A handful of Earthmen had
come, but they had not yet brought their civilization with them. They
stood precariously on the Flat, waiting for more settlers to come in and
build with them. If there should be trouble before more men arrived....
At 600 Rynason walked out on the dirt-packed street to Manning's
quarters. He met Marc Stoworth and Jules Lessingham coming out the door.
They looked worried.
"What's wrong?" he said.
They didn't stop as they went by. "Ask the old man," said Stoworth,
going past with an uncharacteristically hurried step.
Rynason went on in through the open door. Manning was in the front room,
amid several crates of stunner-units. He looked up quickly as Rynason
entered and waved brusquely to him.
"Help me get this stuff unloaded, Lee."
Rynason fished for his sheath-knife and started cutting open one of the
crates. "Why are you unloading the arsenal?"
"Because we may need it. Couple of the boys were just out at the
horse-pasture, and they say the friendly natives have disappeared.
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