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agree needs wiping out。 This is always done under the leadership of a warlord； someone smart enough to make an alliance and strong enough to keep it working。 Ternuchin is the name of the chief who organized the tribes to destroy the John pany expedition。 He is so good at his job that； instead of breaking up the alliance when the threat was over； he kept it going and has even added to it。 The anti…city taboo appears to be one of the strongest they have； so it was easy to get recruits。 He has kept his army busy ever since； consolidating more and more area under his control。 When we arrived； it gave his recruiting an even bigger boost。 Temuchin is our main problem。 We can get nowhere so long as he is leading the tribes。 The first thing we must do is to take away his reason for this holy war； and we can do that easily enough by leaving。〃
〃Are you sure that you are not feverish？〃 Meta asked。
〃Thank you for the consideration； but I am fine。 I mean we must convince the tribes that we have left。 Another landing must be made on the same site and some sort of digging in got under way。 Trouble will arrive quickly enough and we'll have to fight them off to prove that we mean business。 At the same time we will try to talk to them through loudspeakers； apparently to convince them of our peaceful in…
tent。 We'll tell them all about the nice things we will give them if they let us alone。 This will only make them fight harder。 Then we will threaten to leave forever if they don't stop。 They won't stop。 So we blast off； straight up； and drop back to a hiding place in the mountains on a ballistic orbit so we won't be seen。 That is stage one。〃
〃I assume there is a stage two；〃 Kerk said with marked lack of enthusiasm； 〃for up to now it looks very much like a retreat。〃
〃That's just the idea。 In stage two we find an isolated spot in the mountains that simply cannot be reached on foot。 We build a model village there to which we transplant； entirely against their will； one of the smaller tribes。 They will have all the most modem sanitary conveniences； hot water； the only flush toilets on the entire planet； good food and medical aid。 They will hate us for it and do everything possible to kill us and to escape。 We will release them…when this affair is over。 But in the meanwhile we will utilize their moropes and camachs and the rest of their barbaric devices。〃
〃What in the world for？〃 Meta asked。
〃To form our own tribe； that's what for。 The fighting Pyrrans。 Tougher； nastier and more faithful to the taboos than any other tribe。 We'll bore from within。 We'll be so good at the barbarian game that our chief； Kerk the Great； will be able to squeeze Temuchin out of the top job。 I know you will be able to get the operation rolling before I return。〃
〃I did not know you were going；〃 Kerk said； his baffled expression mirrored by the others。 'What are you planning to do？〃
Jason plucked an invisible string in midair。 〃I；〃 he announced； 〃am going to bee a jongleur。 A wandering troubadour and spy； to sow dissent an4 prepare the way for your arrival。〃
7
〃If you laugh…or even smile…I'll break your arm；〃 Meta said through tightly clenched teeth。
Jason had to use every iota of his gambler's facial control to maintain his bland； slightly bored expression。 He knew she meant it about the broken arm。 〃I never laugh at a lady's new clothes；〃 he said。 〃If I did；
I would have split my sides many； many planets ago。 I think you look fine for the job。〃
〃You would；〃 she hissed。 〃I think I look like some furry animal that has been run over by a ground car。〃。
〃Look； Grif is here；〃 he said； pointing。 She automatically turned toward the door。 It was a timely entrance because； now that she had mentioned it； she did look like。
〃Well； Grif； e in； my boy！〃 Making believe that the wide grin and hearty laugh were for the grim…faced nine…year…old。
〃I don't like this；〃 Grif said； flushed and angry。 〃I don't like looking funny。 No one wears clothes like this。〃
〃All three of us do；〃 Jason said； aiming his remarks at the boy but hoping they would register with Meta。 〃And where we are going； it is the usual dress。 Meta here is in the height of fashion among the plains tribes。〃 She was wrapped in stained leather and furs； her angry face scowling out from under a shapeless hood。 He looked quickly away。 〃While you and I wear the indifferent motley of a jongleur and his apprentice。 You'll soon see how well we fit in。〃
Time to change the subject from their ludicrous apparel。 He looked closely at Crif's face and hands； then at Meta's。
〃The ultraviolet and the tanning drugs have worked fine；〃 he said as he took a small leather bag from the sack at his waist。 〃Your skins are about the same color as the tribesmen's； but there is one thing missing。 As protection against the cold and wind； they grease their faces heavily。 Wait； stop！〃 he said as both Pyrrans clenched their fists and death fluttered close。 〃I'm not asking you to smear on the rancid morope fat they use。 This is clean； neutral； odorless silicone jelly that will be good protection。 Take my word for it…you'll need it。〃
Jason quickly dug out a glob and rubbed it onto his cheeks。 Reluctantly； the other two did the same。 Before they were finished； the Pyrran scowls had deepened； which Jason had not thought possible。 He wished they would relax…or this game would be over before it began。 In the past week； once the others had approved； their plans had moved on teflon bearings。 First the planned 〃retreat〃 from the planet； then the establishing of a base in this isolated valley。 It was surrounded by vertical peaks on all sides and pletely inaccessible except by air。 Their resettlement camp was in the mountains nearby； a bit of plateau that was really only a large ledge set in a gigantic vertical cliff； a natural escape…proof prison。 It was already occupied by a clean and embittered family of nomads； five males and six females； that had been caught away from their tribe and quieted by narcogas。 Their artifacts and clothes； suitably cleaned and deloused； had been turned over to Jason…
as had their moropes。 Everything was ready now to penetrate Temuchin's army； if Jason could only get these single…minded Pyrrans to cooperate。
〃Let's go；〃 Jason said。 〃It should be our turn by now。〃
With its capacious holds and cabins； the Pugnacious was still being used as a base； though some of the prefabs were almost erected。 As they went down the corridor toward the lock； they met Teca ing from the opposite direction。
〃Kerk sent me；〃 he said。 'They're almost ready for you。〃
Jason merely nodded and they started by him。 Relieved of his message； Teca noticed for the first time their exotic garb and grease…covered faces。 And the fierce scowls on the Pyrrans' faces。 It was all very much out of place in the metal and plastic corridor。 Teca looked from one to the other； then pointed at Meta。
〃Do you know what you look like？〃 he said； and made the very great mistake of smiling。
Meta turned toward him； snarling； but Grif was closer； standing just next to the man。 He sank his fist； with all of his weight； deep into Teca's midriff。
Grif was only nine…but he was a Pyrran nine…year…old。 Teca had not expected the attack nor was he prep