Page 132 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Reforming the World of Bolix

change at some point in the history of this planet. None of it is
impossible according to what we call the laws of nature; it’s just the
outcome of an unlikely combination of improbable events, totally
unforeseen by the PKU.”
Captain Kaga, never one to lose the main point, asked, “What about
the kipitite, Lugo? Did you find any on the inner surface?”
“Oh, yes,” replied Lieutenant Lugo distractedly. “The rocks giving
off light proved to be kipitite in almost purely crystalline form. The
instruments recorded its presence every where. Whatever cataclysmic
events compressed the matter of Bolix from a solid globe into a
spherical shell left the inner surface randomly fused with kipitite.”
“Well, then,” said Captain Kaga, “what’s the problem? Just a little
redesign of your mining technology and you’re in business, aren’t
you?”
“No, we’re not,” said Lugo grimly. “And here’s the crux of the
matter. After gathering a lot of data, I started to pack up my gear.
Suddenly I realized I was not alone! I was taken completely by surprise
by three tightly-organized squads of very fierce-looking creatures. I
took a couple of quick photos before I decided not to make any more
suspicious movements. There, you can see what they look like in this
exposure.”
Kaga gazed at an image of an organic fighting machine. It was
covered with a thick armor-like shell; its eyes were deep-set within
bony protrusions. Each of its seven limbs ended in a razor-sharp spur.
He put down the photograph.
“What did you do then?”
“Luckily I had a Languex with me. I quickly announced that I had
come in peace for the betterment of all intelligent life; you know, the
standard PKU line. They were not at all impressed. One of them,
heleader of one of the phalanxes, I guess, came up very close to me
and demanded to know what right I had to come bursting up through
the ground in the middle of their war memorial. He had about four of
those spear-like appendages pointed at various parts of my anatomy,
so I thought I’d tell the truth. I explained about the PKU and how the
Surfoids had given us permission to drill for kipitite.”
Lugo paused for a moment, shuddering at the memory of his peril.
“Well,” said Captain Kaga, “I suppose they could claim the mineral
rights; kipitite is closer to them than to the Surfoids.”

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