r view it afforded. The
aliens were animal, all right. A species similar to human beings but
grotesquely primitive. He observed that the creatures had noticed him
and were running madly across the surface toward a small, shiny
structure.

The structure interested him. It looked very much as if it had been
fabricated. He wondered how the savages could construct without being
able to control, and watched them as they actually entered the thing.

And then, incredibly, it rose from the ferrous sands and dashed off
toward the east, a faint, disgustingly moist vapor trailing out behind
it.

Quickly Tensor moved up parallel to it, while he speculated on what it
meant. Apparently the savages were in full control of it. For a moment
he thought it might be an alien focus, but dismissed the idea. If it
were a focus, there would be no purpose in moving it spatially.

Feeling more curious, he projected himself inside and was immediately
delighted, despite its obvious mechanical character. It was metallic and
smooth and there were numerous incomprehensible devices piled up against
the walls of the tiny, circular room. Seated at a panel, their backs
toward him, the two creatures were busily manipulating little spots of
brilliant color, and one was creating a weird but soft cacophony with
its mouth.

Tensor was amused as well as interested. He listened, and managed to
decipher a pattern to the speech, even though only confused scatterings
of intelligence came from the chaotic minds. He again observed the
astonishing similarity of appearance between the aliens and human
beings.

From a small orifice in the panel, a reply issued; cold and rasping in
tonal quality.

"Control to Scout Three. Roger on the presumed alien. Lieutenant. I knew
that civilian with you would get you into trouble."

"Well, it wasn't exactly the fault of--"

"Enough. Bear away from the base until certain you are not being
followed."

While one of them played with the moving color spots on the panel, the
other twisted a knob, and all segments of the outside became
successively visible in a viewer.

"Scout Three to Control. Nothing in sight."

"Very well. The orders are to stay there until dark, after which you may
return."

"But that's two hundred hours away," the other savage hissed. "We don't
have enough oxygen."

"You'll just have to work it out somehow," the panel replied coldly. "We
can't endanger the whole military base for one useless civil