of the villagers had life-support implants, and didn't use them much. The квартиры last person there to get a recharge had gone to the planet Bernswa for it—and that was seventeen years back.
The picture wasn't encouraging as she began the long hike back to the cabin. The chance of Holm finding a recharger in Lopat seemed slight indeed from what she had learned.
Well, if that meant she was stuck here indefinitely, then the econo-war would just have to get along without her. Perhaps getting the new breed started would have more long-term significance anyway.
And she could get home at some indefinite time in the future. A couple of oldsters in High Pines had told her that when one of them died she would be welcome to salvage his partially-charged power implant from his corpse.
Both of them were discouragingly spry and healthy. She wondered how much use her report would be to the Commonality, if it didn't arrive until twenty years from now.
* * *
Holm was waiting for her when she reached the cabin. "Poor Gweanny," he murmured, taking her in his arms and kissing her.
"You look exhausted."
"I can believe it. Did you . . . have any luck?"
"Yes, I brought a recharger back with me," he replied, surprisingly. "It's inside."
"Wow! That's a relief! From what I was told in High Pines, I wondered if there was one this side of Bernswa."
"At least one," he smiled, giving her a squeeze, "and you've got it."
"Golly! I don't know how to thank you, Holm!"
He grinned. "Maybe I'll think of some way."
"I get the impression you're not as beat as I am," she laughed.
"I shouldn't be. I got back three days ago. Been taking it easy ever since."
"How did you manage that?"
"I was given a lift by a fellow in Lopat, the man who loaned me the recharger. He wanted to kn 車 買い取り ow where I was taking it, anyway, so he flew out here with me riding on his back."
She thought about it for a moment. "Doesn't that compromise the location of our little love-nest?"
"Not really. I know that guy. He won't talk to any Lontastan agents about us."
"Had any agents been in Lopat?"
"I don't think so. Of course I didn't ask, but someone would have been likely to mention such unusual visitors."
Gweanvin nodded, r