“As you command,” said the third observer. “While it is not complementary to what is supposed to be my scientific attitude, I must admit that your position is perfectly understandable.”

“Me also.” The second observer was visibly shaken. “Did you see the thing? I can barely allow that it may be intelligent.”

“We have no absolute measure of that yet,” Broh said thoughtfully. “It is surely a member of the crew, but it may be a subordinate type. The real masters of this vessel may be another, higher species that employs the kind we saw for menial functions. Our ancestors had specialized functions. Primitive Thranx workers were of superior intelligence compared to ancient soldiers. We may simply have encountered an alien soldier, functional but comparatively mindless.”

“A plausible theory,” the first observer admitted. “Or it may be a member of a different, less advanced race. The relationship may hold between two dissimilar species.”

“Exactly. The one we’ve seen may have acted belligerently, but as yet no one has been hurt.” Broh turned to Anzeljermeit. “No one is to shoot until I give the orders.”

“Very well, sir.” The officer was speaking rapidly into his suit communicator, relaying via the shuttle the request for reinforcements. He spent a moment listening, then spoke to the rest of the group. “Pilot says that she has requests from Science for a more detailed description of the alien being.”

“In due time,” Broh told him. “We’ll provide visuals as well. And if we can persuade or capture one, the department will have it to study in person.”

Again the officer relayed the message. “They say they’re not sure they’re ready for personal inspection and study, sir.”

“They’d best prepare themselves.” Broh used his most authoritative tone. “That is our task As an exploration team we must deal with the ugly as well as the beautiful. As to the request for a more detailed description of the alien, you may relay our initial impressions.”

“I don’t know if the computer will settle for the simple declaration that the alien ship is crewed by monsters,” murmured the second observer.

“It will have to, for now,” said the third. “Unscientific and emotional the description may be, but it has the virtue of concision. It should prepare the crew for actual contact.” They waited in the corridor, unconsciously edging toward the airlock, their eyes working constantly lest the nightmare spring upon them again before reinforcements could arrive from the Zinramm.

IV

Fal turned up the volume on the teaching unit and nudged her current charge. The bulky, mottled-white mass stirred listlessly in the cradle. She spoke to it in a gently admonishing tone.

It was Learning Time, yet Vii was dozing off. That was not permissible. Worse, it was not the first time. Tests revealed that Vii suffered from a minor chemical imbalance that could be overcome through intensive conditioning and without the use of drugs. Conditioning was safer, but harder on the Nurses.

So Fal devoted more time to Vii than to the others. She held her patience as she prodded the would-be sleeper back to wakefulness. While she waited for any questions she thought again about the message she’d received from her clan cousin Brohwelporvot.