OPEN INVITATION
A Short Story by H. B. FYFE
The problem was simple—or rather, simply
stated: Zoya Lar-Tul must keep those nasty,
aggressive little Earthmen from
discovering the location of his home-star....
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories May 1951.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
As Ullo Dah-Gow waddled into the section communications chamber onYaradir, second planet of Zillor, two of his four walking tentaclesstuck slightly on a nearly dry spot.
"Fire and dry sand!" he swore at the technicians. "Can't you two evenkeep the footing decently moist?"
Without waiting for an answer, he made his way to the row of shallowmud tubs before the television screen. The operators aimed eyestalksat each other. Finally, Yado Nol-Moz, as junior, rose and went to thewall controls of the conditioner.
The assistant supervisor was relieved to see a thin sheet of watercreep across the floor. He never knew when Yado or Viri Nol-Rin mightchoose to ignore him.
Which comes of old Ahnu loading this section with his nephews, hethought bitterly, forgetting that in his own office he already hada list of his own relatives prepared against the day when he shouldsucceed to the post of Supervisor of Colonial Scouting for Sector 63.
The slap-slap of tentacles in the corridor announced the arrival ofhis superior. Ahnu Nol-Yev entered and lowered his thick body into thechoicest of the mud tubs, which Ullo had prudently left free.
"Now, what's this urgent message?" he demanded, pointing one eyestalkat Ullo and fixing the other upon the screen above Viri's broad, bonyhead.
"A request for orders from scout Zoya Lar-Tul," answered Viri."Assigned to ... let me see ... system LL-255-13."
"Did we have any report on that system?" asked Ahnu.
Yado produced the tape of a preliminary report and placed it on thespeaker. The list of facts rolled out: number of planets ... numberwith sufficient water for colonization ... number of intelligentspecies—one, on third planet ... native nomenclature—star, Sol; ownplanet, Earth; others ... and so on.
"All right," wheezed Ahnu. "I remember now. Get holdof ... whatsisname ... Zoya!"
Viri manipulated his keys and knobs. The brief delay before ananswering image appeared on the screen irritated Ahnu. The loose,coppery scales around his thick neck glinted with iridescent highlightsas he puffed out his air-sacs.
"Dessication!" he snarled. "We bridge all those light-years withsubspace waves for his benefit, and he can't be alert enough to—Gothim now, Viri?"
The technician snapped the tip of a gripping tentacle in assent.Another Yaradirian looked out at them from the screen.
This one had obviously been roughing it; his scales were lubricated byonly a minimum film of moisture, and he wore space harness on the lowerpart of his body.
To keep his walking tentacles wet, Ullo realized. He hasn't so muchas a drop of water on the floor of that dive!
"Zoya Lar-Tul!" announced Viri.
"Stated simply," said Ahnu bluntly, "what is your trouble?"
"Stated simply, Great One," answered the scout, "I am in imminentdanger of detection by natives of this system."
Ullo stiffened in his mud tub. He heard the slurp as the Supervisorsplashed more mud upon the oozing floor.
"How is that?" demanded Ahnu, his throat again beginni