The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sjambak, by John Holbrook Vance

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Title: Sjambak

Author: John Holbrook Vance

Illustrator: Virgil Finlay

Release Date: September 16, 2009 [EBook #30002]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from _If Worlds of Science Fiction_ July
1953. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
typographical errors have been corrected without note. Within the
text, [=o] represents a lowercase _o_ with an upper macron.

[Illustration]

_Wilbur Murphy sought romance, excitement, and an impossible
Horseman of Space. With polite smiles, the planet frustrated him at
every turn--until he found them all the hard way!_

SJAMBAK

By Jack Vance

Illustrated by VIRGIL FINLAY

Howard Frayberg, Production Director of _Know Your Universe!_, was a man
of sudden unpredictable moods; and Sam Catlin, the show's Continuity
Editor, had learned to expect the worst.

"Sam," said Frayberg, "regarding the show last night...." He paused to
seek the proper words, and Catlin relaxed. Frayberg's frame of mind was
merely critical. "Sam, we're in a rut. What's worse, the show's dull!"

Sam Catlin shrugged, not committing himself.

"_Seaweed Processors of Alphard IX_--who cares about seaweed?"

"It's factual stuff," said Sam, defensive but not wanting to go too far
out on a limb. "We bring 'em everything--color, fact, romance, sight,
sound, smell.... Next week, it's the Ball Expedition to the Mixtup
Mountains on Gropus."

Frayberg leaned forward. "Sam, we're working the wrong slant on this
stuff.... We've got to loosen up, sock 'em! Shift our ground! Give 'em
the old human angle--glamor, mystery, thrills!"

Sam Catlin curled his lips. "I got just what you want."

"Yeah? Show me."

Catlin reached into his waste basket. "I filed this just ten minutes
ago...." He smoothed out the pages. "'Seque