anding buildings. The
unending war for survival keeps the life forms competing and changing.
Death is simple, but the ways of dealing it too numerous to list."

Unhappiness rode like a weight on Kerk's broad shoulders. After long
moments of thought he moved visibly to shake it off. Returning his
attention to his food and mopping the gravy from his plate, he voiced
part of his feelings.

"I suppose there is no logical reason why we should stay and fight this
endless war. Except that Pyrrus is our home." The last piece of
gravy-soaked bread vanished and he waved the empty fork at Jason.

"Be happy you're an off-worlder and will never have to see it."

"That's where you're wrong." Jason said as calmly as he could. "You see,
I'm going back with you."

IV.

"Don't talk stupidly," Kerk said as he punched for a duplicate order of
steak. "There are much simpler ways of committing suicide. Don't you
realize that you're a millionaire now? With what you have in your pocket
you can relax the rest of your life on the pleasure planets. Pyrrus is a
death world, not a sightseeing spot for jaded tourists. I cannot permit
you to return with me."

Gamblers who lose their tempers don't last long. Jason was angry now.
Yet it showed only in a negative way. In the lack of expression on his
face and the calmness of his voice.

"Don't tell me what I can or cannot do, Kerk Pyrrus. You're a big man
with a fast gun--but that doesn't make you my boss. All you can do is
stop me from going back on your ship. But I can easily afford to get
there another way. And don't try to tell me I want to go to Pyrrus for
sightseeing when you have no idea of my real reasons."

Jason didn't even try to explain his reasons, they were only half
realized and too personal. The more he traveled, the more things looked
the same to him. The old, civilized planets sank into a drab similarity.
Frontier worlds all had the crude sameness of temporary camps in a
forest. Not that the galactic worlds bored him. It was just that he had
found their limitations--yet had never found his own. Until he met Kerk
he had acknowledged no man his superior, or even his equal. This was
more than egotism. It was facing facts. Now he was forced to face the
fact that there was a whole world of people who might be superior to
him. Jason could never rest content until he had been there and seen for
himself. Even if he died in the attempt.

None of this could be told to Kerk. T