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pure-heavyworlder colony worlds. It still is the richest.” The lift of his eyebrows said so what?

“It’s cold, yes.” Lunzie shivered, remembering that cold, and what it had meant. “And in the first winter, the colonists had heavy losses.”

He shrugged again. “Colonies always have heavy casualties at first.”

She was furious. Zebara had reason for his bitterness, his anger, his near despair! Coromell had no reason for this complacency but ignorance.

“Forty thousand casualties, Admiral, out of ninety thousand.”

“What?” That had his attention. He stared at her.

“Forty thousand men, who died of starvation and cold because their death was the only hope for the women and children to survive. And even so, not all of them did. Because no one bothered to warn the colonists about the periodic long winter cycles, or provide food for them.”

“Are you . . . are you sure? Didn’t they complain to