Baren Darl stared at him for a long period, unbelievingly. Obviously, the I.Q. Depressor had been worthless as far as undermining the earthling's intelligence is concerned. Finally this alleged authority on Earthlings and upon Earth affairs flashed a look of despair at me, and at the others of us who stood around him. "The fleas," he blurted finally, "the lepbonic plague fleas. This weapon alone might well destroy the whole population of earth. Bring the fleas." I said coldly, "We shall see, Baren Darl." Then to one of the warriors, "Bring the fleas that carry this so _deadly_--so Baren Darl tells us--lepbonic plague." * * * * * The Earthling was ignoring us now and had gone back to taking an occasional drink from his jug. Our warrior approached carefully from behind him and dropped a half dozen of the supposedly deadly insects upon the Earthling's back. We then stood back and watched cautiously. According to Baren Darl, the fast spreading disease should take effect almost immediately. The Earthling sat there, the I.Q. Depressor still tuned on but obviously unable to lower his intelligence an iota. He continued to sip from the jug of white mule, which had enough _nark_ in it to kill thousands. Occasionally, he scratched himself. "I guess I'll take me a nap," he said thickly, his words slurred. He scratched himself once again, yawned deeply, and slumped against the tree, obviously in sleep. Baren Darl looked at me triumphantly. "The reaction is somewhat different than we'd expected, but obviously the fleas have given him lepbonic plague. This weapon at least is as successful as we had--" I peered down at the Earthling suspiciously. His clothes were disarrayed and torn. I pointed at a speck on his uncouthly hairy chest. "And what is that?" I snapped at Baren Darl. He bent down to see what I indicated. "It seems to be one of the fleas," he told me. "Then what is it doing on its back with its feet up in the air?" "It seems indisposed." "It seems _dead_ you numbskull!" I roared at him. "After biting this Earthling your fleas have died!" In a high rage, I strode up and down the clearing trying to coordinate my thoughts to the point where I could make an intelligent decision on this situation. Obviously, a crisis was at hand. Using these weapons devised by our scientists, after detailed instructions on their construction by Baren Darl and his group of efficient "experts," would obviously be suicidal. They were completely worthless. I came to a snap conclusion. Our plan must be to reveal ourselves to the Earthlings as Martians and pretend to come bearing them only good will and desire for peace and commerce. A few months on their planet, closely--but unbeknown to them--studying their life form, should give us ample opportunity to plan more effective weapons against them. This then was my decision.