“Huh? What do you mean?”
“You have recognized that we are not mutated members of your race.”
Orne swallowed. Into his ears came Stetson’s voice: “Better admit it.”
“That’s true,” said Orne.
“I like you, Orne,” said Tanub. “You shall be one of my slaves. You will teach me many things.”
“How did you capture the Delphinus?” asked Orne.
“You know that, too?”
“You have one of their rifles,” said Orne.
“Your race is no match for us, Orne ... in cunning, in strength, in the prowess of the mind. Your ship landed to repair its tubes. Very inferior ceramics in those tubes.”
Orne turned, looked at Tanub in the dim glow of the cab light. “Have you heard about the I-A, Tanub?”