leared
his throat. "Or maybe we should look at more routine things, though you
might consider that we have to get ready for the day when our advancing
culture touches on other cultures. Because we can't put it off
forever."

This time, they were in a building, like a crude shed, and there were
men there, standing in front of a creature that seemed like a human in
armor--but chitinous armor that was part of him. The alien suddenly
turned, though Duke could now see that they were in a section behind
one-way glass. Nevertheless, it seemed to sense them. Abruptly,
something began pulling at his mind, as if his thoughts were being
drained. Flannery hit the button again. "Telepathic race, and very
immature," he said, and there was worry in his voice. "Thank God, the
only one we've found, and out of our immediate line of advance."

There were other scenes. A human being who walked endlessly three feet
off the floor, fighting against some barrier that wasn't there, with
his face frozen in fear, while creatures that seemed to be metallic
moved about. "He found something while working on one of our
paradynamic problems," Flannery said. "He transported himself there and
has been exactly like that ever since--three years, now. So far, our
desk-jockeys here haven't been able to discover exactly what line he
was working on, but they're trying!"

They were back in the office, and the director laid the control box on
the big panel and cut off the power. He swung back to face Duke, his
face tired.

"You'll find a ship waiting to take you to Throm, and a man on board
who'll use the trip to brief you, if you decide to take the job, Duke.
As I said, it's up to you. If you still prefer your wars, come and see
me next week, and maybe I can get the recruiting law set aside in your
case, since you're really a citizen of Meloa. Otherwise, the ship takes
off for Throm in exactly three hours."

He led the way back to the elevator, and rode up to the lobby. Duke
moved out woodenly, but Flannery was obviously going no farther. The
old man handed over what was left of the flask, shook Duke's hand
quickly, and closed the elevator door.

Duke downed the liquor slowly, without thinking. Finally, a flicker of
thought seemed to stir in his frozen mind. He shook himself and headed
down the lobby toward the Earth outside. A faint vibration seemed to
quiver in the air from below, and he quickened his steps.

Outside, he shook himself again, signale