The Ignoble Savages
By EVELYN E. SMITH
Illustrated by DILLON
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Galaxy Science Fiction March 1957.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Snaddra had but one choice in its fight
to afford to live belowground—underhandedly
pretend theirs was an aboveboard society!
"Go Away from me, Skkiru," Larhgan said, pushing his hand off her arm."A beggar does not associate with the high priestess of Snaddra."
"But the Earthmen aren't due for another fifteen minutes," Skkiruprotested.
"Of what importance are fifteen minutes compared to eternity!" sheexclaimed. Her lovely eyes fuzzed softly with emotion. "You don't seemto realize, Skkiru, that this isn't just a matter of minutes or hours.It's forever."
"Forever!" He looked at her incredulously. "You mean we're going tokeep this up as a permanent thing? You're joking!"
Bbulas groaned, but Skkiru didn't care about that. The sad, sweet wayLarhgan shook her beautiful head disturbed him much more, and whenshe said, "No, Skkiru, I am not joking," a tiny pang of doubt andapprehension began to quiver in his second smallest left toe.
"This is, in effect, good-by," she continued. "We shall see each otheragain, of course, but only from a distance. On feast days, perhaps youmay be permitted to kiss the hem of my robe ... but that will be all."
Skkiru turned to the third person present in the council chamber."Bbulas, this is your fault! It was all your idea!"
There was regret on the Dilettante's thin face—an obviously insincereregret, the younger man knew, since he was well aware how Bbulas hadalways felt about the girl.
"I am sorry, Skkiru," Bbulas intoned. "I had fancied you understood.This is not a game we are playing, but a new way of life we areadopting. A necessary way of life, if we of Snaddra are to keep onliving at all."
"It's not that I don't love you, Skkiru," Larhgan put in gently, "butthe welfare of our planet comes first."
She had been seeing too many of the Terrestrial fictapes from thelibrary, Skkiru thought resentfully. There was too damn much Terraninfluence on this planet. And this new project was the last straw.
No longer able to control his rage and grief, he turned a triplesomersault in the air with rage. "Then why was I made a beggar and shethe high priestess? You arranged that purposely, Bbulas. You—"
"Now, Skkiru," Bbulas said wearily, for they had been through all thisbefore, "you know that all the ranks and positions were distributedby impartial lot, except for mine, and, of course, such jobs as couldcarry over from the civilized into the primitive."
Bbulas breathed on the spectacles he was wearing, as contact lenseswere not considered backward enough for the kind of planet Snaddrawas now supposed to be, and attempted to wipe them dry on his robe.However, the thick, jewel-studded embroidery got in his way and so hewas forced to lift the robe and wipe all three of the lenses on thesmooth, soft, spun metal of his top underskirt.
"After all," he went on speaking as he wiped, "I have to be highpriest, since I organized this culture and am the only one herequalified to administer it. And, as the president h