More stones flew, making thudding sounds as they struck, then sailing away, to gain velocity before they curved back, to strike again. At last, Barra turned from the litter of rock about the formless mass on the ground. He stared around the village, the fury slowly ebbing within him. A few faces could be seen, peeping from windows and from between trees. He motioned. "All villagers," he ordered. "Here before me. Now!" He waited impatiently as people reluctantly came from their huts and out of the trees, to approach the clearing. At last, the villagers were assembled. Barra looked them over, identifying each as he looked at him. Apart from the others, one of the younger herd guards stood close to his woman. Barra looked at him thoughtfully. This man, he had noted, was obeyed by both herds and herdsmen. He had seen him at work, as he had seen all the villagers, and obviously, the man was capable of quick decisions--as quick, that was, as any pseudoman could be. He pointed. "This village needs a new headman," he thought peremptorily. "You will take charge of it." The man looked toward the huddled mass in the center of the litter of rocks, then looked back at his woman. A faint wave of reluctance came to Barra, who stared sternly. "I said you are the new headman," he thought imperiously. "Take charge." He waved a hand. "And get this mess cleaned up. I want a neat village from now on." As the man lowered his head submissively, Barra turned away, rose from the ground, and drifted majestically toward the lake shore. He could check on the progress of the village from his view crystal back at the Residence. The situation had been taken care of and there was no point in remaining in the depressing atmosphere of the village for too long. Besides, there was that adventure projection he hadn't finished. Perhaps it would be of interest now. * * * * * As the projection faded, Barra looked around the study, then got out of his chair and picked the crystal from its pedestal. He stood, looking at it approvingly for a few seconds, then went over to the cabinet and set it back in its case. For a time, he looked at the rest of the assortment. Finally, he shook his head. Some of them, he would sell unscanned. The others--well, they could wait. Yes, he thought, the record crystals had better be left alone for a while. He hadn't finished his inspection of the Estates and the situation at Tibara might not be an isolated case. It would be well to make a really searching inspection. He sighed. In fact, it might be well to make frequent searching inspections. Shortly after his accession to the Estates, he had seen to the defense of Kira Barra. He smiled wryly as he thought of the expense he had incurred in securing all those power and control crystals to make up his surrogate installations. But they had been well worth it.