d to the leaders of our
civilization," Shir K'han reported. "That'll take place when we dock
at the home planet in a few hours. In the meanwhile, you may have the
run of the ship."

The feline pushed down a knobbed lever and the steel clamps slid from
Dollard's trussed form. His relief matched only by his quickened
awareness of the need for caution in dealing further with his
rescuers, Dollard took advantage of his release to stretch his aching
muscles.

Standing erect caused him a moment's dizziness, which he could not
account for until he recalled that the alcohol he had drunk thousands
(or was it millions?) of years previously still remained in his
bloodstream.

Although the interior of the Tegurian ship was suffocatingly warm, yet
Dollard felt the lack of clothing with what amounted to discomfort. He
described his feeling to Shir K'han who told him his apparel had also
been found in the circling space yacht. Equally well-preserved by the
cold of interplanetary space, the clothes would be brought to him
immediately.

After garbing himself, Dollard strolled about the Tegurian vessel. Its
alien constructure seemed to defy all the architectural principles
familiar to a human's primate mind. Catwalks, especially, lived up
fully to their name, appearing as mere unsupported ribbons that
stretched across banks of throbbing molecular engines. Mechanics
traversed these walks over fuel pits with graceful skill, despite the
lack of handholds. Everywhere, Dollard noticed that members of the
crew, when relieved of their tasks, immediately dropped off to slumber
without need of intervening recreation.

Slightly less than six hours after he was awakened, Edwin Dollard
heard whistles scream through the length of the vessel announcing
planetfall would take place in only a few minutes.

Shir K'han padded up to his side and informed him that he would have
to rest in a padded cell while the landing took place. The muscles of
his human body would not be up to the shock of deceleration--a
magnified strain to which feline muscles had long been accustomed.

Dollard obeyed. By now he was weary of his confinement aboard. He was
anxious to get aground where he should meet the true leaders of Tegur.
He could impress _them_ with his superior abilities. Of course, it
would seem strange to find Terra ruled by another species, but after
all that was a contingency he had fully considered when he voluntarily
undertook the deepfreeze. Little