tary awareness; thus far had nature
progressed with the vine, apparently reluctant to abandon a false start
toward mobility and intelligence for an unsuitable species. Or perhaps,
Andra added, in nature's long-term view the experiment might still be
considered promising. He shook his head.

The vine had learned peaceful ways that saved it from extinction,
drawing its food quietly from the earth while further developing a
mobility of sorts, but eventually an impasse would be reached when
greater mobility would endanger nutrition. If the roots withdrew from
the soil, the vine would die--unless, he agreed slowly, echoing her
shudder, the vine solved the dilemma by becoming again a carnivorous
strangler. Nature made unaccountable blunders and sometimes found
strange remedies, turning a blessing for one species into a curse for
others....

[Illustration: HOMER]

On the same impulse they gazed at the night sky blazing with the heart
of the galaxy spread around them, a galaxy as yet less than half mapped,
only a small fraction of its secrets known. Like many new-mates they
planned a leisurely, lengthy quest among the stars, a trip for which
their mutual absorption peculiarly fitted them. After all, the
advancement of knowledge still required physical and intellectual
research and the joy of living still demanded physical and emotional
release, but there was one great barrier to space-travel.

Leaving the great community of Challon ordinarily meant leaving an
intensely experienced fellowship to endure a shattering isolation no
less intensely felt, unless one were fortunate enough to be chosen for
an exploration team. There was both comfort and common sense in the use
of teams of the greatest numerical strength consistent with efficiency,
but the resources demanded by such teams limited the number that could
be fielded at one time. Consequently, private voyages in small craft
were not entirely uncommon among the hardy--or the temporarily
self-sufficient, such as he and Andra. In a few days they would leave
Challon behind, break for the first time the half-spiritual link with
all their world, and voyage forth in the belief that their love for each
other was alone enough to sustain them.

At the same instant the same doubt of self-worthiness crept into each
mind and was read and stoutly answered by the other, while a dozen
neighbors near and distant interrupted their own concerns to murmur
encouragement and recall the doubts