idn't come
promptly. I like being an entrepreneur, but until I made Outworld
independent of Family control, I couldn't do anything except run the
business to their wishes. Actually the island was only a small part of
the corporation. I tried to run it as humanely as possible under the
circumstances." He shuddered. "I don't think I was ever needlessly
cruel."

"No," Kennon said, "you were indifferent."

"Which is just as bad," Alexander said.

"Well--what are you going to do about it?" Copper interjected. "You can
beat yourself until you're blue, but that won't accomplish anything."

"What are you going to do?" Alexander countered. "You have the upper
hand."

"Me?" Copper asked. "I have nothing. This is between you men." She
lapsed into silence.

Alexander turned back to Kennon. "You have undoubtedly made some
arrangements. You wouldn't come here--oh! I see. Congratulations.
Handling the evidence that way was a wise course. You have my
admiration. But then I should have known that I was not dealing with a
fool." He smiled wryly. "Subconsciously I think I did know--but--"

"That's one consolation," Kennon grinned. "To be thought a rascal is bad
enough, but to be considered a fool is intolerable."

"But your decision not to use the evidence unless you were forced
to--that's poor business."

"But good morals," Kennon said. "Neither the Brotherhood nor I could
settle this affair. It is a matter only you can handle. There is
no sense in killing Outworld or throwing Kardon into centuries of
litigation. The Lani never were numerous enough to lay claim to an
entire world. I'll admit the club is there, but I'll never use it unless
it's necessary."

"Why not?--it's sound business practice."

"I'm a professional--not a businessman. And besides, I haven't the moral
right to return evil for good. You have not been a bad boss."

"Thanks," Alexander said glumly. "I've always considered myself
civilized."

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," Kennon said. "Honorable,
yes--civilized, no. But none of us are really civilized."

"So?"

"We haven't changed much, despite our development. Perhaps we've varied
a little physically--and we've learned to use new tools, but our minds
are still the minds of barbarians--blood brothers against the enemy, and
everything not of us is enemy. Savages--hiding under a thin veneer
of superficial culture. Savages with spaceships and the atom." Kennon
looked down at Copper. Apparently he