For two of the natives, each absorbed in his own purpose and destination, had collided. Their dull faces lit up with momentary glares of anger; then the customary lack of expression returned and each continued on his apathetic way.
"Well, the poor things can't communicate," Jane sprang to the defense. "Maybe they don't have vocal cords."
"Listen, shug," Ned said, "you don't have to have vocal chords in order to communicate. There are other ways of getting a message across besides talking."
"You mean like telepathy?"
"I mean like gestures, hitting a stone with a stick ... anything. The only reason these things don't communicate is because they have nothing to say."
"Anyhow, they do have vocal cords," Danny contributed. "Listen!"
One of the natives who had been in the collision had looked over his shoulder for a parting glare at his opponent and had, therefore, run smack into a third native who was gathering roots with his eyes on the ground. Apparently this was too much for Native A. He threw a stone at Native C. Native C uttered a hoarse cry of rage—which was what had led Danny to deduce the existence of vocal cords in the species—and threw a sizeable stone at Native A. Both stones missed their targets. Native A and Native C continued on their respective ways, each glaring back at the other. It was obvious that both would presently be involved in similar encounters.
"Well," Judy commented, "they can communicate anger at any rate."