by Edward Elmer Smith and Edward Everett Evans

“ That is because our ancestors decided to do without Omans. We do our own work and enjoy it. Your Masters died of futility and boredom. What I would like to do, Laro, is take you to the creche and put your disobedient brain back into the matrix. ”

“ Sawtelle broke the silence that followed. “Well, for the men—” He hesitated. “Especially on the ground ... well, talking in mixed company, you know, but I think ...”
“Think nothing of the mixed company, Captain Sawtelle,” Sandra said. “We women are scientists, not shrinking violets. We are accustomed to discussing the facts of life just as frankly as any other facts.”
Sawtelle jerked a thumb at Hilton, who followed him out into the corridor. ”

“ Hilton said. “While this is not exactly a formal meeting, it will be recorded for future reference. First, I will ask Laro a question. Were books or records left on Ardry by the race you call the Masters?”
“You know there are, Master. They are exactly as you left them. Undisturbed for over two hundred seventy-one thousand years.”
“Therefore we will not question the Omans. We do not know what questions to ask. We have seen many things hitherto thought impossible. Hence, we must discard all preconceived opinions which conflict with facts. I will mention a few of the problems we face.” ”

“ It had a full staff of Omans, all eager to work.
Hilton and Sandra sat in that magnificent office for three hours, and no reports came in. Nothing happened at all.
“This gives me the howling howpers!” Hilton growled. “Why haven't I got brains enough to be on one of those teams?”
“I could shed a tear for you, you big dope, but I won't,” Sandra retorted. “What do you want to be, besides the brain and the kingpin and the balance-wheel and the spark-plug of the outfit? Do you want to do everything yourself?” ”

“ Laro said.
“But, damn it, this suit itself would re-radiate ...”
“The suit is self-decontaminating, Master.”
Hilton was appalled. “With such stuff as that, and the plastic shield besides, why all the depth and all that solid lead?”
“The Masters' orders, Master. Machines can, and occasionally do, fail. So might, conceivably, the plastic.” ”

“ Hilton, just barely, accepted the suit, too, without showing surprise.
The creche, it turned out, while not in the city of Omlu itself, was not too far out to reach easily by car.
En route, Laro said—stiffly? Tentatively? Hilton could not fit an adverb to the tone—“Master, have you then decided to destroy me? That is of course your right.”
“Not this time, at least.” Laro drew an entirely human breath of relief and Hilton went on: “I don't want to destroy you at all, and won't, unless I have to. ”

“ Hilton restored order and swung on Laro, his attitude stiff, hostile and reserved. “Since it is clear that no unanimous decision is to be expected at this time I will take no action at this time. Think over, very carefully, what I have said, for as far as I am concerned, this world has no place for Omans who will not obey orders. As soon as I convince my staff of the fact, I shall act as follows: I shall give you an order and if you do not obey it blast your head to a cinder. ”

“ After breakfast next morning, the staff met in the lounge. As usual, Hilton and Sandra were the first to arrive.
“Hi, boss,” she greeted him. “How do you feel?”
“Fine. I could whip a wildcat and give her the first two scratches. I was a bit beat up last night, though.”
“I'll say ... but what I simply can't get over is the way you underplayed the climax. 'Third, the planet runs out of Omans'. Just like that—no emphasis at all. Wow! It had the impact of a delayed-action atomic bomb. It put goose-bumps all over me. But just s'pose they'd missed it?”
“No fear. They're smart. ”

“ Hilton yelped. “That's hot!” He seized Laro's arm to pull him away—and got the shock of his life. Laro weighed at least five hundred pounds! And the guy stilllooked human!
Laro nodded again and gave himself a terrific thump on the chest. Then he glanced at Sora, who stepped away from Sandra. He then went into the hold and came out with two fuel pellets in his hand, one of which he tossed to Sora. That is, the motion looked like a toss, but the pellet traveled like a bullet. Sora caught it unconcernedly and both natives flipped the pellets into their mouths. ”

“ Hilton grinned. “Think back, Bill. The only thing I said as a fact was that we as a race are better than the Masters were, and that is obvious. Everything else was implication, logic, and bluff.”
“That's right, at that. And they were neurotic and decadent. No question about that.”
“But listen, boss.” This was Stella Wing. “About this mind-reading business. If Laro could read your mind, he'd know you were bluffing and ... Oh, that 'Omans can read only what Masters wish Omans to read', eh? But d'you think that applies to us?” ”

“ The teams were selected and meetings were held.
The Perseus reached Ardry, which was very much like Terra. There were continents, oceans, ice-caps, lakes, rivers, mountains and plains, forests and prairies. The ship landed on the spacefield of Omlu, the City of the Masters, and Sawtelle called Hilton into his cabin. The Omans Laro and Kedo went along, of course.
“Nobody knows how it leaked ...” Sawtelle began.
“No secrets around here,” Hilton grinned. “Omans, you know.”
“I suppose so. Anyway, every man aboard is all hyped up about living aground—especially with a harem. ”

“ Hilton canceled all moves aground and issued orders that no Oman was to be allowed aboard ship, then looked and listened with his staff.
The first chest contained only introductory and elementary stuff; but it was so interesting that the humans stayed overtime to finish it. Then they went back to the ship; and in the main lounge Hilton practically collapsed onto a davenport. ”

“ At that point a dozen people came in, all talking about the same subject.
“Hi, Jarve,” Karns said. “I still say you ought to take up poker as a life work. Tiny, let's you and him sit down now and play a few hands.” ”

“ You can think powerfully in abstract terms, unhampered by Terran facts and laws which we now know are neither facts nor laws. I cannot even categorize the problems we face. Perhaps you three will be able to. You will listen, then consult, then tell me how to pick the teams to do the work. A more important job for you is this: Any problem, to be solved, must be stated clearly; and we don't know even what our basic problem is. ”

“ I want to learn about these people and they've got me stopped cold.”
“You aren't the only one. But if they wreck that Mayfield it'll cost you over twenty thousand dollars.”
“Okay.” The captain and director watched, wide eyed.
Two master mechanics had been getting ready to re-fit a tube—a job requiring both strength and skill. The tube was very heavy and made of superefract. The machine—the Mayfield—upon which the work was to be done, was extremely complex.
Two of the aliens had brushed the mechanics—very gently—aside and were doing their work for them. ”