CHICKEN FARM
By ROSS ROCKLYNNE
Harvey was a most unusual little man. A Cosmos-minded
man with great singleness of purpose. He could discover
asteroid-juncture faults with the greatest of ease, and
"perp" planets, too.... But could he find Anna from
Oregon who doubted his greatest discovery of all?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories March 1953.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Just in from a long haul searching for asteroid juncture points,Harvey entered the lobby of the Hotel de Mars and went straight to theregistration desk. The woman at the desk, who was blond, and blue-eyed,and inclining to chubbiness, looked at him, smiled. The smile was ofsuch quality that Harvey's singed brown face set into a mold of utterattention.
Finally he let out his breath.
"I want a room," said he, "on the Deimos side."
He attentively studied the cheerful face while she made out slips,accepted his signature, accepted his money. After he had the key, afterhe had his change, after everything was taken care of, he still stoodthere. The woman smiled into his seamed eyes.
"Was there something else?"
Harvey said, noting the emptiness of her chubby ring-finger, "Ma'am,I'm an abrupt, outspoken man. I have no sense of humor. Some peoplelike me; some people don't. I make my living moving around the solarsystem. I've never been rich, but I never have any trouble makingmoney, as much as I want. Now what was your question again?"
Her fingers slowly caressed a yellow pencil.
Her smile was a little strained. She said cautiously, "I thought youwanted something else. What you want to do is talk, isn't it? You're infrom a long space-haul, it's lonely out there, men get so they have totalk to a woman, don't they? So you'd like to take me out to dinner?And take me to a show? And take me up to your room to watch Deimos,which happens to shine only into the windows of your room?"
He looked at her.
"I have no sense of humor," he repeated with great patience. "As yougrow to know me, you will understand that. It will be no deterrent toour romance, however; I have other qualities."
"Romance?"
"Yes. What I want is you. I'm an abrupt man. My mind makes itself upquickly. In space, one must learn to make quick decisions. That's whatI want. You. We'll discuss this at dinner. Please be ready."
He went up to his room, refusing to let the bell hop touch his scarredsuitcase. A little man. A man with great singleness of purpose. Theblond woman, who was nice, and blue-eyed, and inclining to chubbiness,looked after him blinking. She took care of the next guest. She thoughtdeeply. She decided to go to dinner with the lost, lonely man fromouter space.
They ate in the main dining room of the Hotel de Mars (the 'de' beingrather a fancy touch.) He did not talk. He ate. Great quantities ofMartian food with strange, exotic names. He ordered straight shots ofwhiskey afterward. Then he talked.
"Now, we were discussing something of importance at the registrationdesk, ma'am. What was it?"
"Me."
"Fine. I'm glad you remember."
She burst into laughter, then stifled the laugh in horror.
He shook his brown, leathery head. "Laugh, please. Laugh as much asyou please. I have no sense of humor, but I think other people shouldhave the opportunity of exercising theirs. I often say things whichare funny to others. As for myself, I never laugh. This you wil