The Project Gutenberg EBook of Earthmen Bearing Gifts, by Fredric Brown

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Title: Earthmen Bearing Gifts

Author: Fredric Brown

Release Date: September 4, 2008 [EBook #26521]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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| Transcriber's note. |
| |
| This story was published in _Galaxy_ magazine, June 1960. |
| Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the |
| U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. |
| |
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Mars had gifts to offer and
Earth had much in return--if
delivery could be arranged!

EARTHMEN BEARING GIFTS

By FREDRIC BROWN

[Illustration]

Illustrated by CARTER

Dhar Ry sat alone in his room, meditating. From outside the door he
caught a thought wave equivalent to a knock, and, glancing at the door,
he willed it to slide open.

It opened. "Enter, my friend," he said. He could have projected the idea
telepathically; but with only two persons present, speech was more
polite.

Ejon Khee entered. "You are up late tonight, my leader," he said.

"Yes, Khee. Within an hour the Earth rocket is due to land, and I wish
to see it. Yes, I know, it will land a thousand miles away, if their
calculations are correct. Beyond the horizon. But if it lands even twice
that far the flash of the atomic explosion should be visible. And I have
waited long for first contact. For even though no Earthman will be on
that rocket, it will still be first contact--for them. Of course our
telepath teams have been reading their thoughts for many centuries,
but--this will be the first _physical_ contact between Mars and Earth."