which was a logical and cold-hearted +way of looking at things. In fact, logical +and cold-hearted could describe +any Pyrran activity.</p> + +<p>Most of the morning was spent on +the operation of one of the medikits +that strapped around the waist. This +was a poison analyzer that was pressed +over a puncture wound. If any +toxins were present, the antidote was +automatically injected on the site. Simple +in operation but incredibly complex +in construction. Since all Pyrrans +serviced their own equipment—you +could then only blame yourself if it +failed—they had to learn the construction +and repair of all the devices. +Jason did much better than the child +students, though the effort exhausted +him.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon he had his first +experience with a training machine. +His instructor was a twelve-year-old +boy, whose cold voice didn't conceal +his contempt for the soft off-worlder.</p> + +<p>"All the training machines are +physical duplicates of the real surface +of the planet, corrected constantly as +the life forms change. The only difference +between them is the varying +degree of deadliness. This first machine +you will use is of course the +one infants are put into—"</p> + +<p>"You're too kind," Jason murmured. +"Your flattery overwhelms me." +The instructor continued, taking no +notice of the interruption.</p> + +<p>"... Infants are put into as soon +as they can crawl. It is real in substance, +though completely deactivated."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Training machine was the wrong +word, Jason realized as they entered +through the thick door. This was a +chunk of the outside world duplicated +in an immense chamber. It took very +little suspension of reality for him to +forget the painted ceiling and artificial +sun high above and imagine himself +outdoors at last. The scene <i>seemed</i> +peaceful enough. Though clouds +banking on the horizon threatened a +violent Pyrran storm.</p> + +<p>"You must wander around and examine +things," the instructor told +Jason. "Whenever you touch something +with your hand, you will be told +about it. Like this—"</p> + +<p>The boy bent over and pushed his +finger against a blade of the soft grass +that covered the ground. Immediately +a voice barked from hidden speakers.</p> + +<p>"Poison grass. Boots to be worn at +all times."</p> + +<p>Jason kneeled and examined the +grass. The blade was tipped with a +hard, shiny hook. He realized with a +start that every single blade of grass +was the same. The soft green lawn +was a carpet of death. As he straightened +up he glimpsed something under +a broad-leafed plant. A crouching, +scale-covered animal, whose tapered +head terminated in a long spike.</p> + +<p>"What's <i>that</i> in the bottom of my +garden?" he asked. "You certainly +give the babies pleasant playmates." +Jason turned and realized he was talking +to the air, the instructor was gone. +He shrugged and petted the scaly +monstrosity.</p> + +<p>"Horndevil," the impersonal voice +said from midair. "Clothing and shoes +no protection. Kill it."</p> + +<p>A sharp <i>crack</i> shattered the silence +as Jason's gun went off. The horndevil +fell on its side, keyed to react +to the blank charge.</p> + +<p>"Well ... I <i>am</i> learning," Jason +said, and the thought pleased him. +The words <i>kill it</i> had been used by +Brucco while teaching him to use the +gun. Their stimulus had reached an +unconscious level. He was aware of +wanting to shoot only after he had +heard the shot. His respect for Pyrran +training techniques went up.</p> + +<p>Jason spent a thoroughly unpleasant +afternoon wandering in the child's +garden of horror. Death was everywhere. +While all the time the disembodied +voice gave him stern advice in +simple language. So he could do unto, +rather than being done in. He had +never realized that violent death could +come in so many repulsive forms. +<i>Everything</i> here was deadly to man—from +the smallest insect to the largest +plant.</p> + +<p>Such singleness of purpose seemed +completely unnatural. Why was this +planet so alien to human life? He +made a mental note to ask Brucco. +Meanwhile he tried to find one life +form that wasn't out for his blood. +He didn't succeed. After a long search +he found the only thing that when +touched didn't elicit deadly advice. +This was a chunk of rock that projected +from a meadow of poison +grass. Jason sat on it with a friendly +feeling and pulled his feet up. An +oasis of peace. Some minutes passed +while he rested his gravity-weary +body.</p> + +<p>"ROTFUNGUS—DO NOT +TOUCH!"</p> + +<p>The voice blasted at twice its normal +volume and Jason leaped as if he +had been shot. The gun was in his +hand, nosing about for a target. Only +when he bent over and looked closely +at the rock where he had been sitting, +did he understand. There were flaky +gray patches that hadn't been there +when he sat down.</p> + +<p>"Oh you tricky devils!" he shouted +at the machine. "How many kids have +you frightened off that rock after they +thought they had found a little +peace!" He resented the snide bit of +conditioning, but respected it at the +same time. Pyrrans learned very early +in life that there was no safety on this +planet—except that which they provided +for themselves.</p> + +<p>While he was learning about Pyrrus +he was gaining new insight into the +Pyrrans as well.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>VIII.</h2> + +<p>Days turned into weeks in the +school, cut off from the world outside. +Jason almost became proud of +his ability to deal death. He recognized +all the animals and plants in +the nursery room and had been promoted +to a trainer where the beasts +made sluggish charges at him. His +gun picked off the attackers with dull +regularity. The constant, daily classes +were beginning to bore him as well.</p> + +<p>Though the gravity still dragged at +him, his muscles were making great +efforts to adjust. After the daily classes +he no longer collapsed immediately +into bed. Only the nightmares got +worse. He had finally mentioned them +to Brucco, who mixed up a sleeping +potion that took away most of their +effect. The dreams were still there, +but Jason was only vaguely aware of +them upon awakening.</p> + +<p>By the time Jason had mastered all +the gadgetry that kept the Pyrrans +alive, he had graduated to a most realistic +trainer that was only a hair-breadth +away from the real thing. The +difference was just in quality. The insect +poisons caused swelling and pain +instead of instant death. Animals +could cause bruises and tear flesh, but +stopped short of ripping off limbs. +You couldn't get killed in this trainer, +but could certainly come very close +to it.</p> + +<p>Jason wandered through this large +and rambling jungle with the rest of +the five-year-olds. There was something +a bit humorous, yet sad, about +their unchildlike grimness. Though +they still might laugh in their quarters, +they realized there was no laughing +outside. To them survival was +linked up with social acceptance and +desirability. In this way Pyrrus was a +simple black-and-white society. To +prove your value to yourself and your +world, you only had to stay alive. This +had great importance in racial survival, +but had very stultifying effects +on individual personality. Children +were turned into like-faced killers, always +on the alert to deal out death.</p> + +<p>Some of the children graduated into +the outside world and others took +their places. Jason watched this process +for a while before he realized +that all of those from the original +group he had entered with were gone. +That same day he looked up the chief +of the adaptation center.</p> + +<p>"Brucco," Jason asked, "how long +do you plan to keep me in this kindergarten +shooting gallery?"</p> + +<p>"You're not being 'kept' here," +Brucco told him in his usual irritated +tone. "You will be here until you +qualify for the outside."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/006.png" width="350" height="275" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>"Which I have a funny feeling will +be never. I can now field strip and +reassemble every one of your blasted +gadgets in the dark. I am a dead shot +with this cannon. At this present moment, +if I had to, I could write a book +on the Complete Flora and Fauna of +Pyrrus, and How to Kill It. Perhaps +I don't do as well as my six-year-old +companions, but I have a hunch I +do about as good a job now as I +ever will. Is that true?"</p> + +<p>Brucco squirmed with the effort to +be evasive, yet didn't succeed. "I +think, that is, you know you weren't +born here, and—"</p> + +<p>"Come, come," Jason said with +glee, "a straight-faced old Pyrran like +you shouldn't try to lie to one of the +weaker races that specialize in that +sort of thing. It goes without saying +that I'll always be sluggish with this +gravity, as well as having other inborn +handicaps. I admit that. We're +not talking about that now. The question +is—will I improve with more +training, or have I reached a peak of +my own <i>development</i> now?"</p> + +<p>Brucco sweated. "With the passage +of time there will be improvement of +course—"</p> + +<p>"Sly devil!" Jason waggled a finger +at him. "Yes or no, now. Will I improve +<i>now</i> by more training <i>now</i>?"</p> + +<p>"No," Brucco said, and still looked +troubled. Jason sized him up like a +poker hand.</p> + +<p>"Now let's think about that. I won't +improve—yet I'm still stuck here. +That's no accident. So you must have +been ordered to keep me here. And +from what I have seen of this planet, +admittedly very little, I would say that +Kerk ordered you to keep me here. Is +that right?"</p> + +<p>"He was only doing it for your +own sake," Brucco explained, "trying +to keep you alive."</p> + +<p>"The truth is out," Jason said, "so +let us now forget about it. I didn't +come here to shoot robots with your +offspring. So please show me the +street door. Or is there a graduating +ceremony first? Speeches, handing out +school pins, sabers overhead—"</p> + +<p>"Nothing like that," Brucco snapped. +"I don't see how a grown man +like you can talk such nonsense all +the time. There is none of that, of +course. Only some final work in the +partial survival chamber. That is a +compound that connects with the outside—really +is a part of the outside—except +the most violent life forms are +excluded. And even some of those +manage to find their way in once in +a while."</p> + +<p>"When do I go?" Jason shot the +question.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow morning. Get a good +night's sleep first. You'll need it."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>There was one bit of ceremony +attendant with the graduation. When +Jason came into his office in the +morning, Brucco slid a heavy gun clip +across the table.</p> + +<p>"These are live bullets," he said. +"I'm sure you'll be needing them. +After this your gun will always be +loaded."</p> + +<p>They came up to a heavy air lock, +the only locked door Jason had seen +in the center. While Brucco unlocked +it and threw the bolts, a sober-faced +eight-year-old with a bandaged leg +limped up.</p> + +<p>"This is Grif," Brucco said. "He +will stay with you, wherever you go, +from now on."</p> + +<p>"My personal bodyguard?" Jason +asked, looking down at the stocky +child who barely reached his waist.</p> + +<p>"You might call him that." Brucco +swung the door open. "Grif tangled +with a sawbird, so he won't be able +to do any real work for a while. You +yourself admitted that you will never +be able to equal a Pyrran, so you +should be glad of a little protection."</p> + +<p>"Always a kind word, that's you, +Brucco," Jason said. He bent over +and shook hands with the boy. Even +the eight-year-olds had a bone-crushing +grip.</p> + +<p>The two of them entered the lock +and Brucco swung the inner door shut +behind them. As soon as it was sealed +the outer door opened automatically. +It was only partly open when Grif's +gun blasted twice. Then they stepped +out onto the surface of Pyrrus, over +the smoking body of one of its animals.</p> + +<p>Very symbolic, Jason thought. +He was also bothered by the realization +that he hadn't remembered to +look for something coming in. Then, +too, he couldn't even identify the +beast from its charred remains. He +glanced around, hoping he would be +able to fire first himself, next time.</p> + +<p>This was an unfulfilled hope. The +few beasts that came their way were +always seen first by the boy. After an +hour of this, Jason was so irritated +that he blasted an evil-looking thorn +plant out of existence. He hoped that +Grif wouldn't look too closely at it. +Of course the boy did.</p> + +<p>"That plant wasn't close. It is stupid +to waste good ammunition on a +plant," Grif said.</p> + +<p>There was no real trouble during +the day. Jason ended by being bored, +though soaked by the frequent rainstorms. +If Grif was capable of carrying +on a conversation, he didn't show +it. All Jason's gambits failed. The +following day went the same way. On +the third day, Brucco appeared and +looked Jason carefully up and down.</p> + +<p>"I don't like to say it, but I suppose +you are as ready to leave now +as you ever will be. Change the virus +filter noseplugs every day. Always +check boots for tears and metalcloth +suiting for rips. Medikit supplies renewed +once a week."</p> + +<p>"And wipe my nose and wear my +galoshes. Anything else?" Jason +asked.</p> + +<p>Brucco started to say something, +then changed his mind. "Nothing that +you shouldn't know well by now. +Keep alert. And ... good luck." He +followed up the words with a crushing +handshake that was totally unexpected. +As soon as the numbness left +Jason's hand, he and Grif went out +through the large entrance lock.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>IX.</h2> + +<p>Real as they had been, the training +chambers had not prepared him for +the surface of Pyrrus. There was the +basic similarity of course. The feel of +the poison grass underfoot and the +erratic flight of a stingwing in the last +instant before Grif blasted it. But +these were scarcely noticeable in the +crash of the elements around him.</p> + +<p>A heavy rain was falling, more like +a sheet of water than individual +drops. Gusts of wind tore at it, hurling +the deluge into his face. He wiped +his eyes clear and could barely make +out the conical forms of two volcanoes +on the horizon, vomiting out clouds +of smoke and flame. The reflection of +this inferno was a sullen redness on +the clouds that raced by in banks +above them.</p> + +<p>There was a rattle on his hard hat +and something bounced off to splash +to the ground. He bent over and +picked up a hailstone as thick as his +thumb. A sudden flurry of hail hammered +painfully at his back and neck, +he straightened hurriedly.</p> + +<p>As quickly as it started the storm +was over. The sun burned down, melting +the hailstones and sending curls +of steam up from the wet street. Jason +sweated inside his armored clothing. +Yet before they had gone a block it +was raining again and he shook with +chill.</p> + +<p>Grif trudged steadily along, indifferent +to the weather or the volcanoes +that rumbled on the horizon and +shook the ground beneath their feet. +Jason tried to ignore his discomfort +and match the boy's pace.</p> + +<p>The walk was a depressing one. +The heavy, squat buildings loomed +grayly through the rain, more than +half of them in ruins. They walked +on a pedestrian way in the middle of +the street. The occasional armored +trucks went by on both sides of them. +The midstreet sidewalk puzzled Jason +until Grif blasted something that hurtled +out of a ruined building towards +them. The central location gave them +some chance to see what was coming. +Suddenly Jason was very tired.</p> + +<p>"Grif, this city of yours is sure +down at the heels. I hope the other +ones are in better shape."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean +talking about heels. But there are no +other cities. Some mining camps that +can't be located inside the perimeter. +But no other cities."</p> + +<p>This surprised Jason. He had always +visualized the planet with more +than one city. There were a <i>lot</i> of +things he didn't know about Pyrrus, +he realized suddenly. All of his efforts +since landing had been taken up +with the survival studies. There were +a number of questions he wanted to +ask. But ask them of somebody other +than his grouchy eight-year-old bodyguard. +There was one person who +would be best equipped to tell him +what he wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Do you know Kerk?" he asked the +boy. "Apparently he's your ambassador +to a lot of places, but his last +name—"</p> + +<p>"Sure, everybody knows Kerk. But +he's busy, you shouldn't see him."</p> + +<p>Jason shook a finger at him. +"Minder of my body you may be. But +minder of my soul you are not. What +do you say I call the shots and you +go along to shoot the monsters? +O.K.?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>They took shelter from a sudden +storm of fist-sized hailstones. Then, +with ill grace, Grif led the way to one +of the larger, central buildings. There +were more people here and some of +them even glanced at Jason for a +minute, before turning back to their +business. Jason dragged himself up +two flights of stairs before they reached +a door marked CO-ORDINATION +AND SUPPLY.</p> + +<p>"Kerk in here?" Jason asked.</p> + +<p>"Sure," the boy told him. "He's in +charge."</p> + +<p>"Fine. Now you get a nice cold +drink, or your lunch, or something, +and meet me back here in a couple of +hours. I imagine Kerk can do as good +a job of looking after me as you can."</p> + +<p>The boy stood doubtfully for a few +seconds, then turned away. Jason +wiped off some more sweat and pushed +through the door.</p> + +<p>There were a handful of people +in the office beyond. None of them +looked up at Jason or asked his business. +Everything has a purpose on +Pyrrus. If he came there—he must +have had a good reason. No one +would ever think to ask him what he +wanted. Jason, used to the petty officialdom +of a thousand worlds, waited +for a few moments before he understood. +There was only one other +door. He shuffled over and opened it.</p> + +<p>Kerk looked up from a desk +strewed about with papers and ledgers. +"I was wondering when you +would show up," he said.</p> + +<p>"A lot sooner if you hadn't prevented +it," Jason told him as he +dropped wearily into a chair. "It finally +dawned on me that I could +spend the rest of my life in your +blood-thirsty nursery school if I +didn't do something about it. So here +I am."</p> + +<p>"Ready to return to the 'civilized' +worlds, now that you've seen enough +of Pyrrus?"</p> + +<p>"I am not," Jason said. "And I'm +getting very tired of everyone telling +me to leave. I'm beginning to think +that you and the rest of the Pyrrans +are trying to hide something."</p> + +<p>Kerk smiled at the thought. "What +could we have to hide? I doubt if +any planet has as simple and one-directional +an existence as ours."</p> + +<p>"If that's true, then you certainly +wouldn't mind answering a few direct +questions about Pyrrus?"</p> + +<p>Kerk started to protest, then laughed. +"Well done. I should know better +by now than to argue with you. +What do you want to know?"</p> + +<p>Jason tried to find a comfortable +position on the hard chair, then gave +up. "What's the population of your +planet?" he asked.</p> + +<p>For a second Kerk hesitated, then +said, "Roughly thirty thousand. That +is not very much for a planet that has +been settled this long, but the reason +for that is obvious."</p> + +<p>"All right, population thirty thousand," +Jason said. "Now how about +surface control of your planet. I was +surprised to find out that this city +within its protective wall—the perimeter—is +the only one on the planet. +Let's not consider the mining camps, +since they are obviously just extensions +of the city. Would you say then, +that you people control more or less +of the planet's surface than you did +in the past?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Kerk picked up a length of steel +pipe from the desk, that he used as +a paperweight, and toyed with it as +he thought. The thick steel bent like +rubber at his touch, as he concentrated +on his answer.</p> + +<p>"That's hard to say offhand. There +must be records of that sort of thing, +though I wouldn't know where to +find them. It depends on so many +factors—"</p> + +<p>"Let's forget that for now then," +Jason said. "I have another question +that's really more relevant. Wouldn't +you say that the population of Pyrrus +is declining steadily, year after year?"</p> + +<p>There was a sharp <i>twang</i> as the +steel snapped in Kerk's fingers, the +pieces dropping to the floor. He stood, +over Jason, his hands extended towards +the smaller man, his face flushed +and angry.</p> + +<p>"Don't ever say that," he roared. +"Don't let me ever hear you say that +again!"</p> + +<p>Jason sat as quietly as he could, +talking slowly and picking out each +word with care. His life hung in the +balance.</p> + +<p>"Don't get angry, Kerk. I meant +no harm. I'm on your side, remember? +I can talk to you because you've +seen much more of the universe than +the Pyrrans who have never left the +planet. You are used to discussing +things. You know that words are just +symbols. We can talk and know you +don't have to lose your temper over +mere words—"</p> + +<p>Kerk slowly lowered his arms and +stepped away. Then he turned and +poured himself a glass of water from +a bottle on the desk. He kept his +back turned to Jason while he drank.</p> + +<p>Very little of the sweat that Jason +wiped from his sopping face was +caused by the heat in the room.</p> + +<p>"I'm ... sorry I lost my temper," +Kerk said, dropping heavily into his +chair. "Doesn't usually happen. Been +working hard lately, must have got +my temper on edge." He made no +mention of what Jason had said.</p> + +<p>"Happens to all of us," Jason told +him. "I won't begin to describe the +condition my nerves were in when +I hit this planet. I'm finally forced to +admit that everything you said about +Pyrrus is true. It is the most deadly +spot in the system. And only native-born +Pyrrans could possibly survive +here. I can manage to fumble along +a bit after my training, but I know +I would never stand a chance on my +own. You probably know I have an +eight-year-old as a bodyguard. Gives +a good idea of my real status +here."</p> + +<p>Anger suppressed, Kerk was back +in control of himself now. His eyes +narrowed in thought. "Surprises me +to hear you say that. Never thought +I would hear you admit that anyone +could be better than you at anything. +Isn't that why you came here? To +prove that you were as good as any +native-born Pyrran?"</p> + +<p>"Score one for your side," Jason +admitted. "I didn't think it showed +that much. And I'm glad to see your +mind isn't as muscle-bound as your +body. Yes, I'll admit that was probably +my main reason for coming, that +and curiosity."</p> + +<p>Kerk was following his own train +of thoughts, and puzzled where they +were leading him. "You came here +to prove that you were as good as +any native-born Pyrran. Yet now you +admit that any eight-year-old can outdraw +you. That just doesn't stack up +with what I know about you. If you +give with one hand, you must be +taking back with the other. In what +way do you still feel your natural +superiority?"</p> + +<p>Jason thought a long time before +answering.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you," he finally said. "But +don't snap my neck for it. I'm gambling +that your civilized mind can +control your reflexes. Because I have +to talk about things that are strictly +taboo on Pyrrus.</p> + +<p>"In your people's eyes I'm a weakling +because I come from off-world. +Realize though, that this is also my +strength. I can see things that are +hidden from you by long association. +You know, the old business of not +being able to see the forest for the +trees in the way." Kerk nodded +agreement and Jason went on.</p> + +<p>"To continue the analogy further, +I landed from an airship, and at first +all I <i>could</i> see was the forest. To me +certain facts are obvious. I think that +you people know them too, only you +keep your thoughts carefully repressed. +They are hidden thoughts that +are completely taboo. I am going to +say one of them out loud now and +hope you can control yourself well +enough to not kill me."</p> + +<p>Kerk's great hands tightened on +the arms of his chair, the only sign +that he had heard. Jason talked quietly, +as smoothly and easily as a lancet +probing into a brain.</p> + +<p>"Human beings are losing the war +on Pyrrus. There is no chance they +can win. They could leave for another +planet, but that wouldn't be +victory. Yet, if they stay and continue +this war, they only prolong a particularly +bloody form of racial suicide. +With each generation the population +drops. Until eventually the planet +will win."</p> + +<p>One arm of Kerk's plastic and steel +chair tore loose under the crushing +grasp of his fingers. He didn't notice +it. The rest of his body was rock-still +and his eyes fixed on Jason.</p> + +<p>Looking away from the fractured +chair, Jason sought for the right +words.</p> + +<p>"This is not a real war, but a disastrous +treating of symptoms. Like +cutting off cancerous fingers one by +one. The only result can be ultimate +death. None of you seem to realize +that. All you see are the trees. It has +never occurred to you that you could +treat the <i>causes</i> of this war and end it +forever."</p> + +<p>Kerk dropped the arm of the chair +clattering to the floor. He sat up, +astonished. "What the devil do you +mean? You sound like a grubber."</p> + +<p>Jason didn't ask what a grubber +was—but he filed the name.</p> + +<p>"Call me a Pyrran by adoption. I +want this planet to survive as much +as you do. I think this war can be +ended by finding the <i>causes</i>—and +changing them, whatever they are."</p> + +<p>"You're talking nonsense," Kerk +said. "This is just an alien world +that must be battled. The causes are +self-obvious facts of existence."</p> + +<p>"No, they're not," Jason insisted. +"Consider for a second. When you +are away for any length of time from +this planet, you must take a refresher +course. To see how things have +changed for the worse while you were +gone. Well, that's a linear progression. +If things get worse when you +extend into the future, then they +have to get better if you extend into +the past. It is also good theory—though +I don't know if the facts will +bear me out—to say that if you extend +it far enough into the past you +will reach a time when mankind and +Pyrrus were not at war with each +other."</p> + +<p>Kerk was beyond speech now, only +capable of sitting and listening while +Jason drove home the blows of inescapable +logic.</p> + +<p>"There is evidence to support this +theory. Even you will admit that I, if +I am no match for Pyrran life, am +surely well versed in it. And all +Pyrran flora and fauna I've seen +have one thing in common. They're +not functional. <i>None</i> of their immense +armory of weapons is used +against each other. Their toxins don't +seem to operate against Pyrran life. +They are good only for dispensing +death to Homo sapiens. And <i>that</i> is +a physical impossibility. In the three +hundred years that men have been on +this planet, the life forms couldn't +have naturally adapted in this manner."</p> + +<p>"But they <i>have</i> done it!" Kerk +bellowed.</p> + +<p>"You are so right," Jason told him +calmly. "And if they have done it +there must be some agency at work. +Operating how—I have no idea. But +something has caused the life on +Pyrrus to declare war, and I'd like to +find out what that something is. +What was the dominant life form +here when your ancestors landed?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/007.png" width="350" height="254" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>"I'm sure I wouldn't know," Kerk +said. "You're not suggesting, are you, +that there are sentient beings on Pyrrus +other than those of human descent? +Creatures who are organizing +the planet to battle us?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not suggesting it—you are. +That means you're getting the idea. +I have no idea what caused this +change, but I would sure like to find +out. Then see if it can be changed +back. Nothing promised, of course. +You'll agree, though, that it is worth +investigating."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Fist smacking into his palm, his +heavy footsteps shaking the building, +Kerk paced back and forth the length +of the room. He was at war with +himself. New ideas fought old beliefs. +It was so sudden—and so hard +not to believe.</p> + +<p>Without asking permission Jason +helped himself to some chilled water +from the bottle, and sank back into +the chair, exhausted. Something +whizzed in through the open window, +tearing a hole in the protective +screen. Kerk blasted it without changing +stride, without even knowing he +had done it.</p> + +<p>The decision didn't take long. +Geared to swift activity, the big +Pyrran found it impossible not to +decide quickly. The pacing stopped +and a finger stabbed at Jason.</p> + +<p>"I don't say you have convinced +me, but I find it impossible to find a +ready answer to your arguments. So +until I do, we will have to operate +as if they are true. Now what do you +plan to do, what <i>can</i> you do?"</p> + +<p>Jason ticked the points off on his +fingers. "One, I'll need a place to +live and work that is well protected. +So instead of spending my energies +on just remaining alive I can devote +some study to this project. Two, I +want someone to help me—and act +as a bodyguard at the same time. +And someone, please, with a little +more scope of interest than my present +watchdog. I would suggest Meta +for the job."</p> + +<p>"Meta?" Kerk was surprised. "She +is a space pilot and defense-screen +operator, what good could she possibly +be on a project like this?"</p> + +<p>"The most good possible. She has +had experience on other worlds and +can shift her point of view—at least +a bit. And she must know as much +about this planet as any other educated +adult and can answer any questions +I ask." Jason smiled. "In addition +to which she is an attractive girl, +whose company I enjoy."</p> + +<p>Kerk grunted. "I was wondering +if you would get around to mentioning +that last reason. The others make +sense though, so I'm not going to +argue. I'll round up a replacement +for her and have Meta sent here. +There are plenty of sealed buildings +you can use."</p> + +<p>After talking to one of the assistants +from the outer office, Kerk made +some calls on the screen. The correct +orders were quickly issued. Jason +watched it all with interest.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me for asking," he finally +said. "But are you the dictator of this +planet? You just snap your fingers +and they all jump."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it looks that way," Kerk +admitted. "But that is just an illusion. +No one is in complete charge +on Pyrrus, neither is there anything +resembling a democratic system. After +all, our total population is about the +size of an army division. Everyone +does the job they are best qualified +for. Various activities are separated +into departments with the most qualified +person in charge. I run Co-ordination +and Supply, which is about the +loosest category. We fill in the gaps +between departments and handle +procuring from off-planet."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Meta came in then and talked to +Kerk. She completely ignored Jason's +presence. "I was relieved and sent +here," she said. "What is it? Change +in flight schedule?"</p> + +<p>"You might call it that," Kerk +said. "As of now you are dismissed +from all your old assignments and +assigned to a new department: Investigation +and Research. That tired-looking +fellow there is your department +head."</p> + +<p>"A sense of humor," Jason said. +"The only native-born one on Pyrrus. +Congratulations, there's hope for the +planet yet."</p> + +<p>Meta glanced back and forth between +them. "I don't understand. I +can't believe it. I mean a new department—why?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," Kerk said. "I didn't +mean to be cruel. I thought perhaps +you might feel more at ease. What +I said was true. Jason has a way—or +may have a way—to be of immense +value to Pyrrus. Will you help him?"</p> + +<p>Meta had her composure back. And +a little anger. "Do I have to? Is that +an order? You know I have work to +do. I'm sure you will realize it is more +important than something a person +from <i>off-planet</i> might imagine. He +can't really understand—"</p> + +<p>"Yes. It's an order." The snap +was back in Kerk's voice. Meta +flushed at the tone.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I can explain," Jason +broke in. "After all the whole thing +is my idea. But first I would like your +co-operation. Will you take the clip +out of your gun and give it to Kerk?"</p> + +<p>Meta looked frightened, but Kerk +nodded in solemn agreement. "Just +for a few minutes, Meta. I have my +gun so you will be safe here. I think +I know what Jason has in mind, and +from personal experience I'm afraid +he is right."</p> + +<p>Reluctantly Meta passed over the +clip and cleared the charge in the +gun's chamber. Only then did Jason +explain.</p> + +<p>"I have a theory about life on +Pyrrus, and I'm afraid I'll have to +shatter some illusions when I explain. +To begin with, the fact must be admitted +that your people are slowly +losing the war here and will eventually +be destroyed—"</p> + +<p>Before he was half through the +sentence, Meta's gun was directed between +his eyes and she was wildly +snapping the trigger. There was only +hatred and revulsion in her expression. +Kerk took her by the shoulders +and sat her in his chair, before anything +worse happened. It took a while +before she could calm down enough +to listen to Jason's words. It is not +easy to have the carefully built-up +falsehoods of a lifetime shattered. +Only the fact that she had seen something +of other worlds enabled her +to listen at all.</p> + +<p>The light of unreason was still in +her eyes when he had finished, telling +her the things he and Kerk had discussed. +She sat tensely, pushed forward +against Kerk's hands, as if they +were the only things that stopped her +from leaping at Jason.</p> + +<p>"Maybe that is too much to assimilate +at one sitting," Jason said. "So +let's put it in simpler terms. I believe +we can find a reason for this unrelenting +hatred of humans. Perhaps we +don't smell right. Maybe I'll find an +essence of crushed Pyrran bugs that +will render us immune when we rub +it in. I don't know yet. But whatever +the results, we <i>must</i> make the investigation. +Kerk agrees with me on that."</p> + +<p>Meta looked at Kerk and he nodded +agreement. Her shoulders slumped +in sudden defeat. She whispered +the words.</p> + +<p>"I ... can't say I agree, or even +understand all that you said. But I'll +help you. If Kerk thinks that it is +the right thing."</p> + +<p>"I do," he said. "Now, do you +want the clip back for your gun? Not +planning to take any more shots at +Jason?"</p> + +<p>"That was foolish of me," she +said coldly while she reloaded the +gun. "I don't need a gun. If I had +to kill him, I could do it with my +bare hands."</p> + +<p>"I love you, too," Jason smiled at +her. "Are you ready to go now?"</p> + +<p>"Of course." She brushed a fluffy +curl of hair into place. "First we'll +find a place where you can stay. I'll +take care of that. After that the work +of the new department is up to you."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>X.</h2> + +<p>There were empty rooms in one +of the computer buildings. These +were completely sealed to keep stray +animal life out of the delicate machinery. +While Meta checked a bed-roll +out of stores, Jason painfully +dragged a desk, table and chairs in +from a nearby empty office. When +she returned with a pneumatic bed +he instantly dropped on it with a +grateful sigh. Her lip curled a bit at +his obvious weakness.</p> + +<p>"Get used to the sight," he said. +"I intend to do as much of my work +as I can, while maintaining a horizontal +position. You will be my +strong right arm. And right now, +Right Arm, I wish you could scare +me up something to eat. I also intend +to do most of my eating in the previously +mentioned prone condition."</p> + +<p>Snorting with disgust, Meta stamped +out. While she was gone, Jason +chewed the end of a stylus thoughtfully, +then made some careful notes.</p> + +<p>After they had finished the almost-tasteless +meal he began the search.</p> + +<p>"Meta, where can I find historical +records of Pyrrus?"</p> + +<p>"I've never heard of any ... I +really don't know."</p> + +<p>"But there has to be something—<i>somewhere</i>," +he insisted. "Even if +your present-day culture devotes all +of its time and energies to survival, +you can be sure it wasn't always that +way. All the time it was developing, +people were keeping records, making +notes. Now where do we look? Do +you have a library here?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," she said. "We have +an excellent technical library. But +I'm sure there wouldn't be any of <i>that</i> +sort of thing there."</p> + +<p>Trying not to groan, Jason stood +up. "Let me be the judge of that. +Just lead the way."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Operation of the library was completely +automatic. A projected index +gave the call number for any text +that had to be consulted. The tape +was delivered to the charge desk +thirty seconds after the number had +been punched. Returned tapes were +dropped through a hopper and refiled +automatically. The mechanism worked +smoothly.</p> + +<p>"Wonderful," Jason said, pushing +away from the index. "A tribute to +technological ingenuity. Only it contains +nothing of any value to us. Just +reams of textbooks."</p> + +<p>"What <i>else</i> should be in a library?" +Meta sounded sincerely +puzzled.</p> + +<p>Jason started to explain, then +changed his mind. "Later we will +go into that," he said. "Much later. +Now we have to find a lead. Is it +possible that there are any tapes—or +even printed books—that aren't filed +through this machine?"</p> + +<p>"It seems unlikely, but we could +ask Poli. He lives here somewhere +and is in charge of the library—filing +new books and tending the +machinery."</p> + +<p>The single door into the rear of +the building was locked, and no +amount of pounding could rouse the +caretaker.</p> + +<p>"If he's alive, this should do it," +Jason said. He pressed the out-of-order +button on the control panel. +It had the desired affect. Within five +minutes the door opened and Poli +dragged himself through it.</p> + +<p>Death usually came swiftly on +Pyrrus. If wounds slowed a man +down, the ever-ready forces of destruction +quickly finished the job. +Poli was the exception to this rule. +Whatever had attacked him originally +had done an efficient job. Most of +the lower part of his face was gone. +His left arm was curled and useless. +The damage to his body and legs had +left him with the bare capability to +stumble from one spot to the next.</p> + +<p>Yet he still had one good arm as +well as his eyesight. He could work +in the library and relieve a fully fit +man. How long he had been dragging +the useless husk of a body +around the building, no one knew. +In spite of the pain that filled his +red-rimmed, moist eyes, he had +stayed alive. Growing old, older than +any other Pyrran as far as Jason had +seen. He tottered forward and turned +off the alarm that had called him.</p> + +<p>When Jason started to explain the +old man took no notice. Only after +the librarian had rummaged a hearing +aid out of his clothes, did Jason +realize he was deaf as well. Jason +explained again what he searched for. +Poli nodded and printed his answer +on a tablet.</p> + +<p><i>there are many old books—in the +storerooms below</i></p> + +<p>Most of the building was taken +up by the robot filing and sorting +apparatus. They moved slowly +through the banks of machinery, +following the crippled librarian to a +barred door in the rear. He pointed +to it. While Jason and Meta fought +to open the age-incrusted bars, he +wrote another note on his tablet.</p> + +<p><i>not opened for many years, rats</i></p> + +<p>Jason's and Meta's guns appeared +reflexively in their hands as they read +the message. Jason finished opening +the door by himself. The two native +Pyrrans stood facing the opening gap. +It was well they did. Jason could +never have handled what came +through that door.</p> + +<p>He didn't even open it for himself. +Their sounds at the door must +have attracted all the vermin in the +lower part of the building. Jason had +thrown the last bolt and started to +pull on the handle—when the door +was <i>pushed</i> open from the other side.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Open the gateway to hell and see +what comes out. Meta and Poli stood +shoulder to shoulder firing into the +mass of loathsomeness that boiled +through the door. Jason jumped to +one side and picked off the occasional +animal that came his way. The +destruction seemed to go on forever.</p> + +<p>Long minutes passed before the +last clawed beast made its death rush. +Meta and Poli waited expectantly for +more, they were happily excited by +this chance to deal destruction. Jason +felt a little sick after the silent ferocious +attack. A ferocity that the +Pyrrans reflected. He saw a scratch +on Meta's face where one of the +beasts had caught her. She seemed +oblivious to it.</p> + +<p>Pulling out his medikit, Jason circled +the piled bodies. Something +stirred in their midst and a crashing +shot ploughed into it. Then he reached +the girl and pushed the analyzer +probes against the scratch. The machine +clicked and Meta jumped as the +antitoxin needle stabbed down. She +realized for the first time what Jason +was doing.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," she said.</p> + +<p>Poli had a powerful battery lamp +and, by unspoken agreement, Jason +carried it. Crippled though he was, +the old man was still a Pyrran when +it came to handling a gun. They +slowly made their way down the refuse-laden +stairs.</p> + +<p>"What a stench," Jason grimaced.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the stairs they looked +around. There <i>had</i> been books and +records there at one time. They had +been systematically chewed, eaten +and destroyed for decades.</p> + +<p>"I like the care you take with your +old books," Jason said disgustedly.</p> + +<p>"They could have been of no importance," +Meta said coolly, "or they +would be filed correctly in the library +upstairs."</p> + +<p>Jason wandered gloomily through +the rooms. Nothing remained of any +value. Fragments and scraps of writing +and printing. Never enough in +one spot to bother collecting. With +the toe of one armored boot, he +kicked angrily at a pile of debris, +ready to give up the search. There +was a glint of rusty metal under the +dirt.</p> + +<p>"Hold this!" He gave the light to +Meta and began scratching aside +the rubble. A flat metal box with a +dial lock built into it, was revealed.</p> + +<p>"Why that's a log box!" Meta +said, surprised.</p> + +<p>"That's what I thought," Jason +said.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 334px;"><img src="images/008.png" width="334" height="500" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XI.</h2> + +<div class="figcap"><img src="images/009.png" width="45" height="45" alt="R" title="R" /></div> + +<p class="firstp"><span class="dcap">esealing</span> the cellar, +they carried the box +back to Jason's new +office. Only after +spraying with decontaminant, +did they examine it closely. +Meta picked out engraved letters +on the lid.</p> + +<p>"S. T. POLLUX VICTORY—that +must be the name of the spacer +this log came from. But I don't recognize +the class, or whatever it is +the initials <i>S. T.</i> stand for."</p> + +<p>"Stellar Transport," Jason told +her, as he tried the lock mechanism. +"I've heard of them but I've never +seen one. They were built during the +last wave of galactic expansion. +Really nothing more than gigantic +metal containers, put together in +space. After they were loaded with +people, machinery and supplies, they +would be towed to whatever planetary +system had been chosen. These +same tugs and one-shot rockets +would brake the S. T.'s in for a landing. +Then leave them there. The hull +was a ready source of metal and the +colonists could start right in building +their new world. And they were <i>big</i>. +All of them held at least fifty thousand +people ..."</p> + +<p>Only after he said it, did he realize +the significance of his words. +Meta's deadly stare drove it home. +There were now less people on Pyrrus +than had been in the original +settlement.</p> + +<p>And human population, without +rigid birth controls, usually increased +geometrically. Jason dinAlt suddenly +remembered Meta's itchy trigger +finger.</p> + +<p>"But we can't be sure how many +people were aboard this one," he said +hurriedly. "Or even if this is the log +of the ship that settled Pyrrus. Can +you find something to pry this open +with? The lock is corroded into a +single lump."</p> + +<p>Meta took her anger out on the +box. Her fingers managed to force +a gap between lid and bottom. She +wrenched at it. Rusty metal screeched +and tore. The lid came off in her +hands and a heavy book thudded to +the table.</p> + +<p>The cover legend destroyed all +doubt.</p> + +<div class="bq"><p>LOG OF S. T. POLLUX VICTORY. +OUTWARD BOUND—SETANI +TO PYRRUS. 55,000 +SETTLERS ABOARD.</p></div> + +<p>Meta couldn't argue now. She +stood behind Jason with tight-clenched +fists and read over his +shoulder as he turned the brittle, +yellowed pages. He quickly skipped +through the opening part that covered +the sailing preparations and trip +out. Only when he had reached the +actual landing did he start reading +slowly. The impact of the ancient +words leaped out at him.</p> + +<p>"Here it is," Jason shouted. +"Proof positive that we're on the +right trail. Even <i>you</i> will have to admit +that. Read it, right here."</p> + +<div class="bq"><p><i>... Second day since the tugs left, +we are completely on our own now. +The settlers still haven't grown used +to this planet, though we have orientation +talks every night. As well as +the morale agents who I have working +twenty hours a day. I suppose I +really can't blame the people, they +all lived in the underways of Setani +and I doubt if they saw the sun once +a year. This planet has weather with +a vengeance, worse than anything +I've seen on a hundred other planets. +Was I wrong during the original +planning stages not to insist on settlers +from one of the agrarian +worlds? People who could handle the +outdoors.</i></p> + +<p><i>These citified Setanians are +afraid to go out in the rain. But of +course they have adapted completely +to their native 1.5 gravity so the two +gee here doesn't bother them much. +That was the factor that decided us. +Anyway—too late now to do anything +about it. Or about the unending +cycle of rain, snow, hail, hurricanes +and such. Answer will be to +start the mines going, sell the metals +and build completely enclosed cities.</i></p> + +<p><i>The only thing on this forsaken +planet that isn't actually against us +are the animals. A few large predators +at first, but the guards made +short work of them. The rest of the +wild life leaves us alone. Glad of +that! They have been fighting for +existence so long that I have never +seen a more deadly looking collection. +Even the little rodents no bigger +than a man's hand are armored +like tanks ...</i></p></div> + +<p>"I don't believe a word of it," +Meta broke in. "That can't be Pyrrus +he's writing about ..." Her +words died away as Jason wordlessly +pointed to the title on the cover.</p> + +<p>He continued scanning the pages, +flipping them quickly. A sentence +caught his eye and he stopped. Jamming +his finger against the place, he +read aloud.</p> + +<p>"'... And troubles keep piling up. +First Har Palo with his theory that +the vulcanism is so close to the surface +that the ground keeps warm and +the crops grow so well. Even if he +is right—what can we do? We must +be self-dependent if we intend to +survive. And now this other thing. It +seems that the forest fire drove a lot +of new species our way. Animals, insects +and even birds have attacked +the people. (Note for Har: check if +possible seasonal migration might explain +attacks.) There have been +fourteen deaths from wounds and +poisoning. We'll have to enforce the +rules for insect lotion at all times. +And I suppose build some kind of +perimeter defense to keep the larger +beasts out of the camp.'</p> + +<p>"This is a beginning," Jason said. +"At least now we are aware of the +real nature of the battle we're engaged +in. It doesn't make Pyrrus any +easier to handle, or make the life +forms less dangerous, to know that +they were once better disposed towards +mankind. All this does is point +the way. Something took the peaceful +life forms, shook them up, and +turned this planet into one big deathtrap +for mankind. That <i>something</i> is +what I want to uncover."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XII.</h2> + +<p>Further reading of the log produced +no new evidence. There was a +good deal more information about +the early animal and plant life and +how deadly they were, as well as the +first defenses against them. Interesting +historically, but of no use whatsoever +in countering the menace. The +captain apparently never thought that +life forms were altering on Pyrrus, +believing instead that dangerous +beasts were being discovered. He +never lived to change his mind. The +last entry in the log, less than two +months after the first attack, was +very brief. And in a different handwriting.</p> + +<div class="bq"><p><i>Captain Kurkowski died today, of +poisoning following an insect bite. +His death is greatly mourned.</i></p></div> + +<p>The "why" of the planetary revulsion +had yet to be uncovered.</p> + +<p>"Kerk must see this book," Jason +said. "He should have some idea of +the progress being made. Can we get +transportation—or do we walk to +city hall?"</p> + +<p>"Walk, of course," Meta said.</p> + +<p>"Then you bring the book. At +two G's I find it very hard to be a +gentleman and carry the packages."</p> + +<p>They had just entered Kerk's outer +office when a shrill screaming burst +out of the phone-screen. It took Jason +a moment to realize that it was +a mechanical signal, not a human +voice.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Kerk burst through the door and +headed for the street entrance. Everyone +else in the office was going the +same way. Meta looked confused, +leaning towards the door, then looking +back at Jason.</p> + +<p>"What does it mean? Can't you +tell me?" He shook her arm.</p> + +<p>"Sector alarm. A major breakthrough +of some kind at the perimeter. +Everyone but other perimeter +guards has to answer."</p> + +<p>"Well, go then," he said. "Don't +worry about me. I'll be all right."</p> + +<p>His words acted like a trigger release. +Meta's gun was in her hand +and she was gone before he had +finished speaking. Jason sat down +wearily in the deserted office.</p> + +<p>The unnatural silence in the building +began to get on his nerves. He +shifted his chair over to the phone-screen +and switched it on to <i>receive</i>. +The screen exploded with color and +sound. At first Jason could make no +sense of it at all. Just a confused +jumble of faces and voices. It was a +multi-channel set designed for military +use. A number of images were +carried on the screen at one time, +rows of heads or hazy backgrounds +where the user had left the field of +view. Many of the heads were talking +at the same time and the babble of +their voices made no sense whatsoever.</p> + +<p>After examining the controls and +making a few experiments, Jason +began to understand the operation. +Though all stations were on the +screen at all times, their audio channels +could be controlled. In that way +two, three or more stations could be +hooked together in a link-up. They +would be in round-robin communication +with each other, yet never out of +contact with the other stations.</p> + +<p>Identification between voice and +sound was automatic. Whenever one +of the pictured images spoke, the +image would glow red. By trial and +error Jason brought in the audio for +the stations he wanted and tried to +follow the course of the attack.</p> + +<p>Very quickly he realized this was +something out of the ordinary. In +some way, no one made it clear, a +section of the perimeter had been +broken through and emergency defenses +had to be thrown up to encapsulate +it. Kerk seemed to be in +charge, at least he was the only one +with an override transmitter. He used +it for general commands. The many, +tiny images faded and his face appeared +on top of them, filling the +entire screen.</p> + +<p>"All perimeter stations send twenty-five +per cent of your complement +to Area Twelve."</p> + +<p>The small images reappeared and +the babble increased, red lights flickering +from face to face.</p> + +<p>"... Abandon the first floor, acid +bombs can't reach."</p> + +<p>"If we hold we'll be cut off, but +salient is past us on the west flank. +Request support."</p> + +<p>"DON'T MERVV ... IT'S USELESS!"</p> + +<p>"... And the napalm tanks are +almost gone. Orders?"</p> + +<p>"The truck is still there, get it to +the supply warehouse, you'll find replacements ..."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Out of the welter of talk, only the +last two fragments made any sense. +Jason had noticed the signs below +when he came in. The first two floors +of the building below him were jammed +with military supplies. This was +his chance to get into the act.</p> + +<p>Just sitting and watching was frustrating. +Particularly when it was a +desperate emergency. He didn't overvalue +his worth, but he was sure there +was always room for another gun.</p> + +<p>By the time he had dragged himself +down to the street level a turbo-truck +had slammed to a stop in front +of the loading platform. Two Pyrrans +were rolling out drums of napalm +with reckless disregard for their +own safety. Jason didn't dare enter +that maelstrom of rolling metal. He +found he could be of use tugging the +heavy drums into position on the +truck while the others rolled them +up. They accepted his aid without +acknowledgment.</p> + +<p>It was exhausting, sweaty work, +hauling the leaden drums into +place against the heavy gravity. After +a minute Jason worked by touch +through a red haze of hammering +blood. He realized the job was done +only when the truck suddenly leaped +forward and he was thrown to the +floor. He lay there, his chest heaving. +As the driver hurled the heavy vehicle +along, all Jason could do was +bounce around in the bottom. He +could see well enough, but was still +gasping for breath when they braked +at the fighting zone.</p> + +<p>To Jason, it was a scene of incredible +confusion. Guns firing, flames, +men and women running on all sides. +The napalm drums were unloaded +without his help and the truck vanished +for more. Jason leaned against +a wall of a half-destroyed building +and tried to get his bearings. It was +impossible. There seemed to be a +great number of small animals: he +killed two that attacked him. Other +than that he couldn't determine the +nature of the battle.</p> + +<p>A Pyrran, tan face white with pain +and exertion, stumbled up. His right +arm, wet with raw flesh and dripping +blood, hung limply at his side. It was +covered with freshly applied surgical +foam. He held his gun in his left +hand, a stump of control cable dangling +from it. Jason thought the man +was looking for medical aid. He +couldn't have been more wrong.</p> + +<p>Clenching the gun in his teeth, the +Pyrran clutched a barrel of napalm +with his good hand and hurled it +over on its side. Then, with the gun +once more in his hand, he began to +roll the drum along the ground with +his feet. It was slow, cumbersome +work, but he was still in the fight.</p> + +<p>Jason pushed through the hurrying +crowd and bent over the drum. "Let +me do it," he said. "You can cover +us both with your gun."</p> + +<p>The man wiped the sweat from +his eyes with the back of his arm +and blinked at Jason. He seemed to +recognize him. When he smiled it +was a grimace of pain, empty of +humor. "Do that. I can still shoot. +Two half men—maybe we equal one +whole." Jason was laboring too hard +to even notice the insult.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>An explosion had blasted a raw pit +in the street ahead. Two people were +at the bottom, digging it even deeper +with shovels. The whole thing seemed +meaningless. Just as Jason and the +wounded man rolled up the drum +the diggers leaped out of the excavation +and began shooting down into +its depths. One of them turned, a +young girl, barely in her teens.</p> + +<p>"Praise Perimeter!" she breathed. +"They found the napalm. One of the +new horrors is breaking through towards +Thirteen, we just found it." +Even as she talked she swiveled the +drum around, kicked the easy-off +plug, and began dumping the gelid +contents into the hole. When half of +it had gurgled down, she kicked the +drum itself in. Her companion pulled +a flare from his belt, lit it, and threw +it after the drum.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 161px;"><img src="images/010.png" width="161" height="500" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>"Back quick. They don't like +heat," he said.</p> + +<p>This was putting it very mildly. +The napalm caught, tongues of flame +and roiling, greasy smoke climbed up +to the sky. Under Jason's feet the +earth shifted and moved. <i>Something</i> +black and long stirred in the heart +of the flame, then arched up into the +sky over their heads. In the midst +of the searing heat it still moved with +alien, jolting motions. It was immense, +at least two meters thick and +with no indication of its length. The +flames didn't stop it at all, just annoyed +it.</p> + +<p>Jason had some idea of the thing's +length as the street cracked and buckled +for fifty meters on each side +of the pit. Great loops of the creature +began to emerge from the ground. +He fired his gun, as did the others. +Not that it seemed to have any effect. +More and more people were appearing, +armed with a variety of weapons. +Flame-throwers and grenades seemed +to be the most effective.</p> + +<p>"<i>Clear the area ... we're going to +saturate it. Fall back.</i>"</p> + +<p>The voice was so loud it jarred +Jason's ear. He turned and recognized +Kerk, who had arrived with truckloads +of equipment. He had a power +speaker on his back, the mike hung +in front of his lips. His amplified +voice brought an instant reaction +from the crowd. They began to move.</p> + +<p>There was still doubt in Jason's +mind what to do. Clear the area? +But what area? He started towards +Kerk, before he realized that the rest +of the Pyrrans were going in the +opposite direction. Even under two +gravities they <i>moved</i>.</p> + +<p>Jason had a naked feeling of being +alone on the stage. He was in the +center of the street, and the others +had vanished. No one remained. Except +the wounded man Jason had +helped. He stumbled towards Jason, +waving his good arm. Jason couldn't +understand what he said. Kerk was +shouting orders again from one of +the trucks. They had started to move +too. The urgency struck home and +Jason started to run.</p> + +<p>It was too late. On all sides the +earth was buckling, cracking, as more +loops of the underground thing +forced its way into the light. Safety +lay ahead. Only in front of it rose +an arch of dirt-encrusted gray.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>There are seconds of time that +seem to last an eternity. A moment +of subjective time that is grabbed and +stretched to an infinite distance. This +was one of those moments. Jason +stood, frozen. Even the smoke in the +sky hung unmoving. The high-standing +loop of alien life was before him, +every detail piercingly clear.</p> + +<p>Thick as a man, ribbed and gray +as old bark. Tendrils projected from +all parts of it, pallid and twisting +lengths that writhed slowly with +snakelike life. Shaped like a plant, +yet with the motions of an animal. +And cracking, splitting. This was the +worst.</p> + +<p>Seams and openings appeared. +Splintering, gaping mouths that +vomited out a horde of pallid animals. +Jason heard their shriekings, +shrill yet remote. He saw the needlelike +teeth that lined their jaws.</p> + +<p>The paralysis of the unknown held +him there. He should have died. +Kerk was thundering at him through +the power speaker, others were firing +into the attacking creature. Jason +knew nothing.</p> + +<p>Then he was shot forward, pushed +by a rock-hard shoulder. The wounded +man was still there, trying to get +Jason clear. Gun clenched in his jaws +he dragged Jason along with his good +arm. Towards the creature. The +others stopped firing. They saw his +plan and it was a good one.</p> + +<p>A loop of the thing arched into +the air, leaving an opening between +its body and the ground. The +wounded Pyrran planted his feet and +tightened his muscles. One-handed, +with a single thrust, he picked Jason +off the ground and sent him hurtling +under the living arch. Moving tendrils +brushed fire along his face, then +he was through, rolling over and +over on the ground. The wounded +Pyrran leaped after him.</p> + +<p>It was too late. There had been a +chance for one person to get out. The +Pyrran could have done it easily—instead +he had pushed Jason first. +The thing was aware of movement +when Jason brushed its tendrils. It +dropped and caught the wounded +man under its weight. He vanished +from sight as the tendrils wrapped +around him and the animals swarmed +over. His trigger must have pulled +back to full automatic because the +gun kept firing a long time after he +should have been dead.</p> + +<p>Jason crawled. Some of the fanged +animals ran towards him, but were +shot. He knew nothing about this. +Then rude hands grabbed him up and +pulled him forward. He slammed +into the side of a truck and Kerk's +face was in front of his, flushed and +angry. One of the giant fists closed +on the front of Jason's clothes and +he was lifted off his feet, shaken +like a limp bag of rags. He offered +no protest and could not have even +if Kerk had killed him.</p> + +<p>When he was thrown to the +ground, someone picked him up and +slid him into the back of the truck. +He did not lose consciousness as the +truck bounced away, yet he could not +move. In a moment the fatigue would +go away and he would sit up. That +was all he was, just a little tired. +Even as he thought this he passed +out.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XIII.</h2> + +<p>"Just like old times," Jason said +when Brucco came into the room +with a tray of food. Without a word +Brucco served Jason and the wounded +men in the other beds, then left. +"Thanks," Jason called after his retreating +back.</p> + +<p>A joke, a twist of a grin, like it +always was. Sure. But even as he +grinned and his lips shaped a joke, +Jason felt them like a veneer on the +outside. Something plastered on with +a life of its own. Inside he was numb +and immovable. His body was stiff +as his eyes still watched that arch of +alien flesh descend and smother the +one-armed Pyrran with its million +burning fingers.</p> + +<p>He could feel himself under the +arch. After all, hadn't the wounded +man taken his place? He finished the +meal without realizing that he ate.</p> + +<p>Ever since that morning, when he +had recovered consciousness, it had +been like this. He knew that he +should have died out there in that +battle-torn street. <i>His</i> life should +have been snuffed out, for making +the mistake of thinking that he could +actually help the battling Pyrrans. +Instead of being underfoot and in +the way. If it hadn't been for Jason, +the man with the wounded arm +would have been brought here to the +safety of the reorientation buildings. +He knew he was lying in the bed +that belonged to that man.</p> + +<p>The man who had given his life +for Jason's.</p> + +<p>The man whose name he didn't +even know.</p> + +<p>There were drugs in the food and +they made him sleep. The medicated +pads soaked the pain and rawness +out of the burns where the tentacles +had seared his face. When he awoke +the second time, his touch with reality +had been restored.</p> + +<p>A man had died so he could live. +Jason faced the fact. He couldn't +restore that life, no matter how much +he wanted to. What he could do was +make the man's death worth while. +If it can be said that any death was +worth while ... He forced his +thoughts from that track.</p> + +<p>Jason knew what he had to do. +His work was even more important +now. If he could solve the riddle of +this deadly world, he could repay in +part the debt he owed.</p> + +<p>Sitting up made his head spin and +he held to the edge of the bed until +it slowed down. The others in the +room ignored him as he slowly and +painfully dragged on his clothes. +Brucco came in, saw what he was +doing, and left again without a +word.</p> + +<p>Dressing took a long time, but it +was finally done. When Jason finally +left the room he found Kerk waiting +for him.</p> + +<p>"Kerk ... I want to tell you ..."</p> + +<p>"Tell me <i>nothing</i>!" The thunder +of Kerk's voice bounced back from +the ceiling and walls. "I'm telling +<i>you</i>. I'll tell you once and that will +be the end of it. You're not wanted +on Pyrrus, Jason dinAlt, neither you +nor your precious off-world schemes +are wanted here. I let you convince +me once with your twisted tongue. +Helped you at the expense of more +important work. I should have +known what the result of your 'logic' +would be. Now I've seen. Welf died +so you could live. He was twice the +man you will ever be."</p> + +<p>"Welf? Was that his name?" Jason +asked stumblingly. "I didn't +know—"</p> + +<p>"You didn't even know." Kerk's +lips pulled back from his teeth in a +grimace of disgust. "You didn't even +know his name—yet he died that +you might continue your miserable +existence." Kerk spat, as if the +words gave a vile flavor to his +speech, and stamped towards the exit +lock. Almost as an afterthought he +turned back to Jason.</p> + +<p>"You'll stay here in the sealed +buildings until the ship returns in +two weeks. Then you will leave this +planet and never come back. If you +do, I'll kill you instantly. With pleasure." +He started through the lock.</p> + +<p>"Wait," Jason shouted. "You +can't decide like that. You haven't +even seen the evidence I've uncovered. +Ask Meta—" The lock thumped +shut and Kerk was gone.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The whole thing was just too stupid. +Anger began to replace the +futile despair of a moment before. +He was being treated like an irresponsible +child, the importance of +his discovery of the log completely +ignored.</p> + +<p>Jason turned and saw for the first +time that Brucco was standing there. +"Did you hear that?" Jason asked +him.</p> + +<p>"Yes. And I quite agree. You can +consider yourself lucky."</p> + +<p>"Lucky!" Jason was the angry one +now. "Lucky to be treated like a +moronic child, with contempt for +everything I do—"</p> + +<p>"I said lucky," Brucco snapped. +"Welf was Kerk's only surviving +son. Kerk had high hopes for him, +was training him to take his place +eventually." He turned to leave but +Jason called after him.</p> + +<p>"Wait. I'm sorry about Welf. I +can't be any sorrier knowing that he +was Kerk's son. But at least it explains +why Kerk is so quick to throw +me out—as well as the evidence I +have uncovered. The log of the +ship—"</p> + +<p>"I know, I've seen it," Brucco +said. "Meta brought it in. Very interesting +historical document."</p> + +<p>"That's all you can see it as—an +historical document? The significance +of the planetary change escapes +you?"</p> + +<p>"It doesn't escape me," Brucco +answered briefly, "but I cannot see +that it has any relevancy today. The +past is unchangeable and we must +fight in the present. That is enough +to occupy all our energies."</p> + +<p>Jason felt too exhausted to argue +the point any more. He ran into the +same stone wall with all the Pyrrans. +Theirs was a logic of the moment. +The past and the future unchangeable, +unknowable—and uninteresting. +"How is the perimeter battle +going?" he asked, wanting to change +the subject.</p> + +<p>"Finished. Or in the last stages at +least," Brucco was almost enthusiastic +as he showed Jason some stereos +of the attackers. He did not notice +Jason's repressed shudder.</p> + +<p>"This was one of the most serious +breakthroughs in years, but we +caught it in time. I hate to think +what would have happened if they +hadn't been detected for a few weeks +more."</p> + +<p>"What are those things?" Jason +asked. "Giant snakes of some +kind?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be absurd," Brucco snorted. +He tapped the stereo with his +thumbnail. "Roots. That's all. Greatly +modified, but still roots. They +came in under the perimeter barrier, +much deeper than anything we've +had before. Not a real threat in +themselves as they have very little +mobility. Die soon after being cut. +The danger came from their being +used as access tunnels. They're bored +through and through with animal +runs, and two or three species of +beasts live in a sort of symbiosis inside.</p> + +<p>"Now we know what they are +we can watch for them. The danger +was they could have completely undermined +the perimeter and come in +from all sides at once. Not much we +could have done then."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/011.png" width="350" height="284" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>The edge of destruction. Living +on the lip of a volcano. The Pyrrans +took satisfaction from any day that +passed without total annihilation. +There seemed no way to change +their attitude. Jason let the conversation +die there. He picked up the +log of the <i>Pollux Victory</i> from +Brucco's quarters and carried it back +to his room. The wounded Pyrrans +there ignored him as he dropped +onto the bed and opened the book to +the first page.</p> + +<p>For two days he did not leave his +quarters. The wounded men were +soon gone and he had the room to +himself. Page by page he went +through the log, until he knew every +detail of the settlement of Pyrrus. +His notes and cross-references piled +up. He made an accurate map of the +original settlement, superimposed +over a modern one. They didn't +match at all.</p> + +<p>It was a dead end. With one map +held over the other, what he had +suspected was painfully clear. The +descriptions of terrain and physical +features in the log were accurate +enough. The city had obviously been +moved since the first landing. Whatever +records had been kept would be +in the library—and he had exhausted +that source. Anything else +would have been left behind and +long since destroyed.</p> + +<p>Rain lashed against the thick window +above his head, lit suddenly by +a flare of lightning. The unseen volcanoes +were active again, vibrating +the floor with their rumblings deep +in the earth.</p> + +<p>The shadow of defeat pressed +heavily down on Jason. Rounding +his shoulders and darkening, even +more, the overcast day.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XIV.</h2> + +<p>Jason spent one depressed day lying +on his bunk counting rivets, +forcing himself to accept defeat. +Kerk's order that he was not to leave +the sealed building tied his hands +completely. He felt himself close to +the answer—but he was never going +to get it.</p> + +<p>One day of defeat was all he could +take. Kerk's attitude was completely +emotional, untempered by the slightest +touch of logic. This fact kept driving +home until Jason could no longer +ignore it. Emotional reasoning was +something he had learned to mistrust +early in life. He couldn't agree with +Kerk in the slightest—which meant +he had to utilize the ten remaining +days to solve the problem. If it meant +disobeying Kerk, it would still have +to be done.</p> + +<p>He grabbed up his noteplate with +a new enthusiasm. His first sources +of information had been used up, but +there must be others. Chewing the +scriber and needling his brain, he +slowly built up a list of other possibilities. +Any idea, no matter how +wild, was put down. When the plate +was filled he wiped the long shots +and impossibles—such as consulting +off-world historical records. This was +a Pyrran problem, and had to be +settled on this planet or not at all.</p> + +<p>The list worked down to two probables. +Either old records, notebooks +or diaries that individual Pyrrans +might have in their possession, or +verbal histories that had been passed +down the generations by word of +mouth. The first choice seemed to be +the most probable and he acted on it +at once. After a careful check of his +medikit and gun he went to see +Brucco.</p> + +<p>"What's new and deadly in the +world since I left?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Brucco glared at him. "You can't +go out, Kerk has forbidden it."</p> + +<p>"Did he put you in charge of +guarding me to see if I obeyed?" +Jason's voice was quiet and cold.</p> + +<p>Brucco rubbed his jaw and frowned +in thought. Finally he just shrugged. +"No, I'm not guarding you—nor +do I want the job. As far as I +know this is between you and Kerk +and it can stay that way. Leave whenever +you want. And get yourself +killed quietly some place so there will +be an end to the trouble you cause +once and for all."</p> + +<p>"I love you, too," Jason said. +"Now brief me on the wildlife."</p> + +<p>The only new mutation that routine +precautions wouldn't take care +of was a slate-colored lizard that spit +a fast nerve poison with deadly accuracy. +Death took place in seconds +if the saliva touched any bare skin. +The lizards had to be looked out for, +and shot before they came within +range. An hour of lizard-blasting in +a training chamber made him proficient +in the exact procedure.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Jason left the sealed buildings +quietly and no one saw him go. He +followed the map to the nearest barracks, +shuffling tiredly through the +dusty streets. It was a hot, quiet afternoon, +broken only by rumblings from +the distance, and the occasional crack +of his gun.</p> + +<p>It was cool inside the thick-walled +barracks buildings, and he collapsed +onto a bench until the sweat dried +and his heart stopped pounding. +Then he went to the nearest recreation +room to start his search.</p> + +<p>Before it began it was finished. +None of the Pyrrans kept old artifacts +of any kind and thought the +whole idea was very funny. After the +twentieth negative answer Jason was +ready to admit defeat in this line of +investigation. There was as much +chance of meeting a Pyrran with old +documents as finding a bundle of +grandfather's letters in a soldier's kit +bag.</p> + +<p>This left a single possibility—verbal +histories. Again Jason questioned +with the same lack of results. The fun +had worn off the game for the Pyrrans +and they were beginning to +growl. Jason stopped while he was +still in one piece. The commissary +served him a meal that tasted like +plastic paste and wood pulp. He ate it +quickly, then sat brooding over the +empty tray, hating to admit to another +dead end. Who could supply +him with answers? All the people he +had talked to were so young. They +had no interest or patience for story-telling. +That was an old folks' hobby—and +there were no oldsters on Pyrrus.</p> + +<p>With one exception that he knew +of, the librarian, Poli. It was a possibility. +A man who worked with records +and books might have an interest +in some of the older ones. He +might even remember reading volumes +now destroyed. A very slim lead +indeed, but one that had to be pursued.</p> + +<p>Walking to the library almost killed +Jason. The torrential rains made +the footing bad, and in the dim light +it was hard to see what was coming. +A snapper came in close enough to +take out a chunk of flesh before he +could blast it. The antitoxin made +him dizzy and he lost some blood +before he could get the wound dressed. +He reached the library, exhausted +and angry.</p> + +<p>Poli was working on the guts of +one of the catalogue machines. He +didn't stop until Jason had tapped +him on the shoulder. Switching on +his hearing aid, the Pyrran stood +quietly, crippled and bent, waiting +for Jason to talk.</p> + +<p>"Have you any old papers or letters +that you have kept for your +personal use?"</p> + +<p>A shake of the head, <i>no</i>.</p> + +<p>"What about stories—you know, +about great things that have happened +in the past, that someone +might have told you when you were +young?" Negative.</p> + +<p>Results negative. Every question +was answered by a shake of Poli's +head, and very soon the old man +grew irritated and pointed to the +work he hadn't finished.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know you have work to +do," Jason said. "But this is important." +Poli shook his head an angry +<i>no</i> and reached to turn off his hearing +aid. Jason groped for a question +that might get a more positive answer. +There was something tugging +at his mind, a word he had heard +and made a note of, to be investigated +later. Something that Kerk had +said ...</p> + +<p>"That's it!" It was right there—on +the tip of his tongue. "Just a +second, Poli, just one more question. +What is a 'grubber'? Have you ever +seen one or know what they do, or +where they can be found—"</p> + +<p>The words were cut off as Poli +whirled and lashed the back of his +good arm into Jason's face. Though +the man was aged and crippled, the +blow almost fractured Jason's jaw, +sending him sliding across the floor. +Through a daze he saw Poli hobbling +towards him, making thick bubbling +noises in his ruined throat; what remained +of his face twisted and working +with anger.</p> + +<p>This was no time for diplomacy. +Moving as fast as he could, with the +high-G, foot-slapping shuffle, Jason +headed for the sealed door. He was +no match for any Pyrran in hand-to-hand +combat, young and small or old +and crippled. The door thunked +open, as he went through, and barely +closed in Poli's face.</p> + +<p>Outside the rain had turned to +snow and Jason trudged wearily +through the slush, rubbing his sore +jaw and turning over the only fact +he had. <i>Grubber</i> was a key—but to +what? And who did he dare ask for +more information? Kerk was the man +he had talked to best, but not any +more. That left only Meta as a possible +source. He wanted to see her at +once, but sudden exhaustion swept +through him. It took all of his +strength to stumble back to the school +buildings.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>In the morning he ate and left +early. There was only a week left. +It was impossible to hurry and he +cursed as he dragged his double-weight +body to the assignment center. +Meta was on night perimeter duty +and should be back to her quarters +soon. He shuffled over there and was +lying on her bunk when she came in.</p> + +<p>"Get out," she said in a flat voice. +"Or do I throw you out?"</p> + +<p>"Patience, please," he said as he +sat up. "Just resting here until you +came back. I have a single question, +and if you will answer it for me I'll +go and stop bothering you."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" she asked, tapping +her foot with impatience. But there +was also a touch of curiosity in her +voice. Jason thought carefully before +he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Now <i>please</i>, don't shoot me. You +know I'm an off-worlder with a big +mouth, and you have heard me say +some awful things without taking a +shot at me. Now I have another one. +Will you please show your superiority +to the other people of the galaxy +by holding your temper and not reducing +me to component atoms?"</p> + +<p>His only answer was a tap of the +foot, so he took a deep breath and +plunged in.</p> + +<p>"What is a 'grubber'?"</p> + +<p>For a long moment she was quiet, +unmoving. Then she curled her lips +back in disgust. "You find the most +repulsive topics."</p> + +<p>"That may be so," he said, "but +it still doesn't answer my question."</p> + +<p>"It's ... well, the sort of thing +people just don't talk about."</p> + +<p>"I do," he assured her.</p> + +<p>"Well, I <i>don't</i>! It's the most disgusting +thing in the world, and that's +all I'm going to say. Talk to Krannon, +but not to me." She had him +by the arm while she talked and he +was half dragged to the hall. The +door slammed behind him and he +muttered "<i>lady wrestler</i>" under his +breath. His anger ebbed away as he +realized that she had given him a +clue in spite of herself. Next step, +find out who or what Krannon was.</p> + +<p>Assignment center listed a man +named Krannon, and gave his shift +number and work location. It was +close by and Jason walked there. A +large, cubical, and windowless building, +with the single word <i>food</i> next +to each of the sealed entrances. The +small entrance he went through was +a series of automatic chambers that +cycled him through ultrasonics, ultraviolet, +antibio spray, rotating +brushes and three final rinses. He +was finally admitted, damper but +much cleaner to the central area. +Men and robots were stacking crates +and he asked one of the men for +Krannon. The man looked him up +and down coldly and spat on his +shoes before answering.</p> + +<p>Krannon worked in a large storage +bay by himself. He was a stocky +man in patched coveralls whose only +expression was one of intense gloom. +When Jason came in he stopped +hauling bales and sat down on the +nearest one. The lines of unhappiness +were cut into his face and seemed +to grow deeper while Jason explained +what he was after. All the +talk of ancient history on Pyrrus +bored him as well and he yawned +openly. When Jason finished he +yawned again and didn't even bother +to answer him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/012.png" width="350" height="338" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>Jason waited a moment, then asked +again. "I said do you have any +old books, papers, records or that +sort of thing?"</p> + +<p>"You sure picked the right guy to +bother, off-worlder," was his only +answer. "After talking to me you're +going to have nothing but trouble."</p> + +<p>"Why is that?" Jason asked.</p> + +<p>"Why?" For the first time he was +animated with something besides +grief. "I'll tell you why! I made one +mistake, just one, and I get a life +sentence. For life—how would you +like that? Just me alone, being by +myself all the time. Even taking orders +from the grubbers."</p> + +<p>Jason controlled himself, keeping +the elation out of his voice. "Grubbers? +What are grubbers?"</p> + +<p>The enormity of the question +stopped Krannon, it seemed impossible +that there could be a man alive +who had never heard of grubbers. +Happiness lifted some of the gloom +from his face as he realized that he +had a captive audience who would +listen to his troubles.</p> + +<p>"Grubbers are traitors—that's +what they are. Traitors to the human +race and they ought to be wiped +out. Living in the jungle. The things +they do with the animals—"</p> + +<p>"You mean they're people ... +Pyrrans like yourself?" Jason broke +in.</p> + +<p>"Not like <i>me</i>, mister. Don't make +that mistake again if you want to go +on living. Maybe I dozed off on +guard once so I got stuck with this +job. That doesn't mean I like it or +like them. They stink, really stink, +and if it wasn't for the food we get +from them they'd all be dead tomorrow. +That's the kind of killing job +I could really put my heart into."</p> + +<p>"If they supply you with food, +you must give them something in +return?"</p> + +<p>"Trade goods, beads, knives, the +usual things. Supply sends them over +in cartons and I take care of the delivery."</p> + +<p>"How?" Jason asked.</p> + +<p>"By armored truck to the delivery +site. Then I go back later to pick up +the food they've left in exchange."</p> + +<p>"Can I go with you on the next +delivery?"</p> + +<p>Krannon frowned over the idea +for a minute. "Yeah, I suppose it's +all right if you're stupid enough to +come. You can help me load. They're +between harvests now, so the next +trip won't be for eight days—"</p> + +<p>"But that's after the ship leaves—it'll +be too late. Can't you go earlier?"</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me your troubles, mister," +Krannon grumbled, climbing to +his feet. "That's when I go and the +date's not changing for you."</p> + +<p>Jason realized he had got as much +out of the man as was possible for +one session. He started for the door, +then turned.</p> + +<p>"One thing," he asked. "Just +what do these savages—the grubbers—look +like?"</p> + +<p>"How do I know," Krannon snapped. +"I trade with them, I don't +make love to them. If I ever saw +one, I'd shoot him down on the +spot." He flexed his fingers and his +gun jumped in and out of his hand +as he said it. Jason quietly let himself +out.</p> + +<p>Lying on his bunk, resting his +gravity-weary body, he searched for +a way to get Krannon to change the +delivery date. His millions of credits +were worthless on this world +without currency. If the man +couldn't be convinced, he had to be +bribed. With what? Jason's eyes +touched the locker where his off-world +clothing still hung, and he +had an idea.</p> + +<p>It was morning before he could +return to the food warehouse—and +one day closer to his deadline. Krannon +didn't bother to look up from +his work when Jason came in.</p> + +<p>"Do you want this?" Jason asked, +handing the outcast a flat gold case +inset with a single large diamond. +Krannon grunted and turned it over +in his hands.</p> + +<p>"A toy," he said. "What is it good +for?"</p> + +<p>"Well, when you press this button +you get a light." A flame appeared +through a hole in the top. +Krannon started to hand it back.</p> + +<p>"What do I need a little fire for? +Here, keep it."</p> + +<p>"Wait a second," Jason said, +"that's not all it does. When you +press the jewel in the center one of +these comes out." A black pellet the +size of his fingernail dropped into +his palm. "A grenade, made of +solid ulranite. Just squeeze it hard +and throw. Three seconds later it +explodes with enough force to blast +open this building."</p> + +<p>This time Krannon almost smiled +as he reached for the case. Destructive +and death-dealing weapons are +like candy to a Pyrran. While he +looked at it Jason made his offer.</p> + +<p>"The case and bombs are yours if +you move the date of your next delivery +up to tomorrow—and let me +go with you."</p> + +<p>"Be here at 0500," Krannon +said. "We leave early."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XV.</h2> + +<p>The truck rumbled up to the +perimeter gate and stopped. Krannon +waved to the guards through +the front window, then closed a +metal shield over it. When the gates +swung open the truck—really a +giant armored tank—ground slowly +forward. There was a second gate +beyond the first, that did not open +until the interior one was closed. +Jason looked through the second-driver's +periscope as the outer gate +lifted. Automatic flame-throwers +flared through the opening, cutting +off only when the truck reached +them. A scorched area ringed the +gate, beyond that the jungle began. +Unconsciously Jason shrank back in +his seat.</p> + +<p>All the plants and animals he +had seen only specimens of, existed +here in profusion. Thorn-ringed +branches and vines laced themselves +into a solid mat, through which the +wild life swarmed. A fury of sound +hurled at them, thuds and scratchings +rang on the armor. Krannon +laughed and closed the switch that +electrified the outer grid. The +scratchings died away as the beasts +completed the circuit to the grounded +hull.</p> + +<p>It was slow-speed, low-gear work +tearing through the jungle. Krannon +had his face buried in the periscope +mask and silently fought the +controls. With each mile the going +seemed to get better, until he finally +swung up the periscope and opened +the window armor. The jungle was +still thick and deadly, but nothing +like the area immediately around the +perimeter. It appeared as if most of +the lethal powers of Pyrrus were +concentrated in the single area +around the settlement. Why? Jason +asked himself. Why this intense and +planetary hatred?</p> + +<p>The motors died and Krannon +stood up, stretching. "We're here," +he said. "Let's unload."</p> + +<p>There was bare rock around the +truck, a rounded hillock that projected +from the jungle, too smooth +and steep for vegetation to get a +hold. Krannon opened the cargo +hatches and they pushed out the +boxes and crates. When they finished +Jason slumped down, exhausted, +onto the pile.</p> + +<p>"Get back in, we're leaving," +Krannon said.</p> + +<p>"You are, I'm staying right +here."</p> + +<p>Krannon looked at him coldly. +"Get in the truck or I'll kill you. +No one stays out here. For one thing +you couldn't live an hour alone. But +worse than that the grubbers would +get you. Kill you at once, of course, +but that's not important. But you +have equipment that we can't allow +into their hands. You want to see a +grubber with a gun?"</p> + +<p>While the Pyrran talked, Jason's +thoughts had rushed ahead. He +hoped that Krannon was as thick +of head as he was fast of reflex.</p> + +<p>Jason looked at the trees, let his +gaze move up through the thick +branches. Though Krannon was still +talking, he was automatically aware +of Jason's attention. When Jason's +eyes widened and his gun jumped +into his hand, Krannon's own gun +appeared and he turned in the same +direction.</p> + +<p>"There—in the top!" Jason +shouted, and fired into the tangle +of branches. Krannon fired, too. As +soon as he did, Jason hurled himself +backwards, curled into a ball, +rolling down the inclined rock. The +shots had covered the sounds of his +movements, and before Krannon +could turn back the gravity had +dragged him down the rock into the +thick foliage. Crashing branches +slapped at him, but slowed his fall. +When he stopped moving he was +lost in the tangle. Krannon's shots +came too late to hit him.</p> + +<p>Lying there, tired and bruised, +Jason heard the Pyrran cursing him +out. He stamped around on the +rock, fired a few shots, but knew +better than to enter the trees. Finally +he gave up and went back to +the truck. The motor gunned into +life and the treads clanked and +scraped down the rock and back into +the jungle. There were muted +rumblings and crashes that slowly +died away.</p> + +<p>Then Jason was alone.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Up until that instant he hadn't +realized quite how alone he would +be. Surrounded by nothing but +death, the truck already vanished +from sight. He had to force down +an overwhelming desire to run after +it. What was done was done.</p> + +<p>This was a long chance to take, +but it was the only way to contact +the grubbers. They were savages, +but still they had come from human +stock. And they hadn't sunk so low +as to stop the barter with the civilized +Pyrrans. He had to contact +them, befriend them. Find out how +they had managed to live safely on +this madhouse world.</p> + +<p>If there had been another way to +lick the problem, he would have +taken it; he didn't relish the role of +martyred hero. But Kerk and his +deadline had forced his hand. The +contact had to be made fast and this +was the only way.</p> + +<p>There was no telling where the +savages were, or how soon they +would arrive. If the woods weren't +too lethal he could hide there, pick +his time to approach them. If they +found him among the supplies, they +might skewer him on the spot with +a typical Pyrran reflex.</p> + +<p>Walking warily he approached +the line of trees. Something moved +on a branch, but vanished as he +came near. None of the plants near +a thick-trunked tree looked poisonous, +so he slipped behind it. There +was nothing deadly in sight and it +surprised him. He let his body relax +a bit, leaning against the rough +bark.</p> + +<p>Something soft and choking fell +over his head, his body was seized +in a steel grip. The more he struggled +the tighter it held him until +the blood thundered in his ears and +his lungs screamed for air.</p> + +<p>Only when he grew limp did the +pressure let up. His first panic +ebbed a little when he realized that +it wasn't an animal that attacked +him. He knew nothing about the +grubbers, but they were human so +he still had a chance.</p> + +<p>His arms and legs were tied, the +power holster ripped from his arm. +He felt strangely naked without it. +The powerful hands grabbed him +again and he was hurled into the +air, to fall face down across something +warm and soft. Fear pressed +in again, it was a large animal of +some kind. And all Pyrran animals +were deadly.</p> + +<p>When the animal moved off, carrying +him, panic was replaced by a +feeling of mounting elation. The +grubbers had managed to work out +a truce of some kind with at least +one form of animal life. He had to +find out how. If he could get that +secret—and get it back to the city—it +would justify all his work and +pain. It might even justify Welf's +death if the age-old war could be +slowed or stopped.</p> + +<p>Jason's tightly bound limbs hurt +terribly at first, but grew numb with +the circulation shut off. The jolting +ride continued endlessly, he had no +way of measuring the time. A rainfall +soaked him, then he felt his +clothes steaming as the sun came +out.</p> + +<p>The ride was finally over. He was +pulled from the animal's back and +dumped down. His arms dropped +free as someone loosed the bindings. +The returning circulation soaked +him in pain as he lay there, struggling +to move. When his hands finally +obeyed him he lifted them to +his face and stripped away the covering, +a sack of thick fur. Light +blinded him as he sucked in breath +after breath of clean air.</p> + +<p>Blinking against the glare, he +looked around. He was lying on a +floor of crude planking, the setting +sun shining into his eyes through +the doorless entrance of the building. +There was a ploughed field outside, +stretching down the curve of +hill to the edge of the jungle. It was +too dark to see much inside the hut.</p> + +<p>Something blocked the light of +the doorway, a tall animallike figure. +On second look Jason realized +it was a man with long hair and +thick beard. He was dressed in furs, +even his legs were wrapped in fur +leggings. His eyes were fixed on his +captive, while one hand fondled an +ax that hung from his waist.</p> + +<p>"Who're you? What y'want?" +the bearded man asked suddenly.</p> + +<p>Jason picked his words slowly, +wondering if this savage shared the +same hair-trigger temper as the city +dwellers.</p> + +<p>"My name is Jason. I come in +peace. I want to be your friend ..."</p> + +<p>"Lies!" the man grunted, and +pulled the ax from his belt. "Junkman +tricks. I saw y'hide. Wait to kill +me. Kill you first." He tested the +edge of the blade with a horny +thumb, then raised it.</p> + +<p>"Wait!" Jason said desperately. +"You don't understand."</p> + +<p>The ax swung down.</p> + +<p>"I'm from off-world and—"</p> + +<p>A solid thunk shook him as the +ax buried itself in the wood next to +his head. At the last instant the +man had twitched it aside. He grabbed +the front of Jason's clothes and +pulled him up until their faces +touched.</p> + +<p>"S'true?" he shouted. "Y'from +off-world?" His hand opened and +Jason dropped back before he could +answer. The savage jumped over +him, towards the dim rear of the +hut.</p> + +<p>"Rhes must know of this," he +said as he fumbled with something +on the wall. Light sprang out.</p> + +<p>All Jason could do was stare. +The hairy, fur-covered savage was +operating a communicator. The calloused, +dirt-encrusted fingers deftly +snapped open the circuits, dialed a +number.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XVI.</h2> + +<p>It made no sense. Jason tried to +reconcile the modern machine with +the barbarian and couldn't. Who +was he calling? The existence of one +communicator meant there was at +least another. Was Rhes a person +or a thing?</p> + +<p>With a mental effort he grabbed +hold of his thoughts and braked +them to a stop. There was something +new here, factors he hadn't counted +on. He kept reassuring himself there +was an explanation for everything, +once you had your facts straight.</p> + +<p>Jason closed his eyes, shutting out +the glaring rays of the sun where it +cut through the tree tops, and reconsidered +his facts. They separated +evenly into two classes; those he had +observed for himself, and those he +had learned from the city dwellers. +This last class of "facts" he would +hold, to see if they fitted with what +he learned. There was a good +chance that most, or all, of them +would prove false.</p> + +<p>"Get up," the voice jarred into +his thoughts. "We're leaving."</p> + +<p>His legs were still numb and +hardly usable. The bearded man +snorted in disgust and hauled him +to his feet, propping him against +the outer wall. Jason clutched the +knobby bark of the logs when he +was left alone. He looked around, +soaking up impressions.</p> + +<p>It was the first time he had been +on a farm since he had run away +from home. A different world with +a different ecology, but the similarity +was apparent enough to him. A +new-sown field stretched down the +hill in front of the shack. Ploughed +by a good farmer. Even, well cast +furrows that followed the contour +of the slope. Another, larger log +building was next to this one, probably +a barn.</p> + +<p>There was a snuffling sound behind +him and Jason turned quickly—and +froze. His hand called for the +missing gun and his finger tightened +down on a trigger that wasn't +there.</p> + +<p>It had come out of the jungle and +padded up quietly behind him. It +had six thick legs with clawed feet +that dug into the ground. The two-meter +long body was covered with +matted yellow and black fur, all except +the skull and shoulders. These +were covered with overlapping +horny plates. Jason could see all this +because the beast was that close.</p> + +<p>He waited to die.</p> + +<p>The mouth opened, a froglike division +of the hairless skull, revealing +double rows of jagged teeth.</p> + +<p>"Here, Fido," the bearded man +said, coming up behind Jason and +snapping his fingers at the same +time. The thing bounded forward, +brushing past the dazed Jason, and +rubbed his head against the man's +leg. "Nice doggy," the man said, his +fingers scratching under the edge of +the carapace where it joined the +flesh.</p> + +<p>The bearded man had brought +two of the riding animals out of the +barn, saddled and bridled. Jason +barely noticed the details of smooth +skin and long legs as he swung up +on one. His feet were quickly lashed +to the stirrups. When they started +the skull-headed beast followed +them.</p> + +<p>"Nice doggy!" Jason said, and +for no reason started to laugh. The +bearded man turned and scowled at +him until he was quiet.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>By the time they entered the jungle +it was dark. It was impossible to +see under the thick foliage, and they +used no lights. The animals seemed +to know the way. There were scraping +noises and shrill calls from the +jungle around them, but it didn't +bother Jason too much. Perhaps the +automatic manner in which the other +man undertook the journey reassured +him. Or the presence of the +"dog" that he felt rather than saw. +The trip was a long one, but not too +uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>The regular motion of the animal +and his fatigue overcame Jason and +he dozed into a fitful sleep, waking +with a start each time he slumped +forward. In the end he slept sitting +up in the saddle. Hours passed this +way, until he opened his eyes and +saw a square of light before them. +The trip was over.</p> + +<p>His legs were stiff and galled +with saddle sores. After his feet +were untied getting down was an +effort, and he almost fell. A door +opened and Jason went in. It took +his eyes some moments to get used +to the light, until he could make out +the form of a man on the bed before +him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/013.png" width="350" height="359" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>"Come over here and sit down." +The voice was full and strong, accustomed +to command. The body +was that of an invalid. A blanket +covered him to the waist, above that +the flesh was sickly white, spotted +with red nodules, and hung loosely +over the bones. There seemed to be +nothing left of the man except skin +and skeleton.</p> + +<p>"Not very nice," the man on the +bed said, "but I've grown used to +it." His tone changed abruptly. +"Naxa said you were from off-world. +Is that true?"</p> + +<p>Jason nodded yes, and his answer +stirred the living skeleton to life. +The head lifted from the pillow and +the red-rimmed eyes sought his with +a desperate intensity.</p> + +<p>"My name is Rhes and I'm a ... +grubber. Will you help me?"</p> + +<p>Jason wondered at the intensity +of Rhes' question, all out of proportion +to the simple content of its +meaning. Yet he could see no reason +to give anything other than the first +and obvious answer that sprang to +his lips.</p> + +<p>"Of course I'll help you, in +whatever way I can. As long as it +involves no injury to anyone else. +What do you want?"</p> + +<p>The sick man's head had fallen +back limply, exhausted, as Jason +talked. But the fire still burned in +the eyes.</p> + +<p>"Feel assured ... I want to injure +no others," Rhes said. "Quite +the opposite. As you see I am suffering +from a disease that our remedies +will not stop. Within a few +more days I will be dead. Now I +have seen ... the city people ... +using a device, they press it over a +wound or an animal bite. Do you +have one of these machines?"</p> + +<p>"That sounds like a description of +the medikit." Jason touched the button +at his waist that dropped the +medikit into his hand. "I have mine +here. It analyzes and treats most ..."</p> + +<p>"Would you use it on me?" Rhes +broke in, his voice suddenly urgent.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," Jason said. "I should +have realized." He stepped forward +and pressed the machine over one +of the inflamed areas on Rhes' chest. +The operation light came on and the +thin shaft of the analyzer probe slid +down. When it withdrew the device +hummed, then clicked three times as +three separate hypodermic needles +lanced into the skin. Then the light +went out.</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" Rhes asked, as he +watched Jason stow the medikit back +in his belt.</p> + +<p>Jason nodded, then looked up +and noticed the wet marks of tears +on the sick man's face. Rhes became +aware at the same time and brushed +at them angrily.</p> + +<p>"When a man is sick," he growled, +"the body and all its senses become +traitor. I don't think I have +cried since I was a child—but you +must realize it's not myself I'm crying +for. It's the untold thousands of +my people who have died for lack +of that little device you treat so casually."</p> + +<p>"Surely you have medicines, doctors +of your own?"</p> + +<p>"Herb doctors and witch doctors," +Rhes said, consigning them all +to oblivion with a chop of his hand. +"The few hard-working and honest +men are hampered by the fact that +the faith healers can usually cure better +than their strongest potion."</p> + +<p>The talking had tired Rhes. He +stopped suddenly and closed his +eyes. On his chest, the inflamed +areas were already losing their angry +color as the injections took +affect. Jason glanced around the +room, looking for clues to the mystery +of these people.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Floor and walls were made of +wood lengths fitted together, free of +paint or decoration. They looked +simple and crude, fit only for the +savages he had expected to meet. Or +were they crude? The wood had a +sweeping, flamelike grain. When he +bent close he saw that wax had been +rubbed over the wood to bring out +this pattern. Was this the act of savages—or +of artistic men seeking to +make the most of simple materials? +The final effect was far superior to +the drab paint and riveted steel +rooms of the city-dwelling Pyrrans. +Wasn't it true that both ends of the +artistic scale were dominated by simplicity? +The untutored aborigine +made a simple expression of a clear +idea, and created beauty. At the other +extreme, the sophisticated critic +rejected over-elaboration and decoration +and sought the truthful +clarity of uncluttered art. At which +end of the scale was he looking +now?</p> + +<p>These men were savages, he had +been told that. They dressed in furs +and spoke a slurred and broken language, +at least Naxa did. Rhes admitted +he preferred faith healers to +doctors. But, if all this were true, +where did the communicator fit into +the picture? Or the glowing ceiling +that illuminated the room with a soft +light?</p> + +<p>Rhes opened his eyes and stared +at Jason, as if seeing him for the +first time. "Who are you?" he asked. +"And what are you doing +here?"</p> + +<p>There was a cold menace in his +words and Jason understood why. +The city Pyrrans hated the "grubbers" +and, without a doubt, the feeling +was mutual. Naxa's ax had +proved that. Naxa had entered silently +while they talked, and stood +with his fingers touching the haft of +this same ax. Jason knew his life +was still in jeopardy, until he +gave an answer that satisfied these +men.</p> + +<p>He couldn't tell the truth. If they +once suspected he was spying +among them to aid the city people, +it would be the end. Nevertheless, +he had to be free to talk about the +survival problem.</p> + +<p>The answer hit him as soon as he +had stated the problem. All this had +only taken an instant to consider, as +he turned back to face the invalid, +and he answered at once. Trying to +keep his voice normal and unconcerned.</p> + +<p>"I'm Jason dinAlt, an ecologist, +so you see I have the best reasons in +the universe for visiting this +planet—"</p> + +<p>"What is an ecologist?" Rhes +broke in. There was nothing in his +voice to indicate whether he meant +the question seriously, or as a trap. +All traces of the ease of their earlier +conversation were gone, his voice +had the deadliness of a stingwing's +poison. Jason chose his words carefully.</p> + +<p>"Simply stated, it is that branch +of biology that considers the relations +between organisms and their +environment. How climatic and other +factors affect the life forms, and +how the life forms in turn affect +each other and the environment." +That much Jason knew was true—but +he really knew very little more +about the subject so he moved on +quickly.</p> + +<p>"I heard reports of this planet, +and finally came here to study it +firsthand. I did what work I could +in the shelter of the city, but it wasn't +enough. The people there think +I'm crazy, but they finally agreed to +let me make a trip out here."</p> + +<p>"What arrangements have been +made for your return?" Naxa snapped.</p> + +<p>"None," Jason told him. "They +seemed quite sure that I would be +killed instantly and had no hope of +me coming back. In fact, they refused +to let me go and I had to break +away."</p> + +<p>This answer seemed to satisfy +Rhes and his face cracked into a +mirthless smile. "They would think +that, those junkmen. Can't move a +meter outside their own walls without +an armor-plated machine as big +as a barn. What did they tell you +about us?"</p> + +<p>Again Jason knew a lot depended +on his answer. This time he thought +carefully before speaking.</p> + +<p>"Well ... perhaps I'll get that +ax in the back of my neck for saying +this ... but I have to be honest. +You must know what they think. +They told me you were filthy and +ignorant savages who smelled. And +you ... well, had curious customs +you practiced with the animals. In +exchange for food, they traded you +beads and knives ..."</p> + +<p>Both Pyrrans broke into a convulsion +of laughter at this. Rhes stopped +soon, from weakness, but Naxa +laughed himself into a coughing fit +and had to splash water over his +head from a gourd jug.</p> + +<p>"That I believe well enough," +Rhes said, "it sounds like the stupidity +they would talk. Those people +know nothing of the world they live +in. I hope the rest of what you said +is true, but even if it is not, you are +welcome here. You are from off-world, +that I know. No junkman +would have lifted a finger to save +my life. You are the first off-worlder +my people have ever known and for +that you are doubly welcome. We +will help you in any way we can. +My arm is your arm."</p> + +<p>These last words had a ritual +sound to them, and when Jason repeated +them, Naxa nodded at the +correctness of this. At the same +time, Jason felt that they were more +than empty ritual. Interdependence +meant survival on Pyrrus, and he +knew that these people stood together +to the death against the mortal +dangers around them. He hoped the +ritual would include him in that +protective sphere.</p> + +<p>"That is enough for tonight," +Rhes said. "The spotted sickness had +weakened me, and your medicine has +turned me to jelly. You will stay +here, Jason. There is a blanket, but +no bed at least for now."</p> + +<p>Enthusiasm had carried Jason this +far, making him forget the two-gee +exertions of the long day. Now fatigue +hit him a physical blow. He +had dim memories of refusing food +and rolling in the blanket on the +floor. After that, oblivion.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XVII.</h2> + +<p>Every square inch of his body +ached where the doubled gravity had +pressed his flesh to the unyielding +wood of the floor. His eyes were +gummy and his mouth was filled +with an indescribable taste that came +off in chunks. Sitting up was an effort +and he had to stifle a groan as +his joints cracked.</p> + +<p>"Good day, Jason," Rhes called +from the bed. "If I didn't believe in +medicine so strongly, I would be +tempted to say there is a miracle in +your machine that has cured me +overnight."</p> + +<p>There was no doubt that he was +on the mend. The inflamed patches +had vanished and the burning light +was gone from his eyes. He sat, +propped up on the bed, watching the +morning sun melt the night's hailstorm +into the fields.</p> + +<p>"There's meat in the cabinet +there," he said, "and either water or +visk to drink."</p> + +<p>The visk proved to be a distilled +beverage of extraordinary potency +that instantly cleared the fog from +Jason's brain, though it did leave a +slight ringing in his ears. And the +meat was a tenderly smoked joint, +the best food he had tasted since +leaving Darkhan. Taken together +they restored his faith in life and +the future. He lowered his glass +with a relaxed sigh and looked +around.</p> + +<p>With the pressures of immediate +survival and exhaustion removed, +his thoughts returned automatically +to his problem. What were these +people really like—and how had +they managed to survive in the deadly +wilderness? In the city he had +been told they were savages. Yet +there was a carefully tended and repaired +communicator on the wall. +And by the door a crossbow—that +fired machined metal bolts, he could +see the tool marks still visible on +their shanks. The one thing he needed +was more information. He could +start by getting rid of some of his +misinformation.</p> + +<p>"Rhes, you laughed when I told +you what the city people said, about +trading you trinkets for food. What +do they really trade you?"</p> + +<p>"Anything within certain limits," +Rhes said. "Small manufactured +items, such as electronic components +for our communicators. Rustless alloys +we can't make in our forges, +cutting tools, atomic electric converters +that produce power from any +radioactive element. Things like that. +Within reason they'll trade anything +we ask that isn't on the forbidden +list. They need the food badly."</p> + +<p>"And the items on the forbidden +list—?"</p> + +<p>"Weapons, of course, or anything +that might be made into a powerful +weapon. They know we make gunpowder +so we can't get anything like +large castings or seamless tubing we +could make into heavy gun barrels. +We drill our own rifle barrels by +hand, though the crossbow is quiet +and faster in the jungle. Then they +don't like us to know very much, so +the only reading matter that gets to +us are tech maintenance manuals, +empty of basic theory.</p> + +<p>"The last banned category you +know about—medicine. This is the +one thing I cannot understand, that +makes me burn with hatred with +every death they might have prevented."</p> + +<p>"I know their reasons," Jason +said.</p> + +<p>"Then tell me, because I can think +of none."</p> + +<p>"Survival—it's just that simple. I +doubt if you realize it, but they have +a decreasing population. It is just a +matter of years before they will be +gone. Whereas your people at least +must have a stable—if not slightly +growing population—to have existed +without their mechanical protections. +So in the city they hate you +and are jealous of you at the same +time. If they gave you medicine and +you prospered, you would be winning +the battle they have lost. I +imagine they tolerate you as a necessary +evil, to supply them with food, +otherwise they wish you were all +dead."</p> + +<p>"It makes sense," Rhes growled, +slamming his fist against the bed. +"The kind of twisted logic you expect +from junkmen. They use us to +feed them, give us the absolute minimum +in return, and at the same time +cut us off from the knowledge that +will get us out of this hand to mouth +existence. Worse, far worse, they cut +us off from the stars and the rest of +mankind." The hatred on his face +was so strong that Jason unconsciously +drew back.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we are savages +here, Jason? We act and look like +animals because we have to fight for +existence on an animal level. Yet we +know about the stars. In that chest +over there, sealed in metal, are over +thirty books, all we have. Fiction +most of them, with some history and +general science thrown in. Enough +to keep alive the stories of the settlement +here and the rest of the universe +outside. We see the ships land +in the city and we know that up +there are worlds we can only dream +about and never see. Do you wonder +that we hate these beasts that call +themselves men, and would destroy +them in an instant if we could? +They are right to keep weapons +from us—for sure as the sun rises +in the morning we would kill them +to a man if we were able, and take +over the things they have withheld +from us."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>It was a harsh condemnation, but +essentially a truthful one. At least +from the point of view of the outsiders. +Jason didn't try to explain to +the angry man that the city Pyrrans +looked on their attitude as being the +only possible and logical one. "How +did this battle between your two +groups ever come about?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Rhes said, "I've +thought about it many times, but +there are no records of that period. +We do know that we are all descended +from colonists who arrived +at the same time. Somewhere, at +some time, the two groups separated. +Perhaps it was a war, I've read about +them in the books. I have a partial +theory, though I can't prove it, that +it was the location of the city."</p> + +<p>"Location—I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"Well, you know the junkmen, +and you've seen where their city is. +They managed to put it right in the +middle of the most savage spot on +this planet. You know they don't +care about any living thing except +themselves, shoot and kill is their +only logic. So they wouldn't consider +where to build their city, and managed +to build it in the stupidest spot +imaginable. I'm sure my ancestors +saw how foolish this was and tried +to tell them so. That would be reason +enough for a war, wouldn't it?"</p> + +<p>"It might have been—if that's +really what happened," Jason said. +"But I think you have the problem +turned backwards. It's a war between +native Pyrran life and humans, +each fighting to destroy the +other. The life forms change continually, +seeking that final destruction +of the invader."</p> + +<p>"Your theory is even wilder than +mine," Rhes said. "That's not true +at all. I admit that life isn't too easy +on this planet ... if what I have +read in the books about other planets +is true ... but it doesn't change. +You have to be fast on your feet and +keep your eyes open for anything +bigger than you, but you can survive. +Anyway, it doesn't really matter +why. The junkmen always look for +trouble and I'm happy to see that +they have enough."</p> + +<p>Jason didn't try to press the point. +The effort of forcing Rhes to change +his basic attitudes wasn't worth it—even +if possible. He hadn't succeeded +in convincing anyone in the city +of the lethal mutations even when +they could observe all the facts. Rhes +could still supply information +though.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 525px;"><img src="images/014.png" width="525" height="215" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>"I suppose it's not important who +started the battle," Jason said for the +other man's benefit, not meaning a +word of it, "but you'll have to agree +that the city people are permanently +at war with all the local life. Your +people, though, have managed to befriend +at least two species that I have +seen. Do you have any idea how this +was done?"</p> + +<p>"Naxa will be here in a minute," +Rhes said, pointing to the door, "as +soon as he's taken care of the animals. +Ask him. He's the best talker +we have."</p> + +<p>"Talker?" Jason asked. "I had +the opposite idea about him. He +didn't talk much, and what he did +say was, well ... a little hard to +understand at times."</p> + +<p>"Not that kind of talking." Rhes +broke in impatiently. "The talkers +look after the animals. They train +the dogs and doryms, and the better +ones like Naxa are always trying to +work with other beasts. They dress +crudely, but they have to. I've heard +them say that the animals don't like +chemicals, metal or tanned leather, +so they wear untanned furs for the +most part. But don't let the dirt fool +you, it has nothing to do with his +intelligence."</p> + +<p>"Doryms? Are those your carrying +beasts—the kind we rode coming +here?"</p> + +<p>Rhes nodded. "Doryms are more +than pack animals, they're really a +little bit of everything. The large +males pull the ploughs and other machines, +while the younger animals +are used for meat. If you want to +know more, ask Naxa, you'll find +him in the barn."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to do that," Jason said, +standing up. "Only I feel undressed +without my gun—"</p> + +<p>"Take it, by all means, it's in that +chest by the door. Only watch out +what you shoot around here."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Naxa was in the rear of the barn, +filing down one of the spadelike toenails +of a dorym. It was a strange +scene. The fur-dressed man with the +great beast—and the contrast of a +beryllium-copper file and electroluminescent +plates lighting the +work.</p> + +<p>The dorym opened its nostrils +and pulled away when Jason entered; +Naxa patted its neck and talked +softly until it quieted and stood +still, shivering slightly.</p> + +<p>Something stirred in Jason's +mind, with the feeling of a long unused +muscle being stressed. A hauntingly +familiar sensation.</p> + +<p>"Good morning," Jason said. +Naxa grunted something and went +back to his filing. Watching him for +a few minutes, Jason tried to analyze +this new feeling. It itched and slipped +aside when he reached for it, +escaping him. Whatever it was, it +had started when Naxa had talked +to the dorym.</p> + +<p>"Could you call one of the dogs +in here, Naxa? I'd like to see one +closer up."</p> + +<p>Without raising his head from his +work, Naxa gave a low whistle. Jason +was sure it couldn't have been +heard outside of the barn. Yet within +a minute one of the Pyrran dogs +slipped quietly in. The talker rubbed +the beast's head, mumbling to it, +while the animal looked intently into +his eyes.</p> + +<p>The dog became restless when +Naxa turned back to work on the +dorym. It prowled around the barn, +sniffing, then moved quickly towards +the open door. Jason called it back.</p> + +<p>At least he meant to call it. At the +last moment he said nothing. Nothing +aloud. On sudden impulse he +kept his mouth closed—only he called +the dog with his mind. Thinking +the words <i>come here</i>, directing the +impulse at the animal with all the +force and direction he had ever used +to manipulate dice. As he did it he +realized it had been a long time since +he had even considered using his psi +powers.</p> + +<p>The dog stopped and turned back +towards him.</p> + +<p>It hesitated, looking at Naxa, then +walked over to Jason.</p> + +<p>Seen this closely the beast was a +nightmare hound. The hairless protective +plates, tiny red-rimmed eyes, +and countless, saliva-dripping teeth +did little to inspire confidence. Yet +Jason felt no fear. There was a rapport +between man and animal that +was understood. Without conscious +thought he reached out and scratched +the dog along the back, where he +knew it itched.</p> + +<p>"Didn't know y're a talker," Naxa +said. As he watched them, there was +friendship in his voice for the first +time.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know either—until just +now," Jason said. He looked into +the eyes of the animal before him, +scratched the ridged and ugly back, +and began to understand.</p> + +<p>The talkers must have well developed +psi facilities, that was obvious +now. There is no barrier of race or +alien form when two creatures share +each other's emotions. Empathy first, +so there would be no hatred or fear. +After that direct communication. The +talkers might have been the ones who +first broke through the barrier of +hatred on Pyrrus and learned to live +with the native life. Others could +have followed their example—this +might explain how the community of +"grubbers" had been formed.</p> + +<p>Now that he was concentrating on +it, Jason was aware of the soft flow +of thoughts around him. The consciousness +of the dorym was matched +by other like patterns from the rear +of the barn. He knew without going +outside that more of the big beasts +were in the field back there.</p> + +<p>"This is all new to me," Jason +said. "Have you ever thought about +it, Naxa? What does it feel like to +be a talker? I mean, do you <i>know</i> +why it is you can get the animals to +obey you while other people have no +luck at all?"</p> + +<p>Thinking of this sort troubled +Naxa. He ran his fingers through his +thick hair and scowled as he answered. +"Nev'r thought about it. Just +do it. Just get t'know the beast real +good, then y'can guess what they're +going t'do. That's all."</p> + +<p>It was obvious that Naxa had +never thought about the origin of his +ability to control the animals. And if +he hadn't—probably no one else had. +They had no reason to. They simply +accepted the powers of talkers as +one of the facts of life.</p> + +<p>Ideas slipped towards each other +in his mind, like the pieces of a +puzzle joining together. He had told +Kerk that the native life of Pyrrus +had joined in battle against mankind, +he didn't know why. Well—he +still didn't know why, but he was +getting an idea of the "how."</p> + +<p>"About how far are we from the +city?" Jason asked. "Do you have an +idea how long it would take us to +get there by dorym?"</p> + +<p>"Half a day there—half back. +Why? Y'want to go?"</p> + +<p>"I don't want to get into the city, +not yet. But I would like to get close +to it," Jason told him.</p> + +<p>"See what Rhes say," was Naxa's +answer.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Rhes granted instant permission +without asking any questions. They +saddled up and left at once, in order +to complete the round trip before +dark.</p> + +<p>They had been traveling less than +an hour before Jason knew they were +going in the direction of the city. +With each minute the feeling grew +stronger. Naxa was aware of it too, +stirring in the saddle with unvoiced +feelings. They had to keep touching +and reassuring their mounts which +were growing skittish and restless.</p> + +<p>"This is far enough," Jason said. +Naxa gratefully pulled to a stop.</p> + +<p>The wordless thought beat through +Jason's mind, filling it. He could feel +it on all sides—only much stronger +ahead of them in the direction of +the unseen city. Naxa and the doryms +reacted in the same way, restlessly +uncomfortable, not knowing the +cause.</p> + +<p>One thing was obvious now. The +Pyrran animals were sensitive to psi +radiation—probably the plants and +lower life forms as well. Perhaps they +communicated by it, since they obeyed +the men who had a strong control +of it. And in this area was a wash +of psi radiation such as he had never +experienced before. Though his personal +talents specialized in psychokinesis—the +mental control of inanimate +matter—he was still sensitive to +most mental phenomena. Watching a +sports event he had many times +felt the unanimous accord of many +minds expressing the same thought. +What he felt now was like that.</p> + +<p>Only terribly different. A crowd +exulted at some success on the field, +or groaned at a failure. The feeling +fluxed and changed as the game progressed. +Here the wash of thought +was unending, strong and frightening. +It didn't translate into words +very well. It was part hatred, part +fear—and all destruction.</p> + +<p>"<i>KILL THE ENEMY</i>" was as +close as Jason could express it. But +it was more than that. An unending +river of mental outrage and death.</p> + +<p>"Let's go back now," he said, suddenly +battered and sickened by the +feelings he had let wash through +him. As they started the return trip +he began to understand many things.</p> + +<p>His sudden unspeakable fear when +the Pyrran animal had attacked him +that first day on the planet. And his +recurrent nightmares that had never +completely ceased, even with drugs. +Both of these were his reaction to +the hatred directed at the city. +Though for some reason he hadn't +felt it directly up to now, enough +had reached through to him to get +a strong emotional reaction.</p> + +<p>Rhes was asleep when they got +back and Jason couldn't talk to him +until morning. In spite of his fatigue +from the trip, he stayed awake late +into the night, going over in his +mind the discoveries of the day. +Could he tell Rhes what he had +found out? Not very well. If he did +that, he would have to explain the +importance of his discovery and what +he meant to use it for. Nothing that +aided the city dwellers would appeal +to Rhes in the slightest. Best to say +nothing until the entire affair was +over.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XVIII.</h2> + +<p>After breakfast he told Rhes that +he wanted to return to the city.</p> + +<p>"Then you have seen enough of +our barbarian world, and wish to go +back to your friends. To help them +wipe us out perhaps?" Rhes said it +lightly, but there was a touch of cold +malice behind his words.</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't really think +that," Jason told him. "You must +realize that the opposite is true. I +would like to see this civil war ended +and your people getting all the benefits +of science and medicine that have +been withheld. I'll do everything I +can to bring that about."</p> + +<p>"They'll never change," Rhes said +gloomily, "so don't waste your time. +But there is one thing you must do, +for your protection and ours. Don't +admit, or even hint, that you've talked +to any grubbers!"</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Why not! Suffering death are you +that simple! They will do anything +to see that we don't rise too high, +and would much prefer to see us all +dead. Do you think they would hesitate +to kill you if they as much as +suspected you had contacted us? They +realize—even if you don't—that you +can singlehandedly alter the entire +pattern of power on this planet. The +ordinary junkman may think of us +as being only one step above the +animals, but the leaders don't. They +know what we need and what we +want. They could probably guess just +what it is I am going to ask you.</p> + +<p>"Help us, Jason dinAlt. Get back +among those human pigs and lie. Say +you never talked to us, that you hid +in the forest and we attacked you +and you had to shoot to save yourself. +We'll supply some recent +corpses to make that part of your +story sound good. Make them believe +you, and even after you think you +have them convinced keep on acting +the part because they will be watching +you. Then tell them you have +finished your work and are ready to +leave. Get safely off Pyrrus, to another +planet, and I promise you anything +in the universe. Whatever you +want you shall have. Power, money—<i>anything</i>.</p> + +<p>"This is a rich planet. The junkmen +mine and sell the metal, but we +could do it much better. Bring a +spaceship back here and land anywhere +on this continent. We have no +cities, but our people have farms +everywhere, they will find you. We +will then have commerce, trade—on +our own. This is what we all want +and we will work hard for it. And +<i>you</i> will have done it. Whatever you +want we will give. That is a promise +and we do not break our promises."</p> + +<p>The intensity and magnitude of +what he described rocked Jason. He +knew that Rhes spoke the truth and +the entire resources of the planet +would be his, if he did as asked. For +one second he was tempted, savoring +the thought of what it would be like. +Then came realization that it would +be a half answer, and a poor one at +that. If these people had the strength +they wanted, their first act would be +the attempted destruction of the city +men. The result would be bloody +civil war that would probably destroy +them both. Rhes' answer was a good +one—but only half an answer.</p> + +<p>Jason had to find a better solution. +One that would stop <i>all</i> the fighting +on this planet and allow the two +groups of humans to live in peace.</p> + +<p>"I will do nothing to injure your +people, Rhes—and everything in my +power to aid them," Jason said.</p> + +<p>This half answer satisfied Rhes, +who could see only one interpretation +of it. He spent the rest of the morning +on the communicator, arranging +for the food supplies that were being +brought to the trading site.</p> + +<p>"The supplies are ready and we +have sent the signal," he said. "The +truck will be there tomorrow and you +will be waiting for it. Everything is +arranged as I told you. You'll leave +now with Naxa. You must reach the +meeting spot before the trucks."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XIX.</h2> + +<p>"Trucks almost here. Y'know what +to do?" Naxa asked.</p> + +<p>Jason nodded, and looked again +at the dead man. Some beast had torn +his arm off and he had bled to death. +The severed arm had been tied into +the shirt sleeve, so from a distance +it looked normal. Seen close up this +limp arm, plus the white skin and +shocked expression on the face, gave +Jason an unhappy sensation. He liked +to see his corpses safely buried. However +he could understand its importance +today.</p> + +<p>"Here they're. Wait until his +back's turned," Naxa whispered.</p> + +<p>The armored truck had three powered +trailers in tow this time. The +train ground up the rock slope and +whined to a stop. Krannon climbed +out of the cab and looked carefully +around before opening up the trailers. +He had a lift robot along to help +him with the loading.</p> + +<p>"Now!" Naxa hissed.</p> + +<p>Jason burst into the clearing, running, +shouting Krannon's name. There +was a crackling behind him as two +of the hidden men hurled the corpse +through the foliage after him. He +turned and fired without stopping, +setting the thing afire in midair.</p> + +<p>There was the crack of another +gun as Krannon fired, his shot jarred +the twice-dead corpse before it hit the +ground. Then he was lying prone, +firing into the trees behind the running +Jason.</p> + +<p>Just as Jason reached the truck +there was a whirring in the air and +hot pain ripped into his back, throwing +him to the ground. He looked +around as Krannon dragged him +through the door, and saw the metal +shaft of a crossbow bolt sticking out +of his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Lucky," the Pyrran said. "An +inch lower would have got your +heart. I warned you about those grubbers. +You're lucky to get off with +only this." He lay next to the door +and snapped shots into the now quiet +wood.</p> + +<p>Taking out the bolt hurt much +more than it had going in. Jason +cursed the pain as Krannon put on +a dressing, and admired the singleness +of purpose of the people who +had shot him. They had risked his +life to make his escape look real. +And also risked the chance that he +might turn against them after being +shot. They did a job completely and +thoroughly and he cursed them for +their efficiency.</p> + +<p>Krannon climbed warily out of the +truck, after Jason was bandaged. Finishing +the loading quickly, he started +the train of trailers back towards the +city. Jason had an anti-pain shot and +dozed off as soon as they started.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>While he slept, Krannon must +have radioed ahead, because Kerk +was waiting when they arrived. As +soon as the truck entered the perimeter +he threw open the door and +dragged Jason out. The bandage pulled +and Jason felt the wound tear +open. He ground his teeth together; +Kerk would not have the satisfaction +of hearing him cry out.</p> + +<p>"I told you to stay in the buildings +until the ship left. Why did you +leave? Why did you go outside? You +talked to the grubbers—didn't you?" +With each question he shook Jason +again.</p> + +<p>"I didn't talk to—anyone." Jason +managed to get the words out. "They +tried to take me, I shot two—hid out +until the trucks came back."</p> + +<p>"Got another one then," Krannon +said. "I saw it. Good shooting. Think +I got some, too. Let him go Kerk, +they shot him in the back before he +could reach the truck."</p> + +<p><i>That's enough explanations</i>, Jason +thought to himself. <i>Don't overdo it. +Let him make up his mind later. +Now's the time to change the subject. +There's one thing that will get +his mind off the grubbers.</i></p> + +<p>"I've been fighting your war for +you Kerk, while you stayed safely inside +the perimeter." Jason leaned +back against the side of the truck as +the other loosened his grip. "I've +found out what your battle with this +planet is really about—and how you +can win it. Now let me sit down and +I'll tell you."</p> + +<p>More Pyrrans had come up while +they talked. None of them moved +now. Like Kerk, they stood frozen, +looking at Jason. When Kerk talked, +he spoke for all of them.</p> + +<p>"<i>What do you mean?</i>"</p> + +<p>"Just what I said. Pyrrus is fighting +you—actively and consciously. +Get far enough out from this city +and you can feel the waves of hatred +that are directed at it. No, that's +wrong—you can't because you've +grown up with it. But I can, and so +could anyone else with any sort of +psi sensitivity. There is a message of +war being beamed against you constantly. +The life forms of this planet +are psi-sensitive, and respond to that +order. They attack and change and +mutate for your destruction. And +they'll keep on doing so until you +are all dead. Unless you can stop the +war."</p> + +<p>"How?" Kerk snapped the word +and every face echoed the question.</p> + +<p>"By finding whoever or whatever +is sending that message. The life +forms that attack you have no reasoning +intelligence. They are being +ordered to do so. I think I know how +to find the source of these orders. +After that it will be a matter of getting +across a message, asking for a +truce and an eventual end to all hostilities."</p> + +<p>A dead silence followed his words +as the Pyrrans tried to comprehend +the ideas. Kerk moved first, waving +them all away.</p> + +<p>"Go back to your work. This is my +responsibility and I'll take care of it. +As soon as I find out what truth +there is here—if any—I'll make a +complete report." The people drifted +away silently, looking back as they +went.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 525px;"><img src="images/015.png" width="525" height="212" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XX.</h2> + +<div class="figcap"><img src="images/016.png" width="45" height="45" alt="F" title="F" /></div> +<p class="firstp"><span class="dcap">rom</span> the beginning +now," Kerk said. "And +leave out nothing."</p> + +<p>"There is very little +more that I can add to +the physical facts. I saw the animals, +understood the message. I even experimented +with some of them and +they reacted to my mental commands. +What I must do now is track +down the source of the orders that +keep this war going.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you something that I +have never told anyone else. I'm not +only lucky at gambling. I have +enough psi ability to alter probability +in my favor. It's an erratic ability +that I have tried to improve for obvious +reasons. During the past ten +years I managed to study at all of +the centers that do psi research. +Compared to other fields of knowledge +it is amazing how little they +know. Basic psi talents can be improved +by practice, and some machines +have been devised that act as +psionic amplifiers. One of these, +used correctly, is a very good directional +indicator."</p> + +<p>"You want to build this machine?" +Kerk asked.</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Build it and take it outside +the city in the ship. Any signal +strong enough to keep this centuries-old +battle going should be strong +enough to track down. I'll follow it, +contact the creatures who are sending +it, and try to find out why they are +doing it. I assume you'll go along +with any reasonable plan that will +end this war?"</p> + +<p>"Anything reasonable," Kerk said +coldly. "How long will it take you +to build this machine?"</p> + +<p>"Just a few days if you have all +the parts here," Jason told him.</p> + +<p>"Then do it. I'm canceling the +flight that's leaving now and I'll keep +the ship here, ready to go. When +the machine is built I want you to +track the signal and report back to +me."</p> + +<p>"Agreed," Jason said, standing +up. "As soon as I have this hole in +my back looked at I'll draw up a list +of things needed."</p> + +<p>A grim, unsmiling man named +Skop was assigned to Jason as a combination +guide and guard. He took +his job very seriously, and it didn't +take Jason long to realize that he +was a prisoner-at-large. Kerk had accepted +his story, but that was no +guarantee that he believed it. At a +single word from him, the guard +could turn executioner.</p> + +<p>The chill thought hit Jason that +undoubtedly this was what would +happen. Whether Kerk accepted the +story or not—he couldn't afford to +take a chance. As long as there was +the slightest possibility Jason had +contacted the grubbers, he could not +be allowed to leave the planet alive. +The woods people were being simple +if they thought a plan this obvious +might succeed. Or had they just +gambled on the very long chance it +might work? <i>They</i> certainly had +nothing to lose by it.</p> + +<p>Only half of Jason's mind was occupied +with the work as he drew up +a list of materials he would need for +the psionic direction finder. His +thoughts plodded in tight circles, +searching for a way out that didn't +exist. He was too deeply involved +now to just leave. Kerk would see +to that. Unless he could find a way +to end the war and settle the grubber +question he was marooned on +Pyrrus for life. A very short life.</p> + +<p>When the list was ready he called +Supply. With a few substitutions, +everything he might possibly need +was in stock, and would be sent +over. Skop sank into an apparent +doze in his chair and Jason, his head +propped against the pull of gravity +by one arm, began a working sketch +of his machine.</p> + +<p>Jason looked up suddenly, aware +of the silence. He could hear machinery +in the building and voices +in the hall outside. What kind of +silence then—?</p> + +<p>Mental silence. He had been so +preoccupied since his return to the +city that he hadn't noticed the complete +lack of any kind of psi sensation. +The constant wash of animal +reactions was missing, as was the +vague tactile awareness of his PK. +With sudden realization he remembered +that it was always this way +inside the city.</p> + +<p>He tried to listen with his mind—and +stopped almost before he began. +There was a constant press of +thought about him that he was made +aware of when he reached out. It +was like being in a vessel far beneath +the ocean, with your hand on +the door that held back the frightening +pressure. Touching the door, +without opening it, you could feel +the stresses, the power pushing in +and waiting to crush you. It was this +way with the psi pressure on the +city. The unvoiced hate-filled +screams of Pyrrus would instantly +destroy any mind that received them. +Some function of his brain acted as +a psi-circuit breaker, shutting off +awareness before his mind could be +blasted. There was just enough leak-through +to keep him aware of the +pressure—and supply the raw materials +for his constant nightmares.</p> + +<p>There was only one fringe benefit. +The lack of thought pressure made +it easier for him to concentrate. In +spite of his fatigue the diagram developed +swiftly.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Meta arrived late that afternoon, +bringing the parts he had ordered. +She slid the long box onto the workbench, +started to speak, but changed +her mind and said nothing. Jason +looked up at her and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Confused?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean," +she said, "I'm not confused. Just +annoyed. The regular trip has been +canceled and our supply schedule will +be thrown off for months to come. +And instead of piloting or perimeter +assignment all I can do is stand +around and wait for you. Then take +some silly flight following your directions. +Do you wonder that I'm +annoyed?"</p> + +<p>Jason carefully set the parts out +on the chassis before he spoke. "As I +said, you're confused. I can point out +how you're confused—which will +make you even more confused. A +temptation that I frankly find hard +to resist."</p> + +<p>She looked across the bench at +him, frowning. One finger unconsciously +curling and uncurling a +short lock of hair. Jason liked her +this way. As a Pyrran operating at +full blast she had as much personality +as a gear in a machine. Once +out of that pattern she reminded +him more of the girl he had known +on that first flight to Pyrrus. He wondered +if it was possible to really get +across to her what he meant.</p> + +<p>"I'm not being insulting when I +say 'confused,' Meta. With your +background you couldn't be any other +way. You have an insular personality. +Admittedly, Pyrrus is an unusual +island with a lot of high-power +problems that you are an expert +at solving. That doesn't make it any +less of an island. When you face a +cosmopolitan problem you are confused. +Or even worse, when your island +problems are put into a bigger +context. That's like playing your own +game, only having the rules change +constantly as you go along."</p> + +<p>"You're talking nonsense," she +snapped at him. "Pyrrus isn't an island +and battling for survival is +definitely not a game."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," he smiled. "I was +using a figure of speech, and a badly +chosen one at that. Let's put the +problem on more concrete terms. +Take an example. Suppose I were +to tell you that over there, hanging +from the doorframe, was a stingwing—"</p> + +<p>Meta's gun was pointing at the +door before he finished the last word. +There was a crash as the guard's +chair went over. He had jumped +from a half-doze to full alertness in +an instant, his gun also searching the +doorframe.</p> + +<p>"That was just an example," Jason +said. "There's really nothing +there." The guard's gun vanished +and he scowled a look of contempt +at Jason, as he righted the chair and +dropped into it.</p> + +<p>"You both have proved yourself +capable of handling a Pyrran problem." +Jason continued. "But what if +I said that there is a thing hanging +from the doorframe that <i>looks</i> like +a stingwing, but is really a kind of +large insect that spins a fine silk that +can be used to weave clothes?"</p> + +<p>The guard glared from under his +thick eyebrows at the empty doorframe, +his gun whined part way out, +then snapped back into the holster. +He growled something inaudible at +Jason, then stamped into the outer +room, slamming the door behind +him. Meta frowned in concentration +and looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"It couldn't be anything except a +stingwing," she finally said. "Nothing +else could possibly look like that. +And even if it didn't spin silk, it +would bite if you got near, so you +would have to kill it." She smiled +with satisfaction at the indestructible +logic of her answer.</p> + +<p>"Wrong again," Jason said. "I +just described the mimic-spinner +that lives on Stover's Planet. It imitates +the most violent forms of life +there, does such a good job that it +has no need for other defenses. It'll +sit quietly on your hand and spin +for you by the yard. If I dropped a +shipload of them here on Pyrrus, +you never could be sure when to +shoot, could you?"</p> + +<p>"But they are not here now," Meta +insisted.</p> + +<p>"Yet they could be quite easily. +And if they were, all the rules of +your game would change. Getting +the idea now? There are some fixed +laws and rules in the galaxy—but +they're not the ones you live by. +Your rule is war unending with the +local life. I want to step outside your +rule book and end that war. Wouldn't +you like that? Wouldn't you like +an existence that was more than just +an endless battle for survival? A life +with a chance for happiness, love, +music, art—all the enjoyable things +you have never had the time for."</p> + +<p>All the Pyrran sternness was gone +from her face as she listened to what +he said, letting herself follow these +alien concepts. He had put his hand +out automatically as he talked, and +had taken hers. It was warm and +her pulse fast to his touch.</p> + +<p>Meta suddenly became conscious +of his hand and snapped hers away, +rising to her feet at the same time. +As she started blindly towards the +door, Jason's voice snapped after +her.</p> + +<p>"The guard, Skop, ran out because +he didn't want to lose his precious +two-value logic. It's all he has. But +you've seen other parts of the galaxy, +Meta, you know there is a lot +more to life than kill-and-be-killed +on Pyrrus. You feel it is true, even +if you won't admit it."</p> + +<p>She turned and ran out the door.</p> + +<p>Jason looked after her, his hand +scraping the bristle on his chin +thoughtfully. "Meta, I have the faint +hope that the woman is winning +over the Pyrran. I think that I saw—perhaps +for the first time in the +history of this bloody war-torn city—a +tear in one of its citizen's eyes."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XXI.</h2> + +<p>"Drop that equipment and Kerk +will undoubtedly pull both your +arms off," Jason said. "He's over +there now, looking as sorry as possible +that I ever talked him into +this."</p> + +<p>Skop cursed under the bulky mass +of the psi detector, passing it up to +Meta who waited in the open port +of the spaceship. Jason supervised +the loading, and blasted all the local +life that came to investigate. +Horndevils were thick this morning +and he shot four of them. He was +last aboard and closed the lock behind +him.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going to install +it?" Meta asked.</p> + +<p>"You tell me," Jason said. "I need +a spot for the antenna where there +will be no dense metal in front of +the bowl to interfere with the signal. +Thin plastic will do, or if worst +comes to worst I can mount it +outside the hull with a remote +drive."</p> + +<p>"You may have to," she said. "The +hull is an unbroken unit, we do all +viewing by screen and instruments. +I don't think ... wait ... there is +one place that might do."</p> + +<p>She led the way to a bulge in the +hull that marked one of the lifeboats. +They went in through the always-open +lock, Skop struggling after +them with the apparatus.</p> + +<p>"These lifeboats are half buried +in the ship," Meta explained. "They +have transparent front ports covered +by friction shields that withdraw automatically +when the boat is launched."</p> + +<p>"Can we pull back the shields +now?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," she said. She traced +the launching circuits to a junction +box and opened the lid. When she +closed the shield relay manually, the +heavy plates slipped back into the +hull. There was a clear view, since +most of the viewport projected beyond +the parent ship.</p> + +<p>"Perfect," Jason said. "I'll set up +here. Now how do I talk to you in +the ship?"</p> + +<p>"Right here," she said. "There's a +pre-tuned setting on this communicator. +Don't touch anything else—and +particularly not this switch." She +pointed to a large pull-handle set +square into the center of the control +board. "Emergency launching. Two +seconds after that is pulled the lifeboat +is shot free. And it so happens +this boat has no fuel."</p> + +<p>"Hands off for sure," Jason said. +"Now have Husky there run me in +a line with ship's power and I'll get +this stuff set up."</p> + +<p>The detector was simple, though +the tuning had to be precise. A dish-shaped +antenna pulled in the signal +for the delicately balanced detector. +There was a sharp fall-off on both +sides of the input so direction could +be precisely determined. The resulting +signal was fed to an amplifier +stage. Unlike the electronic components +of the first stage, this one was +drawn in symbols on white paper. +Carefully glued-on input and output +leads ran to it.</p> + +<p>When everything was ready and +clamped into place, Jason nodded to +Meta's image on the screen. "Take +her up—and easy please. None of +your nine-G specials. Go into a slow +circle around the perimeter, until I +tell you differently."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Under steady power the ship lifted +and grabbed for altitude, then +eased into its circular course. They +made five circuits of the city before +Jason shook his head.</p> + +<p>"The thing seems to be working +fine, but we're getting too much +noise from all the local life. Get +thirty kilometers out from the city +and start a new circuit."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/017.png" width="350" height="214" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>The results were better this time. +A powerful signal came from the +direction of the city, confined to less +than a degree of arc. With the antenna +fixed at a right angle to the +direction of the ship's flight, the signal +was fairly constant. Meta rotated +the ship on its main axis, until Jason's +lifeboat was directly below.</p> + +<p>"Going fine now," he said. "Just +hold your controls as they are and +keep the nose from drifting."</p> + +<p>After making a careful mark on +the setting circle, Jason turned the +receiving antenna through one hundred +eighty degrees of arc. As the +ship kept to its circle, he made a +slow collecting sweep of any signals +beamed at the city. They were halfway +around before he got a new +signal.</p> + +<p>It was there all right, narrow but +strong. Just to be sure he let the +ship complete two more sweeps, and +he noted the direction on the gyro-compass +each time. They coincided. +The third time around he called to +Meta.</p> + +<p>"Get ready for a full right turn, +or whatever you call it. I think I +have our bearing. Get ready—<i>now</i>."</p> + +<p>It was a slow turn and Jason never +lost the signal. A few times it +wavered, but he brought it back on. +When the compass settled down +Meta pushed on more power.</p> + +<p>They set their course towards the +native Pyrrans.</p> + +<p>An hour's flight at close to top +atmospheric speed brought no +change. Meta complained, but Jason +kept her on course. The signal never +varied and was slowly picking up +strength. They crossed the chain of +volcanoes that marked the continental +limits, the ship bucking in the +fierce thermals. Once the shore was +behind and they were over water, +Skop joined Meta in grumbling. He +kept his turret spinning, but there +was very little to shoot at this far +from land.</p> + +<p>When the islands came over the +horizon the signal began to dip.</p> + +<p>"Slow now," Jason called. "Those +islands ahead look like our source!"</p> + +<p>A continent had been here once, +floating on Pyrrus' liquid core. Pressures +changed, land masses shifted, +and the continent had sunk beneath +the ocean. All that was left now of +the teeming life of that land mass +was confined to a chain of islands, +once the mountain peaks of the highest +range of mountains. These islands, +whose sheer, sides rose straight +from the water, held the last inhabitants +of the lost continent. The +weeded-out descendants, of the victors +of uncountable violent contests. +Here lived the oldest native Pyrrans.</p> + +<p>"Come in lower," Jason signaled. +"Towards that large peak. The signals +seem to originate there."</p> + +<p>They swooped low over the mountain, +but nothing was visible other +than the trees and sun-blasted rock.</p> + +<p>The pain almost took Jason's head +off. A blast of hatred that drove +through the amplifier and into his +skull. He tore off the phones, and +clutched his skull between his hands. +Through watering eyes he saw the +black cloud of flying beasts hurtle up +from the trees below. He had a single +glimpse of the hillside beyond, +before Meta blasted power to the +engines and the ship leaped away.</p> + +<p>"We've found them!" Her fierce +exultation faded as she saw Jason +through the communicator. "Are you +all right? What happened?"</p> + +<p>"Feel ... burned out ... I've +felt a psi blast before, but nothing +like that! I had a glimpse of an +opening, looked like a cave mouth, +just before the blast hit. Seemed to +come from there."</p> + +<p>"Lie down," Meta said. "I'll get +you back as fast as I can. I'm calling +ahead to Kerk, he has to know what +happened."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>A group of men were waiting in +the landing station when they came +down. They stormed out as soon as +the ship touched, shielding their +faces from the still-hot tubes. Kerk +burst in as soon as the port was +cracked, peering around until he +spotted Jason stretched out on an +acceleration couch.</p> + +<p>"Is it true?" he barked. "You've +traced the alien criminals who started +this war?"</p> + +<p>"Slow, man, slow," Jason said. +"I've traced the source of the psi +message that keeps your war going. +I've found no evidence as to who +started this war, and certainly wouldn't +go so far as to call them criminals—"</p> + +<p>"I'm tired of your word-play," +Kerk broke in. "You've found these +creatures and their location has been +marked."</p> + +<p>"On the chart," Meta said, "I +could fly there blindfolded."</p> + +<p>"Fine, fine," Kerk said, rubbing +his hands together so hard they +could hear the harsh rasp of the +callouses. "It takes a real effort to +grasp the idea that, after all these +centuries, the war might be coming +to an end. But it's possible now. Instead +of simply killing off these self-renewing +legions of the damned that +attack us, we can get to the leaders. +Search them out, carry the war to +them for a change—and blast their +stain from the face of this planet!"</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the sort!" Jason said, +sitting up with an effort. "Nothing +doing! Since I came to this planet +I have been knocked around, and +risked my life ten times over. Do +you think I have done this just to +satisfy your blood-thirsty ambitions? +It's peace I'm after—not destruction. +You promised to contact these creatures, +attempt to negotiate with +them. Aren't you a man of honor +who keeps his word?"</p> + +<p>"I'll ignore the insult—though I'd +have killed you for it at any other +time," Kerk said. "You've been of +great service to our people, we are +not ashamed to acknowledge an honest +debt. At the same time—do not +accuse me of breaking promises that +I never made. I recall my exact +words. I promised to go along with +any reasonable plan that would end +this war. That is just what I intend +to do. Your plan to negotiate a peace +is not reasonable. Therefore we are +going to destroy the enemy."</p> + +<p>"Think first," Jason called after +Kerk, who had turned to leave. +"What is wrong with trying negotiation +or an armistice? Then, if that +fails, you can try your way."</p> + +<p>The compartment was getting +crowded as other Pyrrans pushed in. +Kerk, almost to the door, turned +back to face Jason.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what's wrong with +armistice," he said. "It's a coward's +way out, that's what it is. It's all +right for you to suggest it, you're +from off-world and don't know any +better. But do you honestly think I +could entertain such a defeatist notion +for one instant? When I speak, +I speak not only for myself, but for +all of us here. We don't mind fighting, +and we know how to do it. We +know that if this war was over we +could build a better world here. At +the same time, if we have the choice +of continued war or a cowardly +peace—<i>we vote for war</i>. This war +will only be over when the enemy is +utterly destroyed!"</p> + +<p>The listening Pyrrans shouted in +agreement, and when Kerk pushed +out through the crowd some of them +patted his shoulder as he went by. +Jason slumped back on the couch, +worn out by his exertions and exhausted +by the attempt to win the +violent Pyrrans over to a peaceful +point of view.</p> + +<p>When he looked up they were +gone—all except Meta. She had the +same look of blood-thirsty elation as +the others, but it drained away when +she glanced at him.</p> + +<p>"What about it, Meta?" he asked +bitterly. "No doubts? Do you think +that destruction is the only way to +end this war?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she said. "I can't +be sure. For the first time in my life +I find myself with more than one +answer to the same question."</p> + +<p>"Congratulations," he said. "It's +a sign of growing up."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XXII.</h2> + +<p>Jason stood to one side and watched +the deadly cargo being loaded +into the hold of the ship. The Pyrrans +were in good humor as they +stowed away riot guns, grenades and +gas bombs. When the back-pack +atom bomb was put aboard one of +them broke into a marching song, +and the others picked it up. Maybe +they were happy, but the approaching +carnage only filled Jason with an +intense gloom. He felt that somehow +he was a traitor to life. Perhaps +the life form he had found needed +destroying—and perhaps it didn't. +Without making the slightest attempt +at conciliation, destruction +would be plain murder.</p> + +<p>Kerk came out of the operations +building and the starter pumps could +be heard whining inside the ship. +They would leave within minutes. +Jason forced himself into a foot-dragging +rush and met Kerk halfway +to the ship.</p> + +<p>"I'm coming with you, Kerk. You +owe me at least that much for finding +them."</p> + +<p>Kerk hesitated, not liking the idea. +"This is an operational mission," he +said. "No room for observers, and +the extra weight— And it's too late +to stop us Jason, you know that."</p> + +<p>"You Pyrrans are the worst liars +in the universe," Jason said. "We +both know that ship can lift ten +times the amount it's carrying today. +Now ... do you let me come, or +forbid me without reason at all?"</p> + +<p>"Get aboard," Kerk said. "But +keep out of the way or you'll get +trampled."</p> + +<p>This time, with a definite destination +ahead, the flight was much faster. +Meta took the ship into the +stratosphere, in a high ballistic arc +that ended at the islands. Kerk was +in the co-pilot's seat, Jason sat behind +them where he could watch the +screens. The landing party, twenty-five +volunteers, were in the hold below +with the weapons. All the +screens in the ship were switched to +the forward viewer. They watched +the green island appear and swell, +then vanish behind the flames of the +braking rockets. Jockeying the ship +carefully, Meta brought it down on +a flat shelf near the cave mouth.</p> + +<p>Jason was ready this time for the +blast of mental hatred—but it still +hurt. The gunners laughed and killed +gleefully as every animal on the island +closed in on the ship. They +were slaughtered by the thousands, +and still more came.</p> + +<p>"Do you have to do this?" Jason +asked. "It's murder—carnage, just +butchering those beasts like that."</p> + +<p>"Self-defense," Kerk said. "They +attack us and they get killed. What +could be simpler? Now shut up, or +I'll throw you out there with +them."</p> + +<p>It was a half an hour before the +gunfire slackened. Animals still attacked +them, but the mass assaults +seemed to be over. Kerk spoke into +the intercom.</p> + +<p>"Landing party away—and watch +your step. They know we're here and +will make it as hot as they can. Take +the bomb into that cave and see how +far back it runs. We can always blast +them from the air, but it'll do no +good if they're dug into solid rock. +Keep your screen open, leave the +bomb and pull back at once if I tell +you to. Now move."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The men swarmed down the ladders +and formed into open battle +formation. They were soon under attack, +but the beasts were picked off +before they could get close. It didn't +take long for the man at point to +reach the cave. He had his pickup +trained in front of him, and the +watchers in the ship followed the +advance.</p> + +<p>"Big cave," Kerk grunted. "Slants +back and down. What I was afraid +of. Bomb dropped on that would just +close it up. With no guarantee that +anything sealed in it, couldn't eventually +get out. We'll have to see how +far down it goes."</p> + +<p>There was enough heat in the +cave now to use the infra-red filters. +The rock walls stood out harshly +black and white as the advance continued.</p> + +<p>"No signs of life since entering +the cave," the officer reported. +"Gnawed bones at the entrance and +some bat droppings. It looks like a +natural cave—so far."</p> + +<p>Step by step the advance continued, +slowing as it went. Insensitive +as the Pyrrans were to psi pressure, +even they were aware of the +blast of hatred being continuously +leveled at them. Jason, back in the +ship, had a headache that slowly +grew worse instead of better.</p> + +<p>"<i>Watch out!</i>" Kerk shouted, staring +at the screen with horror.</p> + +<p>The cave was filled from wall to +wall with pallid, eyeless animals. +They poured from tiny side passages +and seemed to literally emerge from +the ground. Their front ranks dissolved +in flame, but more kept pressing +in. On the screen the watchers +in the ship saw the cave spin dizzily +as the operator fell. Pale bodies +washed up and concealed the lens.</p> + +<p>"Close ranks—flame-throwers and +gas!" Kerk bellowed into the mike.</p> + +<p>Less than half of the men were +alive after that first attack. The survivors, +protected by the flame-throwers, +set off the gas grenades. Their +sealed battle armor protected them +while the section of cave filled with +gas. Someone dug through the +bodies of their attackers and found +the pickup.</p> + +<p>"Leave the bomb there and withdraw," +Kerk ordered. "We've had +enough losses already."</p> + +<p>A different man stared out of the +screen. The officer was dead. "Sorry, +sir," he said, "but it will be just as +easy to push ahead as back as long +as the gas grenades hold out. We're +too close now to pull back."</p> + +<p>"That's an order," Kerk shouted, +but the man was gone from the +screen and the advance continued.</p> + +<p>Jason's fingers hurt where he had +them clamped to the chair arm. He +pulled them loose and massaged +them. On the screen the black and +white cave flowed steadily towards +them. Minute after minute went by +this way. Each time the animals attacked +again, a few more gas grenades +were used up.</p> + +<p>"Something ahead—looks different," +the panting voice cracked from +the speaker. The narrow cave slowly +opened out into a gigantic chamber, +so large the roof and far walls were +lost in the distance.</p> + +<p>"What are those?" Kerk asked. +"Get a searchlight over to the right +there."</p> + +<p>The picture on the screen was +fuzzy and hard to see now, dimmed +by the layers of rock in-between. Details +couldn't be made out clearly, +but it was obvious this was something +unusual.</p> + +<p>"Never saw ... anything quite +like them before," the speaker said. +"Look like big plants of some kind, +ten meters tall at least—yet they're +moving. Those branches, tentacles or +whatever they are, keep pointing towards +us and I get the darkest feeling +in my head ..."</p> + +<p>"Blast one, see what happens," +Kerk said.</p> + +<p>The gun fired and at the same instant +an intensified wave of mental +hatred rolled over the men, dropping +them to the ground. They +rolled in pain, blacked out and unable +to think or fight the underground +beasts that poured over them +in renewed attack.</p> + +<p>In the ship, far above, Jason felt +the shock to his mind and wondered +how the men below could have lived +through it. The others in the control +room had been hit by it as well. +Kerk pounded on the frame of the +screen and shouted to the unhearing +men below.</p> + +<p>"Pull back, come back ..."</p> + +<p>It was too late. The men only +stirred slightly as the victorious Pyrran +animals washed over them, +clawing for the joints in their armor. +Only one man moved, standing up +and beating the creatures away with +his bare hands. He stumbled a few +feet and bent over the writhing mass +below him. With a heave of his +shoulders he pulled another man up. +The man was dead but his shoulder +pack was still strapped to his back. +Bloody fingers fumbled at the pack, +then both men were washed back +under the wave of death.</p> + +<p>"That was the bomb!" Kerk +shouted to Meta. "If he didn't +change the setting, it's still on ten-second +minimum. Get out of here!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Jason had just time to fall back +on the acceleration couch before the +rockets blasted. The pressure leaned +on him and kept mounting. Vision +blacked out but he didn't lose consciousness. +Air screamed across the +hull, then the sound stopped as they +left the atmosphere behind.</p> + +<p>Just as Meta cut the power a glare +of white light burst from the +screens. They turned black instantly +as the hull pickups burned out. She +switched filters into place, then +pressed the button that rotated new +pickups into position.</p> + +<p>Far below, in the boiling sea, a +climbing cloud of mushroom-shaped +flame filled the spot where the island +had been seconds before. The three +of them looked at it, silently and +unmoving. Kerk recovered first.</p> + +<p>"Head for home, Meta, and get +operations on the screen. Twenty-five +men dead, but they did their job. +They knocked out those beasts—whatever +they were—and ended the +war. I can't think of a better way +for a man to die."</p> + +<p>Meta set the orbit, then called operations.</p> + +<p>"Trouble getting through," she +said. "I have a robot landing beam +response, but no one is answering the +call."</p> + +<p>A man appeared on the empty +screen. He was beaded with sweat +and had a harried look in his eyes. +"Kerk," he said, "is that you? Get +the ship back here at once. We need +her firepower at the perimeter. All +blazes broke loose a minute ago, a +general attack from every side, worse +than I've ever seen."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" Kerk +stammered in unbelief. "The war is +over—we blasted them, destroyed +their headquarters completely."</p> + +<p>"The war is going like it never +has gone before," the other snapped +back. "I don't know what you did, +but it stirred up the stewpot of hell +here. Now stop talking and get the +ship back!"</p> + +<p>Kerk turned slowly to face Jason, +his face pulled back in a look of raw +animal savagery.</p> + +<p>"You—! You did it! I should +have killed you the first time I saw +you. I wanted to, now I know I was +right. You've been like a plague +since you came here, sowing death +in every direction. I knew you were +wrong, yet I let your twisted words +convince me. And look what has happened. +First you killed Welf. Then +you murdered those men in the cave. +Now this attack on the perimeter—all +who die there, you will have +killed!"</p> + +<p>Kerk advanced on Jason, step by +slow step, hatred twisting his features. +Jason backed away until he +could retreat no further, his shoulders +against the chart case. Kerk's +hand lashed out, not a fighting blow, +but an open slap. Though Jason +rolled with it, it still battered him +and stretched him full length on the +floor. His arm was against the chart +case, his fingers near the sealed tubes +that held the jump matrices.</p> + +<p>Jason seized one of the heavy +tubes with both hands and pulled it +out. He swung it with all his +strength into Kerk's face. It broke +the skin on his cheekbone and forehead +and blood ran from the cuts. +But it didn't slow or stop the big +man in the slightest. His smile held +no mercy as he reached down and +dragged Jason to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Fight back," he said, "I will +have that much more pleasure as I +kill you." He drew back the granite +fist that would tear Jason's head from +his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," Jason said, and stopped +struggling. "Kill me. You can +do it easily. Only don't call it justice. +Welf died to save me. But the men +on the island died because of your +stupidity. I wanted peace and you +wanted war. Now you have it. Kill +me to soothe your conscience, because +the truth is something you +can't face up to."</p> + +<p>With a bellow of rage Kerk drove +the pile-driver fist down.</p> + +<p>Meta grabbed the arm in both her +hands and hung on, pulling it aside +before the blow could land. The +three of them fell together, half +crushing Jason.</p> + +<p>"Don't do it," she screamed. "Jason +didn't want those men to go +down there. That was your idea. You +can't kill him for that!"</p> + +<p>Kerk, exploding with rage, was +past hearing. He turned his attention +to Meta, tearing her from him. +She was a woman and her supple +strength was meager compared to his +great muscles. But she was a Pyrran +woman and she did what no off-worlder +could. She slowed him for +a moment, stopped the fury of his +attack until he could rip her hands +loose and throw her aside. It didn't +take him long to do this, but it was +just time enough for Jason to get +to the door.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Jason stumbled through, and jammed +shut the lock behind him. A +split second after he had driven the +bolt home Kerk's weight plunged +into the door. The metal screamed +and bent, giving way. One hinge was +torn loose and the other held only +by a shred of metal. It would go +down on the next blow.</p> + +<p>Jason wasn't waiting for that. He +hadn't stayed to see if the door would +stop the raging Pyrran. No door on +the ship could stop him. Fast as possible, +Jason went down the gangway. +There was no safety on the +ship, which meant he had to get off +it. The lifeboat deck was just ahead.</p> + +<p>Ever since first seeing them, he +had given a lot of thought to the +lifeboats. Though he hadn't looked +ahead to this situation, he knew a +time might come when he would +need transportation of his own. The +lifeboats had seemed to be the best +bet, except that Meta had told him +they had no fuel. She had been right +in one thing—the boat he had been +in had empty tanks, he had checked. +There were five other boats, though, +that he hadn't examined. He had +wondered about the idea of useless +lifeboats and come to what he hoped +was a correct conclusion.</p> + +<p>This spaceship was the only one +the Pyrrans had. Meta had told him +once that they always had planned +to buy another ship, but never did. +Some other necessary war expense +managed to come up first. One ship +was really enough for their uses. The +only difficulty lay in the fact they +had to keep that ship in operation +or the Pyrran city was dead. Without +supplies they would be wiped +out in a few months. Therefore the +ship's crew couldn't conceive of +abandoning their ship. No matter +what kind of trouble she got into, +they couldn't leave her. When the +ship died, so did their world.</p> + +<p>With this kind of thinking, there +was no need to keep the lifeboats +fueled. Not all of them, at least. +Though it stood to reason at least +one of them held fuel for short +flights that would have been wasteful +for the parent ship. At this point Jason's +chain of logic grew weak. Too +many "ifs." <i>If</i> they used the lifeboats +at all, one of them should be +fueled. <i>If</i> they did, it would be fueled +now. And <i>if</i> it were fueled—which +one of the six would it be? +Jason had no time to go looking. He +had to be right the first time.</p> + +<p>His reasoning had supplied him +with an answer, the last of a long +line of suppositions. If a boat were +fueled, it should be the one nearest +to the control cabin. The one he was +diving towards now. His life depended +on this string of guesses.</p> + +<p>Behind him the door went down +with a crash. Kerk bellowed and +leaped. Jason hurled himself through +the lifeboat port with the nearest +thing to a run he could manage under +the doubled gravity. With both +hands he grabbed the emergency +launching handle and pulled down.</p> + +<p>An alarm bell rang and the port +slammed shut, literally in Kerk's +face. Only his Pyrran reflexes saved +him from being smashed by it.</p> + +<p>Solid-fuel launchers exploded and +blasted the lifeboat clear of the parent +ship. Their brief acceleration +slammed Jason to the deck, then he +floated as the boat went into free +fall. The main drive rockets didn't +fire.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 525px;"><img src="images/018.png" width="525" height="169" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>In that moment Jason learned +what it was like to know he was +dead. Without fuel the boat would +drop into the jungle below, falling +like a rock and blasting apart when +it hit. There was no way out.</p> + +<p>Then the rockets caught, roared, +and he dropped to the deck, bruising +his nose. He sat up, rubbing it +and grinning. There was fuel in the +tanks—the delay in starting had only +been part of the launching cycle, +giving the lifeboat time to fall clear +of the ship. Now to get it under +control. He pulled himself into the +pilot's seat.</p> + +<p>The altimeter had fed information +to the autopilot, leveling the boat off +parallel to the ground. Like all lifeboat +controls these were childishly +simple, designed to be used by novices +in an emergency. The autopilot +could not be shut off, it rode along +with the manual controls, tempering +foolish piloting. Jason hauled the +control wheel into a tight turn and +the autopilot gentled it to a soft +curve.</p> + +<p>Through the port he could see the +big ship blaring fire in a much tighter +turn. Jason didn't know who was +flying it or what they had in mind—he +took no chances. Jamming the +wheel forward into a dive he cursed +as they eased into a gentle drop. The +larger ship had no such restrictions. +It changed course with a violent maneuver +and dived on him. The forward +turret fired and an explosion +at the stern rocked the little boat. +This either knocked out the autopilot +or shocked it into submission. The +slow drop turned into a power dive +and the jungle billowed up.</p> + +<p>Jason pulled the wheel back and +there was just time to get his arms +in front of his face before they hit.</p> + +<p>Thundering rockets and cracking +trees ended in a great splash. Silence +followed and the smoke drifted away. +High above, the spaceship circled +hesitantly. Dropping a bit as if +wanting to go down and investigate. +Then rising again as the urgent message +for aid came from the city. Loyalty +won and she turned and spewed +fire towards home.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XXIII.</h2> + +<p>Tree branches had broken the +lifeboat's fall, the bow rockets had +burned out in emergency blast, and +the swamp had cushioned the landing +a bit. It was still a crash. The +battered cylinder sank slowly into the +stagnant water and thin mud of the +swamp. The bow was well under before +Jason managed to kick open the +emergency hatch in the waist.</p> + +<p>There was no way of knowing +how long it would take for the boat +to go under, and Jason was in no +condition to ponder the situation. +Concussed and bloody, he had just +enough drive left to get himself out. +Wading and falling he made his +way to firmer land, sitting down +heavily as soon as he found something +that would support him.</p> + +<p>Behind him the lifeboat burbled +and sank under the water. Bubbles +of trapped air kept rising for a +while, then stopped. The water +stilled and, except for the broken +branches and trees, there was no sign +that a ship had ever come this way.</p> + +<p>Insects whined across the swamp, +and the only sound that broke the +quiet of the woods beyond was the +cruel scream of an animal pulling +down its dinner. When that had +echoed away in tiny waves of sound +everything was silent.</p> + +<p>Jason pulled himself out of the +half trance with an effort. His body +felt like it had been through a meat +grinder, and it was almost impossible +to think with the fog in his head. +After minutes of deliberation he figured +out that the medikit was what +he needed. The easy-off snap was +very difficult and the button release +didn't work. He finally twisted his +arm around until it was under the +orifice and pressed the entire unit +down. It buzzed industriously, +though he couldn't feel the needles, +he guessed it had worked. His sight +spun dizzily for a while then cleared. +Pain-killers went to work and he +slowly came out of the dark cloud +that had enveloped his brain since +the crash.</p> + +<p>Reason returned and loneliness +rode along with it. He was without +food, friendless, surrounded by the +hostile forces of an alien planet. +There was a rising panic that started +deep inside of him, that took concentrated +effort to hold down.</p> + +<p>"Think, Jason, don't emote," he +said it aloud to reassure himself, but +was instantly sorry, because his voice +sounded weak in the emptiness, with +a ragged edge of hysteria to it. +Something caught in his throat and +he coughed to clear it, spitting out +blood. Looking at the red stain he +was suddenly angry. Hating this +deadly planet and the incredible stupidity +of the people who lived on +it. Cursing out loud was better and +his voice didn't sound as weak now. +He ended up shouting and shaking +his fist at nothing in particular, but +it helped. The anger washed away +the fear and brought him back to +reality.</p> + +<p>Sitting on the ground felt good +now. The sun was warm and when +he leaned back he could almost forget +the unending burden of doubled +gravity. Anger had carried away fear, +rest erased fatigue. From somewhere +in the back of his mind there popped +up the old platitude. <i>Where +there's life, there's hope.</i> He grimaced +at the triteness of the words, at +the same time realizing that a basic +truth lurked there.</p> + +<p>Count his assets. Well battered, +but still alive. None of the bruises +seemed very important, and no bones +were broken. His gun was still working, +it dipped in and out of the +power holster as he thought about +it. Pyrrans made rugged equipment. +The medikit was operating as well. +If he kept his senses, managed to +walk in a fairly straight line and +could live off the land, there was a +fair chance he might make it back +to the city. What kind of a reception +would be waiting for him there +was a different matter altogether. He +would find that out after he arrived. +Getting there had first priority.</p> + +<p>On the debit side there stood the +planet Pyrrus. Strength-sapping gravity, +murderous weather, and violent +animals. Could he survive? As if to +add emphasis to his thoughts, the +sky darkened over and rain hissed +into the forest, marching towards +him. Jason scrambled to his feet and +took a bearing before the rain closed +down visibility. A jagged chain of +mountains stood dimly on the horizon, +he remembered crossing them +on the flight out. They would do as +a first goal. After he had reached +them, he would worry about the next +leg of the journey.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Leaves and dirt flew before the +wind in quick gusts, then the rain +washed over him. Soaked, chilled, +already bone-tired, he pitted the tottering +strength of his legs against +the planet of death.</p> + +<p>When nightfall came it was still +raining. There was no way of being +sure of the direction, and no point +in going on. If that wasn't enough, +Jason was on the ragged edge of +exhaustion. It was going to be a wet +night. All the trees were thick-boled +and slippery, he couldn't have +climbed them on a one-G world. The +sheltered spots that he investigated, +under fallen trees and beneath thick +bushes, were just as wet as the rest +of the forest. In the end he curled +up on the leeward side of a tree, +and fell asleep, shivering, with the +water dripping off him.</p> + +<p>The rain stopped around midnight +and the temperature fell sharply. Jason +woke sluggishly from a dream +in which he was being frozen to +death, to find it was almost true. +Fine snow was sifting through the +trees, powdering the ground and +drifting against him. The cold bit +into his flesh, and when he sneezed +it hurt his chest. His aching and +numb body only wanted rest, but the +spark of reason that remained in +him, forced him to his feet. If he +lay down now, he would die. Holding +one hand against the tree so he +wouldn't fall, he began to trudge +around it. Step after shuffling step, +around and around, until the terrible +cold eased a bit and he could +stop shivering. Fatigue crawled up +him like a muffling, gray blanket. He +kept on walking, half the time with +his eyes closed. Opening them only +when he fell and had to climb painfully +to his feet again.</p> + +<p>The sun burned away the snow +clouds at dawn. Jason leaned against +his tree and blinked up at the sky +with sore eyes. The ground was +white in all directions, except +around the tree where his stumbling +feet had churned a circle of black +mud. His back against the smooth +trunk, Jason sank slowly down to the +ground, letting the sun soak into him.</p> + +<p>Exhaustion had him light-headed, +and his lips were cracked from thirst. +Almost continuous coughing tore at +his chest with fingers of fire. Though +the sun was still low it was hot already, +burning his skin dry. Dry and +hot.</p> + +<p>It wasn't right. This thought kept +nagging at his brain until he admitted +it. Turned it over and over and +looked at it from all sides. What +wasn't right? The way he felt.</p> + +<p>Pneumonia. He had all the symptoms.</p> + +<p>His dry lips cracked and blood +moistened them when he smiled. He +had avoided all the animal perils of +Pyrrus, all the big carnivores and +poisonous reptiles, only to be laid +low by the smallest beast of them all. +Well, he had the remedy for this one, +too. Rolling up his sleeve with shaking +fingers, he pressed the mouth of +the medikit to his bare arm. It clicked +and began to drone an angry +whine. That meant something, he +knew, but he just couldn't remember +what. Holding it up he saw that +one of the hypodermics was projecting +halfway from its socket. Of +course. It was empty of whatever antibiotic +the analyzer had called for. It +needed refilling.</p> + +<p>Jason hurled the thing away with +a curse, and it splashed into a pool +and was gone. End of medicine, end +of medikit, end of Jason dinAlt. +Single-handed battler against the +perils of deathworld. Strong-hearted +stranger who could do as well as +the natives. It had taken him all +of one day on his own to get his +death warrant signed.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>A choking growl echoed behind +him. He turned, dropped and fired +in the same motion. It was all over +before his conscious mind was aware +it had happened. Pyrran training had +conditioned his reflexes on the pre-cortical +level. Jason gaped at the ugly +beast dying not a meter from him +and realized he had been trained well.</p> + +<p>His first reaction was unhappiness +that he had killed one of the grubber +dogs. When he looked closer he +realized this animal was slightly different +in markings, size and temper. +Though most of its forequarters were +blown away, blood pumping out in +dying spurts, it kept trying to reach +Jason. Before the eyes glazed with +death it had struggled its way almost +to his feet.</p> + +<p>It wasn't quite a grubber dog, +though chances were it was a wild +relative. Bearing the same relation as +dog to wolf. He wondered if there +were any other resemblances between +wolves and this dead beast. Did they +hunt in packs, too?</p> + +<p>As soon as the thought hit him +he looked up—not a moment too +soon. The great forms were drifting +through the trees, closing in on him. +When he shot two, the others snarled +with rage and sank back into the +forest. They didn't leave. Instead of +being frightened by the deaths they +grew even more enraged.</p> + +<p>Jason sat with his back to the tree +and waited until they came close before +he picked them off. With each +shot and dying scream the outraged +survivors howled the louder. Some +of them fought when they met, venting +their rage. One stood on his hind +legs and raked great strips of bark +from a tree. Jason aimed a shot at it, +but he was too far away to hit.</p> + +<p>There were advantages to having +a fever, he realized. Logically he +knew he would live only to sunset, +or until his gun was empty. Yet the +fact didn't bother him greatly. Nothing +really mattered. He slumped, relaxed +completely, only raising his +arm to fire, then letting it drop again. +Every few minutes he had to move +to look in back of the tree, and kill +any of them that were stalking him +in the blind spot. He wished dimly +that he were leaning against a +smaller tree, but it wasn't worth the +effort to go to one.</p> + +<p>Sometime in the afternoon he fired +his last shot. It killed an animal he +had allowed to get close. He had +noticed he was missing the longer +shots. The beast snarled and dropped, +the others that were close pulled back +and howled in sympathy. One of them +exposed himself and Jason pulled the +trigger.</p> + +<p>There was only a slight click. He +tried again, in case it was just a misfire, +but there was still only the click. +The gun was empty, as was the spare +clip pouch at his belt. There were +vague memories of reloading, though +he couldn't remember how many +times he had done it.</p> + +<p>This, then, was the end. They had +all been right, Pyrrus was a match for +him. Though they shouldn't talk. It +would kill them all in the end, too. +Pyrrans never died in bed. Old Pyrrans +never died, they just got et.</p> + +<p>Now that he didn't have to force +himself to stay alert and hold the +gun, the fever took hold. He wanted +to sleep and he knew it would be a +long sleep. His eyes were almost +closed as he watched the wary carnivores +slip closer to him. The first +one crept close enough to spring, he +could see the muscles tensing in its +leg.</p> + +<p>It leaped. Whirling in midair and +falling before it reached him. Blood +ran from its gaping mouth and the +short shaft of metal projected from +the side of his head.</p> + +<p>The two men walked out of the +brush and looked down at him. Their +mere presence seemed to have been +enough for the carnivores, because +they all vanished.</p> + +<p>Grubbers. He had been in such a +hurry to reach the city that he had +forgotten about the grubbers. It was +good that they were here and Jason +was very glad they had come. He +couldn't talk very well, so he smiled +to thank them. But this hurt his lips +too much so he went to sleep.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XXIV.</h2> + +<p>For a strange length of time after +that, there were only hazy patches of +memory that impressed themselves on +Jason. A sense of movement and +large beasts around him. Walls, wood-smoke, +the murmur of voices. None +of it meant very much and he was +too tired to care. It was easier and +much better just to let go.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"About time," Rhes said. "A +couple more days lying there like that +and we would have buried you, even +if you were still breathing."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/019.png" width="350" height="327" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>Jason blinked at him, trying to +focus the face that swam above him. +He finally recognized Rhes, and +wanted to answer him. But talking +only brought on a spell of body-wracking +coughing. Someone held a +cup to his lips and sweet fluid trickled +down his throat. He rested, then +tried again.</p> + +<p>"How long have I been here?" The +voice was thin and sounded far away. +Jason had trouble recognizing it for +his own.</p> + +<p>"Eight days. And why didn't you +listen when I talked to you?" Rhes +said.</p> + +<p>"You should have stayed near the +ship when you crashed. Didn't you +remember what I said about coming +down anywhere on this continent? No +matter, too late to worry about that. +Next time listen to what I say. Our +people moved fast and reached the site +of the wreck before dark. They found +the broken trees and the spot where +the ship had sunk, and at first thought +whoever had been in it had drowned. +Then one of the dogs found your +trail, but lost it again in the swamps +during the night. They had a fine +time with the mud and the snow +and didn't have any luck at all in +finding the spoor again. By the next +afternoon they were ready to send +for more help when they heard your +firing. Just made it, from what I +hear. Lucky one of them was a talker +and could tell the wild dogs to clear +out. Would have had to kill +them all otherwise, and that's not +healthy."</p> + +<p>"Thanks for saving my neck," +Jason said. "That was closer than I +like to come. What happened after? +I was sure I was done for, I remember +that much. Diagnosed all the +symptoms of pneumonia. Guaranteed +fatal in my condition without treatment. +Looks like you were wrong +when you said most of your remedies +were useless—they seemed to +work well on me."</p> + +<p>His voice died off as Rhes shook +his head in a slow <i>no</i>, lines of worry +sharp-cut into his face. Jason looked +around and saw Naxa and another +man. They had the same deeply unhappy +expressions as Rhes.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Jason asked, feeling +the trouble. "If your remedies +didn't work—what did? Not my +medikit. That was empty. I remember +losing it or throwing it away."</p> + +<p>"You were dying," Rhes said +slowly. "We couldn't cure you. Only +a junkman medicine machine could +do that. We got one from the driver +of the food truck."</p> + +<p>"But how?" Jason asked, dazed. +"You told me the city forbids you +medicine. He couldn't give you his +own medikit. Not unless he was—"</p> + +<p>Rhes nodded and finished the sentence. +"Dead. Of course he was dead. +I killed him myself, with a great deal +of pleasure."</p> + +<p>This hit Jason hard. He sagged +against the pillows and thought of all +those who had died since he had come +to Pyrrus. The men who had died +to save him, died so he could live, +died because of his ideas. It was a +burden of guilt that he couldn't bear +to think about. Would it stop with +Krannon—or would the city people +try to avenge his death?</p> + +<p>"Don't you realize what that +means!" he gasped out the words. +"Krannon's death will turn the city +against you. There'll be no more supplies. +They'll attack you when they +can, kill your people—"</p> + +<p>"Of course we know that!" Rhes +leaned forward, his voice hoarse and +intense. "It wasn't an easy decision to +come to. We have always had a trading +agreement with the junkmen. The +trading trucks were inviolate. This +was our last and only link to the galaxy +outside and eventual hope of contacting +them."</p> + +<p>"Yet you broke that link to save +me—why?"</p> + +<p>"Only you can answer that question +completely. There was a great +attack on the city and we saw their +walls broken, they had to be moved +back at one place. At the same time +the spaceship was over the ocean, +dropping bombs of some kind—the +flash was reported. Then the ship returned +and <i>you</i> left it in a smaller +ship. They fired at you but didn't kill +you. The little ship wasn't destroyed +either, we are starting to raise it now. +What does it all mean? We had no +way of telling. We only knew it was +something vitally important. You +were alive, but would obviously die +before you could talk. The small ship +might be repaired to fly, perhaps that +was your plan and that is why you +stole it for us. We <i>couldn't</i> let you +die, not even if it meant all-out war +with the city. The situation was explained +to all of our people who +could be reached by screen and they +voted to save you. I killed the junkman +for his medicine, then rode two +doryms to death to get here in time.</p> + +<p>"Now tell us—what does it mean? +What is your plan? How will it help +us?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Guilt leaned on Jason and stifled +his mouth. A fragment of an ancient +legend cut across his mind, about +the jonah who wrecked the spacer so +all in it died, yet he lived. Was that +he? Had he wrecked a world? Could +he dare admit to these people that +he had taken the lifeboat only to save +his own life?</p> + +<p>The three Pyrrans leaned forward, +waiting for his words. Jason closed +his eyes so he wouldn't see their +faces. What could he tell them? If +he admitted the truth they would undoubtedly +kill him on the spot, considering +it only justice. He wasn't +fearful for his own life any more, +but if he died the other deaths would +all have been in vain. And there still +was a way to end this planetary war. +All the facts were available now, it +was just a matter of putting them together. +If only he wasn't so tired, he +could see the solution. It was right +there, lurking around a corner in his +brain, waiting to be dragged out.</p> + +<p>Whatever he did, he couldn't admit +the truth now. If he died all +hope died. He had to lie to gain +time, then find the true solution as +soon as he was able. That was all he +could do.</p> + +<p>"You were right," Jason said haltingly. +"The small ship has an interstellar +drive in it. Perhaps it can still +be saved. Even if it can't there is +another way. I can't explain now, +but I will tell you when I am rested. +Don't worry. The fight is almost +over."</p> + +<p>They laughed and pounded each +other on the back. When they came +to shake his hand as well, he closed +his eyes and made believe he was +asleep. It is very hard to be a hypocrite +if you aren't trained for it.</p> + +<p>Rhes woke him early the next +morning. "Do you feel well enough +to travel?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Depends what you mean by travel," +Jason told him. "If you mean +under my own power, I doubt if I +could get as far as that door."</p> + +<p>"You'll be carried," Rhes broke in. +"We have a litter swung between +two doryms. Not too comfortable, +but you'll get there. But only if you +think you are well enough to move. +We called all the people within riding +distance and they are beginning +to gather. By this afternoon we will +have enough men and doryms to pull +the ship out of the swamp."</p> + +<p>"I'll come," Jason said, pushing +himself to a sitting position. The effort +exhausted him, bringing a wave +of nausea. Only by leaning his full +weight against the wall could he keep +from falling back. He sat, propped +there, until he heard shouts and the +stamping of heavy feet outside, and +they came to carry him out.</p> + +<p>The trip drained away his small +store of energy, and he fell into an +exhausted sleep. When he opened his +eyes the doryms were standing knee +deep in the swamp and the salvage +operation had begun. Ropes vanished +out of sight in the water while lines +of struggling animals and men hauled +at them. The beasts bellowed, +the men cursed as they slipped and +fell. All of the Pyrrans tugging on +the lines weren't male, women were +there as well. Shorter on the average +than the men, they were just as +brawny. Their clothing was varied +and many-colored, the first touch of +decoration Jason had seen on this +planet.</p> + +<p>Getting the ship up was a heart-breaking +job. The mud sucked at it +and underwater roots caught on the +vanes. Divers plunged time and again +into the brown water to cut them +free. Progress was incredibly slow, +but the work never stopped. Jason's +brain was working even slower. The +ship would be hauled up eventually—what +would he do then? He had to +have a new plan by that time, but +thinking was impossible work. His +thoughts corkscrewed and he had to +fight down the rising feeling of +panic.</p> + +<p>The sun was low when the ship's +nose finally appeared above the +water. A ragged cheer broke out at +first sight of that battered cone of +metal and they went ahead with new +energy.</p> + +<p>Jason was the first one who noticed +the dorym weaving towards +them. The dogs saw it, of course, +and ran out and sniffed. The rider +shouted to the dogs and kicked angrily +at the sides of his mount. Even +at this distance Jason could see the +beast's heaving sides and yellow foam-flecked +hide. It was barely able +to stagger now and the man jumped +down, running ahead on foot. He +was shouting something as he ran +that couldn't be heard above the +noise.</p> + +<p>There was a single moment when +the sounds slacked a bit and the running +man's voice could be heard. +He was calling the same word over +and over again. It sounded like <i>wait</i>, +but Jason couldn't be sure. Others +had heard him though, and the result +was instantaneous. They stopped, +unmoving, where they were. Many +of those holding the ropes let go of +them. Only the quick action of the +anchor men kept the ship from sliding +back under, dragging the harnessed +doryms with it. A wave of +silence washed across the swamp in +the wake of the running man's +shouts. They could be heard clearly +now.</p> + +<p>"<i>Quake! Quake on the way! South—only +safe way is south!</i>"</p> + +<p>One by one the ropes dropped +back into the water and the Pyrrans +turned to wade to solid land. Before +they were well started Rhes' +voice cracked out.</p> + +<p>"Stay at work! Get the ship up, +it's our only hope now. I'll talk to +Hananas, find out how much time +we have."</p> + +<p>These solitary people were unused +to orders. They stopped and milled +about, reason fighting with the urgent +desire to run. One by one they +stepped back to the ropes as they +worked out the sense of Rhes' words. +As soon as it was clear the work +would continue he turned away.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What's happening?" +Jason called to him as he ran by.</p> + +<p>"It's Hananas," Rhes said, stopping +by the litter, waiting for the +newcomer to reach him. "He's a +quakeman. They know when quakes +are coming, before they happen."</p> + +<p>Hananas ran up, panting and +tired. He was a short man, built like +a barrel on stubby legs, a great white +beard covering his neck and the top +of his chest. Another time Jason +might have laughed at his incongruous +waddle, but not now. There was +a charged difference in the air since +the little man had arrived.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't ... you have somebody +near a plate? I called all over +this area without an answer. Finally +... had to come myself—"</p> + +<p>"How much time do we have?" +Rhes cut in. "We have to get that +ship up before we pull out."</p> + +<p>"Time! Who knows about time!" +the graybeard cursed. "Get out or +you're dead."</p> + +<p>"Calm down, Han," Rhes said in +a quieter voice, taking the oldster's +arms in both his hands. "You know +what we're doing here—and how +much depends on getting the ship +up. Now how does it feel? This going +to be a fast one or a slow one?"</p> + +<p>"Fast. Faster than anything I felt +in a long time. She's starting far +away though, if you had a plate here +I bet Mach or someone else up near +the firelands would be reporting new +eruptions. It's on the way and, if we +don't get out soon, we're not getting +out t'all."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>There was a burble of water as +the ship was hauled out a bit farther. +No one talked now and there +was a fierce urgency in their movements. +Jason still wasn't sure exactly +what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot me for a foreigner," +he said, "but just what is wrong? Are +you expecting earthquakes here, are +you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Sure!" Hananas screeched. "Of +course I'm sure. If I wasn't sure I +wouldn't be a quakeman. It's on the +way."</p> + +<p>"There's no doubt of that," Rhes +added. "I don't know how you can +tell on your planet when quakes or +vulcanism are going to start, machines +maybe. We have nothing like +that. But quakemen, like Hananas +here, always know about them before +they happen. If the word can +be passed fast enough, we get away. +The quake is coming all right, the +only thing in doubt is how much +time we have."</p> + +<p>The work went on and there was +a good chance they would die long +before it was finished. All for nothing. +The only way Jason could get +them to stop would be to admit the +ship was useless. He would be killed +then and the grubber chances would +die with him. He chewed his lip as +the sun set and the work continued +by torchlight.</p> + +<p>Hananas paced around, grumbling +under his breath, halting only to +glance at the northern horizon. The +people felt his restlessness and transmitted +it to the animals. Dogfights +broke out and the doryms pulled reluctantly +at their harnesses. With +each passing second their chances +grew slimmer and Jason searched +desperately for a way out of the trap +of his own constructing.</p> + +<p>"Look—" someone said, and they +all turned. The sky to the north was +lit with a red light. There was a +rumble in the ground that was felt +more than heard. The surface of the +water blurred, then broke into patterns +of tiny waves. Jason turned +away from the light, looking at the +water and the ship. It was higher +now, the top of the stern exposed. +There was a gaping hole here, blasted +through the metal by the spaceship's +guns.</p> + +<p>"Rhes," he called, his words +jammed together in the rush to get +them out. "Look at the ship, at the +hole blasted in her stern. I landed +on the rockets and didn't know how +badly she was hit. But the guns hit +the star drive!"</p> + +<p>Rhes gaped at him unbelievingly +as he went on. Improvising, playing +by ear, trying to manufacture lies +that rang of the truth.</p> + +<p>"I watched them install the drive—it's +an auxiliary to the other engines. +It was bolted to the hull right there. +It's gone now, blown up. The boat +will never leave this planet, much +less go to another star."</p> + +<p>He couldn't look Rhes in the eyes +after that. He sank back into the furs +that had been propped behind him, +feeling the weakness even more. Rhes +was silent and Jason couldn't tell if +his story had been believed. Only +when the Pyrran bent and slashed the +nearest rope did he know he had +won.</p> + +<p>The word passed from man to man +and the ropes were cut silently. Behind +them the ship they had labored +so hard over, sank back into the water. +None of them watched. Each was +locked in his own world of thought +as they formed up to leave. As soon +as the doryms were saddled and +packed they started out, Hananas +leading the way. Within minutes they +were all moving, a single file that +vanished into the darkness.</p> + +<p>Jason's litter had to be left behind, +it would have been smashed +to pieces in the night march. Rhes +pulled him up into the saddle before +him, locking his body into place +with a steel-hard arm. The trek continued.</p> + +<p>When they left the swamp they +changed directions sharply. A little +later Jason knew why, when the +southern sky exploded. Flames lit the +scene brightly, ashes sifted down and +hot lumps of rock crashed into the +trees. They steamed when they hit, +and if it hadn't been for the earlier +rain they would have been faced with +a forest fire as well.</p> + +<p>Something large loomed up next to +the line of march, and when they +crossed an open space Jason looked +at it in the reflected light from the +sky.</p> + +<p>"Rhes—" he choked, pointing. +Rhes looked at the great beast moving +next to them, shaggy body and +twisted horns as high as their shoulders, +then looked away. He wasn't +frightened or apparently interested. +Jason looked around then and began +to understand.</p> + +<p>All of the fleeing animals made no +sound, that's why he hadn't noticed +them before. But on both sides dark +forms ran between the trees. Some +he recognized, most of them he +didn't. For a few minutes a pack of +wild dogs ran near them, even mingling +with the domesticated dogs. +No notice was taken. Flying things +flapped overhead. Under the greater +threat of the volcanoes all other battles +were forgotten. Life respected +life. A herd of fat, piglike beasts +with curling tusks, blundered through +the line. The doryms slowed, picking +their steps carefully so they +wouldn't step on them. Smaller animals +sometimes clung to the backs +of the bigger ones, riding untouched +a while, before they leaped off.</p> + +<p>Pounded mercilessly by the saddle, +Jason fell wearily into a light +sleep. It was shot through with +dreams of the rushing animals, hurrying +on forever in silence. With his +eyes open or shut he saw the same +endless stream of beasts.</p> + +<p>It all meant something, and he +frowned as he tried to think what. +Animals running, Pyrran animals.</p> + +<p>He sat bolt upright suddenly, wide +awake, staring down in comprehension.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Rhes asked.</p> + +<p>"Go on," Jason said. "Get us out +of this, and get us out safely. I told +you the lifeboat wasn't the only answer. +I know how your people can +get what they want—end the war +now. There <i>is</i> a way, and I know how +it can be done."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XXV.</h2> + +<p>There were few coherent memories +of the ride. Some things stood out +sharply like the spaceship-sized lump +of burning scoria that had plunged +into a lake near them, showering the +line with hot drops of water. But +mostly it was just a seemingly endless +ride, with Jason still too weak to +care much about it. By dawn the danger +area was behind them and the +march had slowed to a walk. The animals +had vanished as the quake was +left behind, going their own ways, +still in silent armistice.</p> + +<p>The peace of mutually shared danger +was over, Jason found that out +when they stopped to rest and eat. He +and Rhes went to sit on the soft grass, +near a fallen tree. A wild dog had +arrived there first. It lay under the log, +muscles tensed, the ruddy morning +light striking a red glint from its +eyes. Rhes faced it, not three meters +away, without moving a muscle. He +made no attempt to reach one of his +weapons or to call for help. Jason +stood still as well, hoping the Pyrran +knew what he was doing.</p> + +<p>With no warning at all the dog +sprang straight at them. Jason fell +backwards as Rhes pushed him aside. +The Pyrran dropped at the same time—only +now his hand held the long +knife, yanked from the sheath strapped +to his thigh. With unseen speed +the knife came up, the dog twisted +in midair, trying to bite it. Instead +it sank in behind the dog's forelegs, +the beast's own weight tearing a deadly +gaping wound the length of its +body. It was still alive when it hit the +ground, but Rhes was astraddle it, +pulling back the bony-plated head to +cut the soft throat underneath.</p> + +<p>The Pyrran carefully cleaned his +knife on the dead animal's fur, then +returned it to the sheath. "They're +usually no trouble," he said quietly, +"but it was excited. Probably lost the +rest of the pack in the quake." His +actions were the direct opposite of the +city Pyrrans. He had not looked for +trouble nor started the fight. Instead +he had avoided it as long as he could. +But when the beast charged it had +been neatly and efficiently dispatched. +Now, instead of gloating over his victory, +he seemed troubled over an unnecessary +death.</p> + +<p>It made sense. Everything on Pyrrus +made sense. Now he knew how the +deadly planetary battle had started—and +he knew how it could be ended. +All the deaths had <i>not</i> been in vain. +Each one had helped him along the +road a little more towards the final +destination. There was just one final +thing to be done.</p> + +<p>Rhes was watching him now, and +he knew they shared the same +thoughts. "Explain yourself," Rhes +said. "What did you mean when you +said we could wipe out the junkmen +and get our freedom?"</p> + +<p>Jason didn't bother to correct the +misquote, it was best they consider +him a hundred per cent on their side.</p> + +<p>"Get the others together and I'll +tell you. I particularly want to see +Naxa and any other talkers who are +here."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>They gathered quickly when the +word was passed. All of them knew +that the junkman had been killed to +save this off-worlder, that their hope +of salvation lay with him. Jason looked +at the crowd of faces turned towards +him and reached for the right +words to tell them what had to be +done. It didn't help to know that +many of them would be killed doing +it.</p> + +<p>"The small star ship can't be used," +he said. "You all saw that it was +ruined beyond repair. But that was +the easy way out. The hard way is +still left. Though some of you may +die, in the long run it will be the +best solution.</p> + +<p>"We are going to invade the city, +break through the perimeter. I know +how it can be done ..."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/020.png" width="350" height="164" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>A mutter of sound spread across +the crowd. Some of them looked excited, +happy with the thought of killing +their hereditary enemies. Others +stared at Jason as if he were mad. A +few were dazed at the magnitude of +the thought, this carrying of the battle +to the stronghold of the heavily +armed enemy. They quieted when +Jason raised his hand.</p> + +<p>"I know it sounds impossible," he +said. "But let me explain. Something +must be done—and now is the time +to do it. The situation can only get +worse from now on. The city Pyrr ... +the junkmen can get along without +your food, their concentrates taste +awful but they sustain life. But they +are going to turn against you in every +way they can. No more metals for +your tools or replacements for your +electronic equipment. Their hatred +will probably make them seek out +your farms and destroy them from the +ship. All of this won't be comfortable—and +there will be worse to come. In +the city they are losing their war +against this planet. Each year there are +less of them, and some day they will +all be dead. Knowing how they feel +I am sure they will destroy their ship +first, and the entire planet as well, if +that is possible."</p> + +<p>"How can we stop them?" someone +called out.</p> + +<p>"By hitting <i>now</i>," Jason answered. +"I know all the details of the city +and I know how the defenses are set +up. Their perimeter is designed to +protect them from animal life, but we +could break through it if we were +really determined."</p> + +<p>"What good would that do?" Rhes +snapped. "We crack the perimeter +and they draw back—then counter-attack +in force. How can we stand +against their weapons?"</p> + +<p>"We won't have to. Their spaceport +touches the perimeter, and I +know the exact spot where the ship +stands. That is the place where we +will break through. There is no formal +guard on the ship and only a few +people in the area. We will capture +the ship. Whether we can fly it or not +is unimportant. Who controls the ship +controls Pyrrus. Once there we +threaten to destroy it if they don't +meet our terms. They have the choice +of mass suicide or co-operation. I +hope they have the brains to co-operate."</p> + +<p>His words shocked them into silence +for an instant, then they surged +into a wave of sound. There was no +agreement, just excitement, and Rhes +finally brought them to order.</p> + +<p>"Quiet!" he shouted. "Wait until +Jason finishes before you decide. We +still haven't heard how this proposed +invasion is to be accomplished."</p> + +<p>"The plan I have depends on the +talkers." Jason said. "Is Naxa there?" +He waited until the fur-wrapped man +had pushed to the front. "I want to +know more about the talkers, Naxa. +I know you can speak to doryms and +the dogs here—but what about the +wild animals? Can you make them do +what you want?"</p> + +<p>"They're animals ... course we +can talk t'them. Th'more talkers, +th'more power. Make 'em do just +what we want."</p> + +<p>"Then the attack will work," Jason +said excitedly. "Could you get your +talkers all on one side of the city—the +opposite side from the spaceport—and +stir the animals up? Make +them attack the perimeter?"</p> + +<p>"Could we!" Naxa shouted, carried +away by the idea. "We'd bring +in animals from all over, start th'biggest +attack they ev'r saw!"</p> + +<p>"Then that's it. Your talkers will +launch the attack on the far side of +the perimeter. If you keep out of +sight, the guards will have no idea +that it is anything more than an animal +attack. I've seen how they work. +As an attack mounts they call for reserves +inside the city and drain men +away from the other parts of the +perimeter. At the height of the battle, +when they have all their forces committed +across the city, I'll lead the +attack that will break through and +capture the ship. That's the plan and +it's going to work."</p> + +<p>Jason sat down then, half fell +down, drained of strength. He lay +and listened as the debate went back +and forth, Rhes ordering it and keeping +it going. Difficulties were raised +and eliminated. No one could find a +basic fault with the plan. There were +plenty of flaws in it, things that might +go wrong, but Jason didn't mention +them. These people wanted his idea +to work and they were going to make +it work.</p> + +<p>It finally broke up and they moved +away. Rhes came over to Jason.</p> + +<p>"The basics are settled," he said. +"All here are in agreement. They are +spreading the word by messenger to +all the talkers. The talkers are the +heart of the attack, and the more we +have, the better it will go off. We +don't dare use the screens to call them, +there is a good chance that the junkmen +can intercept our messages. It +will take five days before we are +ready to go ahead."</p> + +<p>"I'll need all of that time if I'm to +be any good," Jason said. "Now let's +get some rest."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XXVI.</h2> + +<p>"It's a strange feeling," Jason said. +"I've never really seen the perimeter +from this side before. Ugly is about +the only word for it."</p> + +<p>He lay on his stomach next to Rhes, +looking through a screen of leaves, +downhill towards the perimeter. They +were both wrapped in heavy furs, in +spite of the midday heat, with thick +leggings and leather gauntlets to protect +their hands. The gravity and the +heat were already making Jason dizzy, +but he forced himself to ignore this.</p> + +<p>Ahead, on the far side of a burnt +corridor, stood the perimeter. A high +wall, of varying height and texture, +seemingly made of everything in the +world. It was impossible to tell what +it had originally been constructed of. +Generations of attackers had bruised, +broken, and undermined it. Repairs +had been quickly made, patches thrust +roughly into place and fixed there. +Crude masonry crumbled and gave +way to a rat's nest of woven timbers. +This overlapped a length of pitted +metal, large plates riveted together. +Even this metal had been eaten +through and bursting sandbags spilled +out of a jagged hole. Over the +surface of the wall detector wires and +charged cables looped and hung. At +odd intervals automatic flame-throwers +thrust their nozzles over the wall +above and swept the base of the wall +clear of any life that might have come +close.</p> + +<p>"Those flame things can cause us +trouble," Rhes said. "That one covers +the area where you want to break in."</p> + +<p>"It'll be no problem," Jason assured +him. "It may look like it is firing +a random pattern, but it's really +not. It varies a simple sweep just +enough to fool an animal, but was +never meant to keep men out. Look +for yourself. It fires at regularly repeated +two, four, three and one minute +intervals."</p> + +<p>They crawled back to the hollow +where Naxa and the others waited for +them. There were only thirty men in +the party. What they had to do could +only be done with a fast, light force. +Their strongest weapon was surprise. +Once that was gone their other weapons +wouldn't hold out for seconds +against the city guns. Everyone looked +uncomfortable in the fur and leather +wrappings, and some of the men had +loosened them to cool off.</p> + +<p>"Wrap up," Jason ordered. "None +of you have been this close to the +perimeter before and you don't understand +how deadly it is here. Naxa is +keeping the larger animals away and +you all can handle the smaller ones. +That isn't the danger. Every thorn is +poisoned, and even the blades of grass +carry a deadly sting. Watch out for +insects of any kind and once we start +moving breathe only through the wet +cloths."</p> + +<p>"He's right," Naxa snorted. "N'ver +been closer'n this m'self. Death, death +up by that wall. Do like 'e says."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>They could only wait then, honing +down already needle-sharp crossbow +bolts, and glancing up at the slowly +moving sun. Only Naxa didn't share +the unrest. He sat, eyes unfocused, +feeling the movement of animal life +in the jungle around them.</p> + +<p>"On the way," he said. "Biggest +thing I 'ver heard. Not a beast 'tween +here and the mountains, ain't howlin' +'is lungs out, runnin' towards the +city."</p> + +<p>Jason was aware of part of it. A +tension in the air and a wave of intensified +anger and hatred. It would +work, he knew, if they could only +keep the attack confined to a small +area. The talkers had seemed sure of +it. They had stalked out quietly that +morning, a thin line of ragged men, +moving out in a mental sweep that +would round up the Pyrran life and +send it charging against the city.</p> + +<p>"They hit!" Naxa said suddenly.</p> + +<p>The men were on their feet now, +staring in the direction of the city. +Jason had felt the twist as the attack +had been driven home, and knew +that this was it. There was the sound +of shots and a heavy booming far +away. Thin streamers of smoke began +to blow above the treetops.</p> + +<p>"Let's get into position," Rhes +said.</p> + +<p>Around them the jungle howled +with an echo of hatred. The half-sentient +plants writhed and the air +was thick with small flying things. +Naxa sweated and mumbled as he +turned back the animals that crashed +towards them. By the time they reached +the last screen of foliage before +the burned-out area, they had lost four +men. One had been stung by an insect, +Jason got the medikit to him in time, +but he was so sick he had to turn back. +The other three were bitten or scratched +and treatment came too late. Their +swollen, twisted bodies were left behind +on the trail.</p> + +<p>"Dam' beasts hurt m'head," Naxa +muttered. "When we go in?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet," Rhes said. "We wait for +the signal."</p> + +<p>One of the men carried the radio. +He sat it down carefully, then threw +the aerial over a branch. The set was +shielded so no radiation leaked out to +give them away. It was turned on, but +only a hiss of atmospheric static came +from the speaker.</p> + +<p>"We could have timed it—" Rhes +said.</p> + +<p>"No we couldn't," Jason told him. +"Not accurately. We want to hit that +wall at the height of the attack, when +our chances are best. Even if they hear +the message it won't mean a thing to +them inside. And a few minutes later +it won't matter."</p> + +<p>The sound from the speaker +changed. A voice spoke a short sentence, +then cut off.</p> + +<p>"<i>Bring me three barrels of flour.</i>"</p> + +<p>"Let's go," Rhes urged as he started +forward.</p> + +<p>"Wait," Jason said, taking him by +the arm. "I'm timing the flame-thrower. +It's due in ... <i>there</i>!" A +blast of fire sprayed the ground, then +turned off. "We have four minutes +to the next one—we hit the long +period!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>They ran, stumbling in the soft +ashes, tripping over charred bones +and rusted metal. Two men grabbed +Jason under the arm and half-carried +him across the ground. It hadn't been +planned that way, but it saved precious +seconds. They dropped him +against the wall and he fumbled out +the bombs he had made. The charges +from Krannon's gun, taken when he +was killed, had been hooked together +with a firing circuit. All the moves +had been rehearsed carefully and they +went smoothly now.</p> + +<p>Jason had picked the metal wall as +being the best spot to break in. It offered +the most resistance to the native +life, so the chances were it +wouldn't be reinforced with sandbags +or fill, the way other parts of the wall +were. If he was wrong, they were all +dead.</p> + +<p>The first men had slapped their +wads of sticky congealed sap against +the wall. Jason pressed the charges +into them and they stuck, a roughly +rectangular pattern as high as a man. +While he did this the detonating wire +was run out to its length and the +raiders pressed back against the base +of the wall. Jason stumbled through +the ashes to the detonator, fell on it +and pressed the switch at the same +time.</p> + +<p>Behind him a thundering bang +shook the wall and red flame burst +out. Rhes was the first one there, pulling +at the twisted and smoking metal +with his gloved hands. Others grabbed +on and bent the jagged pieces +aside. The hole was filled with smoke +and nothing was visible through it. +Jason dived into the opening, rolled +on a heap of rubble and smacked into +something solid. When he blinked +the smoke from his eyes he looked +around him.</p> + +<p>He was inside the city.</p> + +<p>The others poured through now, +picking him up as they charged in +so he wouldn't be trampled underfoot. +Someone spotted the spaceship +and they ran that way.</p> + +<p>A man ran around the corner of a +building towards them. His Pyrran +reflexes sent him springing into the +safety of a doorway the same moment +he saw the invaders. But they were +Pyrrans, too. The man slumped slowly +back onto the street, three metal +bolts sticking out of his body. They +ran on without stopping, running between +the low storehouses. The ship +stood ahead.</p> + +<p>Someone had reached it ahead of +them, they could see the outer hatch +slowly grinding shut. A hail of bolts +from the bows crashed into it with +no effect.</p> + +<p>"Keep going!" Jason shouted. "Get +next to the hull before he reaches the +guns."</p> + +<p>This time three men didn't make it. +The rest of them were under the belly +of the ship when every gun let go at +once. Most of them were aimed away +from the ship, still the scream of +shells and electric discharges was ear-shattering. +The three men still in the +open dissolved under the fire. Whoever +was inside the ship had hit all +the gun trips at once, both to knock +out the attackers and summon aid. +He would be on the screen now, calling +for help. Their time was running +out.</p> + +<p>Jason reached up and tried to open +the hatch, while the others watched. +It was locked from the inside. One of +the men brushed him aside and pulled +at the inset handle. It broke off in his +hand but the hatch remained closed.</p> + +<p>The big guns had stopped now and +they could hear again.</p> + +<p>"Did anyone get the gun from that +dead man?" he asked. "It would blow +this thing open."</p> + +<p>"No," Rhes said, "we didn't stop."</p> + +<p>Before the words were out of his +mouth two men were running back +towards the buildings, angling away +from each other. The ship's guns +roared again, a string of explosions +cut across one man. Before they could +change direction and find the other +man he had reached the buildings.</p> + +<p>He returned quickly, darting into +the open to throw the gun to them. +Before he could dive back to safety +the shells caught him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Jason grabbed up the gun as it +skidded almost to his feet. They heard +the sound of wide-open truck turbines +screaming towards them as he blasted +the lock. The mechanism sighed and +the hatch sagged open. They were all +through the air lock before the first +truck appeared. Naxa stayed behind +with the gun, to hold the lock until +they could take the control room.</p> + +<p>Everyone climbed faster than Jason, +once he had pointed them the way, +so the battle was over when he got +there. The single city Pyrran looked +like a pin-cushion. One of the techs +had found the gun controls and was +shooting wildly, the sheer quantity +of his fire driving the trucks back.</p> + +<p>"Someone get on the radio and tell +the talkers to call the attack off," +Jason said. He found the communications +screen and snapped it on. Kerk's +wide-eyed face stared at him from the +screen.</p> + +<p>"<i>You!</i>" Kerk said, breathing the +word like a curse.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's me," Jason answered. He +talked without looking up, while his +hands were busy at the control board. +"Listen to me, Kerk—and don't +doubt anything I say. I may not know +how to fly one of these ships, but I +do know how to blow them up. Do +you hear that sound?" He flipped +over a switch and the faraway whine +of a pump droned faintly. "That's the +main fuel pump. If I let it run—which +I won't right now—it could +quickly fill the drive chamber with +raw fuel. Pour in so much that it +would run out of the stern tubes. +Then what do you think would happen +to your one and only spacer if I +pressed the firing button? I'm not +asking you what would happen to me, +since you don't care—but you need +this ship the way you need life itself."</p> + +<p>There was only silence in the cabin +now, the men who had won the ship +turned to face him. Kerk's voice +grated loudly through the room.</p> + +<p>"What do you want, Jason—what +are you trying to do? Why did you +lead those animals in here ..." His +voice cracked and broke as anger +choked him and spilled over.</p> + +<p>"Watch your tongue, Kerk," Jason +said with soft menace. "These <i>men</i> +you are talking about are the only +ones on Pyrrus who have a spaceship. +If you want them to share it with +you, you had better learn to talk +nicely. Now come over here at once—and +bring Brucco and Meta." Jason +looked at the older man's florid and +swollen face and felt a measure of +sympathy. "Don't look so unhappy, +it's not the end of the world. In fact, +it might be the beginning of one. +And another thing, leave this channel +open when you go. Have it hooked +into every screen in the city so everyone +can see what happens here. Make +sure it's taped too, for replay."</p> + +<p>Kerk started to say something, but +changed his mind before he did. He +left the screen, but the set stayed +alive. Carrying the scene in the control +room to the entire city.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XXVII.</h2> + +<p>The fight was over. It had ended +so quickly the fact hadn't really sunk +in yet. Rhes rubbed his hand against +the gleaming metal of the control +console, letting the reality of touch +convince him. The other men milled +about, looking out through the viewscreens +or soaking in the mechanical +strangeness of the room.</p> + +<p>Jason was physically exhausted, but +he couldn't let it show. He opened +the pilot's medbox and dug through +it until he found the stimulants. +Three of the little gold pills washed +the fatigue from his body, and he +could think clearly again.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me," he shouted. "The +fight's not over yet. They'll try anything +to take this ship back and we +have to be ready. I want one of the +techs to go over these boards until he +finds the lock controls. Make sure all +the air locks and ports are sealed. Send +men to check them if necessary. Turn +on all the screens to scan in every direction, +so no one can get near the +ship. We'll need a guard in the engine +room, my control could be cut if +they broke in there. And there had +better be a room-by-room search of +the ship, in case someone else is locked +in with us."</p> + +<p>The men had something to do now +and felt relieved. Rhes split them up +into groups and set them to work. +Jason stayed at the controls, his hand +next to the pump switch. The battle +wasn't over yet.</p> + +<p>"There's a truck coming," Rhes +called, "going slow."</p> + +<p>"Should I blast it?" the man at the +gun controls asked.</p> + +<p>"Hold your fire," Jason said, "until +we can see who it is. If it's the people +I sent for, let them through."</p> + +<p>As the truck came on slowly, the +gunner tracked it with his sights. +There was a driver and three passengers. +Jason waited until he was positive +who they were.</p> + +<p>"Those are the ones," he said. +"Stop them at the lock, Rhes, make +them come in one at a time. Take +their guns as they enter, then strip +them of <i>all</i> their equipment. There is +no way of telling what could be a +concealed weapon. Be specially careful +of Brucco—he's the thin one with +a face like an ax edge—make sure you +strip him clean. He's a specialist in +weapons and survival. And bring the +driver too, we don't want him reporting +back about the broken air lock or +the state of our guns."</p> + +<p>Waiting was hard. His hand stayed +next to the pump switch, even though +he knew he could never use it. Just as +long as the others thought he would.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>There were stampings and muttered +curses in the corridor; the prisoners +were pushed in. Jason had one look +at their deadly expressions and clenched +fists before he called to Rhes.</p> + +<p>"Keep them against the wall and +watch them. Bowmen keep your +weapons up." He looked at the people +who had once been his friends +and who now swam in hatred for him. +Meta, Kerk, Brucco. The driver was +Skop, the man Kerk had once appointed +to guard him. He looked +ready to explode now that the roles +had been reversed.</p> + +<p>"Pay close attention," Jason said, +"because your lives depend upon it. +Keep your backs to the wall and don't +attempt to come any closer to me than +you are now. If you do, you will be +shot instantly. If we were alone, any +one of you could undoubtedly reach +me before I threw this switch. But +we're not. You have Pyrran reflexes +and muscles—but so do the bowmen. +Don't gamble. Because it won't be a +gamble. It will be suicide. I'm telling +you this for your own protection. So +we can talk peacefully without one +of you losing his temper and suddenly +getting shot. <i>There is no way out of +this.</i> You are going to be forced to +listen to everything I say. You can't +escape or kill me. The war is over."</p> + +<p>"And we lost—and all because of +you ... you <i>traitor</i>!" Meta snarled.</p> + +<p>"Wrong on both counts," Jason +said blandly. "I'm not a traitor because +I owe my allegiance to all men +on this planet, both inside the perimeter +and out. I never pretended differently. +As to losing—why you haven't +lost anything. In fact you've won. +Won your war against this planet, if +you will only hear me out." He turned +to Rhes, who was frowning in angry +puzzlement. "Of course your +people have won also, Rhes. No more +war with the city, you'll get medicine, +off-planet contact—everything you +want."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me for being cynical," +Rhes said, "but you're promising the +best of all possible worlds for everyone. +That will be a little hard to deliver +when our interests are opposed +so."</p> + +<p>"You strike through to the heart +of the matter," Jason said. "Thank +you. This mess will be settled by seeing +that everyone's interests are not +opposed. Peace between the city and +farms, with an end to the useless war +you have been fighting. Peace between +mankind and the Pyrran life forms—because +that particular war is at the +bottom of all your troubles."</p> + +<p>"The man's mad," Kerk said.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps. You'll judge that after +you hear me out. I'm going to tell +you the history of this planet, because +that is where both the trouble and the +solution lie.</p> + +<p>"When the settlers landed on Pyrrus +three hundred years ago they missed +the one important thing about this +planet, the factor that makes it different +from any other planet in the galaxy. +They can't be blamed for the +oversight, they had enough other +things to worry about. The gravity +was about the only thing familiar to +them, the rest of the environment was +a shocking change from the climate-controlled +industrial world they had +left. Storms, vulcanism, floods, earthquakes—it +was enough to drive them +insane, and I'm sure many of them +did go mad. The animal and insect +life was a constant annoyance, nothing +at all like the few harmless and +protected species they had known. I'm +sure they never realized that the Pyrran +life was telepathic as well—"</p> + +<p>"That again!" Brucco snapped. +"True or not, it is of no importance. +I was tempted to agree with your +theory of psionic-controlled attack +on us, but the deadly fiasco you staged +proved that theory wrong."</p> + +<p>"I agree," Jason answered. "I was +completely mistaken when I thought +some outside agency directed the attack +on the city with psionic control. +It seemed a logical theory at the time +and the evidence pointed that way. +The expedition to the island <i>was</i> a +deadly fiasco—only don't forget that +attack was the direct opposite of what +I wanted to have done. If I had gone +into the cave myself none of the +deaths would have been necessary. I +think it would have been discovered +that the plant creatures were nothing +more than an advanced life form with +unusual psi ability. They simply resonated +strongly to the psionic attack +on the city. I had the idea backwards +thinking they instigated the battle. +We'll never know the truth, though, +because they are destroyed. But their +deaths did prove one thing. It allows +us to find the real culprits, the creatures +who are leading, directing and +inspiring the war against the city."</p> + +<p>"<i>Who?</i>" Kerk breathed the question, +rather than spoke it.</p> + +<p>"Why <i>you</i> of course," Jason told +him. "Not you alone, but all of your +people in the city. Perhaps you don't +like this war. However you are responsible +for it, and keep it going."</p> + +<p>Jason had to force back a smile as +he looked at their dumfounded expressions. +He had to prove his point +quickly, before even his allies began +to think him insane.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"Here is how it works. I said Pyrran +life was telepathic—and I meant +all life. Every single insect, plant and +animal. At one time in this planet's +violent history these psionic mutations +proved to be survival types. They +existed when other species died, and +in the end I'm sure they co-operated +in wiping out the last survivors of the +non-psi strains. Co-operation is the +key word here. Because while they +still competed against each other under +normal conditions, they worked +together against anything that threatened +them as a whole. When a natural +upheaval or a tidal wave threatened +them, they fled from it in harmony.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 165px;"><img src="images/021.png" width="165" height="500" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>"You can see a milder form of this +same behavior on any planet that is +subject to forest fires. But here, mutual +survival was carried to an extreme +because of the violent conditions. Perhaps +some of the life forms even developed +precognition like the human +quakemen. With this advance warning +the larger beasts fled. The smaller +ones developed seeds, or burrs or +eggs, that could be carried to safety +by the wind or in the animals' fur, +thus insuring racial survival. I know +this is true, because I watched it myself +when we were escaping a quake."</p> + +<p>"Admitted—all your points admitted," +Brucco shouted. "But what +does it have to do with <i>us</i>? So all the +animals run away together, what does +that have to do with the war?"</p> + +<p>"They do more than run away together," +Jason told him. "They work +together against any natural disaster +that threatens them all. Some day I'm +sure, ecologists will go into raptures +over the complex adjustments that +occur here in the advent of blizzards, +floods, fires and other disasters. There +is only one reaction we really care +about now, though. That's the one +directed towards the city people. +Don't you realize yet—they treat you +all as another natural disaster!</p> + +<p>"We'll never know exactly how it +came about, though there is a clue in +that diary I found, dating from the +first days on this planet. It said that +a forest fire seemed to have driven +new species towards the settlers. +Those weren't new beasts at all—just +old ones with new attitudes. Can't you +just imagine how those protected, +over-civilized settlers acted when +faced with a forest fire? They panicked +of course. If the settlers were in +the path of the fire, the animals must +have rushed right through their camp. +Their reaction would undoubtedly +have been to shoot the fleeing creatures +down.</p> + +<p>"When they did that they classified +themselves as a natural disaster. Disasters +take any form. Bipeds with guns +could easily be included in the category. +The Pyrran animals attacked, +were shot, and the war began. The +survivors kept attacking and informed +all the life forms what the fight was +about. The radioactivity of this planet +must cause plenty of mutations—and +the favorable, survival mutation +was now one that was deadly to man. +I'll hazard a guess that the psi function +even instigates mutations, some +of the deadlier types are just too one-sided +to have come about naturally in +a brief three hundred years.</p> + +<p>"The settlers, of course, fought +back, and kept their status as a natural +disaster intact. Through the centuries +they improved their killing methods, +not that it did the slightest good, as +you know. You city people, their descendants, +are heirs to this heritage of +hatred. You fight and are slowly being +defeated. How can you possibly win +against the biologic reserves of a planet +that can recreate itself each time to +meet any new attack?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Silence followed Jason's words. +Kerk and Meta stood white-faced as +the impact of the disclosure sunk in. +Brucco mumbled and checked points +off on his fingers, searching for weak +spots in the chain of reason. The +fourth city Pyrran, Skop, ignored all +these foolish words that he couldn't +understand—or want to understand—and +would have killed Jason in an instant +if there had been the slightest +chance of success.</p> + +<p>It was Rhes who broke the silence. +His quick mind had taken in the +factors and sorted them out. "There's +one thing wrong," he said. "What +about us? We live on the surface of +Pyrrus without perimeters or guns. +Why aren't we attacked as well? +We're human, descended from the +same people as the junkmen."</p> + +<p>"You're not attacked," Jason told +him, "because you don't identify yourself +as a natural disaster. Animals can +live on the slopes of a dormant volcano, +fighting and dying in natural +competition. But they'll flee together +when the volcano erupts. That eruption +is what makes the mountain a +natural disaster. In the case of human +beings, it is their thoughts that identify +them as life form or disaster. +Mountain or volcano. In the city +everyone radiates suspicion and death. +They enjoy killing, thinking about +killing, and planning for killing. This +is natural selection, too, you realize. +These are the survival traits that work +best in the city. Outside the city men +think differently. If they are threatened +individually, they fight, as will any +other creature. Under more general +survival threats they co-operate completely +with the rules for universal +survival that the city people break."</p> + +<p>"How did it begin—this separation, +I mean, between the two +groups?" Rhes asked.</p> + +<p>"We'll probably never know," Jason +said. "I think your people must +have originally been farmers, or +psionic sensitives who were not with +the others during some natural disaster. +They would, of course, act correctly +by Pyrran standards, and survive. +This would cause a difference of +opinion with the city people who saw +killing as the answer. It's obvious, +whatever the reason, that two separate +communities were established early, +and soon separated except for the limited +amount of barter that benefited +both."</p> + +<p>"I still can't believe it," Kerk mumbled. +"It makes a terrible kind of +truth, every step of the way, but I still +find it hard to accept. There <i>must</i> be +another explanation."</p> + +<p>Jason shook his head slowly. +"None. This is the only one that +works. We've eliminated the other +ones, remember? I can't blame you +for finding it hard to believe, since +it is in direct opposition to everything +you've understood to be true in the +past. It's like altering a natural law. +As if I gave you proof that gravity +didn't really exist, that it was a force +altogether different from the immutable +one we know, one you could get +around when you understood how. +You'd want more proof than words. +Probably want to see someone walking +on air."</p> + +<p>"Which isn't such a bad idea at +that," he added, turning to Naxa. +"Do you hear any animals around the +ship now? Not the ones you're used +to, but the mutated, violent kind that +live only to attack the city."</p> + +<p>"Place's crawling with 'em," Naxa +said, "just lookin' for somethin' +t'kill."</p> + +<p>"Could you capture one?" Jason +asked. "Without getting yourself +killed, I mean."</p> + +<p>Naxa snorted contempt as he +turned to leave. "Beast's not born yet, +that'll hurt me."</p> + +<p>They stood quietly, each one wrapped +tightly around by his own +thoughts, while they waited for Naxa +to return. Jason had nothing more to +say. He would do one more thing to +try and convince them of the facts, +after that it would be up to each of +them to reach a conclusion.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The talker returned quickly with a +stingwing, tied by one leg to a length +of leather. It flapped and shrieked as +he carried it in.</p> + +<p>"In the middle of the room, away +from everybody," Jason told him. +"Can you get that beast to sit on +something and not flap around?"</p> + +<p>"My hand good enough?" he asked, +flipping the creature up so it clung to +the back of his gauntlet. "That's how +I caught it."</p> + +<p>"Does anyone doubt that this is a +real stingwing?" Jason asked. "I want +to make sure you all believe there is +no trickery here."</p> + +<p>"The thing is real," Brucco said. +"I can smell the poison in the wing-claws +from here." He pointed to the +dark marks on the leather where the +liquid had dripped. "If that eats +through the gloves, he's a dead man."</p> + +<p>"Then we agree it's real," Jason +said. "Real and deadly, and the only +test of the theory will be if you people +from the city can approach it like +Naxa here."</p> + +<p>They drew back automatically when +he said it. Because they knew that +stingwing was synonymous with +death. Past, present and future. You +don't change a natural law. Meta +spoke for all of them.</p> + +<p>"We ... can't. This man lives in +the jungle, like an animal himself. +Somehow he's learned to get near +them. But you can't expect us to."</p> + +<p>Jason spoke quickly, before the +talker could react to the insult. "Of +course I expect you to. That's the +whole idea. If you don't hate the beast +and expect it to attack you—why it +won't. Think of it as a creature from +a different planet, something harmless."</p> + +<p>"I can't," she said. "It's a <i>stingwing</i>!"</p> + +<p>As they talked Brucco stepped forward, +his eyes fixed steadily on the +creature perched on the glove. Jason +signaled the bowmen to hold their +fire. Brucco stopped at a safe distance +and kept looking steadily at the stingwing. +It rustled its leathery wings uneasily +and hissed. A drop of poison +formed at the tip of each great poison +claw on its wings. The control room +was filled with a deadly silence.</p> + +<p>Slowly he raised his hand. Carefully +putting it out, over the animal. +The hand dropped a little, rubbed the +stingwing's head once, then fell back +to his side. The animal did nothing +except stir slightly under the touch.</p> + +<p>There was a concerted sigh, as those +who had been unknowingly holding +their breath breathed again.</p> + +<p>"How did you do it?" Meta asked +in a hushed voice.</p> + +<p>"Hm-m-m, what?" Brucco said, +apparently snapping out of a daze. +"Oh, touching the thing. Simple, +really. I just pretended it was one of +the training aids I use, a realistic and +harmless duplicate. I kept my mind +on that single thought and it worked." +He looked down at his hand, then +back to the stingwing. His voice +quieter now, as if he spoke from a +distance. "It's not a training aid you +know. It's real. Deadly. The off-worlder +is right. He's right about +everything he said."</p> + +<p>With Brucco's success as an example, +Kerk came close to the animal. +He walked stiffly, as if on the way to +his execution, and runnels of sweat +poured down his rigid face. But he +believed and kept his thoughts directed +away from the stingwing and he +could touch it unharmed.</p> + +<p>Meta tried but couldn't fight down +the horror it raised when she came +close. "I am trying," she said, "and I +do believe you now—but I just can't +do it."</p> + +<p>Skop screamed when they all looked +at him, shouted it was all a trick, +and had to be clubbed unconscious +when he attacked the bowmen.</p> + +<p>Understanding had come to Pyrrus.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<h2>XXVIII.</h2> + +<p>"What do we do now?" Meta +asked. Her voice was troubled, questioning. +She voiced the thoughts of +all the Pyrrans in the room, and the +thousands who watched in their +screens.</p> + +<p>"What will we do?" They turned +to Jason, waiting for an answer. For +the moment their differences were +forgotten. The people from the city +were staring expectantly at him, as +were the crossbowmen with half-lowered +weapons. This stranger had +confused and changed the old world +they had known, and presented them +with a newer and stranger one, with +alien problems.</p> + +<p>"Hold on," he said, raising his +hand. "I'm no doctor of social ills. +I'm not going to try and cure this +planet full of muscle-bound sharpshooters. +I've just squeezed through +up to now, and by the law of averages +I should be ten times dead."</p> + +<p>"Even if all you say is true, Jason," +Meta said, "you are still the only person +who can help us. What will the +future be like?"</p> + +<p>Suddenly weary, Jason slumped +into the pilot's chair. He glanced +around at the circle of people. They +seemed sincere. None of them even +appeared to have noticed that he no +longer had his hand on the pump +switch. For the moment at least, the +war between city and farm was forgotten.</p> + +<p>"I'll give you my conclusions," +Jason said, twisting in the chair, trying +to find a comfortable position for +his aching bones. "I've been doing a +lot of thinking the last day or two, +searching for the answer. The very +first thing I realized, was that the +perfect and logical solution wouldn't +do at all. I'm afraid the old ideal of +the lion lying down with the lamb +doesn't work out in practice. About +all it does is make a fast lunch for +the lion. Ideally, now that you all +know the real causes of your trouble, +you should tear down the perimeter +and have the city and forest people +mingle in brotherly love. Makes +just as pretty a picture as the one of +lion and lamb. And would undoubtedly +have the same result. Someone +would remember how really filthy the +grubbers are, or how stupid junkmen +can be, and there would be a fresh +corpse cooling. The fight would +spread and the victors would be eaten +by the wildlife that swarmed over the +undefended perimeter. No, the answer +isn't that easy."</p> + +<p>As the Pyrrans listened to him they +realized where they were, and glanced +around uneasily. The guards raised +their crossbows again, and the prisoners +stepped back to the wall and +looked surly.</p> + +<p>"See what I mean?" Jason asked. +"Didn't take long did it?" They all +looked a little sheepish at their unthinking +reactions.</p> + +<p>"If we're going to find a decent +plan for the future, we'll have to take +inertia into consideration. Mental inertia +for one. Just because you know +a thing is true in theory, doesn't make +it true in fact. The barbaric religions +of primitive worlds hold not a germ +of scientific fact, though they claim to +explain all. Yet if one of these savages +has all the logical ground for +his beliefs taken away—he doesn't +stop believing. He then calls his mistaken +beliefs 'faith' because he knows +they are right. And he knows they are +right because he has faith. This is an +unbreakable circle of false logic that +can't be touched. In reality, it is plain +mental inertia. A case of thinking +'what always was' will also 'always +be.' And not wanting to blast the +thinking patterns out of the old +rut.</p> + +<p>"Mental inertia alone is not going +to cause trouble—there is cultural inertia, +too. Some of you in this room +believe my conclusions and would like +to change. But will all your people +change? The unthinking ones, the +habit-ridden, reflex-formed people +who <i>know</i> what is now, will always +be. They'll act like a drag on whatever +plans you make, whatever attempts +you undertake to progress +with the new knowledge you have."</p> + +<p>"Then it's useless—there's no hope +for our world?" Rhes asked.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"I didn't say that," Jason answered. +"I merely mean that your troubles +won't end by throwing some kind of +mental switch. I see three courses +open for the future, and the chances +are that all three will be going on at +the same time.</p> + +<p>"First—and best—will be the rejoining +of city and farm Pyrrans into +the single human group they came +from. Each is incomplete now, and +has something the other one needs. In +the city here you have science and +contact with the rest of the galaxy. +You also have a deadly war. Out there +in the jungle, your first cousins live +at peace with the world, but lack +medicine and the other benefits of +scientific knowledge, as well as any +kind of cultural contact with the rest +of mankind. You'll both have to join +together and benefit from the exchange. +At the same time you'll have +to forget the superstitious hatred you +have of each other. This will only be +done outside of the city, away from +the war. Every one of you who is +capable should go out voluntarily, +bringing some fraction of the knowledge +that needs sharing. You won't be +harmed if you go in good faith. And +you will learn how to live <i>with</i> this +planet, rather than against it. Eventually +you'll have civilized communities +that won't be either 'grubber' or +'junkman.' They'll be Pyrran."</p> + +<p>"But what about our city here?" +Kerk asked.</p> + +<p>"It'll stay right here—and probably +won't change in the slightest. In the +beginning you'll need your perimeter +and defenses to stay alive, while the +people are leaving. And after that it +will keep going because there are +going to be any number of people +here who you won't convince. They'll +stay and fight and eventually die. Perhaps +you will be able to do a better +job in educating their children. What +the eventual end of the city will be, +I have no idea."</p> + +<p>They were silent as they thought +about the future. On the floor Skop +groaned but did not move. "Those +are two ways," Meta said. "What is +the third?"</p> + +<p>"The third possibility is my own +pet scheme," Jason smiled. "And I +hope I can find enough people to go +along with me. I'm going to take my +money and spend it all on outfitting +the best and most modern spacer, with +every weapon and piece of scientific +equipment I can get my hands on. +Then I'm going to ask for Pyrran +volunteers to go with me."</p> + +<p>"What in the world for?" Meta +frowned.</p> + +<p>"Not for charity, I expect to make +my investment back, and more. You +see, after these past few months, I +can't possibly return to my old occupation. +Not only do I have enough +money now to make it a waste of +time, but I think it would be an unending +bore. One thing about Pyrrus—if +you live—is that it spoils you for +the quieter places. So I'd like to take +this ship that I mentioned and go +into the business of opening up new +worlds. There are thousands of planets +where men would like to settle, only +getting a foothold on them is too +rough or rugged for the usual settlers. +Can you imagine a planet a Pyrran +couldn't lick after the training you've +had here? And enjoy doing it?</p> + +<p>"There would be more than pleasure +involved, though. In the city your +lives have been geared for continual +deadly warfare. Now you're faced +with the choice of a fairly peaceful +future, or staying in the city to fight +an unnecessary and foolish war. I +offer the third alternative of the occupation +you know best, that would +let you accomplish something constructive +at the same time.</p> + +<p>"Those are the choices. Whatever +you decide is up to each of you personally."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Before anyone could answer, livid +pain circled Jason's throat. Skop had +regained consciousness and surged up +from the floor. He pulled Jason from +the chair with a single motion, holding +him by the neck, throttling him.</p> + +<p>"Kerk! Meta!" Skop shouted +hoarsely. "Grab guns! Open the locks—our +people'll be here, kill the grubbers +and their lies!"</p> + +<p>Jason tore at the fingers that were +choking the life out of him, but it was +like pulling at bent steel bars. He +couldn't talk and the blood hammered +in his ears.</p> + +<p>Meta hurtled forward like an uncoiled +spring and the crossbows +twanged. One bolt caught her in the +leg, the other transfixed her upper +arm. But she had been shot as she +jumped and her inertia carried her +across the room, to her fellow Pyrran +and the dying off-worlder.</p> + +<p>She raised her good arm and chopped +down with the edge of her hand.</p> + +<p>It caught Skop a hard blow on the +biceps and his arm jumped spasmodically, +his hand leaping from Jason's +throat.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?" he shouted +in strange terror to the wounded girl +who fell against him. He pushed her +away, still clutching Jason with his +other hand. She didn't answer. Instead +she chopped again, hard and true, the +edge of her hand catching Skop across +the windpipe, crushing it. He dropped +Jason and fell to the floor, retching +and gasping.</p> + +<p>Jason watched the end through a +haze, barely conscious.</p> + +<p>Skop struggled to his feet, turned +pain-filled eyes to his friends.</p> + +<p>"You're wrong," Kerk said. "Don't +do it."</p> + +<p>The sound the wounded man made +was more animal than human. When +he dived towards the guns on the far +side of the room the crossbows +twanged like harps of death.</p> + +<p>When Brucco went over to help +Meta no one interfered. Jason gasped +air back into his lungs, breathing in +life. The watching glass eye of the +viewer carried the scene to everyone +in the city.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Meta ... for understanding +... as well as helping." Jason +had to force the words out.</p> + +<p>"Skop was wrong and you were +right, Jason," she said. Her voice +broke for a second as Brucco snapped +off the feathered end of the steel bolt +with his fingers, and pulled the shaft +out of her arm. "I can't stay in the +city, only people who feel as Skop +did will be able to do that. And I'm +afraid I can't go into the forest—you +saw what luck I had with the stingwing. +If it's all right I'd like to come +with you. I'd like to very much."</p> + +<p>It hurt when he talked so Jason +could only smile, but she knew what +he meant.</p> + +<p>Kerk looked down in unhappiness +at the body of the dead man. "He was +wrong—but I know how he felt. I +can't leave the city, not yet. Someone +will have to keep things in hand while +the changes are taking place. Your +ship is a good idea, Jason, you'll have +no shortage of volunteers. Though I +doubt if you'll get Brucco to go with +you."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," Brucco snapped, +not looking up from the compression +bandage he was tying. "There's +enough to do right here on Pyrrus. +The animal life, quite a study to be +made, probably have every ecologist +in the galaxy visiting here."</p> + +<p>Kerk walked slowly to the screen +overlooking the city. No one attempted +to stop him. He looked out at the +buildings, the smoke still curling up +from the perimeter, and the limitless +sweep of green jungle beyond.</p> + +<p>"You've changed it all, Jason," he +said. "We can't see it now, but Pyrrus +will never be the way it was before +you came. For better or worse."</p> + +<p>"Better," Jason croaked, and rubbed +his aching throat. "Now get together +and end this war so people +will really believe it."</p> + +<p>Rhes turned and after an instant's +hesitation, extended his hand to Kerk. +The gray-haired Pyrran felt the same +repugnance himself about touching a +grubber.</p> + +<p>They shook hands then because +they were both strong men.</p> + +<div class="hd1"><p class="center"><b>THE END</b></p></div> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/022-2.jpg"><img src="images/022-1.jpg" width="144" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><b><big>Transcriber's Note:</big></b></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>Astounding Science Fiction</i> January, February and March 1960. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Deathworld, by Harry Harrison + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEATHWORLD *** + +***** This file should be named 28346-h.htm or 28346-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/3/4/28346/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht, Stephen Blundell +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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