"We'll do something," he acknowledged. "Pick out the worst and work for their deficiency. Check with me before you give them anything." "I've selected them," she said. "There are four extreme cases. They won't collapse today or tomorrow. Perhaps not in a week. But we can't let them get close." "Agreed." The light kept flashing annoyingly in his eyes. Another complaint. Nodding at Jeriann Docchi nudged the switch and glanced at the screen. "Anything wrong?" he asked. It was Webber. "Nothing much. Jordan and I just bumped into an old acquaintance. I suppose we'd better bring him in." "Cameron," exclaimed Docchi as Webber moved aside, revealing the man behind him. The doctor's clothing was rumpled and he hadn't shaved but he was calm and assured. "You seem to be running things now," he said. "I'd like a chance to talk with you." Docchi didn't answer directly. "Where did you find him, Webber?" "He was living out in the open near a stream which, I imagine, was his water supply. We were checking some of the stuff the guards didn't wreck when we spotted him. We saw bushes move and went over to investigate, figuring it might be a geepee at loose ends. There was our man." "Did he give you any trouble?" Webber shrugged. "He wasn't exactly glad to see us. But he must have known there was no place to hide because he didn't actually try to get away." "That's your interpretation," said Cameron, his face beside Webber. "The truth is I wanted to make sure you had no way of sending me back with the general's forces. I was taking plenty of time." From beyond the screen Jordan snorted. Cameron continued. "There was no use going back to Earth. My career wasn't exactly ruined--but you can appreciate the difficulties I'd have. Anyway a doctor is trained to take the most urgent cases, and I thought they were here. I'm sorry only that I had to be discovered. It spoiled the entry I was going to make." Jeriann's face showed what she thought. Relief, and was there something else? The thought was distasteful if only because it indicated there was now a normal human present. The deadly comparison was back with them. But it was more than that--how much more was up to him to find out. Docchi kept his emotions far away. It would hardly do to let Cameron know what he thought. "Well, there's work to do, if that's what you want. Come up as soon as you can get here." Cameron cocked his head. "If they'll let me." "They'll let you." Docchi switched off the screen and turned to see Jeriann getting up. "Don't leave. I want you to check on him." "Why should we check?" she asked in surprise.