Project Gutenberg's A Transmutation of Muddles, by Horace Brown Fyfe

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Title: A Transmutation of Muddles

Author: Horace Brown Fyfe

Illustrator: H. R. Van Dongen

Release Date: January 7, 2008 [EBook #24187]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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A
TRANSMUTATION
OF MUDDLES

_An experienced horse-trader, bargain-haggler,
and general swapper has a very special talent for
turning two headaches into one aspirin pill...._

By H. B. FYFE

Illustrated by Van Dongen

The rugged little stellar scout ship flared down to the surface of Kappa
Orionis VII about a mile from the aboriginal village. The pilot,
Lieutenant Eric Haruhiku, scorched an open field, but pointed out to
Louis Mayne that he had been careful to disturb neither woodland nor
shoreline.

"The Kappans are touchy about those, Judge," he explained, "They fish a
lot, as you'd guess from all these shallow seas, and they pick fruit in
the forests; but they don't farm much."

"No use provoking trouble," Mayne approved. "It's a long way from
Rigel."

"It's a longer way from Sol," said the pilot.

"Don't I know, boy! If it weren't, I'd be just another retired space
captain, quietly struggling with my ranch on Rigel IX. As it is, to get
the grant, I had to remain on call as an arbitrator."

"Somebody has to settle these things," said Haruhiku. "There's not much
law way out here, except what the Space Force can apply. Well, if you'll
excuse me, sir, I'll have them get out the helicopter and take us over
to the village."

"Let me see that last message again, before you go," Mayne requested.

The pilot extracted a sheet from his clipboard and handed it to Mayne as
he left. Mayne studied the text with little pleasure.

Terran Space Force headquarters on Rigel IX wished to inform him that
the long awaited envoy from Terra to Kappa Orionis VII not only had
arrived but had departed two days behind Mayne.

It was hoped, the communication continued, that nothing wou