r species known to exist
(interesting in itself, that there should be so few), date back in
their respective habitats roughly 95 million years. Fossil remains
have been found, and their location and carbon dating signaled back to
us. Unfortunately, no first-hand data is available, as the only two
exploration parties ever to brave the hostile environs did not return.

"But from what they were able to gather and send back, we are given a
picture both intriguing and disquieting. By far the most interesting
news comes from the last report of the British expedition, only hours
before all contact was lost. One of their young behavioral scientists,
concentrating on the 'Stoors' of the equatorial regions (large,
foraging creatures most nearly resembling the warrior ant,
approximately 1.5 meters in length), was able to observe a gathering of
several colonies around a single, great stone, possibly a meteorite, in
the center of a deep cloven valley. He reports that the various
groups, distinguished by dots and splotches of color on the head and
abdomen, continued to stream in from all directions for nearly two
hours, apparently taking no notice of his hovering cruiser. And when
they had swelled to perhaps five thousand, they locked forelegs
together into countless, concentric circles around the stone and began
to chant, though by rights they should have been able to make no such
sound. Mitchell Collins, the observer, reported that he was not sure
whether it was, in fact, a physical sound, or one that came to him
through his mind only. He further states that the precise movements
and ritualistic nature of the gathering suggested some kind of
primitive religious ceremony.

"This last observation, of course, remains purely subjective."

---Dr. Charles LeDoux, planetary biologist, to a meeting
of the United French Scientists Guild.

I

Naik Shannon had never heard of Newman's world, or if he had, the
memory lay buried too deeply. And at the moment, he had other things
on his mind. The survivors of the Marcum-Lauries colonies, his present
charge, were scattered and in disarray. His own ship was too badly
damaged to lend assistance; he was running with a price on his head;
and of his own forces perhaps a hundred still lived.

Shin, his second in command, had radioed that he was trying to gather
sufficient escort from the remnants of the fleet to take the civilian
ships to safety in Soviet Space. Where