Earth (Planet) -- Fiction; Science fiction; Short stories; Space travelers -- Fiction; Television broadcasting -- Fiction
Kellon thought wearily, "Well, I might as well go down and face the
pack of them. Here's where they really begin."
He nodded to Viresson, and went down below to the main cabin. The
sight of it revolted him. Instead of his own men in it, relaxing or
chinning, it held a small and noisy mob of over-dressed, overloud
men and women, all of whom seemed to be talking at once and uttering
brittle, nervous laughter.
"Captain Kellon, I want to ask you--"
"Captain, if you _please_--"
He patiently nodded and smiled and plowed through them to Borrodale. He
had been given particular instructions to cooperate with Borrodale, the
most famous telaudio commentator in the Federation.
Borrodale was a slightly plump man with a round pink face and
incongruously large and solemn black eyes. When he spoke, one
recognized at once that deep, incredibly rich and meaningful voice.
"My first broadcast is set for thirty minutes from now, Captain. I
shall want a view as we go in. If my men could take a mobile up to the
bridge--"
Kellon nodded. "Of course. Mr. Viresson is up there and will assist
them in any way."
"Thank you, Captain. Would you like to see the broadcast?"
"I would, yes, but--"
He was interrupted by Lorri Lee, whose glitteringly handsome face
and figure and sophisticated drawl made her the idol of all female
telaudio reporters.
"_My_ broadcast is to be right after landing--remember? I'd like to do
it alone, with just the emptiness of that world as background. Can you
keep the others from spoiling the effect? Please?"
"We'll do what we can," Kellon mumbled. And as the rest of the pack
converged on him he added hastily, "I'll talk to you later. Mr.
Borrodale's broadcast--"
* * * * *
He got through them, following after Borrodale toward the cabin that
had been set up as a telaudio-transmitter room. It had, Kellon thought
bitterly, once served an honest purpose, holding the racks of soil and
water and other samples from far worlds. But that had been when they
were doing an honest Survey job, not chaperoning chattering fools on
this sentimental pilgrimage.
The broadcasting set-up was beyond Kellon. He didn't want to hear
this but it was better than the mob in the main cabin. He watched as
Borrodale made a signal. The monitor-screen came alive.
It showed a dun-colored globe spinning in space, growing visibly larger
as they swept toward it. Now straggling seas were identifiable upon it.
Moments passed and Borrodale did not speak, just letting that picture
go out. Then his deep voice spoke over the picture, with dramatic
simplicity.
"You are looking at the Earth," he said.
Silence again, and the spinning brownish ball was bigger now, with
white clouds ragged upon it. And then Borrodale spoke again.
"You who watch from many worlds in the galaxy--this is the homeland of
our race. Speak its name to yourselves. The Earth."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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