The Project Gutenberg EBook of Membership Drive, by Murray F. Yaco

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Title: Membership Drive

Author: Murray F. Yaco

Illustrator: Grayam

Release Date: March 18, 2010 [EBook #31689]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration: _Want to join our secret organization? Well, first you
have to pass the tests._]

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

By MURRAY F. YACO

ILLUSTRATED by GRAYAM

Transcriber's Note: This e-text was produced from Amazing Science
Fiction Stories, July, 1960. Extensive research did not uncover any
evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

Thirty million miles out, Keeter began monitoring the planet's radio
and television networks. He kept the vigil for two sleepless days and
nights, then turned off the receivers and began a systematic study of
the notes he had taken on English idioms and irregular verbs.

Twelve hours later, convinced that there would be no language
difficulty, he left the control room, went into his cabin and fell into
bed. He remained there for sixteen hours.

When he awoke, he walked to a locker at the end of his cabin, opened
the door and carefully selected clothing from a wardrobe that was
astonishing both for its size and variety. For headdress, he selected a
helmet that was not too different in design from the "space helmets" he
had viewed on a number of television programs. It would disappoint no
one, Keeter reflected happily, as he took a deep breath and blew an
almost imperceptible film of dust from the helmet's iridescent finish.

Trousers and blouse were a little more of a problem, but finally he
compromised on items of a distinct military cut; both were black and
unembellished, providing, he hoped, an ascetic, spiritual tone to
temper the military aura.

Boots were no problem at all. The black and silver pair he wore every
day were, by happy coincidence, a synthesis of the cowboy and military
footgear styling he had observed hour after weary hour on the pick-up
panel in the control