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Page 139
Jumps and is also of possible help in explaining the creation of the universe and its evolution. In the midst of his explanation, Rik remembers the face of the patroller who shot Khorov; it was Terens. They had made a mistake stowing away on a ship.
Meanwhile, on the spaceship Captain Racety has relayed to Lady Samia of Fife an order from her father, the Great Squire of Fife, to return to Sark. She is reluctant to interrupt her research on kyrt. Kyrt is a variety of cotton that on Florina becomes a shining miracle fiber stronger than steel alloys that is used mostly for luxury fabrics. It provides the source of Sark's wealth and the reason for Florina's subjugation. No one knows why kyrt seeds grow into kyrt on Florina and into an inferior grade of cotton anywhere else. Captain Racety discovers the two stowaways.
Back on Florina, Terens learns that Rik and Valona have stowed away on board the ship belonging to the Squire of Fife, one of the five Great Squires, each of whom has his own continent. They have grown powerful in the kyrt trade in a way that Trantor cannot match. They will risk Galactic war rather than give up Florina. Fife is the most powerful of the five. Almost a year ago he had called a meeting by trimensic personification (a process used again later in The Naked Sun), in which he shared a blackmail note containing information about the impending destruction of Florina. Fife also told the Squires that a Spatio-analyst had disappeared and sent a message mentioning the destruction of Florina. Fife suggested that Trantor was trying to blackmail them, that they should try to find the Spatio-analyst, and that they should await a second message. It never came. Now Fife calls them together again and speaks of high treason.
Meanwhile (there are many "meanwhiles" as the point of view shifts chapter by chapter and even within chapters to pick up another part of the action), Terens has taken an elevator to Upper City, goes to City Park, stuns a Squire with his neuronic whip, dresses himself in the Squire's clothing, and then incinerates the Squire to delay pursuit.
Lady Samia, on board the spaceship, insists on talking to Rik and Valona. Under questioning, Rik remembers that he is from Earth. Lady Sarnia and the Captain have never heard of Earth, but the Captain has heard of the Sirius Sector and subsequently remembers that Earth is the planet that claims to be the birthplace of humanity. Rik also remembers being a Spatio-analyst, that Florina and possibly the Milky Way are in danger, and the interview on Sark described in the Prolog. He doesn't remember, however, what was done to him or by whom. Before he can

 
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