Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

32 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION Leigh thought it over carefully. “It is inhabitable by humankind. There is no native opposition, nothing to prevent us grabbing it. But in his opinion it isn’t worth possessing.” | “Why, man, why?” ) “I don’t know, not having been there.” ‘Boydell knows the reason.”’ Markham fumed a bit and went on, “And he ought to state it in precise, understandable terms. He shouldn’t leave a mystery hanging in midair like a bad smell from nowhere.” “He will explain it when he returns to his sector headquarters, surely?’’ “That may be months hence, perhaps years, especially if he manages to pick up fuel and replacement tubes from distant outposts. Those scouts keep to no schedule. They get there when they arrive, return when they come back. Galactic gypsies, that’s how they like to think of themselves.” ‘““They’ve chosen freedom,” Leigh offered. Ienoring that remark, Markham continued, “Anyway, the problem of Pulok is a relatively minor one to be handled by somebody else. I’ll give it to one of the juniors; it will do something for his education, The more compli- cated and possibly dangerous tangles are for older ones such as yourself.” “Tell me the worst.”’ “Planet fourteen on Boydell’s list. He has given it the name of Eterna and don’t ask me why. The code formula he’s registered against it reads 0/1.1/D.7. That means we can live on it without special equipment, it’s an Earth-type planet of one-tenth greater mass and is inhabited by an intelligent life form of different but theoretically equal mental power. He calls this life form the Waitabits. Apparently he tags everything and everybody with the first name that pops into his mind.” ‘“‘What information does he offer concerning them?” “Hah!” said Markham, pulling a face. “One word. Just one word.” He paused, then voiced it. ““Unconquerable.”’ **Bh?’’ “Unconquerable, * repeated Markham. “A word that should not exist in scout-language.” At that point he became riled, jerked open a drawer, extracted a notebook and consulted it. “Up to last survey, four hundred twenty-one planets had been discovered, charted, recorded. One hundred thirty-seven found suitable for human life and large or small groups of settlers placed thereon. Sixty-two alien life forms mastered during the — process.”” He shoved the book back. “And out there in the dark a wandering — tramp picks a word like unconquerable.” “T can think of only one reason that makes sense,” suggested Leigh. “What is that?” ‘Perhaps they really are unconquerable.”’ Markham refused to credit his ears. “If that is a joke, commodore, it’s in © bad taste. Some might think it seditious.” “Well, can you think up another and better reason?”’ “I don’t have to. I’m sending you there to find out. The Grand cous asked specifically that you be given this task. They feel that if any yet un- known aliens have enough to put the wind up one of our own scouts then — we must learn more about them. pee sooner the better. 5 on oe Gaya | a en