Jackson grinned. "Yes, slightly. Your manners as a guest have been very bad. You have been childishly annoyed by what you cannot understand and you will be childishly treated, all of you except the man who has been talking a little more sensibly to me." With that he easily picked the Commander up, fell back into a chair and turned Linder over to give him a few sharp whacks. While Stern looked on helplessly, others grabbed Barnes and the rest, in each case administering a brief spanking. Even as the Nodarians spanked away most of them continued to look toward the movie wall for a further supply of irrationality.
A minute later the red-faced visitors were set back on their feet while most of their mild assailants walked away, each laughing on one side of his face or the other. Jackson held two empty palms toward them. "You see—nothing else. You are free to go."
Linder struggled to reassert his dignity. "This isn't the end of the matter."
"Of course not, Commander. Some day we'll reestablish the contact you so ardently desire. Very peacefully too."
"Council will not wait that long," Linder said over his shoulder as he stalked away.
They returned to the ship in silence and when those who had remained on board demanded to know what had happened Linder insisted they be told nothing. "The matter," he said ominously, "will be settled when we reach Terra. Stern, you're to keep silent too. Council is going to be very interested in finding out why you received such favored treatment."
"But, Commander, I think I have a slight idea what this is all about—"
"Not interested in your ideas," Linder said angrily, striding away. "Tell them to Council."
"I don't have the equipment in my cabin to work the analysis out."