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。 。 He forced his thoughts from that track。
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。
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。
Dressing took a long time； but it was finally done。 When Jason finally left the room he found Kerk waiting there for him。
〃Kerk； I want to tell you。 。 。 。〃
〃Tell me nothing！〃 The thunder of Kerk's voice bounced back from the ceiling and walls。 〃I'm telling you。 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。 Weif died so you could live。 He was twice the man you will ever be。〃
'WeIf？ Was that his name？〃 Jason asked stumblingly。 〃I didn't know。 。 。 。〃
〃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 toward the exit lock。 Almost as an afterthought； he turned back to Jason。
〃You'll stay here in the sealed buildings until the ship returns in two weeks。 Then you will leave this planet and never e back。 If you do I'll kill you instantly。 With pleasure。〃 He started through the lock。
〃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。
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 pletely ignored。 …
Jason turned and saw for the first time that Brucco was standing there。 〃Did you hear that？〃 Jason asked him。
〃Yes。 And I quite agree。 You can consider yourself lucky。〃
〃Lucky！〃 Jason was the angry one now。 〃Lucky to be treated like a / moronic child； with contempt for everything I do…〃
〃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。
〃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。 。 。〃
〃I know； I've seen it；〃 Brucco interrupted。 〃Meta brought it in。 Very interesting historical document。〃
〃That's all you can see it as； an historical document？ The significance of the planetary change escapes you？〃
〃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。〃
The pressure of futility built up inside Jason； fighting for a way to
burst free。 Wherever he turned； there was only indifference。
〃You're an intelligent man； Brucco…yet you can see no further than the tip of your own nose。 I suppose it is inevitable。 You and the rest of the Pyrrans are supermen by Earth standards。 Tough； ruthless； unbeatable； fast on the draw。 Drop you anywhere and you land on your feet。 You would make perfect Texas Rangers； Canadian Mounties； Venus Swamp Patrolmen…any of the mythical frontier fighters of the past。 And I think that's where you really belong。 In the past。 On Pyrrus； mankind has been pushed to the limit of adaptability in muscle and reflex。 And it's a dead end。 Brain was the thing that dragged mankind out of the caves and started him on his way to the stars。 When we start thinking with our muscles again we are on our way right back to those caves。 Isn't that what you Pyrrans are？ A bunch of cavemen hitting animals on the head with stone axes。 Do you ever stop to think why you are here？ What you are doing？ Where you are going？〃
Jason had to stop； he was exhausted and gasping for breath。 Brucco rubbed his chin in thought。 〃Caves？〃 he asked。 〃Of course we don't live in caves or use stone clubs。 I don't understand your point at all。〃
It was impossible to be angry； or even exasperated。 Jason started to answer； then laughed instead。 A very humorless laugh。 He was too tired to argue anymore。 He kept running into this same stone wall with all the Pyrrans。 Theirs was a logic of the moment。 The past and future unchangeable； unknowable…and uninteresting。 〃How is the perimeter battle going？〃 he asked finally； wanting to change the subject。
〃Finished。 Or in the last stages at least。〃 Brucco was enthusiastic as he showed Jason stereos of the attackers。 He did not notice Jason's repressed shudder。
〃This was the most serious breakthrough 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。〃
〃What axe those things？〃 Jason asked。 〃Giant snakes of some kind？〃
〃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 mebility。 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。 Now we know what they are we can watch for them。 The danger was they could have pletely undermined the perimeter and e in from all sides at once。 Not much we could have done then。〃
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 Polhwc Victory 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。
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 modem one。 They didn't match at all。
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。
Ra