Abruptly she begame aware that Horst was watching too—not the ship, but her. She laughed self-consciously and smiled at him. He didn't return the smile.
He said, "I said you were extraordinary. The most extraordinary thing of all is—well, I've realized just this minute that none of us know anything about you. Even after a year, jammed together aboard this floating box of ours. No wonder we're all a little afraid of you. You seem like a machine, a computer full of miracles."
"I know," Kynance said after a pause. "I had to be, didn't
ir
rYes-"
"Well, I've hated it. And thank you for reminding me before it was too late and I got into the habit for life!" She laughed this time without embarrassment.
"I'll tell you something I've never told anyone else," she went on. "When I left Earth, I had this secret dream. I was going to come home wearing a zygra pelt and a blase expression, just to jolt the hell out of all my friends who said I'd never make it. By the time I ran into Shuster, I was ready to settle for a square meal and a ticket home, and I didn't give a damn about zygra pelts. Now, if I go home, I'll be able to take cases and crates and shiploads of the things, and this is simply ridiculous!"
" 'If' you go home ... ? Don't you want to go back to Earth?"
"Surely. It has its points. But—I've been on Earth, Horst. I don't mind going back the long way around."
"I used to think Earth was the only place in the galaxy where I might fit in," Horst muttered. "But that's not true any longer, is it? There's a planet called Zygra where people like me can fit in. ... I wonder if they'll realize that."
"I think so. I estimate—oh—half a year before the first applicants for immigration show themselves."
"I tell you one thing," Horst smiled. "If you're going to stop behaving like a machine and start acting like a woman, there had damned well better be some more women among those early immigrants!"
She gave him a mischievous grin and took his hand. "Let's join the others," she said. "After all, it's the first official function held by the Zygran Government, so it ought to be quite an occasion."
If you want to keep up with the best science-fiction stories of the year, you will want to get your copy of:
WORLD'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION 1966
Selected and Edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Terry Carr
Fifteen outstanding stories selected from the science-fiction and fantasy magazines of the world, including great tales by Arthur C. Clarke, Fritz Leiber, Clifford D. Simak, James H. Schmitz, and others.
"Entertaining and Imaginative"
—Publishers Weekly
i
i
i
ACI Book H-15 600
Ace Books, Inc. (Dept. MM), 1120 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10036.
CLASSICS OF GREAT SCIENCE-FICTION from ACE BOOKS
THE EXILEJ
by Ray
)F TIME
mmings
F-344-(4©0) F-346 (40*)
THE WEL1 OF THE WORLDS
byHenny Kuttner THE BLACK STAR PASSES
byJohnfW. Campbell
F-355 (400)
THE DEVOLUTIONIST
by Horner Eon Flint F-356 (400) THE TIME AXIS
by Hei ry Kuttner F-363 (400) TAMA OF THE LIGHT COUNTRY
by Ra r Cummings F-364 (400) THE MGHTIEST MACHINE
by Jo «n W. Campbell M-132 (450) THE KING IN YELLOW
by Ro aert W. Chambers F-372 (400) SPAC EHOUNDS OF IPC
by Ed vard E. Smith F-375 (400) THE V ORLDS OF ROBERT A. HEINLEIN M-142 "(450) DOPPELGANGERS by H. F. Heard (750)
by John Myers Myers M-W3 1*50)" ISLANDI tfFlPPHIi
by John W. Campbell 45-5«*"t5O0) -JOURNLr-FeTFrt CENTER OF THE EARTH
by Jules Verne____________
Gs5J&45O0) fiWWK UP ffffi WIEüERNbii
by William L. Chester F~4eGU400) HrMl OF THE JUNGLE
byOlib AJelbtil I Kline
Available from Ace Books, Inc. (Dept. MM), 1120 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10036. Send price indicated, plus 5$ handling fee.
John Brunner Page 10
