Everything on Oryx, therefore, attracted moisture to itself, and held
it. Everything on the planet was at least moist. If dust were formed by
some extraordinary event, it could not remain dust on the ground. It
would stick, because of dampness.

So there was no dust on Oryx, and since there was no dust, there could
be no sunset or sunrise coloring, no condensation of moisture on
dust-particles to form clouds, and therefore no rain. And since there
could be no rain there could be no brooks, ponds, pools, or lakes. The
jungle covered everything, watered by dew which could only condense on
solid substances because there was nothing else for it to condense on.

It was not a pleasant environment for men, but the Honkies lived in
it contentedly with their soapstone implements and houses, and their
elaborate religion with its ceremonies and taboos. Their culture was
low. They had no fire, because there had never been lightning to show
them that such a thing could be. They had no metals, because metals
cannot be smelted without a fire. They lived a life of elaborate ritual.

Even the location of their villages was determined by a religious
abhorrence of the color red. Cultivation of land with a red-clay
under-soil was therefore impossible. But the local village was safe
against accidental impiety. The fields in which the dew-god had roared
were of a slaty-blue, sticky soil which Fahnes knew by experience was
incredibly adhesive until the sun dried it.

He breakfasted comfortably. So far he had not done a single overt
act save the muting of the space-radio, and that could not ever be
proved. He had not murdered Boles. He could drop everything, make a
formal report to the Company on what he had discovered, and undoubtedly
receive a promotion and a few hundred credits a year more pay. He was
enormously amused at the stupidity of which some men would be capable,
when they could do as he was going to, and spend the rest of his life
in the luxury and lavish enjoyment only unlimited riches could provide.
But Fahnes, of course, was very clever. He approved of himself very
much. 

He finished his breakfast and looked out again. The sun was just two
diameters high and the top of the jungle was a scintillating glory.
Huge dew-drops covered every leaf. Each reflected all the rays of the

 Prev. P 5/12 next