Chapter 39

           THEVERDICTTOBEPASSEDonthethirdplanetaroundSolwasneverindoubt.TheOldOnesofthefourthplanetwerenotomniscientandintheirwaywereasprovincialashumans.Grokkingbytheirownlocalvalues,evenwiththeaidofvastlysuperiorlogic,theywerecertainintimetoperceiveanincurable"wrongness"inthebusy,restless,quarrelsomebeingsofthethirdplanet,awrongnesswhichwouldrequireweeding,onceithadbeengrokkedandcherishedandhated.

           But,bythetimethattheywouldslowlygetaroundtoit,itwouldbehighlyimprobableapproachingimpossiblethattheOldOneswouldbeabletodestroythisweirdlycomplexrace.Thehazardwasslightthatthoseconcernedwiththethirdplanetdidnotwasteaspliteononit.

           CertainlyFosterdidnot."Digby!"

           Hisassistantlookedup."Yes,Foster?"

           "I’llbegoneafeweonsonaspecialassignment.Wantyoutomeetyournewsupervisor."Fosterturnedandsaid,"Mike,thisisArchangelDigby,yourassistant.Heknowswhereeverythingisaroundthestudioandyou’llfindhimaverysteadystrawbossforanythingyouconceive."

           "Oh,we’llgetalong,"ArchangelMichaelassuredhim,andsaidtoDigby,"Haven’twemetbefore?"

           Digbyanswered,"NotthatIremember.Ofcourse,outofsomanywhen–wheres."Heshrugged.

           "Nomatter.ThouartGod."

           "ThouartGod,"Digbyresponded.

           Fostersaid,"Skiptheformalities,please.I’veleftyoualoadofworkandyoudon’thavealleternitytofiddlewithit