Professor Lang, of Sentinel Gate, went to Dobelle because of her scientific interest in Builder artifacts and in Summertide itself. Others, like the Cecropian Atvar H’sial and the augmented Karelian human Louis Nenda, went there, we suspect, for personal gain. The Lo’tfian, J’merlia, and the Hymenopt, Kallik, are slaves. They were present because their masters ordered them to be there. The only beings on Quake in line of official duties were three humans: Commander Maxwell Perry, who controlled all outside access to the Dobelle system at Summertide; Captain Hans Rebka, who is a Phemus Circle troubleshooter sent to Dobelle as Perry’s superior; and Councilor Julius Graves, of our own Fourth Alliance, who was present on Council business. Don’t you wish to make notes of all these names?”

“It is unnecessary. I do not forget.”

“I suppose you don’t.” Stancioff stared at E. C. Tally. “That must be nice. Now, where was I? Well, never mind. There’s a whole lot of information in the files about everyone who was on Quake at Summertide, much more than I know about it. Not one of them ever came back, that’s the real mystery, even though Summertide was over weeks ago. We want you to find out why they all stayed. You should study each dossier while you are traveling to Dobelle, and form your own conclusions as to each person’s needs and desires.”

Needs and desires! Those were exactly what were missing in Tally’s internal states; but if they decided so many human and alien actions, he must learn to simulate them.

“May I speak?”

“You’ve certainly shown no reluctance so far.”

“I am perplexed by my suggested role in this matter. At the beginning I understood that I was to go to the Mandel system and assess the problems there on a logical basis. Now I learn that at least two other individuals are qualified to deal with the problem. Hans Rebka, according to your own words, is a ‘troubleshooter,’ and Julius Graves is actually a Council member. Given their presence, what do you expect me to accomplish?”