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facing.
    God bless you, Porter. I see you. Everythings gone wrong down here. I cant get back in.
    Try again, Turco. Do you have any tools with you?
    Thats what started all this, breaking in with a chisel and a pry bar. It must have weakened something, and now the whole mechanism is frozen. No, I left the bar inside. No tools. Jesus, this is awful.
    Calm down. Keep trying to get in. Im relaying your signal to Lunar Guidance and Earth. That settled it. There was no time to waste now. If she didnt turn on the positioning motors soon, any miss would be too close for comfort. He had to set off the internal charges within an hour and a half for the best effect.
    Shes outside? Lunar Guidance asked when the transmissions were relayed. Cant get back in?
    Thats it, Porter said.
    That cocks it, Porter. Ignore her and get back into position. Dont bother lining up with the Vlasseg pole, however. Circle around to the Janacki pole borehole and line up for code broadcast there. Youll have a better chance of getting the code through, and you can prepare for any further action.
    Ill be cooked, LG.
    Negativeyoure to relay code from an additional thousand kilometers and boost yourself out of the path just before detonation. That will occurlets seeabout four point three seconds after the charges receive the code. Program your computer for sequencing; youll be too busy.
    Im moving, LG. He returned to Turcos wavelength. Its out of your hands now, he said. Were blowing the charges. They may not be enough, so Im preparing to detonate myself against the Janacki pole crater. Congratulations, Turco.
    I still cant get back in, Porter.
    I said congratulations. Youve killed both of us and ruined Psyche for any future projects. You know that shell go to pieces when she drops below Roches limit? Even if she misses, shell be too close to survive. You know, they might have gotten it all straightened out in a few administrations. Politicos die, or get booted out of officeeven Naderites. I say youve cocked it good. Be happy, Turco. He flipped the switch viciously and concentrated on his approach program display.
    * * * *
    Farmer Kollert was slumped in his chair, eyes closed but still awake, half-listening to the murmurs in the control room. Someone tapped him on the shoulder, and he jerked up in his seat.
    I had to be with you, Farmer. Gestina stood over him, a nervous smile making her dimples obvious. They brought me here to be with you.
    Why? he asked.
    Her voice shook. Because our house was destroyed. I got out just in time. Whats happening, Farmer? Why do they want to kill me? What did I do?
    The team officer standing beside her held out a piece of paper, and Kollert took it. Violence had broken out in half a dozen Hexamon centers, and numerous officials had had to be evacuated. Geshels werent the only ones involvedNaderites of all classes seemed to share indignation and rage at what was happening. The outbreaks werent organizedand that was even more disturbing. Wherever transmissions had reached the unofficial grapevines, people were reacting.
    Gestinas large eyes regarded him without comprehension, much less sympathy. I had to be with you, Farmer, she repeated. They wouldnt let me stay.
    Quiet, please, another officer said. More transmissions coming in.
    Yes, Kollert said softly. Quiet. Thats what we wanted. Quiet and peace and sanity. Safety for our children to come.
    I think something big is happening, Gestina said. What is it?
    * * * *
    Porter checked the alignment again, put up his visual shields, and instructed the processor to broadcast the coded signal. With no distinguishable pause, the ships engines started to move him out of the path of the particle blast.
    Meanwhile Giani Turco worked at the hatch with a bit of metal bracing she had broken off her suitpack. The sharp edge just barely fit into the crevice, and by gouging and prying she had managed to force the door up half a centimeter. The evacuation mechanism hadnt been activated, so frosted air