“Speaking of Terrans,” put hi Zinin, “I’d like to see one of these mythical creatures. I don’t recall seeing any cities on our descent.”
“Neither did Survey. Oh, don’t look so smug. Navigator. Survey reports their presence—Terrans, not cities—but they estimate no more than a hundred million of them on the planet. The only signs of any really large clusterings are vague outlines that could be the sites of ancient ruins. Might have expected something of the sort. People change in a few Ipas, you know.”
“My question,” prompted Alo once more.
“Well, when the Terrans went out into extrasolar space and began setting up their own empire, the Veen decided at first to leave them alone. Not only was there no precedent for a space-faring race not accepting citizenship hi the empire, but the Terrans weren’t bothering anyone. They were also willing to sign all kinds of trade agreements and such. Anything of a nonrestrictive and nonmilitary nature.”
“Why’d the Veen change their minds, then?” asked the now interested Phrnnx.
“Some bright lad in the Veen government made a few computer readings, extrapolating from what was known of Terran scientific developments, rate of expansion, galactic acclimatization, and so on.”
“And the result?”
“According to the machines—and the Veen had
8
With Friends Like These . . .
good ones—in only one hundred Ipas the Veen would have to start becoming acclimatized to Terra.”
Zinin was the only one of the three listeners who expressed his reaction audibly. Surprisingly, it was by means of a long, drawn-out whistle.