cordwainer smith-of mankind from gustibles planet人类来自星球.pdf

FromGustiblesPlanet

Shortlyafterthecelebrationofthefour

thousandthoftheopeningofspace,AngaryJ.Gustible

discoveredGustiblesplanet.Thediscoveryturnedouttobeatragic

mistake.

Gustiblesplanetwasinhabitedbyhighlyintelligentlifeforms.They

hadmoderatetelepathicpowers.Theyimmediatelymind-readAngaryJ.

Gustiblesentiremindandlifehistory,andembarrassedhimvery

deeplybymakingupanoperaconcerninghisrecentdivorce.

Theclimaxoftheoperaportrayedhiswifethrowingateacupathim.

ThiscreatedanunfavorableimpressionconcerningEarthculture,and

AngaryJ.Gustible,whoheldareservecommissionasaSubchiefofthe

Instrumentality,wasprofoundlyembarrassedtofindthatitwasnotthe

higherrealitiesofEarthwhichhehadconveyedtothesepeople,but

theunpleasantintimatefacts.

Asnegotiationsproceeded,otherembarrassmentsdeveloped.

InphysicalappearancetheinhabitantsofGustiblesplanet,whocalled

themselvesApicians,resemblednothingmorethanoversizeducks,ducks

fourfeettofourfeetsixinheight.Attheirwingtips,theyhad

developedjuxtaposedthumbs.Theywerepaddle-shapedandsufficedto

feedtheApicians.

GustiblesplanetmatchedEarthinseveralrespects:inthedishonesty

oftheinhabitants,intheirenthusiasmforgoodfood,intheirinstant

capacitytounderstandthehumanmind.BeforeGustiblebegantoget

readytogobacktoEarth,hediscoveredthattheApicianshadcopied

hisship.Therewasnousehidingthisfact.Theyhadcopieditin

suchdetailthatthediscoveryofGustiblesplanetmeantthe

simultaneousdiscoveryofEarth...

BytheApicians.

Theimplicationsofthistragicdevelopmentdidnotshowupuntilthe

Apiciansfollowedhimhome.Theyhadaplanoformingshipcapableof

travelinginnon-spacejustasreadilyashis.

ThemostimportantfeatureofGustiblesplanetwasitssingularly

closematchtothebiochemis