E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. See 32407-h.htm or 32407-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/32407/pg32407-images.html) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32407/32407-h.zip) Transcriber's note: This e-text was produced from _If Worlds of Science Fiction_, July, 1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. FAIR AND WARMER by E. G. VON WALD Illustrated by Paul Orban [Sidenote: _Tensor's melancholia threatened to disturb the entire citizenry, and that was most uncivil! So--if these peculiar aliens caused him this distress, by provoking his intellectual curiosity, the remedy was for him to investigate them to his complete satisfaction.... Thus, in this manner, did Tensor get well--and did he learn a bit too...._] Tensor gazed helplessly at the fine mist sifting down from a hazy, violet sky. "I told you I was having these spells." "But Great Oxy," the administrator sputtered, "can't you control yourself?" "I can't help it, Ruut," Tensor replied. "I just feel sort of funny and--and--" Ruut's hyperimage was chewing on its illusory lip. "Well, you've got to stop it. Do you understand? There'll be a lot of lichens and things growing all over the Prime's beautiful landscapes if this keeps up." The administrator's concern amused Tensor and, as his mood lightened, the drizzle abated and the sky became clear again. "I'm sorry," he apologized sincerely. "But I just seem to be having trouble lately. Ever since the aliens came." "Oh, come now, son," Ruut chortled with assumed heartiness. "That's elementary somatics. Just get a grip on yourself." "Yes sir." "Perhaps you've been working, or exerting yourself in some other foolish way. Maybe you're tired and should take something." 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. "Did you understand me?"