Our Children's Children by Clifford D. Simak Page A

first of all, disabuse yourself of any thoughts you may have suggesting that the aliens are no more than monsters. They are a great deal more than that. They are highly intelligent. Their mental and physical processes are geared to a ritualistic violence—at least we think it’s ritualistic—but that doesn’t mean they’re stupid. This creature knows that it’s the sole representative of its species in this particular time, and it will realize, as well, that it may remain the only one, that the future of the species in this time bracket may rely upon it alone. This will not be an intellectual realization only, but I would suspect, from what I know of them, that its body will realize and respond to the situation as well and that all its physical resources will be aimed at producing eggs, as many eggs as it can manage. Furthermore, realizing that eventually it will be hunted down and slain and that the nests of eggs will be hunted as well, it will scatter its clutches of eggs over as much territory as it can. It will seek out desolate and uninhabited spots on which to make its nests, it will hide them carefully, it will locate them in the least accessible spots. It is fighting, you understand, not only for itself, but for the species. Perhaps not at all for itself, but only for the species.”
    The other four in the office sat in stricken silence. Finally the President stirred uneasily and spoke. “You give us no chance, then, of finding it before it has laid its eggs.”
    â€œI would think there is no chance at all,” said Gale. “It probably already has laid some of them. It will continue laying them. I suppose I should give you some hope, if for no other reason than to lighten my own guilt, the guilt of my people. But it would be unfair to tell you less than truth. I am very sorry, sir.”
    â€œI would suspect,” said the President, “that it might be heading for the mountains. But that supposition is based only on my knowledge there are mountains to the west.”
    â€œIt would know as well,” said Gale. “It has as good a geographical knowledge of this area as any of us here. The geography is the same five hundred years into the future as it is today.”
    â€œThen,” said the President, “assuming that it would have headed for the mountains, we must not only head it off, but we will have to give some thought to evacuating the people from that area as well.”
    â€œYou’re thinking nuclear,” said Wilson. “Blanketing the area with bombs. You can’t do that, sir. Only as a last resort and perhaps not even then. The tonnage would have to be massive and the fallout.…”
    â€œYou’re jumping to conclusions, Steve. I agree with you—only as a last resort and perhaps not even then.”
    â€œThere is one thing I must speak of,” said Gale. “Do not underestimate the enemy. Either its intelligence or its ferocity. It is a killer. Even with great odds against it, it still is a killer. Now, under these circumstances, it probably will try to avoid confrontation, will run rather than fight, will try to keep itself alive to build up whatever margin it can for the survival of the species. But get it into a corner and it will strike back. You see, it doesn’t mind dying. It has no fear of death.”
    The President nodded gravely. “I appreciate that,” he said. “But there is something else.”
    â€œAnything,” said Gale.
    â€œYou told us your people could supply us with specifications for the building of the tunnels.”
    â€œThat is true,” said Gale.
    â€œThe point is this,” said the President. “If we are to do anything at all we should do it quickly. If we delay, a dangerous social and economic, not to say political, situation may build up. I am sure that you can understand this. And this matter of the monster has given us even less time than I thought we