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Meta's landings were infinitely worse than her takeoffs。 At least when
she landed on Pyrrus。 There were sudden acceleration surges in every direction。 At one point there was a free fall that seemed endless。 There were loud thuds against the hull that shook the framework of the ship。 It was more like a battle than a landing and Jason wondered how much truth there was in that。
When the ship finally landed； Jason didn't even know it。 The constant two…C's felt like deceleration。 Only the descending moan of the ship's engines convinced him they were down。 Unbuciding the straps and sitting up was an effort。
Two…C's don't seem that bad。 At first。 Walking required the same exertion as would carrying a man of his own weight on his shoulders。 When Jason lifted his arm to unlatch the door it was as heavy as two arms。 He shuffled slowly toward the main lock。
They were all there ahead of him； two of the men rolling transparent cylinders from a nearby room。 From their obvious weight and the way they clanged when they bumped； Jason knew they were made of transparent metal。 He couldn't conceive any possible use for them。 Empty cylinders a meter in diameter； longer than a man。 One end solid； the other hinged and sealed。 It wasn't until Kerk spun the sealing wheel and opened one of them that their use became apparent。
〃Cet in；〃 Kerk said。 〃When you're locked inside； you'll be carried out of the ship。〃
〃Thank you； no；〃 Jason told him。 〃I have no particular desire to make a spectacular landing on your planet sealed up like a packaged sausage。〃
〃Don't be a fool；〃 was Kerk's snapped answer。 〃We're all going out in these tubes。 We've been away too long to risk the surface without reorientation。〃。
Jason did feel a little foolish as he saw the others getting into tubes。 He picked the nearest one； slid into it feet first； and pulled the lid dosed。 When he tightened the wheel in the center； it squeezed down against a flexible seal。 Within a minute the CO2 content in the closed cylinder went up and an air regenerator at the bottom hummed into life。
Kerk was the last one in。 He checked the seals on all the other tubes first； then jabbed the airlock override release。 As it started cycling； he quickly sealed himself in the remaining cylinder。 Both inner and outer locks ground slowly open and dim light filtered in through sheets of falling rain。
For Jason； the whole thing seemed an anticlimax。 All this preparation for absolutely nothing。 Long； impatient minutes passed before a
lift truck appeared driven by a Pyrran。 He loaded the cylinders onto …
his truck like so much dead cargo。 Jason had the misfortune to be buried at the bottom of the pile so could see absolutely nothing when they drove outside。
It wasn't until the man…carrying cylinders had been dumped in a metal…walled room； that Jason saw his first native Pyrran life。
The lift truck driver was swinging a thick outer door shut when something flew in through the entrance and struck against the far wall。 Jason's eye was caught by the motion； he looked to see what it was when it dropped straight down toward his face。
Forgetful of the metal cylinder wall； he flinched away。 The creature struck the transparent metal and clung to it。 Jason had the perfect opportunityto examine it in every detail。
It was almost too horrible to be believable。 As though it were a bearer of death stripped to the very essentials。 A mouth that split the head in two； rows of teeth； serrated and pointed。 Leathery； claw…tipped wings； longer claws on the limbs that tore at the metal wall。
Terror rose up in Jason as he saw that the claws were tearing gouges in the transparent metal。 Wherever the creature's saliva touched； the metal clouded and chipped under the assault of the teeth。
Logic said these were just scratches on the thick tube。 They couldn't matter。 But blind； unreasoning fear sent Jason curling away as far as he could。 Shrinking inside himself； seeking escape。
Only when the flying creature began dissolving did he realize the nature of the room outside。 Sprays of steaming liquid came from all sides； raining down until the cylinders were covered。 After one last dash of its jaws； the Pyrran animal was washed off and carried away。 The liquid drained away through the floor and a second and third shower followed。
While the solutions were being pumped away； Jason fought to bring his emotions into line。 He was surprised at himself。 No matter how frightful the creature had been； he couldn't understand the fear it could generate through the wall of the sealed tube。 His reaction was all out of proportion to the cause。 Even with the creature destroyed and washed out of sight； it took all of his will power to steady his nerves and bring his breathing back to normal。
Meta walked by outside and he realized the sterilization process was finished。 He opened his own tube and climbed wearily out。 Mete and the others had gone by this time and only a hawk…faced stranger remained； waiting for him。
〃I'm Brucco； in charge of adaptation clinic。 Kerk told me who you were。 I'm sorry you're here。 Now e along； I want some blood samples。〃
LI J…~ ~ ~ I LI V V '。。J AL I。~ LI
〃Now I feel right at home；〃 Jason said。 〃The old Pyrran hospitality。〃 Brucco only grunted and stamped out。 Jason followed him down a bare corridor into a sterile lab。
The double gravity was tiring； a constant drag on sore muscles。 While Brucco ran tests on the blood sample； Jason rested。 He had almost dozed off into a painful sleep when Brucco returned with a tray of bottles and hypodermic needles。
〃Amazing；〃 he announced。 〃Not an antibody in your serum that would be of any use on this planet I have a batch of antigens here that will make you sick as a beast for at least a day。 Take off your shirt。〃
〃Have you done this often？〃 Jason asked。 〃I mean juice up an outlander so he can enjoy the pleasures of your world？〃
Brucco jabbed in a needle that felt like it grated on the bone。 〃Not often at all。 Last time was years ago。 A half…dozen researchers from some institute； willing to pay well for the chance to study the local life forms。 We didn't say no。 Always need more galaxy currency。〃
Jason was already beginning to feel lightheaded from the shots。 〃How many of them lived？〃 he mumbled vaguely。
〃One。 We got him off in time。 Made them pay in advance； of course。〃 At first Jason thought the Pyrran was joking。 Then he remembered they had very little interest in humor of any kind。 If one half of what Meta and Kerk had told him was true； six…to…one odds weren't bad at all。
There was a bed in the next room and Brucco helped him to it。 Jason felt drugged and probably was。 He fell into a deep sleep and into the dream。
Fear and hatred。 Mixed in equal parts and washed over him red hot If this was a dream； he never wanted to sleep again。 If it wasn't a dream； he wanted to die。 He tried to fight up against it； but only sank in more deeply。 There was no beginning and no end to the fear and no way to escape。
When consciousness returned； Jason could remember no detail of the nightmare。 Just the fear remained。 He was soaked with sweat and ached in every muscle。 It must have been the massive dose of shots； he finally decided； that and the brutal gravity。 That didn't take the taste of fear out of his mouth； though。
Brucco stuck his head in the door then and looked Jason up and down。 〃Thought you were dead；〃 he said。 〃Slept the clock around。 Don't move； I'll get something to pick you up。〃
The pickup was in the form of another needle and a glassful of evillooking fluid。 It settled his thirst； but made him painfully aware of a gnawing hunger。
〃Want to eat？〃 Brucco asked。 〃I'll bet you do。 I've speeded up your metabolism so you'll build muscle faster。 Only way you'll ever beat the gravity。 Give you quite an appetite for awhile though。〃
Brucco ate at the same time and Jason had a chance to ask some ques… tions。 〃When do I get a chance to look around your fascinating planet？ So far this trip has been about as interesting as a jail term。〃 …
〃Relax and enjoy your food。 Probably be months before you're able to go outside。 If at all。〃
Jason felt his jaw hanging and closed it with a snap。 〃Could you possibly tell me why？〃
〃Of course。 You will have to go through the same training course that our children take。 It takes them six years。 Of course； it's their first six years of life。 So you might think that you； as an adult； could learn faster。 Then again； they have the advantage of heredity。 All I can say is you'll go outside these sealed buildings when you're ready。〃
Brucco had finished eating while he talked； and sat staring at Jason's bare arms with growing disgust。 〃The first thing we want to get you is a gun；〃 he said。 〃It gives me a sick feeling to see someone without one。〃
Of course Brucco wore his own gun continually； even within the sealed buildings。
〃Every gun is fitted to its owner and would be useless on anyone else；〃 Brucco said。 〃I'll show you why。〃 He led Jason to an armory jammed with deadly weapons。 〃Put your arm in this while I make the adjustments。〃
It was a box…like machine with a pistol grip on the side。 Jason clutched the grip and rested his