Bronni came in, full of cheer. “Say, you’re all right, Joe,” he trumpeted. “Ain’t had such a good time since I was on Alphaz. What’s next, old pal, old pal, old pal?” A meaty hand landed stunningly between Husting’s shoulder blades.

“I’ll see what I can do,” said the Earthman cautiously. “But I’m busy, you know. Got some big deals cooking.”

“I know,” said Bronni. He winked. “Smart fellow like you. How the hell did you talk that bouncer around? I thought sure he was gonna call the cops.”

“Oh, I buttered him up and slipped him a ten-spot. Wasn’t hard.”

“Man!” Bronni whistled in admiration. “I never heard anybody sling the words like you was doing.”

Gil herded the others out and said he wanted breakfast. Husting led them all to the elevator and out into the street. He was rather short-spoken, having much to think about. They were in a ham-and-eggery before he said:

“You spacemen must be pretty smart. Smarter than average, right?”

“Right,” said Jordo. He winked at the approaching waitress.

“Lotta things a spaceman’s got to know,” said Col. “The ships do just about run themselves, but still, you can’t let just any knucklehead into the crew.”

“I see,” murmured Husting. “I thought so.”

A college education helps the understanding, especially when one is not too blinkered by preconceptions.

Consider one example: Sir Isaac Newton discovered (a) the three laws of motion, (b) the law of gravitation, (c) the differential calculus, (d) the elements of spectroscopy, (e) a good deal about acoustics, and (f) miscellaneous, besides finding time to serve in half a dozen official and honorary positions. A single man! And for a genius, he was not too exceptional; most gifted Earthmen have contributed to several fields.

And yet…such supreme intellect is not necessary. The most fundamental advances, fire- and tool-making, language and clothing and social organization, were made by apish dimbulbs. It simply took a long time between discoveries.

Given a million years, much can happen. Newton founded modern physics in one lifespan. A hundred less talented men, over a thousand-year period, could slowly and painfully have accomplished the same thing.

The IQ of Earth humanity averages about 100. Our highest geniuses may have rated 200; our lowest morons, as stupid as possible without needing institutional care, may go down to 60. It is only some freak of mutation which has made the Earthman so intelligent; he never actually needed all that brain.

Now if the Galactic average was around IQ 75, with their very brightest boys going up to, say, 150—

The waitress yipped and jumped into the air. Bronni grinned shamelessly as she turned to confront him.

Joe Husting pacified her. After breakfast he took the Galactic emissaries out and sold them the Brooklyn Bridge.

Haiku

1.

Stars across fairness,
Drift of dandelion seeds—
What, springtime again?

2.

Cherry blossoms white—
Sunset colorless, breath-quick—
Stars hastening, cold.

3.

In snowfall of stars
Those we see red are not old—
An early winter.

4.

This high summer’s day—
Beneath it, a winter night
Amid the same stars.

5.

While shadows lengthen
A dandelion and bee
Exchange tomorrows.