
An Extrasolar Survey Service team is dispatched to the barren world of Furbish, a planet with breathable air and a sparse, odd flora. Their official job is simple: chart the terrain, set up a modest fueling and repair station, and leave the lone native species—primitive, ape‑like humanoids—completely untouched. The twist comes when the four women accompanying the two young engineers begin to question the blanket prohibition, eyeing the raw minerals and the mysterious sacks the natives carry.
The captain, wary of past mishaps, warns that any interaction could spark political trouble, yet the women's restless curiosity and determination to make the outpost a success set the stage for subtle conflict. As the couples settle into a prefabricated cottage amid the gray‑blue grasses, the planet's quiet surface hints at deeper mysteries that may test their resolve. Listeners will find a blend of light‑hearted banter, frontier tension, and the timeless question of how far humanity should go when faced with the unknown.
Language
en
Duration
~39 minutes (37K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
New York, NY: Headline Publications, Inc., 1956.
Credits
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2024-04-12
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1922–2000
Known for witty, offbeat science fiction and later mystery novels, this American writer brought a sharp sense of humor to magazine stories and longer fiction alike. She also worked as a crossword puzzle compiler, adding another layer to her love of wordplay.
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