"Yes--but not in the way you're thinking. It's been reported that the
Saucers are Russian or Argentine or Brazilian or Chinese--that's what
we're told. But that's simply Pretend War propaganda and almost no one
believes it any longer. Most of us think of them as Outspacers."
"And you think they're moving in?"
"I think they're watching--sort of--well, sort of monitoring."
"Monitoring us? What for?"
"No, not us. I think they've planted children among us. I think the
Outspacers are _school-teachers_."
Ann got briskly to her feet. "I think," she said, "that we'll take your
temperature and see if perhaps you shouldn't be in bed."
"Wait, Ann, I'm serious. I know it sounds crazy, but it isn't. Think of
it this way--here's a race, obviously humanoid, on another star system.
For some reason, overpopulation or whatever, they have to find room on
another planet. Let's assume they're a highly civilized race--they'd
have to be to have interstellar travel--so, of course, they can't simply
take over Earth in an act of aggression. That would be repugnant to
them.
"So they _seed_ our planet with their children. These children are
geniuses. When they grow up, they are naturally the leaders of the
world's governments and they're in a position to allow the Outspacers to
live with us on Earth. To live peacefully with us, whereas now, if the
Outspacers were to try to live here, it would mean war."
"And you think Bobby is one of these--these seedlings?"
"Maybe. He's unbelievingly intelligent. _And_ he's a foundling."
"What has that to do with it?"
"I've looked up the statistics on foundlings. When the Saucers first
began to appear, back in the 20th Century, the number of foundlings
began to increase. Not a lot, but some. Then the Saucers disappeared for
almost two and a half centuries and the number decreased. Now, since the
Outspacers are once more evident, the number of foundlings has increased
very greatly."
"And your other geniuses? All foundlings?"
"Not all. But that doesn't mean anything--plenty of foundlings are
adopted. And who knows which child is an adopted one?"