Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

THE WAITABITS | 61 fast-functioning controls. Majority opinion was against it but all agreed that in any event none would live to see it. Then Leigh announced, “‘An Earth Ambassador is to be left here if anyone wants the job.” He looked them over, seeking signs of interest. ““There’s little point in planting anybody on this planet,’ someone objected. “Like most alien people, the Waitabits have not developed along paths identical with our own,” Leigh explained. ‘““We’re way ahead of them, know thousands of things that they don’t, including many they'll never learn. By the same token they’ve picked up a few secrets we’ve missed. For instance, they’ve types of engines and batteries we'd like to know more about. They may have further items not apparent in this first superficial look-over. And there’s no telling what they’ve got worked out theoretically. If there’s one lesson we’ve learned in the cosmos it’s that of never despising an alien culture. A species too big to learn soon goes small.” “So?” “So somebody’s got to take on the formidable task of systematically milking them of everything worth a hoot. That’s why we are where we are: the knowledge of creation is all around and we get it and apply it.” “It’s been done time and again on other worlds,’ agreed the objector. “But this is Eterna, a zombie-inhabited sphere where the clock ticks about once an hour. Any Earthman marooned in this place wouldn’t have enough time if he lived to be a hundred.” “Yourre right,” Leigh told him. ‘Therefore this ambassadorial post will .be strictly an hereditary one. Whoever takes it will have to import a bride, marry, raise kids, hand the grief to them upon his deathbed. It may last through six generations or more. There is no other way.” He let them stew that a while before he asked, “‘Any takers?” Silence. “You'll be lonely except for company provided by occasional ships but contact will be maintained and the power and strength of Terra will be behind you. Speak up!” _ Nobody responded. Leigh consulted his watch. “T'll give you two hours to think it over. After that, we blow. Any candidate will find me in the cabin.” At zero-hour the Thunderer flamed free leaving no representative on the world. Some day there would be one, no doubt of that. Some day a willing hermit would take up residence for keeps. Among the men of Terra an oddity or a martyr could always be found. But the time wasn’t yet. On Eterna the time never was quite yet. The pale pink planet that held Sector Four H.Q. had grown to a large disk before Pascoe saw fit to remark on Leigh’s meditative attitude. ‘Seven weeks along the return run and you're still broody. Anyone would think you hated to leave that place. What’s the matter with you?” “I told you before. They make me feel apprehensive.” “That’s illogical,” Pascoe declared. “Admittedly we cannot handle the slowest crawlers in existence. But what of it? All we need do is drop them and forget them.”’ Ccomiclhooks.conn