roared. "Don't let me ever hear you say that
again!"

Jason sat as quietly as he could, talking slowly and picking out each
word with care. His life hung in the balance.

"Don't get angry, Kerk. I meant no harm. I'm on your side, remember? I
can talk to you because you've seen much more of the universe than the
Pyrrans who have never left the planet. You are used to discussing
things. You know that words are just symbols. We can talk and know you
don't have to lose your temper over mere words--"

Kerk slowly lowered his arms and stepped away. Then he turned and poured
himself a glass of water from a bottle on the desk. He kept his back
turned to Jason while he drank.

Very little of the sweat that Jason wiped from his sopping face was
caused by the heat in the room.

"I'm ... sorry I lost my temper," Kerk said, dropping heavily into his
chair. "Doesn't usually happen. Been working hard lately, must have got
my temper on edge." He made no mention of what Jason had said.

"Happens to all of us," Jason told him. "I won't begin to describe the
condition my nerves were in when I hit this planet. I'm finally forced
to admit that everything you said about Pyrrus is true. It is the most
deadly spot in the system. And only native-born Pyrrans could possibly
survive here. I can manage to fumble along a bit after my training, but
I know I would never stand a chance on my own. You probably know I have
an eight-year-old as a bodyguard. Gives a good idea of my real status
here."

Anger suppressed, Kerk was back in control of himself now. His eyes
narrowed in thought. "Surprises me to hear you say that. Never thought I
would hear you admit that anyone could be better than you at anything.
Isn't that why you came here? To prove that you were as good as any
native-born Pyrran?"

"Score one for your side," Jason admitted. "I didn't think it showed
that much. And I'm glad to see your mind isn't as muscle-bound as your
body. Yes, I'll admit that was probably my main reason for coming, that
and curiosity."

Kerk was following his own train of thoughts, and puzzled where they
were leading him. "You came here to prove that you were as good as any
native-born Pyrran. Yet now you admit that any eight-year-old can
outdraw you. That just doesn't stack up with what I know about you. If
you give with one hand, you must be taking back with the other. In what
way do you still feel your natural superiority?"

Jason thought a long time be