"These cities," I ploughed on. "They're standing there, empty, as perfect as the day they were built. And you live in these flea-bitten quarters, jammed inside the town walls, so the Greymen and renegades won't get you." "You wanna run things here?" Mull put in. "Go see Qohey." "Let's all go see Qohey!" I said. "That's something you'll have to do alone," said Torbu. "You better move on, Drgon. I ain't turnin' you in; I know how you felt about Cagu gettin' killed and all--but don't push it too far." I knew I was licked. They were as stubborn as a team of mules--and just about as smart. Torbu motioned; I followed him outside. "You wanna turn things upside-down, don't you? I know how it is; you ain't the first guy to get ideas. We can't help you. Sure, things ain't like they used to be here--and prob'ly they never were. But we got a legend: someday the Rthr will come back ... and then the Good Time will come back too." "What's the Rthr?" I said. "Kinda like a big-shot Owner. There ain't no Rthr now. But a long time ago, back when our first lives started, there was a Rthr that was Owner of all Vallon, and everybody lived high, and had all their lives...." Torbu stopped, eyed me warily. "Don't say nothing to nobody," he went on, "about what I been tellin' you. That's a secret of the Brotherhood. But it's kind of like a hope we got--that's what we're waitin' for, through all our lives. We got to do the best we can, and keep true to the Code and the Brotherhood ... and someday the Rthr will come back ... maybe." "Okay," I said. "Dream on, big boy. And while you're treasuring your rosy dreams you'll get your brains kicked out, like Cagu." I turned away. "Listen, Drgon. It's no good buckin' the system: it's too big for one guy ... or even a bunch of guys ... but--" I looked up. "Yeah?" "... if you gotta stick your neck out--see Owner Gope." Abruptly Torbu turned and pushed back through the door. See Owner Gope, huh? Okay, what did I have to lose? I headed back along the corridor toward Owners' country. * * * * * I stood in the middle of the deep-pile carpet in Gope's suite, trying to keep my temper hot enough to supply the gall I needed to bust in on an Owner in the middle of the night. He sat in his ceremonial chair and stared at me impassively. "With your help or without it," I said, "I'm going to find the answers." "Yes, good Drgon," he said, not bellowing for once. "I understand. But there are matters you know not of--" "Just get me back into the spaceport, noble Gope. I have enough briefing rods aboard to prove my point--and a few other little items to boot." "It's forbidden. Do you not understand--" "I understand too much," I snapped. He straightened, eyed me with a touch of the old ferocity. "Mind your tone, Drgon! I'm Owner--"