furs and
spoke a slurred and broken language, at least Naxa did. Rhes admitted he
preferred faith healers to doctors. But, if all this were true, where
did the communicator fit into the picture? Or the glowing ceiling that
illuminated the room with a soft light?

Rhes opened his eyes and stared at Jason, as if seeing him for the first
time. "Who are you?" he asked. "And what are you doing here?"

There was a cold menace in his words and Jason understood why. The city
Pyrrans hated the "grubbers" and, without a doubt, the feeling was
mutual. Naxa's ax had proved that. Naxa had entered silently while they
talked, and stood with his fingers touching the haft of this same ax.
Jason knew his life was still in jeopardy, until he gave an answer that
satisfied these men.

He couldn't tell the truth. If they once suspected he was spying among
them to aid the city people, it would be the end. Nevertheless, he had
to be free to talk about the survival problem.

The answer hit him as soon as he had stated the problem. All this had
only taken an instant to consider, as he turned back to face the
invalid, and he answered at once. Trying to keep his voice normal and
unconcerned.

"I'm Jason dinAlt, an ecologist, so you see I have the best reasons in
the universe for visiting this planet--"

"What is an ecologist?" Rhes broke in. There was nothing in his voice to
indicate whether he meant the question seriously, or as a trap. All
traces of the ease of their earlier conversation were gone, his voice
had the deadliness of a stingwing's poison. Jason chose his words
carefully.

"Simply stated, it is that branch of biology that considers the
relations between organisms and their environment. How climatic and
other factors affect the life forms, and how the life forms in turn
affect each other and the environment." That much Jason knew was
true--but he really knew very little more about the subject so he moved
on quickly.

"I heard reports of this planet, and finally came here to study it
firsthand. I did what work I could in the shelter of the city, but it
wasn't enough. The people there think I'm crazy, but they finally agreed
to let me make a trip out here."

"What arrangements have been made for your return?" Naxa snapped.

"None," Jason told him. "They seemed quite sure that I would be killed
instantly and had no hope of me coming back. In fact, they refused to
let me go and I had to break away."

This answer seemed to s