* * *

A group of men were waiting in the landing station when they came down.
They stormed out as soon as the ship touched, shielding their faces from
the still-hot tubes. Kerk burst in as soon as the port was cracked,
peering around until he spotted Jason stretched out on an acceleration
couch.

"Is it true?" he barked. "You've traced the alien criminals who started
this war?"

"Slow, man, slow," Jason said. "I've traced the source of the psi
message that keeps your war going. I've found no evidence as to who
started this war, and certainly wouldn't go so far as to call them
criminals--"

"I'm tired of your word-play," Kerk broke in. "You've found these
creatures and their location has been marked."

"On the chart," Meta said, "I could fly there blindfolded."

"Fine, fine," Kerk said, rubbing his hands together so hard they could
hear the harsh rasp of the callouses. "It takes a real effort to grasp
the idea that, after all these centuries, the war might be coming to an
end. But it's possible now. Instead of simply killing off these
self-renewing legions of the damned that attack us, we can get to the
leaders. Search them out, carry the war to them for a change--and blast
their stain from the face of this planet!"

"Nothing of the sort!" Jason said, sitting up with an effort. "Nothing
doing! Since I came to this planet I have been knocked around, and
risked my life ten times over. Do you think I have done this just to
satisfy your blood-thirsty ambitions? It's peace I'm after--not
destruction. You promised to contact these creatures, attempt to
negotiate with them. Aren't you a man of honor who keeps his word?"

"I'll ignore the insult--though I'd have killed you for it at any other
time," Kerk said. "You've been of great service to our people, we are
not ashamed to acknowledge an honest debt. At the same time--do not
accuse me of breaking promises that I never made. I recall my exact
words. I promised to go along with any reasonable plan that would end
this war. That is just what I intend to do. Your plan to negotiate a
peace is not reasonable. Therefore we are going to destroy the enemy."

"Think first," Jason called after Kerk, who had turned to leave. "What
is wrong with trying negotiation or an armistice? Then, if that fails,
you can try your way."

The compartment was getting crowded as other Pyrrans pushed in. Kerk,
almost to the door, turned back to face Jason.

"I'll tell you what'