Founding Father
By J. F. BONE
Illustrated by RITTER
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Galaxy Magazine April 1962.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The creatures were huge, hairy, surly—and
the males were always chasing the females.
But what else could you expect of mammals?
I
"We need data," I said as I manipulated the scanner and surveyed ourlittle domain of rocks and vegetation. "The animate life we havecollected so far is of a low order."
"There is nothing here with intelligence," Ven agreed, gesturing at thespecimens in front of us. "Although they're obviously related to ourrace, they're quite incapable of constructing those artifacts we sawon our way down."
"Or of building electone communications or even airboats," I added.
"I expect that there is only one way to get what we want—and that'sto go looking for it," Ven said as she smoothed her antennae with aprimary digit. "I also expect," she added acidly, "that there mighthave been other places from which it wouldn't be so hard to startlooking. Or did you have to set us down in this isolated spot?"
I glared at her and she flushed a delicate lavender. "Do you thinkI landed here because I wanted to?" I asked with some bitterness,inflating my cheek pouches to better express my disgust. "There wereless than two vards of useful fuel left on the reels when I cut thedrives. There isn't enough to take us across this valley. We cameclose to not making planetfall here at all."
"Oh," Ven said in a small voice, vocalizing as she always does when sheis embarrassed. Like most females, she finds it difficult to projectnormally when she is under emotional stress. Afraid or angry she canblow a hole in subspace; but embarrassed, her projections are so faintthat I have to strain my antennae to receive them.
Her aura turned a shamefaced nacreous lavender. I couldn't stay angrywith her. She was lovely, and I was proud to be her mate. The EugenicsCouncil had made an unusually good match when they brought us together.The months we had spent aboard ship on our sabbatical had produced noserious personality conflicts. We fitted well, and I was more happythan any Thalassan had a right to be.
"We shall have to try other measures," I said. "Although there aren'tvery many natives hereabouts, we had better start looking for themrather than wait for them to look for us." I felt disappointed. I wascertain that we made enough disturbance coming down for them to be herein droves, which was why I had the robots camouflage the ship to looklike the surrounding rocks. There could be such a thing as too muchattention.
"They could have mistaken us for a meteor," Ven said.
"Probably," I agreed. "But it would have saved a great deal of troubleif one of them had come to us." I sighed. "Oh well."
I added, "it was only a hope, at best."
"I could explore," Ven offered.
"I was about to suggest that," I said. "After all, the atmosphere isbreathable although somewhat rich in oxygen, and the gravity is not toosevere. It would be best to wait until dark before starting out. Theremay be danger. After all, this is an alien world, and Authority knowswhat's out there."
Her antennae dropped, her aura dimmed to gray and her integument turneda greenish black. "It doesn't sound pleasant," she said.
The sun dipped below the horizon with an indecent