Van Emmon found himself enthusiastically
backing Somat, the liberal-minded one.
"He's got the right idea," declared the geologist. "Let the Sanusians
come over of their own free will! Let the law of competition show what
it can do! Dandy experiment!"
Smith could not help but put in: "Perhaps it's Deltos and Sorplee who
are right, Van. These Sanusians are mere aborigines. They wouldn't
understand democratic methods."
"No?" politely, from the doctor. "Now, from what I've seen of Rolla,
I'll say she's a perfect example of 'live-and-let-live.' Nothing either
subservient or autocratic in her relations with other people. Genuinely
democratic, Smith."
"Meanwhile," remarked Billie, with exaggerated nonchalance, "meanwhile,
what about the bees? Are they going to be permitted to show their
superiority or not?"
Van Emmon took this to be aimed at him. "Of course not! We can't allow a
race of human beings to be dominated forever by insects!
"I say, let's get together and put Rolla wise to what Deltos and Sorplee
are framing up! We can do it, if we concentrate upon the same thought at
the right time!"
Smith did not commit himself. "I don't care much either way," he
decided. "Go ahead if you want to"--meaning Van Emmon and the doctor--"I
don't want to butt in.
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