more than a dozen of my foster-parents'
friends offered, knowing they risked death, to go with me. I was a
child; I did not realize the sacrifice they made. But I watched them
suffer, as we went lower in the mountains, and I resolved ... I resolved
..." I spoke with difficulty, forcing the words through a reluctant
barricade, "... that since others had suffered so for me ... I would
spend my life in curing the sufferings of others. Father, the Terrans
call me a wise doctor, a man of healing. Among the Terrans I can see
that my people, if they will come to us and help us, have air they can
breathe and food which will suit them and that they are guarded from the
light. I don't ask you to send anyone, father. I ask only--tell your
sons what I have told you. If I know your people--who are my people
forever--hundreds of them will offer to return with me. And you may
witness what your foster-son has sworn here; if one of your sons dies,
your alien son will answer for it with his own life."

The words had poured from me in a flood. They were not all mine; some
unconscious thing had recalled in me that Jay Allison had power to make
these promises. For the first time I began to see what force, what
guilt, what dedication working in Jay Allison had turned him aside from
me. I remained at the Old One's feet, kneeling, overcome, ashamed of the
thing I had become. Jay Allison was worth ten of me. Irresponsible,
Forth had said. Lacking purpose, lacking balance. What right had I to
despise my soberer self?

At last I felt the Old One touch my head lightly.

"Get up, my son," he said, "I will answer for my people. And forgive me
for my doubts and my delays."

* * * * *

Neither Regis nor I spoke for a minute after we left the audience room;
then, almost as one, we turned to each other. Regis spoke first,
soberly.

"It was a fine thing you did, Jason. I didn't believe he'd agree to it."

"It was your speech that did it," I denied. The sober mood, the
unaccustomed surge of emotion, was still on me, but it was giving way to
a sudden upswing of exaltation. Damn it, I'd _done_ it! Let Jay Allison
try to match _that_ ...

Regis still looked grave. "He'd have refused, but you appealed to him as
one of themselves. And yet it wasn't quite that ... it was something
more ..." Regis put a quick embarrassed arm around my shoulders and
suddenly blurted out, "I think the Terran Medical played hell with your
l