"In a few moments...." Arnoldsson's voice. Ten minutes later Tom re-emerged from the ship and made his ghost-like way back to the satellite's sighting mechanism. He checked the artificial moon's position, then went back to the ship. "On course," he said to the radio. "The transmitters are pointing a little northwest of Philadelphia." "Good," Arnoldsson's voice answered. "Now, your next blast should be three seconds' duration in the same direction...." "No," Tom said, "I've gone as far as I'm going to." "What?" "I'm not moving the satellite any farther." "But you still have not enough fuel to return to Earth. Why are you stopping here?" "I'm not coming back," Tom answered. "But I'm not going to beam the satellite's power to the settlement, either." "_What are you trying to pull?_" Jason's voice. Furious. Panicky. "It's simple, Jason. If you want the satellite's power, you can dismantle the settlement and carry it to Pennsylvania. The transmitters are aimed at some good farming country, and within miles of a city that's still half-intact." "You're insane!" "Not at all. We're keeping our deal, Jason. I'm giving you the satellite's power, and you're going to allow exploration of the cities. You won't be able to prevent your people from rummaging through the cities now; and you won't be able to keep the outsiders from joining you, not once you get out from behind your own fences." "You can't do this! You...." Tom snapped off the radio. He looked at it for a second or two, then smashed a heavy-booted foot against the console. Glass and metal crashed satisfactorily. _Okay_, Tom thought, _it's done. Maybe Jason's right and I'm crazy, but we'll never know now. In a year or so they'll be set up outside Philadelphia, and a lot better for it, I'm forcing them to take the long way back, but it's a better way. The only way, maybe._ He leaned back in the seat and stared out the observation port at the completed satellite. Already it was taking in solar energy and beaming it Earthward. _In ten years they'll send another ship up here to check the gadget and make sure everything's okay. Maybe they'll be able to do it in five years. Makes no difference. I'll still be here._ THE END