r aside. Some of Farmer's fear gave way to amazement at the
little inventor's audacity and what seemed to Farmer at least to be
foolishly optimistic scientific detachment.

Ray said: "My name is Ray. It is indeed fortunate that you have met me
immediately upon your arrival here, since I am the world's greatest
genius, and thoroughly equipped to tell you anything you wish to know
about my people and civilization. I take it you come from Atlantis?"

Amazingly, his tongue only got tangled once in the middle of this
speech, and he regained control of it quickly then. John Andrew felt a
touch of jealousy at the little man's capability in assuming control of
the situation. That, and a sudden idea of his own, forced him to speak
for himself.

It was a sad attempt. "Venus.... Spaceship...." he managed to croak,
before giving it up.

The launch rocked gently. The nonapus crouched motionless; the fishman
stood firmly, as if untouched by anything around him, his arms folded
and a faint smile upon his damp lips.

Finally he spoke too. What he said was: "Venus. Spaceship. My name is
Ray. It is indeed fortunate that you have met me immediately upon your
arrival here, since I am the world's greatest genius...."

He broke off. Apparently he interpreted the looks of consternation on
the faces of his audience correctly, for his smile became more friendly
and he continued in a casual tone.

"Excuse me," he said. "I didn't speak your language before I arrived
here, and I had to learn it and become accustomed to its use through
analyzing what you just said. I really didn't mean to puzzle you or make
you feel inferior by mimicking you."

Farmer's mind worked chaotically. This was puzzling, he decided, and
_did_ make him feel inferior--that is, it did if the man in the red
scales had really picked up English so quickly. And if not, why lie?

* * * * *

The fishman came forward. His step was bouncy, as if he were used to a
higher gravity or greater pressure (_that_, Farmer complimented himself
on his cleverness, made sense at least), but he extended his hand and
said "Put 'er there!" like any ladies' wear buyer at an annual
convention. Ray and Farmer shook with him in turn. His hand was damp and
webbed, but felt fairly human for all that.

"My name is Garf," he said cheerfully. John Andrew tried not to stare at
him too noticeably, but Ray made no bones about it; apparently the
fishman thought nothing