umbtack on the teacher's chair.

Hockley was somewhat off in his prediction. It was actually a mere five
days after the beginning of the Earthmen's campaign that the Rykes gave
them up and put them firmly aboard a vessel bound for home. The Rykes
were apologetic but firm in admitting they had made a sorry mistake,
that Earthmen would have to go their own hopeless way while the Rykes
led the rest of the Universe toward enlightenment and glory.

Hockley, Showalter, and Silvers watched the planet drop away beneath
them. Hockley could not help feeling sympathetic toward the Rykes. "I
wonder what will happen," he said slowly, "when they crash headlong into
an impassable barrier on that beautiful, straight road of theirs. I
wonder if they'll ever have enough guts to turn aside?"

"I doubt it," said Showalter. "They'll probably curl up and call it a
day."

Silvers shook his head as if to ward off an oppressive vision. "That
shouldn't be allowed to happen," he said. "They've got too much. They've
achieved too much, in spite of their limitations. I wonder if there
isn't some way we could help them?"

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