Wu, with a parting nod, more perhaps of commiseration than commendation, had turned his back and walked away across the plaza to his own office. At random, Anty cast around for a place to begin; he chose a hut which proved to be full of a babel of shouted calculations.“Anty!” someone cried as he opened the door. “Is this list of power requirements complete now?” A paper was thrust under Anty’s nose; he took it and tried to organize his racing thoughts enough to answer the question.“Uh–you haven’t taken account of the need to duplicate the alien crew,” he ventured. “And won’t we have to keep our own transfax running continuously to bring stuff in from off-world?”The compiler of the list snatched it back. “Don’t need to worry about that; we just keep ours idling and use the power available at the delivery end to get the stuff through. But you’re right about the duplication business, damn it. Anyone got any idea of the mass of one of these Others?”“Better allow a hundred kilos,”
