Still the mutants continued. Since the aliens had stepped up the power in the two transmitters (power that closed the final connection in the mutants' brains and held it closed) the mutants were able to assault any problem with the full potentialities of the human brain. But even that was not enough. The aliens had planned carefully in order to keep the two mutant groups from discovering each other.
Forential came to make a special announcement. He spoke English with an accent that the mutants (who had learned the language from him) could not even imitate. As he surveyed them, his eyes shone with pride: they were a good, sturdy, healthy lot. "Children," he said. "Earth is now in the middle of a war. There will be little work left for us within another two months."
Calvin cried and waved his arms wildly and bounced the ball viciously around the room. Every earthman who killed an earthman was depriving him personally, of a victim. He wrung his hands.
"There'll be a thousand or so left, Calvin," Forential promised. "You must practice very diligently to be able to cope with them."
Calvin sniffed and shook his head. "I can kill that many in a minute. You stop the war, Forential, please."
"Think of it this way," Forential said. "The less work there is to do, the sooner you can return to your own planet."
"There's no earthmen to kill on Lyria," Calvin insisted stubbornly. "Please stop the war."
"I'll see what I can do." The alien smiled kindly. "You have the proper spirit. You are all very good children. You hurry, now, and practice all you can."
I can see Lyria's star now, Walt thought. We'll be home in another year, then. How welcome that will be....