Chapter 8

"Later. The point I'm making is that Tweel and his race are worthy of our friendship. Somewhere on Mars--and you'll find I'm right--is a civilization and culture equal to ours, and maybe more than equal. And communication is possible between them and us; Tweel proves that. It may take years of patient trial, for their minds are alien, but less alien than the next minds we encountered--if they _are_ minds." "The next ones? What next ones?" "The people of the mud cities along the canals." Jarvis frowned, then resumed…