, there's nothin' wolflike about 'em right now. Look, Dan'l, yuh
know what a wolf pack's like. They're smart, tough, and mean--an' the
old boss wolf is the smartest, toughest, and meanest critter in the
hull pack. The others respect him 'cuz he's proved his ability to
lead. But take a sheep flock now--the bellwether is jest a nice gentle
old castrate thet'll do jest whut the sheepherder wants. He's got no
originality. He's jest a noise thet the rest foller."

"Could be."

"It shore is! Jes f'r instance, an' speakin' of bellwethers, have yuh
ever heard of a character called Throckmorton Bixbee?"

"Can't say I have. He sounds like a nance."

"Whutever a nance is--he's it! But yuh're talkin' about our next
President, unless all the prophets are wrong. He's jest as bad as his
name. Of all the gutless wonders I've ever heard of that pilgrim takes
the prize. He even looks like a rabbit!"

"I can see where I had better catch up on some contemporary history,"
Matson said. "I've been out in the sticks too long."

"If yuh know what's good fer yuh, yuh'll stay here. The rest of the
country's goin' t'hell. Brother Bixbee's jest a sample. About the only
thing that'd recommend him is that he's hot fer peace--an' he's got
those furriners' blessing. Seems like those freaks swing a lotta
weight nowadays, an' they ain't shy about tellin' folks who an' what
they favor. They've got bold as brass this past year."

Matson nodded idly--then stiffened--turning a wide eyed stare on Seth.
A blinding light exploded in his brain as the words sank in. With
crystal clarity he knew the answer! He laughed harshly.

Winters stared at him with mild surprise. "What's bit yuh, Dan'l?"

But Matson was completely oblivious, busily buttressing the flash of
inspiration. Sure--that was the only thing it could be! Those aliens
were working on a program--one that was grimly recognizable once his
attention was focussed on it. There must have been considerable
pressure to make them move so fast that a short-lived human could see
what they were planning--but Matson had a good idea of what was
driving them, an atomic war that could decimate the world would be all
the spur they'd need!

They weren't playing for penny ante stakes. They didn't want to
exploit Mankind. They didn't give a damn about Mankind! To them
humanity was merely an unavoidable nuisance--something to be pushed
aside, to be made harmless and dependent, and ultimately to be quietly
and bl