ouldn't be helped. I never professed to be a super-competent
astrogator. In my world, in my time, I was a leader of my race--a
builder of factories and machines."

"Our archeologists have dug into the ruins of your
civilization--without, however, a great deal of curiosity," said Shir
K'han coldly. "We found little in it to interest us. We have
translated your language--but even so, we uncovered nothing to equal
even the barest rudiments of our own science. Our zoologists dismiss
you as extra-clever primates--possessed of some knacks, but nowhere on
a reasoning, perspicuous level."

"But that's absurd--"

"From our point of view, no. In fact, we still debate whether you
primates could have been intelligent enough to have founded your
culture without the aid of some early Tegurians. We Tegurians have
been superior to the anthropoids as far back as our own history goes,
which is to the days of the Great Impetus--the epoch when our race was
gifted with great powers and the primates degenerated."

"Nonsense," scoffed Edwin Dollard. "Get me off this sadistic
table--and I'll demonstrate how smart I am." He squinted, studying the
feline's high-domed head and furry chin.

"Now, I've got you pegged," he went on. "You're just a specimen of
what a jacked-up tiger would turn out to be, burned under a few
million volts of hard radiation. You may be civilized, you and your
people--but I bet it took you a million years of high-speed evolution
to do it. If it hadn't been for mankind's work with mutable bacteria,
you'd still be chasing your tails under the palm trees--"

* * * * *

Shir K'han interrupted him, remarking: "The art of vituperation and
scolding always was a characteristic of the various simian species. We
have an apt axiom among the people of Tegur. It might be translated:
'Chattering man, empty brain pan'."

At that moment, it occurred to Dollard he was pressing his initial
luck too far. No use antagonizing present company.

"All right. I know when I'm bucking the system too hard," he replied
cagily. "What _do_ you intend to do with me?"

For answer, the interpreter turned to the second Tegurian in the room,
a creature who had stood motionless near the only exit, and uttered a
flow of guttural syllables, climaxed by a high-pitched questioning
note. The reply was forthcoming almost immediately, spoken in
weightier, more deliberate tones.

"The commander says you are to be presente