The young man sat down. His eyes told of bewilderment and horror, and Erol guessed that he had been in the cities. "My name is Florin Brite," the man said after a long silence. "I was a student of Tomlin, the biochemist, who was, I believe, your friend. I left over a year ago to study at the Institute of Klynos. I heard of trouble here and grabbed the first ship home. "I never dreamed I'd find such violence. "When I tried to find out what happened, I only found that all the great men that I knew were murdered, or in hiding." "How did you find where I was?" Erol asked. "I talked to one of Tomlin's servants, an old fellow--scared silly--but he remembered me and he told me." Erol seemed to accept this. "What do you want to know?" "Sir, I just want to know what happened. Why do the people feel they have been deceived, and by whom? Why are all the incorporated men in danger of their lives?" "It is the corporation-men who have deceived the public." It was a flat statement by Erol, without rancor or sympathy. "They are, in consequence, subject to the wrath of the people who relied upon them." The bewilderment in the young man's eyes deepened. "How could they deceive the public? Why? They had everything to gain from earning luxury pay for their stockholders. Why did they stop?" As if at a signal, Erol relaxed and his weariness became evident. Yma relaxed somewhat but remained alert. "Why they did," Erol replied, "is a private matter that only each of those men knows. The fact is that they, myself included, did--and now we must pay." "You sir? But you were always such an eminent figure. I've admired you from childhood as being one of the best of the planet's many scientists. Your researches in sociology have led the empire. Why should you suddenly stop your writing?" "Fine flattery, son, but it will not avail you. I also see that you are not completely in the dark. You must have been investigating or you wouldn't know that I have a half-finished book that never got to the publisher on time. "Anyway, the reasons are inconsequential, now. It is done, and we must consider the consequences. And we must consider you. What do you intend to do, return to Klynos, or stay here?" "You don't get out of it that easily," Florin said. "Yes, consider me. Consider me as a citizen of this planet, a believer in its principles. I am no idiot that can't understand or won't accept the truth. "You are a sociologist. Here we have one of the most paradoxical sociological situations imaginable on our planet. There obviously are many unknown factors. You know them--you must. Just consider me a student and explain the functionings of these phenomena." "You try my patience, Mr. Brite. I am accepting you at face value, but you are a stranger to me. What I wish to keep to myself is entirely my business. As I say, I am accepting you, and trying to help you--as we all must do in this mess. Now what do you intend to do?"