“We ourselves,” repeated Gottstein, thoughtfully. “By that, you mean the Earthmen?”

“Yes.”

“And the Lunarites?”

“They were not involved.”

“Were they interested?”

“I don’t know. That’s where my uncertainty—and fear—chiefly rests. The Lunarites—the native Lunarites, particularly—do not feel like Earthmen. I don’t know what their plans are or what they intend. I can’t find out.”

Gottstein looked thoughtful. “But what can they do? Do you have any reason to suppose they intend to do us harm; or that they can do Earth harm even if they intend it?”

“I can’t answer that question. They are an attractive and intelligent people. It seems to me they lack real hatred or real rage or even real fear. But perhaps that is what only seems to me. What bothers me most is that I don’t know.”

“The scientific equipment on the Moon is run by Earth, I believe.”

“That is correct. The proton synchrotron is. The radio telescope on the trans-terrestrial side is. The three-hundred-inch optical telescope is. ... The large equipment, that is, all of which has been in existence for fifty years.”

“And what’s been done since?”

“Very little by Earthmen.”

“What about the Lunarites?”

“I’m not sure. Their scientists work in the large installations, but I once tried to check time cards. There are gaps.”

“Gaps?”

“They spend considerable time away from the large installations. It is as though they had laboratories of their own.”

“Well, if they produce mini-electronic devices and fine bio-chemicals, isn’t that to be expected?”

“Yes, but— Gottstein, I don’t know. I fear my ignorance.”

There was a moderately long pause. Gottstein said, “Montez, I take it you are telling me all this so that I will be careful; so that I will try to find out what the Lunarites are doing?”

“I suppose that’s about it,” said Montez, unhappily.

“But you don’t even know that they’re doing anything at all.”

“I feel that they are.”

Gottstein said, “It’s odd, then. I should be trying to talk you out of all this fearful mysticism of yours—but it’s odd—”

“What is?”

“The same vessel that brought me to the Moon brought someone else to the Moon. I mean, a large party came, but one face in particular triggered something. I didn’t talk to him—had no occasion to—and I dismissed the matter. But now our talk is pushing a button, and he suddenly comes back to mind—”

“Yes?”

“I was on a committee once that dealt with Electron Pump matters. A question of safety.” He smiled briefly. “Earth’s lost nerve, you might say. We worry about safety everywhere—and a good thing, damn it, lost nerve or not. The details escape me but in connection with that hearing, I saw that face that now I saw on the vessel. I’m convinced of it.”

“Does that have significance, do you think?”

“I’m not sure. I associate that face with something disturbing. If I keep on thinking, it may come back to me. In any case, I had better get a list of the passengers and see if any name means something to me. Too bad, Montez, but I think you’re getting me started.”

“Not bad at all,” said Montez. “I’m glad of it. As for this man; it may be he is only a tourist of no consequence and will be gone in two weeks, but I am glad to have you thinking about the matter—”

Gottstein did not seem to be listening. “He is a physicist, or a scientist of some sort,” he muttered. “I’m certain of it and I associate him with danger—”

4

“Hello,” said Selene, cheerfully.

The Earthman turned around. Recognition took almost no time at all. “Selene! Am I right? Selene!”

“Right! Correctly pronounced. Are you enjoying yourself?”

The Earthman said gravely, “Very much. It makes me realize how unique our century is. It was not so long ago I was on Earth, feeling tired of my world, tired of myself. Then I thought: Well, if I were living a hundred years ago, the only way I could leave the world would be to die, but now—I can go to the Moon.” He smiled without real gaiety.

Selene said, “Are you happier now that you are on the Moon?”

“A little.” He looked about. “Don’t you have a crowd of tourists to take care of?”

“Not today,” she said, cheerfully. “It’s my day off. Who knows, I may take two or three. It’s a dull job.”

“What a shame, then, that you bump into a tourist on your day off.”

“I didn’t bump into you. I came looking for you. And a hard job that was, too. You shouldn’t wander off by yourself.”

The Earthman looked at her with interest. “Why should you look for me? Are you fond of Earthmen?”

“No,” she said, with easy frankness. “I’m sick of them. I dislike them on principle and being constantly associated with them in my job makes it worse.”

“Yet you come looking for me and there isn’t a way on Earth—on the Moon, I mean—that I can convince myself I am young and handsome.”

“Even if you were, it wouldn’t help. Earthmen don’t interest me, as everyone but Barren knows.”

“Then why do you come looking for me?”

“Because there are other ways of being interested and because Barton is interested.”

“And who is Barron? Your boyfriend?”

Selene laughed. “Barron Neville. He’s a lot more than a boy and a lot more than a friend. We have sex when we feel like it.”

“Well, that’s what I meant. Do you have children?”

“One boy. He’s ten. He spends most of his time in the boys’ compound. To spare you the next question, he’s not Barron’s. I may have a child by Barron if we’re still together when I’m assigned another child—if I’m assigned another child.... I am pretty sure I will be.”

“You’re quite frank.”

“About things I don’t consider secret? Of course.... Now what would you like to do?”

They had been walking along a corridor of milk-white rock, into the glazed surface of which were inset dusky bits of “Moon-gems” that lay about for the taking in most sections of the Lunar surface. She wore sandals which scarcely seemed to touch the ground; he wore thick-soled boots which leadenly helped weigh him down to keep his steps from becoming torture.

The corridor was one-way. Occasionally, a small electric cart would overtake them and move nearly silently past.

The Earthman said, “Now what would I like to do? That is a broad-beamed invitation. Would you like to set boundary conditions so that my answers will not innocently offend you?”

“Are you a physicist?”

The Earthman hesitated. “Why do you ask?”

“Just to hear what you would say. I know you’re a physicist.”

“How?”

“No one says ‘set boundary conditions’ unless they are.

Especially if the first thing they want to see on the Moon is the proton synchrotron.”

“Is that why you’ve come looking for me? Because I seem to be a physicist?”

“That’s why Barron sent me looking for you. Because he’s a physicist. I came because I thought you were rather unusual for an Earthman.”

“In what way?”

“Nothing terribly complimentary—if it’s compliments you’re fishing for. It’s just that you seem not to like Earth-men.”

“How can you tell that?”

“I watched you look at the others in the party. Besides, I can always tell somehow. It’s the Earthies who don’t like Earthies who tend to stay on the Moon. Which brings me back to the question.... What would you like to do? And I’ll set the boundary conditions. I mean as far as sightseeing is concerned.”

The Earthman looked at her sharply. “That’s peculiar, Selene. You have a day off. Your job is sufficiently uninteresting or distasteful so that you are glad to have the day off and would be willing to make it two or three. Yet your way of spending it is to volunteer to resume your job for me particularly.... Just because of a little interest.”

“Barron’s interest. He’s busy now and there’s no harm in entertaining you until he’s ready.... Besides, it’s different. Can’t you see it’s different? On my job I’m riding herd on a couple of dozen Earthies— Don’t you mind my using the term?”