The doggondest, cheeriest
little town in America!
The two aliens smiled at each other. Unaccustomed to oral conversation,
they exchanged thoughts.
"_The crypterpreter worked incredibly fast. The language is quite
simple. It would seem safe to proceed. The sign indicates
friendliness_," thought Toryl, the older of the two Capellans.
"_Very well, Brother_," replied Sartan, "_though I still worry for the
safety of the ship_."
"_Sartan, our instruments tell us that anyone who discovers the ship_,"
Toryl explained, a trifle impatient, "_will show a remarkable degree of
curiosity before they display any hostility_."
Sartan agreed to dismiss his worries and the two aliens began to walk
along the barren highway. Before them, at a great distance, they could
see a cluster of small frame buildings. When they had walked a hundred
feet or more they encountered another sign.