- who have learned enough from the bitter experiences of this autumn. You're content now to live under the law and under the Warden. But you still want to stay on this side of the river, where you're still independent, where you're still a little lonelier, and therefore a little happier." And then he said the names, all the men and women who felt that way, and told them they could go home. "If I'm wrong, then stay," he warned - but he wasn't wrong. Only about forty people remained in the public house, and Jason waited until the others were all gone before he spoke.
"You are the ones who hate too much. You're the ones who don't want to follow the laws, no matter how it hurts other people; you're the ones who don't want any part of Heaven City . If there's anyone here who doesn't feel that way, you can leave."
They all stayed.
"Well then," Jason said. "You're no more responsible for the disaster this city suffered than are those who aren't content unless they force everyone to fit their image of what is right and good. You won't be punished. I think your memories are punishment enough."
No one looked at anyone else, except Stipock, who sat at the back of the room and looked at everyone in turn.
"Stipock," Jason said. "You wanted to lead your own city, didn't you? You wanted to wean some of the people away from believing and trusting in me."
"Damn right," Stipock said.
"Well, then, look around you. These are the people you've won over. You've had four years. I'm sure our bargain is satisfied in four years, isn't it?"
And Dilna looked at Hoom, who sat beside her, holding her hand. Bargain? she asked with her eyes, and he shrugged.
"It may well be," Stipock said.
"You haven't fulfilled your part, you know" Jason said. "I expected a bit more than a tallow lamp and boats on the river."
"I was busy," Stipock said.
"You'll be busier. Because you're all getting what you want - freedom. Separation from Heaven City . And I'll even let Stipock choose where you're going. What's the most valuable piece of land on this little planet, Stipock?"
Stipock only half - smiled, and shook his head. But Jason acted as if he had answered. "Do you love steel that much?" Jason asked. "Then that's where I'll send you - to the place where iron ore is close to the surface."
The words were meaningless to them - iron and steel they had never heard of. Jason looked around at them, and smiled. "Oh, the iron is desirable enough," he said. "Have you seen the metal of the Star Tower ?" They had, of course. "That's steel," Jason told them. "And you make it from iron - if you can."
"When do we leave?" Stipock asked.
"Tomorrow, I'd advise you all to forget your warm clothing. And bring hats. The place you're going is pretty sunny." Then Jason stepped away from the bar, and left the public house.
The next morning those who were leaving gathered in a large cleared field where the wheat had rotted on the stem. They didn't wait long - a roaring sound came from the Star Tower , and soon a huge metal object hovered over them. Stipock told the people to stand clear, and when they had shifted back, the metal craft settled to the ground. Many of them were filled right then with doubts - Jason really did fly, and the ship he flew in was bigger than a house.
But the door was open, and Jason was herding them inside, and they had little time to worry about whether Jason was, after all, everything he had been thought to be. Two rows of seats filled the middle section of the craft, and they nearly filled them all. Stipock was the last to enter, and the door closed behind him, though no one touched it. And as soon as Stipock had sat down, the craft lifted gently from the ground, and as the earth receded below them, many were filled with a terrible vertigo, and some vomited.
"Where are we going?" someone asked Stipock, and Stipock turned around and spoke to the group generally. "We're going," he said, "to a very hard place. There aren't many places where fields will grow well. But there are things more precious than fertile soil."
Dilna leaned over closer to Hoom, and said softly,