"Have you noticed," Eckert mused, "we haven't been invited to too many functions lately?" "They know we're busy," Templin said lazily. "They're too polite to ask us to go some place if they thought we were busy doing something else." "You like it here, don't you, Ray?" Templin brushed idly at a marauding mosquito. "It took me pretty long to warm up to it, but I guess I do." They only had a month left, Eckert knew--a month to do practically nothing but lie in the sun and watch the people. Oh, they could go through the motions of investigating and look over Pendleton's old records and reports, but there was nothing in them of any value. He yawned and sat down and settled his back against the door frame. It began to look as if they'd never find out why Pendleton had done what he had. And it didn't seem to matter, somehow. * * * * * Eckert opened the door slowly. Templin was asleep on the bed, the sunlight lying in bands across his tanned, bare back. He had on a strip of white cloth, knotted at the waist in imitation of what the natives wore. It was mussed now, and the knot had started to come loose. He looked a lot healthier than he had when they had first landed. More peaceful, more content. He appeared to have gained ten pounds and shed, five years in the last six months. And now the vacation was over. It was time to go back. "Ray," Eckert called out to him softly. Templin didn't stir, but continued his soft and very regular breathing. Eckert found a book and dropped it on the floor with a thud. Templin woke up, but didn't move. "What do you want, Ted?" "How did you know it was me?" Templin chuckled, as if it were hugely funny. "Riddles yet. Who else would it be? No Tunpeshan would be rude enough to wake somebody up in the middle of a nap, so it had to be you." "You know what you would have done if somebody had awakened you like that five months ago?" Templin tried to nod, but was slightly handicapped by the bed underneath him. "I would have pulled my trusty atomgun and plugged him." Eckert went over to where they kept their luggage and started pulling the boxes out from the wall. "Well, I've got good news for you. A liner just landed to pick us up. They were going through this sector and they got an order from the Service to stop by for us. Some cargo-wallopers will be here in a few minutes to help us with our gear." "Ted." Eckert paused. "Yes?" "I'm not going back." "Why not?" Eckert's face had a look of almost clinical curiosity on it. "Why should I? I like it here. I want to live here the rest of my life." * * * * * The pieces began to fall in place.