“Yes, Mr. Holloway.” Kellogg’s smile was getting more mechanical every minute. He was having trouble keeping his eyes off Baby. “I must say, I was simply astounded at the high order of intelligence claimed for these creatures.”
“And you wanted to see how big a liar I was. I don’t blame you; I had trouble believing it myself at first.”
Kellogg gave a musically blithe laugh, showing even more dental equipment.
“Oh, no. Mr. Holloway; please don’t misunderstand me. I never thought anything like that.”
“I hope not,” Ben Rainsford said, not too pleasantly. “I vouched for Mr. Holloway’s statements, if you’ll recall.”
“Of course, Bennett; that goes without saying. Permit me to congratulate you upon a most remarkable scientific discovery. An entirely new order of mammals—”
“Which may be the ninth extrasolar sapient race,” Rainsford added.
“Good heavens, Bennett!” Kellogg jettisoned his smile and slid on a look of shocked surprise. “You surely can’t be serious?” He looked again at the Fuzzies, pulled the smile back on and gave a light laugh.
“I thought you’d heard that tape,” Rainsford said.
“Of course, and the things reported were most remarkable. But sapiences! Just because they’ve been taught a few tricks, and use sticks and stones for weapons—” He got rid of the smile again, and quick-changed to seriousness. “Such an extreme claim must only be made after careful study.”