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It occurred to Sil-Chan then that a suovernment ed to these Dornbakers In one sense, this PN was the governovernment

The PN has just ordered me to tell him the full story

Sil-Chan did not feel that this was a line of reasoning which would stand much reconsideration, but it swayed the balance in his ownabout the Myrmid Enclave&039;s jackals, the war monitor, the doard projection of Dornbaker property, the drain on Archive funds, the"Why should any governe that debt?" the PN asked, when Sil-Chan had finished

"The Enclave&039;s jurisdiction over the planet is based on accepted responsibility Govern, fuels the collection ships, everything If they are not responsible for us, they have no jurisdiction here"

"In their shoes, I&039;d opt for a sireehtful, but did not remove her hand froh a fistful of reeree politics"

"I sympathize," the PN said, "but seeovernment We&039;re a simple people Don&039;t costvery well," Sil-Chan said "You are the biggest single cost on this planet Weather control adjustet That&039;s the first cost I&039;d cut"

"Stop our glaciers and ourmists?" the PN asked

"Certainly! Let you take the weather the rest of us get"

"You stop thetrees die! If they die, that sets off a chain of"

"If the Enclave has its way, all services will stopexcept perhaps the counterbalance That&039;d wreck the planet"

"Do I understand you correctly?" David asked "Free Island extends doard ale of the atmosphere," Sil-Chan said

"All that dirt," the PN said

"It isn&039;t all dirt in the strictest sense," Sil-Chan said "Below the forma line it&039;s"

"What&039;s its value?" the PN asked

"I couldn&039;t began to tell you," Sil-Chan said

"Seems to me," the PN reeether"

"Too bad that Enclave doesn&039;t have the Pleb," Hepzebah said "If they could vote on" She broke off as Sil-Chan squeezed her hand hard He stared at her, an audacious idea taking shape in his ?" she asked

Sil-Chan stared at the PN "Would you permit our technicians to install certain equipment here?" "What equipment?"

"Technically, sir, you own this planet But the Library is a government bureau I doubt that you can collect, but if you de of a new Galactic Assembly The Enclave will have to submit to a vote"

"What equipment, I say?"

"Broadcast equipment"

A speculative look spread over the PN&039;s face "That&039;s pretty big trouble you&039;d be stirring up there, son"