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squeeze it hard and throw。 Three seconds later it explodes with enough force to blast open this building。〃
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。
〃The case and bombs are yours if you move the date of your next delivery up to tomorrow…and let me go with you。〃
〃Be here at 0500；〃 Krannon said。 〃We leave early。〃
15
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 flamethrowers 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。
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 wildlife 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 pleted the circuit to the grounded hull。
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 directed planetary hatred？
The motors died and Krannon stood up； stretching。 〃We're here；〃 he said。 〃Let's unload。〃
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 fmished Jason slumped down； exhausted； onto the pile。
〃Get back in； we're leaving；〃 Kxannon said。
〃You are； I'm staying right here。〃
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？〃
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。
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。
〃There…in the top！〃 Jason shouted and fired into the tangle of branches。 Krannon fired too。 As soon as he did； Jason hurled himself backward； curled into a ball； roiling 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。 Vhen he stopped moving； he was lost in the tangle。 Krannon's shots came too late to hit him。
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。
Then Jason was alone。
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。 1…Je had to force down an overwhelming desire to run after it。 What was done was done。
This was a long chance to take； but it was the only way to contact the grubbers。 They were savages； but still they had e 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。
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。
There was no telling where the savages were； or how soon the：
would arrive。 If the woods weren't too lethal； he could hide there； pie＇ his time to approach them。 If they found him among the supplies； the：
might skewer him on the spot with a typical Pyrran reflex。
Walking warily； he approached the line of trees。 Something move
on a branch； but vanished as he came near。 None of the plants nea
a thick…trunked tree looked poisonous； so he slipped behind it。 Ther
was nothing deadly in sight and it surprised him。 He let his body rela
a bit； leaning against the rough bark。
Something soft and choking fell over his head； his body was seizei in a steel grip。 The more he struggled； the tighter it held him until th blood thundered in his ears and his lungs screamed for air。
Only when he grew limp did the pressure let up。 His first pani ebbed a little when he realized that it wasn't an animal that attacke him。 He knew nothing about the grubbers； but they were human s he still had a chance。
His arms and legs were tied； the power holster ripped from his am He felt strangely naked without it。 The powerful hands grabbed hir again and he was hurled into the air； to fall face down across somethin warm and soft。 Fear pressed in again for it was a large animal of som kind。 And all Pyrran animals were deadly。
When the animal moved off； carrying him； panic was replaced b
a feeling of mounting elation。 The grubbers had managed to work ot
a truce of some kind with at least one form of animal life。 He had t
find out how。 If he could get that secret…and get it back to the city…i would justify all his work and pain。 It might even justify WeIPs dea~ if the age…old war could be slowed or stopped。
Jason's tightly bound limbs hurt terribly at first； but grew numb wit the circulation shut off。 The jolting ride continued endlessly； he ha no way of measuring the time。 A rainfall soaked him； then he felt hi clothes steaming as the sun came out。
The ride was finally over。 He was pulled from the animal's back an dumped down。 His arms dropped free as someone loosed the binding The returning circulation soaked him in pain as he lay there； strugglin to move。 WThen his hands finally obeyed him； he lifted them to his fac and stripped away the co