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His legs were still numb and hardly usable。 The bearded ma snorted in disgust and hauled him to his feet； propping him against di outer wall。 Jason clutched the knobby bark of the logs when he w~ left alone。 He looked around； soaking up impressions。
It was the first time he had been on a farm since he had run awa from home。 A different world with a different ecology； but the simila：
ity was apparent enough to him。 A new…sown field stretched down di hill in front of the shack。 Ploughed by a good farmer。 Even； well…ca~ furrows that followed the contour of the slope。 Another； larger lc building was next to this one； probably a barn。
There was a snuffling sound behind him and Jason turned quicldyand froze。 His hand called for the missing gun and his finger tightene down on a trigger that wasn't there。
It had e out of the jungle and padded up quietly behind him。 had six thick legs with clawed feet that dug into the ground。 The tw meter…long body was covered with matted yellow…and…black fur； all e：
cept the skull and shoulders。 These were covered with overlapping horny plates。 Jason could see all this because the beast was that close。
He waited to die。
The mouth opened； a frog…like division of the hairless skull； revealing double rows of jagged teeth。
〃Here； Fido；〃 the bearded man said； ing 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 doggie；〃 the man said； his fingers scratching under the edge of the carapace where it joined the flesh。
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。
〃Nice doggie！〃 Jason said； and for no reason started to laugh。 The bearded man turned and scowled at him until he was quiet。
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 unfortable。
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。
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 man on the bed before him。
〃e over here and sit down。〃 The voice was full and strong； accustomed to mand。 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。
〃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？〃
Jason nodded yes； and his answer stirred the living skeleton to life。
The head lifted from the pillow and the red…rimmed eyes sought h with a desperate intensity。
〃My name is Rhes and I'm a。 。 。 grubber。 Will you help me？〃
Jason wondered at the intensity of Rhes's question； all out of propc tion to the simple content of its meaning。 Yet he could see no reason give anything other than the first and obvious answer that sprang to Ii lips。
〃Of course I'll help you； in whatever way I can。 As long as it involv no injury to anyone else。 What do you want？〃
The sick man's head had fallen back limply； exhausted； as Jasc talked。 But the fire still burned in the eyes。
〃Feel assured…I want to injure no others；〃 Rues said。 〃Quite the ~ posite。 As you see； I am suffering from a disease that our remedies w~ 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 ~ animal bite。 Do you have one of these machines？〃
〃That sounds like a description of the medikit。〃 Jason touched ti button at his waist that dropped the medikit into his hand。 〃I have mu here。 It analyzes and treats most。 。 。〃
〃Would you use it on me？〃 Rhes broke in； his voice suddenly urger 〃I'm sorry；〃 Jason said。 〃I should have realized。〃 He stepped forwa and pressed the machine over one of the inflamed areas on Rhes's che~ The operation light came on and the thin shaft of the analyzer prol slid down。 When it withdrew the device hummed； then clicked thr~ times as three separate hypodermic needles lanced into the skin。 Thi the light went out。
〃Is that all？〃 Rhes asked； as he watched Jason stow the medikit ba in his belt。
Jason nodded； then looked up and noticed the wet marks of tears the sick man's face。 Rhes became aware at the same time and brush at them angrily。
〃When a man is sick；〃 he growled； 〃the body and all its senses becon
traitor。 I don't think I have cried since I was a child…but you must i
alize it's not myself I'm crying for。 It's the untold thousands of my pe
ple who have died for lack of that little device you treat so casuall）
〃Surely you have medicines； doctors of your own？〃
〃Herb doctors and witch doctors；〃 Rues said； consigning them all oblivion with a chop of his hand。 〃The few hard working and honc men are hampered by the fact that the faith healers can usually cu better than their strongest potion。〃
The talking had tired Rhes。 He stopped suddenly and closed his ey~ On his chest； the inflamed areas were already losing their angry col
as the injections took effect。 Jason glanced around the room； looking for clues to the mystery of these people。
Floor and walls were made of wood lengths fitte？l 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； flame…like 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 overelaboration and decoration and sought the truthful clarity of uncluttered art。 At which end of the scale was he looking now？
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 municator fit into the picture？ Or the glowing ceiling that illuminated the room with a soft light？
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？〃
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 axe had proved that。 Naxa had entered silently while they talked； and stood with his fingers touching the haft of this same axe。 Jason knew his life was still in jeopardy； until he gave an
answer that satisfied these men。 …
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。
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。
〃I'm Jason dinAh； an ecologist； so you see I have the best reasons in the universe for visiting this planet…〃
〃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。
〃Simply stated； it is that branch of biology that considers the relatior between organisms and their environment。 How climatic and othc factors affect the life forms； and how the life forms in turn affect eac other and the environment。〃 That much Jason knew was true…but 11 really knew very little more about the subject； so he moved on quickl~
〃I heard reports of this planet； and finally came here to study it firs hand。 I did what work I could in the shelter of the city； but it wasn enough。 The people t