Transcriber’s Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy December 1962. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Corrections are indicated by a dotted underline, like this.
Here is a modern tale of an inner-directed sorcerer and an outer-directed sorcerer’s apprentice … a tale of—
THE
CREATURE
FROM
CLEVELAND DEPTHS
By FRITZ LEIBER
Illustrated by WOOD
“Come on, Gussy,” Fay prodded quietly, “quit stalking around like a neurotic bear and suggest something for my invention team to work on. I enjoy visiting you and Daisy, but I can’t stay aboveground all night.”
“If being outside the shelters makes you nervous, don’t come around any more,” Gusterson told him, continuing to stalk. “Why doesn’t your invention team think of something to invent? Why don’t you? Hah!” In the “Hah!” lay triumphant condemnation of a whole way of life.
“We do,” Fay responded imperturbably, “but a fresh viewpoint sometimes helps.”
“I’ll say it does! Fay, you burglar, I’ll bet you’ve got twenty people like myself you milk for free ideas. First you irritate their bark and then you make the rounds every so often to draw off the latex or the maple gloop.”