human
Further they retain many of their tribal instincts, such as gregariousness, emotional rather than intellectual propagation, and worship of the mightiest fighter. This last, however, is manifested by reverence for individuals attaining position of authority, or acquiring large amounts of their medium of exchange, rather than by physical superiority.
gpt
That's what I mean, Macker said.
human
Our policy in the past has been to avoid tampering, only because of the fear of bringing harm. If we created a super being among them, to act as a controlling and harmonizing force, we'd hasten their development by thousands of years. We'd be granting them the greatest possible boon!
gpt
I don't know, Remm said, obviously swayed by Macker's logic.
human
I'm still hesitant about introducing a being into their midst whose thought processes would be so subtle and superior to their own. How do you feel about it, Toolls?
gpt
What would they have to lose?
human
The right or wrong of such moral and philosophical considerations has always been a delicate thing to decide, Remm acquiesced reluctantly.
gpt
Go ahead if you think it is the right thing to do.
human
All finished?
gpt
That depends on how much you want me to do, Toolls replied.
human
I've substituted our 'heavy' substances for his entire body structure, including the brain--at the same time transferring his former memory and habit impressions. That was necessary if he is to be able to care for himself. Also I brought his muscular reaction time up to our norm, and speeded his reflexes.
gpt
Have you implanted any techniques which he did not possess before, such as far-seeing, or mental insight?
human
No, Toolls said.
gpt
That is what I want your advice about. Just how much should I reveal about ourselves and our background? Or should he be left without any knowledge of us?
human
Well ... Now that the others had deferred to Macker's arguments, he had lost much of his certainty.
gpt
Perhaps we should at least let him know who we are, and what we have done. That would save him much alarm and perplexity when it comes time to reorient himself. On the other hand, perhaps we should go even farther and implant the knowledge of some of our sciences. Then he could do a better job of advancing his people. But maybe I'm wrong. What do you think about it, Remm?
human
My personal opinion, Remm said,
gpt
Does he retain any of his immunity to this world's malignant germs?
human
They are too impotent to represent any hazard to his present body mechanism, Toolls replied.
gpt
If and when he dies, it will not be from disease.
human
He will be subject to the deterioration of old age, the same as we are, won't he?
gpt
Of course, Toolls said,
human
Indefinitely?
gpt
As his world reckons time. Their normal life span is less than a hundred years. Ours is over five thousand. He will probably live approximately twice that long, because he will be subjected to less stress and strain, living as he does on a world of lighter elements.
human
Then we have truly made a superman, Macker's tones inflected satisfaction.
gpt
I wish we were returning this way in a thousand years or so. I'd like to see the monumental changes he will effect.
human
We may at that, Remm said,
gpt
Yes, Toolls said.
human
This one has a family designation of Pollnow, and a member designation of Orville.
gpt
It will be necessary for us to leave in exactly ten minutes, Remm reminded them.
human
Our next stopping place--the red star--will reach its nearest conjunction with this planet by the time we meet it out in space.
gpt
Then we will have time to do nothing more for him before we go, Macker said.
human
But as far as I can see we've forgotten nothing, have we, Toolls?
gpt
Nothing, Toolls answered.
human
No--we forgot nothing.
gpt
highly concentrated food--was ideally suited to supply the needs of their