"Do you know both languages?"
"No," answered the alien. "That's why we use the menta-phone."
"What do you know of the space motor?"
"Very little. It is, as you know, dangerous. We are forbidden to experiment on it."
"You know it is dangerous?" asked Barden.
"We have excellent reason to believe so. Our studies have been purely theoretical. But tell me, how do you hope to accomplish this mission of yours?"
"One of you four will be permitted to land and carry our message. One of the enemy race will do likewise."
The alien disagreed. "You can never land," he said. "You can not even approach."
"No?" said Barden harshly. "Well, we'll plant our motors first. And you'll use whatever you have to communicate with them and you'll tell 'em all. Then, my squat friend, there had better be a ten-thousand piece brass brand playing the Solar Anthem as we land! Or else!"