Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
followed him from the machine. The Dome of Eyes made it almost impossible for Terrans to reach the world of Tepokt. For those who did land there, there was no returning—only the bitterness of respect—and justice! The Tepoktan student, whose blue robe in George Kinton's opinion clashed with the dull "Gone? Where did they take ... and quite rightly, I think—" "Get on with it, Klaft! Please!" galaxy, George?" Kinton smiled wrily, and ran a wrinkled hand through his graying hair. In the clicking Tepoktan speech, his name came stomach. "Is it known where he went? I mean ... he has been curious to see some of Tepokt. Perhaps—" Tepokt, leaving him the only survivor. Barred off as they were from venturing into space, the highly civilized Tepoktans constantly displayed the curiosity of hurtled through the meteorite belt and down to the surface of He stopped, his own words dreamers in matters related to whirling about their the third before fleeing with one with dismay. messenger, noticing for the first Tepoktan was slightly under Kinton's height of five-feet-ten, with a long, supple trunk. Under got through? he asked himself in silent anguish. After ten years. The Tepoktans had been thinking well of Terrans, but carried high before their chests now— enough established, whether or not he could again hold up his head before the purple-scaled Even if they had been aroused He could tell that they were Kinton remained conscious of the fact that in many fields he was unable to offer the Tepoktans any new ideas. In one or two ways, he believed, no Terran could back his early-morning weariness. "Then will you tell us, George, "We must get into the air first space explorers?" came another immediately," he told Klaft. more about the problems of your answer, the golden curtains at the rear of the austerely simple chamber parted. Klaft, the Tepoktan serving the current year as Kinton's chief aide, hurried members of the group fell silent ground outside drop away. Only upon turning around did he realize that two armed Tepoktans had materialized in time to follow Klaft inside. "I regret I shall have to conclude this discussion," he announced. "I am informed that another ship from space has reached the surface of Tepokt. My presence is requested in case the crew are of my own planet." soberly after having been called Tepoktan scientists, historians, and philosophers had respectfully but eagerly gathered every they had been warned and fled." away, he shook his head at Klaft's respectful protest. "But George! It was enough might be offended, George," he answered at last. that they were present when you "Perhaps they thought you clicked his showy teeth uncomfortably. Kinton settled back in the seat received the news. They can talk behind the pilot. now, as nearly as he could tell from the somewhat longer revolutions of Tepokt. The time would come when he would age and die. Whose wishes would They were leaving it up to him to handle what they considered his private affair. then prevail? Maybe he was wrong, he but that was only part of it. thought. Maybe he shouldn't about the ship!" Kinton muttered, To help himself forget the rather preoccupied manner in which some of the Tepoktan scientists colonial authorities will trail him occasionally eyed him, he gnawing the knuckle of his left thumb. "He's on the run, around to see if he had been overheard. all right. Probably scared the Klaft and the police officers peered from their respective Kinton, disturbed, tried to remember whether he had spoken in Terran or Tepoktan. windows, in calculated withdrawal. they had proved the unpredictability Tepokt were underdeveloped. In the first place, the population was smaller and had different approaching, Kinton saw a halted a lone figure plodded toward the that had never flown. "Never mind landing at the out to the ship!" Tepoktans had told Kinton, "or whether part of them come from a destroyed satellite As they passed the man below, By the time his passengers had alighted, however, Birken had For ten years, Kinton had failed to work up any strong desire to try it. The Tepoktans Seeing that no one ran after called the ever-shifting lights "Where do you think you're going?" "I figure I better travel on for my health." "Wait! Don't you think they The helicopter started to descend, up? Every one was struck and was only about twenty miles from his home. The brief twilight of Tepokt was passing by the time he set foot on the landing field, and he paused to look six or eight paces, irritated despite break the older man in two. He glanced back at the Tepoktans They stood quietly, looking to his lips died there. "Not their leaving the pilot to bring up the who still retreated toward the killed a Tepoktan proverb often applied destroy the ship! Or [106] by the disgruntled scientists Kinton observed, however, that his aide also stared upward for a long moment. The Tepoktans loved speculating about the unsolvable. They had even founded and Half a dozen officials hastened first time he had been crossed. succeeded in quieting the lesser here?" Birken stopped at that. He regarded the motionless Tepoktans with a derisive sneer. "They don't look too eager to He whirled to run toward the With a clanging of bells, the startled changes in the carefully blank looks of his escort. The muscles obeyed his impulse to unexpected pang of disappointment. He felt his face flushing with half the distance. Kinton ran at the Tepoktans, brushing aside the concerned Klaft. He snatched the heavy above head height, to prevent the "Thrown across the controls guessed. "I bow to your wisdom, George," said the plump Tepoktan doctor who appeared to be in charge. seizing the weapon had him panting. Or was it the fright at having want to risk hurting his feelings, if he was afraid of his own impending action. It wasn't fair, he complained they expect him to realize—? drawings, of course, George, for I have not yet had the good fortune to visit you." He broke off at the sound from "A Terran!" mumbled the injured of the ship before exploding. Why, he looked scared when Two others burst against the The spaceman was blown back from the ladder. He balanced on his lips after ten years. He tried again. "My name is George Kinton. I don't blame you if I'm hard to requested, turning toward the helicopter. "Yes, George," said Klaft. "George...?" "Well?" "It would be very instructive—that The other eyed him for a few He resolved to be wary of the had just been at a high pitch of excitement. "Why did you not let him go, George?" "What? Why ... why ... he would have destroyed the ship am I banged up?" he had wasted in talk while the others with him stood attentively about. ship, George, for it was you who go back and commit more crimes?" "I understand, George, the logic of it," said Klaft. "I meant ... it is not my place to say this felt that he should not neglect the few meetings which were the only way he could repay the Tepoktans for all they did for him. On the other hand, the chance teach their experts anything. they had known before Kinton Birken seemed eager to learn all Kinton could tell him about the planet, Tepokt. About himself, he was remarkably reticent. Kinton worried "Perhaps we may see him before "Who are born to die under the axe, as we say," interrupted Klaft, as if to ease the concern George?" "It is not impossible," admitted Kinton unhappily. "He will Tepokt's gravity while fleeing from justice." To himself, he wished he had the other man. Then, as his helicopter

<question>:
Why were George's escorts suddenly startled at the ship?

<options>:
A George was not going to let Al Birken board the ship
B Al Birken had tackled George
C Al Birken had thrown a spear at George
D George decided to leave Tepokt

<answer>:

C