The Hunters

be reasonably sober, for a change."

  "But those kids! They'll squeal and giggle--"

  "They're about the only audience in the world that won't spot you as adrunk. God knows where I could find any one else who'd believe that yourhand shakes because of fever."

  "I know that you're looking out for my best interests, Carol. But onemore drink wouldn't hurt me."

  She said wearily, but firmly, "I don't argue with drunks, Curt. I justgo ahead and protect them from themselves. No drinks."

  "Afterwards?"

  "I can't watch you the way a mother watches a child."

  The contemptuous reply sent his mind off on a new tack. "You could if wewere married."

  "I've never believed in marrying weak characters to reform them."

  "But if I proved to you that I could change--"

  "Prove it first, and I'll consider your proposal afterwards."

  "You certainly are a cold-blooded creature, Carol. But I suppose that inyour profession you have to be."

  "Cold, suspicious, nasty--and reliable. It's inevitable when I must dealwith such warm-hearted, trusting, and unreliable clients."

  He watched her move about the room, clearing away the dishes from hismeager breakfast. "What are you humming, Carol?"

  "Was I humming?"

  "I thought I recognized it--_All of Me, Why Not Take All of Me_? That'sit! Your subconscious gives you away. You really want to marry me!"

  "A mistake," she said coolly. "My subconscious doesn't know what it'stalking about. All I want of you is the usual ten per cent."

  "Can't you forget for a moment that you're an agent, and remember thatyou're a woman, too?"

  "No. Not unless you forget that you're a drunk, and remember that you'rea man. Not unless you make me forget that you drank your way throughAfrica--"

  "Because you weren't there with me!"

  "--with hardly enough energy to let them dress you in that hunter'soutfit and photograph you as if you were shooting lions."

  "You're so unforgiving, Carol. You don't have much use for me, doyou--consciously, that is?"

  "Frankly, Curt, no. I don't have much use for useless people."

  "I'm not entirely useless. I earn you that ten per cent--"

  "I'd gladly forego that to see you sober."

  "But it's your contempt for me that drives me to drink. And when I thinkof having to face those dear little kiddies with nothing inside me--"

  "There should be happiness inside you at the thought of your doing agood deed. Not a drop, George, not a drop."

  * * * * *

  The two little girls drew apart from the others and began to whisperinto each other's ears. The whispers were punctuated by giggles whichmade the entire childish conversation seem quite normal. But Palit wasin no laughing mood. He said, in his own language, "You're gettingcareless, Manto. You had no business imitating her expression."

  "I'm sorry, Palit, but it was so suggestive. And I'm a very suggestibleperson."

  "So am I. But I control myself."

  "Still, if the temptation were great enough, I don't think you'd be ableto resist either."

  "The issues are important enough to make me resist."

  "Still, I thought I saw your own face taking on a bit of her expressiontoo."

  "You are imagining things, Manto. Another thing, that mistake instarting to say you were two hundred years old--"

  "They would have thought it a joke. And I think I got out of that ratherneatly."

  "You like to skate on thin ice, don't you, Manto? Just as you did whenyou changed your height. You had no business shrinking right out inpublic like that."

  "I did it skillfully. Not a single person noticed."

  "_I_ noticed."

  "Don't quibble."

  "I don't intend to. Some of these children have very sharp eyes. You'dbe surprised at what they see."

  Manto said tolerantly, "You're getting jittery, Palit. We've been awayfrom home too long."

  "I am not jittery in the least. But I believe in taking due care."

  "What could possibly happen to us? If we were to announce to thechildren and the teacher, and to every one in this zoo, for that matter,exactly who and what we were, they wouldn't believe us. And even if theydid, they wouldn't be able to act rapidly enough to harm us."

  "You never can tell about such things. Wise--people--simply don't takeunnecessary chances."

  "I'll grant that you're my superior in such wisdom."

  "You needn't be sarcastic, Manto, I _know_ I'm superior. _I_ realizewhat a godsend this planet is--you don't. It has the right gravity, asuitable atmosphere, the proper chemical composition--everything."

  "Including a population that will be helpless before us."

  "And you would take chances of losing all this."

  "Don't be silly, Palit. What chances am I taking?"

  "The chance of being discovered. Here we stumble on this place quite byaccident. No one at home knows about it, no one so much as suspects thatit exists. We must get back and report--and you do all sorts of sillythings which may reveal what we are, and lead these people to suspecttheir danger."

  * * * * *

  This time, Manto's giggle was no longer mere camouflage, but expressedto a certain degree how he felt. "They cannot possibly suspect. We havebeen all over the world, we have taken many forms and adapted ourselvesto many customs, and no one has suspected. And even if danger reallythreatened, it would be easy to escape. I could take the form of theschool teacher herself, of a policeman, of any one in authority.However, at present there is not the slightest shadow of danger. So,Palit, you had better stop being fearful."

  Palit said firmly, "Be careful, and I won't be fearful. That's all thereis to it."

  "I'll be careful. After all, I shouldn't want us to lose these children.They're so exactly the kind we need. Look how inquiring they are, howunafraid, how quick to adapt to any circumstances--"

  Miss Burton's voice said, "Good gracious, children, what language _are_you using? Greek?"

  They had been speaking too loud, they had been overheard. Palit andManto stared at each other, and giggled coyly. Then, after a second tothink, Palit said, "Onay, Issmay Urtonbay!"

  "What?"

  Frances shrilled triumphantly, "It isn't Greek, Miss Burton, it'sLatin--Pig-Latin. She said, 'No, Miss Burton.'"

  "Good heavens, what is Pig-Latin?"

  "It's a kind of way of talking where you talk kind of backwards. Like,you don't say, _Me_, you say, _Emay_."

  "You don't say, _Yes_, you say _Esyay_," added another little girl.

  "You don't say, _You_, you say, _Ouyay_. You don't say--"

  "All right, all right, I get the idea."

  "You don't say--"

  "That'll do," said Miss Burton firmly. "Now, let's get along to the lionhouse. And please, children, do not make faces at the lions. How wouldyou like to be in a cage and have people make faces at you? Alwaysremember to be considerate to others."

  "Even lions, Miss Burton?"

  "Even lions."

  "But Mr. George shot lots of lions. Was he considerate of them too?"

  "There is no time for silly questions," said Miss Burton, with the samefirmness. "Come along."

  They all trouped after her, Palit and Manto bringing up the rear. Mantogiggled, and whispered with amusement, "That Pig-Latin business wasquick thinking, Palit. But in fact, quite unnecessary. The things thatyou do to avoid being suspected!"

  "It never hurts to take precautions. And I think that now it is time toleave."

  "No, not yet. You are always anxious to learn details before reporting.Why not learn a few more details now?"

  "Because they are not necessary. We already have a good understanding ofhuman customs and psychology."

  "But not of the psychology of children. And they, if you remember, arethe ones who will have to adapt. We shall be asked about them. It wouldbe nice if we could report that they
are fit for all-purpose service, ona wide range of planets. Let us stay awhile longer."

  "All right," conceded Palit, grudgingly.

  * * * * *

  So they stayed, and out of some twigs and leaves they shaped thenecessary coins with which to buy peanuts, and popcorn, and