d to know for life on the rugged
planet. The colonists in turn tried to teach the Dusties something about
Earth, and how the colonists had lived, and why they had come. But there
was a barrier of intelligence that could not be crossed. The Dusties
learned simple things, but only slowly and imperfectly. They seemed
content to take on their mock overseer's role, moving in and about the
village, approving or disapproving, but always trying to help. Some
became personal pets, though "pet" was the wrong word, because it was
more of a strange personal friendship limited by utter lack of
communication, than any animal-and-master relationship. The colonists
made sure that the Dusties were granted the respect due them as rightful
masters of Baron IV. And somehow the Dusties perceived this attitude,
and were so grateful for the acceptance and friendship that there seemed
nothing they wouldn't do for the colonists.

There had been many discussions about them. "You'd think they'd resent
our moving in on them," Jack Mario had said one day. "After all, we
_are_ usurpers. And they treat us like kings. Have you noticed the way
they mimic us? I saw one chewing tobacco the other day. He hated the
stuff, but he chewed away, and spat like a trooper."

One of the Dusties had been sitting on Pete's knee when Captain Varga
had been talking, and he had known that something terrible was wrong.
Now he sat on the desk in the office, moving uneasily back and forth as
Pete looked up at Mario's dark face, and then across at John Tegan and
Mel Dorfman. John's face was dark with anger as he ran his fingers
through the heavy gray beard that fell to his chest. Mel sat stunned,
shaking his head helplessly. Mario was unable to restrain himself. His
face was bitter as he stomped across the room, then returned to shake
his fist under Pete's nose. "But did you see him?" he choked. "Governor
of the colony! What does he know about growing _taaro_ in this kind of
soil? Did you see those hands? Soft, dainty, pink! How could a man with
hands like that govern a colony?"

Pete looked over at John Tegan. "Well, John?"

The big man looked up, his eyes hollow under craggy brows. "It's below
the belt, Pete. But if the government's been overthrown, then the
captain is right. It leaves us out on a limb."

Pete shook his head. "_I_ can't give him an answer," he said. "The
answer has got to come from the colony. All I can do is speak for the
colony."

Tegan stared a