1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:10,240 M HM cod down for blast off X minus five four three two x minus 2 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:42,119 one Fire from the far horizons of the unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions 3 00:00:42,119 --> 00:00:48,039 in time and space. These are stories of the future adventures in which you'll 4 00:00:48,079 --> 00:00:52,439 live in a million, could be years, on a thousand, maybe worlds. 5 00:00:52,439 --> 00:00:57,920 The National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine, presents 6 00:01:00,039 --> 00:01:26,760 minus one Tonight The Lungamina by Gordon R. Dixon. Blame Clay hard Bank 7 00:01:26,799 --> 00:01:30,799 if you like, or what happened at Station five sixty three, or blame 8 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,519 Bill Peterborough, the one we call the kid. I blame no one. 9 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,719 I'm a door sie man. That means I was brought up in one of 10 00:01:37,719 --> 00:01:41,959 those tiny planets a million light years from nowhere. Being a door siren man 11 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:46,040 is quite a responsibility. We are a very polite people. We have to 12 00:01:46,079 --> 00:01:57,640 be, because when we get angry, we fight to the death. It 13 00:01:57,719 --> 00:02:04,000 all began that evening Clay Harbang began reminiscing about his home planet Lu Lungomina. 14 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,360 We were sitting around the recreation room of five sixty three. There was a 15 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:15,680 card game going on in one corner. Lu lung go Mina, the very 16 00:02:15,759 --> 00:02:19,719 name sounds like music, doesn't it more? You know me, Clay, 17 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,439 I'm a doorside man. I've been in the doorside planets. I've seen them 18 00:02:23,479 --> 00:02:29,479 all knocking around this universe for thirty five years. But when it comes to 19 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,199 sheer beauty, lu lung go mina. How long since you've been home? 20 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:39,800 Clay? Home? Twenty years more? Twenty stinking miserable years. Well that'll 21 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:45,400 be over soon, another ten days. You're gonna miss all five sixty three, 22 00:02:45,759 --> 00:02:50,439 miss this scott forsaken little asteroid. Not for a minute. We'll miss 23 00:02:50,479 --> 00:02:53,639 your ugly face around here, at least I will. I'm gonna miss your 24 00:02:53,759 --> 00:02:58,560 gloomy doorsy puss too. Lord, Why don't you get out of it? 25 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,759 You've had more years in space service than any of us. You've probably got 26 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,879 enough credits to get out too. He I wouldn't know what to do with 27 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,360 myself. Couldn't you go home? You should know better than that, the 28 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:15,479 Dnebrian trouble, the d Nebrian trouble. You could go to Earth? What 29 00:03:15,719 --> 00:03:21,639 four ever been there? Never once? And I've never wanted to. I've 30 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,840 seen too many earthmen like the kid over there. He's green in service, 31 00:03:27,439 --> 00:03:30,479 he's full of greed and stupid hate like the rest of them. That's not 32 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:37,400 for me. Looks if the game's breaking up here he comes. Well, 33 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,840 if this is the big gambler from the windy planet, what's its name? 34 00:03:40,319 --> 00:03:46,120 Lu lung Gomina? Yeah, how's the piggy bank coming? Dad? The 35 00:03:46,199 --> 00:03:50,199 piggy is a gentleman kid. He never overeats, so he won't ever get 36 00:03:50,199 --> 00:03:55,360 into gestion sour grapes. You see this water credits five hundred? How long 37 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,120 you have to work for five hundred credits? Dad? How many trips you 38 00:03:59,159 --> 00:04:01,639 have to make around this? How much closer to fall in your grave? 39 00:04:01,719 --> 00:04:04,879 You have to come? You look as if you made a killing. I 40 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:11,039 always make a killing. I'm a natural born gambler, and I don't just 41 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,240 talk about it like some I think I'll go out and take a turn around 42 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:19,600 the station. More fine, I'll go with you. It's stuffy in here. 43 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:28,120 Don't bother. I'd rather be alone. A big chet knocked around the 44 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,839 planets for thirty five years. He used to have a reputation as the hottest 45 00:04:30,879 --> 00:04:35,040 gambler in the systems. Comes from the most beautiful planet in the universe. 46 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:41,240 Why don't you lay off him? Kid? Let me give you a piece 47 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:45,759 of sound advice. Go ahead, lay off Clay Harbank. He's been around 48 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,879 the systems a lot longer than you have. He may not be any chicken, 49 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:53,600 but he's a tough baby when the situation calls for it. You're trying 50 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,279 to scare me more. I thought you doorside guys were smarter than that. 51 00:04:57,319 --> 00:05:01,120 I'm beginning. No, no, look, no fads moat. I mean, 52 00:05:01,199 --> 00:05:05,519 I wasn't trying to insault the door side people or anything. I gotta 53 00:05:05,519 --> 00:05:17,920 go to a flight check. I'll see. We were in bad shape. 54 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,439 The twenty of us at Frontier Station five sixty three, on the very edge 55 00:05:21,439 --> 00:05:27,319 of the human area had gone sour. Half the man had applications or transfer 56 00:05:27,399 --> 00:05:30,519 in already. But I told the kid about Clay being tough. Well, 57 00:05:30,519 --> 00:05:34,360 that was a bluff to keep him off. Nobody knew better than I did 58 00:05:34,399 --> 00:05:39,839 that Clay was burned out inside like I used up rocket. I put on 59 00:05:39,879 --> 00:05:45,560 a spacesuit and went out to join him. Oh high, maud II, 60 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,639 beautiful night. Huh nice back on lu Lungo Mina. On a night like 61 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:55,399 this, the rack eash flowers open up and you can hear them singing. 62 00:05:56,639 --> 00:05:59,319 There are six moons, and every one of them is like a yellow lant. 63 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:01,839 My mom and dad and I used to live on the edge of a 64 00:06:01,879 --> 00:06:08,959 lotus pool. Here I go talking about home again. Figures a guy who's 65 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,720 been saving up for ten years to get home is bound to start thinking about 66 00:06:12,759 --> 00:06:15,800 it when the time comes. I wish you could come with me more play 67 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:21,319 tell me something? Yes? Do you ever get the urge to gamble again? 68 00:06:23,199 --> 00:06:27,800 Do I get the urge to gamble? What you ever watch a man 69 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,839 who's been on pon for a while when he's broken the habit. You can't 70 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:35,720 get him near the stuff he despises it, and yet the same man is 71 00:06:35,759 --> 00:06:42,399 liable to go back on with no provocation. Well that's the way it is 72 00:06:42,439 --> 00:06:46,920 when you've gambled all your life. I figured maybe that's why I keep talking 73 00:06:46,959 --> 00:06:50,759 about home. Every time I hear the kid flipping those cards in the recreation 74 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,720 room, I start talking about home. Have you noticed? I've noticed? 75 00:06:55,879 --> 00:06:59,959 But this time I'm going to make it more. I tried three times before. 76 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,480 This time I've got the dough, and I know I'm gonna make it. 77 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:09,319 I think you will claim you know what did it? Lu Lungo Mina, 78 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,480 That's what saved me this time, the thought of that beautiful planet. 79 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,279 Well, when you get there, you can send me a phototape. At 80 00:07:16,279 --> 00:07:19,319 the rate we get visitors, it should reach me in five or six years. 81 00:07:19,759 --> 00:07:23,480 You will be out. By then you'll be home. I'll never go 82 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:29,839 home. Claim never. Well, that's red four screens must have picked up 83 00:07:29,839 --> 00:07:32,160 a ship in the galaxy. Maybe we'll get a visit. Eh, keep 84 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,519 us from going logo anyway? Coming in? No, I think I'll stay 85 00:07:36,519 --> 00:07:40,079 out. Awhile, Well, I'm going to check the screen, see you 86 00:07:40,199 --> 00:07:49,439 later. Red four meant simply that a ship was entering the galaxy. The 87 00:07:49,519 --> 00:07:54,879 chances of it touching down on five sixty three were pretty remote, unless it 88 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,759 happened to need a clearance for Earth or Mars. The screen was black by 89 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:03,639 the time I got there, but the kid was filing a report. Oh 90 00:08:03,759 --> 00:08:09,199 hi boy, Hey, what's a hicks Abrod? Like? Why we're having 91 00:08:09,199 --> 00:08:11,360 one for a visitor? You don't say, I just came in over the 92 00:08:11,399 --> 00:08:16,360 receiver. What'll he be like? A hicks Obrod? Stiff as a poker, 93 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:22,040 proud as lucifer, honest as sunlight, and tied as a camel on 94 00:08:22,079 --> 00:08:24,600 his way through the eye of a needle. What do they look like? 95 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:28,120 Oh, they're kind of humanoid, but they have a dead pan face that 96 00:08:28,199 --> 00:08:31,840 never changes like a mask. Oh they were a little scary, I hear. 97 00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:37,480 That's a green skin and the scales. Also, they run about eight 98 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,240 feet tall. I wouldn't tangle with one if I were you. Back on 99 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:46,600 Danebria. Once I saw a Hickserbrod rip a Manda Ribbons with its claws. 100 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:52,320 Why the man made the mistake of insulting HICKSA that's one of the twin planets 101 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:56,360 they come from. Pretty touchy, aren't they Not? Really? They are 102 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,559 a very level headed race. You know. The hicks a broad reputation, 103 00:09:00,639 --> 00:09:01,879 don't you. No, you didn't hear much about him on Earth. Well 104 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:07,000 are the first and only mercenary political arbitrators in the known universe. A Hickserbrod 105 00:09:07,039 --> 00:09:13,120 can be hired, but he's absolutely incapable of being influenced or bribed. He 106 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,120 tells a cold truth and nothing but the cold truth. And brother, when 107 00:09:16,159 --> 00:09:20,639 a hicks Abrod tells you the truth, it's plenty cold. It really lets 108 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:22,919 you have it. Huh. They are a small race and very much in 109 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:28,960 demand if some kind of political dispute comes up from planetary to inter alien. 110 00:09:30,879 --> 00:09:33,919 Both sides hire a Hickserbrod to represent him. That way they know the other 111 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:41,639 side is being completely honest. Oh that's very interesting, you know, very 112 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:50,200 interesting. I could tell there was something on the kid's mind, but of 113 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,200 course I didn't know what it was. Most of the talk in the recreation 114 00:09:54,320 --> 00:10:00,000 room that night centered around the arrival of the hicks Abrod. Landing beacons were 115 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:07,000 turned on and we waited for another radio communication. Hey, anybody want to 116 00:10:07,039 --> 00:10:11,000 sit in on this next hand? What? No? Thanks? Well, 117 00:10:11,039 --> 00:10:15,120 I know better than to ask the galaxy's foremost gambler. That's right, kid, 118 00:10:15,919 --> 00:10:16,919 Well, maybe when this Hicks of Brod gets here, we'll be able 119 00:10:16,919 --> 00:10:22,480 to work out a decent game. Do Hicks of Rod's gamble? No, 120 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,559 kid, they don't gamble. That's too bad. Well, we can always 121 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:31,120 sit and listen to you lying about what a beautiful place the lung gamina is. 122 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:33,080 Kid, you just went too far. Yeah, you're gonna do something 123 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:37,720 about it. That's right. I'm gonna punch a little note, break it 124 00:10:37,799 --> 00:10:43,039 up. Play you all right, I'm okay. You better get to the 125 00:10:43,039 --> 00:10:46,000 infirmary, have your mouth taken care of. Kid, You get to your 126 00:10:46,039 --> 00:10:48,519 quarters. Since one of you giving orders, I'm telling you to get to 127 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,720 your quarters, you better do what he says. Kid, he's a door 128 00:10:50,799 --> 00:10:52,919 sign man. That's all I've been here, and since I got here, 129 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,759 when big gamblers come from the loungamina, and how dorsign men are killing so 130 00:10:56,879 --> 00:11:00,200 far, I've seen nothing, but I heard a lot of time. Get 131 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,399 to your quarters. I'll give you a five seconds to start moving. You 132 00:11:03,519 --> 00:11:07,080 better go ahead, kid, Okay, okay, one, I'm letting you 133 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:11,840 bluff me out of the game this time. Just remember there's gonna be other 134 00:11:11,879 --> 00:11:24,559 games next time. I won't be bluffed. He left the recreation room. 135 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:30,039 I felt a slight and not unpleasant shiver run down between my shoulder blades and 136 00:11:30,039 --> 00:11:33,720 my eyes were still hot. I'd almost lost my control that time, and 137 00:11:33,759 --> 00:11:37,919 my senses told me i'd better be careful for the next three days. The 138 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:43,519 tension of five sixty three was almost unbearable. Play Hardbank seemed to age twenty 139 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:48,799 years after the kid knocked him down. Now hear this, all personnel, 140 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:52,559 Now hear this, all personnel. A ship is approaching for flight check. 141 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:58,759 A ship is approaching for flight check. Report to central, Report to central, 142 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:03,440 Well this is Clay. We're getting the Hicks abroad. Seems almost like 143 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:07,120 home, having a Hicks abroad with us. They're all over the Tazian system. 144 00:12:07,159 --> 00:12:09,679 You know you speak Hicks abroad, you have to on lu lungomina. 145 00:12:09,919 --> 00:12:15,639 I don't know that. I picked it up during the Third Exploration a long 146 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:20,399 time ago. Huh, we're not getting younger Clay. Yeah, I found 147 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,600 that out. I don't take it so big. He's just a punk kid, 148 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:30,080 sure, and I'm just a dumb old man offered. Ah, that's 149 00:12:30,159 --> 00:12:35,639 touchdown. You ought to be here in a minute. That does it. 150 00:12:37,159 --> 00:12:41,679 He's down. Look at that ship. Huh, let's go. You'll need 151 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:52,480 some help with his baggage. The ship was a silvery, one man job, 152 00:12:54,039 --> 00:12:56,759 the kind that have taken the Hicks of Brod's all over the universe. 153 00:12:56,519 --> 00:13:01,080 The cabin door slid back and the Hicks have stepped out. He was as 154 00:13:01,159 --> 00:13:05,720 green and scaly as a lizard, but there was a certain unmistakable dignity in 155 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:09,519 his bearing. Since I spoke the language, I was the first to greet 156 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:13,519 him, felt the Hutch and Hicks abrod. Welcome to this place. I 157 00:13:13,639 --> 00:13:18,720 greet you, dorsy man. My name is mort Byansky. I am called 158 00:13:18,799 --> 00:13:24,120 dor Lasses. Come, I'll show you to your quarters. Thank you? 159 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:30,240 How long will you remain here? Only for one night? I wish clearance 160 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:41,200 for Mars, and I'm sure it can be handled this way. I wondered 161 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,960 how he knew I was a Dorsey man, and then it seemed obvious. 162 00:13:45,399 --> 00:13:50,039 My broken nose, the scars, the lined face. Nobody could mistake a 163 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:54,440 human from the doorside planets. Still it scared me a little. I kept 164 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:58,519 wondering if he had anything to do with interplanetary police. I tried to put 165 00:13:58,519 --> 00:14:07,559 it out of my mom. There was no use. Mind. If I 166 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:13,960 come in, Clay, sit down, have a smoke. Thanks. Where's 167 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:18,039 the Hicks Abroad in his room getting cleaned up for dinner? Strange guys, 168 00:14:18,039 --> 00:14:24,399 aren't they? There's something even stranger going on? What's that the kids in 169 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,159 there with him with the Hicks and what are you supposed they're talking about? 170 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:33,039 I don't know. I wish I did. Kids probably trying to get the 171 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:39,480 Hicks into a dice game. What's on your mind? Mart Clay? You've 172 00:14:39,519 --> 00:14:45,360 been around? Are there any Hicks Abroads in interplanetary police? A few? 173 00:14:45,519 --> 00:14:48,200 Why? I don't know. I just had a feeling. You know, 174 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:54,360 you're dreaming up bogey Man. Maybe. Besides, you're not in any trouble 175 00:14:54,399 --> 00:14:58,360 outside the doors. I says I killed a human clay, not deliberately, 176 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,320 no rage, and all the time on door side, doesn't it not to 177 00:15:01,399 --> 00:15:05,320 an officer of intergalactic Besides, that was twenty five years ago. There's no 178 00:15:05,399 --> 00:15:11,320 statue of limitations in the systems. Nobody knows but me. Right, you 179 00:15:11,399 --> 00:15:16,360 don't have to be clairvoyant to wonder why a man hasn't been back to his 180 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:20,000 home planet for twenty five years. You think the kid, I don't know. 181 00:15:20,879 --> 00:15:24,159 He's got no love for me. Still, he doesn't know anything. 182 00:15:26,159 --> 00:15:28,960 How would he know this hicks Abroad is an agent. If he is, 183 00:15:28,639 --> 00:15:33,559 couldn't say where are you going? I think I'll take a look at that 184 00:15:33,639 --> 00:15:37,240 message the kid filed, the one we got when we first picked up the 185 00:15:37,279 --> 00:15:41,240 hicks Abrod on the screens. Let me know what you find, if anything. 186 00:15:48,399 --> 00:15:52,120 I walked through the empty corridors to the communications center. I went directly 187 00:15:52,159 --> 00:15:56,200 to the files where incoming messages are kept, and flicked the tab until I 188 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:02,000 got to notices of arrivals. There two days before was a report of the 189 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:06,440 arrival of door losses. I ran my finger down the statistics until I came 190 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:11,120 to the line that said point of origin of flight. It read Tarzian Galaxy. 191 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:17,879 That was where Clay Harbank's l longamina was. I read further where it 192 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:22,440 said nature of business. My blood ran cold as I spelled out the words 193 00:16:22,759 --> 00:16:30,559 criminal. Come in, felt the Hutch and Hicks abroad. I greet you, 194 00:16:30,799 --> 00:16:34,159 dorsay man. Is there anything you require? Nothing? Thank you. 195 00:16:36,279 --> 00:16:38,679 I came to tell you that we'll have dinner to night at eight hundred hours. 196 00:16:38,759 --> 00:16:44,440 The young Earthman has already informed me there's a shortage of raw meat here. 197 00:16:44,639 --> 00:16:48,240 I've brought my own food, Thank you. I see you came in 198 00:16:48,279 --> 00:16:55,200 from the Tarzian planets. Yes, you didn't happen to be in the Doorside 199 00:16:55,200 --> 00:17:00,720 planets before then? No, I thought perhaps you might have some news. 200 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:06,400 I came from intergalactic headquarters. Yes I am. I saw your flight check. 201 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:11,720 Then you know my mission? Yes? Good? How long do I 202 00:17:11,759 --> 00:17:15,680 have to pack? I will be leaving at seven hundred hours tomorrow morning? 203 00:17:17,759 --> 00:17:22,400 Can you be ready by then? Yes? I guess so good. I 204 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:27,000 don't suppose there's any point in appealing to you. Higsbrods are supposed to be 205 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:33,759 totally without emotion. There's no point in appealing funny thing. I've been running 206 00:17:33,799 --> 00:17:38,000 away from this moment for twenty five years. Now that it's come, I'm 207 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:45,279 glad we'll be going back to the Dorsise. Yes, to Intergalactic headquarters for 208 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:52,319 all these years home. I don't suppose a Hixbrod knows what that feeling is 209 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:56,440 like. I will expect you at seven hundred hours now, if you don't 210 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:02,759 mind, I wish to prepare my one thing. Yes, did the young 211 00:18:02,799 --> 00:18:10,519 Earthman tip you off about me? No? Funny, I could have sworn 212 00:18:10,599 --> 00:18:18,440 it was him. That was that when a Hicks abroad tells you no, 213 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,240 you can bet your life. He isn't lying. I began to wonder how 214 00:18:22,279 --> 00:18:26,519 they located me. I began to wonder what he and the kid had talked 215 00:18:26,519 --> 00:18:33,119 about. I began to wonder a lot of things. Well, he's an 216 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:36,559 agent for Intergalactic. Oh that doesn't prove he's after you. He is? 217 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:41,160 How do you know? I just talked to him Lord in Heaven. Ah, 218 00:18:41,559 --> 00:18:44,599 it isn't so bad. Really, Just think I'll be going home. 219 00:18:45,279 --> 00:18:48,319 I'm going to kill that kid. I'm going to kill him. Play listen 220 00:18:48,319 --> 00:18:52,279 to me. The kid didn't turn me in, you said, I said 221 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,720 he was talking to the Hicks. I just asked him, and the Hicks 222 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,000 told me it wasn't the kid. They don't lie, so don't go blow 223 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,079 going off. It's going to be hard. Ten days doesn't have to be 224 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,359 ten days. What do you mean? How many credits do you need to 225 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:12,319 buy your way out? Another five hundred next payday? Don't wait, don't 226 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:17,359 wait. I have over nine hundred credits. I'll turn them over to you 227 00:19:17,559 --> 00:19:21,920 more. Listen, I don't need them. You can pay off tomorrow and 228 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,160 fly as far as the Tarzan chain with me in the Hicks. It's a 229 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:29,720 very nice thing, mort will you do it? I'll think about it. 230 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:41,880 Let you know after dinner. I thought of running away, but there was 231 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,440 really no place to run once they tracked you down. And the hicks Abrods 232 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,200 were utterly relentless once they had agreed to bring a man in. Since they 233 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:52,279 had no feelings, they made no judgments. They were absolutely certain that a 234 00:19:52,319 --> 00:19:56,079 man would get a fair trial. I packed my stuff and went in to 235 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:00,279 dinner. The Hicks Abroad was at the head of the table eating his raw 236 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:07,440 chinsuo meat past the gravy place, do Alosses, Yes, they tell me 237 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:11,880 that the Hicks Abroad home planet is a very beautiful place. It is true. 238 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:17,400 I'm from Earth myself. Yes, I'm curious to know what there's beautiful 239 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:19,720 planet of yours looks like the kid's pretty talkative tonight. What's cooking? I 240 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,880 don't know, but I don't trust it to Flora and fauna maintained in excellent 241 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:30,279 natural balance. No local sur plus has exceeded one percent of the normal population 242 00:20:30,799 --> 00:20:36,359 for the last sixty thousand years. Life on Hicks is predictable. The weather 243 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:41,839 is controlled within the greatest limits of feasibility. The symmetry of the landscape is 244 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:48,079 without parallel in the universe. Very pretty picture, very attractive home world. 245 00:20:48,319 --> 00:20:52,920 What I regret to inform you to Olysses that I've been given to understand that 246 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,640 it pales into insignificance when compared with another beauty spot in our universe, your 247 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:02,400 Earth. I wish I could say yes, no, no, this place 248 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,279 is so wonderful. I doubt if an earth Man like me could get in. 249 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,279 In fact, I've never seen it, but I've been hearing about it 250 00:21:08,319 --> 00:21:12,880 for some months now, and either it's the most wonderful place in the universe, 251 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,960 or the man who's been telling me about it is a rotten liar. 252 00:21:17,759 --> 00:21:22,240 Get your gun, kid, get your gun. Why guns? You call 253 00:21:22,279 --> 00:21:23,960 me a liar? Why use guns when it's possible to prove the thing one 254 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:27,359 way or another with complete certainty. For months now, you've been telling me 255 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,880 two things, One that you used to be a gambler. Two your precious 256 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:34,519 little lungamina is the most wonderful place in the universe. The question is is 257 00:21:34,519 --> 00:21:37,279 he the statement true? They're both true. You'll back them up with my 258 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:40,559 life. I'm not asking it a back then with your life. Just back 259 00:21:40,599 --> 00:21:42,799 then with that nice little hoarde you've been accumulating all these years. Well, 260 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,279 you've said you were a gambler. Bet with me and prove it. Suppose 261 00:21:48,319 --> 00:21:52,759 I do. How do we prove my statement about the lungomina. That's easy. 262 00:21:53,279 --> 00:21:57,039 We have with us at this table at hicks Abroad, in a conversation 263 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,559 with him, I found out that he's just visited every planet Natazian Shane. 264 00:22:02,519 --> 00:22:06,799 Now is everyone no, it's a hicks Abrod never lies. Do you think 265 00:22:06,839 --> 00:22:12,200 you could judge this point? Do olyossis the point can be Judd Well gambler, 266 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:17,279 Hey, it's a trick. Don't bet. How much will you bet? 267 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:22,720 Kid? All I got the equivalent of ten years? Pay? Well, 268 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:30,000 you're on do olyassis? Okay? If I question him, proceed. 269 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,319 You've been to the planet Nitazian Shaine, which this man calls his home. 270 00:22:34,559 --> 00:22:40,279 I must ascertain the position of the planet, the fourth planet, Yes, 271 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:45,720 the one with six moons. That's it. I've been there recently, as 272 00:22:45,759 --> 00:22:48,319 you well know, since we spoke of it only this afternoon we did speak. 273 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:52,359 If it that's true? Now would you tell me you know the planet? 274 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:57,119 Yes, you know it's geography. I do not repeat myself. Is 275 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:03,119 it a large planet? No? Is it a rich planet? No? 276 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:07,880 Was there not a rain of radioactive fallout from an explosion of a nearby star 277 00:23:07,039 --> 00:23:11,519 only five months ago? There was? It did not destroy every piece of 278 00:23:11,599 --> 00:23:15,559 vegetation and leave this planet a gutted, smoking ruins, chod and ugly. 279 00:23:17,039 --> 00:23:22,480 It did well, Gambler, you haven't asked him the main question yet, 280 00:23:22,559 --> 00:23:29,680 kid, Would you like to ask him? All right, Hicks abroad, 281 00:23:30,599 --> 00:23:34,920 the question to be judged is this is lu lung Goomina, the most beautiful 282 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:41,839 and the most wonderful place in the universe. Yes, it is what well, 283 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,440 kid, that's a trick. It's a rotten trick. I don't believe 284 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,319 it. The hexes the eyes of the hicks Aprod are narrow and baleful. 285 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:52,640 As he pushed back his chair, you could almost feel them burning. As 286 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,400 he dragged his scaly feet over toward the kid. He stopped about six inches 287 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,680 from the kid and held both his hands up, palms near the kid's eyes. 288 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,880 There was a clicking sound, and we watched eleven sets of gleaming razorlike 289 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,799 claws showed up from the tips of the Hicksibrod's fingers. Their points were almost 290 00:24:07,799 --> 00:24:11,960 against the kid's eyes. Look at my hands, earth men, are they 291 00:24:11,039 --> 00:24:17,039 not clean? Yes? Do you doubt that I have told the truth? 292 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:23,599 Not? Know? Then there is nothing further to discuss. I bow to 293 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:30,160 you, gentlemen. I thank you for your hospitality. You will excuse me. 294 00:24:37,279 --> 00:24:41,839 We stood around and watched that proud, frightening figure drag itself out of 295 00:24:41,839 --> 00:24:45,160 the room. The kid was trembling like a leaf as he drew a bank 296 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:49,799 draft for ten years pay and handed it to Clay Harbag. The next morning, 297 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,839 Clay and I boarded the Hicks Abroad ship and four days later, we 298 00:24:55,000 --> 00:25:00,519 touched down at the outer planet of the Tarjan Chain. Well, this is 299 00:25:00,519 --> 00:25:03,680 where I get off more. I I don't know what to say. Really, 300 00:25:04,519 --> 00:25:07,799 I guess you know how I feel. I think I do play. 301 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:14,079 Let's just say so long. There will be no need for goodbyers. Both 302 00:25:14,079 --> 00:25:18,279 of you are leaving the ship here. But I thought I intend to return 303 00:25:18,319 --> 00:25:22,279 to intergalactic headquarters empty hand, empty handed. But they'll question you. What 304 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:26,880 will you tell them the truth? Of course, But you have told me 305 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:33,200 nothing. But I assume I am not interested in your assumption. You asked 306 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:37,920 me my mission. I told you it was a criminal investigation. You said 307 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,519 you assumed you would go back with me, and I told you when my 308 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:45,400 ship was departing. There is nothing more to be said. But surely you 309 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:49,960 know what. Don't say anything. A exerbrod deals only with facts, what 310 00:25:51,079 --> 00:25:55,720 is absolutely known. They're the most literal beings in the universe. Let it 311 00:25:55,759 --> 00:26:00,720 go with that. Goodbye, gentlemen. I am grateful for the pleasure of 312 00:26:00,759 --> 00:26:10,559 your company. Five minutes later, Clay Harbank and I shook hands at the 313 00:26:10,599 --> 00:26:14,839 exit of the spaceport on Tarsa's ten. But before we parted, there was 314 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,880 one thing I had to know, Clay one thing before you go. Yes, 315 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:23,160 How did you know the hicks Abrod would lie about lu lungamina? He 316 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:27,880 didn't lie. Moor A hicks Abrod never lies. But lulonga mina mort Let 317 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:33,000 me tell you something. Lulungo mina is a word in use throughout the Tarsian 318 00:26:33,039 --> 00:26:41,559 planets. Actually it's a hicks Abrod. Would it means home? All I 319 00:26:41,559 --> 00:26:45,480 did was as the hickserbrod if home was beautiful? He simply said yes. 320 00:26:47,880 --> 00:27:02,640 And a hicks Abroad, as everybody knows, doesn't lie. You have just 321 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:07,000 heard X minus one, presented by the National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Galaxy 322 00:27:07,079 --> 00:27:11,839 Science Fiction Magazine, which this month features the finn O'Donovan novelette Bad Medicine, 323 00:27:11,279 --> 00:27:15,039 the story of a robot therapist that never failed to effect a cure, even 324 00:27:15,039 --> 00:27:19,079 if it had to convert itself into a typhoid Mary to do so. Galaxy 325 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:23,799 Magazine on your new stand today tonight. By transcription. X minus one has 326 00:27:23,799 --> 00:27:29,000 brought you Lungemina, a story from the pages of Galaxy written by Gordon R. 327 00:27:29,039 --> 00:27:33,079 Dixon that adapted for radio by George Lefferts. Featured in the cast were 328 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,440 Ralph Camargo, Net Weaver, Jack Grimes, Bob Hastings, and Kermit Murdoch. 329 00:27:37,799 --> 00:27:44,599 You're announcer Fred Collins. X minus one was directed by Daniel Sutter and 330 00:27:44,759 --> 00:28:02,720 is an NBC Radio Network production. X minus one came to you from our 331 00:28:02,799 --> 00:28:07,559 Radio City studios in New York. Next week, listen to Project Mastodon Clifford 332 00:28:07,559 --> 00:28:15,359 Seamac story on X minus one. Follow the News with Chet Huntley to night 333 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,400 on the n b C Radio Network