“Minds that could conceive that? No, we can’t. So that was what brought you here-you wanted to see if Harmon was right in his neutral policy? Now you know-with that we have no common ground. And we’ll have to make the others understand. If we do meet Those Others—the result will undoubtedly be war.”
“Fifty- three of us-maybe a whole nation of them left.” Dard was still sick and shaken-sensing a deep inner violation.
First there had been the tyranny of Pax, which had been man-made and so understandable, in all its narrow cruelty, because it had been the work of human beings. And now this-which man dared not-touch!
Kimber had regained control of himself. There was even a trace of the familiar impish grin on his face as he said:
“When the fighting is the toughest, that’s when our breed digs in toes. And we needn’t borrow trouble. Get Kordov and Harmon in here. If we are going to discuss the offer of the mermen we want them to know what to expect from overseas.”
But- to Dard’s dismay-the projection of Those Others’ tapes aroused in Harmon no more than a vague uneasiness -though it shook Kordov. And, as they insisted on the rest of the men viewing it, they discovered that it varied in its effects upon different individuals. Rogan, sensitive to communication devices, almost fainted after a few moments’ strict attention. Santee admitted that he did not like it but couldn’t say why. But, in the end, the weight of evidence was that they could not hope to deal with Those Others.
“I’m still sayin’,” Harmon insisted, “that we shouldn’t get pulled into anything them sea people has started. You say them pictures make Those Others regular devils. Well, they’re still across the sea. We shouldn’t go lookin’ for trouble-then maybe we don’t find none!”
“We’re not suggesting an expeditionary force, Tim,” Kimber answered mildly. “But if they are alive overseas they may just get the idea to reclaim this land-and you’d want to know about it ahead of time if they did. The mermen will keep us informed. Then we could supply them with better arms.”
“Yeah, and right there you’ve got trouble! You make sea-goin’ ray guns and the first thing you know they’re gonna use ’em. They hate Those Others don’t they? Back on earth we picked off a Peaceman whenever we got the chance, didn’t we? And let that happen a coupla times and Those Others are gonna come lookin’ for where those new guns came from. I ain’t sayin’ we oughta turn our backs on the mermen-they seem peaceful. But we’re plain foolish if we get mixed up in any war of theirs. I said it before and I’m gonna keep on sayin’ it!”
“All right, Tim. And you’re speaking the truth. But this is good land, ain’t it?”