The Project Gutenberg EBook of Combat, by Dallas McCord Reynolds

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Title: Combat

Author: Dallas McCord Reynolds

Illustrator: Schoenherr

Release Date: December 19, 2009 [EBook #30712]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction October
1960. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed.

COMBAT

By MACK REYNOLDS

Illustrated by Schoenherr

_An Alien landing on Earth might be readily misled,
victimized by a one-sided viewpoint. And then again ... it
might be the Earthmen who were misled...._

* * * * *

Henry Kuran answered a nod here and there, a called out greeting from
a desk an aisle removed from the one along which he was progressing,
finally made the far end of the room. He knocked at the door and
pushed his way through before waiting a response.

There were three desks here. He didn't recognize two of the girls who
looked up at his entry. One of them began to say something, but then
Betty, whose desk dominated the entry to the inner sanctum, grinned a
welcome at him and said, "Hank! How was Peru? We've been expecting
you."

"Full of Incas," he grinned back. "Incas, Russkies and Chinks. A poor
capitalist _conquistador_ doesn't have a chance. Is the boss inside?"

"He's waiting for you, Hank. See you later."

Hank said, "Um-m-m," and when the door clicked in response to the
button Betty touched, pushed his way into the inner office.

Morton Twombly, chief of the department, came to his feet, shook hands
abruptly and motioned the other to a chair.

"How're things in Peru, Henry?" His voice didn't express too much
real interest.

Hank said, "We were on the phone just a week ago, Mr. Twombly. It's
about the same. No, the devil it is. The Chine