Outside, the air already smelled fresher. Garnna inhaled large lungfuls of it, savoring the vitality in every molecule, The few pedestrians who were out on the street ignored him as he capered in the sunshine for several minutes, delighting in the experience of his minor rebellion.
But his elation was short-lived. He had done nothing except escape his office for a few moments. The report would still have to be written when he went back in. Worse, he had done nothing toward solving what he was beginning to consider was his own personal problem. He had been unable to persuade Rettin to allow him to return to that planet. Maybe he wouldn’t have to interfere in the alien situation. Maybe, as Rettin himself had suggested, the aliens had resolved the matter themselves. But he had to know. Why c
