A tall man next to Ferguson spoke to Crawford. "How about it, Bert? My household would get along more smoothly with about six less mouths to feed and six less backs to cover."
A fat bearded man directly on Herl's left shook his head rapidly several times. "No, no, no, no!"
Crawford spoke noncommittally. "Commissioner Guildris of Health and Welfare objects."
Guildris stood up. "I certainly do. Not only are the Eyefers hardly competent to colonize anything, but the whole success of our cultural and genetic experiment hinges on their being here among us as an example of what we must avoid if we are to succeed as a race!" He sat down, plumph, on the air-cushion of his chair.
Crawford turned to Herl. "I can explain about the Eyefers while we are waiting for your things from the ship," he assured Herl. "They are really quite important in our scheme of things, as Guildris says."
Herl was startled. "You mean you're sending somebody for my things?" he wanted to know.
"Certainly, if you like. If you don't trust a man to get them, I'll go along with you and we can talk then."
Herl relaxed. "There may be a good many things you'll be interested in when you see the pictures," he said.
The members of the group suddenly seemed a little tense.