Brenn met him at the door, his manner very courteous, his eyes dark-shadowed with weariness as though he had not slept for many hours, and invited him inside.
When they were seated in the simply-furnished room, Brenn said, "You came for my decision, sir?"
"The commander sent me for it."
Brenn folded his thin hands, which seemed to have the trembling sometimes characteristic of the aged.
"Yesterday evening when I came from the ship, I prayed for guidance and I saw that I could only abide by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
"Which means," Kane asked, "that you will do what?"
"Should we of the Church be stranded upon an alien world, our fuel supply almost gone, we would ask for help. By our own Golden Rule we can do no less than give it."
"Eighteen hours ago I issued the order for full-scale, all-out fuel production. I've been up all night and day checking the operation."
Kane stared, surprised that Y'Nor should have so correctly predicted Brenn's reaction. He tried to see some change in the old man, some evidence of the personal fear that must have broken him so quickly, but there was only weariness, and a gentleness.
"So much fuel—" Brenn said. "Is Vogar still at war with Alkoria?"