have lain in the Iran area of Earth.
“At the time when the Zarathustra nova took place,
some ten or twelve per cent of the planet’s population
were of predominantly Irani stockenough to support
their own language as a minority tongue against the
pressure of Galactic, and to develop a Zarathustran di-
alect with Irani admixtures.” Maddalena checked. “Stop
me, by the way, if I’m ploughing old ground for you.”
Nole shook his head quickly. “Candidly, even though
at least half the patients who get sent here for ma)or
overhaul have been on the ZRP’s, I’ve never really
studied the events which led to the present situation.”
‘Ton should,” Maddalena said grimly. “The ZRP’s are
the most significant single factor in this sector of the
galaxy. But never mindthis’ll help me to get my theory
straight to my own satisfaction.
“Where was I? Oh yes. Traditions preserved on ZRP
One indicate that the incredible number of three thou-
sand ships carrying well over two million people proba-
bly managed to lift from Zarathustrafrom the night
side, which was protected from the fury of the nova by
-the mass of the planet for several hours after its incep-
tion.
“We’ve located to date twenty-one refugee planets on
which people have at least survived, even if only at the
most primitive level. But these account between them for
a mere ten per cent of the rumoured three thousand
ships which got awayin fact, just about three hundred
and six. On ZRP One, for instance, we know that pre-
cisely two ships landed; on Fourteen, only one. On Thir-
teen, where I’ve spent two decades, about sixty made
landingsthe first arrivals left a subradio beacon in orbit,
and others homed on it. Which was a disastrous mistake,
the casualties hit eighty per cent in the first year, and
despair overwhelmed the remainder to such a degree
they still haven’t made a full psychological recovery. But
I’m digressing.
“The essential point is this. Since the episode on Four-
teen with which Gus and I were involved twenty-odd
years agothe time when a gang of Cyclopean entre-
preneurs were led by a failed Corps probationer to de-
posits of radioactive ore there, and used the local people
as slave labour to exploit themwe’ve kept so keen a
watch on the known ZRP’s that the chance of outsiders
from space being able to pull another such trick is negli-
gible.
“On a hitherto undiscovered ZRP, though, all the facts
would fit neatly. The gene-type of that graft would
correspond well with an isolated group of refugees, from
Irani basal strains, and one of the reasons why the Corps
maintains its base here is that Cyclops is conveniently
located for the entire volume of space through which
the ZRP’s are scattered.”
Nole’s face was haggard and pale. She broke off and
gave him a look inviting comment.
“In other words,” he said, “you think someone from
Cyclops is using an unknown ZRP as aa spare-parts
bank.”
“Exactly,” Maddalena agreed.
“But that’s murder!”
“Of course it is, if they’re killing the original owners
of the organs they’re taking. But don’t think murder is
so shocking to all human beings as it is to you! Where
I’ve just come from, assassination is a recognised political
weaponand here on Cyclops, Gus tells me, one child in
eight doesn’t survive its first year. When lifd is short like
that, it becomes cheap.”
That was too much for Nole. A Corps medical officer
was of necessity dedicated to the preservation of life no
matter what the cost to himself. The theory Maddalena
had put to him was too cold-blooded for him to endure.
He excused himself with a whisper and headed for the
nearest convenience to overcome the nausea which had
revolted him.
“Where’s Nole off to?” Langenschmidt demanded,
turning away from his communicator.
“By the look of him, he needs to vomit!” Maddalena
shrugged. “I’ve been explaining to him that Kolb’s leg
was probably cut off some poor devil on a lost ZRP, and
he’s upset.”
“Not surprised,” Langenschmidt grunted. “Though
he’s by no means a practical manwitness what he al-
lowed to happen tonight!he’s a nice guy at heart, and a