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diff --git a/old/64071-0.txt b/old/64071-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e6c49ab..0000000 --- a/old/64071-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,895 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Open Invitation, by H.B. Fyfe - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Open Invitation - -Author: H.B. Fyfe - -Release Date: December 22, 2020 [eBook #64071] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OPEN INVITATION *** - - - - - OPEN INVITATION - - A Short Story by H. B. FYFE - - The problem was simple--or rather, simply - stated: Zoya Lar-Tul must keep those nasty, - aggressive little _Earthmen_ from - discovering the location of his home-star.... - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories May 1951. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -As Ullo Dah-Gow waddled into the section communications chamber on -Yaradir, second planet of Zillor, two of his four walking tentacles -stuck slightly on a nearly dry spot. - -"Fire and dry sand!" he swore at the technicians. "Can't you two even -keep the footing decently moist?" - -Without waiting for an answer, he made his way to the row of shallow -mud tubs before the television screen. The operators aimed eyestalks -at each other. Finally, Yado Nol-Moz, as junior, rose and went to the -wall controls of the conditioner. - -The assistant supervisor was relieved to see a thin sheet of water -creep across the floor. He never knew when Yado or Viri Nol-Rin might -choose to ignore him. - -_Which comes of old Ahnu loading this section with his nephews_, he -thought bitterly, forgetting that in his own office he already had -a list of his own relatives prepared against the day when he should -succeed to the post of Supervisor of Colonial Scouting for Sector 63. - -The slap-slap of tentacles in the corridor announced the arrival of -his superior. Ahnu Nol-Yev entered and lowered his thick body into the -choicest of the mud tubs, which Ullo had prudently left free. - -"Now, what's this urgent message?" he demanded, pointing one eyestalk -at Ullo and fixing the other upon the screen above Viri's broad, bony -head. - -"A request for orders from scout Zoya Lar-Tul," answered Viri. -"Assigned to ... let me see ... system LL-255-13." - -"Did we have any report on that system?" asked Ahnu. - -Yado produced the tape of a preliminary report and placed it on the -speaker. The list of facts rolled out: number of planets ... number -with sufficient water for colonization ... number of intelligent -species--one, on third planet ... native nomenclature--star, _Sol_; own -planet, _Earth_; others ... and so on. - -"All right," wheezed Ahnu. "I remember now. Get hold -of ... whatsisname ... Zoya!" - - * * * * * - -Viri manipulated his keys and knobs. The brief delay before an -answering image appeared on the screen irritated Ahnu. The loose, -coppery scales around his thick neck glinted with iridescent highlights -as he puffed out his air-sacs. - -"Dessication!" he snarled. "We bridge all those light-years with -subspace waves for his benefit, and he can't be alert enough to--Got -him now, Viri?" - -The technician snapped the tip of a gripping tentacle in assent. -Another Yaradirian looked out at them from the screen. - -This one had obviously been roughing it; his scales were lubricated by -only a minimum film of moisture, and he wore space harness on the lower -part of his body. - -_To keep his walking tentacles wet_, Ullo realized. _He hasn't so much -as a drop of water on the floor of that dive!_ - -"Zoya Lar-Tul!" announced Viri. - -"Stated simply," said Ahnu bluntly, "what is your trouble?" - -"Stated simply, Great One," answered the scout, "I am in imminent -danger of detection by natives of this system." - -Ullo stiffened in his mud tub. He heard the _slurp_ as the Supervisor -splashed more mud upon the oozing floor. - -"How is that?" demanded Ahnu, his throat again beginning to expand -majestically. - -"I fail to see," replied Zoya, "in what manner I could have avoided -it, Great One. The natives, _Earthmen_ in their own speech, have just -discovered an inefficient form of our own interstellar subspace drive. -They have gone exploring." - -_Might have known it_, thought Ullo. _Just when I'm working up to a top -rank, too!_ - -It sounded bad. Should they be unable to think Zoya out of his -predicament, it might well mean new personnel all around. Ullo's only -satisfaction was that Ahnu's relatives would be discharged before his -own resignation was given him to sign. - -Ahnu controlled himself. - -"Give me a picture of your situation!" he commanded. - -"To begin with, Great One, I chose to study the natives from a -distance, as is usual. I left my subspace ship on the largest satellite -of their sixth planet, which has several other moons and a beautiful -set of rings that--" - -"Kindly touch bottom!" Ahnu cut him off. "I am not interested in a -local travelogue!" - -"Even so, Great One. With my short-range rocket, I then established -this base on the seventh moon of their fifth planet. Only this moon's -smallness and insignificance has so far prevented by discovery." - -They listened to the rest of the story in an uncomfortable silence that -was broken only by an occasional squishing of mud as one or another -stirred uneasily. - -Zoya Lar-Tul had observed the _Earthmen_, as well as other bodies in -the system, for a quarter-revolution of his chosen fifth planet. At the -time of his arrival, the natives had reached their own satellite, but -he judged that they would be long in organizing successful flights to -the planets. - -"I translated some of their broadcasts and learned that this was their -great current project. Naturally, however, I was unconcerned, and -contented myself with obtaining specimens for my researches by brief, -discreet trips here and there." - - * * * * * - -Ullo snapped his tentacle tip quietly in assent. He remembered from -his history the dreadfully long period of his own race's expansion -throughout the system of Zillor. These _Earthmen_, however, seemed from -Zoya's report to possess certain advantages. Their requirements of air -and water were moderate and more easily stored in a space vessel. If -they _had_ discovered a form of subspace drive, they might be energetic -enough to pop up in the vicinity of Zillor some fine day. - -"You will imagine my amazement," continued Zoya, "when I heard one of -their broadcasts announce that a ship had reached their fourth planet, -and another the second--" - -Ahnu blew out a long, bubbling breath. - -"All this is doubtless interesting," he snorted, "but what is the -immediate emergency?" - -The image of Zoya aimed both eyestalks rather deliberately at the -Supervisor. - -"They reached and passed this group of satellites," he hissed out. "Do -I make clear my dilemma, Great One?" - -He waited while Ahnu's neck swelled dangerously. Just before the -explosion, he continued: - -"Should they discover me, they will also find the specimens I have -collected, except the choicer ones stored on my subspace vessel for -transport home. This is what I mean--" - -Zoya reached out to touch a button, and the scene changed to what was -evidently the dissecting laboratory of his base. Behind a transparent -bulkhead hung several sorts of carcasses in various stages of -dismemberment. Ullo suspected that the storeroom was simply left at the -temperature of the moon's surface. - -"Very well!" exclaimed Ahnu as the scout reappeared. "You seem to be -operating a sort of butcher shop with some of the most ugly specimens -ever seen. What about it?" - -Ullo felt sorry for the scout. Even he--indeed, as he saw by the twitch -of their eyestalks, even the technicians--had realized the problem. -Zoya patiently explained, forbearing to mention that his instructions -were laid out by Ahnu. - -"If you will refer to descriptions in my preliminary report, Great One, -you will see that certain of the specimens are _Earthmen_ themselves. -Should their explorers discover them, I have reason to believe they -would be resentful. It is my opinion that they are a belligerent race." - -Ahnu was silent for a moment. - -"Well ... yes ... that is possible," he admitted. - -"It would appear," he continued in another moment, "that you must -either abandon your base or dispose of your specimens if, as you say, -the _Earthmen_ have so soon reached your vicinity." - -Zoya waited. Ullo stirred in his tub. - -"If I may suggest, Great One--?" - -"Yes?" - -"I believe he should destroy his subspace ship!" - -"_What!_" - -"I am inclined to agree," Zoya Lar-Tul put in. - - * * * * * - -Amazed, Ahnu waited for Ullo's reasons. Encouraged by such -consideration, the latter went on. - -"If these _Earthmen_ are already on their way to the ringed planet, -they will undoubtedly stop first at the largest moon--where Zoya has -left his main ship." - -"And will likely discover it there," Ahnu agreed reluctantly. - -"And from that point," continued Ullo, "they will discover both our -location in space and the interstellar subspace drive in its finished -form. After that, they can get at _us_!" - -"The opposite extreme of my dilemma," confirmed Zoya. - -"Silence!" ordered Ahnu. "Let me think!" - -All of them--Supervisor, assistant, technicians, and the image on the -screen--considered the situation gloomily. The government of Yaradir -would take a dry view of having to combat an invasion, should one -develop from this. The race of Yaradir, because of their personal -requirements and life conditions, were not as numerous as most of -the races they had found in their explorations. The great distances -between their colonies and the growing number of these were due to the -comparative rarity of the type of planet that suited them. - -"Can you reach the ship in your local rocket in time to escape in -it?" asked Ahnu. "After all, subspace ships are costly; if we leave a -deserted base, what can they find out?" - -"It is possible," admitted Zoya doubtfully, "but risky." - -"What do you mean?" - -"They may intercept me on the way, for their ships are faster than my -rocket. They may even catch the big ship before I gain enough speed to -shift into subspace drive." - -"For all we know," interrupted Ullo, forgetting his place, "they may be -able to keep up with you even then." - -Ahnu bubbled angrily at the idea, but they all were silent for another -unhappy period of cogitation. - -"Perhaps," admitted Ahnu in the end, "you will have to destroy the -subspace ship, but only in the last extremity!" - -"I could blow it up from space, if I get within range." - -"Not so fast; that ship is a major item in the budget!" Ahnu told him -angrily. "The first thing is to try to get aboard unseen and return to -pick up what you can from your base." - -"And if these _Earthmen_ are nearby?" Ullo asked. - -"Then Zoya must forget the base and escape with the ship, which is the -main thing." - -"But if they have already found it?" inquired Zoya. - -"All right, all right! _Then_ destroy it! And you had better -start immediately unless you wish to find such action necessary. -Somehow,"--here one eyestalk was deflected rather pointedly toward -Ullo--"somehow, too many mouths always speed up the clocks." - -Ullo did a little neck-swelling himself at this example of bias. - -_Just because he couldn't get my job for his youngest brother_, he -thought resentfully. _Serve him right if I'd resigned! Where'd he be if -I didn't stick here to push his snout into the obvious every time he -slides over it?_ - -"Yes," repeated Ahnu, complacent at having found his solution, "that is -what you must do. If anything goes wrong, you can still use your rocket -to return to your base." - -"Which I hope," sighed Zoya, "to find undisturbed." - - * * * * * - -At that, Ahnu fell silent. After a tense moment, he heaved himself -around to direct both eyestalks at Ullo. - -"Well?" he wheezed. "Have you no suggestions in case he does have to -destroy the subspace ship?" - -Ullo twirled one tentacle tip in the mud of his tub until he collected -a sticky blob. This he flipped away with a snap of the tentacle. He -derived a slight satisfaction from the _splat_ against the far wall. - -"We must try to preserve _one_ of his collections of information," he -said. "It would entail considerable expense--not to mention time--to -replace Zoya and repeat the scouting." - -Ahnu shifted his position irritably. Ullo saw that his reference to -expense had been a shrewd blow. The Supervisor snorted and bubbled, but -finally conceded that much and gestured for Ullo to continue. - -"So it would be unfortunate if he should succeed in regaining his big -ship, only to return to his base and find it occupied by exploring -_Earthmen_." - -"What do you suggest, then?" - -"He should try for _either_ the base or the ship, and arrange to -destroy the other! If he can remain undetected for a short time at the -base, he can dispose of his specimens after forwarding a report on -them. If he gets to the ship safely, why leave behind any clues at all?" - -After considerable wheezing and puffing, it was agreed that Zoya should -take a chance on having his base discovered while he was away, but -provide for the eventuality by arranging a bomb that would be set off -by the approach of any strange ship. He admitted that he already had -one, keyed to be safe only after certain signals from his own rocket. -He had only to hook it up. - -"If you do have to return," advised Ullo, "clean out your dissecting -room and then make friends with the _Earthmen_. Give them some story of -being cast away, and ask help in building a new ship." - -"You mean ... install our kind of drive without their knowing?" - -"Exactly!" said Ahnu, taking to the idea. "Then just drop out of sight -some fine day and leave them wondering which way you went." - -At this point, Viri made bold to request that Zoya leave the televisor -at the base operating, with a continuous view of the main chamber as -now shown. He began to explain that he wanted to be sure not to lose -contact, but Ahnu had heard enough. He cut Viri short by climbing out -of his mud tub. - -"That settles it then," he summed up to Zoya. "If you _are_ forced to -destroy the subspace ship, report from the base when you return and are -ready to contact the natives. Otherwise, report from the ship!" - -He waddled out of the communications chamber without ceremony, followed -by Ullo Dah-Gow. - - * * * * * - -The next day, the latter was kept busy with the many reports of arid -planets he had to file in order to justify the expenses of exploration. - -_He always leaves explaining the budget to me_, he thought. - -He did, however, snatch time to put a copy tape of the last installment -of Zoya's preliminary report on the speaker, having felt ill at -ease for not being completely up to date at the previous evening's -conference. - -Halfway through a listing of sociological and psychological -observations, Ullo stiffened. He ran the tape through again. - -"He'd _better_ get to that ship!" he wheezed to himself. "They sound -like a nest of trouble-makers--resourceful, aggressive, just the sort -to burst into this system some sweet day and tell us Yaradir is _their_ -colony!" - -He ripped the tape out of the speaker and hurried along a dank corridor -to Ahnu's office, not even pausing at his favorite spots to rub against -the cool, dripping walls. He found his chief relaxing in an adjoining -chamber by submitting to a massage. - -"Not now!" complained Ahnu at the first mention of _Earthmen_. "Wait -till we hear from Zoya. I want to enjoy having my scales oiled in -peace!" - -Ullo spitefully dropped the tape into a pot of scale-grease on the way -out, but dutifully returned to his work. - -Late one night, however, he was reminded of the scout in system -LL-255-13. The emergency buzzer beside his sleeping pool awoke him with -an urgent summons. The number on the screen beside it indicated the -communications chamber now reserved for Zoya Lar-Tul. - -Still dripping, Ullo pumped down the corridor, encountering his chief -at the last turn. Ahnu was irritated. - -"What can they have spoiled now?" he demanded, as if he suspected Ullo -of having had a tentacle in it. "It was a perfectly simple arrangement!" - -"Perhaps something unexpected came up," suggested Ullo. - -"What could be unexpected? It was utterly simple!" said Ahnu -explosively. "If he beats them to it, he reports from the ship. -Otherwise he destroys it and goes back to report from his base!" - -He slap-slapped irately into their destination, wondering audibly why -he had to come down here and direct people's eyestalks for them. - -"Because, Great One," replied Viri Nol-Rin, a trifle more abruptly than -was consistent with proper respect for Ahnu's position, "the televisor -at Zoya's base has gone dead!" - -"What? Why? If you can't keep in communication--" - -"There _isn't_ any communication," interrupted Viri. - -Ullo saw that the operator was deeply disturbed. To -interrupt--_actually interrupt_--Ahnu Nol-Yev! Even if one was his -nephew! - -"That is why, if you will remember," Viri went on, "I insisted Zoya -leave his signal in operation. The chance that his base would be -approached by a strange ship sooner than we hoped, and blow up." - -"So the bomb went off?" said Ullo. - -"It must have. And, by the figures Zoya gave me before he left, he is -long, long overdue at the subspace ship." - -"Well, what of it?" demanded Ahnu. "It merely means he will have to -report from the ship when he ... if he ... if _they_ don't--" - -He snorted and wheezed into silence. - - * * * * * - -Ullo traded stares with Viri. Then he looked at Yado, who wore an -equally unhappy expression on his wide visage. - -"Are you _sure_ he would have reached the ship before now?" Ahnu -demanded. - -"Completely." - -The Supervisor swore feelingly, using some of the bleakest and driest -terms Ullo had ever heard. The gist of the diatribe was the delay and -expense. - -"Now it may be yaras before we get his data!" - -"How do you mean?" asked Ullo. - -"It's obvious, isn't it? He must have had to destroy the ship; but -before he got back, some prowling _Earthmen_ set off the charge at -his base. That leaves him with only his rocket. Don't you see what it -means?" - -"Perhaps not," said Ullo. - -"Why, he'll have to make friends with those _things_ from _Earth_, and -get help building a new ship. Until then, we'll have to classify his -report 'pending.'" - -He sloshed watery mud about as he heaved himself from his tub -impatiently. Ullo aimed an eyestalk at each of the technicians, -keeping them silent until Ahnu had waddled indignantly from the room. - -"I _knew_ we didn't cover all the alternatives that night!" said Ullo -feelingly. "How could we be so dry inside the skull? How _could_ we?" - -"He certainly doesn't like the delay," commented Yado. - -"Delay!" snorted Ullo. Then he asked, "Is that what it means to you, -too?" - -Viri and Yado fidgeted under his stare. - -"I keep wondering if Zoya reached the ship," said Ullo. - -They stared at him. - -"Say it this way, then: 'If _Zoya_ reached the ship?'" - -Viri sighed. - -"I suppose we may never find out what really happened," he said. - -"I believe I would really rather _not_," Ullo told them, preparing to -leave. "Listen in to a complete copy of the preliminary report Zoya -sent, and you will see what I mean." - -His scales were too dry and needed an oiling, he told himself; but he -knew it was more than that which sent the shudder through him. And -there were _billions_ of them! - -"What shall we do?" asked Viri. - -"I don't know what good it will do," said Ullo, pausing in the doorway, -"but you might make your wills. Personally, I intend to apply for -transfer to some colony lying in the opposite direction from this -_Sol_. Record of us, and a ship to reach us--we might as well have sent -them an invitation!" - - * * * * * - -He remembered their unhappy eyes two yaras later, when the regular -bulletin tapes sent out to the colonies reported Ahnu's dismissal. Ullo -applied for a post at a more distant colony. - -After one yara at the new post, the monthly tapes from Yaradir were -interrupted. Everybody complained about the service. - -Everybody but Ullo. - -He commandeered a subspace ship, and moved on. - -But not ... far ... enough.... - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OPEN INVITATION *** - -***** This file should be named 64071-0.txt or 64071-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/6/4/0/7/64071/ - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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