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

<passage>:
breathless messenger as Kinton him?" Klaft looked uneasy, embarrassed. Kinton repeated his question, opinion clashed with the dull purple of his scales, twiddled a three-clawed hand for attention. think to watch him, they tell me ... and quite rightly, I think—" "Get on with it, Klaft! Please!" "In the night, then, Albirken Kinton nodded to him from his Kinton smiled wrily, and ran "He did?" Kinton had an clicking two claws together, a sign of emphatic disagreement. "Albirken," he said, "was soon followed by three police constables in another vehicle. They Kinton answered in their language, Kinton felt his eyes bulging He leaned back and scanned the faces of his interviewers, faces that would have been oddly Kinton looked from him to the messenger, noticing for the first time that the latter was an under-officer Kinton's height of five-feet-ten, head distractedly. It appeared that his suspicions concerning Birken had been only too accurate. Why was it one like him who of police. He shook his still left Kinton with a feeling now— He did not worry about his He should be used to it after ten years, he thought, but even own position. That was well the reds or purples of the scales natural. "I sympathize with your curiosity," thinking well of Terrans, but to a rage by the killing, Kinton of so many stars." He could tell that they were pleased by his admiration, and wondered yet again why any little show of approval by him was so eagerly received. Even been concerned about himself. He had reached a fairly ripe age for Kinton remained conscious of the told himself, he would not have Before Kinton had formed his as Kinton's chief aide, hurried moment later, Kinton saw the visitor. bent to hiss and cluck into the latter's ear in what he presumably considered an undertone. "Ya might say I was explorin'," of. To protect him, he wondered. Or to get Birken? Kinton hesitated. Those in the of Kinton's limited number of Kinton's institute came into an honor. They would hardly learn anything from him directly that was him?" demanded Kinton, his tone sharp with the worry he endeavored to control. "He has that spear, I suppose but he is only to orange. He grimaced and clicked his showy teeth uncomfortably. "Perhaps they thought you might be offended, George," he answered at last. Kinton settled back in the seat come out of curiosity." Kinton smiled at his aide's was responsible for Birken, who that he was about forty-eight now, as nearly as he could tell but that was only part of it. They were leaving it up to him to handle what they considered his private affair. He wondered what to do. He want to risk hurting his feelings, rather be buried, even if that left them with only what he about the ship!" Kinton muttered, To help himself forget the body. all right. Probably scared the colonial authorities will trail him right down through the Dome of Kinton, disturbed, tried of Kinton. Would Birken listen if he tried their willingness to repay him for whatever help he had been, he reflected. They hadn't needed approaching, Kinton saw a halted sound they fondly thought to be Kinton turned away from the alighted, however, Birken had drawn level with them, about For ten years, Kinton had "Birken!" shouted Kinton. own impending action. "Sorry, Kinton," he shouted with no noticeable tone of regret. "I figure I better travel on for my health." astrology and Kinton often told them jokingly that he felt no urge to risk a physical encounter and Kinton remembered Birken showed no more change of expression than if the other had commented on the weather. Kinton had stepped forward his anxiety at the way Birken back at him, and he knew that Kinton couldn't just grab him—bad each was being scrutinized by rear, noticed Kinton's pause. for a curse," he remarked, quoting a Tepoktan proverb often applied [106] if some miracle gets him through, that's worse! He's nothing to turn loose on a civilized loved speculating about the as he realized that keeping Birken here would also expose a highly cultured people to an unscrupulous unsolvable. They had even founded clubs to argue whether two "Birken!" he shouted. "For Birken stopped at that. He regarded with a derisive sneer. "They don't look too eager to me," he taunted. Kinton growled a Tepoktan expression the meaning of which startled changes in the carefully blank looks of his escort. The with a hissing cry. Kinton found himself looking By the time Kinton's aging muscles obeyed his impulse to [113] He felt his face flushing with after his belt broke loose?" Kinton guessed. "I bow to your wisdom, George," said the plump Tepoktan doctor who appeared to be Kinton could not remember decided that Birken had not come close enough for that, and wondered if he was afraid of his It wasn't fair, he complained to himself. The poor slob only him, but everyone on the planet Kinton made the accepted gesture of greeting with one hand and said, "You seem to have treated him very expertly." addressed the Terran by the Chuxolkhee ruffled the scales steadied on Birken as the latter Kinton, without exactly seeing each, was aware of the enough established, whether or Why, he looked scared when he saw me , thought Kinton. The man stared curiously. Kinton Kinton sighed. people who had been so generous for a few breaths, then seemed to relax. "Al Birken," he introduced himself laconically. "Ten years?" "A little over," confirmed Kinton. "It's extremely unusual that anything gets through to the to him. Even if they had been aroused see to him, please?" Kinton Birken's stare was suspicious. "George...?" "Well?" him. "You mean there are new would like to—" "All right!" yielded Kinton, surprised at the harshness of his Terran colonies?" way to set down here, though, or they'd be creepin' around this own voice. "Just tell him not to is, I believe Dr. Chuxolkhee it? Run out of fuel?" The other eyed him for a few seconds before dropping his gaze. Kinton was struck with Kinton stared at his hands, wondering at the fact that they were not shaking. He felt dejected, empty, not like a man who had just been at a high pitch of excitement. He resolved to be wary of the George?" "What? Why ... why ... he Kinton realized guiltily that the man should be resting. He [108] had lost track of the moments he had wasted in talk while the others with him stood attentively about. He questioned the doctor briefly and relayed the information Kinton flexed his fingers we can only guess what he did among my own ... among Terrans. of one does make you think a little of an iguana. Rest up, now For the next three weeks, Kinton ... it is not my place to say this ... but you seem unhappy." "Possibly," grunted Kinton wrily. for all they did for him. On the other hand, the chance to see and talk with one of his own kind drew him like a magnet to the hospital. Kinton. "I ... it's just—" Birken's leg, inserting a metal they had known before Kinton him sympathetically from beneath the sloping, purple-scaled forehead. visage, at the strange eyes regarding Birken seemed eager to learn all Kinton could tell him About himself, he was remarkably reticent. Kinton worried about this. "I think we should not expect too much of this Terran," he this Albirken is such a one, George?" Kinton unhappily. "He will tell me little about himself. It He didn't think the man exactly believed his explanation of why there was no use taking off in it. Yet he continued to spend as much time as he could visiting

<question>:
Why does Kinton struggle with his choice about Al Birken's fate?

<options>:
A He is lonely without another human around.
B He does not struggle with him choice.
C He thinks Al could possibly help him get off the Tepokt.
D He likes Al.

<answer>:

A