"Shouldn't what?"
"Shouldn't--period!"
"Well, I intend to return after we get this thing off of our chests.
This gang is not human. They aren't the kind you could trust, but they
are interesting. It is really something to see their civilization--and
to see just how catlike they behave. They never laugh. Their exhibition
of amusement is a deep-throated purr. And when one of 'em gets his feet
stepped on, he hisses like a couple of cats squaring off on the back
fence."
* * * * *
Thompson came up, followed by the spraying doctors. "This is all very
fine," he said. "But we've wasted a lot of time. The Little Men are
getting quite nervous."
Downing looked at Lane. "I'm sort of glad you turned up," he said
flatly. "Especially with permission to hunt that thing."
Lane smiled bitterly. "If I hadn't turned up, Downing, you'd have spent
the next fifteen years combing this system for confirmation, wouldn't
you?"
"Naturally. Now let's find that machine. I've got a little project of
rivet-clipping ahead."
Thompson intervened. "Seems to me that you've both accomplished plenty.
Lane here gained the confidence of the catmen and Downing has the fleet
equipped with heavy stuff."
"Who?" asked Lane. "I have a hunch that it was your doing, Billy."
"And any confidence-getting he did was strictly fear of our natural
environment coming here," returned Stellor Downing.
"All right, break it up."
"We're all to return here as soon as we get the machine destroyed,"
said Lane. "They want to know what the answer is, just as we do. I have
a hunch that finding the machine itself will tell us plenty."