Jonny Land had been making explanations in lowered tones to the two people at the other end of the room. They came forward, a spry old man and a girl.

"This is Gramp Land, my grandfather," Jonny introduced. "And my sister Marn."

The old man looked at Laird Carlin with inquisitive, bright eyes, and his gnarled hand reached for an old-fashioned handshake.

"Come from Canopus, do you?" he chirped. "Well, that's a long way off. I was there once years ago when I followed space. And my grandson Harb has been there lots of times when he was a star-ship man."

The girl, Marn, looked doubtful and troubled as she murmured a word of greeting to Carlin. He sensed that his coming had disturbed her.

She was a rather small girl, with a thick mop of ash-colored hair carelessly combed back. Her eyes were grave blue. She wore a faded old slack-suit that he thought the most barbaric feminine garment he had seen.

"I hope we can make you comfortable here, Mr. Carlin," she said, troubled. "We've never had any lodger before. I can't understand why Jonny made the suggestion."

A heavy step at the door cut her short. Her look of distress and worry deepened.

"There's my brother Harb, now."

Harb Land was a gangling young giant with a craggy face and slate-colored eyes that looked at Carlin with instant hostility. Jonny had limped forward and was quickly explaining Carlin's presence.

"He's going to live here with us for a while, Harb."

Harb Land's reaction was violent. "Have you gone out of your mind, Jonny?" he flared. "We can't have him here."

Disgusted, Carlin started to turn away. But Jonny Land stopped him with a gesture. There was a quiet, unsuspected strength in his thin brown face as he spoke to his lowering brother.

"He's going to stay, Harb. We'll talk about it later."

Harb Land made no reply, but glared at Carlin. And Carlin felt an unutterable weariness and dislike.

These primitive, backward, suspicious Earth yokels, quarreling over the privilege of staying in their grotesque old house. As though he would stay on their cursed planet one minute if he didn't have to!

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