Greenies. If brutality against them is proven, you'll be
properly punished for that alone."

He turned to Philander. "Are the natives all right?"

The man looked up hopelessly, unable to believe Hanlon's statement about
himself. "How do I know?" his voice was dispirited. "When the Corps
captured us, they dragged us from wherever we were working, and as far
as I know left the Greenies untended. They've probably all run back to
the woods."

Hanlon looked at his father. "I'm going out to look. I have a
feeling ..." and he walked out without saying more. Nor was he greatly
surprised to see the natives all sitting or standing quietly in their
compounds, some feeding from the fertilizer Hanlon was glad to see was
still being fed them, others merely resting, waiting.

The gates, of course, were unlocked and wide open, so Hanlon walked
quickly back to the hut his crew occupied and stepped inside the
doorway. While waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dimness he saw a
figure launching itself at him. But as he quickly stepped back outside,
in case it was an attack, he saw that it was Geck.

"You came back, you came back!" the native was babbling telepathically
in an excess of joy. "When the new humans came and took the old humans
prisoners, me said it was your work. Me knew you would come. Me tell
other Guddu to wait for you here."

"What about those near the places where the ships were being built?"
Hanlon's mind asked anxiously. "I tried to get into contact with them
but couldn't."

"Many of they were killed, yet most ran to forests when great fires that
destroy were started," was the sad response.

Hanlon was silent a moment, then telepathed again. "There is no need for
you all to stay here any longer. Tell all your people to go back to
their forests, for they are all free."

Geck turned to the other natives who were crowding close, and Hanlon
could see him talking swiftly with that peculiar-looking little
triangular-shaped mouth. Soon his mind was suffused with a tremendous
wave of joy and ecstasy, and they began dashing out. Hanlon could see
them talking to the natives in all the huts, and in moments all the
natives except Geck were streaming happily toward the nearby forests.

Hanlon turned to Geck. "I'd like to have you stay with me or where I can
reach you for a while. As soon as we can get straightened around, we'll
make arrangements to do anything we can for you."

"Me stay with friend An-yon," Geck said