"We've nothing to fear. Bohr was entirely on his own. The people of his planetary system--Canopus--are so far advanced they live on a completely co-operative basis, every one instinctively working for the common good of all. Bohr was an atavism--they caught him trying to 'take over' there, and banished him. He came here, for his restless mind and savage urge to dominate others would not let him rest until he was absolute ruler of some world or system--the bigger the better from his viewpoint." "And you got all that from a bird?" incredulously. "Yes. You were right when you said Bohr didn't have a friend except the toogan. I think that's why he sort of liked me--perhaps he felt I would be one. All men have the need to talk to someone, some times, so Bohr chose this toogan, who is really quite intelligent, and who could talk back with him. The bird doesn't 'remember' it all, of course, but it's all engraved on his brain." "That means, then," Newton said thankfully, "that we won't have to worry about a war with another system or galaxy." "Yes, and that's a real help," Hawarden added. "Even one man, or entity, like Bohr, could have given us a bad enough time, and perhaps even wrecked the Federation." "Well, I guess that winds it up except for a lot of detail work," Newton rose. "I've got to get back to my own job on Estrella. Hawarden, call the port and have them ready my ship, please. And it's been good seeing you again. Thanks for everything." "Safe flights, Newton," and the admiral started calling the spaceport. "You'll get your orders in a day or two about going back to Algon with the commission," Newton told Hanlon. "Might as well stay here until then." After affectionate farewells he started out, then stopped, bursting into a laugh. "What's the gag, Dad?" "It just came to me that this was once where the son told the father all about 'the birds and the bees'." "Well," Hanlon quipped, but kept his face straight. "I figured you were old enough now to know." The End