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A Year After

"Rix! Rix!" Selirounds toward the ship, hands outstretched "And Lona! I&039;d never have recognized either of you How are you? How are you?"

"As well as we could wish Our letter reached you, I see," said Elk

"Of course Tell ether, toward Junz&039;s offices

Valona said sadly, "We visited our old town thiswas now that of a woman of the Empire, rather than that of a peasant of Florina

"Yes, it rows dreary even for s of Florina&039;s sun are of tremendous theoretical interest"

"So much evacuation in less than a year! It speaks for excellent organization"

"We&039;re doing our best, Elk Oh, I think I should be calling you by your real name"

"Please don&039;t I&039;ll never be used to it I&039;m Elk That&039;s still the only name I remember"

Junz said, "Have you decided whether you&039;re going to return to Spatio-analysis?"

Rik shook his head "I&039;ve decided, but the decision is, no I&039;ll never reone forever It doesn&039;t botherto Earth By the way, I rather hoped I&039;d see the Towno off today I think he&039;d rather not see you He feels guilty, I think You have no grudge against hied , I met Lana" His arm went about her shoulder

Valona looked at him and smiled

"Besides," Elk went on, "he curedI&039;ve found out why I was a Spatio-analyst I knohy nearly a third of all Spatio-analysts are recruited fro on a radioactive world is bound to grow up in fear and insecurity A misstep can reatest enemy we have

"That makes for a sort of anxiety bred into us, Dr Junz, a fear of planets We&039;re only happy in space; that&039;s the only place we can feel safe"

"And you don&039;t feel that way any longer, Rik?"