"If I go to Lekthwa, I'll go to learn something pretty basic, and that's how to ease these gold-plate snobs off of Earth."

Tkz Maerkl-Elaksd-Markel, as the Earthers called him- awaiting his wife Tcher, his daughters Komeitk Lelianr and Sia Spedz, stood looking through the wall of his south salon across the great California deserts. He wore no cloak; afternoon sunlight coppered the gold of his skin.

Behind him sounded the quick pad of feet; Sia Spedz came running out barefoot, wearing a diaphane diaper with white pompons at each hip. Her hair was finest platinum floss, burnished and waxed, parted in the middle, flared playfully over each ear. She stood on tiptoe by the wall looking out over the view. "Where are the other domes? Are we all alone?"

Markel stroked her head. "No, there are agencies all around Earth."

"And always on the mountain tops?"

"Yes, that's how we secure isolation and privacy." He turned as his wife and his second daughter appeared, wearing simple white kirtles. Tcher, the mother, dressed her hair sleek as a silver cap against her head. Komeitk Lelianr, the daughter, combed hers into a high tuft, like a silver flame.

Markel brought forth couches of half-living white foam. "And your voyage, was it pleasant?"

Komeitk Lelianr grimaced. Tcher said, "Everywhere but at Great Dark Cloud. A Klau web forced us to stop."

Markel stirred uneasily in his seat. "And then?"

"A boat clamped alongside, intending to send aboard a search party."

"But why? Why?"

"We were told that a dozen Lenape escaped from Magarak and the Klau would not have them win back to Lenau."

"No, that would be a great defeat for the Klau," Markel murmured. "And then?"

"The ship master behaved with enormous dignity. He commenced a sight and sound broadcast of the Klau anxiety, and in five minutes they withdrew."

Markel conveyed his understanding through the complex Lekthwan eyebrow, eye and eyelash mood-language, and by the same method indicated a change in subject. He turned to Sia Spedz: "Tell me, how goes your gain of life-experience?"

The girl wriggled her toes. "Everyone commends my ability. I have learned eleven characterizations and three optionals, which are: Smiling Sunrise, Playful Kitten and The Solitary One."

"Excellent."

Tcher said with whimsical pride, "She can walk twenty feet high on her sandals, and she went alone out around Mirska Moon in a day-boat."

"On Earth she must be more cautious," said Markel. "Lekthwans are not universally popular."

Sia Spedz asked in puzzlement, "Why is that? Do we not help them, do we not train them at our Lekthwan schools?"

Markel smiled quietly. "The Earthers have long considered themselves unique in the universe, and the coming of the Lekthwans has been a blow to their pride."

Sia Spedz continued doubtfully. "Also I know all the Lekthwan reigns, dynasties and realms, starting with King Phalder in the proto-history."

"Down on the plains of Earth, you will find natives in roughly the same stage of culture."

"That is more to the interest of Lelianr."

Markel turned to his other daughter. "Time fleets like a meteor streak; I cannot believe that you have finished your first curricula. And now?"

Komeitk Lelianr spoke in the Sedate Counsel characterization. "I think in several directions. Primitive anthropology concerns me, and also food research. Last month I designed a very pleasant sugar, of which several tons were produced and distributed."

Markel laughed. "If you would discover new and exotic flavors, taste some of the Earther food."

Komeitk Lelianr screwed her face into a wry grimace. "Animal tissues."

"They also consume much plant matter."

"Life devouring life, nevertheless."

"An intrinsic immorality which I believe goes unrecognized. However, the race can synthesize only the simplest carbohydrates."

"I suppose they must feed themselves somehow."

"The Earthers are not entirely savage; indeed, if you decide to pursue your interest in proto-culture you will come upon some surprising achievements."

Komeitk Lelianr shrugged. "There is still time before I need limit myself to rigid specialization."

Sia Spedz cried, "Look, two Earthers on the terrace!"

Markel changed his characterization. "They are my servants-both bright young men."

"They are not quite as I had pictured Earthers," Komeitk Lelianr remarked thoughtfully.

Tcher said, "The darker of the two seems more agreeable; the other has weight on his soul."

"As a matter of fact," said Markel, " Roy has little liking for the Lekthwans."

Tcher shook her head. "If the Klau had come to Earth in our place, then he would have grounds for resentment."

"He has grounds, of a rather personal nature. His father was a scientist, and Roy 's ambition was to follow in his father's footsteps. From earliest youth he trained himself in the accepted techniques. Then the Lekthwans came, and overnight the entire effort of his life became nothing. Much of what he had learned was inaccurate, and the remainder, in the light of Lekthwan knowledge, was either obsolete or rudimentary. Roy became very bitter."

Komeitk Lelianr studied Barch's back. "Understandably."

"Why does he not study on Lekthwa?" demanded Sia Spedz.

Markel considered Barch and Darran. "He may approach the idea. At the moment all he sees is long years of further study, where he must start learning with children the age of Spedz."

"The other," said Tcher, "indeed has a much kinder expression. What is his name?"

"That is Claude. He is more practical than Roy, and on the whole, less emotional. I plan to include him in the next group to Lekthwa."

"And Roy?"

"So far he has shown no inclination to leave Earth."

Markel's two guests entered the salon. He rose to his feet. "You have refreshed yourselves?"

"We have bathed and rested. The view from your dome is magnificent."

Markel nodded. "I consider Earth among (he more beautiful worlds. Have you noticed the valley to the southeast, the hundred soft colors?"

"Beautiful."

"Beautiful, and also deadly. Indeed, the Earthers call it ' Death Valley.'"

Barch and Darran cooked for themselves, with supplies delivered every Saturday by helicopter. By and large their duties were nominal, and after washing down the terrace, their mornings were free. During this time Darran studied the Lekthwan grammar texts and tape recordings that Markel had placed at his disposal, while Barch read or moodily sunned himself.

The arrival of Markel's family disturbed the routine. On the morning after her arrival, Sia Spedz made friends with Darran, asking him why he wore shoes, rather than air-sandals.

Darran's answer was completely honest. "In the first place, I own no air-sandals. In the second, I'd fall flat on my face if I tried them."

"But it's not hard," said Sia Spedz, speaking English with a precise accent, "so long as you stay close to the ground."

"I don't understand. Why should it be easier close to the ground?"

"The force comes out like a pyramid. Close to the ground the base is broad. The higher you walk, the narrower becomes the column you walk on, so much the harder to balance."

"Ah," said Darran. "Why don't you make more powerful sandals, so that even when you walk high there would be a wide pyramid under your feet?"

"I don't know. I think because then there would be no fun in learning."

"I thought you were a practical race," said Darran.

"Not entirely. The Klau are completely practical. Everything is planned for exact use, whether it makes people happy or not. There is no gaiety on the Klau worlds."

"So? Who are the Klau?"