re cognizant of us. They are no tribe of
incompetents; they grow each day."

"They--?" Jars' smile was cynical. "Their scientists grow. Are their
scientists in command, sir?"

That "sir" had been unnecessary; Jars was the senior mind, here. Deering
didn't miss it, and he flushed.

Jars said softly, "I apologize. It was not a thing to say. I have spent
too much time in the study of these--monsters."

They had gone to school, together, those two, and the bond was there and
the respect, but they were different, mentally, and each knew it.

"You have a sharp tongue," Deering said, "but a sharper mind. I believe
I can stand it." He smiled. "Love, fear, hate--what does it matter to
us, except as phenomena?"

"It matters to us, believe me, please. It concerns us very much, Arn."

When Jars got to first names, he was emotionally wrought. I looked at
him in surprise. And so did Deering. We weren't ever going to warm up to
him, but he was our best mind and there wasn't a man in the department
who didn't appreciate that.

We stared at him, and he sat down on the high bench near the Maling
converters. He looked old and he was tired, we could see. "Evil," he
said quietly. "Fear, hate, evil--which of the three is the father and
which are the sons? I suppose fear is the father."

"I'd always thought so," Deering said, "though my education was almost
completely confined to the technical. I'm rather skimpy on the
humanities."

"And I," Jars said, and now looked at me. "But not you, Werig."

"I don't know them, sir," I said. "Surface manifestations, as we've said
before today. It would need a closer study. Their huddling is what
intrigues me the most."

One of the rare smiles came to Jars' lined face as he looked at Deering.
"Huddling, the lad says. If you don't say it, I won't, Arn."

Deering smiled in return. "We'll change the routine, this time; you say
'love' and I'll say 'fear'. But seriously, Jars, you fear
these--people?"

"I fear them," Jars said. "Scientifically, perhaps, they are tyros, but
mechanically they are not. They have discovered forces and developed
machines which they do not understand, and yet, have achieved efficiency
with them. I fear any monster that powerful even though it is blind."

"And you think there is a possibility of their becoming--aware of us
within any determinable time?"

"I do. You will remember how quickly the Algreans developed, once they
achieved unity? You will remember how qu