The Best of by John Wyndham Read Free Book Online

reached for the topmost tablet and began to read.
THE EARTHMAN'S STORY
    I, Morgan Grate of the planet Earth, am writing this as a warning to the inhabitants of Venus. Have nothing to do with Earth if you can help it—but if you must, be careful. Above all I warn you to have no dealings with the two greatest companies of Earth.
    If you do, you will come to hate Earth and her people as I do —you will come to think of her, as I do, as the plague spot of the universe. Sooner or later, emissaries will come—representatives of either Metallic Industries of International Chemicals will attempt to open negotiations. Do not listen to them.
    However honeyed their words or smooth their phrases distrust them, for they will be liars and the servants of liars. If you do trust them you will live to regret it and your children will regret it and curse you. Read this and see how they treated me, Morgan Gratz.
    My story is best started from the moment when I was shown into the Directors' Room in the huge building which houses the executive of Metallic Industries. The secretary closed the tall double doors behind me and announced my name.
    "Gratz, sir...
    Nine men seated about a glasstopped table turned their eyes upon me simultaneously but I kept my gaze on the chairman who topped the long table.
    "Good morning, Mr. Drakin," I said.
    "Morning, Gratz. You have not met our other directors, I believe...
    I looked along the row of faces. Several I recognized from photographs in the illustrated papers. Others I was able to identify, for I had heard them described and knew that they would be present. There is no mystery about the directors of Metallic Industries Incorporated.
    Among them are several of the world's richest men and to be mounted upon such pinnacles of wealth means continual exposure to the floodlights of publicity. Not only was I familiar with their appearances but in common with most I was fairly conversant with their histories. I made no comment, so the chairman continued.
    "I have received your reports, Gratz, and I am pleased to say that they are model documents—clear and concise—a little too clear, I must own, for my peace of mind. In fact, I confess to apprehension and, in my opinion, the time has come for decisive measures. However, before I suggest the steps to be taken I would like you to repeat the gist of your reports for the benefit of my fellowdirectors...
    I had come prepared for this request and was able to reply without hesitation.
    "When it first became known to Mr. Drakin that International Chemicals proposed to build a ship for the navigation of space, he approached me and put forward certain propositions. I, as an employee of International Chemicals, being concerned in the work in question, was to keep him posted and to hand on as much information, technical and otherwise, as I could collect without arousing suspicion...
    "Moreover, I was to find out the purpose for which International Chemicals intended to use her. I have carried out the first part of my orders to the chairman's satisfaction but it is only in the last week that I have been able to discover her destination...
    I paused. There was a stir among the listeners. Several leaned forward with increased interest.
    "Well," demanded a thin, predatoryfaced man on the chairman's right, "what is it?.
    "The intention of the company," I said, "is to send their ship, which they call the Nuntia, to Venus...
    They stared at me. Save for Drakin, to whom this was not news, they appeared dumbfounded. The cadaverouslooking man was the first to find his voice.
    "Nonsense!" he cried. "Preposterous! Never heard of such a thing. What proof have you of this ridiculous statement?.
    I looked at him coldly.
    "I have no proof. A spy rarely has. You must take my word for it...
    "Absurd. Fantastic nonsense. You stand there and seriously expect us to believe on your own, unsupported statement, that I.C. intends to send this machine to Venus? The moon would be unlikely enough.