nooot good

But he also was most contentwith everything except Atkinson. Mrs. Atkinson teetered on the edge of her chair, as though she might atany moment go flying across the room in a crazy gyration. There wassomething about her eyes, Loveral noticed, while he peacefully nodded inthe chair. Fear, perhaps. If so, he probably had been right. He tightened himself, listening. There it was again. The sound. Just as he had heard it a day before whenhe had passed near the house. He leaned forward quickly. Mrs. Atkinson jumped. Loveral smiled. Didn't I hear a noise of some sort, my Noise the woman said, as though her own voice were the sound of anecho. An odd noise, Loveral said, his eyes searching. The woman's hands fluttered about her dress. Loveral stood up. Would you mind if I just glanced about, my The woman didn't answer, but Loveral was already moving across the roomtoward a door. He opened it and walked down a hall. The noise grewstronger. He threw open another door. * * * * * He stood watching while George Atkinson spun around, dark eyes flashing, hair tousled. There was a two days' growth of beard darkening Atkinson'sface. Why, George, Loveral said, swiftly examining the litter of metal andwood which was spread over a table behind Atkinson. There was ahomemade hammer in Atkinson's hand. What have we here, George Something for you, Atkinson said, tightening his fingers about thehandle of the hammer. Loveral grinned his famous Loveral grin. That's fine. What could itbe None of your damned business. George, Loveral said, his smile still white but his eyes narrow andquick. The woman was behind them. Her voice screeched. George, I told you. Whydidn't you listen, George You should have listened to me. You Loveral held up a hand, still watching Atkinson. Now tell me, George, what is it you're making for me Atkinson raised the hammer slightly. Loveral stood very still. That's a nice hammer, George. Atkinson's eyes were black beneath his thick brows.

You made that, didn't you Loveral asked. Yes, I made that, Atkinson said. I made that and I made somethingelse. Another minute and I'll have that finished, too. George, said Loveral, stepping quietly forward, I don't like to saythis, of course. You've been one of our very best members. But nobodyworks here, George. We can't allow that. You know the rules. I know the rules, all right. Well, then, Loveral said, extending his hand toward the hammer, we'lljust destroy this and whatever else you might have been making. We'lljust forget it ever happened. We'll get along real fine that way, George. We'll just be such good friends. We'll just go to hell, said Atkinson, snatching his hammer away. Loveral's smile disappeared. I'll tell you, George. I have to meanbusiness with this. You know the reasons. If we allow anybody to workhere, then there's going to be trouble. That isn't our plan. We're hereto grow within ourselves and expand culturally. Not to commercialize abeautiful world like Dream Planet. Atkinson stood unmoving, and Loveral could see the way the man's muscleswere tight, like steel springs, and the way his eyes burned deep insidetheir blackness. We've given you everything you need, Loveral explained, trying toadjust the smile on his lips again. Everybody has everything they want. But, you see, if you sit there and work and make something that someoneelse doesn't have, then the whole system is destroyed. Then someone willwant what you've made. We'll have jealousy and hatred and fighting. Thisis the stuff of which wars are made, George. You know that. It startswith small things like this, but it grows. When it does, the structureof our life here will collapse. You wouldn't want that, would you, George Yes Atkinson said, his mouth white at the edges. I'd like to see thewhole rotten thing collapsed and blown to hell Loveral's teeth snapped together and his lips grew tight. He could feela muscle jumping along his neck.

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