planet
does make one a little immune to acceleration. I save fuel too, with the
synergy curve--"

Kerk gave a noncommittal grunt. "Come along, Meta, we'll take a look at
the cargo. Some of the new stuff will plug the gaps in the perimeter."

"Oh yes," she said, almost clapping her hands with happiness. "I read
the specs, they're simply wonderful."

_Like a schoolgirl with a new dress. Or a box of candy. That's a great
attitude to have towards bombs and flame-throwers._ Jason smiled wryly
at the thought as he groaned off the couch. The two Pyrrans had gone and
he pulled himself painfully through the door after them.

* * * * *

It took him a long time to find his way to the hold. The ship was big
and apparently empty of crew. Jason finally found a man sleeping in one
of the brightly lit cabins. He recognized him as the driver who had
turned the car over to them on Cassylia. The man, who had been sleeping
soundly a moment before, opened his eyes as soon as Jason drifted into
the room. He was wide awake.

"How do I get to the cargo hold?" Jason asked.

The other told him, closed his eyes and went instantly back to sleep
before Jason could even say thanks.

In the hold, Kerk and Meta had opened some of the crates and were
chortling with joy over their lethal contents. Meta, a pressure canister
in her arms, turned to Jason as he came through the door.

"Just look at this," she said. "This powder in here--why you can eat it
like dirt, with less harm. Yet it is instantly deadly to all forms of
vegetable life ..." She stopped suddenly as she realized Jason didn't
share her extreme pleasure. "I'm sorry. I forgot for a moment there that
you weren't a Pyrran. So you don't really understand, do you?"

Before he could answer, the PA speaker called her name.

"Jump time," she said. "Come with me to the bridge while I do the
equations. We can talk there. I know so little about any place except
Pyrrus that I have a million questions to ask."

Jason followed her to the bridge where she relieved the duty officer and
began taking readings for the jump-setting. She looked out of place
among the machines, a sturdy but supple figure in a simple, one-piece
shipsuit. Yet there was no denying the efficiency with which she went
about her job.

"Meta, aren't you a little young to be the pilot of an interstellar
ship?"

"Am I?" She thought for a second. "I really don't know how old pilots
are suppo