“I know I’m guessing, but it fits!” he said distastefully.  “So something had to be done.  Either the mining settlement had to be wiped out or the story that blueskins were on Orede had to be discredited.  The blueskins tried for both.  They used panic gas on a herd of cattle and it made them crazy and they charged the settlement like the four-footed lunatics they are!

“And the blueskins used panic gas on the settlement itself as the cattle went through.  It should have settled the whole business nicely.  After it was over every man in the settlement would believe he’d been out of his head for a while, and he’d have the crazy state of the settlement to think about.

“He wouldn’t be sure of what he’d seen or heard before-hand.  They might try to verify the blueskin story later, but they wouldn’t believe anything with certainty.  It should have worked!”

Again she waited.

“Unfortunately, when the miners panicked, they stampeded into the ship.  Also unfortunately, panic gas got into the ship with them.  So they stayed panicked while the astrogator—­in panic!—­took off.  They headed for Weald and threw on the overdrive—­which would be set for Weald anyhow—­because that would be the fastest way to run away from whatever he imagined he feared.  But he and all the men on the ship were still crazy with panic from the gas they kept breathing until they died!”

Silence.  After a long interval, Maril asked, “You don’t think the Darians intended to kill?”

“I think they were stupid!” said Calhoun angrily.  “Somebody’s always urging the police to use panic gas in case of public tumult.  But it’s too dangerous.  Nobody knows what one man will do in a panic.  Take a hundred or two or three and panic them all, and there’s no limit to their craziness!  The whole thing was handled wrong!”

“But you don’t blame them?”

“For being stupid, yes,” said Calhoun fretfully.  “But if I’d been in their place, perhaps—­”

“Where were you born?” asked Maril suddenly.

Calhoun jerked his head around.  “No!  Not where you’re guessing, or hoping.  Not on Dara.  Just because I act as if Darians were human doesn’t mean I have to be one!  I’m a Med Service man, and I’m acting as I think I should.”  His tone became exasperated.

“Dammit, I’m supposed to deal with health situations, actual, and possible causes of human deaths!  And if Weald thinks it finds proof that blueskins are in space again and caused the death of Wealdians, it won’t be healthy!  They’re halfway set anyhow to drop fusion-bombs on Dara to wipe it out!”

Maril said fiercely, “They might as well drop bombs.  It’ll be quicker than starvation, at least!”

Calhoun looked at her, more exasperated than before.

“It is a crop failure again?” he demanded.  When she nodded he said bitterly, “Famine conditions already?” When she nodded again he said drearily, “And of course famine is the great-grandfather of health problems!  And that’s right in my lap with all the rest!”