Wilbur Murphy sought romance, excitement, and an impossibleHorseman of Space. With polite smiles, the planet frustratedhim at every turn—until he found them all the hard way!
SJAMBAK
By Jack Vance
Illustrated by VIRGIL FINLAY
Howard Frayberg, ProductionDirector of Know YourUniverse!, was a man of sudden unpredictablemoods; and Sam Catlin,the show's Continuity Editor,had learned to expect the worst.
"Sam," said Frayberg, "regardingthe show last night...." He pausedto seek the proper words, and Catlinrelaxed. Frayberg's frame ofmind was merely critical. "Sam,we're in a rut. What's worse, theshow's dull!"
Sam Catlin shrugged, not committinghimself.
"Seaweed Processors of AlphardIX—who cares about seaweed?"
"It's factual stuff," said Sam, defensivebut not wanting to go toofar out on a limb. "We bring 'emeverything—color, fact, romance,sight, sound, smell.... Next week,it's the Ball Expedition to the MixtupMountains on Gropus."
Frayberg leaned forward. "Sam,we're working the wrong slant onthis stuff.... We've got to loosenup, sock 'em! Shift our ground!Give 'em the old human angle—glamor,mystery, thrills!"
Sam Catlin curled his lips. "I gotjust what you want."
"Yeah? Show me."
Catlin reached into his wastebasket. "I filed this just ten minutesago...." He smoothed out thepages. "'Sequence idea, by WilburMurphy. Investigate "Horseman ofSpace," the man who rides up tomeet incoming space-ships.'"
Frayberg tilted his head to theside. "Rides up on a horse?"
"That's what Wilbur Murphysays."
"How far up?"
"Does it make any difference?"
"No—I guess not."
"Well, for your information, it'sup ten thousand, twenty thousandmiles. He waves to the pilot, takesoff his hat to the passengers, thenrides back down."
"And where does all this takeplace?"
"On—on—" Catlin frowned. "Ican write it, but I can't pronounceit." He printed on his scratch-screen:CIRGAMESÇ.
"Sirgamesk," read Frayberg.
Catlin shook his head. "That'swhat it looks like—but those consonantsare all aspirated gutturals.It's more like 'Hrrghameshgrrh'."
"Where did Murphy get thistip?"
"I didn't bother to ask."
"Well," mused Frayberg, "wecould always do a show on strangesuperstitions. Is Murphy around?"
"He's explaining his expense accountto Shifkin."
"Get him in here; let's talk tohim."
Wilbur Murphy had ablond crew-cut, a broadfreckled nose, and a serious sidelongsquint. He looked from hiscrumpled sequence idea to Catlinand Frayberg. "Didn't like it, eh?"
"We thought the emphasis shouldbe a little different," explained Catlin."Instead of 'The Space Horseman,'we'd give it the working title,'Odd Superstitions of Hrrghameshgrrh'."
"Oh, hell!" said Frayberg. "Callit Sirgamesk."
"Anyway," said Catlin, "that'sthe angle."
"But it's not superstition," saidMurphy.
"Oh, come, Wilbur ..."
"I got this for sheer sober-sidedfact. A man rides a horse up tomeet the incoming ships!"
"Where did you get this wildfable?"
"My brother-in-law is purseron the Celestial Traveller. At Riker'sPlanet they make connectionwith the feeder line out of Cirgamesç."
"Wait a minute," said Catlin."How did you pronounce that?"
"Cirgamesç. The steward on theshuttle-ship gave out this s