Charles V. De Vet

“ Srtes said, a few minutes after we watched the alien come to the end of his resources. "I am certain no one of you can have any doubts as to what our decision must be." His passive face betrayed no emotion.
"Our plan, decided on soon after we learned of the Humans' existence," Srtes' voice droned on, "was to make an early contact. If the Humans proved a race whose physical and mental strength equaled or surpassed our own, prudence would indicate that we seek peace. If we found them weak, we would exterminate them, and take over their world. ”

“ There's a space ship—on a meadow outside the walls, on the far side of the city—that you might be able to reach. You could take it and flee to your own world, probably the only place where you'd be safe. ”

“ Weaklings and inefficients are perishing every day on the ragged confines of our civilization. In simple justice I can offer you nothing more."
The Earthling's shoulders had gradually drooped as Srtes spoke. "Yours is a harsh philosophy," he mumbled at the end.
"It is our means of being certain that we maintain our race's fitness," Srtes explained patiently. "On this world only the strong and their progeny survive. As long as that natural struggle continues the strength of each generation will become greater."
The alien seemed to recognize Srtes' sincerity. ”

“ Competition is very real here, even though it is less tangible than yours. The fact that a producer of a product or service may be displaced by anyone demonstrating a better or more efficient product or method, acts as a spur to best efforts. ”

“ Only Srtes spoke. "Will the fools have brains enough to look for him down there?" he muttered. The excitement of the chase had obviously gripped him also. He clicked on a control button that split the screen into two scenes, and we were able to watch the activity above, as well as in the tunnels below.
We had no trouble following the flight of the alien. The lining of the tunnels had been prepared with a luminous coating that gave enough light for us to see the inside clearly.
As we watched, the alien stumbled and fell to the floor. He lay for a long moment, too weary to rise. ”

“ There were no sentries here. They had not expected him to get this far. But they would come, soon after they failed to flush him from the tunnel.
The alien looked about, then headed unerringly toward the sand banked against the wall of the pumping station. He dug until he had made a long hollow then let his weary body fall into the shallow place and began piling sand over his legs. When he had covered all of himself except one arm, he burrowed it down until he was completely hidden from sight.
"How can such a man be stopped?" Srtes asked. ”

“ The third dial is for stopping. As you are about to land, the tighter you grip the knob, the slower the ship will settle. You shouldn't have any trouble manipulating it."
His spirits seemed to revive somewhat. "It's worth a try," he said. "I have nothing to lose."
"It's only a few hours to night-fall," I told him. "That will be the best time to try getting through the city. I'd suggest you eat a good meal, and fix yourself a lunch to take along. Then nap if you can."
I was back in Srtes' office, watching the big screen, with the eight council members, when the alien started out. ”

“ Pushing his feet through the vent opening, still clutching the screen, he let himself down. Soon his feet came to rest on the inside ledge of the air tunnel and he balanced there as he screwed the screen back into place. He had vanished by the time the sentinels came running back.
"By the great hound of Hagras!" a councilor exclaimed. "Is there no end to the creature's ingenuity?" ”

“ Srtes resumed, "a Zade named Ctvar, clashed with the alien several times during the voyage. He was restrained from violence by the captain. This Ctvar should prove an apt instrument for driving our hostage to the proper desperation for the Big Run."
Srtes switched on the large visi-screen that blanketed the front wall of his office. "The alien has been wandering through the streets for the past several hours," he said. "If we are fortunate, Ctvar should put in his appearance soon." ”

“ He struck out without delay to his right where there were few sentries, using his rooftop technique when needed, and reached a side gate within an hour. He dispatched the final sentry by dropping on him from a convenient balcony—he was probably too exhausted to risk a fight—and let himself out through the gate. ”

“ Srtes pointed out.
The burly Zade spied the alien and a pleased burst of laughter rumbled up from his chest. "Our unwinged friend from Earth!" he shouted. It was a deadly insult.
As the alien stopped uncertainly, Ctvar and his friends crowded around him. "Are all Earthlings wingless freaks?" one of them asked in a loud voice. The others laughed.
I expected the alien to show some fight, but he only stood silently.
The party of Zades showed their contempt by increasing the tempo of their insults. Still the Earthling did nothing. ”

“ All our calculations pointed to the odds being heavily against his reaching this far."
"The sentinels will find him in a few minutes," one of the councilors said reassuringly.
"Of course they will!" Srtes replied angrily. "But he was not supposed to be able to get this far."
The alien stayed beneath the ramp only until his pursuers ran past. Immediately after, he reappeared and strode without hesitation toward the nearest air vent. The screen stuck when he gripped its spokes and tried to turn it, but he exerted his strength and it gave slowly. ”

“ It could be seen on his hands and the exposed portions of his arms, and on his chest where his blouse was open at the neck. His eyes were brown and set wide apart, with long hairs on the lid edges. His nose had no hard upper ridge. The bone was covered only by the same flesh as the rest of his face.
He was accompanied by a Commander Leik, captain of the space ship that had brought him from Earth. ”