[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
February 1956
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Gordon Malloy, Chief of Interplanetary Security, rocked back in his
chair, and with seeming unconcern looked Rex Tate over searchingly.
"How was Pluto?"
"Stinking. Why we want that frozen lump in the Federation is something
I can't figure."
"Rich in minerals."
"You left me there for seven Terran months," Rex allowed criticism to
sound in his voice.
This did not bother Malloy. "Good for you. Toughened you up. Safe too.
Never much trouble on Pluto."
"That's why I joined up. So I'd be nice and safe."
"I've got something in mind for you."
"Where?"
"Mars. But it could be nasty so you'd better go back to Pluto."
"Try and get me on a ship. What's with Mars?"
Malloy looked for a place to put his feet and found only the top of his
desk. Up there they looked like a pair of crossed banjo cases.
"I wish I knew."
"I'll go find out for you."
Malloy's eyes brooded. "The thing started as a result of privileges
and stupidity, the way most things of this sort do. As you know, Mars
is the only planet in the Federation without representation because
the Martians refused to represent themselves. They wanted no part of
the alliance." Malloy glanced up quickly. "How's your knowledge of the
Martian background?"
"Sketchy. Ask me about Venus, Mercury, Neptune, Pluto. By all means
ask me about Pluto."
"We're talking about Mars. When we went up there in 2091, we found as
close to a dead planet as you could want. There were people, but damned
funny ones. They wouldn't fight us or they wouldn't join us. They had a
kind of pride we've never been able to analyze. They just kept backing
away.
"We found rich minerals and fine farm land--land that had lain fallow
for ages just waiting for the plow. And plenty of water. Every spring,
the ice cliffs at the poles melted on schedule and sent down the
moisture for bumper crops.
"But the Martians didn't farm--they didn't mine--they didn't do
anything so far as we could discover except back away into their caves
and rocky fastnesses up north and give us the cold eye."
Rex knew all this but he liked to hear The Chief talk--liked to be
with him as did every other agent in the Gang, so he registered bright
interest and listened.
"They rebuffed all our advances and so we let them alone."
"But that happened on other planets too," Rex said innocently, "and so
we went right in and got acquainted--looked in their bedrooms and their
dresser drawers."