All those billions of stars in the Milky

The seed-bed from which life was to be carried to the stars. But the programme was interrupted by the Second War of Secession.'It was a chilling thought to realise that we were alone. All those billions of stars in the Milky Way spiralling round the incandescent core with their attendant planets and moons. Each with a "To Let" sign in the window.

'Tell me about the Mannish,' I said. 'Are they like us?'The question seemed to amuse him. 'There's a family resemblance.' He turned his attention back to the red flower.'Is that all?' I queried. 'Where are they? What are they called? Do they have arms and legs and everything else in the right places? What do they do for a living?'