She closed her eyes again. A slight shudder ran through her body and she shook her head dazedly. "The One," she murmured, "is after us all now. It began by entering your ship. Then It sent Its people against mine--against me. It won't stop until It has destroyed us all, and It--It's something I'd just as lief not describe. "My people call it something which I have translated as 'The One'. To them, it means 'first', or 'leader', or something like that. It was in control of all the people here on Thisbe when the Survey arrived, and I'm afraid It still is. It wants to remain in control. You see, It's quite intelligent." "I can believe that," Pritchard said. "It not only figured out how to get into the ship, but it also figured out how to find McManus." "Oh, no, I don't believe it just went after him. Wasn't his cabin the nearest to the place it entered?" "Well, yes, as a matter of fact, it was." "Oh, you don't understand The One as I do," she cried. "It would never be satisfied with just one. It came into your ship to feed on all of you. McManus was just the first person It found. From what you tell me, It wasn't even finished with him. There wouldn't be--anything--left...." "Then why did It go away?" "I couldn't tell you. Perhaps when your blower short-circuited, it arced a little. The One is very sensitive to fire. But It's not through. It will come back, one way or another." "I think we can deal with it if it does," Pritchard smiled. "And it sent these unpleasant things at you? How can it do that?" He shot an appraising glance around the torn and bloody meadow with its mounds of dead and dying things. When he turned back the girl was weeping. Sobs she could not suppress were shaking those nut-brown, rounded shoulders. "It has some kind of mental control," came her muffled voice. "Besides, they fear It dreadfully. Oh, my people, my poor people." "Well, now, look," soothed Pritchard, "it's all over now. You'd better come back with us. I guess you've learned you can't make people out of all these animals. Besides, you've got an interesting story to tell the Board--" "D-damn the B-B-Board," she said a little unsteadily. "Then you'll take me with you?" Pritchard smiled his broadest smile. "But of course!" "Then let's hurry," she pleaded. "We have so little time." "Why? What's the hurry?" "The One! The One!" she burst out in sudden anxiety. "It'll come for us any minute, don't you understand?" "Okay, okay," soothed Pritchard. He and the others were smiling at her excitement, when her equine suddenly reared so suddenly that she tumbled off. They started to her assistance, but she landed light as a cat on her feet. She stared wildly about her. The equine uttered a growl and galloped off. The girl remained crouched, her eyes darting in every direction. "Now what?" said Pritchard. "The One," she breathed. "It's somewhere near. My sextuped would never have bolted like that otherwise."