
Trapped on a harsh, uncharted world, a two‑person survey team must outwit a relentless alien tracking system—a mechanized “bloodhound” that circles the planet with unforgiving precision. After a desperate jump through a space‑bridge, they land on a surprisingly Earth‑like surface, only to discover that the relentless chirps of their s‑tracer signal a predator closing in from above.
With limited supplies and a ship that can only hide them from the machine’s sensors, the crew scrambles to assess the atmosphere, conserve energy, and devise a narrow window for escape before the bloodhound’s fuel runs out. Their calculations hinge on the creature’s predictable orbit, yet any misstep could seal their fate.
Just as hope seems to flicker, an unexpected visitor from the planet’s native lifeforms appears, hinting at a deeper mystery that could change the balance of their desperate struggle.
Language
en
Duration
~36 minutes (35K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
New York, NY: Royal Publications, Inc., 1957.
Credits
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2023-09-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1911–1997
A steady contributor to mid-century science fiction magazines, this American writer built a reputation on brisk, imaginative stories and later returned to publishing after a long break. His work includes more than 50 short stories as well as novels such as Cosmic Checkmate, written with Katherine MacLean.
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