like candy to a Pyrran. While he looked at
it Jason made his offer.

"The case and bombs are yours if you move the date of your next delivery
up to tomorrow--and let me go with you."

"Be here at 0500," Krannon said. "We leave early."

XV.

The truck rumbled up to the perimeter gate and stopped. Krannon waved to
the guards through the front window, then closed a metal shield over it.
When the gates swung open the truck--really a giant armored tank--ground
slowly forward. There was a second gate beyond the first, that did not
open until the interior one was closed. Jason looked through the
second-driver's periscope as the outer gate lifted. Automatic
flame-throwers flared through the opening, cutting off only when the
truck reached them. A scorched area ringed the gate, beyond that the
jungle began. Unconsciously Jason shrank back in his seat.

All the plants and animals he had seen only specimens of, existed here
in profusion. Thorn-ringed branches and vines laced themselves into a
solid mat, through which the wild life swarmed. A fury of sound hurled
at them, thuds and scratchings rang on the armor. Krannon laughed and
closed the switch that electrified the outer grid. The scratchings died
away as the beasts completed the circuit to the grounded hull.

It was slow-speed, low-gear work tearing through the jungle. Krannon had
his face buried in the periscope mask and silently fought the controls.
With each mile the going seemed to get better, until he finally swung up
the periscope and opened the window armor. The jungle was still thick
and deadly, but nothing like the area immediately around the perimeter.
It appeared as if most of the lethal powers of Pyrrus were concentrated
in the single area around the settlement. Why? Jason asked himself. Why
this intense and planetary hatred?

The motors died and Krannon stood up, stretching. "We're here," he said.
"Let's unload."

There was bare rock around the truck, a rounded hillock that projected
from the jungle, too smooth and steep for vegetation to get a hold.
Krannon opened the cargo hatches and they pushed out the boxes and
crates. When they finished Jason slumped down, exhausted, onto the pile.

"Get back in, we're leaving," Krannon said.

"You are, I'm staying right here."

Krannon looked at him coldly. "Get in the truck or I'll kill you. No one
stays out here. For one thing you couldn't live an hour alone. But worse
than that the grubbers would g