boucher book oct28.pdf - Index of

374 Anthony Boucher
specialist in astrogation, the trip seemed nowise different, except in length,
from a vacation excursion to one of our own satellites.
The majority theory is apparently vindicated here on this satellite of the
third planet. It does not sustain life. According to Halov, specialist in life sciences,
it is not a question of cannot, since life of some strange sort might
conceivably exist under any conditions save those of a perfect vacuum. But
so far as can be ascertained there is no life of any remotely recognizable form
upon this satellite.
This globe is dead. It is so dead that one may say the word without fear. The
euphemism extinct would be too mild for the absolute and utter deadness
here. It is so dead that the thought of death is not terrifying.
Trubz is now working on the psychology of that.
Observation checks the previous calculations that one face of this satellite
is always turned toward its world and one always away from it, the period of
rotation coinciding exactly with the orbital period. There seems to be no difference
in nature between the two sides; but obviously the far side is the proper
site for the erection of our temporary dome. If the hypothetical inhabitants of
the third planet have progressed to the use of astronomical instruments, we
do not wish to give them warning of our approach by establishing ourselves
in the full sight of those instruments.
The absence of life on this satellite naturally proved a serious disappointment to
Halov, but even more so to Lilil, who felt inspired to improvise a particularly ingenious
specimen of his art. Fortunately, the stores of the ship had provided for such an
emergency, and the resultant improvisation was one of the greatest triumphs of Lilil’s
great career. We are now about to take our first rest after the trip, and our minds are
aglow with the charm and beauty of this exquisite work.
Murvin to Falzik:
All right. Report received and very welcome. But can’t you give us more
color? Physical description of the satellite—minerals present—exploitation
possibilities—anything like that? Some of us are more interested in those than
in Trubz’s psychology or even Lilil’s practice of the art.
Falzik to Murvin:
What are you asking for? You know as well as I do the purpose of this expedition:
to discover other intelligent forms of life. And you know the double
purpose behind that purpose: to verify by comparison the psychological
explanation of our race-dominant fear of death (if this were a formal dispatch
I’d censor that to “extinction”), and to open up new avenues of creation in the
art.
That’s why the personnel of this expedition, save for the astrogator, was
chosen for its usefulness if we discover life. Until we do, our talents as specialists
are wasted. We don’t know about minerals and topography. Wait for the
next expedition’s report on them.
If you want color, our next report should have it. It will come from the third
planet itself. We’ve established our temporary base here easily and are blast-