“They fought among themselves. It’s still hard to believe. Here they were, twelve aliens trapped by possibly hostile creatures, yet their anger was vented not so much toward us as each other. Though we could not understand their language, battering a companion into unconsciousness can only be interpreted in one way.

“One actually damaged a companion so badly that it required medical treatment. When that was provided their attitude toward us softened visibly, but they continued to act in an unrelentingly hostile manner toward one another.

“It is the opinion of the behavioral psychs who have had them under surveillance that their actions suggest a racial paranoia of heretofore unimagined dimensions. Compared to these creatures, the AAnn are models of harmonious cooperation. Do we really want to ally ourselves closely with such a race?”

“But they showed no such tendencies with me,” Ryo said, bewildered.

“It is a fact that certain mammals act far differently in clusters than they do when isolated,” Drin said somberly. “They are rather like subcritical fission masses—harmless when kept apart, explosive when brought together. We do not know what the mental ‘critical mass’ of these creatures might be, but I would not like to be around when it is reached.”

“It is the considered opinion of the xenospsych staff that the entire race may be collectively psychotic,” the elder spokesman said.

“There may be other explanations,” Ryo protested. “The pressure they’ve been under as prisoners, their confinement underground when they prefer the surface …”

Drin was making a gesture of negativity. “We’ve allowed for that. The signs are still there.”

“You see now,” the officer said gently, “why we cannot possibly let them go. They now know the location of Hivehom. These are a sophisticated, space-traversing folk. This group is composed of specialists in exploration. Surely some of them would be able to find their way back here. We cannot possibly let so dangerous and volatile a race return home knowing the location of our mother world while we know nothing of theirs. They destroyed all their records and charts during the AAnn attack, you see. Further evidence of their paranoia.”

“No more so than you’ve just admitted to,” Ryo noted. “Perhaps.” The officer was not offended.

“But I tell you, gentlesirs, that I know these people.”

“You know two of them,” Drin pointed out. “That is hardly sufficient evidence by which to classify an entire race.”

“Maybe not. I’m no statistician. But I know true friendship when it is offered to me, and I have received that from two of these beings. I can probably gain the confidence of the rest of them if you’ll give me some freedom with them.”

“I would hope so,” the elder spokesman said. “We earnestly desire your help, Ryozenzuzex. Your companion,” and he indicated Wuu, “has explained your history.”

“Better to provide voluntarily what will become known anyway,” the poet said. Ryo saw no reason to argue that