"Look," snapped Downing, "it happens that you're sneering at my personality, remember?"
"I wouldn't have your personality for a gift."
"You couldn't—it's too big for the like of you!"
"All right," said Kennebec. "Stop it."
Toralen Ki said, sorrowfully: "I might have been dishonest, Co-ordinator Kennebec. I should have told them that the mental transformation would prove who was the better man."
"A convincing lie for the benefit of mankind is often better than the disquieting truth," observed Kennebec.
Thompson looked up. "What they need is to have their heads knocked together," he said sourly. "A fine rotten pair."
"Look," started Downing.
"Now listen," grated Lane.
"Shut up!" snapped Thompson. "You've both heard what Toralen Ki said. You know what's heading this way. You are aware of just what can happen on Sol if Sol isn't smart. And you sit there like a pair of flat-headed imbeciles, prating about your own petty fight. Patricia was right. It is a sorry day for civilization when it must depend upon the likes of you. Why don't you get smart? Where is your good sense?"