TORYL pointed the small crypterpretertoward the wooden,horseshoe-shaped sign. Thesign's legend was carved inbright yellow letters. Sartan,Toryl's companion, watched upand down the open highway forsigns of life. In seconds thesmall cylindrical mechanism completed thetranslation.
The sign said:
The two aliens smiled at eachother. Unaccustomed to oralconversation, they exchangedthoughts.
"The crypterpreter worked incrediblyfast. The language isquite simple. It would seem safeto proceed. The sign indicatesfriendliness," thought Toryl, theolder of the two Capellans.
"Very well, Brother," repliedSartan, "though I still worry forthe safety of the ship."
"Sartan, our instruments tellus that anyone who discovers theship," Toryl explained, a trifleimpatient, "will show a remarkabledegree of curiosity beforethey display any hostility."
Sartan agreed to dismiss hisworries and the two aliens beganto walk along the barrenhighway. Before them, at agreat distance, they could see acluster of small frame buildings.When they had walked a hundredfeet or more they encounteredanother sign.
And several hundred feet furthertwo more signs.
As members of a peaceful race,Toryl and Sartan naturally foundthe signs encouraging. Theywalked at a sprightly pace.
A whirring noise behind thembrought the two to a halt. Theyturned to discover a pre-warChevy choking its way along theroad. The aliens edged theirway to a gulley along the side ofthe road. They were confident ofa friendly reception but, in theevent their calculations had beenwrong, they poised themselves tomake a break in the direction oftheir ship.
The ancient Chevy sputteredby. The driver was almost as ancientas the car, a bearded fellowwith a stogy stuck betweenhis teeth and a crushed hat onhis head.
The driver slowed down whenhe saw the aliens. "Howdy,strangers!" he yelled cheerily."Say, ain't you fellers a mitewarm in them coveralls?" Hecackled merrily, put his foot tothe floor and sped on by.
Sartan looked at his companion."I am sorry, I should nothave doubted you, Brother. Youwere right. These people willwelcome our visit. They seemvery cordial."
"Good, Sartan. Let us continue."
One hundred yards furtherthey were confronted by still anotherbrace of signs. They stoppedonce more.
The second sign was anotherin the shape of a horseshoe.