"It's the change inside me," Lanceford said. "I suppose it'll wear off in time, once I've been on a normal diet. But I didn't think that was too important in view of the information I have. I've learned something vital, something that you should know at once. That's why I'm here." "That's decent of you," Sims replied, "but an interoffice memo would have served just as well as a personal visit. My stomach isn't as good as it once was. Ulcers, you know." "The executive's disease," Lanceford commented. Sims nodded. "Well, Arthur, what did you find that was so important?" "That we've been fools." Sims sighed. "That's nothing new. We've been fools since the day we left Earth to try and conquer the stars." "That's not what I mean, sir. I mean that we've been going at this Niobe business the wrong way. What we need is to understand the natives, instead of trying to understand the planet." "Out of the mouths of babes and probationers--" Sims said with gentle irony. "It pays off," Lanceford replied doggedly. "Take my case. I've found out why the natives are insect-proof!" "That's a new wrinkle. Can you prove it?" "Certainly. I came the last hundred miles in shorts." "What happened to your suit?" "Kron destroyed it accidentally." "Accidentally--hah!" Sims snorted. "Niobians never do things accidentally." * * * * * Lanceford looked sharply at the director. The observation carried a wealth of implications that his sharpened senses were quick to grasp. "Then you know the natives aren't simple savages, the way we were taught in Basic Training?" "Of course! They're a non-technical Class V at the very least--maybe higher. Somehow they've never oriented their civilization along mechanical lines, or maybe they tried it once and found it wanting. But no one in the upper echelons has ever thought they were stupid or uncivilized." "Then why--" "Later," Sims said. "You're entitled to an explanation, but right now I'd appreciate it if you'd finish your statement. What makes the natives insect-proof?" "Vorkum." "That gunk?" "That's the repellent." "In more ways than one," Sims said. "It's not so bad after you get used to it. It just smells awful at first." "That's an understatement, if I ever heard one." * * * * * "Perhaps the lab can analyze it and find the active principle," Lanceford said hopefully. "If they do, I'll bet it is distilled quintessence of skunk," Sims replied gloomily. "I'll be willing to bet that our native friends tried that trick ages ago and gave it up for a bad job. They're pretty fair biochemists as well as being philosophers." "Could be," Lanceford said thoughtfully. "I never thought of that."