[ Defended himself, and defended his friends, his new home, his community. The community defended themselves too, too well and too often, (most of them, anyway) but you couldn't put a whole county in prison. Left standing was one delusional cult leader, and Rook. The death toll on both sides was astronomical - someone had to take the fall. Only so much punishment could be laid at the feet of one man before public opinion felt there had to be someone else. That, and there would always be folk on the side of those who did wrong, as much as those who were wronged. ]

This? [ Rook lifts the book a little to confirm. ] So far. But, Pohl is one of my favorite authors. If you're into science fiction at all, I recommend him.