James Bell

“ Threlkeld tried to help her with logic. "Homekind gave us the pills for a brief mission. I have lived long enough not to desire these human qualities. You are much younger and have much more to learn. Homekind devised these pills for but one purpose—you are to lure a young man of your choosing into our vehicle. He will then be transported home, and your father will have his old job back on the ferry to Betelgeuse. Do not fail me, Gelerie." ”

“ I guarantee you, Homekind be with me, he will not want to see me go the rest of the way alone."
Threlkeld said, "My daughter's mind is full of strange logic, but it makes good sense. But be extremely careful my dear. The human is a deceitful thing. He will kiss your lips while stabbing your back."
Gelerie turned to Twitty and said, "How would you like to have six legs and swing from the tree by your tail?"
She turned and spoke, "See, father? He faints so readily. He will be quite easily handled." But her human eyes had not adjusted perfectly to Earth's thick atmosphere. ”

“ You know, father, I have been changed into leopards, rhinos and snoquallimie eels before; but always I retained my own natural traits—the love of trees, the desire to return to my native form and habitat as quickly as possible. ”

“ She thought-replied, "Well, get out of the pod so I can see you."
"No! Get inside quickly. Homekind is ready whenever we are. Bring Twitty in with you and we'll be away!"
Now the military men and Cadogan were clearing away the debris, half stumbling, half confused. "Get the girl. Don't let her get in that thing. No matter how absurd their story, don't let her get aboard that—that seed pod!"
"Amazon," Threlkeld yelled. "Amazon, Amazon, Amazon! Gelerie—"
At that, Gelerie dropped Twitty and began swinging with both fists. ”

“ If I do that, I still become less than Twitty. Homekind does not respect love affairs between separate types."
"Nor does it allow its missionaries to remain in the arena after the battle is won. Gelerie, face it if you stay here you'll revert to type the instant I leave."
Gelerie turned Twitty loose. She bent low and looked through the opening of the vehicle at her father. "Do you think Homekind would do that other thing?" She said it so Twitty would not guess right off.
"Nonsense. It would defeat the whole purpose of the mission," Threlkeld said. "They want a human specimen. ”

“ Gelerie is all they gave me in the Alpha Centauri group. We have a home-grown vehicle waiting in the woods. And a leafboat at the foot of Forty-second Street to carry us under its own power to the site of the vehicle. We covered the vehicle with driftwood to protect it lest some Earthling should swipe it and Homekind be forced to grow us another. ”

“ I warn you, my daughter. I am old. I have seen these Earth types at work. They are a useless breed. Their extra-curricular activities are beyond all reason. Very few of them stick to what is really important. ”