Ted really loved his wife, but somehow
the blonde next door kept popping into his
dreams—and making them a vivid reality....
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
September 1951
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
El outer-thought, "I've had all I want of it, haven't you?"
Nothing from Bee for seconds, and then: "I—don't know. I suppose.You've been inner-thinking, El. You've been brooding?"
"I've been brooding. When did our bodies go, Bee?"
"When Lust was killed. I think we made a mistake, El. I think, at thetime, we were bemused. He wasn't the best of the gods, but he had hispoints. We've been inner-thinking alike, dear. This plane isn't enough.But what—" Silence.
She thought, "Over the hills? This isn't all of our land. There arepeople in Valdora."
"Not—the kind of people I want to be. And how about the others, howabout the Assembly? Will they feel as we do?"
"Why not? Don't they miss the colors they can't see, the grass theycan't smell, the streams they can't hear? Weren't they human, too,once?"
"They were. And perhaps they think as we do. But they won't projectanyone to Valdora. We don't want any part of that town. However, dear,I'll bring it up. If I had a belly, I'd have a bellyful of this."
In the glade they couldn't see, above the stream they couldn't hear,the Assembly met.
"New business?" the Peak thought.
"I've some," Bee thought. "It's—it may be mutiny."
"We'll listen," Peak answered. "Speaking for myself, and myself alone,I'm ready to listen to mutiny. So long as it doesn't involve Valdora.I wouldn't be surprised if the others agree. Could it concern theresurrection of a minor god who grew major?"
"Lust," Bee agreed. "I want a body."
Peak was silent as the affirmative thoughts poured in from the entireassembly. Then Peak thought, "I'm sure we won't need a vote on that.And how would we resurrect Lust?"
"Not by importing Valdorans," Bee answered.
"Nor Velugians," someone thought.
"Nor any of the others," Peak summed up for them. "So—...."
The scientist Lern thought, "Is this the only planet in the galaxy?Why confine our thinking?"
"Not that bloody Mars," Peak thought. "I'll veto that, every time."
"Earth?" Bee suggested. "What's wrong with Earth?"
Ha thought, "It would take too long to answer that one. From what I'veheard of it, they're less ardent than arduous. How many lovers havethey developed? Major league lovers, that is."
Bee protested, "One could be developed. The material's there, and theplanet's attainable. I say let's project one of us in some innocentguise, some animal who talks the language."
"But who'd volunteer?" Lern wanted to know.
"No volunteers," Peak decided. "Ha will go, to improve his education.What he doesn't know about Earth needs knowing."
Lern thought, "How can we keep him minor, if we resurrect him? ThisLust has a terrible appetite."
"That," answered Peak, "will be your job. You'll have to think ofsomething that will keep his weight and power constant."
Ha was doing no outer-thinking; Ha was inner-thinking about Earth, andbodies.
Ted Truesdale was sitting on the back porch, supposedly enjoying thesun. He was, in reality, enjoying the view. The blonde who'd bought thehouse