QRM—INTERPLANETARY
By George O. Smith
Illustrated by Kolliker
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Astounding Science-Fiction October 1942.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
QRM—International code signal meaning "Interference" of controllablenature, such as man-made static, cross modulation from another channeladjoining or willful obliteration of signals by an interfering source.
Interference not of natural sources (designated by International codeas QRN), such as electrical storms, common static, et cetera.
—Handbook, Interplanetary Amateur Radio League.
Korvus, the Magnificent, Nilamo of Yoralen, picked up the telephonein his palace and said: "I want to talk to Wilneda. He is at theInternational Hotel in Detroit, Michigan."
"I'm sorry, sir," came the voice of the operator. "Talking is notpossible, due to the fifteen-minute transmission lag between here andTerra. Interplanetary Communications will not permit audio. However,teletype messages are welcome."
Her voice originated fifteen hundred miles north of Yoralen, but itsounded as though she might be in the next room. Korvus thought for amoment and then said: "Take this message: 'Wilneda: Add to order formining machinery one type 56-XXD flier to replace washed-out model.And remember, tobacco and sublevel energy will not mix!' Sign thatKorvus."
"Yes, Mr. Korvus."
"Not mister!" yelled the monarch. "I am Korvus, the Magnificent! I amNilamo of Yoralen!"
"Yes, your magnificence," said the operator humbly. It was more thanpossible that she was stifling a laugh, which knowledge made the littleman of Venus squirm in wrath. But there was nothing that he could doabout it, television still being distant by the same five years that itwas behind in 1929.
To give Korvus credit, he was not a pompous little man. He waslarge—for a Venusian—which made him small according to the standardsset up by Terrestrians. He, as Nilamo of Yoralen, had extended theonce-small kingdom outward to include most of the Palanortis Countrywhich extended from about 23.0 degrees North Latitude to 61.7 degrees,and almost across the whole, single continent that was the dry landof Venus. He was a wily monarch, making his conquest of the wild andlawless country by treaty, and by double-double-crossing those whomight have tried to double-cross him. Armed conquest was scorned, butarmed defense was desirable in the Palanortis Country—and Korvus haddefended himself up and down the inhabitable Northern portion of theplanet. His conquest had been a blessing to civilization, and thoughpublicly denounced, it was privately commended. Those who could havestopped it did all they could to delay and intercept any proceedingsthat would have caused the conquest of Korvus' intended country anytrouble.
Korvus' message to Terra zoomed across the fifteen hundred rockymiles of Palanortis to Northern Landing. It passed high across thethousand-foot-high trees and over the mountain ranges. It swept overopen patches of water, and across intervening cities and towns. It wentwith the speed of light and in a tight beam from Yoralen to NorthernLanding, straight as a die and with person-to-person clarity. Theoperator in the city that lay across the North Pole of Venus clickedon a teletype, reading back the message as it was written.
Korvus told him: "That is correct."
"The messa