Part 2

Once again, they will not tell him anything about where their star is. Now, however, the Klygha understands that he must obey. He has a deep fear of being left on this world.

There is little cause for him to fear. We have learned that we could make for him, from the waters of the sea, all the things he needs. There is a little of everything in the sea, but he is too impatient. He considers that life does not last long enough. Is it possible that a Klygha does not live as long as we do?

Joe takes the Klygha into the helicopter, which he moves closer to the wreck. They both crawl inside to get the things the Klygha wants. He would like not to take the Terran inside but is afraid to deny him. Joe helps him carry some supplies outside. He also makes a bright light to flash many times. Through the Klygha's mind, we understand that Joe makes what he calls "pictures" as a way to remember what he sees. We do not entirely understand--if one sees something, he remembers it always, and sometimes his offspring also. These beings from the stars are different.

* * * * *

We are much disturbed, and flop nervously about the beach until the helicopter returns to the Terran travelling-shell. There is always the chance that they will not take him. Perhaps Joe learned enough inside the wreck to make it needless.

It is hard, with another half in the mind and half out, to be sure whose idea that is. We feel it must be Halloran's. We wonder if we will always have that little touch of the Terran's mind that we learned from the cat during Halloran's rage. The Klygha does not bother with us any more and the cat does not care.

There is no difficulty. The Terrans are still interested in the Klygha and the things he can teach them. They find a soft, enclosed place for him larger than the one into which they afterward put the cat. Then they prepare to go away beyond the sky.

We hurry to get off the beach. It is hard ... after so long with the Klygha in the mind. We must decide for ourself, and move all the herd.

When it is dark, flame and noise are once again to be sensed through the shallow water. We can feel the cat and the Klygha ... and someone else ... moving further away. It is not the direction we remember from the Klygha's mind. They must really be headed for the Terrans' star. We swim deeper into the water, to await the Light.

When we emerge, it is to a good feeling. There is no other in the head. All is as it was ... almost. Perhaps more of us now have the strength to be potential movers.

Still, at what must be a huge distance, we faintly but distinctly sense the star-minds--the Klygha, the cat, and even Halloran. It is enough to show us the direction of the Terran's star. We feel this direction change as the Light moves across the sky, and now we realize that the world beneath us spins. We will always remember the star of the Terrans and its direction, while we collect other herds of people to help examine the wreck of the Klygha's ship.

The star of the Klygha we will also remember ... and its direction ... for this was in the Klygha's mind when he refused to tell it to the Terrans.

Other things we remember are those that were told to the Klygha, or remembered by him, or seen by the cat, or seen since then in color by the Klygha ... and even some of the things understood by Halloran. It is enough to know how to build a ship of our own, for in the sea are all the substances needed and our bodies can filter and form deposits of any required shape.

Much time will be needed. To reach the stars, many herd-minds must be joined together; but we will follow the Terrans, and the Klygha ... and perhaps find others. And the leader, the controller of all of them, will be ... we? ... will be I! _I_ shall lead my people to the stars, now that we can ... can _think_!

The Klygha does not know what he has done!

THE END