Jeffer brought the CARM to rest a quarter klomter from the wooden crater. The happyfeet had been digging around one side of the Wart. Elongated men hovered around the block of black metal.

"Ten," said Kendy. Rings of red light blinked scientifically on the bark, haloing men Jeffer had already spotted, pointing out others. Three interlocked rings circled bare wood. "Four in the open, three between the bark and the Wart, three more in a crack outside the crater."

"We'd better follow the jungle," Clave said. "They could find the rest of us while we're busy here."

Jeffer turned in his seat, but Kendy spoke first. "There's time."

"They're too many to fight anyway," Clave said.

"Nonsense. Spray them with rocket exhaust. Jeffer, have you been shown the throttle for the main drive?"

"Yes." Jeffer didn't know the word throttle, but Lawri had shown him how to control the push of the rockets. His fingers danced.

The CARM moved toward the Wart. The happyfeet waited, blurred by fog, spears ready. "Brace yourself, Clave." The CARM swung around, still approaching the puckered bark, but stem foremost.

Men left the Wart, swimming hard. Others appeared from the bark beyond. Spears flew. The dorsal camera watched a bulbous-headed spear strike the hull and explode in a puff of smoky flame. Authoritative thumps could be heard through the hull.

Jeffer tapped the main drive on..

It felt like suicide. He'd nearly died the last time he did that. The CARM surged forward. Jeffer felt his chest sag, his cheeks pull backward in a dead man's grin. But his arm was rigid above his face, fingers almost touching the control panel.

It worked! Moving his fingertip down along the green bar reduced the main drive's thrust to something he could handle. Throttle.

A nearly invisible blue washed across ten happyfeet warriors. The invaders burst into vivid yellow flame. They were comets, the flame streaming back from them. Explosions sent bits of men flying-

Clave cried, "Treefodder, Jeffer! Stop!"

Jeffer tapped the drive off. (Hydrogen, oxygen: both quite low. The Wart receded.) "Clave, they attacked us. They've got exploding harpoons."

"They couldn't have moved the Wart with us on thentails! We only had to take it away from them!"

"All right. Chairman." Jeffer turned to look at Clave. "Now tell me what they're doing to Booce and Debby and Carlot."

"It's time to leam that," Kendy said. "Time to move, Jeffer. I've lost sight of the jungle from Discipline's position. It circled half around the trunk and was approaching the point where you dropped Rather. We'll have to get there fast, before I'm out of range. The invaders here are harmless enough now."

They were. Some were still writhing, some were motionless, but all were burned black. Jeffer set the CARM moving. It was too early to feel guilt.