“That’s too bad,” Junior said without thinking.

“Why do you say that, bendreth?” The Vanek was showing some interest now.

Junior would have to come up with a tactful yet honest answer. “Well, I’ve always thought that a race progressed through the actions of individuals. The progress of the Vanek seems to have been terribly slow. I mean, you’ve gone nowhere in the past few centuries. Maybe that’s the result for having the word I’ absent from your functional vocabulary.”

The Vanek eyed him closely and was about to speak when the meals arrived. Each paid for his meal and Junior expected the Vanek to follow him to one of the small tables situated in the corner. Instead the alien turned toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Junior asked.

“Outside. To eat.”

“It’s too hot out there. We’ll sit at one of these tables.”

The Vanek hesitated and glanced around. The store was empty and Jeffers had disappeared into the back. Wordlessly, he followed Junior to a table.

Both were hungry and once seated they began to eat. After swallowing two mouthfuls, Junior said,

“Now, what were you about to say?”

The Vanek looked up and chewed thoughtfully. “You may be right. Once we might have said that we have progressed as far as we desire but that doesn’t hold true any more. The Vanek seem to have proved quite willing to accept the benefits of a civilization technologically far superior to their own. So perhaps it has not been by desire that our culture has been stagnated. But it is our culture and-”

“Hey!” came a shout from behind the counter. “What’s he doing in here?” It was Jeffers. He was pointing to the Vanek.