Deathworld

  XVIII.

  After breakfast he told Rhes that he wanted to return to the city.

  "Then you have seen enough of our barbarian world, and wish to go backto your friends. To help them wipe us out perhaps?" Rhes said itlightly, but there was a touch of cold malice behind his words.

  "I hope you don't really think that," Jason told him. "You must realizethat the opposite is true. I would like to see this civil war ended andyour people getting all the benefits of science and medicine that havebeen withheld. I'll do everything I can to bring that about."

  "They'll never change," Rhes said gloomily, "so don't waste your time.But there is one thing you must do, for your protection and ours. Don'tadmit, or even hint, that you've talked to any grubbers!"

  "Why not?"

  "Why not! Suffering death are you that simple! They will do anything tosee that we don't rise too high, and would much prefer to see us alldead. Do you think they would hesitate to kill you if they as much assuspected you had contacted us? They realize--even if you don't--thatyou can singlehandedly alter the entire pattern of power on this planet.The ordinary junkman may think of us as being only one step above theanimals, but the leaders don't. They know what we need and what we want.They could probably guess just what it is I am going to ask you.

  "Help us, Jason dinAlt. Get back among those human pigs and lie. Say younever talked to us, that you hid in the forest and we attacked you andyou had to shoot to save yourself. We'll supply some recent corpses tomake that part of your story sound good. Make them believe you, and evenafter you think you have them convinced keep on acting the part becausethey will be watching you. Then tell them you have finished your workand are ready to leave. Get safely off Pyrrus, to another planet, and Ipromise you anything in the universe. Whatever you want you shall have.Power, money--_anything_.

  "This is a rich planet. The junkmen mine and sell the metal, but wecould do it much better. Bring a spaceship back here and land anywhereon this continent. We have no cities, but our people have farmseverywhere, they will find you. We will then have commerce, trade--onour own. This is what we all want and we will work hard for it. And_you_ will have done it. Whatever you want we will give. That is apromise and we do not break our promises."

  The intensity and magnitude of what he described rocked Jason. He knewthat Rhes spoke the truth and the entire resources of the planet wouldbe his, if he did as asked. For one second he was tempted, savoring thethought of what it would be like. Then came realization that it would bea half answer, and a poor one at that. If these people had the strengththey wanted, their first act would be the attempted destruction of thecity men. The result would be bloody civil war that would probablydestroy them both. Rhes' answer was a good one--but only half an answer.

  Jason had to find a better solution. One that would stop _all_ thefighting on this planet and allow the two groups of humans to live inpeace.

  "I will do nothing to injure your people, Rhes--and everything in mypower to aid them," Jason said.

  This half answer satisfied Rhes, who could see only one interpretationof it. He spent the rest of the morning on the communicator, arrangingfor the food supplies that were being brought to the trading site.

  "The supplies are ready and we have sent the signal," he said. "Thetruck will be there tomorrow and you will be waiting for it. Everythingis arranged as I told you. You'll leave now with Naxa. You must reachthe meeting spot before the trucks."