Question of Comfort | Page 9

down
here. That one had to be the criminal, to be done away with."
"Dex and I got rid of the body," Mel said. "No need to worry unless ...
unless you've read my stories. Perhaps you are the criminal. I'll be
watching."
"No proof, of course ... Do you believe I'm the criminal?"
Mel smiled. "No, but I'll watch anyway."
"More closely than tonight, I hope," Hazel said acidly. "If it hadn't been
for her...."
* * * * *
I saw Frank, and was ashamed of my suspicions. She was silent,
looking concerned. They all did, and I was warmed. Because, despite
discomfort, they worried about me, an alien, a stranger. "Better leave.
Heat's getting you."
Dex asked, "When are you going back?"
I shrugged. "Never. The ship is in the Gulf of California ... Harry did
that."
"What about our company? We can research anti-gravity. You might
reach home yet."

I shook my head. "Said I was a policeman. I don't know very much--"
"Perfectly normal!" Mel said before Hazel shooshed him.
Dex was insistent: "Any cop knows at least something about his
motorcycle. Was I right about the superconductor?"
"Yes. Now, get out of here, idiots, before there's no one left to form the
company!"
Hazel, perspiring freely, red hair shimmering, kissed me. "We figured
you out real, real early. We aren't ever wrong, and I'm glad we stayed
with you, Mr. Venus." She laughed joyously, "First time I've ever
kissed a Venusian!"
Frank, head close to mine, said softly, "I'm terribly sorry I said those
things, but you had to believe I was angry, so I could call the others--"
"And I did everything possible to get you out...."
We were silent; then I said what I'd been fighting not to, for so long.
"Frank ... Francis?"
She understood, and stared horrified at me. I'd lost. Bowed my head,
feeling like the damned fool I was.
She looked around the room. "It's so strange!"
"And with ingrained racial conditioning, you couldn't respond to a thin,
sallow alien."
"I don't know," she said hesitantly.
"I do!" Mel said. "The oldest story in science fiction; it's true; I can't
write it."
"Why not?"
"No editor in right or wrong mind would buy the beautiful Earth

damsel, after whom lusts the Monster from Venus--"
Frank snapped: "He isn't a monster! And his manners are better than
many writers' I could name ..."
Her voice trailed off with awareness of Mel's tiny smile--a smile that
widened. He pulled her toward the door. "What a story! We'll hold the
wedding in a Turkish Bath."
Alone, I sighed, comfortable again after three years. I was grateful to
the GG, and would do anything, within limits, for them. Yet, my newly
adopted planet needed protection. Babes in the woods, they'd be torn to
pieces outside.
Fortunately, the GG didn't know my meaning of "policeman", my
home's highest order of intellect. I'd assure the group finally getting
anti-gravity and use of planetary lines of force. But not the hyperspace
drive, not for a good long while.
I certainly couldn't destroy the GG's confidence. I couldn't hurt them.
They were so sure about me--so sure they were never wrong. How
could I explain I'd been looking for a decent, habitable planet like
Venus to discharge my captive, that I was from another galaxy?
THE END

Transcriber's Note
This etext was produced from Amazing Science Fiction Stories March
1959. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
typographical errors have been corrected without note.

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