Ernest made a face. "I forgot to put it in verse. I'll try again."
This time the response was immediate. Both man and woman spoke at once. Then the woman smiled and nodded to the man to talk for both of them.
It was just a curious sing-song humming for the rest of them, but Ernest listened with rapt attention and apparent comprehension, though not without strain.
Finally the man stopped.
"What did he say?" Rosco demanded.
"Let me get the rest of it first," Ernest said. He spoke to the man briefly. His expression became grave as he listened to the reply.
"Well, come on!" Doc said impatiently. "Give us a translation."
"All right," Ernest said. He looked troubled. "These two are the only ones left of their race. The rest are dead—de-activated. The others—the other race—left the planetoid some time ago."
Ernest spoke again to the man. Listening to his reply, he found it difficult to think of him as non-human. There was a sadness, a fatalism, in his eyes, yet a dignity that came only with humanity. Only a hairline separated these two from mankind.
The impatience of the others made Ernest interrupt, so he could give them a resumé.