"

The bearded man said coldly:

"I can understand that. The hearts of the rich are hardened. The
existence of the poor is a reproach to them."

But Hoddan began suddenly to see real possibilities. This was not a
direct move toward the realization of his personal ambitions. But on the
other hand, it wasn't a movement away from them. Hoddan suddenly
remembered an oration he'd heard his grandfather give many, many times
in the past.

"Straight thinkin'," the old man had said obstinately, "is a delusion.
You think things out clear and simple, and you can see yourself ruined
and your family starving any day! But real things ain't simple! They
ain't clear! Any time you try to figure things out so they're simple and
straightforward, you're goin' against nature and you're going to get 'em
mixed up! So when something happens and you're in a straightforward,
hopeless fix--why, you go along with nature! Make it as complicated as
you can, and the people who want you in trouble will get hopeless
confused and you can get out!"

Hoddan adverted to his grandfather's wisdom--not making it the reason
for doing what he could, but accepting that it not impossibly might
apply. He saw one possibility right away. It looked fairly good. After a
minute's examination it looked better. It was astonishing how
plausible--

"Hm-m-m," he said. "I have planned work of my own, as you may have
guessed. I am here because of ... ah ... people on Walden. If I could
make a quick trip to Walden my ... hm-m-m ... present position might let
me help you. I cannot promise very much, but if I can borrow even the
smallest of your ships for the journey my spaceboat can't make ...
why.... I may be able to do something. Much more than can be done on
Darth!"

The bearded man looked at his companions.

"He seems frank," he said forbiddingly, "and we can lose nothing. We
have stopped our journey and are in orbit. We can wait. But ... our
people should not go to Walden. Fleshpots--"

"I can find a crew," said Hoddan cheerfully. Inwardly he was
tremendously relieved. "If you say the word, I'll go down to ground and
come back with them. Er ... I'll want a very small ship!"

"It will be," said the old man. "We thank you--"

"Get it inboard, here," suggested Hoddan, "so I can come inside as
before, transfer my crew without spacesuits, and leave my boat in your
care until I come back."

"It shall be done," said the old man firmly. He added gravely: "You must