The creature was round, two feet in diameter. Appendages of linked crystals extended to the controls on the panel. Apparently these appendages could be extruded and withdrawn at will. As Craig stared, an appendage was withdrawn from the control panel and another was extended from the circular body. If it had eyes, they were not visible, if it had ears, he could not see them. There was no mouth, no nose, there was only this globe of shining pulsing crystals.
"Where—where is the man we were talking to?" Craig whispered. In his mind was still the lingering thought that they had spoken to a man.
"You were talking to me." A slight orange pulsation passed over the crystals as the voice came.
"Who—who—"
"I am Filo of the Sorodromes," the voice answered. The crystals glowed with a deep red color as if being Filo of the Sorodromes was a great thing. "Why did you think something was wrong in the ship?"
"Well—"
"Speak the facts. Have you humans grown suspicious?"
"Suspicious of what?"
"Of the existence of the Sorodromes. Has some member of the crew revealed our existence?" The globe showed a violent green at the question.
"No," Craig answered. "Not so far as I know."