“But these people have a strange attitude. Why, if we would land a ship now, they’d rip us to shreds before you knew it. These people fear what they don’t understand, and anything they can’t understand they kill. So, right now, we’re sending agents, or spies, down here with instructions to probe about. They’re coming along [p101] rather well, getting out of the trees, you might say; but we’ll have to keep an eye on them for awhile yet.”
Lors finished the water. “But what has this got to do with Commander Imry and me? Apparently I was to take the place of Nick Danson, but why?”
“That was Imry. You see, many times our agents are handicapped by the very lives they lead. In order to learn about people, one has to live with them; when our agents do this, they have to get jobs and settle down in one area. Imry picked Danson because he’s a footloose artist who paints illustrations for magazines. All he had to do was snatch Danson, work a little plastic surgery on you and put you in Nick Danson’s place. You then, would not be confined and could roam all over the planet without being questioned.”
“That’s crazy,” Lors told him. “I couldn’t take Danson’s place for the rest of my life. He was gambling on a hell of a lot.”
Narvi grunted. “You’re a good spacer, Lors. You follow orders, even when they’re dictated by a madman. When you left the ship, you were Danson. You were processed so beautifully that no one could tell the difference. When you cracked up, a blow on the head, or something, must have created a temporary amnesia and you thought you were Danson. We certainly had a time locating you. Anyhow, you’re to go back to the ship as soon as you can. The new commander wants to talk with you.” Narvi grinned slyly. “I imagine you’ll want to talk to him too. It’s Zark, our old friend from Thista.”
“Zark. Yes. I remember him.” Lors stood up [p102] and paced the room in thought. He remembered grey haired, friendly Zark, but more than that, he remembered Commander Zark’s beautiful, blond daughter, Jela. “I remember a lot now, Narvi. It’s too bad they didn’t send him sooner. Things wouldn’t be so messed up.”
“It’s not so bad.”
“No?”
“No. You’ll probably be going back to the home planet now.”
“I can’t go back,” Lors mused. “I have to stay and see this through. It’s personal, now.”