"If he treats them right, they'll treat him right. They're not as
intelligent as I thought at first--maybe you've discovered that--but
they have their points."
"They're wonderful chess players."
"Fair," said Kalinoff critically. "Only fair. I always beat them,
but then, naturally, I'm very good. Maybe that's why they admire me.
They have great mathematical abilities, and they can visualize well,
but their language is primitive and in some ways they're halfwits.
There have been plenty of mathematical prodigies on Earth just like
them--wonders at calculating, and fools at everything else. To hell
with them. Let's get started."
"Wait a minute, Kalinoff. What about those huge beasts? Won't they be
dangerous to Carvalho?"
"Oh, them." Kalinoff chuckled. "I certainly gave you some off-beam
instructions before that radio of mine went on the blink. I really
thought at first that those two mountains I described with the
saddlebacked ridge between them would make a good landmark. Two days
afterward, I discovered that the ridges were living creatures. The
things have a habit of sheltering themselves from the Sun between a
pair of mountains. They wrap their necks around their bodies, tuck
their heads beside them, and you'd never know they were alive. They
don't move for days at a time."
"But when they _do_ move--"
"Leave them alone, and they leave you alone."
* * * * *