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Thing! You only get one chance and then you die and they don’t let you go round again after you’ve got the hang of it! Do you understand, Thing! So we’ll try it now ! I order you to help! You’re a machine and you must do what you’re told!”
    The lights formed a spiral.
    â€œYou’re learning fast,” said the Thing.

4
    III. And in a voice like Thunder, the Great Masklin said unto the Thing, Now is the Time to go back to our Home in the Sky;
    IV. Or we will Forever be Running from Place to Place.
    V. But None must know what I Intend, or they will say, Ridiculous, Why go to the Sky when we Have Problems Right Here?
    VI. Because that is how People are.
    From The Book of Nome,
Quarries Chap. 2, v. III–VI
    G URDER AND A NGALO were having a blazing row when Masklin got back.
    He didn’t try to interrupt. He just put the Thing down on the floor and sat down next to it, and watched them.
    Funny how people needed to argue. The whole secret was not to listen to what the other person was saying, Masklin had noticed.
    Gurder and Angalo had really got the hang of that . The trouble was that neither of them was entirely certain he was right, and the funny thing was that people who weren’t entirely certain they were right always argued much louder than other people, as if the main person they were trying to convince were themselves. Gurder was not certain, not entirely certain, that Arnold Bros (est. 1905) really existed, and Angalo wasn’t entirely certain that he didn’t.
    Eventually Angalo noticed Masklin.
    â€œYou tell him, Masklin,” he said. “He wants to go and find Grandson Richard, 39!”
    â€œDo you? Where do you think we should look?” Masklin asked Gurder.
    â€œThe airport,” said Gurder. “You know that. Jetting. In a jet. That’s what he’ll do.”
    â€œBut we know the airport!” said Angalo. “I’ve been right up to the fence several times! Humans go in and out of it all day! Grandson Richard, 39, looks just like them! He could have gone already. He could be in the juice by now! You can’t believe words that just drop out of the sky!” He turned to Masklin again. “Masklin’s a steady lad,” he said. “He’ll tell you. You tell him, Masklin,” he said. “You listen to him, Gurder. He thinks about things, Masklin does. At a time like this—”
    â€œLet’s go to the airport,” said Masklin.
    â€œThere,” said Angalo, “I told you, Masklin isn’t the kind of nome—what?”
    â€œLet’s go to the airport and watch.”
    Angalo’s mouth opened and shut silently.
    â€œBut . . . but . . .” he managed.
    â€œIt must be worth a try,” said Masklin.
    â€œBut it’s all just a coincidence!” said Angalo.
    Masklin shrugged. “Then we’ll come back. I’m not suggesting we all go. Just a few of us.”
    â€œBut supposing something happens while we’re gone?”
    â€œIt’ll happen anyway, then. There’s thousands of us. Getting people to the old barn won’t be difficult, if we need to do it. It’s not like the Long Drive.”
    Angalo hesitated. “Then I’ll go,” he said. “Just to prove to you how, how superstitious you’re being.”
    â€œGood,” said Masklin.
    â€œProvided Gurder comes, of course,” Angalo added.
    â€œWhat?” said Gurder.
    â€œWell, you are the Abbot,” said Angalo sarcastically. “If we’re going to talk to Grandson Richard, 39, then it’d better be you who does it. I mean, he probably won’t want to listen to anyone else.”
    â€œAha!” shouted Gurder. “You think I won’t come! It’d be worth it just to see your face—”
    â€œThat’s settled, then,” said Masklin calmly. “And now, I think we’d better see about keeping a special watch on the road. And