The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Reluctant Weapon, by Howard L. Myers

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Title: The Reluctant Weapon

Author: Howard L. Myers

Illustrator: Emsh

Release Date: April 15, 2010 [EBook #31995]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

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

The Reluctant Weapon

by HOWARD L. MYERS

Illustrated by EMSH

_A live weapon is a downright liability ... it's all too apt
to get qualms of conscience!_

* * * * *

_When the Zoz Horde passed destructively through this sector of the
Galaxy, approximately a billion years ago, they suffered a minor loss.
One of their weapons, Sentient Killer No. VT672, had an unexplained
malfunction and was left behind to be repaired by the slave
technicians who followed the Horde. However, the Zoz were met and
annihilated by the Ghesh Empire, after which the masterless slaves
dispersed to their home planets. The weapon, unrepaired, was left
forgotten in the solar system it had failed to destroy._

[Illustration:]

* * * * *

Tresqu the Wisest, Ruler of Hova, Lord of the Universe, was being
entertained by a troupe of Goefd dancers when his Lord of War, Wert,
bounded into the Audience Hall. In his hurry to reach Tresqu's throne,
Wert slipped on the nearly frictionless floor and skidded through the
formation of dancers, sending the slender Goefden sprawling in all
directions. He slid to a halt by the Pleading Mat, onto which he
crawled and groveled, awaiting permission to speak.

"I believe three of the dancers received broken legs," Tresqu observed
calmly. "They are rather delicate creatures and not at all clumsy." He
dipped the tip of his tail in