The Project Gutenberg EBook of Quiet, Please, by Kevin Scott

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Title: Quiet, Please

Author: Kevin Scott

Release Date: May 20, 2007 [EBook #21541]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUIET, PLEASE ***

Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Louise Pryor and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

{Transcriber's note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If November
1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed.}

Groverzb knew what he wanted--peace and quiet. He was willing to
scream his head off for it!

QUIET PLEASE

By KEVIN SCOTT

The big man eased the piano off his back and stood looking at Groverzb.

"You ain't gonna like it here." He mopped his face. "Boy, will I ever be
glad to get off this cockeyed planet."

Groverzb pushed at his spectacles, sniffed, and said, "Quite."

The big man said, "Ain't no native here over three feet tall. And they
got some crazy kind of communication. They don't talk."

Groverzb said, "Quiet."

"Uh?"

"Precisely why I am here. I," said Groverzb, sniffing again, "loathe
conversation."

"Oh. Well." He left.

Alone, Groverzb surveyed his realm. The house was the shell of what had
formerly been a Little People apartment building. Ceilings, floors and
walls had been removed to form one large room. The tiny doors and
windows had been sealed, and a single window and door had been cut into
the shell for Groverzb's use. Crude, but serviceable.

Groverzb walked to the window and looked down the slope. Little People
buildings dotted the landscape, and the people themselves scurried
silently about. Yes, thought Groverzb, it would do nicely. He had
brought an adequate food-tablet supply. He would finish, without the
distraction of voices, his beautiful concerto. He would return to Earth
famous and happy.

Armed with paper and pencils, he went to the piano, having decided to
enlarge upon the theme in the second movement. His mind knew exactly how
the passage should run, and he swiftly covered the paper with sharp,
angular notes. Then he triumph