Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

48 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION bling with enthusiasm, “a most remarkable discovery, most remarkable! Nine species of insect life, none really extraordinary in structure, but all afflicted with an amazing lassitude. If this phenomenon is common to all native insects, it would appear that local metabolism is—” “Write it down for the record,”’ advised Leigh, patting him on the shoulder, He hastened to the signals room. “‘Anything special from Ogilvy?” “No, commodore. All his messages have been repeats of his first ones. He is now most of the way back and due to arrive here in about an hour.” “Send him to me immediately he returns.” **As you order, sir.”’ Ogilvy appeared in the promised time. He was a lanky, lean-faced indivi- dual given to irritating grins. Entering the room he held hands behind his back, hung his head and spoke with mock shame. ““Commodore, I have a confession to make.”’ “So I see from the act you’re putting on. What is it?” “IT landed, without permission, right in the main square of the biggest city I could find.” Leigh raised his eyebrows. “‘And what happened?’ “They gathered around and stared at me.”’ “Is that all?” “Well, sir, it took them twenty minutes to see me and assemble, by which time the ones farther away were still coming. I couldn’t wait any longer to discover what they’d do next. I estimated that if they fetched some rope and tied down my landing gear they’d have the job finished about a year next Christmas.” ‘““Humph! Were things the same everywhere else?’’ “Yes, sir. I passed over more than two hundred towns and villages, reached extreme range of twelve fifty miles. Conditions remained consistent.” He gave his grin, continued, “I noticed a couple of items that might interest ou.” : “What were those?” “The Waitabits converse with their mouths but make no detectable noises. The ’copter has a supersonic converter known as Bat-ears which is used for blind fiying. I tuned its receiver across its full range when in the middle of that crowd but didn’t pick up a squeak. So they’re not talking high above us. I don’t see how they can be subsonic either, It must be something else,” “T’ve had a one-sided conversation with them myself,’’ Leigh informed. “It may be that we’re overlooking the obvious while seeking the obscure.” Ogilvy blinked and asked, ““How d’you mean, sir?” “They're not necessarily employing some unique faculty such as we cannot imagine. It is quite possible that they communicate visually. They gaze into each other’s gullets and read the waggling palps. Something like you semaphoring with your tonsils.’’ He dismissed the subject with a wave of his hand. “‘And what’s your other item?” “No birds,” replied Ogilvy. ‘““You’d think that where insects exist there would also be birds or at least things somewhat birdlike. The only Seas creature I saw was a kind of membrane-winged lizard that flaps dust enou lNOOLKS 4 an