was a Revolt then, and all the boxed up, driven in hatred andbloodshed boiled up and over, and you Sharkies at long last got yourchain tied right around your waists. You were a long, long timebuilding it, and now you can wear it--"
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Tam's face was chalky. "Dave--there were some of us--you know therewere many of us that hated it as much as you did, before the Revolt.Some of us fought, some of us at least tried--"
The big man nodded his head, bitterly. "You thought you tried, sure.It was the noble thing to do, the romantic thing, the _good_ thing todo. But you didn't really believe it. I know--I thought there was somehope, back then, some chance to straighten things out without aRevolt. For a long time I thought that you, and those like you, reallymeant all you were saying, I thought somehow we could find an equalfooting, an end to the hatred and bitterness. But there wasn't anyend, and you never really thought there ever would be. That made it sosafe--it would never succeed, so when things were quiet it was a niceidea to toy around with, this equality for all, a noble project thatcouldn't possibly succeed. But when things got hot, it was a differentmatter." He stared at Tam, his dark eyes brooding. "Oh, it wasn't justyou, Tam. You were my best friend, even though it was a hopeless,futile friendship. You tried, you did the best you could, I know. Butit _just wasn't true_, Tam. When it came to the pinch, to a real jam,you would have been just like the rest, basically. It was built up inyou, drummed into you, until no amount of fighting could ever scour itout--"
Dave Hawke stood up, walked over to the window, staring out across thegreat city. Tam watched him, the blood roaring in his ears, hardlyable to believe what he had heard from the big man, fighting to keephis mind from sinking into total confusion. Somewhere a voice deepwithin him seemed to be struggling through with confirmation, tellinghim that Dave Hawke was right, that he never really _had_ believed.Suddenly Dave turned to him, his dark eyes intense. "Look, Tam," hesaid, quickly, urgently. "There are jobs you can get. Go to Mercuryfor a while, work the mines--not long, just for a while, out there inthe sun--then you can come back--"
Tam's ears burned, fierce anger suddenly bursting in his mind, afeeling of loathing. "Never," he snapped. "I know what you mean. Idon't do things that way. That's a coward's way, and by God, I'm nocoward!"
"But it would be so easy, Tam--" Dave's eyes were pleading now."Please--"
Tam's eyes glinted. "No dice. I've got a better idea. There's onething I can do. It's not very nice, but at least it's honest, andsquare. I'm hungry. There's one place where I can get food. EvenSharkies get food there. And a bed to sleep in, and books toread--maybe even some Sharkie books, and maybe some paper to writeon--" He stared at the big man, oddly, his pale eyes feverish. "Yes,yes, there's one place I can go, and get plenty to eat, and get awayfrom this eternal rottenness--"
Dave looked up at him, his eyes suspicious. "Where do you mean?"
"Prison," said Tam Peters.
"Oh, now see here--let's not be ridiculous--"
"Not so ridiculous," snapped Tam, his eyes brighter. "I figured it allout, before I came up here. I knew what you were going to say. Sure,go to Mercury, Tam, work in the mines a while--well, I can't do itthat way. And there's only one other answer."
"But, Tam--"
"Oh, it wouldn't take much. You know how the courts handle Sharkies.Just a small offense, to get me a few years, then a couple of attemptsto break out, and I'd be in for life. I'm a Sharkie, remember. Peopledon't waste time with us."
"Tam, you're talking nonsense. Good Lord, man, you'd have no freedom,no life--"
"What freedom do I have now?" Tam snarled, his voice growing wild."Freedom to starve? Freedom to crawl on my hands and knees for alittle bit of food? I don't want that kind of freedom." His eyes grewshrewd, shifted slyly to Dave Hawke's broad face. "Just a simplecharge," he said slowly. "Like assault, for instance. Criminalassault--it has an ugly sound, doesn't it, Dave? That should give meten years--" his fist clenched at his side. "Yes, criminal assault isjust what ought to do the trick--"
The big man tried to dodge, but Tam was too quick. His fist caughtDave in the chest, and Tam was on him like a fury, kicking,scratching, snarling, pounding. Dave choked and cried out, "Tam, forGod's sake stop--" A blow caught him in the mouth, choking off hiswords as Tam fought, all the hate and bitterness of long weary yearstranslated into scratching, swearing desperation. Dave pushed him off,like a bear trying to disentangle a maddened dog from his fur, but Tamwas back at him, fighting harder. The door opened, and Miss Jackson'sfrightened face appeared briefly, then vanished. Finally Dave lifted aheavy fist, drove it hard into Tam's stomach, then sadly lifted thechoking, gasping man to the floor.
The police came in, seconds later, clubs drawn, eyes wide. Theydragged Tam out, one on each arm. Dave sank back, his eyes filling, asickness growing in the pit of his stomach. In court, a Sharkie woulddraw the maximum sentence, without leniency. Ten years in prison--Daveleaned forward, his face in his hands, tears running down his blackcheeks, sobs shaking his broad, heavy shoulders. "Why wouldn't helisten? Why couldn't he have gone to Mercury? Only a few months, notlong enough to hurt him. Why couldn't he have gone, and worked out inthe sun, got that hot sun down on his hands and face--not for long,just for a little while. Two or three months, and he'd have been darkenough to pass--"
THE END
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