E. G. Von Wald

“ The long, scrawny citizen gazed disconsolately at the beautitful violet sky, his face relaxed and soleful. He sighed and murmured, "Frankly, Ruut, I just don't seem to give a damn anymore."
On the other side of the planet, Ruut gulped convulsively. His eyes bulged out with thoroughly uncivilized amazement.
"Get out of consciousness immediately," he ordered hoarsely. "Take a nego shot, if necessary. Take one anyway. We can't take chances." The administrator's hyperimage, with calculated angry expression, glared sternly into Tensor's mind. ”

“ Tensor stared at him with uninterested eyes.
"The man is dying," Curl explained with satisfaction.
"Dying?" Ruut murmured incredulously. "But that's impossible unless the Council orders him to destroy himself. Why—why that would make him just like an animal."
"That's what it is," Curl insisted.
Ordinarily, Tensor would have been somewhat interested to know about this strange process that was taking place within his body, but the nego kept his mind dull and unconcerned. He did not even question for reasons.
Ruut, however, did, and the physician happily explained. ”

“ You see, it's the only appetite of which we are capable that can't be controlled by shifting endocrine balance. Ordinarily, our civilized manner of living prevents it from being aroused—that's the advantage of being civilized. Because, once the appetite shows up, it simply must be satisfied, or it's apt to do all sorts of poisonous things to you, as you can see. The trouble is, satisfying curiosity generally involves at least some work, and what civilized man is going to get himself involved with anything like that?"
"Insidious," Ruut whispered. ”

“ After a moment of speculative silence, he said, "You haven't told me what you savages consider yourselves."
"Don't call me a savage, you naked beast," she snapped back.
"I beg your pardon," he murmured politely. "Merely a semantic difficulty. I'm sure. I assume that you consider yourselves human beings, then. Where do you come from?"
"Earth—the third planet."
"I see. And you used mechanical devices such as this little metal egg to get here. Most curious." Tensor contemplated the thought with great interest, for obviously they used mechanical skill to compensate for lack of direct control. ”

“ Melancholia." Curl frowned thoughtfully. "These moods come unwillingly, is that it? And they don't go away entirely when you shift your endocrine balance?"
"I'm not so sure about that endocrine shift, sir," Tensor stated emotionlessly.
"You mean—" Curl stopped incredulously. He shook his head as he comprehended. "Great Iso Oxys!"
"What is it?" Ruut asked in a hushed voice.
"This is deeper than I thought, Ruut. You did very well to put him under nego. The man can't control his endocrine system properly."
"Well do something," Ruut demanded. "Don't just float there." ”

“ Ruut said. "I know that."
"Ah, but perhaps you don't know that our race at one time had no more control over our endocrine systems than those little animals.
"There are a lot of ways to account for the change, and it makes very fascinating discussion because it's absolutely unimportant. However, under such conditions, a human being would automatically reach a certain stable level of development. But then, after an incredibly short time, the essential chaos within its body due to lack of endocrine control causes it to deteriorate. ”

“ The only faculties of significance remaining in his neutral somatic state were those which were absolutely necessary for civilized life—levitation to avoid being disturbed by gravity, the focus for personal privacy, the construction of food. Communication was not one of those, so the itch would just have to remain. Tensor contemplated an eternity with the medulary itch without the slightest concern. ”

“ When I adjusted for relative somatic sympathy so that I could stand the poor, uncivilized creature, I naturally acquired the full appetites of a male animal and this female seemed to understand some of my thoughts very well.
"You simply can't imagine the violent somatic compulsions one encounters under such a balance." ”

“ However, it was his duty as a physician, and he had promised the Council. One thing he was sure of, though, and that was never again to get involved in teleporting himself about the planet like this on any account. He would send an assistant. Provided he could find one.
"The Council would like a report when you get back. Do you think you can control yourself if you know that you are going to investigate the aliens whether you like it or not?"
"I guess so, sir," Tensor replied without interest.
"Splendid. I'll return to my own focus and give you the privacy for administering the antidote." ”

“ You just have never been concerned with these rare symptoms, my dear administrator. You see, actually we are animals in a sense. We don't die like them, but if we are not in a focus we could be killed through some accidental injury. The principal difference between us and the small animals that occasionally cause Prime trouble with his landscaping is control. They have no control over their endocrine systems. ”