it, seemed to brighten in the darkened
room.

"Poor, dear Schaughtowl," said Curtis gently.

It was unmistakable now--the skin actually brightened and emitted a sort
of eerie, luminous glow.

Curtis leaned over and put his hand on what would have been
Schaughtowl's neck. The loose skin writhed joyously, and, snakelike, the
whole body responded in rippling waves of emotion.

"Gull Lup," the monster--said wasn't the right word, but it was not a
bark, growl, mew, cheep, squawk or snarl. Gulp was as close as Stern
could come, a dry and almost painful gulping noise that expressed
devotion in some totally foreign way that Stern found revolting.

He realized that the phone had been ringing for some time. He
disconnected it, and then heard loud knocking.

"It's Dr. Anderson," he heard a man's voice calling impatiently and
angrily.

Cautiously, Stern opened the door, but his care was needless. With a few
testy remarks, the doctor quickly cleared a space about the door and
entered.

He went at once to Curtis, with only a single shocked glance at
Schaughtowl.

"Where the devil have you been and where in hell did you get that
thing?" he asked as he unbuttoned Curtis's coat and shirt.

Since playing with his pet, Curtis seemed more awake. "I went to Mars,"
he said. "They're incredibly advanced in ways we hardly guess. We're
entirely off the track. I just came back to explain how."

"Your friend doesn't look very intelligent," the doctor answered, busy
with his stethoscope.

"Animals like Schaughtowl are used for steeds or pets," said Curtis.
"The Ladonai are pretty much like mankind, only smaller."

"Why did you stay so long?"

"After I left, the Ladonai told me, they were going to shut off any
possible communication with Earth until we advance more. They think
we're at a very dangerous animal-like stage of development. Once I came
home, I knew I couldn't go back, so I wanted to learn as much as I could
before I left them."

"Stand up for a minute," ordered the doctor.

"Not right now," said Curtis. "I'm too tired."

"You'd better get to bed, then."

"I think not. It's merely caused by the difference in gravity and
heavier air. The Ladonai told me to expect it, but not to lie down.
After a while I'll try to take a short walk."

* * * * *

So Clyde wasn't going to die, after all, Stern thought. He had come home
with a message, and, remembering the determination of the man, St