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ustice。 He wasn't fearful for his own life anymore； 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 would see the solution。 It was right there； lurking around a corner in his brain； waiting to be dragged out。
There was the sudden sound of heavy feet stamping outside the cabin； and a man's muffled shouting。 No one except Jason seemed to notice。 They were too intent on his answer。 He groped in his mind； but couldn't find words to explain。 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 correct solution that seemed so tantalizingly near。 Yet he was too tired even to phrase a plausible lie。
The sound of the door bursting open crashed through the stillness of the room。 A gnarled； stubby man stood there； his anger…red face set off by a full white beard。
〃Everyone deaf？〃 he snarled。 〃I ride all night and shout my lungs out and you just squat here like a bunch a' egg…hatching birds。 Get out！ Quake！ A big quake on the way！〃
They were all standing now； shouting questions。 Plies's voice cut through the uproar。 〃Hananas！ How much time do we have？〃
〃Time！ Who knows about time！〃 the greybeard cursed。 〃Get out or you're dead； s'all I know。〃
No one stopped to argue now。 There was a furious rush and within a minute Jason was being strapped into a litter on one of the doryms。
〃What's happening？〃 he asked the man who was tying him into place。
〃Earthquake ing；〃 he answered； his fingers busy with the knots。 〃Hananas is the best quakeman we have。 He always knows before a quake is going to happen。 If the word can be passed quick enough we get away。 Quakemen always know； say they can feel them ing。〃 He jerked the last knot tight and was gone。
Night cameas they were starting； the red of sunset matched by a surly scarlet glow in the northern sky。 There was a distant rumbling； more felt than heard； and the ground stirred underfoot。 The doryms hurried into a shambling run without being prodded。 They splashed through a swamp and on the other side Hananas changed their course abruptly。 A little later； when the southern sky exploded； Jason knew why。 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。
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。
〃Rhes…〃 he choked； pointing。 Plies； riding next to him； looked at the great beast； shaggy body and twisted horns as high as their shoulders； then looked away。 He wasn't frightened or apparently even interested。 Jason looked around then and began to understand。
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 by overhead。 Under the greater threat of the volcanoes all other battles were forgotten。 Life respected life。 A herd of fat； pig…like 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 awhile； before they leaped off。
Pounded mercilessly by the jarring litter； 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。
It all meant something and he frowned as he tried to think what。 Animals running； Pyrran animals。
He sat bolt upright suddenly； twisting in his litter； wide awake and staring down in prehension。
〃What is it？〃 Plies asked； swinging his dorym in close。
〃Go on；〃 Jason said。 〃Get us out of this； and get us out safely。 I know how your people can get what they want； end the war now。 There is a way； and I know how it can be done。〃
25
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。
The peace of mutually shared danger was over； Jason found that out when they stopped to rest and eat。 He and Plies 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。 Plies 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。
With no warning at all the dog sprang straight at them。 Jason fell backward as Plies 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 Plies was astraddle it； pulling back the bony…plated head to cut the soft throat underneath。
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。
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 not been in vain。 Each one had helped him along the road a little more toward the final destination。 There was just one final thing to be done。
Plies was watching him now and he knew they shared the same thoughts。 〃Explain yourself；〃 Plies said。 〃What did you mean when you said we could wipe out the junkmen and get our freedom？〃
Jason didn't bother to correct the misquote； it was best they consider him a hundred percent on their side。
〃Get the others together and I'll tell you。 I particularly want to see Naxa and any other talkers who are here。〃
They gathered quickly when the word was passed。 All of them knew that the junkman had been killed to save this off…wonder； that their hope of salvation lay with him。 Jason looked at the crowd of faces turned toward 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。
〃We all want to see an end to the war here on Pyrrus。 There is a way； but it will cost human lives。 Some of you may die doing it。 I think the price is worth it； because success will bring you everything you have ever wanted。〃 He looked around at the tense； waiting circle。
'We are going to invade the city； break through the perimeter。 I know how it can be done。 。 。
A mutter of sound spread across the crowd。 Some of them looked excited； happy with the thought of Idiling 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。
〃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 fortable…and there will be worse to e。 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。〃
〃How can we stop them？〃 someone called out。
〃By hitting now；〃 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 the