The Project Gutenberg EBook of Accidental Flight, by Floyd L. Wallace

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Title: Accidental Flight

Author: Floyd L. Wallace

Illustrator: Ed Alexander

Release Date: May 30, 2010 [EBook #32597]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1952.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed.

[Illustration]

Accidental Flight

By F. L. WALLACE

Illustrated by Ed Alexander

_Outcasts of a society of physically perfect people, they
couldn't stay and they couldn't go home again--yet there had
to be some escape for them. Oddly enough, there was!_

* * * * *

Cameron frowned intently at the top of the desk. It was difficult to
concentrate under the circumstances. "Your request was turned over to
the Medicouncil," he said. "After studying it, they reported back to
the Solar Committee."

Docchi edged forward, his face literally lighting up.

Dr. Cameron kept his eyes averted; the man was damnably disconcerting.
"You know what the answer is. A flat no, for the present."

Docchi leaned back. "We should have expected that," he said wearily.

"It's not entirely hopeless. Decisions like this can always be
changed."

"Sure," said Docchi. "We've got centuries." His face was
flushed--_blazing_ would be a better description.

Absently, Cameron lowered the lights in the room as much as he could.
It was still uncomfortably bright. Docchi was a nuisance.

"But why?" asked Docchi. "You know that we're capable. Why did they
refuse?"

Cameron had tried to avoid that question. Now it had to be answered
with blunt brutality. "Did you think you would be chosen? Or Nona, or
Jordan, or Anti?"

Docchi winced. "Maybe not. But we've told you