by Rog Phillips
athinking creature different from us in any way."
"That's why it's so difficult," Ont said. "In our own minds we tend tobecome absolute rather than relative in our conceptions. Some otherentity might, for example, think much more slowly than we, or withincredible rapidity, so that our thoughts would be sluggish to him, orso swift that he would never be able to grasp them until long after wewere gone.
"Also, we tend to think that thought as we experience it, is the onlypossible type of thought. In reality there may be others. Differentmental principles. Different material structure. Perhaps conceptsoutside our ability to grasp, while ours might be outside the ability ofsuch creatures to grasp also."
"I don't believe I grasp what you're trying to say," Upt hesitated.
"Well, put it this way," Ont said patiently. "All things are relative.Why not thought? It might be possible to have two thinking minds whichare relatively non-thinking. Each, from EVERY standard of the other,being totally thoughtless and without intelligence or mind."
"Now you're going too far," Upt said. "Thought is thought, I think,and--it's real. If any other entity thinks, its thinking must be realtoo."
"Of course," Ont murmured. "You miss the point entirely. If from everypossible angle, some entity, to YOU, can't think and doesn't, it isnon-thinking and unintelligent. Right?"
* * * * *
Gordon and Harold paused at the edge of the garden.
"Nice crop of vegetables you have there, Gordon," Harold saidappreciatively.
"Thanks," Gordon said. "Say, wouldn't your wife like some freshvegetables?"
Without waiting for an answer he stepped back into the garden, taking aknife from his pocket.
"These are nice now," he said, bending over and cutting. "Won't be muchlonger though. Brown spots developing already. I'll scrape off the brownstuff for you, but tell your wife to cook them right away. In a coupleof days they'll spoil."
* * * * *
"Upt!" Ont exclaimed, exasperated. "Why don't you answer me, Upt? Upt!Where are you, Upt? Why don't you answer?"
* * * * *
"There you are," Gordon said, smiling, as he handed Harold the head ofcauliflower.
"Thanks," Harold said, accepting the white, fresh head, and balancing itin his palm.
The two men continued up the walk to the house.
"As I was saying," Gordon took up their conversation, "when men get toMars, if they aren't careful they may destroy a civilization, or eventhousands of intelligent beings, without knowing it...."
THE END
Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from _Amazing Stories_ December 1948. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.