s who seemed to occupy something of the position of
a sacred cow in the Arrillian scheme of things. The Bugs came in all
sizes, that is all sizes from a foot or so in length up to the size of
a full human.

The Bugs were not permitted to roam the streets and market places, like
the sacred cows of the Earthly Hindus. The Bugs were kept in huge pens,
which none but a few high-ranking priests were permitted to enter, and
although the Earthmen were not prevented from standing outside the pens
and watching the ugly beasts munching grass or basking in the sun, the
Arrillians always seemed nervous when the strangers were about the pens.
The Earthmen had shrugged and reflected that religion was a complexity
difficult enough at home, needless to probe too deeply into the
Arrillian.

But The Time had been something else again, bringing with it, the first
sign of real Arrillian fanaticism and the first hint of violence.
Tyndall and four companions were strolling in a downtown section of the
city, when all at once a hoarse cry in Arrillian shattered the quiet hum
of street activity.

"What did he say?" asked one of Tyndall's companions, who had not
learned much Arrillian.

"I--I think, 'A Time! A Time!' What could ..." he never finished the
sentence, all about them Arrillians had prostrated themselves in the
rather dirty street, covering their faces with their hands, lying face
down. The Earthmen hesitated a moment, and a priest of Arrill appeared
as though from nowhere, a wicked scimitar-like weapon in his hand and a
face tense with anger.

"Dare you," he hissed in Arrillian, "dare you not hide your eyes at A
Time!" He pushed one of the Earthmen with surprising strength, and the
latter stumbled to his knees. All five men hastened to ape the position
of the prostrate Arrillians; they knew better to risk committing
sacrilege on a strange planet. As Tyndall sank to the ground and covered
his eyes, he heard that priest mutter another sentence, in which his own
name was included. He thought it was "You, Tyn-Dall ... even you."

A few moments later a bell sounded from somewhere, and the buzzing of
conversation began around them, along with the shuffling, scraping sound
of many people getting to their feet at once. A hand touched Tyndall's
shoulder and an Arrillian voice, laughing now, purred, "Up stranger, up,
The Time is past."

The Earthmen got to their feet. Everything about them was the same as
though nothing had happened,