ways
was' will also 'always be.' And not wanting to blast the thinking
patterns out of the old rut.

"Mental inertia alone is not going to cause trouble--there is cultural
inertia, too. Some of you in this room believe my conclusions and would
like to change. But will all your people change? The unthinking ones,
the habit-ridden, reflex-formed people who _know_ what is now, will
always be. They'll act like a drag on whatever plans you make, whatever
attempts you undertake to progress with the new knowledge you have."

"Then it's useless--there's no hope for our world?" Rhes asked.

* * * * *

"I didn't say that," Jason answered. "I merely mean that your troubles
won't end by throwing some kind of mental switch. I see three courses
open for the future, and the chances are that all three will be going on
at the same time.

"First--and best--will be the rejoining of city and farm Pyrrans into
the single human group they came from. Each is incomplete now, and has
something the other one needs. In the city here you have science and
contact with the rest of the galaxy. You also have a deadly war. Out
there in the jungle, your first cousins live at peace with the world,
but lack medicine and the other benefits of scientific knowledge, as
well as any kind of cultural contact with the rest of mankind. You'll
both have to join together and benefit from the exchange. At the same
time you'll have to forget the superstitious hatred you have of each
other. This will only be done outside of the city, away from the war.
Every one of you who is capable should go out voluntarily, bringing some
fraction of the knowledge that needs sharing. You won't be harmed if you
go in good faith. And you will learn how to live _with_ this planet,
rather than against it. Eventually you'll have civilized communities
that won't be either 'grubber' or 'junkman.' They'll be Pyrran."

"But what about our city here?" Kerk asked.

"It'll stay right here--and probably won't change in the slightest. In
the beginning you'll need your perimeter and defenses to stay alive,
while the people are leaving. And after that it will keep going because
there are going to be any number of people here who you won't convince.
They'll stay and fight and eventually die. Perhaps you will be able to
do a better job in educating their children. What the eventual end of
the city will be, I have no idea."

They were silent as they thought abou