"I propose we take it from the beginning and re-examine everything," said Francine. "Openly this time." "Why?" demanded Zakheim. "Because I'm satisfied that the answer's right in front of us somewhere," she said. "In the ultimatum, no doubt," said Goré. "What do you suppose is the _real_ meaning of their statement that human languages are '_limited_' communication? Perhaps they are telepathic?" "I don't think so," said Ohashi. "That's pretty well ruled out," said Francine. "Our Rhine people say no ESP. No. I'm banking on something else: By the very fact that they posed this question, they have indicated that we _can_ answer it with our present faculties." "_If_ they are being honest," said Zakheim. "I have no recourse but to assume that they're honest," she said. "They're turning us into linguistic detectives for a good reason." "A good reason for _them_," said Goré. "Note the phraseology of their ultimatum," said Ohashi. "They _submit_ a problem. They _open_ their rooms to us. They are _available_ to us. They _regret_ their threat. Even their display of power--admittedly awe-inspiring--has the significant characteristic of non-violence. No explosion. They offer rewards for success, and this...." "Rewards!" snorted Zakheim. "We lead the hog to its slaughter with a promise of food!" "I suggest that they give evidence of being non-violent," said Ohashi. "Either that, or they have cleverly arranged themselves to present the _face_ of non-violence." Francine turned, and looked out the hut's end window at the bulk of the spaceship. The low sun cast elongated shadows of the ship across the sand. Zakheim, too, looked out the window. "Why did they choose this place? If it had to be a desert, why not the Gobi? This is not even a good desert! This is a miserable desert!" "Probably the easiest landing curve to a site near a large city," said Goré. "It is possible they chose a desert to avoid destroying arable land." "Frogs!" snapped Zakheim. "I do not trust these frogs with their problem of communication!" * * * * * Francine turned back to the table, and took a pencil and scratch-pad from her briefcase. Briefly she sketched a rough outline of a Galactic, and wrote "frog?" beside it. Ohashi said: "Are you drawing a picture of your Galactic?" "We call it 'Uru' for the same reason you call yours 'Kobai'," she said. "It makes the sound 'Uru' ad nauseum."