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ldly。 The others controlled their trigger reflexes better。
〃That is not true；〃 Kerk said。 〃People are still leaving the city…〃
〃And returning in about the same numbers。 Argument invalid。 The ones who were able to leave have done so； only the hard core is left。〃
〃There are other possible solutions；〃 Brucco said。 〃Another city could be constructed…〃
The rumble of an earthquake interrupted him。 They had been feeling tremors for some time； so monplace on Pyrrus that they were scarcely aware of them； but this one was much stronger。 The building moved under them and a jagged crack appeared in the wall； showering cement dust。 The crack intersected the window frame and； although the single pane was made of armorglass； it fractured under the strain and crashed out in jagged fragments。 As though on cue； a stingwing dived at the opening； ripping through the protective netting inside。 It dissolved in a burst of flame as their guns surged from their power holsters and four shots fired as one。
〃I'll watch the window；〃 Kerk said； shifting his chaii so he could face the opening。 〃Go on。〃
The interruption； the reminder of what life in this city was really like； had thrown Brucco off his pace。 He hesitated a moment； then continued。
〃Yes 。 。 。 well； what I was saying…other solutions are possible。 A second city； quite distant from here； could be constructed； perhaps at one of the mine sites。 Only around this city are the life forms so deadly。 This city could be abandoned and…〃
〃And the new city would recapitulate all the sins of the old。 The hatred of the remaining Pyrrans would recreate the same situation。 You know them better than I do； Brucco； isn't that what would happen？〃
Jason waited until Brucco had nodded a reluctant yes。
'We've been over this ground before and there is only one possible solution。 Get those people off Pyrrus and to a world where they can survive without a constant； decimating war。 Any place would be an improvement over Pyrrus。 You people are so close to it that you seem to have forgotten what a hell this planet really is。 I know that it's all that you have and that you're adjusted to it； but it is really not very much。 I've proved to you that all of the life forms here are telepathic to a degree and that your hatred of them keeps them warring upon you。 Mutating and changing and constantly getting more vicious and deadly。 You have admitted that。 But it doesn't change the situation。 There are still enough of you Pyrrans hating away to keep the wax going。 Sanity save me but you are a pigheaded people！ If I had any brains； I would be well away from here and leave you to your deadly destiny。 But I'm involved； like it or not。 I've kept you alive and you've kept me alive and our futures run on the same track。 Besides that； I like your girls。〃
Meta's sniff was loud in the listening silence。
〃So…jokes and arguments aside； we have a problem。 If your people stay here； they eventually die。 All of them。 To save them； you are going to have to get them away from here； to a more friendly world。 Habitable planets with good natural resources are not always easy to find； but I've found one。 There may be some differences of opinion with the natives； the original settlers； but I think that should make the idea more interesting to Pyrrans rather than the other way around。 Transportation and equipment are on the way。 Now who is in with me？ Kerk？ They look to you for leadership。 Now…lead！〃
Kerk squinted his eyes dangerously at Jason and tightened his lips with distaste。 〃You always seem to be talking me into doing things I do not really want to do。〃
〃A measure of maturity；〃 Jason said blandly。 〃The ego rising triurnphant over the id。 Does that mean that you will help？〃
〃It does。 I do not want to go to another planet and I do not enjoy the thought。 Yet I can see no other way to save the people in the city from certain extinction。〃
〃Good。 And you； Brucco？ We'll need a surgeon。〃
〃Find another one。 My assistant； Teca； will do。 My studies of the Pyrran life forms are far from plete。 I am staying in the city as long as it is here。〃
〃It could mean your life。〃
〃It probably will。 However； my records and observations axe indestructible。〃
No one doubted that he meant it…or attempted to argue with him。 Jason turned to Mets。
'We'll need you to pilot the ship after the ferry crew has been returned。〃
〃I'm needed here to operate our Pyrran ship。〃
'There are other pilots。 You've trained them yourself。 And if you stay here； I'll have to get myself another woman。〃
〃I'll kill her if you do。 I'll pilot the ship。〃
Jason smiled and blew her a kiss that she pretended to ignore。 〃That does it then；〃 he said。 〃Brucco will stay here； and I guess RIses will also stay to supervise the settling of the city Pyrrans with his people。〃
〃You have guessed wrong；〃 Rhes told him。 〃The settlements are now handled by a mittee and going as smoothly as can be expected。 I have no desire to remain…what is the word？…a backwoods rube for the rest of my life。 This new planet sounds very interesting and I am looking forward to the experience。〃
〃That is the best news I have heard today。 Now let's get down to facts。 The ship will be here in about two weeks； so if we organize
things now； we should be able to get the supplies and people aboard and lift soon after she arrives。 I'll write up an announcement that loads the dice as much as possible in favor of this operation； and we can spring it on the populace。 Get volunteers。 There are about 20；000 people left in the city； but we can't get more than about 2；ooo into the ship
…it's a demothballed armored troop carrier called the Pugnacious； left over from one of the Rim Wars…so we can pick and choose the best。 Establish the settlement and e back for the others。 We're on our way。〃
Jason was stunned； but no one else seemed surprised。
〃One hundred and sixty…eight volunteers…including Grif； a nineyear…old boy…out of how many thousand？ It just isn't possible。〃
〃It is possible on Pyrrus；〃 Kerk said。
〃Yes； it's possible on Pyrrus； but only on Pyrrus。〃 Jason paced the room； with a frustrating； dragging step in the doubled gravity； smacking his fist into his open palm。 〃When it es to unthinking reflex and sheer bullheadedness； this planet really wins the plutonium…plated prize。 'Me born here。 Me stay here。 Me die here。 Ugh。' Ugh is right！〃 He spun about to stab his finger at Kerk…then grabbed at his calf to rub away the cramp brought on by overexertion in the heightened gravity。
'Well； we're not going to worry about them；〃 he said。 'We'll save them in spite of themselves。 We'll take the one hundred and sixty…eight volunteers and we'll go to Felicity； and we'll lick the planet and open the mine…and e back for the others。 That's what we're going to do！〃
He slumped in the chair； massaging his leg； as Kerk went out。
〃I hope。 。 。〃 he mumbled under his breath。
3
Muffled clanking sounded in the airlock as the transfer…station mechanics fastened the flexible tubeway to the spacer's hull。 The inter buzzed as someone plugged into the hull jack outside。
〃Transfer Station 70 Ophiuchi to Pugnacious。 You are sealed to
tubeway； which is now pressurized to ship standard。 You may open your outer port。