nd mine differ.
You live in this world of meaningless facts that have no existence. My
world contains facts that can be weighed, tested, proven related to
other facts in a logical manner. My facts are unshakeable and
unarguable. They exist."

"Show me one of your unshakeable facts," Mikah said, his voice calmer
now than Jason's.

"Over there," Jason said. "The large green book over the console. It
contains facts that even you will agree are true--I'll eat every page
if you don't. Hand it to me." He sounded angry, making overly bold
statements and Mikah fell right into the trap. He handed the volume to
Jason, using both hands since it was very thick, metal bound and
heavy.

[Illustration]

"Now listen closely and try and understand, even if it is difficult
for you," Jason said, opening the book. Mikah smiled wryly at this
assumption of his ignorance. "This is a stellar ephemeris, just as
packed with facts as an egg is with meat. In some ways it is a history
of mankind. Now look at the jump screen there on the control console
and you will see what I mean. Do you see the horizontal green line?
Well, that's our course."

"Since this is my ship and I'm flying it I'm aware of that," Mikah
said. "Get on with your proof."

"Bear with me," Jason told him. "I'll try and keep it simple. Now the
red dot on the green line is our ship's position. The number above the
screen our next navigational point, the spot where a star's
gravitational field it strong enough to be detected in jump space. The
number is the star's code listing. DB89-046-229. I'll look it up in
the book"--he quickly flipped the pages--"and find its listing. No
name. A row of code symbols though that tell a lot about it. This
little symbol means that there is a planet or planets suitable for man
to live on. Doesn't say if any people are there though."

"Where does this all lead to?" Mikah interrupted.

"Patience--you'll see in a moment. Now look, at the screen. The green
dot approaching on the course line is the PMP. Point of Maximum
Proximity. When the red dot and green dot coincide...."

"Give me that book," Mikah ordered, stepping forward. Aware suddenly
that something was wrong. He was just an instant too late.

"Here's your proof," Jason said, and hurled the heavy book through the
jump screen into the delicate circuits behind. Before it hit he had
thrown the second book. There was a tinkling crash, a flare of light
and the crackle of shorted circui