
A deep‑space expedition surfaces on a silent planet where whole cities lie abandoned, their streets reclaimed by relentless growth. The crew, led by the determined Thompson, discovers that an invisible, insect‑like menace has erased every trace of the original inhabitants, leaving only rusted towers and whispering wind. As they wander the empty avenues, the stark beauty of a world gone quiet hangs heavy with unanswered questions.
Among the crew’s few comforts is Buster, a wiry ship’s cat who refuses to stay confined to the vessel, and Grant, the communications specialist keeping a wary eye on the environment. When a tiny puncture wound appears on Kurkil’s hand, the team’s confidence in their virus‑proof immunizations is tested, forcing them to confront a threat they thought impossible. With the planet’s mystery pressing in, they must decide how far to probe before the unseen danger turns curiosity into peril.
Language
en
Duration
~27 minutes (26K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-04-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1907–1977
A prolific pulp-era science fiction writer, this American author filled magazines and paperbacks with fast-moving adventures, strange worlds, and big imaginative ideas. He wrote under several names and helped shape the feel of mid-20th-century popular SF.
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by Robert Moore Williams

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