here were other reasons he would
understand better.

"You're not thinking ahead when you prevent me from going to Pyrrus,"
Jason said. "I'll not mention any moral debt you owe me for winning that
money you needed. But what about the next time? If you needed that much
lethal goods once, you'll probably need it again some day. Wouldn't it
be better to have me on hand--old tried and true--than dreaming up some
new and possibly unreliable scheme?"

Kerk chewed pensively on the second serving of steak. "That makes sense.
And I must admit I hadn't thought of it before. One failing we Pyrrans
have is a lack of interest in the future. Staying alive day by day is
enough trouble. So we tend to face emergencies as they arrive and let
the dim future take care of itself. You can come. I hope you will still
be alive when we need you. As Pyrran ambassador to a lot of places I
officially invite you to our planet. All expenses paid. On the condition
you obey completely all our instructions regarding your personal
safety."

"Conditions accepted," Jason said. And wondered why he was so cheerful
about signing his own death warrant.

Kerk was shoveling his way through his third dessert when his alarm
watch gave a tiny hum. He dropped his fork instantly and stood up. "Time
to go," he said. "We're on schedule now." While Jason scrambled to his
feet, he jammed coins into the meter until the _paid_ light came on.
Then they were out the door and walking fast.

Jason wasn't at all surprised when they came on a public escalator just
behind the restaurant. He was beginning to realize that since leaving
the Casino their every move had been carefully planned and timed.
Without a doubt the alarm was out and the entire planet being searched
for them. Yet so far they hadn't noticed the slightest sign of pursuit.
This wasn't the first time Jason had to move just one jump ahead of the
authorities--but it was the first time he had let someone else lead him
by the hand while he did it. He had to smile at his own automatic
agreement. He had been a loner for so many years that he found a certain
inverse pleasure in following someone else.

"Hurry up," Kerk growled after a quick glance at his watch. He set a
steady, killing pace up the escalator steps. They went up five levels
that way--without seeing another person--before Kerk relented and let
the escalator do the work.

Jason prided himself on keeping in condition. But the sudden climb,
after the s