To these hardened spacemen, it was heaven.
Bald rock sprouted grass, metal parts popped
up as required, new men relieved the weary
as soon as the need was merely thought of.
Who could imagine there was a joker?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories Spring 1947.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
In the control room was silence like fabric strained to the verge oftearing. Softly through the weave of it came the murmur of the engines,fretful, unhappy, the whimper of something sick.
The whimper echoed Thettumir's feelings. He gestured suddenly at thetelescopic space scanner, the six snake-like digits of his hand stiffwith dismay.
"But that is all? There are no other planets in this region?"
"None." Vandumonn shook for added emphasis the erect spiny crest whichran from the top of his head down the middle of his back. "I have madeabsolutely certain of that. This is the only planet. The next nearestsun is ten light-years away. But listen to the engines, Commander. I aman astronomer, not an engineer, yet I know the engines will not takeus that far. Even if they could, it would be a gamble as to whether ornot that next nearest sun had planets."
Thettumir gazed once more at the magnified image in the scanner.It showed a great red sun, already well on its way toward cooling,and far off to the right, a silvery speck which was the only planetcircling the dying giant. He reached for the dial which increased themagnification of the scanner and twirled it until the disc of theplanet filled the entire screen.
The battered flagship had approached closer, but, as before, Thettumirwas able to make out no details. The planet was covered withclouds—strange dense gray clouds. He knew the clouds indicated anatmosphere—perhaps even a breathable one—but his reluctance to acceptthe planet as a temporary repair base was due to the fact that theclouds would make landing extremely difficult. The Urgollian fleet wasalready badly damaged, and additional injuries would only complicatematters further.
Yet Thettumir knew they would have to land. The fleet would never reachUrgoll in its present condition. Many other vessels had suffered evengreater damage than that to the flagship.
Thettumir turned from the scanner with sudden purpose. The assembledofficers stiffened to attention.
"Forbidding as this cloud-covered world seems, it is our only hope forobtaining materials for repairs as well as suitable working conditions.Immediate orders shall be issued to the fleet to begin deceleration. Weshall take an orbit about the planet in order K4. Scout ships are tobe dispatched to descend and explore the surface. Further orders willbe issued after the scout ships report. For the present, proceed asdirected."
Thettumir turned and left the control room. The task of slowing theirtremendous speed, he knew, would take time—time which he could spendmost comfortably in his cabin. Besides, bitterness still gnawed withinhim at the recent Urgollian defeat by the men of Urrth. Or was itErrth, he wondered. He could never remember the exact pronunciation.He'd have to ask Sthalor, the chief psychologist, again. Sthalor hadquestioned enough captive Errthmen to be sure.
Questioned. Thettumir decided that was too nice a word. Sthalor'smethods were apt to be harsh, but they produced vitally necessaryinformation.
Striding through the corridors of the flagship, Thettumir thoughtwistfully of Errth. Of all the nine planets in the Solarian System,Errth had been the most desirable. A beautiful world