

	Now/rb that/cs he/pps knew/vbd himself/ppl to/to be/be self/nn he/pps was/bedz free/jj to/to grok/vb ever/ql closer/rbr to/in his/pp$ brothers/nns ,/, merge/vb without/in let/nn ./.
Self's/nn$ integrity/nn was/bedz and/cc is/bez and/cc ever/rb had/hvd been/ben ./.
Mike/np stopped/vbd to/to cherish/vb all/abn his/pp$ brother/nn selves/nns ,/, the/at many/ap threes-fulfilled/jj on/in Mars/np ,/, corporate/jj and/cc discorporate/jj ,/, the/at precious/jj few/ap on/in Earth/nn-tl --/-- the/at unknown/jj powers/nns of/in three/cd on/in Earth/nn-tl that/wps would/md be/be his/pp$ to/to merge/vb with/in and/cc cherish/vb now/rb that/cs at/in last/ap long/jj waiting/nn he/pps grokked/vbd and/cc cherished/vbd himself/ppl ./.


	Mike/np remained/vbd in/in trance/nn ;/. ;/.
there/ex was/bedz much/ap to/to grok/vb ,/, loose/jj ends/nns to/to puzzle/vb over/rp and/cc fit/vb into/in his/pp$ growing/vbg --/-- all/abn that/cs he/pps had/hvd seen/vbn and/cc heard/vbn and/cc been/ben at/in the/at Archangel/nn-tl Foster/np-tl Tabernacle/nn-tl (/( not/* just/rb cusp/nn when/wrb he/pps and/cc Digby/np had/hvd come/vbn face/nn to/in face/nn alone/rb )/) why/wrb Bishop/nn-tl Senator/nn-tl Boone/np made/vbd him/ppo warily/rb uneasy/jj ,/, how/wrb Miss/np Dawn/np Ardent/np tasted/vbd like/cs a/at water/nn brother/nn when/wrb she/pps was/bedz not/* ,/, the/at smell/nn of/in goodness/nn he/pps had/hvd incompletely/rb grokked/vbn in/in the/at jumping/nn up/rp and/cc down/rp and/cc wailing/vbg --/-- 

	Jubal's/np$ conversations/nns coming/vbg and/cc going/vbg --/-- Jubal's/np$ words/nns troubled/vbd him/ppo most/rbt ;/. ;/.
he/pps studied/vbd them/ppo ,/, compared/vbd them/ppo with/in what/wdt he/pps had/hvd been/ben taught/vbn as/cs a/at nestling/nn ,/, struggling/vbg to/to bridge/vb between/in languages/nns ,/, the/at one/cd he/pps thought/vbd with/in and/cc the/at one/cd he/pps was/bedz learning/vbg to/to think/vb in/rp ./.
The/at word/nn ``/`` church/nn ''/'' which/wdt turned/vbd up/rp over/rp and/cc over/rp again/rb among/in Jubal's/np$ words/nns gave/vbd him/ppo knotty/jj difficulty/nn ;/. ;/.
there/ex was/bedz no/at Martian/jj concept/nn to/to match/vb it/ppo --/-- unless/cs one/pn took/vbd ``/`` church/nn ''/'' and/cc ``/`` worship/nn ''/'' and/cc ``/`` God/np ''/'' and/cc ``/`` congregation/nn ''/'' and/cc many/ap other/ap words/nns and/cc equated/vbd them/ppo to/in the/at totality/nn of/in the/at only/ap world/nn he/pps had/hvd known/vbn during/in growing-waiting/nn then/rb forced/vbd the/at concept/nn back/rb into/in English/np in/in that/dt phrase/nn which/wdt had/hvd been/ben rejected/vbn (/( by/in each/dt differently/rb )/) by/in Jubal/np ,/, by/in Mahmoud/np ,/, by/in Digby/np ./.


	``/`` Thou/ppss art/nn God/np ''/'' ./.
He/pps was/bedz closer/rbr to/to understanding/vbg it/ppo in/in English/np now/rb ,/, although/cs it/pps could/md never/rb have/hv the/at inevitability/nn of/in the/at Martian/jj concept/nn it/pps stood/vbd for/in ./.
In/in his/pp$ mind/nn he/pps spoke/vbd simultaneously/rb the/at English/jj sentence/nn and/cc the/at Martian/jj word/nn and/cc felt/vbd closer/jjr grokking/nn ./.
Repeating/vbg it/ppo like/cs a/at student/nn telling/vbg himself/ppl that/cs the/at jewel/nn is/bez in/in the/at lotus/nn he/pps sank/vbd into/in nirvana/nn ./.


	Before/in midnight/nn he/pps speeded/vbd his/pp$ heart/nn ,/, resumed/vbd normal/jj breathing/nn ,/, ran/vbd down/rp his/pp$ check/nn list/nn ,/, uncurled/vbd and/cc sat/vbd up/rp ./.
He/pps had/hvd been/ben weary/jj ;/. ;/.
now/rb he/pps felt/vbd light/jj and/cc gay/jj and/cc clear-headed/jj ,/, ready/jj for/in the/at many/ap actions/nns he/pps saw/vbd spreading/vbg out/rp before/in him/ppo ./.


	He/pps felt/vbd a/at puppyish/jj need/nn for/in company/nn as/ql strong/jj as/cs his/pp$ earlier/jjr necessity/nn for/in quiet/nn ./.
He/pps stepped/vbd out/rp into/in the/at hall/nn ,/, was/bedz delighted/vbn to/to encounter/vb a/at water/nn brother/nn ./.
``/`` Hi/uh ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` Oh/uh ./.
Hello/uh ,/, Mike/np ./.
My/uh ,/, you/ppss look/vb chipper/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss feel/vb fine/rb !/. !/.
Where/wrb is/bez everybody/pn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Asleep/rb ./.
Ben/np and/cc Stinky/np went/vbd home/nr an/at hour/nn ago/rb and/cc people/nns started/vbd going/vbg to/in bed/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Oh/uh ''/'' ./.
Mike/np felt/vbd disappointed/vbn that/cs Mahmoud/np had/hvd left/vbn ;/. ;/.
he/pps wanted/vbd to/to explain/vb his/pp$ new/jj grokking/nn ./.


	``/`` I/ppss ought/md to/to be/be asleep/rb ,/, too/rb ,/, but/cc I/ppss felt/vbd like/cs a/at snack/nn ./.
Are/ber you/ppss hungry/jj ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Sure/rb ,/, I'm/ppss+bem hungry/jj ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` Come/vb on/rp ,/, there's/ex+bez some/dti cold/jj chicken/nn and/cc we'll/ppss+md see/vb what/wdt else/rb ''/'' ./.
They/ppss went/vbd downstairs/rb ,/, loaded/vbd a/at tray/nn lavishly/rb ./.
``/`` Let's/vb+ppo take/vb it/ppo outside/rb ./.
It's/pps+bez plenty/ql warm/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` A/at fine/jj idea/nn ''/'' ,/, Mike/np agreed/vbd ./.


	``/`` Warm/jj enough/qlp to/to swim/vb --/-- real/jj Indian/jj summer/nn ./.
I'll/ppss+md switch/vb on/in the/at floods/nns ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Don't/do* bother/vb ''/'' ,/, Mike/np answered/vbd ./.
``/`` I'll/ppss+md carry/vb the/at tray/nn ''/'' ./.
He/pps could/md see/vb in/in almost/rb total/jj darkness/nn ./.
Jubal/np said/vbd that/cs his/pp$ night-sight/nn probably/rb came/vbd from/in the/at conditions/nns in/in which/wdt he/pps had/hvd grown/vbn up/rp ,/, and/cc Mike/np grokked/vbd this/dt was/bedz true/jj but/cc grokked/vbd that/cs there/ex was/bedz more/ap to/in it/ppo ;/. ;/.
his/pp$ foster/jj parents/nns had/hvd taught/vbn him/ppo to/to see/vb ./.
As/cs for/in the/at night/nn being/beg warm/jj ,/, he/pps would/md have/hv been/ben comfortable/jj naked/jj on/in Mount/nn-tl Everest/np-tl but/cc his/pp$ water/nn brothers/nns had/hvd little/jj tolerance/nn for/in changes/nns in/in temperature/nn and/cc pressure/nn ;/. ;/.
he/pps was/bedz considerate/jj of/in their/pp$ weakness/nn ,/, once/cs he/pps learned/vbd of/in it/ppo ./.
But/cc he/pps was/bedz looking/vbg forward/rb to/in snow/nn --/-- seeing/vbg for/in himself/ppl that/cs each/dt tiny/jj crystal/nn of/in the/at water/nn of/in life/nn was/bedz a/at unique/jj individual/nn ,/, as/cs he/pps had/hvd read/vbn --/-- walking/vbg barefoot/rb ,/, rolling/vbg in/in it/ppo ./.


	In/in the/at meantime/nn he/pps was/bedz pleased/vbn with/in the/at warm/jj night/nn and/cc the/at still/ql more/ql pleasing/jj company/nn of/in his/pp$ water/nn brother/nn ./.


	``/`` Okay/uh ,/, take/vb the/at tray/nn ./.
I'll/ppss+md switch/vb on/in the/at underwater/jj lights/nns ./.
That'll/wps+md be/be plenty/rb to/to eat/vb by/in ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Fine/rb ''/'' ./.
Mike/np liked/vbd having/hvg light/nn up/rp through/in the/at ripples/nns ;/. ;/.
it/pps was/bedz a/at goodness/nn ,/, beauty/nn ./.
They/ppss picnicked/vbd by/in the/at pool/nn ,/, then/rb lay/vb back/rb on/in the/at grass/nn and/cc looked/vbd at/in stars/nns ./.


	``/`` Mike/np ,/, there's/ex+bez Mars/np ./.
It/pps is/bez Mars/np ,/, isn't/bez* it/pps ?/. ?/.
Or/cc Antares/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` It/pps is/bez Mars/np ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Mike/np ?/. ?/.
What/wdt are/ber they/ppss doing/vbg on/in Mars/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	He/pps hesitated/vbd ;/. ;/.
the/at question/nn was/bedz too/ql wide/jj for/in the/at sparse/jj English/jj language/nn ./.
``/`` On/in the/at side/nn toward/in the/at horizon/nn --/-- the/at southern/jj hemisphere/nn --/-- it/pps is/bez spring/nn ;/. ;/.
plants/nns are/ber being/beg taught/vbn to/to grow/vb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` '/' Taught/vbn to/to grow/vb '/' ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	He/pps hesitated/vbd ./.
``/`` Larry/np teaches/vbz plants/nns to/to grow/vb ./.
I/ppss have/hv helped/vbn him/ppo ./.
But/cc my/pp$ people/nns --/-- Martians/nps ,/, I/ppss mean/vb ;/. ;/.
I/ppss now/rb grok/vb you/ppss are/ber my/pp$ people/nns --/-- teach/vb plants/nns another/dt way/nn ./.
In/in the/at other/ap hemisphere/nn it/pps is/bez growing/vbg colder/jjr and/cc nymphs/nns ,/, those/dts who/wps stayed/vbd alive/jj through/in the/at summer/nn ,/, are/ber being/beg brought/vbn into/in nests/nns for/in quickening/vbg and/cc more/ap growing/vbg ''/'' ./.
He/pps thought/vbd ./.
``/`` Of/in the/at humans/nns we/ppss left/vbd at/in the/at equator/nn ,/, one/pn has/hvz discorporated/vbn and/cc the/at others/nns are/ber sad/jj ''/'' ./.


	Yes/rb ,/, I/ppss heard/vbd it/ppo in/in the/at news/nn ''/'' ./.


	Mike/np had/hvd not/* heard/vbn it/ppo ;/. ;/.
he/pps had/hvd not/* known/vbn it/ppo until/cs asked/vbn ./.
``/`` They/ppss should/md not/* be/be sad/jj ./.
Mr./np Booker/np T./np W./np Jones/np Food/nn-tl Technician/nn-tl First/od-tl Class/nn-tl is/bez not/* sad/jj ;/. ;/.
the/at Old/jj-tl Ones/nns-tl have/hv cherished/vbn him/ppo ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss knew/vbd him/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Yes/rb ./.
He/pps had/hvd his/pp$ own/jj face/nn ,/, dark/jj and/cc beautiful/jj ./.
But/cc he/pps was/bedz homesick/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Oh/uh ,/, dear/uh !/. !/.
Mike/np do/do you/ppss ever/rb get/vb homesick/jj ?/. ?/.
For/in Mars/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` At/in first/rb I/ppss was/bedz homesick/jj ''/'' ,/, he/pps answered/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss was/bedz lonely/jj always/rb ''/'' ./.
He/pps rolled/vbd toward/in her/ppo and/cc took/vbd her/ppo in/in his/pp$ arms/nns ./.
``/`` But/cc now/rb I/ppss am/bem not/* lonely/jj ./.
I/ppss grok/vb I/ppss shall/md never/rb be/be lonely/jj again/rb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Mike/np darling/jj ''/'' --/-- They/ppss kissed/vbd ,/, and/cc went/vbd on/rp kissing/vbg ./.


	Presently/rb his/pp$ water/nn brother/nn said/vbd breathlessly/rb ./.
``/`` Oh/uh ,/, my/uh !/. !/.
That/dt was/bedz almost/ql worse/jjr than/cs the/at first/od time/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss are/ber all/ql right/jj ,/, my/pp$ brother/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Yes/rb ./.
Yes/rb indeed/qlp ./.
Kiss/vb me/ppo again/rb ''/'' ./.


	A/at long/jj time/nn later/rbr ,/, by/in cosmic/jj clock/nn ,/, she/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Mike/np ?/. ?/.
Is/bez that/dt --/-- I/ppss mean/vb ,/, '/' Do/do you/ppss know/vb '/' ''/'' --/-- 

	``/`` I/ppss know/vb ./.
It/pps is/bez for/in growing/vbg closer/rbr ./.
Now/rb we/ppss grow/vb closer/rbr ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Well/uh I've/ppss+hv been/ben ready/jj a/at long/jj time/nn --/-- goodness/nn ,/, we/ppss all/abn have/hv ,/, but/cc never/rb mind/vb ,/, dear/jj ;/. ;/.
turn/vb just/rb a/at little/ap ./.
I'll/ppss+md help/vb ''/'' ./.


	As/cs they/ppss merged/vbd ,/, grokking/vbg together/rb ,/, Mike/np said/vbd softly/rb and/cc triumphantly/rb :/: ``/`` Thou/ppss art/ber God/np ''/'' ./.


	Her/pp$ answer/nn was/bedz not/* in/in words/nns ./.
Then/rb ,/, as/cs their/pp$ grokking/nn made/vbd them/ppo ever/rb closer/rbr and/cc Mike/np felt/vbd himself/ppl almost/rb ready/jj to/to discorporate/vb her/pp$ voice/nn called/vbd him/ppo back/rb :/: ``/`` Oh/uh !/. !/.
Oh/uh !/. !/.
Thou/ppss art/ber God/np ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` We/ppss grok/vb God/np ''/'' ./.



25/cd-hl ./.-hl

On/in Mars/np humans/nns were/bed building/vbg pressure/nn domes/nns for/in the/at male/nn and/cc female/nn party/nn that/dt would/md arrive/vb by/in next/ap ship/nn ./.
This/dt went/vbd faster/rbr than/cs scheduled/vbn as/cs the/at Martians/nps were/bed helpful/jj ./.
Part/nn of/in the/at time/nn saved/vbn was/bedz spent/vbn on/in a/at preliminary/jj estimate/nn for/in a/at long-distance/nn plan/nn to/to free/vb bound/vbn oxygen/nn in/in the/at sands/nns of/in Mars/np to/to make/vb the/at planet/nn more/ql friendly/jj to/in future/jj human/nn generations/nns ./.


	The/at Old/jj-tl Ones/nns-tl neither/cc helped/vbd nor/cc hindered/vbd this/dt plan/nn ;/. ;/.
time/nn was/bedz not/* yet/rb ./.
Their/pp$ meditations/nns were/bed approaching/vbg a/at violent/jj cusp/nn that/wps would/md shape/vb Martian/jj art/nn for/in many/ap millennia/nns ./.
On/in Earth/nn-tl elections/nns continued/vbd and/cc a/at very/ql advanced/vbn poet/nn published/vbd a/at limited/vbn edition/nn of/in verse/nn consisting/vbg entirely/rb of/in punctuation/nn marks/nns and/cc spaces/nns ;/. ;/.
Time/nn-tl magazine/nn reviewed/vbd it/ppo and/cc suggested/vbd that/cs the/at Federation/nn-tl Assembly/nn-tl Daily/jj-tl Record/nn-tl should/md be/be translated/vbn into/in the/at medium/nn ./.


	A/at colossal/jj campaign/nn opened/vbd to/to sell/vb more/ql sexual/jj organs/nns of/in plants/nns and/cc Mrs./np Joseph/np (/( ``/`` Shadow/nn-tl of/in-tl Greatness/nn-tl ''/'' )/) Douglas/np was/bedz quoted/vbn as/cs saying/vbg :/: ``/`` I/ppss would/md no/at more/rbr sit/vb down/rp without/in flowers/nns on/in my/pp$ table/nn than/cs without/in serviettes/nns ''/'' ./.
A/at Tibetan/jj swami/nn from/in Palermo/np ,/, Sicily/np ,/, announced/vbd in/in Beverly/np-tl Hills/nns-tl a/at newly/rb discovered/vbn ,/, ancient/jj yoga/nn discipline/nn for/in ripple/nn breathing/nn which/wdt increased/vbd both/abx pranha/nn and/cc cosmic/jj attraction/nn between/in sexes/nns ./.
His/pp$ chelas/fw-nns were/bed required/vbn to/to assume/vb the/at matsyendra/fw-nn posture/nn dressed/vbn in/in hand-woven/jj diapers/nns while/cs he/pps read/vbd aloud/rb from/in Rig-Veda/np and/cc an/at assistant/nn guru/nn examined/vbd their/pp$ purses/nns in/in another/dt room/nn --/-- nothing/pn was/bedz stolen/vbn ;/. ;/.
the/at purpose/nn was/bedz less/ql immediate/jj ./.


	The/at President/nn-tl of/in-tl the/at-tl United/vbn-tl States/nns-tl proclaimed/vbd the/at first/od Sunday/nr in/in November/np as/cs ``/`` National/jj-tl Grandmothers'/nns$-tl Day/nn-tl ''/'' and/cc urged/vbd America/np to/to say/vb it/ppo with/in flowers/nns ./.
A/at funeral/nn parlor/nn chain/nn was/bedz indicted/vbn for/in price-cutting/nn ./.
Fosterite/jj bishops/nns ,/, after/in secret/jj conclave/nn ,/, announced/vbd the/at Church's/nn$-tl second/od Major/jj-tl Miracle/nn-tl :/: Supreme/jj-tl Bishop/nn-tl Digby/np had/hvd been/ben translated/vbn bodily/rb to/in Heaven/nn-tl and/cc spot-promoted/vbn to/in Archangel/nn-tl ,/, ranking/vbg with-but-after/in Archangel/nn-tl Foster/np ./.
The/at glorious/jj news/nn had/hvd been/ben held/vbn up/rp pending/in Heavenly/jj confirmation/nn of/in the/at elevation/nn of/in a/at new/jj Supreme/jj-tl Bishop/nn-tl ,/, Huey/np Short/np --/-- a/at candidate/nn accepted/vbd by/in the/at Boone/np faction/nn after/cs lots/nns had/hvd been/ben cast/nn repeatedly/rb ./.


	L'Unita/fw-at+nn-tl and/cc Hoy/fw-nr-tl published/vbd identical/jj denunciations/nns of/in Short's/np$ elevation/nn ,/, l'Osservatore/fw-at+nn-tl Romano/fw-jj-tl and/cc the/at Christian/jj-tl Science/nn-tl Monitor/nn-tl ignored/vbd it/ppo ,/, Times/nns-tl of/in-tl India/np-tl snickered/vbd at/in it/ppo ,/, and/cc the/at Manchester/np-tl Guardian/nn-tl simply/rb reported/vbd it/ppo --/-- the/at Fosterites/nps in/in England/np were/bed few/ap but/cc extremely/rb militant/jj ./.


	Digby/np was/bedz not/* pleased/vbn with/in his/pp$ promotion/nn ./.
The/at Man/nn-tl from/in-tl Mars/np-tl had/hvd interrupted/vbn him/ppo with/in his/pp$ work/nn half/ql finished/vbn --/-- and/cc that/dt stupid/jj jackass/nn Short/np was/bedz certain/jj to/to louse/vb it/ppo up/rp ./.
Foster/np listened/vbd with/in angelic/jj patience/nn until/cs Digby/np ran/vbd down/rp ,/, then/rb said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Listen/vb ,/, junior/np ,/, you're/ppss+ber an/at angel/nn now/rb --/-- so/cs forget/vb it/ppo ./.
Eternity/nn is/bez no/at time/nn for/in recriminations/nns ./.
You/ppss too/rb were/bed a/at stupid/jj jackass/nn until/cs you/ppss poisoned/vbd me/ppo ./.
Afterwards/rb you/ppss did/dod well/rb enough/qlp ./.
Now/rb that/cs Short/np is/bez Supreme/jj-tl Bishop/nn-tl he'll/pps+md do/do all/ql right/rb ,/, he/pps can't/md* help/vb it/ppo ./.
Same/ap as/cs with/in the/at Popes/nns-tl ./.
Some/dti of/in them/ppo were/bed warts/nns until/cs they/ppss got/vbd promoted/vbn ./.
Check/vb with/in one/cd of/in them/ppo ,/, go/vb ahead/rb --/-- there's/ex+bez no/at professional/jj jealousy/nn here/rb ''/'' ./.


	Digby/np calmed/vbd down/rp ,/, but/cc made/vbd one/cd request/nn ./.


	Foster/np shook/vbd his/pp$ halo/nn ./.
``/`` You/ppss can't/md* touch/vb him/ppo ./.
You/ppss shouldn't/md* have/hv tried/vbn to/to ./.
Oh/uh ,/, you/ppss can/md submit/vb a/at requisition/nn for/in a/at miracle/nn if/cs you/ppss want/vb to/to make/vb a/at fool/nn of/in yourself/ppl ./.
But/cc ,/, I'm/ppss+bem telling/vbg you/ppo ,/, it'll/pps+md be/be turned/vbn down/rp --/-- you/ppss don't/do* understand/vb the/at System/nn-tl yet/rb ./.
The/at Martians/nps have/hv their/pp$ own/jj setup/nn ,/, different/jj from/in ours/pp$$ ,/, and/cc as/ql long/jj as/cs they/ppss need/vb him/ppo ,/, we/ppss can't/md* touch/vb him/ppo ./.
They/ppss run/vb their/pp$ show/nn their/pp$ way/nn --/-- the/at Universe/nn-tl has/hvz variety/nn ,/, something/pn for/in everybody/pn --/-- a/at fact/nn you/ppss field/vb workers/nns often/rb miss/vb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss mean/vb this/dt punk/nn can/md brush/vb me/ppo aside/rb and/cc I've/ppss+hv got/vbn to/to hold/vb still/rb for/in it/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` I/ppss held/vbd still/rb for/in the/at same/ap thing/nn ,/, didn't/dod* I/ppss ?/. ?/.
I'm/ppss+bem helping/vbg you/ppo now/rb ,/, am/bem I/ppss not/* ?/. ?/.
Now/rb look/vb ,/, there's/ex+bez work/nn to/to be/be done/vbn and/cc lots/nns of/in it/ppo ./.
The/at Boss/nn-tl wants/vbz performance/nn ,/, not/* gripes/nns ./.
If/cs you/ppss need/vb a/at Day/nn-tl off/rp to/to calm/vb down/rp ,/, duck/vb over/rp to/in the/at Muslim/jj-tl Paradise/nn-tl and/cc take/vb it/ppo ./.
Otherwise/rb ,/, straighten/vb your/pp$ halo/nn ,/, square/vb your/pp$ wings/nns ,/, and/cc dig/vb in/rp ./.
The/at sooner/rbr you/ppss act/vb like/cs an/at angel/nn the/at quicker/rbr you'll/ppss+md feel/vb angelic/jj ./.
Get/vb Happy/jj ,/, junior/jj ''/'' !/. !/.


	Digby/np heaved/vbd a/at deep/jj ethereal/jj sigh/nn ./.
``/`` Okay/uh ,/, I'm/ppss+bem Happy/jj ./.
Where/wrb do/do I/ppss start/vb ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Jubal/np did/dod not/* hear/vb of/in Digby's/np$ disappearance/nn when/wrb it/pps was/bedz announced/vbn ,/, and/cc ,/, when/wrb he/pps did/dod ,/, while/cs he/pps had/hvd a/at fleeting/vbg suspicion/nn ,/, he/pps dismissed/vbd it/ppo ;/. ;/.
if/cs Mike/np had/hvd had/hvn a/at finger/nn in/in it/ppo ,/, he/pps had/hvd gotten/vbn away/rb with/in it/ppo --/-- and/cc what/wdt happened/vbd to/in supreme/jj bishops/nns worried/vbd Jubal/np not/* at/in all/abn as/ql long/jj as/cs he/pps wasn't/bedz* bothered/vbn ./.


	His/pp$ household/nn had/hvd gone/vbn through/in an/at upset/vbn ./.
Jubal/np deduced/vbd what/wdt had/hvd happened/vbn but/cc did/dod not/* know/vb with/in whom/wpo --/-- and/cc didn't/dod* want/vb to/to inquire/vb ./.
Mike/nn was/bedz of/in legal/jj age/nn and/cc presumed/vbd able/jj to/to defend/vb himself/ppl in/in the/at clinches/nns ./.
Anyhow/rb ,/, it/pps was/bedz high/jj time/nn the/at boy/nn was/bedz salted/vbn ./.


	Jubal/np couldn't/md* reconstruct/vb the/at crime/nn from/in the/at way/nn the/at girls/nns behaved/vbd because/cs patterns/nns kept/vbd shifting/vbg --/-- ABC/np-tl vs/np-tl D/np-tl ,/, then/jj BCD/np-tl vs/np-tl A/np-tl or/cc AB/np-tl vs/np-tl CD/np-tl ,/, or/cc AD/np-tl vs/np-tl CB/np-tl ,/, through/in all/abn ways/nns that/cs four/cd women/nns can/md gang/vb up/rp on/in each/dt other/ap ./.


	This/dt continued/vbd most/ap of/in the/at week/nn following/vbg that/ql ill-starred/jj trip/nn to/in church/nn ,/, during/in which/wdt period/nn Mike/np stayed/vbd in/in his/pp$ room/nn and/cc usually/rb in/in a/at trance/nn so/ql deep/jj that/cs Jubal/np would/md have/hv pronounced/vbn him/ppo dead/jj had/hvd he/pps not/* seen/vbn it/ppo before/rb ./.
Jubal/np would/md not/* have/hv minded/vbn it/ppo if/cs service/nn had/hvd not/* gone/vbn to/in pieces/nns ./.
The/at girls/nns seemed/vbd to/to spend/vb half/abn their/pp$ time/nn tiptoeing/vbg in/rp ``/`` to/to see/vb if/cs Mike/np was/bedz all/ql right/jj ''/'' and/cc they/ppss were/bed too/ql preoccupied/vbn to/to cook/vb ,/, much/ql less/ap be/be secretaries/nns ./.
Even/rb rock-steady/jj Anne/np --/-- Hell/uh ,/, Anne/np was/bedz the/at worst/jjt !/. !/.
Absent-minded/jj ,/, subject/nn to/in unexplained/jj tears/nns Jubal/np would/md have/hv bet/nn his/pp$ life/nn that/cs if/cs Anne/np were/bed to/to witness/vb the/at Second/od-tl Coming/nn-tl ,/, she/pps would/md memorize/vb date/nn ,/, time/nn ,/, personae/nns ,/, events/nns ,/, and/cc barometric/jj pressure/nn without/in batting/vbg her/pp$ calm/jj blue/jj eyes/nns ./.

The/at-tl expense/nn and/cc time/nn involved/vbn are/ber astronomical/jj ./.
However/wrb ,/, we/ppss sent/vbd a/at third/od vessel/nn out/rp ,/, a/at much/ql smaller/jjr and/cc faster/jjr one/cd than/cs the/at first/od two/cd ./.
We/ppss have/hv learned/vbn much/ap about/in interstellar/jj drives/nns since/cs a/at hundred/cd years/nns ago/rb ;/. ;/.
that/dt is/bez all/abn I/ppss can/md tell/vb you/ppo about/in them/ppo ./.


	``/`` But/cc the/at third/od ship/nn came/vbd back/rb several/ap years/nns ago/rb and/cc reported/vbd ''/'' 

	``/`` That/cs it/pps had/hvd found/vbn a/at planet/nn on/in which/wdt human/nn beings/nns could/md live/vb and/cc which/wdt was/bedz already/rb inhabited/vbn by/in sentient/jj beings/nns ''/'' !/. !/.
Said/vbn Hal/np ,/, forgetting/vbg in/in his/pp$ enthusiasm/nn that/cs he/pps had/hvd not/* been/ben asked/vbn to/to speak/vb ./.


	Macneff/np stopped/vbd pacing/vbg to/to stare/vb at/in Hal/np with/in his/pp$ pale/jj blue/jj eyes/nns ./.


	``/`` How/wrb did/dod you/ppss know/vb ''/'' ?/. ?/.
He/pps said/vbd sharply/rb ./.


	``/`` Forgive/vb me/ppo ,/, Sandalphon/np ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Hal/np ./.
``/`` But/cc it/pps was/bedz inevitable/jj !/. !/.
Did/dod not/* the/at Forerunner/nn-tl predict/vb in/in his/pp$ Time/nn-tl and/cc-tl the/at-tl World/nn-tl Line/nn-tl that/cs such/abl a/at planet/nn would/md be/be found/vbn ?/. ?/.
I/ppss believe/vb it/pps was/bedz on/in page/nn 573/cd ''/'' !/. !/.


	Macneff/np smiled/vbd and/cc said/vbd ,/, ``/`` I/ppss am/bem glad/jj that/cs your/pp$ scriptural/jj lessons/nns have/hv left/vbn such/abl an/at impression/nn ''/'' ./.


	How/wrb could/md they/ppss not/* ?/. ?/.
Thought/vbd Hal/np ./.
Besides/rb ,/, they/ppss were/bed not/* the/at only/ap impressions/nns ./.
I/ppss still/rb bear/vb scars/nns on/in my/pp$ back/nn where/wrb Pornsen/np ,/, my/pp$ gapt/nn ,/, whipped/vbd me/ppo because/cs I/ppss had/hvd not/* learned/vbn my/pp$ lessons/nns well/rb enough/qlp ./.
He/pps was/bedz a/at good/jj impresser/nn ,/, that/dt Pornsen/np ./.
Was/bedz ?/. ?/.
Is/bez !/. !/.
As/cs I/ppss grew/vbd older/jjr and/cc was/bedz promoted/vbn ,/, so/rb was/bedz he/pps ,/, always/rb where/wrb I/ppss was/bedz ./.
He/pps was/bedz my/pp$ gapt/nn in/in the/at creche/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz the/at dormitory/nn gapt/nn when/wrb I/ppss went/vbd to/in college/nn and/cc thought/vbd I/ppss was/bedz getting/vbg away/rb from/in him/ppo ./.
He/pps is/bez now/rb my/pp$ block/nn gapt/nn ./.
He/pps is/bez the/at one/cd responsible/jj for/in my/pp$ getting/vbg such/jj low/jj M./np R.'s/nps ./.


	Swiftly/rb ,/, came/vbd the/at revulsion/nn ,/, the/at protest/nn ./.
No/rb ,/, not/* he/pps ,/, for/cs I/ppss ,/, and/cc I/ppss alone/rb ,/, am/bem responsible/jj for/in whatever/wdt happens/vbz to/in me/ppo ./.
If/cs I/ppss get/vb a/at low/jj M./np R./np ,/, I/ppss do/do so/rb because/cs I/ppss want/vb it/ppo that/dt way/nn or/cc my/pp$ dark/jj self/nn does/doz ./.
If/cs I/ppss die/vb ,/, I/ppss die/vb because/cs I/ppss willed/vbd it/ppo so/rb ./.
So/rb ,/, forgive/vb me/ppo ,/, Sigmen/np ,/, for/in the/at contrary-to-reality/jj thoughts/nns !/. !/.


	``/`` Please/vb pardon/vb me/ppo again/rb ,/, Sandalphon/np ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Hal/np ./.
``/`` But/cc did/dod the/at expedition/nn find/nn any/dti records/nns of/in the/at Forerunner/nn-tl having/hvg been/ben on/in this/dt planet/nn ?/. ?/.
Perhaps/rb ,/, even/rb ,/, though/cs this/dt is/bez too/ql much/ap to/to wish/vb ,/, find/vb the/at Forerunner/nn-tl himself/ppl ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` No/rb ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Macneff/np ./.
``/`` Though/cs that/dt does/doz not/* mean/vb that/cs there/ex may/md not/* be/be such/jj records/nns there/rb ./.
The/at expedition/nn was/bedz under/in orders/nns to/to make/vb a/at swift/jj survey/nn of/in conditions/nns and/cc then/rb to/to return/vb to/in Earth/nn-tl ./.
I/ppss can't/md* tell/vb you/ppo now/rb the/at distance/nn in/in lightyears/nns or/cc what/wdt star/nn this/dt was/bedz ,/, though/cs you/ppss can/md see/vb it/ppo with/in the/at naked/jj eye/nn at/in night/nn in/in this/dt hemisphere/nn ./.
If/cs you/ppss volunteer/vb ,/, you/ppss will/md be/be told/vbn where/wrb you're/ppss+ber going/vbg after/cs the/at ship/nn leaves/vbz ./.
And/cc it/pps leaves/vbz very/ql soon/rb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss need/vb a/at linguist/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Said/vbn Hal/np ./.


	``/`` The/at ship/nn is/bez huge/jj ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Macneff/np ,/, ``/`` but/cc the/at number/nn of/in military/nn men/nns and/cc specialists/nns we/ppss are/ber taking/vbg limits/vbz the/at linguists/nns to/in one/cd ./.
We/ppss have/hv considered/vbn several/ap of/in your/pp$ professionals/nns because/cs they/ppss were/bed lamechians/nps and/cc above/in suspicion/nn ./.
Unfortunately/rb ''/'' 

	Hal/np waited/vbd :/: Macneff/np paced/vbd some/dti more/rbr ,/, frowning/vbg ./.
Then/rb ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Unfortunately/rb ,/, only/rb one/cd lamechian/jj linguist/nn exists/vbz ,/, and/cc he/pps is/bez too/ql old/jj for/in this/dt expedition/nn ./.
Therefore/rb ''/'' 

	``/`` A/at thousand/cd pardons/nns ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Hal/np ./.
``/`` But/cc I/ppss have/hv just/rb thought/vbd of/in one/cd thing/nn ./.
I/ppss am/bem married/vbn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` No/at problem/nn at/in all/abn ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Macneff/np ./.
``/`` There/ex will/md be/be no/at women/nns aboard/in the/at Gabriel/np ./.
And/cc ,/, if/cs a/at man/nn is/bez married/vbn ,/, he/pps will/md automatically/rb be/be given/vbn a/at divorce/nn ''/'' ./.


	Hal/np gasped/vbd ,/, and/cc he/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` A/at-tl divorce/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Macneff/np raised/vbd his/pp$ hands/nns apologetically/rb and/cc said/vbd ,/, ``/`` You/ppss are/ber horrified/vbn ,/, of/in course/nn ./.
But/cc ,/, from/in our/pp$ reading/nn of/in the/at Western/jj Talmud/np ,/, we/ppss Urielites/nps believe/vb that/cs the/at Forerunner/nn-tl ,/, knowing/vbg this/dt situation/nn would/md arise/vb ,/, made/vbd reference/nn to/in and/cc provision/nn for/in divorce/nn ./.
It's/pps+bez inevitable/jj in/in this/dt case/nn ,/, for/cs the/at couple/nn will/md be/be separated/vbn for/in ,/, at/in the/at least/ap ,/, forty/cd years/nns ./.
Naturally/rb ,/, he/pps couched/vbd the/at provision/nn in/in obscure/jj language/nn ./.
In/in his/pp$ great/jj and/cc glorious/jj wisdom/nn ,/, he/pps knew/vbd that/cs our/pp$ enemies/nns the/at Israelites/nps must/md not/* be/be able/jj to/to read/vb therein/rb what/wdt we/ppss planned/vbd ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss volunteer/vb ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Hal/np ./.
``/`` Tell/vb me/ppo more/ap ,/, Sandalphon/np ''/'' ./.




Six/cd months/nns later/rbr ,/, Hal/np Yarrow/np stood/vbd in/in the/at observation/nn dome/nn of/in the/at Gabriel/np and/cc watched/vbd the/at ball/nn of/in Earth/nn-tl dwindle/vb above/in him/ppo ./.
It/pps was/bedz night/nn on/in this/dt hemisphere/nn ,/, but/cc the/at light/nn blazed/vbd from/in the/at megalopolises/nns of/in Australia/np ,/, Japan/np ,/, China/np ,/, Southeast/jj-tl Asia/np-tl ,/, India/np ,/, Siberia/np ./.
Hal/np ,/, the/at linguist/nn ,/, saw/vbd the/at glittering/vbg discs/nns and/cc necklaces/nns in/in terms/nns of/in the/at languages/nns spoken/vbn therein/rb ./.
Australia/np ,/, the/at Philippine/jj-tl Islands/nns-tl ,/, Japan/np ,/, and/cc northern/jj China/np-tl were/bed inhabited/vbn by/in those/dts members/nns of/in the/at Haijac/np-tl Union/nn-tl that/wps spoke/vbd American/jj ./.


	Southern/jj China/np ,/, all/abn of/in southeast/jj Asia/np-tl ,/, southern/jj India/np and/cc Ceylon/np ,/, these/dts states/nns of/in the/at Malay/np-tl Federation/nn-tl spoke/vbd Bazaar/nn-tl ./.


	Siberia/np spoke/vbd Icelandic/np ./.


	His/pp$ mind/nn turned/vbd the/at globe/nn swiftly/rb for/in him/ppo ,/, and/cc he/pps visualized/vbd Africa/np ,/, which/wdt used/vbd Swahili/np south/nr of/in the/at Sahara/np-tl Sea/nn-tl ./.
All/abn around/in the/at Mediterranean/np-tl Sea/nn-tl ,/, Asia/np-tl Minor/jj-tl ,/, northern/jj India/np ,/, and/cc Tibet/np ,/, Hebrew/np was/bedz the/at native/jj tongue/nn ./.
In/in southern/jj Europe/np ,/, between/in the/at Israeli/jj-tl Republics/nns-tl and/cc the/at Icelandic-speaking/jj peoples/nns of/in northern/jj Europe/np ,/, was/bedz a/at thin/jj but/cc long/jj stretch/nn of/in territory/nn called/vbd March/np ./.
This/dt was/bedz no/at man's/nn$ land/nn ,/, disputed/vbn by/in the/at Haijac/np-tl Union/nn-tl and/cc the/at Israeli/jj-tl Republic/nn-tl ,/, a/at potential/jj source/nn of/in war/nn for/in the/at last/ap two/cd hundred/cd years/nns ./.
Neither/dtx nation/nn would/md give/vb up/rp their/pp$ claim/nn on/in it/ppo ,/, yet/rb neither/dtx wished/vbd to/to make/vb any/dti move/nn that/wps might/md lead/vb to/in a/at second/od Apocalyptic/jj-tl War/nn-tl ./.
So/rb ,/, for/in all/ql practical/jj purposes/nns ,/, it/pps was/bedz an/at independent/jj nation/nn and/cc by/in now/rb had/hvd its/pp$ own/jj organized/vbn government/nn (/( unrecognized/jj outside/in its/pp$ own/jj borders/nns )/) ./.
Its/pp$ citizens/nns spoke/vbd all/abn of/in the/at world's/nn$ surviving/vbg tongues/nns ,/, plus/cc a/at new/jj one/cd called/vbn Lingo/nn-tl ,/, a/at pidgin/nn whose/wp$ vocabulary/nn was/bedz derived/vbn from/in the/at other/ap six/cd and/cc whose/wp$ syntax/nn was/bedz so/ql simple/jj it/pps could/md be/be contained/vbn on/in half/abn a/at sheet/nn of/in paper/nn ./.


	Hal/np saw/vbd in/in his/pp$ mind/nn the/at rest/nn of/in Earth/nn-tl :/: Iceland/np ,/, Greenland/np ,/, the/at Caribbean/np-tl Islands/nns-tl ,/, and/cc the/at eastern/jj half/abn of/in South/jj-tl America/np-tl ./.
Here/rb the/at peoples/nns spoke/vbd the/at tongue/nn of/in Iceland/np because/cs that/dt island/nn had/hvd gotten/vbn the/at jump/nn on/in the/at Hawaiian-Americans/nps who/wps were/bed busy/jj resettling/vbg North/jj-tl America/np-tl and/cc the/at western/jj half/abn of/in South/jj-tl America/np-tl after/in the/at Apocalyptic/jj-tl War/nn-tl ./.


	Then/rb there/ex was/bedz North/jj-tl America/np-tl ,/, where/wrb American/np was/bedz the/at native/jj speech/nn of/in all/abn except/in the/at twenty/cd descendants/nns of/in French-Canadians/nps living/vbg on/in the/at Hudson/np-tl Bay/nn-tl Preserve/nn-tl ./.


	Hal/np knew/vbd that/cs when/wrb that/dt side/nn of/in Earth/nn-tl rotated/vbd into/in the/at night/nn zone/nn ,/, Sigmen/np-tl City/nn-tl would/md blaze/vb out/rp into/in space/nn ./.
And/cc ,/, somewhere/rb in/in that/dt enormous/jj light/nn ,/, was/bedz his/pp$ apartment/nn ./.
But/cc Mary/np would/md soon/rb no/at longer/jjr be/be living/vbg there/rb ,/, for/cs she/pps would/md be/be notified/vbn in/in a/at few/ap days/nns that/cs her/pp$ husband/nn had/hvd died/vbd in/in an/at accident/nn while/cs on/in a/at flight/nn to/in Tahiti/np ./.
She/pps would/md weep/vb in/in private/jj ,/, he/pps was/bedz sure/jj ,/, for/cs she/pps loved/vbd him/ppo in/in her/pp$ frigid/jj way/nn ,/, though/cs in/in public/nn she/pps would/md be/be dry-eyed/jj ./.
Her/pp$ friends/nns and/cc professional/jj associates/nns would/md sympathize/vb with/in her/ppo ,/, not/* because/cs she/pps had/hvd lost/vbn a/at beloved/jj husband/nn ,/, but/cc because/cs she/pps had/hvd been/ben married/vbn to/in a/at man/nn who/wps thought/vbd unrealistically/rb ./.
If/cs Hal/np Yarrow/np had/hvd been/ben killed/vbn in/in a/at crash/nn ,/, he/pps must/md have/hv wanted/vbn it/ppo that/dt way/nn ./.
There/ex was/bedz no/rb such/jj thing/nn as/cs an/at ``/`` accident/nn ''/'' ./.
Somehow/rb ,/, all/abn the/at other/ap passengers/nns (/( also/rb supposed/vbn to/to have/hv died/vbn in/in this/dt web/nn of/in elaborate/jj frauds/nns to/to cover/vb up/rp the/at disappearance/nn of/in the/at personnel/nns of/in the/at Gabriel/np )/) had/hvd simultaneously/rb ``/`` agreed/vbn ''/'' to/to die/vb ./.
And/cc ,/, therefore/rb ,/, being/beg in/in disgrace/nn ,/, they/ppss would/md not/* be/be cremated/vbn and/cc their/pp$ ashes/nns flung/vbn to/in the/at winds/nns in/in public/jj ceremony/nn ./.
No/rb ,/, the/at fish/nn could/md eat/vb their/pp$ bodies/nns for/in all/abn the/at Sturch/np cared/vbd ./.


	Hal/np felt/vbd sorry/jj for/in Mary/np ;/. ;/.
he/pps had/hvd a/at time/nn keeping/vbg the/at tears/nns from/in welling/vbg to/in his/pp$ own/jj eyes/nns as/cs he/pps stood/vbd in/in the/at crowd/nn in/in the/at observation/nn dome/nn ./.


	Yet/rb ,/, he/pps told/vbd himself/ppl ,/, this/dt was/bedz the/at best/jjt way/nn ./.
He/pps and/cc Mary/np would/md no/at longer/jjr have/hv to/to tear/vb and/cc rend/vb at/in each/dt other/ap ;/. ;/.
their/pp$ mutual/jj torture/nn would/md be/be over/rp ./.
Mary/np was/bedz free/jj to/to marry/vb again/rb ,/, not/* knowing/vbg that/cs the/at Sturch/np had/hvd secretly/rb given/vbn her/ppo a/at divorce/nn ,/, thinking/vbg that/dt death/nn had/hvd dissolved/vbn her/pp$ marriage/nn ./.
She/pps would/md have/hv a/at year/nn in/in which/wdt to/to make/vb up/rp her/pp$ mind/nn ,/, to/to choose/vb a/at mate/nn from/in a/at list/nn selected/vbn by/in her/pp$ gapt/nn ./.
Perhaps/rb ,/, the/at psychological/jj barriers/nns that/wps had/hvd prevented/vbn her/ppo from/in conceiving/vbg Hal's/np$ child/nn would/md no/at longer/jjr be/be present/jj ./.
Perhaps/rb ./.
Hal/np doubted/vbd if/cs this/dt happy/jj event/nn would/md occur/vb ./.
Mary/np was/bedz as/ql frozen/vbn below/in the/at navel/nn as/cs he/pps ./.
No/at matter/nn who/wps the/at candidate/nn for/in marriage/nn selected/vbn by/in the/at gapt/nn 

	The/at gapt/nn ./.
Pornsen/np ./.
He/pps would/md no/at longer/jjr have/hv to/to see/vb that/dt fat/jj face/nn ,/, hear/vb that/dt whining/vbg voice/nn 

	``/`` Hal/np Yarrow/np ''/'' !/. !/.
Said/vbd the/at whining/vbg voice/nn ./.


	And/cc ,/, slowly/rb ,/, feeling/vbg himself/ppl icy/jj yet/rb burning/vbg ,/, Hal/np turned/vbd ./.


	There/ex was/bedz the/at squat/nn loose-jowled/jj man/nn ,/, smiling/vbg lopsidedly/rb up/rp at/in him/ppo ./.


	``/`` My/pp$ beloved/jj ward/nn ,/, my/pp$ perennial/jj gadfly/nn ''/'' ,/, said/vbd the/at whining/vbg voice/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss had/hvd no/at idea/nn that/cs you/ppss ,/, too/rb ,/, would/md be/be on/in this/dt glorious/jj voyage/nn ./.
But/cc I/ppss might/md have/hv known/vbn !/. !/.
We/ppss seem/vb to/to be/be bound/vbn by/in love/nn ;/. ;/.
Sigmen/np himself/ppl must/md have/hv foreseen/jj it/ppo ./.
Love/nn to/in you/ppo ,/, my/pp$ ward/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Sigmen/np love/nn you/ppo ,/, too/rb ,/, my/pp$ guardian/nn ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Hal/np ,/, choking/vbg ./.
``/`` How/wrb wonderful/jj to/to see/vb your/pp$ cherished/vbn self/nn ./.
I/ppss had/hvd thought/vbn we/ppss would/md never/rb again/rb speak/vb to/in each/dt other/ap ''/'' ./.



5/cd-hl 
the/at Gabriel/np pointed/vbd towards/in her/ppo destination/nn and/cc ,/, under/in one-gee/jj acceleration/nn ,/, began/vbd to/to build/vb up/rp towards/in her/pp$ ultimate/jj velocity/nn ,/, 99.1/cd percent/nn of/in the/at speed/nn of/in light/nn ./.
Meanwhile/rb ,/, all/abn the/at personnel/nns except/in those/dts few/ap needed/vbn to/to carry/vb out/rp the/at performance/nn of/in the/at ship/nn ,/, went/vbd into/in the/at suspensor/nn ./.
Here/rb they/ppss would/md lie/vb in/in suspended/vbn animation/nn for/in many/ap years/nns ./.
Some/dti time/nn later/rbr ,/, after/cs a/at check/nn had/hvd been/ben made/vbn of/in all/abn automatic/jj equipment/nn ,/, the/at crew/nn would/md join/vb the/at others/nns ./.
They/ppss would/md sleep/vb while/cs the/at Gabriel's/np$ drive/nn would/md increase/vb the/at acceleration/nn to/in a/at point/nn which/wdt the/at unfrozen/vbn bodies/nns of/in the/at personnel/nns could/md not/* have/hv endured/vbn ./.
Upon/in reaching/vbg the/at desired/vbn speed/nn ,/, the/at automatic/jj equipment/nn would/md cut/vb off/rp the/at drive/nn ,/, and/cc the/at silent/jj but/cc not/* empty/jj vessel/nn would/md hurl/vb towards/in the/at star/nn which/wdt was/bedz its/pp$ journey's/nn$ end/nn ./.


	Many/ap years/nns later/rbr ,/, the/at photon-counting/jj apparatus/nn in/in the/at nose/nn of/in the/at ship/nn would/md determine/vb that/cs the/at star/nn was/bedz close/jj enough/qlp to/to actuate/vb deceleration/nn ./.
Again/rb ,/, a/at force/nn too/ql strong/jj for/in unfrozen/vbn bodies/nns to/to endure/vb would/md be/be applied/vbn ./.
Then/rb ,/, after/cs slowing/vbg the/at vessel/nn considerably/rb ,/, the/at drive/nn would/md adjust/vb to/in a/at one-gee/jj deceleration/nn ./.
And/cc the/at crew/nn would/md be/be automatically/rb brought/vbn out/in of/in their/pp$ suspended/vbn animation/nn ./.
These/dts members/nns would/md then/rb unthaw/vb the/at rest/nn of/in the/at personnel/nns ./.
And/cc ,/, in/in the/at half-year/nn left/vbn before/cs reaching/vbg their/pp$ destination/nn ,/, the/at men/nns would/md carry/vb out/rp whatever/wdt preparations/nns were/bed needed/vbn ./.


	Hal/np Yarrow/np was/bedz among/in the/at last/ap to/to go/vb into/in the/at suspensor/nn and/cc among/in the/at first/od to/to come/vb out/rp ./.
He/pps had/hvd to/to study/vb the/at recordings/nns of/in the/at language/nn of/in the/at chief/nn nation/nn of/in Ozagen/np ,/, Siddo/np ./.
And/cc ,/, from/in the/at first/rb ,/, he/pps faced/vbd a/at difficult/jj task/nn ./.
The/at expedition/nn that/wps had/hvd discovered/vbn Ozagen/np had/hvd succeeded/vbn in/in correlating/vbg two/cd thousand/cd Siddo/np words/nns with/in an/at equal/jj number/nn of/in American/jj words/nns ./.
The/at description/nn of/in the/at Siddo/np syntax/nn was/bedz very/ql restricted/vbn ./.
And/cc ,/, as/cs Hal/np found/vbd out/rp ,/, obviously/rb mistaken/vbn in/in many/ap cases/nns ./.


	This/dt discovery/nn caused/vbd Hal/np anxiety/nn ./.
His/pp$ duty/nn was/bedz to/to write/vb a/at school/nn text/nn and/cc to/to teach/vb the/at entire/jj personnel/nns of/in the/at Gabriel/np how/wrb to/to speak/vb Ozagen/np ./.
Yet/rb ,/, if/cs he/pps used/vbd all/abn of/in the/at little/ap means/nns at/in his/pp$ disposal/nn ,/, he/pps would/md be/be instructing/vbg his/pp$ students/nns wrongly/rb ./.
Moreover/rb ,/, even/rb getting/vbg this/dt across/rb would/md be/be difficult/jj ./.


	For/in one/cd thing/nn ,/, the/at organs/nns of/in speech/nn of/in the/at Ozagen/np natives/nns differed/vbd somewhat/rb from/in Earthmen's/nps$ ;/. ;/.
the/at sounds/nns made/vbn by/in these/dts organs/nns were/bed ,/, therefore/rb ,/, dissimilar/jj ./.
It/pps was/bedz true/jj that/cs they/ppss could/md be/be approximated/vbn ,/, but/cc would/md the/at Ozagenians/nps understand/vb these/dts approximations/nns ?/. ?/.


	Another/dt obstacle/nn was/bedz the/at grammatical/jj construction/nn of/in Siddo/np ./.
Consider/vb the/at tense/nn system/nn ./.
Instead/rb of/in inflecting/vbg a/at verb/nn or/cc using/vbg an/at unattached/jj particle/nn to/to indicate/vb the/at past/nn or/cc future/nn ,/, Siddo/np used/vbd an/at entirely/rb different/jj word/nn ./.
Thus/rb ,/, the/at masculine/jj animate/jj infinitive/nn dabhumaksanigalu'ahai/fw-vb ,/, meaning/vbg to/to live/vb ,/, was/bedz ,/, in/in the/at perfect/jj tense/nn ,/, ksu'u'peli'afo/fw-vb ,/, and/cc ,/, in/in the/at future/nn ,/, mai'teipa/fw-nn ./.
The/at same/ap use/nn of/in an/at entirely/rb different/jj word/nn applied/vbd for/in all/abn the/at other/ap tenses/nns ./.
Plus/in the/at fact/nn that/cs Siddo/np not/* only/rb had/hvd the/at normal/jj (/( to/in Earthmen/nps )/) three/cd genders/nns of/in masculine/jj ,/, feminine/jj ,/, and/cc neuter/jj ,/, but/cc the/at two/cd extra/jj of/in inanimate/jj and/cc spiritual/jj ./.
Fortunately/rb ,/, gender/nn was/bedz inflected/vbn ,/, though/cs the/at expression/nn of/in it/ppo would/md be/be difficult/jj for/in anybody/pn not/* born/vbn in/in Siddo/np ./.
The/at system/nn of/in indicating/vbg gender/nn varied/vbd according/rb to/in tense/nn ./.


	All/ql the/at other/ap parts/nns of/in speech/nn :/: nouns/nns ,/, pronouns/nns ,/, adjectives/nns ,/, adverbs/nns ,/, and/cc conjunctions/nns operated/vbd under/in the/at same/ap system/nn as/cs the/at verbs/nns ./.

This/dt was/bedz not/* ,/, for/in the/at Angel/nn-tl ,/, just/rb a/at matter/nn of/in running/vbg through/in a/at logical/jj or/cc deductive/jj chain/nn ,/, or/cc deciding/vbg on/rp some/dti action/nn from/in some/dti already/rb established/vbn premise/nn ./.
No/at doubt/nn the/at Angels/nns-tl could/md do/do that/dt kind/nn of/in thing/nn as/ql fast/jj as/cs any/dti computer/nn ./.


	What/wdt Gabriel/np was/bedz being/beg asked/vbn to/to do/do now/rb ,/, however/wrb ,/, was/bedz to/to re-examine/vb all/abn his/pp$ basic/jj assumptions/nns ,/, make/vb value-judgments/nns on/in them/ppo ,/, and/cc give/vb them/ppo new/jj and/cc different/jj powers/nns in/in his/pp$ mind/nn to/to govern/vb his/pp$ motives/nns ./.
This/dt is/bez not/* wholly/rb a/at reasoning/vbg process/nn --/-- a/at computer/nn cannot/md* do/do it/ppo all/abn --/-- and/cc even/rb in/in an/at Angel/nn-tl it/pps takes/vbz time/nn ./.
(/( Or/cc ,/, perhaps/rb ,/, especially/rb in/in an/at Angel/nn-tl ,/, whose/wp$ assumptions/nns had/hvd mostly/rb been/ben fixed/vbn millions/nns of/in years/nns ago/rb ./.
)/) 

	Being/beg reasonably/rb sure/jj of/in the/at reason/nn for/in the/at long/jj pause/nn ,/, however/wrb ,/, did/dod not/* make/vb it/ppo seem/vb any/dti less/ql long/jj to/in Jack/np ./.
He/pps had/hvd already/rb become/vbn used/vbn to/in Hesperus'/np$ snapping/vbg back/rb answers/nns to/in questions/nns almost/rb before/cs Jack/np could/md get/vb them/ppo asked/vbn ./.


	There/ex was/bedz nothing/pn he/pps could/md do/do but/in wait/vb ./.
The/at dice/nns were/bed cast/vbn ./.


	At/in last/ap Gabriel/np spoke/vbd ./.


	``/`` We/ppss misjudged/vbd you/ppo ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd slowly/rb ./.
``/`` We/ppss had/hvd concluded/vbn that/cs no/at race/nn as/ql ephemeral/jj as/cs yours/pp$$ could/md have/hv had/hvn time/nn to/to develop/vb a/at sense/nn of/in justice/nn ./.
Of/in course/nn we/ppss have/hv before/in us/ppo the/at example/nn of/in the/at great/jj races/nns at/in the/at galactic/jj center/nn ;/. ;/.
individually/rb they/ppss are/ber nearly/rb as/ql mortal/jj as/cs you/ppss --/-- the/at difference/nn does/doz not/* seem/vb very/ql marked/vbn to/in us/ppo ,/, where/wrb it/pps exists/vbz ./.
But/cc they/ppss have/hv survived/vbn for/in long/jj periods/nns as/cs races/nns ,/, whereas/cs you/ppss are/ber young/jj ./.
We/ppss shall/md recommend/vb to/in them/ppo that/cs they/ppss shorten/vb your/pp$ trial/nn period/nn by/in half/abn ./.


	``/`` For/in now/rb ,/, it/pps is/bez clear/jj that/cs we/ppss were/bed in/in the/at wrong/jj ./.
You/ppss may/md reclaim/vb your/pp$ property/nn ,/, and/cc the/at penalty/nn on/in Hesperus/np is/bez lifted/vbn ./.
Hesperus/np ,/, you/ppss may/md speak/vb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss did/dod not/* perceive/vb this/dt essential/nn distinction/nn either/rb ,/, First-Born/np ''/'' ,/, Hesperus/np said/vbd at/in once/rb ,/, ``/`` I/ppss was/bedz only/rb practicing/vbg a/at concept/nn that/cs Jack/np taught/vbd me/ppo ,/, called/vbn a/at deal/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Nevertheless/rb ,/, you/ppss were/bed its/pp$ agent/nn ./.
Jack/np ,/, what/wdt is/bez the/at nature/nn of/in this/dt concept/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` It's/pps+bez a/at kind/nn of/in agreement/nn in/in which/wdt each/dt party/nn gives/vbz something/pn to/in the/at other/ap ''/'' ,/, Jack/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` We/ppss regard/vb it/ppo as/cs fair/jj only/rb when/wrb each/dt party/nn feels/vbz that/cs what/wdt he/pps has/hvz received/vbn is/bez as/cs valuable/jj ,/, or/cc more/ql valuable/jj ,/, than/cs what/wdt he/pps has/hvz given/vbn ''/'' ./.
His/pp$ heart/nn ,/, he/pps discovered/vbd ,/, was/bedz pounding/vbg ./.
``/`` For/in instance/nn ,/, Hesperus/np agreed/vbd to/to help/vb me/ppo find/vb my/pp$ property/nn ,/, and/cc I/ppss agreed/vbd to/to take/vb him/ppo to/in Earth/nn-tl ./.
Between/in individuals/nns ,/, this/dt process/nn is/bez called/vbn bargaining/nn ./.
When/wrb it/pps is/bez done/vbn between/in races/nns or/cc nations/nns ,/, it/pps is/bez called/vbn making/vbg a/at treaty/nn ./.
And/cc the/at major/jj part/nn of/in my/pp$ mission/nn to/in your/pp$ nest/nn is/bez to/to make/vb a/at treaty/nn between/in your/pp$ race/nn and/cc mine/pp$$ ./.
Recovering/vbg the/at property/nn was/bedz much/ql less/ql important/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Strange/jj ''/'' ,/, Gabriel/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` And/cc apparently/rb impossible/jj ./.
Though/cs it/pps might/md be/be that/cs we/ppss would/md have/hv much/ap to/to give/vb you/ppo ,/, you/ppss have/hv nothing/pn to/to give/vb us/ppo ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Hesperus/np and/cc Lucifer/np ''/'' ,/, Jack/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` show/vb that/cs we/ppss do/do ''/'' ./.


	Another/dt pause/nn ;/. ;/.
but/cc this/dt one/cd was/bedz not/* nearly/rb as/ql long/jj ./.


	``/`` Then/rb it/pps is/bez a/at matter/nn of/in pleasure/nn ;/. ;/.
of/in curiosity/nn ;/. ;/.
of/in a/at more/ql alive/jj time/nn ./.
Yes/rb ,/, those/dts could/md be/be commodities/nns under/in this/dt concept/nn ./.
But/cc you/ppss should/md understand/vb ,/, Jack/np ,/, that/cs Hesperus/np and/cc Lucifer/np are/ber not/* long/jj out/in of/in the/at nursery/nn ./.
Visiting/vbg the/at Earth/nn-tl would/md not/* be/be an/at offering/nn of/in worth/nn to/in those/dts of/in us/ppo who/wps are/ber older/jjr ''/'' ./.


	This/dt explained/vbd a/at great/jj deal/nn ./.
``/`` All/ql the/at more/ap reason/nn ,/, then/rb ''/'' ,/, Jack/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` why/wrb we/ppss must/md have/hv a/at treaty/nn ./.
We/ppss will/md gladly/rb entertain/vb your/pp$ young/jj and/cc give/vb them/ppo proper/jj living/vbg quarters/nns ,/, in/in return/nn for/in their/pp$ help/nn in/in running/vbg our/pp$ fusion/nn reactors/nns ./.
But/cc we/ppss must/md know/vb if/cs this/dt is/bez in/in accordance/nn with/in your/pp$ customs/nns ,/, and/cc must/md have/hv your/pp$ agreement/nn they/ppss will/md not/* misuse/vb the/at power/nn we/ppss put/vbd in/in their/pp$ hands/nns ,/, to/in our/pp$ hurt/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` But/cc this/dt simply/rb requires/vbz that/cs they/ppss behave/vb in/in accordance/nn with/in the/at dictates/nns of/in their/pp$ own/jj natures/nns ,/, and/cc respect/vb yours/pp$$ in/in turn/nn ./.
To/in this/dt we/ppss of/in course/nn agree/vb ''/'' ./.


	Jack/np felt/vbd a/at wave/nn of/in complete/jj elation/nn ,/, but/cc in/in a/at second/nn it/pps had/hvd vanished/vbn without/in a/at trace/nn ./.
What/wdt Gabriel/np was/bedz asking/vbg was/bedz that/cs mankind/nn forego/vb all/abn its/pp$ parochial/jj moral/jj judgments/nns ,/, and/cc contract/vb to/to let/vb the/at Angels/nns-tl serve/vb on/in Earth/nn-tl as/cs it/pps is/bez in/in Heaven/nn-tl regardless/rb of/in the/at applicable/jj Earth/nn-tl laws/nns ./.
The/at Angels/nns-tl in/in turn/nn would/md exercise/vb similar/jj restraints/nns in/in respect/nn for/in the/at natural/jj preferences/nns and/cc natures/nns of/in the/at Earthmen/nps --/-- but/cc they/ppss had/hvd no/at faintest/jjt notion/nn of/in man's/nn$ perverse/jj habit/nn of/in passing/vbg and/cc enforcing/vbg laws/nns which/wdt were/bed contrary/jj to/in his/pp$ own/jj preferences/nns and/cc violations/nns of/in his/pp$ nature/nn ./.


	The/at simple/jj treaty/nn principle/nn that/cs Gabriel/np was/bedz asking/vbg him/ppo to/to ratify/vb ,/, in/in short/jj ,/, was/bedz nothing/pn less/ap than/in total/jj trust/nn ./.


	Nothing/pn less/ap would/md serve/vb ./.
And/cc it/pps might/md be/be ,/, considering/in the/at uncomfortable/jj custom/nn the/at Angels/nns-tl had/hvd of/in thinking/vbg of/in everything/pn in/in terms/nns of/in absolutes/nns ,/, that/cs the/at proposal/nn of/in anything/pn less/ap might/md well/rb amount/vb instead/rb to/in something/pn like/cs a/at declaration/nn of/in war/nn ./.


	Furthermore/rb ,/, even/rb the/at highly/ql trained/vbn law/nn clerk/nn who/wps was/bedz a/at part/nn of/in Jack's/np$ total/jj make-up/nn could/md not/* understand/vb how/wrb the/at principle/nn could/md ever/rb be/be codified/vbn ./.
Almost/rb the/at whole/jj experience/nn of/in mankind/nn pointed/vbd toward/in suspicion/nn ,/, not/* trust/nn ,/, as/cs the/at safest/jjt and/cc sanest/jjt attitude/nn toward/in all/abn outsiders/nns ./.


	Yet/rb there/ex was/bedz some/dti precedent/nn for/in it/ppo ./.
The/at history/nn of/in disarmament/nn agreements/nns ,/, for/in instance/nn ,/, had/hvd been/ben unreassuringly/rb dismal/jj ;/. ;/.
but/cc the/at United/vbn-tl States/nns-tl and/cc the/at Union/nn-tl of/in-tl Soviet/np-tl Socialist/jj-tl Republics/nns-tl nevertheless/rb did/dod eventually/rb agree/vb on/in an/at atomic/jj bomb/nn test/nn ban/nn ,/, and/cc a/at sort/nn of/in provisional/jj acceptance/nn of/in each/dt other's/ap$ good/jj intentions/nns on/in this/dt limited/vbn question/nn ./.
Out/in of/in that/dt agreement/nn ,/, though/cs not/* by/in any/dti easy/jj road/nn ,/, eventually/rb emerged/vbd the/at present/jj world/nn hegemony/nn of/in the/at United/vbn-tl Nations/nns-tl ;/. ;/.
suspicion/nn between/in member/nn states/nns still/rb existed/vbd ,/, but/cc it/pps was/bedz of/in about/rb the/at same/ap low/jj order/nn of/in virulence/nn as/cs the/at twentieth-century/nn rivalry/nn between/in Arizona/np and/cc California/np over/in water/nn supplies/nns ./.


	Besides/rb ,/, agreements/nns ``/`` in/in principle/nn ''/'' ,/, with/in the/at petty/jj details/nns to/to be/be thrashed/vbn out/rp later/rbr ,/, were/bed commonplace/jj in/in diplomatic/jj history/nn ./.
The/at trouble/nn with/in them/ppo was/bedz that/cs they/ppss almost/rb never/rb worked/vbd ,/, and/cc in/in fact/nn an/at agreement/nn ``/`` in/in principle/nn ''/'' historically/rb turned/vbd out/rp to/to be/be a/at sure/jj sign/nn that/cs neither/dtx party/nn really/rb wanted/vbd the/at quarrel/nn settled/vbn ./.


	Suppose/vb that/cs this/dt one/cd were/bed to/to work/vb ?/. ?/.
There/ex was/bedz no/at question/nn in/in Jack's/np$ mind/nn of/in the/at good/jj faith/nn on/in one/cd side/nn ,/, at/in least/ap ./.
If/cs mankind/nn could/md be/be convinced/vbn of/in that/dt 

	It/pps was/bedz worth/jj trying/vbg ./.
In/in fact/nn ,/, it/pps had/hvd to/to be/be tried/vbn ./.
It/pps would/md be/be at/in once/cs the/at most/ql tentative/jj and/cc most/ql final/jj treaty/nn that/cs Earth/nn-tl had/hvd ever/rb signed/vbn ./.
Secretary/nn Hart/np had/hvd taught/vbn Jack/np ,/, at/in least/ql partially/rb ,/, to/to be/be content/jj with/in small/jj beginnings/nns in/in all/abn diplomatic/jj matters/nns ;/. ;/.
but/cc there/ex was/bedz no/at small/jj way/nn to/to handle/vb this/dt one/cd ./.


	He/pps turned/vbd back/rb to/in the/at screens/nns ,/, the/at crucial/jj ,/, conclusive/jj phrase/nn on/in his/pp$ lips/nns ./.
But/cc he/pps was/bedz too/ql late/jj ./.
He/pps had/hvd lost/vbn his/pp$ audience/nn ./.




For/in a/at moment/nn he/pps could/md make/vb no/at sense/nn at/in all/abn of/in what/wdt he/pps saw/vbd ./.
It/pps seemed/vbd to/to be/be only/rb a/at riot/nn of/in color/nn ,/, light/nn and/cc meaningless/jj activity/nn ./.
Gradually/rb ,/, he/pps realized/vbd that/cs the/at pentagon/nn of/in Angel/nn-tl elders/nns had/hvd vanished/vbn ,/, and/cc that/cs the/at ritual/jj learning/vbg dance/nn of/in the/at nursery/nn had/hvd been/ben broken/vbn up/rp ./.
The/at Angels/nns-tl in/in the/at nursery/nn were/bed zigzagging/vbg wildly/rb in/in all/abn directions/nns ,/, seemingly/rb at/in random/nn ./.


	``/`` Hesperus/np !/. !/.
What's/wdt+bez going/vbg on/rp here/rb ?/. ?/.
What's/wdt+bez happened/vbn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Your/pp$ brothers/nns have/hv been/ben found/vbn ./.
They/ppss are/ber on/in their/pp$ way/nn here/rb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Where/wrb ?/. ?/.
I/ppss don't/do* see/vb them/ppo ./.
The/at instruments/nns don't/do* show/vb them/ppo ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss can't/md* see/vb them/ppo yet/rb ,/, Jack/np ./.
They'll/ppss+md be/be in/in range/nn in/in a/at short/jj while/nn ''/'' ./.


	Jack/np scanned/vbd the/at skies/nns ,/, the/at boards/nns ,/, and/cc the/at skies/nns again/rb ./.
Nothing/pn ./.
No/rb --/-- there/ex was/bedz a/at tiny/jj pip/nn on/in the/at radar/nn ;/. ;/.
and/cc it/pps was/bedz getting/vbg bigger/jjr rapidly/rb ./.
If/cs that/dt was/bedz the/at skiff/nn ,/, it/pps was/bedz making/vbg unprecedented/jj speed/nn ./.


	Then/rb the/at skiff/nn hove/vbd into/in sight/nn ,/, just/rb a/at dot/nn of/in light/nn at/in first/rb against/in the/at roiling/vbg blackness/nn and/cc crimson/jj streaks/nns of/in the/at Coal/nn-tl Sack/nn-tl ./.
Through/in the/at telescope/nn ,/, Jack/np could/md see/vb that/cs both/abx spacesuits/nns were/bed still/rb attached/vbn to/in it/ppo ./.
The/at sail/nn was/bedz still/rb unfurled/vbn ,/, though/cs there/ex were/bed a/at good/jj many/ap holes/nns in/in it/ppo ,/, as/cs Langer/np had/hvd predicted/vbn would/md be/be the/at case/nn by/in now/rb ./.


	It/pps was/bedz a/at startling/jj ,/, almost/rb numenous/jj sight/nn ;/. ;/.
but/cc even/ql more/ql awesome/jj was/bedz the/at fact/nn that/cs it/pps was/bedz trailing/vbg an/at enormous/jj comet's-tail/nn of/in Angels/nns-tl ./.


	The/at skiff/nn was/bedz not/* heading/vbg for/in the/at nursery/nn ,/, however/wrb ./.
It/pps seemed/vbd unlikely/jj that/cs her/pp$ crew/nn ,/, if/cs either/dtx of/in them/ppo were/bed alive/jj ,/, could/md even/rb see/vb the/at Ariadne/np ,/, for/cs they/ppss were/bed passing/vbg her/ppo at/in a/at distance/nn of/in nearly/rb a/at light-year/nn ./.
And/cc there/ex would/md be/be no/at chance/nn of/in signaling/vbg them/ppo --/-- without/in the/at Nernst/np generator/nn Jack/np could/md not/* send/vb a/at call/nn powerful/jj enough/qlp to/to get/vb through/in all/abn the/at static/nn ,/, and/cc by/in the/at time/nn he/pps could/md rebuild/vb his/pp$ fusion/nn power/nn the/at skiff/nn would/md be/be gone/vbn ./.


	Fuming/vbg ,/, helpless/jj ,/, he/pps watched/vbd them/ppo pass/vb him/ppo ./.
The/at sail/nn ,/, ragged/jj though/cs it/pps was/bedz ,/, still/rb had/hvd enough/ap surface/nn to/to catch/vb some/dti of/in the/at ocean/nn of/in power/nn being/beg poured/vbn out/rp from/in the/at nursery/nn stars/nns ./.
He/pps would/md never/rb have/hv believed/vbn ,/, without/in seeing/vbg it/ppo ,/, that/cs the/at bizarre/jj little/ap vessel/nn could/md go/vb so/ql fast/jj ./.


	But/cc where/wrb was/bedz it/pps going/vbg ?/. ?/.
And/cc why/wrb was/bedz it/pps causing/vbg so/ql much/ap agitation/nn among/in the/at Angels/nns-tl ,/, and/cc being/beg followed/vbn by/in so/ql many/ap of/in them/ppo ?/. ?/.


	There/ex was/bedz only/rb one/cd possible/jj answer/nn ,/, but/cc Jack's/np$ horrified/vbn mind/nn refused/vbd to/to believe/vb it/ppo until/cs he/pps had/hvd fed/vbn the/at radar/nn plots/nns of/in the/at skiff's/nn$ course/nn into/in the/at computer/nn ./.
The/at curve/nn on/in the/at card/nn the/at computer/nn spat/vbd back/rb at/in him/ppo couldn't/md* be/be argued/vbn with/in ,/, however/wrb ./.


	The/at skiff/nn was/bedz headed/vbn for/in the/at very/ap center/nn of/in the/at nebula/nn --/-- toward/in that/dt place/nn which/wdt ,/, Jack/np knew/vbd now/rb ,/, could/md hold/vb nothing/pn less/ql important/jj than/cs the/at very/ap core/nn of/in the/at Angel's/nn$-tl life/nn and/cc religion/nn ./.


	It/pps was/bedz clear/jj that/cs Langer/np had/hvd at/in last/ap found/vbn a/at way/nn to/to attract/vb the/at Angel's/nn$-tl attention/nn ./.


	It/pps was/bedz equally/ql clear/jj that/cs as/cs of/in this/dt moment/nn ,/, the/at treaty/nn was/bedz off/rp ./.



Stern/nn-hl chase/nn-hl 10/cd-hl 
Langer/np would/md have/hv to/to be/be headed/vbn off/rp ,/, whether/cs he/pps knew/vbd where/wrb he/pps was/bedz going/vbg or/cc not/* ./.
Almost/ql surely/rb he/pps did/dod ;/. ;/.
after/in all/abn ,/, he/pps had/hvd had/hvn the/at same/ap set/nn of/in facts/nns as/cs Jack/np had/hvd had/hvn to/to work/vb from/in ,/, and/cc he/pps was/bedz an/at almost/rb frighteningly/rb observant/jj man/nn ./.
But/cc not/* having/hvg talked/vbd to/in the/at Angels/nns-tl ,/, he/pps had/hvd made/vbn a/at wrong/jj turn/nn in/in his/pp$ reasoning/nn somewhere/rb along/in the/at line/nn ./.
Had/hvd he/pps decided/vbd ,/, perhaps/rb ,/, that/cs the/at center/nn of/in the/at cloud/nn was/bedz a/at center/nn of/in government/nn ,/, instead/rb of/in a/at center/nn of/in life/nn and/cc faith/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	But/cc it/pps didn't/dod* matter/vb now/rb whether/cs he/pps meant/vbd to/to invade/vb the/at Holy/nn-tl of/in-tl Holies/nns-tl ,/, or/cc was/bedz simply/rb headed/vbn in/in that/dt direction/nn by/in accident/nn ./.
If/cs it/pps was/bedz intentional/jj ,/, it/pps was/bedz now/rb also/rb unnecessary/jj ;/. ;/.
and/cc whether/cs intentional/jj or/cc not/* ,/, the/at outcome/nn would/md be/be disastrous/jj ./.


	Jack/np crawled/vbd under/in the/at boards/nns and/cc restored/vbd the/at six/cd feet/nns of/in lead/nn line/nn he/pps had/hvd excised/vbn from/in the/at Nernst/np generator/nn switch/nn ./.
When/wrb he/pps was/bedz back/rb on/in his/pp$ feet/nns again/rb and/cc about/rb to/to reinstall/vb the/at fuses/nns ,/, however/wrb ,/, he/pps hesitated/vbd ./.


	He/pps had/hvd to/to have/hv fusion/nn power/nn to/to catch/vb up/rp with/in the/at skiff/nn ,/, and/cc he/pps had/hvd to/to have/hv it/ppo fast/rb ./.
But/cc fusion/nn power/nn in/in the/at Coal/nn-tl Sack/nn-tl was/bedz what/wdt had/hvd triggered/vbn all/abn the/at trouble/nn in/in the/at first/od place/nn --/-- and/cc he/pps already/rb had/hvd an/at Angel/nn-tl aboard/rb ./.


	``/`` Hesperus/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Receiving/vbg ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I'm/ppss+bem going/vbg to/to turn/vb my/pp$ generator/nn back/rb on/rp ,/, as/cs I/ppss promised/vbd to/to do/do ./.
But/cc I/ppss can't/md* take/vb you/ppo to/in Earth/nn-tl yet/rb ./.
First/rb I've/ppss+hv got/vbn to/to intercept/vb my/pp$ brothers/nns before/cs they/ppss get/vb any/dti deeper/jjr into/in trouble/nn ./.
Will/md you/ppss obstruct/vb this/dt ,/, or/cc will/md you/ppss help/vb ?/. ?/.
I/ppss know/vb it's/pps+bez not/* part/nn of/in the/at bargain/nn ,/, and/cc your/pp$ elders/nns might/md not/* like/vb it/ppo ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Nobody/pn else/rb can/md live/vb in/in your/pp$ hearth/nn while/cs I/ppss am/bem in/in it/ppo ''/'' ,/, Hesperus/np said/vbd promptly/rb ./.
``/`` As/cs for/in my/pp$ elders/nns ,/, they/ppss have/hv already/rb admitted/vbn that/cs they/ppss were/bed wrong/jj ./.
If/cs because/cs of/in this/dt incident/nn they/ppss become/vb angry/jj with/in Earth/nn-tl ,/, I/ppss will/md not/* be/be permitted/vbn to/to go/vb there/rb at/in all/abn ./.
Therefore/rb of/in course/nn I/ppss will/md help/vb ''/'' ./.


	With/in a/at short-lived/jj sigh/nn of/in relief/nn ,/, Jack/np plugged/vbd the/at fuses/nns back/rb in/rp and/cc threw/vbd the/at switch/nn ./.
Without/in an/at instant's/nn$ transition/nn ,/, the/at green/jj light/nn that/wps meant/vbd full/jj fusion/nn power/nn winked/vbd on/in the/at board/nn ./.
Always/rb before/rb ,/, it/pps had/hvd taken/vbn five/cd minutes/nns to/to --/-- 

	Of/in course/nn ./.
Hesperus/np was/bedz in/in there/rb ./.
From/in here/rb on/rp out/rp ,/, the/at Ariadne/np was/bedz going/vbg to/to be/be hotter/jjr than/cs any/dti space/nn cruiser/nn man/nn had/hvd ever/rb dreamed/vbn of/in ./.


	But/cc since/cs he/pps had/hvd failed/vbn to/to anticipate/vb it/ppo ,/, he/pps lost/vbd the/at five/cd minutes/nns anyhow/rb ,/, in/in plotting/vbg an/at intercept/nn orbit/nn ./.


	``/`` Hesperus/np ,/, don't/do* use/vb this/dt t-tau/nn vector/nn trick/nn of/in yours/pp$$ ,/, please/vb ./.



	Ryan/np hefted/vbd his/pp$ bulk/nn up/rp and/cc supported/vbd it/ppo on/in one/cd elbow/nn ./.
He/pps rubbed/vbd his/pp$ eyes/nns sleepily/rb with/in one/cd huge/jj paw/nn ./.
``/`` Ekstrohm/np ,/, Nogol/np ,/, you/ppss guys/nns okay/jj ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Nothing/pn wrong/jj with/in me/ppo that/dt couldn't/md* be/be cured/vbn ''/'' ,/, Nogol/np said/vbd ./.
He/pps didn't/dod* say/vb what/wdt would/md cure/vb him/ppo ;/. ;/.
he/pps had/hvd been/ben explaining/vbg all/abn during/in the/at trip/nn what/wdt he/pps needed/vbd to/to make/vb him/ppo feel/vb like/cs himself/ppl ./.
His/pp$ small/jj black/jj eyes/nns darted/vbd inside/in the/at olive/jj oval/nn of/in his/pp$ face/nn ./.


	``/`` Ekstrohm/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Ryan/np insisted/vbd ./.


	``/`` Okay/uh ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Well/uh ,/, let's/vb+ppo take/vb a/at ground-level/nn look/nn at/in the/at country/nn around/in here/rb ''/'' ./.


	The/at facsiport/nn rolled/vbd open/rb on/in the/at landscape/nn ./.
A/at range/nn of/in bluffs/nns hugged/vbd the/at horizon/nn ,/, the/at color/nn of/in decaying/vbg moss/nn ./.
Above/in them/ppo ,/, the/at sky/nn was/bedz the/at black/nn of/in space/nn ,/, or/cc the/at almost/ql equal/jj black/nn of/in the/at winter/nn sky/nn above/in Minneapolis/np ,/, seen/vbn against/in neon-lit/jj snow/nn ./.
That/dt cold/jj ,/, empty/jj sky/nn was/bedz full/jj of/in fire/nn and/cc light/nn ./.
It/pps seemed/vbd almost/rb a/at magnification/nn of/in the/at Galaxy/nn-tl itself/ppl ,/, of/in the/at Milky/jj-tl Way/nn-tl ,/, blown/vbn up/rp by/in some/dti master/nn photographer/nn ./.


	This/dt fiery/jj swath/nn was/bedz actually/rb only/rb a/at belt/nn of/in minor/jj planets/nns ,/, almost/rb like/cs the/at asteroid/nn belt/nn in/in the/at original/jj Solar/jj-tl System/nn-tl ./.
These/dts planets/nns were/bed much/ql bigger/jjr ,/, nearly/rb all/abn capable/jj of/in holding/vbg an/at atmosphere/nn ./.
But/cc to/in the/at infuriation/nn of/in scientists/nns ,/, for/in no/at known/vbn reason/nn not/* all/abn of/in them/ppo did/dod ./.
This/dt would/md be/be the/at fifth/od mapping/vbg expedition/nn to/in the/at planetoids/nns of/in Yancy-6/np in/in three/cd generations/nns ./.
They/ppss lay/vbd months/nns away/rb from/in the/at nearest/jjt Earth/nn-tl star/nn by/in jump/nn drive/nn ,/, and/cc no/at one/pn knew/vbd what/wdt they/ppss were/bed good/jj for/in ,/, although/cs it/pps was/bedz felt/vbn that/cs they/ppss would/md probably/rb be/be good/jj for/in something/pn if/cs it/pps could/md only/rb be/be discovered/vbn --/-- much/rb like/cs the/at continent/nn of/in Antarctica/np in/in ancient/jj history/nn ./.


	``/`` How/wrb can/md a/at planet/nn with/in so/ql many/ap neighbors/nns be/be so/ql lonely/jj ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Ryan/np asked/vbd ./.
He/pps was/bedz the/at captain/nn ,/, so/cs he/pps could/md ask/vb questions/nns like/cs that/dt ./.


	``/`` Some/dti can/md be/be lonely/jj in/in a/at crowd/nn ''/'' ,/, Nogol/np said/vbd elaborately/rb ./.




``/`` What/wdt will/md we/ppss need/vb outside/rb ,/, Ryan/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Ekstrohm/np asked/vbd ./.


	``/`` No/at helmets/nns ''/'' ,/, the/at captain/nn answered/vbd ./.
``/`` We/ppss can/md breathe/vb out/rp there/rb ,/, all/ql right/rb ./.
It/pps just/rb won't/md* be/be easy/jj ./.
This/dt old/jj world/nn lost/vbd all/abn of/in its/pp$ helium/nn and/cc trace/nn gases/nns long/jj ago/rb ./.
Nitrogen/nn and/cc oxygen/nn are/ber about/in it/ppo ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Ryan/np ,/, look/vb over/in there/rb ''/'' ,/, Nogol/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` Animals/nns ./.
Ringing/vbg the/at ship/nn ./.
Think/vb they're/ppss+ber intelligent/jj ,/, maybe/rb hostile/jj ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` I/ppss think/vb they're/ppss+ber dead/jj ''/'' ,/, Ekstrohm/np interjected/vbd quietly/rb ./.
``/`` I/ppss get/vb no/at readings/nns from/in them/ppo at/in all/abn ./.
Sonic/jj ,/, electronic/jj ,/, galvanic/jj --/-- all/abn blank/jj ./.
According/in to/in these/dts needles/nns ,/, they're/ppss+ber stone/nn dead/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Ekstrohm/np ,/, you/ppss and/cc I/ppss will/md have/hv a/at look/nn ''/'' ,/, Ryan/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` You/ppss hold/vb down/rp the/at fort/nn ,/, Nogol/np ./.
Take/vb it/ppo easy/rb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Easy/rb ''/'' ,/, Nogol/np confirmed/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss heard/vbd a/at story/nn once/rb about/in a/at rookie/nn who/wps got/vbd excited/vbn when/wrb the/at captain/nn stepped/vbd outside/rb and/cc he/pps couldn't/md* get/vb an/at encephalographic/jj reading/nn on/in him/ppo ./.
Me/ppo ,/, I/ppss know/vb the/at mind/nn of/in an/at officer/nn works/vbz in/in a/at strange/jj and/cc unfathomable/jj manner/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I'm/ppss+bem not/* worried/vbn about/in you/ppo mis-reading/vbg the/at dials/nns ,/, Nogol/np ,/, just/rb about/in a/at lug/nn like/cs you/ppss reading/vbg them/ppo at/in all/abn ./.
Remember/vb ,/, when/wrb the/at little/ap hand/nn is/bez straight/rb up/rp that's/dt+bez negative/jj ./.
Positive/jj results/nns start/vb when/wrb it/pps goes/vbz towards/in the/at hand/nn you/ppss use/vb to/to make/vb your/pp$ mark/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` But/cc I'm/ppss+bem ambidextrous/jj ''/'' ./.


	Ryan/np told/vbd him/ppo what/wdt he/pps could/md do/do then/rb ./.


	Ekstrohm/np smiled/vbd ,/, and/cc followed/vbd the/at captain/nn through/in the/at airlock/nn with/in only/rb a/at glance/nn at/in the/at lapel/nn gauge/nn on/in his/pp$ coverall/nn ./.
The/at strong/jj negative/jj field/nn his/pp$ suit/nn set/vb up/rp would/md help/vb to/to repel/vb bacteria/nns and/cc insects/nns ./.


	Actually/rb ,/, the/at types/nns of/in infection/nn that/wps could/md attack/vb a/at warm-blooded/jj mammal/nn were/bed not/* infinite/jj ,/, and/cc over/in the/at course/nn of/in the/at last/ap few/ap hundred/cd years/nns adequate/jj defenses/nns had/hvd been/ben found/vbn for/in all/abn basic/jj categories/nns ./.
He/pps wasn't/bedz* likely/jj to/to come/vb down/rp with/in hot/jj chills/nns and/cc puzzling/jj striped/vbn fever/nn ./.


	They/ppss ignored/vbd the/at ladder/nn down/rp to/in the/at planet/nn surface/nn and/cc ,/, with/in only/rb a/at glance/nn at/in the/at seismological/jj gauge/nn to/to judge/vb surface/nn resistance/nn ,/, dropped/vbd to/in the/at ground/nn ./.


	It/pps was/bedz day/nn ,/, but/cc in/in the/at thin/jj atmosphere/nn contrasts/nns were/bed sharp/jj between/in light/nn and/cc shadow/nn ./.
They/ppss walked/vbd from/in midnight/nn to/in noon/nn ,/, noon/nn to/in midnight/nn ,/, and/cc came/vbd to/in the/at beast/nn sprawled/vbn on/in its/pp$ side/nn ./.


	Ekstrohm/np nudged/vbd it/ppo with/in a/at boot/nn ./.
``/`` Hey/uh ,/, this/dt is/bez pretty/ql close/rb to/in a/at wart-hog/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Uh-huh/uh ''/'' ,/, Ryan/np admitted/vbd ./.
``/`` One/cd of/in the/at best/jjt matches/nns I've/ppss+hv ever/rb found/vbn ./.
Well/uh ,/, it/pps has/hvz to/to happen/vb ./.
Statistical/jj average/nn and/cc all/abn ./.
Still/rb ,/, it/pps sometimes/rb gives/vbz you/ppo a/at creepy/jj feeling/nn to/to find/vb a/at rabbit/nn or/cc a/at snapping/vbg turtle/nn on/in some/dti strange/jj world/nn ./.
It/pps makes/vbz you/ppo wonder/vb if/cs this/dt exploration/nn business/nn isn't/bez* all/abn some/dti big/jj joke/nn ,/, and/cc somebody/pn has/hvz been/ben everywhere/rb before/cs you/ppss even/rb started/vbd ''/'' ./.




The/at surveyor/nn looked/vbd sidewise/rb at/in the/at captain/nn ./.
The/at big/jj man/nn seldom/rb gave/vbd out/rp with/in such/jj thoughts/nns ./.
Ekstrohm/np cleared/vbd his/pp$ throat/nn ./.
``/`` What/wdt shall/md we/ppss do/do with/in this/dt one/pn ?/. ?/.
Dissect/vb it/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Ryan/np nudged/vbd it/ppo with/in his/pp$ toe/nn ,/, following/vbg Ekstrohm's/np$ example/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss don't/do* know/vb ,/, Stormy/np ./.
It/pps sure/rb as/cs hell/nn doesn't/doz* look/vb like/cs any/dti dominant/jj intelligent/jj species/nn to/in me/ppo ./.
No/at hands/nns ,/, for/in one/cd thing/nn ./.
Of/in course/nn ,/, that's/dt+bez not/* definite/jj proof/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` No/at ,/, it/pps isn't/bez* ''/'' ,/, Ekstrohm/np said/vbd ./.


	``/`` I/ppss think/vb we'd/ppss+hvd better/rbr let/vb it/ppo lay/vb until/cs we/ppss get/vb a/at clearer/jjr picture/nn of/in the/at ecological/jj setup/nn around/in here/rb ./.
In/in the/at meantime/nn ,/, we/ppss might/md be/be thinking/vbg on/in the/at problem/nn all/abn these/dts dead/jj beasts/nns represent/vb ./.
What/wdt killed/vbd them/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` It/pps looks/vbz like/cs we/ppss did/dod ,/, when/wrb we/ppss made/vbd blastdown/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` But/cc what/wdt about/in our/pp$ landing/nn was/bedz lethal/jj to/in the/at creatures/nns ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Radiation/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Ekstrohm/np suggested/vbd ./.
``/`` The/at planet/nn is/bez very/ql low/jj in/in radiation/nn from/in mineral/nn deposits/nns ,/, and/cc the/at atmosphere/nn seems/vbz to/to shield/vb out/rp most/ap of/in the/at solar/jj output/nn ./.
Any/dti little/ap dose/nn of/in radiation/nn might/md knock/vb off/rp these/dts critters/nns ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss don't/do* know/vb about/in that/dt ./.
Maybe/rb it/pps would/md work/vb the/at other/ap way/nn ./.
Maybe/rb because/cs they/ppss have/hv had/hvn virtually/rb no/at radioactive/jj exposure/nn and/cc don't/do* have/hv any/dti R's/np-tl stored/vbn up/rp ,/, they/ppss could/md take/vb a/at lot/nn without/in harm/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Then/rb maybe/rb it/pps was/bedz the/at shockwave/nn we/ppss set/vbd up/rp ./.
Or/cc maybe/rb it's/pps+bez sheer/jj xenophobia/nn ./.
They/ppss curl/vb up/rp and/cc die/vb at/in the/at sight/nn of/in something/pn strange/jj and/cc alien/jj --/-- like/cs a/at spaceship/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Maybe/rb ''/'' ,/, the/at captain/nn admitted/vbd ./.
``/`` At/in this/dt stage/nn of/in the/at game/nn anything/pn could/md be/be possible/jj ./.
But/cc there's/ex+bez one/cd possibility/nn I/ppss particularly/rb don't/do* like/vb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` And/cc that/dt is/bez ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Suppose/vb it/pps was/bedz not/* us/ppo that/wps killed/vbd these/dts aliens/nns ./.
Suppose/vb it/pps is/bez something/pn right/ql on/in the/at planet/nn ,/, native/jj to/in it/ppo ./.
I/ppss just/rb hope/vb it/pps doesn't/doz* work/vb on/in Earthmen/nps too/rb ./.
These/dts critters/nns went/vbd real/ql sudden/jj ''/'' ./.




Ekstrohm/np lay/vbd in/in his/pp$ bunk/nn and/cc thought/vbd ,/, the/at camp/nn is/bez quiet/jj ./.


	The/at Earthmen/nps made/vbd camp/nn outside/in the/at spaceship/nn ./.
There/ex was/bedz no/at reason/nn to/to leave/vb the/at comfortable/jj quarters/nns inside/in the/at ship/nn ,/, except/in that/cs ,/, faced/vbn with/in a/at possibility/nn of/in sleeping/vbg on/in solid/jj ground/nn ,/, they/ppss simply/rb had/hvd to/to get/vb out/rp ./.


	The/at camp/nn was/bedz a/at cluster/nn of/in aluminum/nn bubbles/nns ,/, ringed/vbn with/in a/at spy/nn web/nn to/to alert/vb the/at Earthmen/nps to/in the/at approach/nn of/in any/dti being/nn ./.


	Each/dt man/nn had/hvd a/at bubble/nn to/in himself/ppl ,/, privacy/nn after/in the/at long/jj period/nn of/in enforced/vbn intimacy/nn on/in board/nn the/at ship/nn ./.


	Ekstrohm/np lay/vbd in/in his/pp$ bunk/nn and/cc listened/vbd to/in the/at sounds/nns of/in the/at night/nn on/in Yancey-6/np 138/np ./.
There/ex was/bedz a/at keening/nn of/in wind/nn ,/, and/cc a/at cracking/vbg of/in the/at frozen/vbn ground/nn ./.
Insects/nns there/ex were/bed on/in the/at world/nn ,/, but/cc they/ppss were/bed frozen/vbn solid/jj during/in the/at night/nn ,/, only/rb to/to revive/vb and/cc thaw/vb in/in the/at morning/nn sun/nn ./.


	The/at bunk/nn he/pps lay/vbd on/in was/bedz much/ql more/ql uncomfortable/jj than/cs the/at acceleration/nn couches/nns on/in board/nn ./.
Yet/rb he/pps knew/vbd the/at others/nns were/bed sleeping/vbg more/ql soundly/rb ,/, now/rb that/cs they/ppss had/hvd renewed/vbn their/pp$ contact/nn with/in the/at matter/nn that/wps had/hvd birthed/vbn them/ppo to/to send/vb them/ppo riding/vbg high/jj vacuum/nn ./.


	Ekstrohm/np was/bedz not/* asleep/rb ./.


	Now/rb there/ex could/md be/be an/at end/nn to/in pretending/vbg ./.


	He/pps threw/vbd off/rp the/at light/jj blanket/nn and/cc swung/vbd his/pp$ feet/nns off/in the/at bunk/nn ,/, to/in the/at floor/nn ./.
Ekstrohm/np stood/vbd up/rp ./.


	There/ex was/bedz no/at longer/jjr any/dti need/nn to/to hide/vb ./.
But/cc what/wdt was/bedz there/ex to/to do/do ?/. ?/.
What/wdt had/hvd changed/vbn for/in him/ppo ?/. ?/.


	He/pps no/at longer/jjr had/hvd to/to lie/vb in/in his/pp$ bunk/nn all/abn night/nn ,/, his/pp$ eyes/nns closed/vbn ,/, pretending/vbg to/to sleep/vb ./.
In/in privacy/nn he/pps could/md walk/vb around/rb ,/, leave/vb the/at light/nn on/rp ,/, read/vb ./.


	It/pps was/bedz small/jj comfort/nn for/in insomnia/nn ./.


	Ekstrohm/np never/rb slept/vbd ./.
Some/dti doctors/nns had/hvd informed/vbn him/ppo he/pps was/bedz mistaken/vbn about/in this/dt ./.
Actually/rb ,/, they/ppss said/vbd ,/, he/pps did/dod sleep/vb ,/, but/cc so/ql shortly/rb and/cc fitfully/rb that/cs he/pps forgot/vbd ./.
Others/nns admitted/vbd he/pps was/bedz absolutely/ql correct/jj --/-- he/pps never/rb slept/vbd ./.
His/pp$ body/nn processes/nns only/rb slowed/vbd down/rp enough/qlp for/in him/ppo to/to dispell/vb fatigue/nn poisons/nns ./.
Occasionally/rb he/pps fell/vbd into/in a/at waking/vbg ,/, gritty-eyed/jj stupor/nn ;/. ;/.
but/cc he/pps never/rb slept/vbd ./.


	Never/rb at/in all/abn ./.


	Naturally/rb ,/, he/pps couldn't/md* let/vb his/pp$ shipmates/nns know/vb this/dt ./.
Insomnia/nn would/md ground/vb him/ppo from/in the/at Exploration/nn-tl Service/nn-tl ,/, on/in physiological/jj if/cs not/* psychological/jj grounds/nns ./.
He/pps had/hvd to/to hide/vb it/ppo ./.




Over/in the/at years/nns ,/, he/pps had/hvd had/hvn buddies/nns in/in space/nn in/in whom/wpo he/pps thought/vbd he/pps could/md confide/vb ./.
The/at buddies/nns invariably/rb took/vbd advantage/nn of/in him/ppo ./.
Since/cs he/pps couldn't/md* sleep/vb anyway/rb ,/, he/pps might/md as/ql well/rb stand/vb their/pp$ watches/nns for/in them/ppo or/cc write/vb their/pp$ reports/nns ./.
Where/wrb the/at hell/nn did/dod he/pps get/vb off/rp threatening/vbg to/to report/vb any/dti laxness/nn on/in their/pp$ part/nn to/in the/at captain/nn ?/. ?/.
A/at man/nn with/in insomnia/nn had/hvd better/rbr avoid/vb bad/jj dreams/nns of/in that/dt kind/nn if/cs he/pps knew/vbd what/wdt was/bedz good/jj for/in him/ppo ./.


	Ekstrohm/np had/hvd to/to hide/vb his/pp$ secret/nn ./.


	In/in a/at camp/nn ,/, instead/rb of/in shipboard/nn ,/, hiding/vbg the/at secret/nn was/bedz easier/jjr ./.
But/cc the/at secret/nn itself/ppl was/bedz just/rb as/ql hard/jj ./.


	Ekstrohm/np picked/vbd up/rp a/at lightweight/jj no-back/nn from/in the/at ship's/nn$ library/nn ,/, a/at book/nn by/in Bloch/np ,/, the/at famous/jj twentieth/od century/nn expert/nn on/in sex/nn ./.
He/pps scanned/vbd a/at few/ap lines/nns on/in the/at social/jj repercussions/nns of/in a/at celebrated/vbn nineteenth/od century/nn sex/nn murderer/nn ,/, but/cc he/pps couldn't/md* seem/vb to/to concentrate/vb on/in the/at weighty/jj ,/, pontifical/jj ,/, ponderous/jj style/nn ./.


	On/in impulse/nn ,/, he/pps flipped/vbd up/rp the/at heat/nn control/nn on/in his/pp$ coverall/nn and/cc slid/vbd back/rb the/at hatch/nn of/in the/at bubble/nn ./.


	Ekstrohm/np walked/vbd through/in the/at alien/jj glass/nn and/cc looked/vbd up/rp at/in the/at unfamiliar/jj constellations/nns ,/, smelling/vbg the/at frozen/vbn sterility/nn of/in the/at thin/jj air/nn ./.


	Behind/in him/ppo ,/, his/pp$ mates/nns stirred/vbd without/in waking/vbg ./.




Ekstrohm/np was/bedz startled/vbn in/in the/at morning/nn by/in a/at banging/nn on/in the/at hatch/nn of/in his/pp$ bubble/nn ./.
It/pps took/vbd him/ppo a/at few/ap seconds/nns to/to put/vb his/pp$ thoughts/nns in/in order/nn ,/, and/cc then/rb he/pps got/vbd up/rp from/in the/at bunk/nn where/wrb he/pps had/hvd been/ben resting/vbg ,/, sleeplessly/rb ./.


	The/at angry/jj burnt-red/jj face/nn of/in Ryan/np greeted/vbd him/ppo ./.
``/`` Okay/uh ,/, Stormy/np ,/, this/dt isn't/bez* the/at place/nn for/in fun/nn and/cc games/nns ./.
What/wdt did/dod you/ppo do/do with/in them/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Do/do with/in what/wdt ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` The/at dead/jj beasties/nns ./.
All/ql the/at dead/jj animals/nns laying/vbg around/in the/at ship/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` What/wdt are/ber you/ppss talking/vbg about/rb ,/, Ryan/np ?/. ?/.
What/wdt do/do you/ppo think/vb I/ppss did/dod with/in them/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` I/ppss don't/do* know/vb ./.
All/abn I/ppss know/vb is/bez that/cs they/ppss are/ber gone/vbn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Gone/vbn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Ekstrohm/np shouldered/vbd his/pp$ way/nn outside/rb and/cc scanned/vbd the/at veldt/nn ./.


	There/ex was/bedz no/at ring/nn of/in animal/nn corpses/nns ./.
Nothing/pn ./.
Nothing/pn but/in wispy/jj grass/nn whipping/vbg in/in the/at keen/jj breeze/nn ./.


	``/`` I'll/ppss+md be/be damned/vbn ''/'' ,/, Ekstrohm/np said/vbd ./.


	``/`` You/ppss are/ber right/jj now/rb ,/, buddy/nn ./.
ExPe/np doesn't/doz* like/vb anybody/pn mucking/vbg up/rp primary/jj evidence/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Where/wrb do/do you/ppo get/vb off/rp ,/, Ryan/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Ekstrohm/np demanded/vbd ./.
``/`` Why/wrb pick/nn me/ppo for/in your/pp$ patsy/nn ?/. ?/.
This/dt has/hvz got/vbn to/to be/be some/dti kind/nn of/in local/jj phenomenon/nn ./.
Why/wrb accuse/vb a/at shipmate/nn of/in being/beg behind/in this/dt ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Listen/vb ,/, Ekstrohm/np ,/, I/ppss want/vb to/to give/vb you/ppo the/at benefit/nn of/in every/at doubt/nn ./.
But/cc you/ppss aren't/ber* exactly/rb the/at model/nn of/in a/at surveyor/nn ,/, you/ppss know/vb ./.
You've/ppss+hv been/ben riding/vbg on/in a/at pink/jj ticket/nn for/in six/cd years/nns ,/, you/ppss know/vb that/dt ''/'' ./.


	``/`` No/rb ''/'' ,/, Ekstrohm/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` No/rb ,/, I/ppss didn't/dod* know/vb that/dt ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You've/ppss+hv been/ben hiding/vbg things/nns from/in me/ppo and/cc Nogol/np every/at jump/nn we've/ppss+hv made/vbn with/in you/ppo ./.
Now/rb comes/vbz this/dt !/. !/.
It/pps fits/vbz the/at pattern/nn of/in secrecy/nn and/cc stealth/nn you've/ppss+hv been/ben involved/vbn in/rp ''/'' ./.


	``/`` What/wdt could/md I/ppss do/do with/in your/pp$ lousy/jj dead/jj bodies/nns ?/. ?/.
What/wdt would/md I/ppss want/vb with/in them/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` All/abn I/ppss know/vb is/bez that/cs you/ppss were/bed outside/in the/at bubbles/nns last/vb night/nn ,/, and/cc you/ppss were/bed the/at only/ap sentient/jj being/nn who/wps came/vbd in/rp or/cc out/rp of/in our/pp$ alarm/nn web/nn ./.
The/at tapes/nns show/vb that/dt ./.
Now/rb all/abn the/at bodies/nns are/ber missing/vbg ,/, like/cs they/ppss got/vbd up/rp and/cc walked/vbd away/rb ''/'' ./.


	It/pps was/bedz not/* a/at new/jj experience/nn to/in Ekstrohm/np ./.
No/rb ./.
Suspicion/nn wasn't/bedz* new/jj to/in him/ppo at/in all/abn ./.


	``/`` Ryan/np ,/, there/ex are/ber other/ap explanations/nns for/in the/at disappearance/nn of/in the/at bodies/nns ./.
Look/vb for/in them/ppo ,/, will/md you/ppss ?/. ?/.
I/ppss give/vb you/ppo my/pp$ word/nn I'm/ppss+bem not/* trying/vbg to/to pull/vb some/dti stupid/jj kind/nn of/in joke/nn ,/, or/cc to/to deliberately/rb foul/vb up/rp the/at expedition/nn ./.
Take/vb my/pp$ word/nn ,/, can't/md* you/ppss ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Ryan/np shook/vbd his/pp$ head/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss don't/do* think/vb I/ppss can/md ./.
There's/ex+bez still/rb such/abl a/at thing/nn as/cs mental/jj illness/nn ./.
You/ppss may/md not/* be/be responsible/jj ''/'' ./.


	Ekstrohm/np scowled/vbd ./.


	``/`` Don't/do* try/vb anything/pn violent/jj ,/, Stormy/np ./.
I/ppss outweigh/vb you/ppo fifty/cd pounds/nns and/cc I'm/ppss+bem fast/rb for/in a/at big/jj man/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss wasn't/bedz* planning/vbg on/in jumping/vbg you/ppo ./.
Why/wrb do/do you/ppo have/hv to/to jump/vb me/ppo the/at first/od time/nn something/pn goes/vbz wrong/jj ?/. ?/.



	She/pps lived/vbd and/cc was/bedz given/vbn a/at name/nn ./.
Helva/np ./.
For/in her/pp$ first/od three/cd vegetable/nn months/nns she/pps waved/vbd her/pp$ crabbed/jj claws/nns ,/, kicked/vbd weakly/rb with/in her/ppo clubbed/vbn feet/nns and/cc enjoyed/vbd the/at usual/jj routine/nn of/in the/at infant/nn ./.
She/pps was/bedz not/* alone/rb for/in there/ex were/bed three/cd other/ap such/jj children/nns in/in the/at big/jj city's/nn$ special/jj nursery/nn ./.
Soon/rb they/ppss all/abn were/bed removed/vbn to/in Central/jj-tl Laboratory/nn-tl School/nn-tl where/wrb their/pp$ delicate/jj transformation/nn began/vbd ./.


	One/cd of/in the/at babies/nns died/vbd in/in the/at initial/jj transferral/nn but/cc of/in Helva's/np$ ``/`` class/nn ''/'' ,/, seventeen/cd thrived/vbd in/in the/at metal/nn shells/nns ./.
Instead/rb of/in kicking/vbg feet/nns ,/, Helva's/np$ neural/jj responses/nns started/vbd her/pp$ wheels/nns ;/. ;/.
instead/rb of/in grabbing/vbg with/in hands/nns ,/, she/pps manipulated/vbd mechanical/jj extensions/nns ./.
As/cs she/pps matured/vbd ,/, more/ap and/cc more/ap neural/jj synapses/nns would/md be/be adjusted/vbn to/to operate/vb other/ap mechanisms/nns that/wps went/vbd into/in the/at maintenance/nn and/cc running/nn of/in a/at space/nn ship/nn ./.
For/cs Helva/np was/bedz destined/vbn to/to be/be the/at ``/`` brain/nn ''/'' half/abn of/in a/at scout/nn ship/nn ,/, partnered/vbn with/in a/at man/nn or/cc a/at woman/nn ,/, whichever/wdt she/pps chose/vbd ,/, as/cs the/at mobile/jj half/abn ./.
She/pps would/md be/be among/in the/at elite/nn of/in her/pp$ kind/nn ./.
Her/pp$ initial/jj intelligence/nn tests/nns registered/vbd above/in normal/jj and/cc her/pp$ adaptation/nn index/nn was/bedz unusually/ql high/jj ./.
As/ql long/jj as/cs her/pp$ development/nn within/in her/pp$ shell/nn lived/vbd up/rp to/in expectations/nns ,/, and/cc there/ex were/bed no/at side-effects/nns from/in the/at pituitary/nn tinkering/nn ,/, Helva/np would/md live/vb a/at rewarding/jj ,/, rich/jj and/cc unusual/jj life/nn ,/, a/at far/jj cry/nn from/in what/wdt she/pps would/md have/hv faced/vbn as/cs an/at ordinary/jj ,/, ``/`` normal/jj ''/'' being/nn ./.


	However/wrb ,/, no/at diagram/nn of/in her/pp$ brain/nn patterns/nns ,/, no/at early/jj I.Q./np tests/nns recorded/vbd certain/jj essential/jj facts/nns about/in Helva/np that/wps Central/jj-tl must/md eventually/rb learn/vb ./.
They/ppss would/md have/hv to/to bide/vb their/pp$ official/jj time/nn and/cc see/vb ,/, trusting/vbg that/cs the/at massive/jj doses/nns of/in shell-psychology/nn would/md suffice/vb her/ppo ,/, too/rb ,/, as/cs the/at necessary/jj bulwark/nn against/in her/pp$ unusual/jj confinement/nn and/cc the/at pressures/nns of/in her/pp$ profession/nn ./.
A/at ship/nn run/vbn by/in a/at human/nn brain/nn could/md not/* run/vb rogue/nn or/cc insane/jj with/in the/at power/nn and/cc resources/nns Central/jj-tl had/hvd to/to build/vb into/in their/pp$ scout/nn ships/nns ./.
Brain/nn ships/nns were/bed ,/, of/in course/nn ,/, long/jj past/in the/at experimental/jj stages/nns ./.
Most/ap babes/nns survived/vbd the/at techniques/nns of/in pituitary/nn manipulation/nn that/wps kept/vbd their/pp$ bodies/nns small/jj ,/, eliminating/vbg the/at necessity/nn of/in transfers/nns from/in smaller/jjr to/in larger/jjr shells/nns ./.
And/cc very/ql ,/, very/ql few/ap were/bed lost/vbn when/wrb the/at final/jj connection/nn was/bedz made/vbn to/in the/at control/nn panels/nns of/in ship/nn or/cc industrial/jj combine/nn ./.
Shell/nn people/nns resembled/vbd mature/jj dwarfs/nns in/in size/nn whatever/wdt their/pp$ natal/jj deformities/nns were/bed ,/, but/cc the/at well-oriented/jj brain/nn would/md not/* have/hv changed/vbn places/nns with/in the/at most/ql perfect/jj body/nn in/in the/at Universe/nn-tl ./.


	So/rb ,/, for/in happy/jj years/nns ,/, Helva/np scooted/vbd around/rb in/in her/pp$ shell/nn with/in her/pp$ classmates/nns ,/, playing/vbg such/jj games/nns as/cs Stall/np ,/, Power-Seek/np ,/, studying/vbg her/pp$ lessons/nns in/in trajectory/nn ,/, propulsion/nn techniques/nns ,/, computation/nn ,/, logistics/nn ,/, mental/jj hygiene/nn ,/, basic/jj alien/nn psychology/nn ,/, philology/nn ,/, space/nn history/nn ,/, law/nn ,/, traffic/nn ,/, codes/nns :/: all/abn the/at et/fw-cc ceteras/fw-nns that/wps eventually/rb became/vbd compounded/vbn into/in a/at reasoning/vbg ,/, logical/jj ,/, informed/vbn citizen/nn ./.
Not/* so/ql obvious/jj to/in her/ppo ,/, but/cc of/in more/ap importance/nn to/in her/pp$ teachers/nns ,/, Helva/np ingested/vbd the/at precepts/nns of/in her/pp$ conditioning/nn as/ql easily/rb as/cs she/pps absorbed/vbd her/pp$ nutrient/jj fluid/nn ./.
She/pps would/md one/cd day/nn be/be grateful/jj to/in the/at patient/jj drone/nn of/in the/at sub-conscious-level/nn instruction/nn ./.


	Helva's/np$ civilization/nn was/bedz not/* without/in busy/jj ,/, do-good/jj associations/nns ,/, exploring/vbg possible/jj inhumanities/nns to/in terrestrial/jj as/ql well/rb as/cs extraterrestrial/jj citizens/nns ./.
One/cd such/jj group/nn got/vbd all/ql incensed/vbn over/in shelled/vbn ``/`` children/nns ''/'' when/wrb Helva/np was/bedz just/rb turning/vbg fourteen/cd ./.
When/wrb they/ppss were/bed forced/vbn to/in ,/, Central/jj-tl Worlds/nns-tl shrugged/vbd its/pp$ shoulders/nns ,/, arranged/vbd a/at tour/nn of/in the/at Laboratory/nn-tl Schools/nns-tl and/cc set/vbd the/at tour/nn off/rp to/in a/at big/jj start/nn by/in showing/vbg the/at members/nns case/vb histories/nns ,/, complete/jj with/in photographs/nns ./.
Very/ql few/ap committees/nns ever/rb looked/vbd past/in the/at first/od few/ap photos/nns ./.
Most/ap of/in their/pp$ original/jj objections/nns about/in ``/`` shells/nns ''/'' were/bed overridden/vbn by/in the/at relief/nn that/cs these/dts hideous/jj (/( to/in them/ppo )/) bodies/nns were/bed mercifully/rb concealed/vbn ./.


	Helva's/np$ class/nn was/bedz doing/vbg Fine/jj-tl Arts/nns-tl ,/, a/at selective/jj subject/nn in/in her/pp$ crowded/vbn program/nn ./.
She/pps had/hvd activated/vbn one/cd of/in her/pp$ microscopic/jj tools/nns which/wdt she/pps would/md later/rbr use/vb for/in minute/jj repairs/nns to/in various/jj parts/nns of/in her/pp$ control/nn panel/nn ./.
Her/pp$ subject/nn was/bedz large/jj --/-- a/at copy/nn of/in the/at Last/ap-tl Supper/nn-tl --/-- and/cc her/pp$ canvas/nn ,/, small/jj --/-- the/at head/nn of/in a/at tiny/jj screw/nn ./.
She/pps had/hvd tuned/vbn her/pp$ sight/nn to/in the/at proper/jj degree/nn ./.
As/cs she/pps worked/vbd she/pps absentmindedly/rb crooned/vbd ,/, producing/vbg a/at curious/jj sound/nn ./.
Shell/nn people/nns used/vbd their/pp$ own/jj vocal/jj cords/nns and/cc diaphragms/nns but/cc sound/nn issued/vbd through/in microphones/nns rather/in than/in mouths/nns ./.
Helva's/np$ hum/nn then/rb had/hvd a/at curious/jj vibrancy/nn ,/, a/at warm/jj ,/, dulcet/jj quality/nn even/rb in/in its/pp$ aimless/jj chromatic/jj wanderings/nns ./.


	``/`` Why/wrb ,/, what/wdt a/at lovely/jj voice/nn you/ppss have/hv ''/'' ,/, said/vbd one/cd of/in the/at female/nn visitors/nns ./.


	Helva/np ``/`` looked/vbd ''/'' up/rp and/cc caught/vbd a/at fascinating/jj panorama/nn of/in regular/jj ,/, dirty/jj craters/nns on/in a/at flaky/jj pink/jj surface/nn ./.
Her/pp$ hum/nn became/vbd a/at gurgle/nn of/in surprise/nn ./.
She/pps instinctively/rb regulated/vbd her/pp$ ``/`` sight/nn ''/'' until/cs the/at skin/nn lost/vbd its/pp$ cratered/vbn look/nn and/cc the/at pores/nns assumed/vbd normal/jj proportions/nns ./.


	``/`` Yes/rb ,/, we/ppss have/hv quite/abl a/at few/ap years/nns of/in voice/nn training/nn ,/, madam/nn ''/'' ,/, remarked/vbd Helva/np calmly/rb ./.
``/`` Vocal/jj peculiarities/nns often/rb become/vb excessively/rb irritating/jj during/in prolonged/vbn intra-stellar/jj distances/nns and/cc must/md be/be eliminated/vbn ./.
I/ppss enjoyed/vbd my/pp$ lessons/nns ''/'' ./.


	Although/cs this/dt was/bedz the/at first/od time/nn that/wps Helva/np had/hvd seen/vbn unshelled/jj people/nns ,/, she/pps took/vbd this/dt experience/nn calmly/rb ./.
Any/dti other/ap reaction/nn would/md have/hv been/ben reported/vbn instantly/rb ./.


	``/`` I/ppss meant/vbd that/cs you/ppss have/hv a/at nice/jj singing/vbg voice/nn dear/nn ''/'' ,/, the/at lady/nn amended/vbd ./.


	``/`` Thank/vb you/ppo ./.
Would/md you/ppss like/vb to/to see/vb my/pp$ work/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Helva/np asked/vbd ,/, politely/rb ./.
She/pps instinctively/rb sheered/vbd away/rb from/in personal/jj discussions/nns but/cc she/pps filed/vbd the/at comment/nn away/rb for/in further/jjr meditation/nn ./.


	``/`` Work/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Asked/vbd the/at lady/nn ./.


	``/`` I/ppss am/bem currently/rb reproducing/vbg the/at Last/ap-tl Supper/nn-tl on/in the/at head/nn of/in a/at screw/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` No/rb ,/, I/ppss say/vb ''/'' ,/, the/at lady/nn twittered/vbd ./.


	Helva/np turned/vbd her/pp$ vision/nn back/rb to/in magnification/nn and/cc surveyed/vbd her/pp$ copy/nn critically/rb ./.


	``/`` Of/in course/nn ,/, some/dti of/in my/pp$ color/nn values/nns do/do not/* match/vb the/at old/jj Master's/nn$-tl and/cc the/at perspective/nn is/bez faulty/jj but/cc I/ppss believe/vb it/ppo to/to be/be a/at fair/jj copy/nn ''/'' ./.


	The/at lady's/nn$ eyes/nns ,/, unmagnified/jj ,/, bugged/vbd out/rp ./.


	``/`` Oh/uh ,/, I/ppss forget/vb ''/'' ,/, and/cc Helva's/np$ voice/nn was/bedz really/ql contrite/jj ./.
If/cs she/pps could/md have/hv blushed/vbn ,/, she/pps would/md have/hv ./.
``/`` You/ppss people/vb don't/do* have/hv adjustable/jj vision/nn ''/'' ./.


	The/at monitor/nn of/in this/dt discourse/nn grinned/vbd with/in pride/nn and/cc amusement/nn as/cs Helva's/np$ tone/nn indicated/vbd pity/nn for/in the/at unfortunate/nn ./.


	``/`` Here/rb ,/, this/dt will/nn help/vb ''/'' ,/, suggested/vbd Helva/np ,/, substituting/vbg a/at magnifying/vbg device/nn in/in one/cd extension/nn and/cc holding/vbg it/ppo over/in the/at picture/nn ./.


	In/in a/at kind/nn of/in shock/nn ,/, the/at ladies/nns and/cc gentlemen/nns of/in the/at committee/nn bent/vbd to/to observe/vb the/at incredibly/rb copied/vbn and/cc brilliantly/rb executed/vbn Last/ap-tl Supper/nn-tl on/in the/at head/nn of/in a/at screw/nn ./.


	``/`` Well/uh ''/'' ,/, remarked/vbd one/cd gentleman/nn who/wps had/hvd been/ben forced/vbn to/to accompany/vb his/pp$ wife/nn ,/, ``/`` the/at good/jj Lord/nn-tl can/md eat/vb where/wrb angels/nns fear/vb to/to tread/vb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Are/ber you/ppss referring/vbg ,/, sir/nn ''/'' ,/, asked/vbd Helva/np politely/rb ,/, ``/`` to/in the/at Dark/jj-tl Age/nn-tl discussions/nns of/in the/at number/nn of/in angels/nns who/wps could/md stand/vb on/in the/at head/nn of/in a/at pin/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` I/ppss had/hvd that/dt in/in mind/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` If/cs you/ppss substitute/vb '/' atom/nn '/' for/in '/' angel/nn '/' ,/, the/at problem/nn is/bez not/* insoluble/jj ,/, given/vbn the/at metallic/jj content/nn of/in the/at pin/nn in/in question/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Which/wdt you/ppss are/ber programed/vbn to/to compute/vb ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Of/in course/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Did/dod they/ppss remember/vb to/to program/vb a/at sense/nn of/in humor/nn ,/, as/ql well/rb ,/, young/jj lady/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` We/ppss are/ber directed/vbn to/to develop/vb a/at sense/nn of/in proportion/nn ,/, sir/nn ,/, which/wdt contributes/vbz the/at same/ap effect/nn ''/'' ./.


	The/at good/jj man/nn chortled/vbd appreciatively/rb and/cc decided/vbd the/at trip/nn was/bedz worth/jj his/pp$ time/nn ./.


	If/cs the/at investigation/nn committee/nn spent/vbd months/nns digesting/vbg the/at thoughtful/jj food/nn served/vbn them/ppo at/in the/at Laboratory/nn-tl School/nn-tl ,/, they/ppss left/vbd Helva/np with/in a/at morsel/nn as/ql well/rb ./.


	``/`` Singing/vbg ''/'' as/ql applicable/jj to/in herself/ppl required/vbd research/nn ./.
She/pps had/hvd ,/, of/in course/nn ,/, been/ben exposed/vbn to/in and/cc enjoyed/vbd a/at music/nn appreciation/nn course/nn which/wdt had/hvd included/vbn the/at better/rbr known/vbn classical/jj works/nns such/jj as/cs ``/`` Tristan/np und/fw-cc-tl Isolde/np ''/'' ,/, ``/`` Candide/np ''/'' ,/, ``/`` Oklahoma/np ''/'' ,/, ``/`` Nozze/fw-nns-tl de/fw-in-tl Figaro/np-tl ''/'' ,/, the/at atomic/jj age/nn singers/nns ,/, Eileen/np Farrell/np ,/, Elvis/np Presley/np and/cc Geraldine/np Todd/np ,/, as/ql well/rb as/cs the/at curious/jj rhythmic/jj progressions/nns of/in the/at Venusians/nps ,/, Capellan/jj visual/jj chromatics/nns and/cc the/at sonic/jj concerti/nns of/in the/at Altairians/nps ./.
But/cc ``/`` singing/vbg ''/'' for/in any/dti shell/nn person/nn posed/vbd considerable/jj technical/jj difficulties/nns to/to be/be overcome/vbn ./.
Shell/nn people/nns were/bed schooled/vbn to/to examine/vb every/at aspect/nn of/in a/at problem/nn or/cc situation/nn before/cs making/vbg a/at prognosis/nn ./.
Balanced/vbn properly/rb between/in optimism/nn and/cc practicality/nn ,/, the/at nondefeatist/nn attitude/nn of/in the/at shell/nn people/nns led/vbd them/ppo to/to extricate/vb themselves/ppls ,/, their/pp$ ships/nns and/cc personnel/nns ,/, from/in bizarre/jj situations/nns ./.
Therefore/rb to/in Helva/np ,/, the/at problem/nn that/cs she/pps couldn't/md* open/vb her/pp$ mouth/nn to/to sing/vb ,/, among/in other/ap restrictions/nns ,/, did/dod not/* bother/vb her/ppo ./.
She/pps would/md work/vb out/rp a/at method/nn ,/, by-passing/jj her/pp$ limitations/nns ,/, whereby/wrb she/pps could/md sing/vb ./.


	She/pps approached/vbd the/at problem/nn by/in investigating/vbg the/at methods/nns of/in sound/nn reproduction/nn through/in the/at centuries/nns ,/, human/nn and/cc instrumental/jj ./.
Her/pp$ own/jj sound/nn production/nn equipment/nn was/bedz essentially/rb more/ql instrumental/jj than/cs vocal/jj ./.
Breath/nn control/nn and/cc the/at proper/jj enunciation/nn of/in vowel/nn sounds/nns within/in the/at oral/jj cavity/nn appeared/vbd to/to require/vb the/at most/ap development/nn and/cc practice/nn ./.
Shell/nn people/nns did/dod not/* ,/, strictly/rb speaking/vbg ,/, breathe/vb ./.
For/in their/pp$ purposes/nns ,/, oxygen/nn and/cc other/ap gases/nns were/bed not/* drawn/vbn from/in the/at surrounding/vbg atmosphere/nn through/in the/at medium/nn of/in lungs/nns but/cc sustained/vbn artificially/rb by/in solution/nn in/in their/pp$ shells/nns ./.
After/in experimentation/nn ,/, Helva/np discovered/vbd that/cs she/pps could/md manipulate/vb her/pp$ diaphragmic/jj unit/nn to/to sustain/vb tone/nn ./.
By/in relaxing/vbg the/at throat/nn muscles/nns and/cc expanding/vbg the/at oral/jj cavity/nn well/rb into/in the/at frontal/jj sinuses/nns ,/, she/pps could/md direct/vb the/at vowel/nn sounds/nns into/in the/at most/ql felicitous/jj position/nn for/in proper/jj reproduction/nn through/in her/pp$ throat/nn microphone/nn ./.
She/pps compared/vbd the/at results/nns with/in tape/nn recordings/nns of/in modern/jj singers/nns and/cc was/bedz not/* unpleased/jj although/cs her/pp$ own/jj tapes/nns had/hvd a/at peculiar/jj quality/nn about/in them/ppo ,/, not/* at/in all/ql unharmonious/jj ,/, merely/rb unique/jj ./.
Acquiring/vbg a/at repertoire/nn from/in the/at Laboratory/nn-tl library/nn was/bedz no/at problem/nn to/in one/pn trained/vbn to/in perfect/jj recall/nn ./.
She/pps found/vbd herself/ppl able/jj to/to sing/vb any/dti role/nn and/cc any/dti song/nn which/wdt struck/vbd her/ppo fancy/nn ./.
It/pps would/md not/* have/hv occurred/vbn to/in her/ppo that/cs it/pps was/bedz curious/jj for/in a/at female/nn to/to sing/vb bass/nn ,/, baritone/nn ,/, tenor/nn ,/, alto/nn ,/, mezzo/nn ,/, soprano/nn and/cc coloratura/nn as/cs she/pps pleased/vbd ./.
It/pps was/bedz ,/, to/in Helva/np ,/, only/rb a/at matter/nn of/in the/at correct/jj reproduction/nn and/cc diaphragmic/jj control/nn required/vbn by/in the/at music/nn attempted/vbn ./.


	If/cs the/at authorities/nns remarked/vbd on/in her/pp$ curious/jj avocation/nn ,/, they/ppss did/dod so/rb among/in themselves/ppls ./.
Shell/nn people/nns were/bed encouraged/vbn to/to develop/vb a/at hobby/nn so/ql long/jj as/cs they/ppss maintained/vbd proficiency/nn in/in their/pp$ technical/jj work/nn ./.


	On/in the/at anniversary/nn of/in her/ppo sixteenth/od year/nn in/in her/pp$ shell/nn ,/, Helva/np was/bedz unconditionally/rb graduated/vbn and/cc installed/vbn in/in her/pp$ ship/nn ,/, the/at Aj/np-tl ./.
Her/pp$ permanent/jj titanium/nn shell/nn was/bedz recessed/vbn behind/in an/at even/ql more/ql indestructible/jj barrier/nn in/in the/at central/jj shaft/nn of/in the/at scout/nn ship/nn ./.
The/at neural/jj ,/, audio/jj ,/, visual/jj and/cc sensory/jj connections/nns were/bed made/vbn and/cc sealed/vbn ./.
Her/pp$ extendibles/nns were/bed diverted/vbn ,/, connected/vbn or/cc augmented/vbn and/cc the/at final/jj ,/, delicate-beyond-description/jj brain/nn taps/nns were/bed completed/vbn while/cs Helva/np remained/vbd anesthetically/rb unaware/jj of/in the/at proceedings/nns ./.
When/wrb she/pps awoke/vbd ,/, she/pps was/bedz the/at ship/nn ./.
Her/pp$ brain/nn and/cc intelligence/nn controlled/vbd every/at function/nn from/in navigation/nn to/in such/jj loading/vbg as/cs a/at scout/nn ship/nn of/in her/pp$ class/nn needed/vbd ./.
She/pps could/md take/vb care/nn of/in herself/ppl and/cc her/pp$ ambulatory/jj half/abn ,/, in/in any/dti situation/nn already/rb recorded/vbn in/in the/at annals/nns of/in Central/jj-tl Worlds/nns-tl and/cc any/dti situation/nn its/pp$ most/ql fertile/jj minds/nns could/md imagine/vb ./.


	Her/pp$ first/rb actual/jj flight/nn ,/, for/cs she/pps and/cc her/pp$ kind/nn had/hvd made/vbn mock/jj flights/nns on/in dummy/jj panels/nns since/cs she/pps was/bedz eight/cd ,/, showed/vbd her/pp$ complete/jj mastery/nn of/in the/at techniques/nns of/in her/pp$ profession/nn ./.
She/pps was/bedz ready/jj for/in her/pp$ great/jj adventures/nns and/cc the/at arrival/nn of/in her/ppo mobile/jj partner/nn ./.


	There/ex were/bed nine/cd qualified/vbn scouts/nns sitting/vbg around/rb collecting/vbg base/nn pay/nn the/at day/nn Helva/np was/bedz commissioned/vbn ./.
There/ex were/bed several/ap missions/nns which/wdt demanded/vbd instant/jj attention/nn but/cc Helva/np had/hvd been/ben of/in interest/nn to/in several/ap department/nn heads/nns in/in Central/jj-tl for/in some/dti time/nn and/cc each/dt man/nn was/bedz determined/vbn to/to have/hv her/ppo assigned/vbn to/in his/pp$ section/nn ./.
Consequently/rb no/at one/pn had/hvd remembered/vbn to/to introduce/vb Helva/np to/in the/at prospective/jj partners/nns ./.
The/at ship/nn always/rb chose/vbd its/pp$ own/jj partner/nn ./.
Had/hvd there/ex been/ben another/dt ``/`` brain/nn ''/'' ship/nn at/in the/at Base/nn-tl at/in the/at moment/nn ,/, Helva/np would/md have/hv been/ben guided/vbn to/to make/vb the/at first/od move/nn ./.
As/cs it/pps was/bedz ,/, while/cs Central/jj-tl wrangled/vbd among/in itself/ppl ,/, Robert/np Tanner/np sneaked/vbd out/in of/in the/at pilots'/nns$ barracks/nn ,/, out/rp to/in the/at field/nn and/cc over/rp to/in Helva's/np$ slim/jj metal/nn hull/nn ./.


	``/`` Hello/uh ,/, anyone/pn at/in home/nr ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Tanner/np wisecracked/vbd ./.


	``/`` Of/in course/nn ''/'' ,/, replied/vbd Helva/np logically/rb ,/, activating/vbg her/pp$ outside/jj scanners/nns ./.
``/`` Are/ber you/ppss my/pp$ partner/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
She/pps asked/vbd hopefully/rb ,/, as/cs she/pps recognized/vbd the/at Scout/nn-tl Service/nn-tl uniform/nn ./.


	``/`` All/abn you/ppss have/hv to/to do/do is/bez ask/vb ''/'' ,/, he/pps retorted/vbd hopefully/rb ./.


	``/`` No/at one/pn has/hvz come/vbn ./.
I/ppss thought/vbd perhaps/rb there/ex were/bed no/at partners/nns available/jj and/cc I've/ppss+hv had/hvd no/at directives/nns from/in Central/jj-tl ''/'' ./.


	Even/rb to/in herself/ppl Helva/np sounded/vbd a/at little/ql self-pitying/jj but/cc the/at truth/nn was/bedz she/pps was/bedz lonely/jj ,/, sitting/vbg on/in the/at darkened/vbn field/nn ./.
Always/rb she/pps had/hvd had/hvn the/at company/nn of/in other/ap shells/nns and/cc more/ql recently/rb ,/, technicians/nns by/in the/at score/nn ./.
The/at sudden/jj solitude/nn had/hvd lost/vbn its/pp$ momentary/jj charm/nn and/cc become/vbn oppressive/jj ./.


	``/`` No/at directives/nns from/in Central/jj-tl is/bez scarcely/rb a/at cause/nn for/in regret/nn ,/, but/cc there/ex happen/vb to/to be/be eight/cd other/ap guys/nns biting/vbg their/pp$ fingernails/nns to/in the/at quick/nn just/rb waiting/vbg for/cs an/at invitation/nn to/to board/vb you/ppo ,/, you/ppss beautiful/jj thing/nn ''/'' ./.

It/pps would/md have/hv killed/vbn you/ppo in/in the/at cabin/nn ./.
Do/do you/ppo have/hv anything/pn for/in me/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Mercer/np stammered/vbd ,/, not/* knowing/vbg what/wdt B'dikkat/np meant/vbd ,/, and/cc the/at two-nosed/jj man/nn answered/vbd for/in him/ppo ,/, ``/`` I/ppss think/vb he/pps has/hvz a/at nice/jj baby/nn head/nn ,/, but/cc it/pps isn't/bez* big/jj enough/qlp for/in you/ppo to/to take/vb yet/rb ''/'' ./.


	Mercer/np never/rb noticed/vbd the/at needle/nn touch/nn his/pp$ arm/nn ./.


	B'dikkat/np had/hvd turned/vbn to/in the/at next/ap knot/nn of/in people/nns when/wrb the/at super-condamine/nn hit/vbd Mercer/np ./.


	He/pps tried/vbd to/to run/vb after/in B'dikkat/np ,/, to/to hug/vb the/at lead/nn spacesuit/nn ,/, to/to tell/vb B'dikkat/np that/cs he/pps loved/vbd him/ppo ./.
He/pps stumbled/vbd and/cc fell/vbd ,/, but/cc it/pps did/dod not/* hurt/vb ./.


	The/at many-bodied/jj girl/nn lay/vbd near/in him/ppo ./.
Mercer/np spoke/vbd to/in her/ppo ./.


	``/`` Isn't/bez* it/pps wonderful/jj ?/. ?/.
You're/ppss+ber beautiful/jj ,/, beautiful/jj ,/, beautiful/jj ./.
I'm/ppss+bem so/ql happy/jj to/to be/be here/rb ''/'' ./.


	The/at woman/nn covered/vbn with/in growing/vbg hands/nns came/vbd and/cc sat/vbd beside/in them/ppo ./.
She/pps radiated/vbd warmth/nn and/cc good/jj fellowship/nn ./.
Mercer/np thought/vbd that/cs she/pps looked/vbd very/ql distinguished/vbn and/cc charming/jj ./.
He/pps struggled/vbd out/rp of/in his/pp$ clothes/nns ./.
It/pps was/bedz foolish/jj and/cc snobbish/jj to/to wear/vb clothing/nn when/wrb none/pn of/in these/dts nice/jj people/nns did/dod ./.


	The/at two/cd women/nns babbled/vbd and/cc crooned/vbd at/in him/ppo ./.


	With/in one/cd corner/nn of/in his/pp$ mind/nn he/pps knew/vbd that/cs they/ppss were/bed saying/vbg nothing/pn ,/, just/rb expressing/vbg the/at euphoria/nn of/in a/at drug/nn so/ql powerful/jj that/cs the/at known/vbn universe/nn had/hvd forbidden/vbn it/ppo ./.
With/in most/ap of/in his/pp$ mind/nn he/pps was/bedz happy/jj ./.
He/pps wondered/vbd how/wrb anyone/pn could/md have/hv the/at good/jj luck/nn to/to visit/vb a/at planet/nn as/ql nice/jj as/cs this/dt ./.
He/pps tried/vbd to/to tell/vb the/at Lady/nn-tl Da/np ,/, but/cc the/at words/nns weren't/bed* quite/ql straight/rb ./.


	A/at painful/jj stab/nn hit/vbd him/ppo in/in the/at abdomen/nn ./.
The/at drug/nn went/vbd after/in the/at pain/nn and/cc swallowed/vbd it/ppo ./.
It/pps was/bedz like/cs the/at cap/nn in/in the/at hospital/nn ,/, only/rb a/at thousand/cd times/nns better/rbr ./.
The/at pain/nn was/bedz gone/vbn ,/, though/cs it/pps had/hvd been/ben crippling/vbg the/at first/od time/nn ./.


	He/pps forced/vbd himself/ppl to/to be/be deliberate/jj ./.
He/pps rammed/vbd his/pp$ mind/nn into/in focus/nn and/cc said/vbd to/in the/at two/cd ladies/nns who/wps lay/vbd pinkly/rb nude/jj beside/in him/ppo in/in the/at desert/nn ,/, ``/`` That/dt was/bedz a/at good/jj bite/nn ./.
Maybe/rb I/ppss will/md grow/vb another/dt head/nn ./.
That/dt would/md make/vb B'dikkat/np happy/jj ''/'' !/. !/.


	The/at Lady/nn-tl Da/np forced/vbd the/at foremost/jjs of/in her/ppo bodies/nns in/in an/at upright/nn position/nn ./.
Said/vbn she/pps ,/, ``/`` I'm/ppss+bem strong/jj ,/, too/rb ./.
I/ppss can/md talk/vb ./.
Remember/vb ,/, man/nn ,/, remember/vb ./.
People/nns never/rb live/vb forever/rb ./.
We/ppss can/md die/vb ,/, too/rb ,/, we/ppss can/md die/vb like/cs real/jj people/nns ./.
I/ppss do/do so/rb believe/vb in/in death/nn ''/'' !/. !/.


	Mercer/np smiled/vbd at/in her/ppo through/in his/pp$ happiness/nn ./.


	``/`` Of/in course/nn you/ppss can/md ./.
But/cc isn't/bez* this/dt nice/jj ''/'' 

	With/in this/dt he/pps felt/vbd his/pp$ lips/nns thicken/vb and/cc his/pp$ mind/vb go/vb slack/jj ./.
He/pps was/bedz wide/jj awake/rb ,/, but/cc he/pps did/dod not/* feel/vb like/cs doing/vbg anything/pn ./.
In/in that/ql beautiful/jj place/nn ,/, among/in all/abn those/dts companionable/jj and/cc attractive/jj people/nns ,/, he/pps sat/vbd and/cc smiled/vbd ./.


	B'dikkat/np was/bedz sterilizing/vbg his/pp$ knives/nns ./.




Mercer/np wondered/vbd how/wrb long/jj the/at super-condamine/nn had/hvd lasted/vbn him/ppo ./.
He/pps endured/vbd the/at ministrations/nns of/in the/at dromozoa/nns without/in screams/nns or/cc movement/nn ./.
The/at agonies/nns of/in nerves/nns and/cc itching/vbg of/in skin/nn were/bed phenomena/nns which/wdt happened/vbd somewhere/rb near/in him/ppo ,/, but/cc meant/vbd nothing/pn ./.
He/pps watched/vbd his/pp$ own/jj body/nn with/in remote/jj ,/, casual/jj interest/nn ./.
The/at Lady/nn-tl Da/np and/cc the/at hand-covered/jj woman/nn stayed/vbd near/in him/ppo ./.
After/in a/at long/jj time/nn the/at half-man/nn dragged/vbd himself/ppl over/in to/in the/at group/nn with/in his/pp$ powerful/jj arms/nns ./.
Having/hvg arrived/vbn he/pps blinked/vbd sleepily/rb and/cc friendlily/rb at/in them/ppo ,/, and/cc lapsed/vbd back/rb into/in the/at restful/jj stupor/nn from/in which/wdt he/pps had/hvd emerged/vbn ./.
Mercer/np saw/vbd the/at sun/nn rise/nn on/in occasion/nn ,/, closed/vbd his/pp$ eyes/nns briefly/rb ,/, and/cc opened/vbd them/ppo to/to see/vb stars/nns shining/vbg ./.
Time/nn had/hvd no/at meaning/nn ./.
The/at dromozoa/nns fed/vbd him/ppo in/in their/pp$ mysterious/jj way/nn ;/. ;/.
the/at drug/nn canceled/vbd out/rp his/pp$ needs/nns for/in cycles/nns of/in the/at body/nn ./.


	At/in last/ap he/pps noticed/vbd a/at return/nn of/in the/at inwardness/nn of/in pain/nn ./.


	The/at pains/nns themselves/ppls had/hvd not/* changed/vbn ;/. ;/.
he/pps had/hvd ./.


	He/pps knew/vbd all/abn the/at events/nns which/wdt could/md take/vb place/nn on/in Shayol/np ./.
He/pps remembered/vbd them/ppo well/rb from/in his/pp$ happy/jj period/nn ./.
Formerly/rb he/pps had/hvd noticed/vbn them/ppo --/-- now/rb he/pps felt/vbd them/ppo ./.


	He/pps tried/vbd to/to ask/vb the/at Lady/nn-tl Da/np how/wrb long/jj they/ppss had/hvd had/hvn the/at drug/nn ,/, and/cc how/wrb much/ql longer/jjr they/ppss would/md have/hv to/to wait/vb before/cs they/ppss had/hvd it/ppo again/rb ./.
She/pps smiled/vbd at/in him/ppo with/in benign/jj ,/, remote/jj happiness/nn ;/. ;/.
apparently/rb her/pp$ many/ap torsos/nns ,/, stretched/vbn out/rp along/in the/at ground/nn ,/, had/hvd a/at greater/jjr capacity/nn for/in retaining/vbg the/at drug/nn than/cs did/dod his/pp$ body/nn ./.
She/pps meant/vbd him/ppo well/rb ,/, but/cc was/bedz in/in no/at condition/nn for/in articulate/jj speech/nn ./.


	The/at half-man/nn lay/vbd on/in the/at ground/nn ,/, arteries/nns pulsating/vbg prettily/rb behind/in the/at half-transparent/jj film/nn which/wdt protected/vbd his/pp$ abdominal/jj cavity/nn ./.


	Mercer/np squeezed/vbd the/at man's/nn$ shoulder/nn ./.


	The/at half-man/nn woke/vbd ,/, recognized/vbd Mercer/np and/cc gave/vbd him/ppo a/at healthily/rb sleepy/jj grin/nn ./.


	``/`` '/' A/at good/jj morrow/nn to/in you/ppo ,/, my/pp$ boy/nn ./.
That's/dt+bez out/in of/in a/at play/nn ./.
Did/dod you/ppss ever/rb see/vb a/at play/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` You/ppss mean/vb a/at game/nn with/in cards/nns ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` No/rb ''/'' ,/, said/vbd the/at half-man/nn ,/, ``/`` a/at sort/nn of/in eye-machine/nn with/in real/jj people/nns doing/vbg the/at figures/nns ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss never/rb saw/vbd that/dt ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Mercer/np ,/, ``/`` but/cc I/ppss ''/'' --/-- 

	``/`` But/cc you/ppss want/vb to/to ask/vb me/ppo when/wrb B'dikkat/np is/bez going/vbg to/to come/vb back/rb with/in the/at needle/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Yes/rb ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Mercer/np ,/, a/at little/ap ashamed/jj of/in his/pp$ obviousness/nn ./.


	``/`` Soon/rb ''/'' ,/, said/vbd the/at half-man/nn ./.
That's/dt+bez why/wrb I/ppss think/vb of/in plays/nns ./.
We/ppss all/abn know/vb what/wdt is/bez going/vbg to/to happen/vb ./.
We/ppss all/abn know/vb when/wrb it/pps is/bez going/vbg to/to happen/vb ./.
We/ppss all/abn know/vb what/wdt the/at dummies/nns will/md do/do ''/'' --/-- he/pps gestured/vbd at/in the/at hummocks/nns in/in which/wdt the/at decorticated/vbn men/nns were/bed cradled/vbn --/-- ``/`` and/cc we/ppss all/abn know/vb what/wdt the/at new/jj people/nns will/md ask/vb ./.
But/cc we/ppss never/rb know/vb how/wrb long/jj a/at scene/nn is/bez going/vbg to/to take/vb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` What's/wdt+bez a/at '/' scene/nn '/' ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Asked/vbn Mercer/np ./.
``/`` Is/bez that/cs the/at name/nn for/in the/at needle/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	The/at half-man/nn laughed/vbd with/in something/pn close/rb to/in real/jj humor/nn ./.
``/`` No/rb ,/, no/rb ,/, no/rb ./.
You've/ppss+hv got/vbn the/at lovelies/nns on/in the/at brain/nn ./.
A/at scene/nn is/bez just/rb a/at part/nn of/in a/at play/nn ./.
I/ppss mean/vb we/ppss know/vb the/at order/nn in/in which/wdt things/nns happen/vb ,/, but/cc we/ppss have/hv no/at clocks/nns and/cc nobody/pn cares/vbz enough/qlp to/to count/vb days/nns or/cc to/to make/vb calendars/nns and/cc there's/ex+bez not/* much/ap climate/nn here/rb ,/, so/cs none/pn of/in us/ppo know/vb how/wrb long/jj anything/pn takes/vbz ./.
The/at pain/nn seems/vbz short/jj and/cc the/at pleasure/nn seems/vbz long/jj ./.
I'm/ppss+bem inclined/vbn to/to think/vb that/cs they/ppss are/ber about/in two/cd Earth-weeks/nns each/dt ''/'' ./.


	Mercer/np did/dod not/* know/vb what/wdt an/at ``/`` Earth-week/nn ''/'' was/bedz ,/, since/cs he/pps had/hvd not/* been/ben a/at well-read/jj man/nn before/in his/pp$ conviction/nn ,/, but/cc he/pps got/vbd nothing/pn more/ap from/in the/at half-man/nn at/in that/dt time/nn ./.
The/at half-man/nn received/vbd a/at dromozootic/jj implant/nn ,/, turned/vbd red/jj in/in the/at face/nn ,/, shouted/vbd senselessly/rb at/in Mercer/np ,/, ``/`` Take/vb it/ppo out/rp ,/, you/ppss fool/nn !/. !/.
Take/vb it/ppo out/in of/in me/ppo ''/'' !/. !/.


	When/wrb Mercer/np looked/vbd on/in helplessly/rb ,/, the/at half-man/nn twisted/vbd over/rp on/in his/pp$ side/nn ,/, his/pp$ pink/jj dusty/jj back/nn turned/vbn to/in Mercer/np ,/, and/cc wept/vbd hoarsely/rb and/cc quietly/rb to/in himself/ppl ./.


	Mercer/np himself/ppl could/md not/* tell/vb how/wrb long/jj it/pps was/bedz before/cs B'dikkat/np came/vbd back/rb ./.
It/pps might/md have/hv been/ben several/ap days/nns ./.
It/pps might/md have/hv been/ben several/ap months/nns ./.


	Once/rb again/rb B'dikkat/np moved/vbd among/in them/ppo like/cs a/at father/nn ;/. ;/.
once/rb again/rb they/ppss clustered/vbd like/cs children/nns ./.
This/dt time/nn B'dikkat/np smiled/vbd pleasantly/rb at/in the/at little/jj head/nn which/wdt had/hvd grown/vbn out/in of/in Mercer's/np$ thigh/nn --/-- a/at sleeping/vbg child's/nn$ head/nn ,/, covered/vbn with/in light/nn hair/nn on/in top/nn and/cc with/in dainty/jj eyebrows/nns over/in the/at resting/vbg eyes/nns ./.
Mercer/np got/vbd the/at blissful/jj needle/nn ./.


	When/wrb B'dikkat/np cut/vb the/at head/nn from/in Mercer's/np$ thigh/nn ,/, he/pps felt/vbd the/at knife/nn grinding/vbg against/in the/at cartilage/nn which/wdt held/vbd the/at head/nn to/in his/pp$ own/jj body/nn ./.
He/pps saw/vbd the/at child-face/nn grimace/vb as/cs the/at head/nn was/bedz cut/vbn ;/. ;/.
he/pps felt/vbd the/at far/jj ,/, cool/jj flash/nn of/in unimportant/jj pain/nn ,/, as/cs B'dikkat/np dabbed/vbd the/at wound/nn with/in a/at corrosive/jj antiseptic/nn which/wdt stopped/vbd all/abn bleeding/nn immediately/rb ./.


	The/at next/ap time/nn it/pps was/bedz two/cd legs/nns growing/vbg from/in his/pp$ chest/nn ./.


	Then/rb there/ex had/hvd been/ben another/dt head/nn beside/in his/pp$ own/jj ./.


	Or/cc was/bedz that/cs after/in the/at torso/nn and/cc legs/nns ,/, waist/nn to/in toe-tips/nns ,/, of/in the/at little/jj girl/nn which/wdt had/hvd grown/vbn from/in his/pp$ side/nn ?/. ?/.


	He/pps forgot/vbd the/at order/nn ./.


	He/pps did/dod not/* count/vb time/nn ./.


	Lady/nn-tl Da/np smiled/vbd at/in him/ppo often/rb ,/, but/cc there/ex was/bedz no/at love/nn in/in this/dt place/nn ./.
She/pps had/hvd lost/vbn the/at extra/jj torsos/nns ./.
In/in between/in teratologies/nns ,/, she/pps was/bedz a/at pretty/jj and/cc shapely/jj woman/nn ;/. ;/.
but/cc the/at nicest/jjt thing/nn about/in their/pp$ relationship/nn was/bedz her/pp$ whisper/nn to/in him/ppo ,/, repeated/vbd some/dti thousands/nns of/in time/nn ,/, repeated/vbd with/in smiles/nns and/cc hope/nn ,/, ``/`` People/nns-tl never/rb live/vb forever/rb ''/'' ./.


	She/pps found/vbd this/dt immensely/rb comforting/vbg ,/, even/rb though/cs Mercer/np did/dod not/* make/vb much/ap sense/nn out/in of/in it/ppo ./.


	Thus/rb events/nns occurred/vbd ,/, and/cc victims/nns changed/vbd in/in appearance/nn ,/, and/cc new/jj ones/nns arrived/vbd ./.
Sometimes/rb B'dikkat/np took/vbd the/at new/jj ones/nns ,/, resting/vbg in/in the/at everlasting/jj sleep/nn of/in their/pp$ burned-out/jj brains/nns ,/, in/in a/at ground-truck/nn to/to be/be added/vbn to/in other/ap herds/nns ./.
The/at bodies/nns in/in the/at truck/nn threshed/vbd and/cc bawled/vbd without/in human/nn speech/nn when/wrb the/at dromozoa/nns struck/vbd them/ppo ./.


	Finally/rb ,/, Mercer/np did/dod manage/vb to/to follow/vb B'dikkat/np to/in the/at door/nn of/in the/at cabin/nn ./.
He/pps had/hvd to/to fight/vb the/at bliss/nn of/in super-condamine/nn to/to do/do it/ppo ./.
Only/rb the/at memory/nn of/in previous/jj hurt/nn ,/, bewilderment/nn and/cc perplexity/nn made/vbd him/ppo sure/jj that/cs if/cs he/pps did/dod not/* ask/vb B'dikkat/np when/wrb he/pps ,/, Mercer/np ,/, was/bedz happy/jj ,/, the/at answer/nn would/md no/at longer/rbr be/be available/jj when/wrb he/pps needed/vbd it/ppo ./.
Fighting/vbg pleasure/nn itself/ppl ,/, he/pps begged/vbd B'dikkat/np to/to check/vb the/at records/nns and/cc to/to tell/vb him/ppo how/wrb long/jj he/pps had/hvd been/ben there/rb ./.


	B'dikkat/np grudgingly/rb agreed/vbd ,/, but/cc he/pps did/dod not/* come/vb out/in of/in the/at doorway/nn ./.
He/pps spoke/vbd through/in the/at public/jj address/nn box/nn built/vbd into/in the/at cabin/nn ,/, and/cc his/pp$ gigantic/jj voice/nn roared/vbd out/rp over/in the/at empty/jj plain/nn ,/, so/cs that/cs the/at pink/jj herd/nn of/in talking/vbg people/nns stirred/vbd gently/rb in/in their/pp$ happiness/nn and/cc wondered/vbd what/wdt their/pp$ friend/nn B'dikkat/np might/md be/be wanting/vbg to/to tell/vb them/ppo ./.
When/wrb he/pps said/vbd it/ppo ,/, they/ppss thought/vbd it/ppo exceedingly/rb profound/jj ,/, though/cs none/pn of/in them/ppo understood/vbn it/ppo ,/, since/cs it/pps was/bedz simply/rb the/at amount/vb of/in time/nn that/cs Mercer/np had/hvd been/ben on/in Shayol/np :/: 

	``/`` Standard/jj-tl years/nns --/-- eighty-four/cd years/nns ,/, seven/cd months/nns ,/, three/cd days/nns ,/, two/cd hours/nns ,/, eleven/cd and/cc one/cd half/abn minutes/nns ./.
Good/jj luck/nn ,/, fellow/nn ''/'' ./.


	Mercer/np turned/vbd away/rb ./.


	The/at secret/nn little/ap corner/nn of/in his/pp$ mind/nn ,/, which/wdt stayed/vbd sane/jj through/in happiness/nn and/cc pain/nn ,/, made/vbd him/ppo wonder/vb about/in B'dikkat/np ./.
What/wdt persuaded/vbd the/at cow-man/nn to/to remain/vb on/in Shayol/np ?/. ?/.
What/wdt kept/vbd him/ppo happy/jj without/in super-condamine/nn ?/. ?/.
Was/bedz B'dikkat/np a/at crazy/jj slave/nn to/in his/pp$ own/jj duty/nn or/cc was/bedz he/pps a/at man/nn who/wps had/hvd hopes/nns of/in going/vbg back/rb to/in his/pp$ own/jj planet/nn some/dti day/nn ,/, surrounded/vbn by/in a/at family/nn of/in little/ap cow-people/nns resembling/vbg himself/ppl ?/. ?/.
Mercer/np ,/, despite/in his/pp$ happiness/nn ,/, wept/vbd a/at little/ap at/in the/at strange/jj fate/nn of/in B'dikkat/np ./.
His/pp$ own/jj fate/nn he/pps accepted/vbd ./.


	He/pps remembered/vbd the/at last/ap time/nn he/pps had/hvd eaten/vbn --/-- actual/jj eggs/nns from/in an/at actual/jj pan/nn ./.
The/at dromozoa/nns kept/vbd him/ppo alive/jj ,/, but/cc he/pps did/dod not/* know/vb how/wrb they/ppss did/dod it/ppo ./.


	He/pps staggered/vbd back/rb to/in the/at group/nn ./.
The/at Lady/nn-tl Da/np ,/, naked/jj in/in the/at dusty/jj plain/nn ,/, waved/vbd a/at hospitable/jj hand/nn and/cc showed/vbd that/cs there/ex was/bedz a/at place/nn for/in him/ppo to/to sit/vb beside/in her/ppo ./.
There/ex were/bed unclaimed/jj square/nn miles/nns of/in seating/vbg space/nn around/in them/ppo ,/, but/cc he/pps appreciated/vbd the/at kindliness/nn of/in her/ppo gesture/nn none/pn the/at less/ap ./.



4/cd-hl ,/, 
The/at years/nns ,/, if/cs they/ppss were/bed years/nns ,/, went/vbd by/rb ./.
The/at land/nn of/in Shayol/np did/dod not/* change/vb ./.


	Sometimes/rb the/at bubbling/vbg sound/nn of/in geysers/nns came/vbd faintly/rb across/in the/at plain/nn to/in the/at herd/nn of/in men/nns ;/. ;/.
those/dts who/wps could/md talk/vb declared/vbn it/ppo to/to be/be the/at breathing/nn of/in Captain/nn-tl Alvarez/np ./.
There/ex was/bedz night/nn and/cc day/nn ,/, but/cc no/at setting/nn of/in crops/nns ,/, no/at change/nn of/in season/nn ,/, no/at generations/nns of/in men/nns ./.
Time/nn stood/vbd still/rb for/in these/dts people/nns ,/, and/cc their/pp$ load/nn of/in pleasure/nn was/bedz so/ql commingled/vbn with/in the/at shocks/nns and/cc pains/nns of/in the/at dromozoa/nns that/cs the/at words/nns of/in the/at Lady/nn-tl Da/np took/vbd on/rp very/ql remote/jj meaning/nn ./.


	``/`` People/nns never/rb live/vb forever/rb ''/'' ./.


	Her/pp$ statement/nn was/bedz a/at hope/nn ,/, not/* a/at truth/nn in/in which/wdt they/ppss could/md believe/vb ./.
They/ppss did/dod not/* have/hv the/at wit/nn to/to follow/vb the/at stars/nns in/in their/pp$ courses/nns ,/, to/to exchange/vb names/nns with/in each/dt other/ap ,/, to/to harvest/vb the/at experience/nn of/in each/dt for/in the/at wisdom/nn of/in all/abn ./.
There/ex was/bedz no/at dream/nn of/in escape/nn for/in these/dts people/nns ./.
Though/cs they/ppss saw/vbd the/at old-style/nn chemical/nn rockets/nns lift/vb up/rp from/in the/at field/nn beyond/in B'dikkat's/np$ cabin/nn ,/, they/ppss did/dod not/* make/vb plans/nns to/to hide/vb among/in the/at frozen/vbn crop/nn of/in transmuted/vbn flesh/nn ./.


	Far/rb long/jj ago/rb ,/, some/dti other/ap prisoner/nn than/cs one/cd of/in these/dts had/hvd tried/vbn to/to write/vb a/at letter/nn ./.
His/pp$ handwriting/nn was/bedz on/in a/at rock/nn ./.
Mercer/np read/vbd it/ppo ,/, and/cc so/rb had/hvd a/at few/ap of/in the/at others/nns ,/, but/cc they/ppss could/md not/* tell/vb which/wdt man/nn had/hvd done/vbn it/ppo ./.
Nor/cc did/dod they/ppss care/vb ./.


	The/at letter/nn ,/, scraped/vbn on/in stone/nn ,/, had/hvd been/ben a/at message/nn home/nr ./.
They/ppss could/md still/rb read/vb the/at opening/nn :/: ``/`` Once/rb ,/, I/ppss was/bedz like/cs you/ppss ,/, stepping/vbg out/in of/in my/pp$ window/nn at/in the/at end/nn of/in day/nn ,/, and/cc letting/vbg the/at winds/nns blow/vb me/ppo gently/rb toward/in the/at place/nn I/ppss lived/vbd in/rp ./.
Once/rb ,/, like/cs you/ppss ,/, I/ppss had/hvd one/cd head/nn ,/, two/cd hands/nns ,/, ten/cd fingers/nns on/in my/pp$ hands/nns ./.
The/at front/jj part/nn of/in my/pp$ head/nn was/bedz called/vbn a/at face/nn ,/, and/cc I/ppss could/md talk/vb with/in it/ppo ./.
Now/rb I/ppss can/md only/rb write/vb ,/, and/cc that/dt only/rb when/wrb I/ppss get/vb out/in of/in pain/nn ./.

