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vious visits. I could have sworn that subtle techniques were
not needed, and that we could just come in with our power
crowbars and smash the place up." He explained, "That's al-
ways the simplest method. It does the job right now, and it's
out of the way. We install our subordinate government and
await instructions from the committee." He shook his head.
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"Not like your Earth. Remember? There, confronted by the
existence of an atomic civilization, we had to adopt a method
that required several hundred years."
He abruptly remembered his purpose. "The situation is
very serious. Even you may shortly be inconvenienced by
Gunyan energy blasts, if you don't give us some help."
There was an earnestness hi his manner that carried con-
viction. "Exactly what has happened?" Modyun asked.
A pause, then frankly: "Our landing craft are immobi-
lized," said the Nunuli, "and a large Gunyan force -perhaps
the equivalent of two divisions has taken over the entire
rear section of the ship, including the big park there. They
did it by a method which is not obvious to me and my tech-
nical advisers."
"Possibly," nodded Modyun, "that's where I could be of
assistance. Why don't you and I visit the rear section? I
presume you're now willing to abandon this attack?"
"Yes, of course." The creature seemed distraught. "But first
we must disengage and reembark our ground forces. A good
two hundred thousand men are down there."
Modyun was impressed. "That's certainly a large number,
and presumably it includes my four animal friends. They told
me that the drawing-by-lot method had selected all of them."
"I wouldn't know anything about such details," said the
Nunuli hastily.
Modyun, one hand on the door, turned and frowned at the
alien. "The way you said that" he spoke slowly "makes
me wonder about your 'lot' system. Could it possibly be on
the same level of integrity as the hearings back on Earth were
as to the destination of this vessel?" His eyes narrowed. "Is it
possible that my special friends were deliberately chosen, and
were assigned to most dangerous tasks in the hope that they
would suffer injury or death?"
"No, no, I swear." The Nunuli was flustered. "There could
be no point." He paused desperately. "If your friends are
down there, the sooner you intervene, the better. I can assure
you it's a total nightmare. Something has to be done, or the
entire force will be wiped out."
"I can't quite imagine what I can do," said Modyun, "but
since the purpose is stop the attack, let's go and see."
With that, he opened the door and stepped out into the
corridor. The Nunuli followed close behind him.
XXIV
ALMOST AT once, they had a hard time moving.
Swarms of animal people were coming from the rear.
There were squealing sounds, and the clump and clatter of
feet as men and women anxiously pressed toward the forward
part of the ship.
"Stay directly behind me," Modyun urged the Nunuli, as
he interposed his larger body between the fragile alien and
several large animal people hurrying toward them, pushing at
them and past them as if they were not there. It was a
mindless throng essentially unaware of the two persons at-
tempting to go in the opposite direction. Fortunately, it was
uneven in its masses. Sometimes, there was a considerable
empty space where the terrified were merely approaching.
During such moments, the two the human and the Nun-
uli made rapid headway.
Finally, they came to an area where wounded and dead lay
on the floor. At that point, amid the groans of the injured
and the dying, Modyun felt a plucking at one elbow from be-
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hind.
"Where are you going?" asked the Nunuli. The smooth
face seemed somehow different, as if its color was not quite
as bright a gray as it normally was. And all the little worms
on the head, seemed to be coiled into tiny knots, and lay very
flat against the head.
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