A hundred experts, some more qualified in porp-psych than he, were waiting to step in. The Center would probably keep him on, partly out of gratitude, but did he really want to stay? Much as he loved dolphins and the sea, he’d found himself more and more restless lately.

“Fagin, I’m sorry I was so rude at first. I’d like to hear what you called me about… provided you understand that the answer is still probably no.”

Fagin’s foliage rustled.

“I had the intention of inviting you to a small and amicable meeting with some worthy beings of diverse species, to discuss an important problem of a purely intellectual nature. The meeting will be held this Thursday, at the Visitors Center in Ensenada at eleven o’clock. You will be committed to nothing if you attend.”

Jacob chewed on the idea for a moment.

“E.T.’s, you say? Who are they? What’s this meeting about?”

“Alas, Jacob, I am not at liberty to say, at least not by teli. The details will have to wait until you come, if you come, on Thursday.”

Jacob immediately became suspicious. “Say, this ‘problem’ isn’t political, is it? You’re being awfully close.”

The image of the alien was very still. It’s verdant mass rippled slowly, as if in contemplation.

“I have never understood, Jacob,” the fluting voice finally resumed, “why a man of your background takes so little interest in the interplay of emotions and needs which you call ‘politics.’ Were the metaphor appropriate, I would say that politics is ‘in my blood.’ It certainly is in yours.”

“You leave my family out of this! I only want to know why it’s necessary to wait until Thursday to find out what all of this is about!”

Again, the Kanten hesitated.

“There are… aspects of this matter which would best not be spoken over the ether. Several of the more thalamic of the contesting factions in your culture might misuse the knowledge if they… overheard. However, let me assure you that your part would be purely technical. It is your knowledge we wish to tap, and the skills you have been using at the Center.”