In conclusion, the Qul-En made a note via the wavering pin-point
of flame that the existence of a hormone-bearing nervous system,
centralized in a single mass of hormone-bearing nerve-tissue inside
a bony structure, seemed universal among the animals of this planet.
Therefore it would merely examine the four other types of large animal
it had discovered, and take off to present its findings to the Center
of its race. With a modification of the ray-beam to kill specimens
without destroying the desired hormone, the Qul-En could unquestionably
secure as much as the race could possibly need. Concentrations of the
local civilized race in cities should make large-scale collection of
the hormone practical unless that civilized race was an exception to
the general nervous structure of all animals so far observed.
This was dictated to the pin-point flame, and the flame faithfully
wavered and changed color to make the record. But the tape did not
record it; a rather large beetle had jammed the tape-reel. It was
squashed in the process, but it effectively messed up the recording
apparatus. Even before the tape stopped moving, though, the record
had become defective; tiny spiders had spun webs, earwigs got
themselves caught. The flame, actually, throbbed and pulsed restlessly
in a cobwebby coating of gossamer and tiny insects. Silverfish
were established in the plastic lining of the Qul-En ship; beetles
multiplied enormously in the air-refresher chemical; moth-larvae
already gorged themselves on the nest-material of the intrepid explorer
outside. Ants were busy on the food-stores. Mites crawled into the
ship to prey on their larger fellows, and a praying-mantis or so had
entered to eat their smaller ones. There was an infinite number of
infinitesimal flying things dancing in the dark; larger spiders busily
spun webs to snare them, and flies of various sorts were attracted by
odors coming out of the ventilator-opening, and centipedes rippled
sinuously inside....
Night fell upon the world. The pseudo-mountain-lion roamed the wild,
keeping in touch with the tide of baa-ing sheep now headed for the
lowlands. It captured a field-mouse and verified the amazing variety
of planetary forms containing brain-tissue rich in hormones. But the
sheep-flock could not be driven at night. When stars came out, to move
them farther became impossible. The Qul-En returned to select its
specimens in the dark, with due care not to allow the man to use his
strange means of defense. It found the flock bedded down.
* * * * *
Salazar and Antonio rested; they had driven the sheep as far as it was
possible to drive them, that day. Though he was sick with fear and
weak with horror, Antonio had struggled on until Salazar could do no
more. But he did not leave the flock; the sheep were in some fashion a
defense--if only a diversion--against the creature which so plainly was
not flesh and blood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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