A look of comprehension dawned upon the golden man's features.
"Ah, yes. Here, in my city, all men speak by thought—that is the purpose of this radiance which surrounds me—to help pick up and to transmit thoughts. Apparently your race is not so gifted. I wondered why you writhed your lips peculiarly when you questioned me! Your brain must be a very powerful one indeed to transmit thoughts without any natural aid."
Drawers laughed inwardly at the unexpected compliment. Men had often told him that he possessed a marvelous physique, but no one had ever attempted to hint that his brain was other than passably mediocre, even poor. And here, the most intelligent little man he had ever met—not over five feet tall—a man with the power to transmit thoughts telepathically—an achievement that practically no earthman could boast, had told him that he was unusually gifted in a mental sort of a way. It was funny, ironic.
Suddenly Drawers became almost timid in the presence of this superb little creature. There was almost a god-like quality about him. An innate goodness, kindness, that could be taken for granted.
"Would you care to partake of our hospitality?" came an inviting thought.
The invitation brought a gasp of amazement to Michel Drawers' lips, and also a trace of suspicion.
This little man before him, who, common sense said must be feeling uneasy, to put it mildly, in the presence of a stranger of hitherto unknown size and undetermined strength—someone who was as different in make-up and physique from his as night is from day—still had been able to suppress his fears sufficiently to extend a cordial invitation.
"Oh—I can stay on the ship," Drawers replied, his mind sparring for additional time to clear its confusion.
"My people would be very interested in meeting you," the golden man replied.
Still, Drawers hung back with obvious reluctance. This man was small, but it wasn't size that counted, as experience had taught him—it was brains—and this alien had those in super abundance. How was he to know the creature's motives? Perhaps they might overcome him with some strange ray, and use him for some diabolical experiment.