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use it for。 Nothing that aided the city dwellers woul appeal to Rhes in the slightest。 Best to say nothing until the entire ai fair was over。
18
After breakfast； he told Rhes that he wanted to return to the city。 〃Then you have seen enough of our barbarian world； and wish to go back to your friends。 To help them wipe us out perhaps？〃 P~hes said it lightly； but there was a touch of cold malice behind his words。
〃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。〃
〃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！〃
〃Why not？〃
〃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。
〃Help us； Jason dinAh。 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…anything。
〃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 any…
where on this continent。 We have no cities； but our people have farn everywhere； they will find you。 We will then have merce； trade on our own。 This is what we all want and we will work hard for i And you will have done it。 Whatever you want； we will give。 That a promise and we do not break our promises。〃
The intensity and magnitude of what he described rocked Jaso~ He knew that Rhes spoke the truth and the entire resources of ti planet would be his； if he did as asked。 For one second he was tempte savoring the thought of what it would be like。 Then came realizatic that it would be a half answer； and a poor one at that。 If these peop had the strength they wanted； their first act would be the attempt destruction of the city men。 The result would be bloody civil war th would probably destroy them both。 Rhes's answer was a good one…hi only half an answer。
Jason had to find a better solution。 One that would stop all the figi ing on this planet and allow the two groups of humans to live in peac
〃I will do nothing to injure your people； Rhes…and everything my power to aid them；〃 Jason said。
This half answer satisfied Rhes； who could see only one interpret tion of it。 He spent the rest of the morning on the municator； ranging for the food supplies that were being brought to the tradir site。
〃The supplies are ready and we have sent the signal；〃 he said。 〃TI truck will be here tomorrow and you will be waiting for it。 Everything arranged as I told you。 You'll leave now with Naxa。 You must rca' the meeting spot before the trucks。〃
19
〃Trucks almost here。 Y'know what to do？〃 Naxa asked。
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 impbrtance today。
〃Here they're。 Wait until his back's turned；〃 Naxa whispered。
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。
〃Now！〃 Naxa hissed。
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。
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。
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。
〃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。
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 pletely and thc oughly and he cursed them for their efficiency。
Krannon climbed warily out of the truck； after Jason was bandage Finishing the loading quickly； he started the train of trailers back t ward the city。 Jason had an anti…pain shot and dozed off as soon as th~ started。
While he slept； Krannon must have radioed ahead； because Kerk w waiting when they arrived。 As soon as the truck entered the penimett he threw open the door and dragged Jason out。 The bandage pulli and Jason felt the wound tear open。 He ground his teeth together； Kei would not have the satisfaction of hearing him cry out。
〃I told you to stay in the buildings until the ship left。 Why did y leave？ Why did you go outside？ You talked to the grubbers…didn't you With each question he shook Jason again。
〃I didn't talk to…anyone。〃 Jason managed to get the words out。 〃Th tried to take me； I shot two…hid out until the trucks came back。〃
〃Got another one then；〃 Krannon said。 〃I saw it。 Good shootin Think I got some too。 Let him go； Kerk； they shot him in the back F fore he could reach the truck。〃
That's enough explanations； Jason thought to himself。 Don't overt it。 Let him make up his mind later。 Now's the time to change the sir ject。 There's one thing that will get his mind off the grubbers。
〃I've been fighting your war for you； Kerk； while you stayed safe inside the perimeter。〃 Jason leaned back against the side of the truck the other loosened his grip。 〃I've found out what your battle with di planet is really about…and how you can win it。 Now let me sit dow and I'll tell you。〃
More Pyrrans had e up while they talked。 None of them mov now。 Like Kerk； they stood frozen； looking at Jason。 When Kerk mike he spoke for all of them。
'What do you mean？&
〃Just what I said。 Pyrrus is fighting you…actively and conscious＇ Get far enough out from this city and you can feel the waves of hato that are directed at it。 No； that's wrong…you can't because you〃 grown up with it。 But I can； and so could anyone else with any sort psi sensitivity。 There is a message of war being beamed against y constantly。 The life forms of this planet are psi…sensitive； and respoi to that order。 They attack and change and mutate for your destructio And they'll keep on doing so until you are all dead。 Unless you e stop the war。〃
〃How？〃 Kerk snapped the word and every face echoed the questio
〃By finding whoever or whatever is sending that message。 The Ii
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。〃
A dead silence followed his words as the Pyrrans tried to prehend the ideas。 Kerk moved first； waving them all away。
〃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 plete report。〃 The people drifted away silently； looking back as they went。
20
〃From the beginning now；〃 Kerk said。 〃And leave out nothin~ 〃There is very little more that I can add to the physical facts。 I s~ the animals； understood the message。 I even experimented with some them and they reacted to my mental mands。 What I must do now track down the source of the orders that keep this war going。
〃I'll tell yo