F. Wallace - 10 Lost Pulp Sci-Fi Masterpieces

Why not? But why not minimize it, just the same. The Agvars, invisible but noisy, were all around them, now. At any moment the woods might rain spears.

“It would be safer with two of us,” Chet said musingly. “Your knowledge of anthropology and medicine—mine of the people—”

“Barfield, you’re still on the sicklist,” Commander Seymour pointed out. He watched Chet’s face for a long moment before adding, “Still—if you’re over your sick-minded need for revenge—it’s possible Dr. Pine may find you fit. It’s up to him.”

Chet was afraid to ask directly. He pleaded with his eyes.

Dr. Pine grinned broadly at the both. “He’s ready for duty, sir,” he said.

Commander Seymour stepped back and scowled. “All right, Mr. Barfield,” he barked, “I’ll give you just three minutes to change to the uniform of the day!”

Chet’s jaw dropped. His vision, also downcast, noted the fatigues he wore, the muddy shoes. Then he looked up, saw the twinkle in his C.O.’s eyes, and understood.

In exactly three minutes he made the required change. He would enter the village as he’d left it—in the undress uniform of a Man….

Front Cover, Copyright © 2010 Chet Dembeck, Publisher of One

Baltimore, Md.

First E-Book Edition

(science fiction)

Public Domain Short Stories.

The introduction and any other author commentaries on attributed public domain material cannot be produced in any form without written permission from the author & Publisher of One.