Adaptation, page 69 by Dallas McCord Reynolds
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r stupid guns, we'll make the final arrangements for returning this expedition to Terra City. Personally, I'll be glad to get away!"
Behind the five resurrected Earthmen were a sea of faces representing the foremost figures of both Texcoco and Genoa in every field of endeavor. At least fifty of them in all.
As though protectively, the eleven Earthmen ganged together at the far side of the messtable they'd met over so often.
Martin Gunther, his expression dazed, said, "I ... I don't--"
Taller resumed his spokesmanship. "From the first the most progressive elements on both Texcoco and Genoa realized the value of your expedition and have been in fundamental sympathy with the aims the Pedagogue originally had. Primitive life is not idyllic. Until man is free from nature's tyranny and has solved the basic problems of sufficient food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education for all, he is unable to realize himself. So we co-operated with you to the extent we found possible."
His smile was grim. "I am afraid that almost from the beginning, and on both planets, your very actions developed an ... underground, I believe you call it. Not an overt one, since we needed your assistance to build the new industrialized culture you showed us was possible. We even protected you against yourselves, since it soon became obvious that if left alone you'd destroy each other in your addiction to power."
Baron Leonar broke in, "Don't misunderstand. It wasn't until the past couple of decades that this underground which had sprung up independently on both planets, amalgamated."
Barry Watson blurted, "But Joe ... Chessman--" he refused to meet the eye of the man he'd condemned.
Taller said, "From the first you made no effort to study our customs. If you had, you'd have realized why my father allied himself to you after you'd killed Taller First. And why I did not take my revenge on Chessman after he'd killed Reif. A Khan's first training is that no personal emot