1 files changed, 105 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/78751-0.txt b/78751-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73a217f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/78751-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78751 ***
+
+
+
+
+                              Silly Asses
+
+                            by Isaac Asimov
+
+
+
+
+                               A Vignette
+
+
+
+
+Naron of the long-lived Rigellian race was the fourth of his line to
+keep the Galactic records.
+
+He had the large book which contained the
+list of the numerous races throughout the Galaxies that had developed
+intelligence, and the much smaller book listing those races that
+had reached maturity and had qualified for the Galactic Federation.
+In the first book, a number of those listed were crossed out; those
+that, for one reason or another, had failed. Misfortune; biochemical
+or biophysical shortcomings; social maladjustment, etc., took their
+toll. In the smaller book, however, no member listed had yet blanked
+out.
+
+And now Naron, large and incredibly ancient, looked up as a
+messenger approached.
+
+“Naron,” said the messenger. “Great One!”
+
+“Well,
+well, what is it? Less ceremony.”
+
+“Another group of organisms has
+attained maturity.”
+
+“Excellent. Excellent. They are coming up quickly now. Scarcely a
+year passes without a new one. And who are these?”
+
+The messenger gave the code number of the Galaxy and the coordinates
+of the world within it.
+
+“Ah, yes,” said Naron. “I know the world.”
+
+And in flowing script, he noted it in the first book and transferred
+its name into the second--using, as was customary, the name by
+which the planet was known to the largest fraction of its populace.
+He wrote: Earth.
+
+He said, “These new creatures have set a record. No other group has
+passed from intelligence to maturity so quickly. No mistake, I hope.”
+
+“None, sir,” said the messenger.
+
+“They have attained to thermonuclear power, have they?”
+
+“Yes, sir.”
+
+“Well, that’s the criterion.” Naron chuckled. “And soon their ships
+will probe out and contact the Federation.”
+
+“Actually, Great One,” said the messenger, reluctantly, “the
+Observers tell us they have not yet penetrated space.”
+
+Naron was astonished. “Not at all? Not even a space station?”
+
+“Not yet, sir.”
+
+“But if they have thermonuclear power, where then do they conduct
+their tests and detonations?”
+
+“On their own planet, sir.”
+
+Naron rose to his full twenty feet of hight and thundered, “On their
+_own_ planet?”
+
+“Yes, sir.”
+
+Slowly, Naron drew out his stylus and passed a line through the
+latest addition in the smaller book. It was an unprecedented act,
+but, then, Naron was very wise and could see the inevitable as
+well as anyone in the Galaxy.
+
+“Silly asses,” he muttered.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber’s Note:
+
+
+  This etext was produced from Future Science Fiction, February 1958
+(#35). Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
+copyright on this publication was renewed.
+
+  Obvious errors have been silently corrected in this version.
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78751 ***