"We ought to shoot it. Maybe it's got some playmates around here. Archie, you got no business petting big purple balls. Remember what happened when you started fooling around with that orange thing back on LTX-R-76—whatever it was?"
"He didn't have any eyes, Ed. Look at this thing's eyes: It couldn't hurt us; it just wants to watch. I think we should—"
His words were drowned by a frightful noise and a terrible shock. The sky went dark.
"Damn unpleasant sunsets they got around here," yawned Ed nonchalantly.
Archie picked himself up from the dust. "What sort of a crazy planet are you muggs running here?" He shook his fist at the purple sphere. "Hey—hey, Ed—look! It glows in the dark!" The sphere's purple fur emitted rich violet light, and its great eyes shone bright white around their jet black pupils. They looked sadly at Archie. Ed lit a cigarette.
"So do lots of things. It makes a better target this way. I think we ought to have it for breakfast tomorrow. We got a lot of work to do, and I'm sick of beans."
"You let it alone, Bailey, or I'll smash you."
"I was just kidding. You can keep it." He yawned viciously. "I'm turning in. If you want to stick around with Fido all night, hop to it. I'm closing this hatch and getting as far away as I can."
He threw down his cigarette. "Coming?"
Archie petted the sphere tenderly, then ambled leisurely to the ship. "Coming. Not that I don't trust Melancholy, but there might be something else crawling around out there. Help me up."