 What did Kolin think about becoming a tree himself?
It may be useful to discover temporary sources in this area of natural foods." Lack of complete loyalty to the state was likely to result in a siege of treatment that left the subject suitably "re-personalized." "You will scout in five details of three persons each," Chief Slichow said. The maintenance of a proper viewpoint was a necessity if the Planetary State were to survive the hostile plots of Earth and the latter's decadent colonies. Kolin found himself in a group with Jak Ammet, a third cook, and Eva Yrtok, powdered foods storekeeper. Since the crew would be eating packaged rations during repairs, Yrtok could be spared to command a scout detail. Chief Slichow emphasized that the keepers of rations could hardly, in an emergency, give even the appearance of favoring themselves in regard to food. To reach their assigned sector, they had to climb a forbidding ridge of rock within half a kilometer. Only a sparse creeper grew along their way, its elongated leaves shimmering with bronze-green reflections against a stony surface; but when they topped the ridge a thick forest was in sight. For all Kolin could tell, he and the others were isolated in a world bounded by the rocky ridge behind them and a semi-circle of damp trees and bushes several hundred meters away. "Be a job to find anything edible here," grunted Ammet, and Kolin agreed. Yrtok paused to examine some purple berries glistening dangerously on a low shrub. Fifty meters away, Ammet sat beside the bush with the purple berries, utterly relaxed.
 He was intrigued but wanted to try something slightly different.
 He wanted to be an animal, not a plant.  He was intrigued but wanted to try something slightly different.  He figured it was an effective way to escape his crew.  He refused to give up his own body.