In words of one syllable I explained, then, what I had at last learned: that the human beings of this planet were not precisely like those of the Earth. They were unquestionably related, somewhere back down through the ages. But Nature had worked a significant change in the process by which new life could be started. Fertilization in the female was accomplished by her own action and her own preference. Nature had equipped her arms-- "Arms, did you say?" Campbell fairly shouted through the radio. "Go on." I continued. Nature had equipped her arms, I explained, with tiny thorn-like projections which could penetrate the arms or sides of the male like needles. By this means she drew blood from his bloodstream. A very slight transfusion of male blood into the female bloodstream was the act that accomplished fertilization. "You see, Campbell, woman does not bear a child except by her own premeditated choice," I explained. "You and I were puzzled by the elbow furs all these women wear. Now you see. It's a natural bit of extra clothing. The dictates of modesty." "Well!" Campbell said. "Then you and I allowed ourselves--" "We were simply chosen. Not knowing the score, we were innocent bystanders--well, more or less innocent--and pitifully ignorant. Unfortunately for us, these were matters the Benzendellas don't talk about freely." Campbell paused for a moment of confused thinking. "Just a minute, Captain. I've been observing these savages--home life and all. There's no lack of normal affections among them, in our own sense of the word. They're equipped physically, just as we are--plus the arm thorns. They have the same organs, the same functions--" "For purposes of affection, yes. But the arms--that's separate--for conception." "Well I'll be blasted!" Campbell was speechless for a long moment. Then, "I think I'll go back to Earth." I was not surprised at his decision. It was what I expected, what I would have advised. He had had more than one man's share of this planet, for one who didn't expect to take root here. But my own life here was just beginning. I had thought it out. My guess was that my long record of service for the EGGWE could withstand some variation. An application for release would very likely win an approval, especially in view of my change to serve the EGGWE purposes even better by becoming a Benzendella. When I announced this plan, by radio, to the new Captain Campbell, formerly known as Split, but now commonly referred to on this planet as the hero of the Benzendella migration, he said he was not surprised. "Congratulations, Linden, for knowing what you wanted. Stay aboard that Kao-Wagwattl. There's a beautiful land waiting for you up ahead." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Serpent River, by Don Wilcox