"Now," said Sawyer, "here is what we have to decide. Two things. Is this man Price a friend offering us a weapon, or a spy of the Vurna offering us death? And shall we fight, or let it go until another year? They're big questions, the biggest you'll ever have to answer in your lives. Don't come at them like hasty boys, all feeling and no sense. Come at them man-like, slow and careful."
Michigan rumbled, "Those are good words. Heed them. And now let's have the man up here."
Burr gave Price a shove. "That's you."
Price shouldered forward through the pack and climbed the stand. As he did so Twist whispered in his ear, "You'd better make this good, boy. You won't get another chance."
His voice sounded friendly. Price was glad of it.
He stood on the platform and faced the chiefs and the representatives of the people.
Michigan said, "You tell your side of it. And speak up so everyone can hear."
Price spoke up, loud. But he said, "What's the good of that? I've told my side of it a dozen times already, and nobody believes me." He glared around the close-packed circle of men. "If I'd known you'd treat me like this, I'd have smashed the plane and left it for the coyotes."
"Just the same," said Michigan, "tell it again."