The doctor expected this. "The Venusians had our view-point--the view-
point of people on the earth, when they said that the workers rule. We
consider the bee as a great worker, don't we? 'As busy as a bee' you
know. None of the so-called lower animals show greater industry."

"You don't mean to say," demanded Smith, "that these Sanusian bees owe
their position to the fact that they are, or were, such great workers?"

Before the doctor could reply, Van Emmon broke in. It seemed as though
his mind refused to get past this particular point. "Now, why the
dickens have the humans allowed the bees to dominate them? Why?"

"We'll have to go at this a little more systematically," remarked
Kinney, "if we want to understand the situation.

"In the first place, suppose we note a thing or two about conditions as
we find them here on the earth. We, the humans, are accustomed to rank
ourselves far above the rest. It is taken for granted.

"Now, note this: the human supremacy was not always taken for granted."
He paused to let it sink in. "Not always. There was a time in
prehistoric days when man ranked no higher than others. I feel sure of
this," he insisted, seeing that Smith was opposed to the idea; "and I
think I know just what occurred to make man supreme."

"What?" from Billie.

"Never mind now. I rather imagine we shall learn more on this score as
we go on with our work.