"That's right. I said they were wiser than we are. They stick to important things." He smoked silently for a moment. "It's not just their psychology; we don't know anything much about their physiology, or biology either." He picked up his glass and drank. "Here; we had eighteen of them in all. Seventeen adults and one little one. Now what kind of ratio is that? And the ones we saw in the woods ran about the same. In all, we sighted about a hundred and fifty adults and only ten children." "Maybe last year's crop have grown up," she began. "You know any other sapient races with a one-year maturation period?" he asked. "I'll bet they take ten or fifteen years to mature. Jack's Baby Fuzzy hasn't gained a pound in the last month. And another puzzle; this craving for Extee Three. That's not a natural food; except for the cereal bulk matter, it's purely synthetic. I was talking to Ybarra; he was wondering if there mightn't be something in it that caused an addiction." "Maybe it satisfies some kind of dietary deficiency." "Well, we'll find out." He inverted the jug over his glass. "Think we could stand another cocktail before dinner?" * * * * * Space Commodore Napier sat at the desk that had been Nick Emmert's and looked at the little man with the red whiskers and the rumpled suit, who was looking back at him in consternation. "Good Lord, Commodore; you can't be serious?" "But I am. Quite serious, Dr. Rainsford." "Then you're nuts!" Rainsford exploded. "I'm no more qualified to be Governor General than I'd be to command Xerxes Base. Why, I never held an administrative position in my life." "That might be a recommendation. You're replacing a veteran administrator." "And I have a job. The Institute of Zeno-Sciences--" "I think they'll be glad to give you leave, under the circumstances. Doctor, you're the logical man for this job. You're an ecologist; you know how disastrous the effects of upsetting the balance of nature can be. The Zarathustra Company took care of this planet, when it was their property, but now nine-tenths of it is public domain, and people will be coming in from all over the Federation, scrambling to get rich overnight. You'll know how to control things." "Yes, as Commissioner of Conservation, or something I'm qualified for." "As Governor General. Your job will be to make policy. You can appoint the administrators." "Well, who, for instance?" "Well, you're going to need an Attorney General right away. Who will you appoint for that position?" "Gus Brannhard," Rainsford said instantly. "Good. And who--this question is purely rhetorical--will you appoint as Commissioner of Native Affairs?" * * * * *