* * * * * Tom swallowed hard. "How long have you been here?" "Some four generations have been born here. Our duty has been merely to await the arrival of our people. But in the last fifty years, we found ourselves faced with another obligation. It was that obligation which brought about the formation of Homelovers, Incorporated." "I don't understand." "We had underestimated the science of Earth. Our own necessity drove us towards the perfection of space flight. Earth had no such urgency. But now--" Livia looked mournful. "Now we were faced with the possibility that Mars would soon be a colony of your own planet, before our people had a chance to make it their rightful home. You can see the consequences of that. A conflict of interests, a question of territorial rights. Even the possibility of an interplanetary war--" "War!" "A possibility greatly to be abhorred," Andrusco said. "And one we were sure we could eliminate, if we could merely _delay_ the colonization of Mars." "Don't you see?" Livia said earnestly. "If we could make Mars our natural home, then the people of Earth would come to us as friendly visitors--or invaders, whichever they prefer. But if we arrived too late-- No, Tom. We feel that it is imperative--to the peace of _both_ our worlds--that Antamunda reach Mars first." "Then it's a race!" Tom was bewildered. "You may call it that. But a race we are determined to win. And we _will_ win!" Tom thought of another question. "The infant," he said. "The creature with scales ..." "It was mine," the girl said sadly. "Born to John and me some ten years ago. Unfortunately, it did not live. And while your Earth eyes may consider it a creature--" She drew herself up proudly. "It was a perfectly formed Antamundan child." Tom gaped at her. "No," she said, answering the question in his gaze. "You are looking at us as we are. We lose our scales after our infancy, when our mouths are formed ..." After a while, Tom asked: "And what about Spencer?" "Unfortunate," the man said. "His betrayal to the press would have done us incalculable harm. It was necessary to do what we did." "Then you did kill them?" Livia turned her head aside. "And you think I'll stand for that?" Tom said. "Perhaps not," Andrusco said. "But frankly--I don't really know what you can do about it. Except, of course, repeat this explanation to the authorities. You're free to do that, Tom. Any time at all." He smiled, slyly. "You think they won't believe me?" Livia came over to Tom's chair, and slithered one arm around his shoulder. "Why, Tom, darling. Are you so sure that _you_ believe it?" * * * * *