“Why don’t you go back to your house and find it?” Alexander snapped. “As you are, you’re nothing but a disruption. I want you in on this meeting, but not the way you’re acting.” “I’m not going to act any other way until I get some protection from peeping,” Kennon said grimly. “And if you think this is bad wait till I start going through comparative anatomy.” “What’s the matter with you two?” Blalok asked. “Be quiet,” Alexander snapped. “This isn’t your problem. Kennon is behaving like a spoiled child!” “He’s a telepath!” Kennon said. “And he didn’t tell me.” “So what? I’ve known that for years.” “And you stand for it?” “I’m a Mystic, not a Betan,” Blalok said. “I don’t have your insane desire for privacy.” “Go find that thought screen if you still have it!” Alexander said. “I don’t want any more of this. You’re making me ill!” Kennon grinned thinly as he rose to his feet. It was a good thing he remembered Alexander was squeamish and didn’t like anatomy. The door was to his left, an iris door with eight leaves--terribly old-fashioned. About ten steps away. Count them--one--two--three-- Alexander sighed as Kennon left the room. “I certainly pushed the panic button on that young man,” he said. “He has a pathological attitude toward telepathy. Wonder what he has to hide that he wants privacy so badly? Even for a Betan this reaction was violent.” “Oh, I don’t know. He’s a pretty emotional sort. Maybe he hates to look like a fool. He’s gotten himself mixed up with one of the Lani. Cute little thing by the name of Copper,” Blalok said. “Oh--that’s it. I thought that was what he was hiding. A picture of a girl kept popping up.” Alexander chuckled. “I suppose that’s the trouble. A man hardly likes to look a fool, particularly to someone who has warned him. At that, I don’t blame him. They are beautiful and affectionate. And even with their superstitions and tabus they’re better than most humans.” “For pets,” Blalok said heavily. “They’re not better at anything,” Jordan demurred. “They can’t be--man is the best and always will be.” “The eternal racial chauvinist,” Alexander murmured. He turned his attention to Blalok. “But for awhile, Evald, I’d suggest you keep an eye on our young man. I still don’t like his reaction. It was too violent--too defensive. I don’t feel right about it. Perhaps Betans are more sensitive than most people but it seems to me that he’s trying to conceal something. There was an undertone of fear--and something else--beneath his defenses.” “Couldn’t you get any more than that?” Blalok asked. “You’re pretty good at this mind-reading business.” “His defenses were remarkably good,” Alexander said dryly. * * *