36

“Are we alone in the universe, or are there others?” wondered the Furplings.

Furp scientists were looking hard. The planet Furp had lots of scientists and no military people because Furplings were smart. They didn’t know they were smart, though, because they had nobody with whom to compare themselves.

In any case, orbiting and Furp-bound telescopes scanned the skies. Then, one day, Elgrin had his “aha” moment. He’d found something, or at least he thought he had.

It wasn’t all that far, in one of the arms of the galaxy next door, the Milky Way. An average-looking yellow star with one of those ordinary planetary systems. The third planet out from the star seemed to be emitting transmissions that could have intelligent origins. Of course, bring a scientist, Elgrin didn’t make any sudden announcements. This could be big or it could be nothing. With his reputation at stake, he opted for caution.

He asked Glantos to check his work. Older, more established and widely respected, Glantos would be able to confirm or dismiss Elgrin’s theory.

Glantos checked Elgrin’s work and made additional observations of his own. Yes, there were interesting transmissions from that planet. And they did not match the pattern of any known natural phenomenon. Still, this was an important discovery and he had to be sure.

Making use of his enormous prestige and the good will he’d earned over his lifetime, the elder statesman of Furpian astronomy was granted access to advanced tools that had been assigned to other projects. Those other projects had to be delayed.

A combination of far flung astronomical probes launched generations before were now at Glantos’ disposal as an anxious Elgrin looked on. This would be something special—a visual sighting of possibly the first planet beyond Furp to house a civilization of intelligent beings.

Projected onto a giant screen which converted the signals into holographic imagery, both worked feverishly to sharpen the indistinct image. So far, only a fuzzy blue spot. Then some green, white and brown.

Suddenly, there it was—a shining blue marble, with patterns of clouds, land formations and oceans. Stunning.

Then it was gone. Had the equipment failed? Elgrin grabbed the controls. He had to bring it back. He checked the coordinates. He was certain he had it right, and Glantos agreed.

Now to bring it into focus again. It came back, but not as before. The two scientists stood silently, mouths hanging open at a giant cloud of dust and an exploded hunk of rocky debris.