IT MADE PERFECT SENSE, Stanton thought. It fitted every known fact, as far as he knew. Still—
“I would think,” he said, “that the Nipe would have realized, after ten years, that there is no such race of Real People. He’s had access to all our records, and such things. Or does he reject them as lies?”
“Possibly he would, if he could read them. Did I not say he was illiterate?”
“You mean he’s learned to speak our languages, but not to read them?”
The scientist smiled broadly. “Your statement is accurate, my friend, but incomplete. It is my opinion that the Nipe is incapable of reading any written language whatever. The concept does not exist in his mind, except vaguely.”
“A technological race without a written language? That’s impossible!”
“Ah, no. Ask yourself: What need has a race wi
