The World That Couldn't Be

by Clifford D. Simak

Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction January 1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

The World That Couldn't Be

By CLIFFORD D. SIMAK

Illustrated by GAUGHAN

Like every farmer on every planet, Duncan had to hunt down anything that damaged his crops—even though he was aware this was—

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he tracks went up one row and down another, and in those rows the vua plants had been sheared off an inch or two above the ground. The raider had been methodical; it had not wandered about haphazardly, but had done an efficient job of harvesting the first ten rows on the west side of the field. Then, having eaten its fill, it had angled off into the bush—and that had not been long ago, for the soil still trickled down into the great pug marks, sunk deep into the finely cultivated loam.