The creature nodded and pointed again to GIZL, then to himself, "He doesn't understand," Don said. "It's quite possible his people don't have individual names," Bendy said. "Let's call him Gizl for now and go on." "Okay." Don thought for a moment, then formed a question. "Might as well get basic," he said. Q. ARE YOU FROM EARTH. A. NO. At the risk of irritating the others, Don repeated the questions and answers aloud for the benefit of his eavesdropper in the Pentagon. Q. ARE YOU FROM SOLAR SYSTEM A. NOT YOURS Q. WHEN DID YOU REACH EARTH A. 1948 YOUR CALENDAR Q. WHY A. FRIENDSHIP Q. WHY HAS NO ONE SEEN YOU SOONER A. FEAR Q. YOU MEAN YOU FRIGHTENED OUR PEOPLE A. NO I MEAN FEAR OF YOUR PEOPLE Q. WHY A. GIZL RESEMBLE EARTH ANIMALS Q. WAS SUPERIOR THE FIRST PLACE YOU LANDED A. NO Q. WHERE WAS IT A. AUSTRALIA "The home of the kangaroo," Doc Bendy said. "No wonder they had a bad time. I can imagine some stockman in the outback taking umbrage at a kangaroo asserting its equality. Let me talk to him a while, Don." Q. HOW MANY ARE THERE OF YOU A. MANY Q. HOW MANY A. NO SPECIFIC COMMENT Q. ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING SUPERIOR A. ENTIRELY Q. HOW A. IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN WITH THESE Q. WHERE IS SUPERIOR GOING A. EAST FOR NOW Q. AND LATER A. NO SPECIFIC COMMENT Q. 3000 LIVES ARE IN YOUR HANDS A. GIZLS HAVE NO MALEVOLENT DESIGNS Q. THANKS. YOU SAID FRIENDSHIP BROUGHT YOU. WHAT ELSE. A. TRADE. CULTURAL EXCHANGE Q. WHAT HAVE YOU TO TRADE A. WILL DISCUSS THIS LATER WITH DULY CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY Q. WHO. KING HECTOR A. TERMINATING INTERVIEW WITH GOOD WILL ASSURANCES "Wait," Alis said. "I haven't had a chance to talk to him." She formed letters into words. "I don't think he's being very frank with us but I have a few random questions." Q. HOW MANY SEXES HAVE GIZLS A. THREE Q. MALE FEMALE AND A. NEUTER Q. ARE THERE BABIES AMONG YOU A. BABIES ARE NEUTER AND DEVELOP ACCORDING TO NEED Q. CONFIDENTIALLY WHAT DO YOU THINK OF FATHERS SCIENCE A. UNFATHOMABLE OUR MEAGER KNOWLEDGE Q. FLATTERER A. ENDING CONVERSATION WITH PLEASANT REGARD Q. LIKEWISE Gizl slid back his chair and got up. King Hector stood and bowed as Gizl, who had nodded politely to each in turn, walked manlike, without hopping, to a corner of the room which then sank out of sight. "He's quite a guy, that Gizl," Hector said, taking off his crown and putting it on the table. "Makes me sweat," he said, wiping his forehead. "Are you the duly constituted authority?" Bendy asked him. "Who else? Somebody's got to be in charge till we get Superior back to Earth." "Sure," Bendy said, "but you don't have to rig yourself up in ermine. I also have a sneaking suspicion that you aren't exactly anxious to get Superior down in a hurry." "I'll overlook that remark for old time's sake. But I defend the kingship. A show of force was necessary to prevent crime from running rampant."