"There are a lot of things we could have done," Jason said, "if we had the material."
"How about the expedition? How many men can I have?"
"As many as you can get," the radio voice answered. "I promised I won't stand in your way once the satellite is finished and operating."
"Won't stand in my way," Tom repeated. "That means you won't encourage anyone, either."
Jason's voice rose a trifle. "I can't encourage my people to go out and risk their lives just because you want to poke around some radioactive slag heaps!"
"You promised that if I put the satellite together and got back alive, I could investigate the cities. That was our deal."
"That's right. You can. And anyone foolish enough to accompany you can follow along."
"Jason, you know I need at least twenty-five armed men to venture out of the settlement...."
"Then you admit it's dangerous!" the radio voice crackled.
"Sure, if we meet a robber band. You've sent out enough foraging groups to know that. And we'll be travelling hundreds of miles. But it's not dangerous for the reasons you've been circulating ... radioactivity and disease germs and that nonsense. There's no danger that one of your own foraging groups couldn't handle. I came through the cities last year alone, and I made it."