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 on Yaradir, second planet of Zillor, two of his four walking tentacles stuck slightly on a nearly dry spot.
"Fire and dry sand!" he swore at the technicians. "Can't you two even keep the footing decently moist?"
Without waiting for an answer, he made his way to the row of shallow mud tubs before the television screen. The operators aimed eyestalks at each other. Finally, Yado Nol-Moz, as junior, rose and went to the wall controls of the conditioner.
The assistant supervisor was relieved to see a thin sheet of water creep across the floor. He never knew when Yado or Viri Nol-Rin might choose to ignore him.
Which comes of old Ahnu loading this section with his nephews, he thought bitterly, forgetting that in his own office he already had a list of his own relatives prepared against the day when he should succeed to the post of Supervisor of Colonial Scouting for Sector 63.