"Run into another little snag, eh?" he said affably, giving her foot a
gentle pat with his. "Well, let's see what we can do about it."
_Montreal_
_Dear Senbot Drosmig:_
_I am a chef at the Cafe Inter-stellaire, which, as everyone knows,
is one of the most chic eating establishments on this not very chic
planet. During my spare moments, I am a great amateur of the local
form of entertainment known as television. I am especially
fascinated by the native actress Ingeborg Swedenborg, who, in spite
of being a Terran, compares most favorably with our own Fizbian
footlight favorites._
_The other day, while I am in the kitchen engaged in preparing the
ragout celeste a la fizbe for which I am justly celebrated on nine
planets, I hear a stir outside in the dining room. I strain my
ears. I hear the cry, "It is Ingeborg Swedenborg!"_
_I cannot help myself. I rush to the doorway. There, behold, the
incomparable Ingeborg herself! She follows the headwaiter to a
choice table. She is even more ravishing in real life than on the
screen. On her, it does not matter that she has no feathers save on
the head--even skin looks good. Overcome by involuntary ardor, I
boo at her. Whereupon I am violently assailed by a powerfully built
native whom I have not previously noticed to be escorting her._
_I am rescued before he can do me any permanent damage, though, if
you wish the truth, it will be a long time before I can fly again.
However, I am given notice by the cold-hearted management. Now I am
without a job. And what is more, if on this planet one is not
permitted to express one's instinctive and natural admiration for a
beautiful woman, then all I have to say is that it is a lousy
planet and I wiggle my toes at it. How do I go about getting
deported?_
_Impatiently yours,_
_Rajois Sludd_
"Oh, I suppose it serves him right," Tarb said quickly, before Stet
could comment, "but don't you think it would be a good idea if the
_Times_ got up a Fizbian-Terrestrial handbook of its own? It's the only
solution that I can see. The regular one, I recognize now, is more than
inadequate, with all that spiritual gup--" Miss Snow drew in her breath
sharply--"and not much else. All these problems are bound to arise again
and again. Frankly speaking, Stet, your solutions only take care of the
individual cases; they don't establish a sound intercultural basis."
He grunted.
"What's more," she went on eagerly, "we could not only give copies to
every Fizbian planning to visit Earth, but also print copies in Terran
for Terrestrials who are interested in learning more about Fizbus and
the Fizbians. In fact, all Terrans who come in contact with us should
have the book. It would help both races to understand each other so much
better and--"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account