The science-fiction reader is a lot less apt to jump in senseless fear and alarm when a new process comes from some unexpected doorway--he'll have been expecting it, and recognize a friend or an enemy--which can be very helpful to survival. JOHN W. CAMPBELL, JR. QRM--INTERPLANETARY _QRM--International code signal meaning "Interference" of controllable nature, such as man-made static, cross modulation from another channel adjoining or willful obliteration of signals by an interfering source._ _Interference not of natural sources such as electrical storms, common static, et cetera. (Designated by International code as QRN.)_ --_Handbook, Interplanetary Amateur Radio League._ Korvus, the Magnificent, Nilamo of Yoralen, picked up the telephone in his palace and said: "I want to talk to Wilneda. He is at the International Hotel in Detroit, Michigan." "I'm sorry, sir," came the voice of the operator. "Talking is not possible, due to the fifteen-minute transmission lag between here and Terra. However, teletype messages are welcome." Her voice originated fifteen hundred miles north of Yoralen, but it sounded as though she might be in the next room. Korvus thought for a moment and then said: "Take this message: 'Wilneda: Add to order for mining machinery one type 56-XXD flier to replace washed-out model. And remember, alcohol and energy will not mix!' Sign that Korvus." "Yes, Mr. Korvus." "Not _mister_!" yelled the monarch. "I am Korvus the Magnificent! I am Nilamo of Yoralen!" "Yes, your magnificence," said the operator humbly. It was more than possible that she was stifling a laugh, which knowledge made the little man of Venus squirm in wrath. But there was nothing he could do about it, so he wisely said nothing. To give Korvus credit, he was not a pompous little man. He was large--for a Venusian--which made him small according to the standards set up by Terrestrians. He, as Nilamo of Yoralen, had extended the once-small kingdom outward to include most of the Palanortis Country which extended from 23.0 degrees North Latitude to 61.7 degrees, and almost across the whole, single continent that was the dry land of Venus. So Korvus' message to Terra zoomed across the fifteen hundred rocky miles of Palanortis to Northern Landing. It passed high across the thousand-foot-high trees and over the mountain ranges. It swept over open patches of water, and across intervening cities and towns. It went with the speed of light and in a tight beam from Yoralen to Northern Landing, straight as a die and with person-to-person clarity. The operator in the city that lay across the North Pole of Venus clicked on a teletype, reading back the message as it was written. Korvus told her: "That is correct." "The message will be in the hands of your representative Wilneda within the hour."