The Project Gutenberg EBook of Pariah Planet, by Murray Leinster

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Title: Pariah Planet

Author: Murray Leinster

Release Date: July 18, 2009 [EBook #29448]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Transcriber's Note:

This etext was first published in Amazing Stories, July 1961. Extensive
research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this
publication was renewed.]

[Illustration]

COMPLETE BOOK-LENGTH NOVEL

PARIAH PLANET

By MURRAY LEINSTER

Illustrated by FINLAY

_When the blue plague appeared on the planet of Dara, fear struck
nearby worlds. The fear led to a hate that threatened the lives of
millions and endangered the Galactic peace._

CHAPTER I

The little Med Ship came out of overdrive and the stars were strange and
the Milky Way seemed unfamiliar. Which, of course, was because the Milky
Way and the local Cepheid marker-stars were seen from an unaccustomed
angle and a not-yet-commonplace pattern of varying magnitudes. But
Calhoun grunted in satisfaction. There was a banded sun off to port,
which was good. A breakout at no more than sixty light-hours from
one's destination wasn't bad, in a strange sector of the Galaxy and
after three light-years of journeying blind.

[Illustration]

"Arise and shine, Murgatroyd," said Calhoun. "Comb your whiskers. Get
set to astonish the natives!"

A sleepy, small, shrill voice said;

"_Chee!_"

Murgatroyd the _tormal_ came crawling out of his small cubbyhole. He
blinked at Calhoun.

"We're due to land shortly," Calhoun observed. "You'll impress the local
inhabitants. I'll be unpopular. According to the records, there's been
no Med Ship inspection here for twelve standard years. And that was
practically no inspection, to judge by the report."

Murgatroyd said;

"_Chee-chee!_"

He began to make his toilet, first licking his right-hand whiskers and
then his left. Then he stood up and shook himself and looked
interestedly at Calhoun. _Tormals_ are compa