Astounding Science Fiction, February 1952 (British Edition) — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

28 tell you. I’m not telling any of the others —not for a while, at least.” “It takes a little while,” said Mr. Barnes, “to Jet a thing like that soak in. I find it so, myself. Maybe you sheuld tell the others, let them have a chance—” “No,” said Warren. The chaplain stared at him. “What are _ you hoping for, Warren? What do you expect to happen?” “A miracle,” said Warren. “A miracle?” “Certainly,” said Warren. in miracles. You must.” “I don’t know,” said Mr. Barnes. “There are certain miracles, of course—one might call them allegorical miracles, and some- times men read into them more than was ever meant.” “I am more practical than that,” said Warren, harshly. “There is the miracle of the fact that the natives of this place are humanoid like ourselves and they don’t need any booster shots. There is a potential miracle in the fact that only the first humans who landed on the planet ever “You believe tried to live on Landro without the aid of booster shots.” “Since you mention it,’ said the chap- lain, “there is the miracle of the fact that we are here at all.” Warren blinked at him. “That’s right,” he said. “Tell me, why do you think we’re here? Divine destiny, perhaps. Or the im- mutable performance of the mysterious forces that move Man along his way.” “We are here,” said Barnes, “to carry on the survey work that has been con- tinued thus far by parties here before us.” “And that will be continued,” said Warren, “by the parties that come after us.” “You forget,” the chaplain said, “that all of us will die. They will be very wary of sending another expedition to replace one that has been wiped out.” © “And you,” said Warren, miracle.” “forget the The report had been written by the psychologist who had accompanied the third expedition to Landro. Warren had managed, after considerable digging in the file of quadruplicates, to find a copy of it. “Hog wash,” he said and struck the papers with his fist. “IT could have told you that,” said Bat Ears, “before you ever read it. Ain’t noth- ing one of them prissy punks can tell an ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION oid-timer like me about these abor . . abor . .. abor—” “Aborigines,” said Warren. “That’s the word,” said Bat BEE, “That’s the word I wanted.” “It says here,” declared leis “that the natives of Landro have a keen sense of dignity, very delicately tuned—that’s the honor when dealing among themselves.” Bat Ears snorted and reached for the bottle. He took a drink and sloshed what was left in the bottom discontentedly. “You sure,” the asked, “that this is all you got?” “You should know,” snapped Warren. Bat Ears wagged his head. “Comforting thing,” he said. “Mishty comforting.” “It says,” went on Warren, “that they aiso have a system of what amounts to protocol, on a rather primitive basis.” “TI don’t know about this proto-whatever- you-may-call-it,” said Bat Ears, “but- that part about the code of honor gets me. Why, _them dirty vultures would steal the pennies off a dead man’s eyes. I always keep a shovel handy and when one of them shows up—” “The report,” said Warren, ‘ “s0es mto that most exhaustively. Explains it.” “Ain't no need of explanation,” insisted Bat Ears. “They just want what you got, so they sneak in and take it.” “Says it’s like stealing from a rich man,” Warren told him. “Like a kid that sees a field with a million melons in it. Kid can’t see anything wrong with taking one melon out of all that million.” “We ain’t got no million melons,’ Bat Ears. . “Tt’s just an analogy,” said Warren. “Che stuff we have here must look like a million melons to our little friends.” “Just the same,” protested Bat Ears, “they better keep out of my cook tent—” “Shut up,” said Warren savagely. “I get you here to talk with you and ali you do is drink up my liquor and caterwaul about your cook tent.” “All right,’ said Bat Ears. What do you want to know?” “What are we doing about contacting the natives?” “Can't contact them,” said Bat Ears, “if we cant find them. They were around here, thicker than fleas, before we needed them. Now that we need them, can’t find hide nor hair of one.’ > said “All right. (XO) COPMiclaooL<