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by and I d~cided to toss in a joker； we felt that it was a place for humans to stay away from。
〃But the Little People are the source of the concepts that Andy Libby worked out as field theory that anyone can use； and all space pilots； puter and human； do use。 But I had never gone back there because…well； Mary and I had been close。 So close that it was a blow to me when she 'went over。' More disturbing than a death； some ways~
〃But the years do mellow a memory and I did want to consult。 So the twins and I set out in the 'Dora' to try to find that pla； from a set of coordinates and a ballistic Andy had assigned a long time back。 The ballistic was slightly off； but a star doesn't move far in only two thousand years； we found it。
〃No trouble then； I had warned Lor and Laz most solemnly of the subtle danger of the place。 They listened； and that made them as immune to the place as I am…not tempted to swap their individual personalities for a pseudo…immortality。 In fact； they had a wonderful time； the place is charming； and safe in all other ways。 Hadn't changed much； one huge park。
〃I orbited first…it's their pla； and they have powers we don't ken。 Same as last time； a Doppelg鋘ger of a Little Per…
son showed up in the 'Dora' and invited us down to visit；。 only this time it called me by name…in my head； they don't use oral speech…and admitted to being Mary Sperling。 That shook me but it was good news。 She…'it；' I mean…it seemed mildly pleased to see me but not especially intereste4； it was not like meeting a beloved old friend but more like meeting a stranger who nevertheless remembered what that old friend remembered。〃
〃I understand it；〃 the puter said。 〃Something like Minerva and me； huh？〃
〃Yes； dear 。 。 except that you had a more positive personality your very first day than this creature who used the name of my old friend 。 。 and you've been getting positiver and positiver for the past three years。〃
〃01' Buddy Boy； I'll bet you tell that to all the girls。〃
〃Could be。 Please keep quiet； dear。 Nothing more to tell； Justin； save that we grounded and stayed a few days； and Dora and I consulted with the Little People about space…time field theory while the twins listened and enjoyed playing tourist。 But； Justin； when the Families left there； returning to Earth in the 'New Frontiers；' you will recall that we left some ten thousand behind。〃
〃Eleven thousand； one hundred； and eighty…three；〃 I answered； 〃according to log of the 'New Frontiers。'〃
〃Is that what we logged？ Should have been more； maybe； as the logged figure was reconstructed by seeing who couldn't be mustered； so almost certainly there were unregistered children among those who elected to stay behind； we were there quite a piece。 But the exact number doesn't matter。 Justin； call it an even ten thousand。 Given …a favorable environment； how many would you expect to find there after two thousand years？〃
I used the arbitrary expansion。 〃Approximately ten to the twenty…second…which is ridiculous。 I would expect either a stabilized optimax…call it ten to the tenth…or a Malthusian catastrophe； in not over seven to eight centuries。〃
〃Justin； there were none。 Nor any sign that men had ever been there。〃
〃What happened to them？〃
〃What happened to Neanderthal Man？ What happens to any champion when he's defeated？ Justin； what's the point in striying when you're so outclassed that it's no contest？ The Little People have the perfect Utopia…no strife； no petition； no population problem； no poverty； perfect harmony
A ~1'~
with their beautiful pla。 Paradise； 〃Justin！ The' Little People are all the things that philosophers and religious leaders throughout history have been urging the human race to bee。
〃Maybe they are perfect； Justin。 Maybe they are what the human race can bee 。 。 in another million years。 Or ten million。
〃But when I say that their Utopia frightens me； that I think it is deadly to human beings； and that they themselves look like a dead end to me； I am not running them down。 Oh； no！ They know far more about mathematics and science than I do…or I wouldn't have gone there to 'consult them。 I can't imagine fighting them because it wouldn't be a fight； they would already have won against anything we could attempt。 If we became obnoxious to them； I can't guess what would happen…and don't want to find out。 But I don't see any danger as long as we leave them alone as we don't have anything they want。 So it appears to me…but what's the opinion of one old Neanderthal？ I understand them as little as that kitten over there understands astrogation。
〃I don't know what happened to the Howards who stayed behind。 Some may have gone over and been assimilated； as Mary Sperling did。 I didn't ask； I didn't want to know。 Some may have lapsed into lotus…eaters' apathy and died。 I doubt if many reproduced…although it is possible that there were subhumans around being kept as pets。 If so； I most especially did not want to know it。 I got what I wanted： a corroborating opinion on a mathematical oddity in field physics…then gathered up my girls and left。
〃We did one thing before we left that neighborhood： We made a ball…of…twine photographic survey of their pla； then had Athene exami~e it when we got back。 Teena？〃
〃Sure； Buddy Boy。 Justin； if there is a humanartifact on the surface of that pla； it is less than a half meter in diameter。〃
〃So I assume that they are all dead；〃 ' Lazarus said grimly； 〃and I shan't go back。 No； the trip to PK3722 was not a trialrun time trip； but just a；co~tion star hop。 The test run will be about as simple and' quite〃~safe； as it will not involve put。 ting down on a pla？et。 Want to e along？ Or shall we take Galahad？〃
〃Pappy；〃 Galahad said earnestly； 〃I am young； beautiful； healthy； and happy； and plan to stay that way； you are not volunteering me for any such harebrained junket。 I'm not making any more star' hops of any sort； I'm the home…loving
type。 I've made one landing with Hot Pilot Lorelei at the overrides。 That's enough； I'm convinced。〃
〃Now； boy； be reasonable；〃 Lazarus said gently。 〃When we do this； my girls will be old enough to want active male attention…which I am not going to supply； I would lose all control over them。 Think of it as your duty。〃
〃When you start talking about 'duty；' I break out with hives。 The trouble is； Pappy； you're a sissy； afraid of two little girls。〃
〃Could be。 Because they won't be little girls much longer。
Justinr'
I thoug1~t furiously。 To be invited by the Senjor to take a star trip with him is not an honor to turn down。 That it included an attempt to travel in time did not bother me； the idea seemed unreal。 But it couldn't be dangerous or he wouldn't be taking his sister…daughters along…and； besides； I felt that Lazarus was unkillable； a passenger with him should be safe。 Gigolo for his girls？…Lazarus was farcing Galahad； I was sure 。 。 as I was certain ；that Lazi and Lori would settle such matters to suit themselves。 〃Lazarus； I will go anywhere you ask me to go。〃
〃Hold it！〃 objected Galahad。 〃Pappy； Tamara isn't going to like this。〃
〃No trouble； Son。 Tamara is wele； ' and I think she would enjoy it。 She's not chicken like some people we won't mention。〃
〃What？〃 Galahad sat up straight。 〃Take away Tamara
and Justin 。 。 and our twins 。 。 and you yourself？ Half the family？ And leave the rest of us here to mourn？〃 Galahad took a deep breath； sighed it out。 〃All right； I give up。 I volunteer。 But leave Justin and Tamara at home。 And the twins； we can't risk them。 You pilot； I'll cook。 As long as we last； that is。〃
〃Galahad shows unexpected streaks of nobility；〃 Lazarus said to no one in particular。 〃It'll get him killed yet。 Forget it； Son； I don't need a cook； Dora is a better cook than either of us~ The twins will insist on going； and I need to supervise them through a couple of time jumps； later they will have to do it alone。〃
Lazarus turned to me。 〃Justin； while you are wele； it will be a dull trip。 You would know you'd traveled in time only because I'd tell you so。 I have in mind going to a pla easy to Ibid because Libby and I surveyed it and he determined its ballistic accurately。 I'm not planning to land； it's a
moderately dangerous place。 But it happens to be a pla I can use as a clock。
〃This may sound silly。 But it is hard to be sure of the date in space； other than by your inboard clocks…in particular the radioactive…decay clocks of your puter。 Telling 'time by examining celestial bodies is difficult and involves subtle measurements and long calculation； it is more practical to ground on a civilized pla and bang on somebody's door and ask。
〃There are exceptions…any stellar system with known ephemerides of its plas； such as here； or Secundus' star； or the 'Solar System； and others…if Dora has such data in her gizzards； she can look at such a system and read the time by its plas as if they were hands on a clock…Libby did that； with the Solar System from。 the 'New Frontiers。'
〃But on this trial trip I'll be calibrating a time…travel clock
…another matter and new。 I left something in orbit around that pla on a known date。 Later I could not find it； despite having equipped it so that I certainly should have found it。 Uh 。 。 it was Andy Libby's coffin。
〃Very well； I'll go look again； trying to split two known dates。 If I find it； I will have begun calibration of a time…travel clock…as well as proving that the time…trip theory is correct。 Follow me？〃
〃I think so；〃 I admitted； 〃to the extent of seeing that it is an experimental proof。 But field theory is so far from my own specialty that I can't say more。〃
〃No need to。 I don't understand it too well myself。 The first puter desi？ned to manage Libby…Sheffield drive was a reflection of Andy's unique mind； all since are refinements。 If a pilot tells you he understands it and uses a puter simply because it's faster； don't ride with him； he's a phony。 Eh； Teena？〃
〃I understand astrogation；〃 said the puter； 〃because Minerva replicated Dora's astrogation circuitry and programming in me。 But I do not think that it is possible to discuss it in English； or even Galacta； or any language using word elements。 I can print out the basic equations and thereby show a static picture…a slice…of a dynamic process。 Shall I do so？〃
〃Don't bother；〃 said Lazarus。
〃Heavens； no！〃 I echoed。' 〃Thank you； Athene； but I have' no ambition to be a star pilot。〃
〃Galahad；〃 said Lazarus； 〃How about rousing your lazy carcass …and finding a little snack for lunch？ Say about four
thousand calories each。 Justin； I asked if you plan to go back to Secundus because I don't want you to。〃
〃That suits me！〃
〃Pallas Athene； make this a private record； keyed to me and to Chief Archivist Foote。〃
〃Program running； Mr。 Chairman。〃 Galahad lifted his eyebrows； left abruptly。
〃Chief Archiv