XIThe Industrialist stared, looked at the Astronomer, turned to stare again.
“Those?”
“Those,” said the Astronomer. “I have no doubt we appear strange and repulsive to them.”
“What do they say?”
“Why, that they are uncomfortable and tired and even a little sick, but that they are not seriously damaged, and that the youngsters treated them well.”
“Treated them well! Scooping them up, keeping them in a cage, giving them grass and raw meat to eat? Tell me how to speak to them.”
“It may take a little time. Think at them. Try to listen. It will come to you, but perhaps not right away.”
The Industrialist tried. He grimaced with the effort of it, thinking over and over again, “The youngsters were ignorant of your identity.”
And the thought was suddenly in his mind: “We were quite aware of
