Lone Star Planet | Page 5

It contained only two loose-leaf notebooks, both labeled with the Solar
League and Department seals, both adorned with the customary
bloodthirsty threats against the unauthorized and the indiscreet. They
were numbered ONE and TWO.
ONE contained four pages. On the first, I read:
FINAL MESSAGE OF THE FIRST SOLAR LEAGUE AMBASSADOR
TO NEW TEXAS ANDREW JACKSON HICKOCK
I agree with none of the so-called information about this planet on file
with the State Department on Luna. The people of New Texas are
certainly not uncouth barbarians. Their manners and customs, while
lively and unconventional, are most charming. Their dress is graceful
and practical, not grotesque; their soft speech is pleasing to the ear.
Their flag is the original flag of the Republic of Texas; it is definitely
not a barbaric travesty of our own emblem. And the underlying
premises of their political system should, as far as possible, be
incorporated into the organization of the Solar League. Here politics is
an exciting and exacting game, in which only the true representative of
all the people can survive.
DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM
After five years on New Texas, Andrew Jackson Hickock resigned,
married a daughter of a local rancher and became a naturalized citizen
of that planet. He is still active in politics there, often in opposition to
Solar League policies.
That didn't sound like too bad an advertisement for the planet. I was
even feeling cheerful when I turned to the next page, and:

FINAL MESSAGE OF THE SECOND SOLAR LEAGUE
AMBASSADOR TO NEW TEXAS CYRIL GODWINSON
Yes and no; perhaps and perhaps not; pardon me; I agree with
everything you say. Yes and no; perhaps and perhaps not; pardon me; I
agree...
DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM
After seven years on New Texas, Ambassador Godwinson was recalled;
adjudged hopelessly insane.
And then:
FINAL MESSAGE OF THE THIRD SOLAR LEAGUE AMBASSADOR
TO NEW TEXAS R. F. GULLIS
I find it very pleasant to inform you that when you are reading this, I
will be dead.
DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM
Committed suicide after six months on New Texas.
I turned to the last page cautiously, found:
FINAL MESSAGE OF THE FOURTH SOLAR LEAGUE
AMBASSADOR TO NEW TEXAS SILAS CUMSHAW
I came to this planet ten years ago as a man of pronounced and
outspoken convictions. I have managed to keep myself alive here by
becoming an inoffensive nonentity. If I continue in this course, it will be
only at the cost of my self-respect. Beginning tonight, I am going to
state and maintain positive opinions on the relation between this planet
and the Solar League.
DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM
Murdered at the home of Andrew J. Hickcock. (see p. 1.)

And that was the end of the first notebook. Nice, cheerful reading;
complete, solid briefing.
I was, frankly, almost afraid to open the second notebook. I hefted it
cautiously at first, saw that it contained only about as many pages as
the first and that those pages were sealed with a band around them.
I took a quick peek, read the words on the band:
Before reading, open the sealed trunk which has been included with
your luggage.
So I laid aside the book and dragged out the sealed trunk, hesitated,
then opened it.
Nothing shocked me more than to find the trunk ... full of clothes.
There were four pairs of trousers, light blue, dark blue, gray and black,
with wide cuffs at the bottoms. There were six or eight shirts, their
colors running the entire spectrum in the most violent shades. There
were a couple of vests. There were two pairs of short boots with high
heels and fancy leather-working, and a couple of hats with four-inch
brims.
And there was a wide leather belt, practically a leather corset.
I stared at the belt, wondering if I was really seeing what was in front
of me.
Attached to the belt were a pair of pistols in right- and left-hand
holsters. The pistols were seven-mm Krupp-Tatta Ultraspeed
automatics, and the holsters were the spring-ejection, quick-draw
holsters which were the secret of the State Department Special
Services.
This must be a mistake, I thought. I'm an Ambassador now and
Ambassadors never carry weapons.
The sanctity of an Ambassador's person not only made the carrying of

weapons unnecessary, so that an armed Ambassador was a
contradiction of diplomatic terms, but it would be an outrageous insult
to the nation to which he had been accredited.
Like taking a poison-taster to a friendly dinner.
Maybe I was supposed to give the belt and the holsters to Hoddy
Ringo....
So I tore the sealed band off the second notebook and read through it.
I was to wear the local costume on New Texas. That was something
unusual; even in the Hooligan Diplomats, we leaned over backward in
wearing Terran costume to distinguish ourselves from the people