By H. B. FYFE
Illustrated by SCHELLING
It is a considerable talent—to be
able to use the minds of other beings
to see for you, to talk for you. It
is also a considerable risk.
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Amazing Stories December 1963.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
It is hard ... to be made a server by a being from outside the herd. It is hard to remember who is who. Another is inside the head. The Klygha. He dreams to wake the cat. What is sleep?
Who is a ... why is a cat? It is not the herd-mind, the mover of the Terrans. Yet, it is not served by them nor does it serve.
The cat dreams—it fears. We fear with it. The mouth chasing us is filled with shining teeth. The cat dreams that it runs. What is it to run? We ache to flop into the sea and swim away. The cat makes growls and hisses.
Partly, it is served by the Terrans. With food, with tickles. It does not work or hunt. Yet it is not their herd-mind. They have not a ... no, they have many independent minds, many movers. The Klygha has one; but there is one of him and four Terrans. One in his travelling-shell, back ... there. Four in this shell balanced, pointing high, before us. And the cat. And we along the sea-edge, watching while feeding among the breakers.