Free Store of the Worlds: The Stories of Robert Sheckley by Robert Sheckley Page A

hadn’t even waited to find out what the three of them wanted!
    Talker extended a filament rapidly, and caught the Pusher, fifty feet away, by a limb. The Pusher fell.
    â€œTreat him gently,” Feeder said. “He might be startled by our appearance.” He twitched his tendrils at the idea of a Pusher—one of the strangest sights in the Galaxy, with his multiple organs—being startled at someone else’s appearance.
    Feeder and Doctor scurried to the fallen Pusher, picked him up, and carried him back to the Ship.
    The Walls sealed again. They released the Pusher and prepared to talk.
    As soon as he was free, the Pusher sprang to his limbs and ran at the place where the Walls had sealed. He pounded against them frantically, his eating organ open and vibrating.
    â€œStop that,” the Wall said. He bulged, and the Pusher tumbled to the floor. Instantly, he jumped up and started to run forward.
    â€œStop him,” Talker said. “He might hurt himself.”
    One of the Accumulators woke up enough to roll into the Pusher’s path. The Pusher fell, got up again, and ran on.
    Talker had his filaments in the front of the Ship also, and he caught the Pusher in the bow. The Pusher started to tear at his tendrils, and Talker let go hastily.
    â€œPlug him into the communication system!” Feeder shouted. “Maybe we can reason with him!”
    Talker advanced a filament toward the Pusher’s head, waving it in the universal sign of communication. But the Pusher continued his amazing behavior, jumping out of the way. He had a piece of metal in his hand and he was waving it frantically.
    â€œWhat do you think he’s going to do with that?” Feeder asked. The Pusher started to attack the side of the Ship, pounding at one of the Walls. The Wall stiffened instinctively and the metal snapped.
    â€œLeave him alone,” Talker said. “Give him a chance to calm down.”
    Talker consulted with Thinker, but they couldn’t decide what to do about the Pusher. He wouldn’t accept communication. Every time Talker extended a filament, the Pusher showed all the signs of violent panic. Temporarily, it was an impasse.
    Thinker vetoed the plan of finding another Pusher on the planet. He considered this Pusher’s behavior typical; nothing would be gained by approaching another. Also, a planet was supposed to be contacted only by a Contact Team.
    If they couldn’t communicate with this Pusher, they never would with another on the planet.
    â€œI think I know what the trouble is,” Eye said. He crawled up on an Accumulator. “These Pushers have evolved a mechanical civilization. Consider for a minute how they went about it. They developed the use of their fingers, like Doctor, to shape metal. They utilized their seeing organs, like myself. And probably countless other organs.” He paused for effect.
    â€œThese Pushers have become unspecialized!”
    They argued over it for several hours. The Walls maintained that no intelligent creature could be unspecialized. It was unknown in the Galaxy. But the evidence was before them—The Pusher cities, their vehicles ... This Pusher, exemplifying the rest, seemed capable of a multitude of things.
    He was able to do everything except Push!
    Thinker supplied a partial explanation. “This is not a primitive planet. It is relatively old and should have been in the Cooperation thousands of years ago. Since it was not, the Pushers upon it were robbed of their birthright. Their ability, their specialty was to Push, but there was nothing to Push. Naturally, they have developed a deviant culture.
    â€œExactly what this culture is, we can only guess. But on the basis of the evidence, there is reason to believe that these Pushers are—uncooperative.”
    Thinker had a habit of uttering the most shattering statement in the quietest possible way.
    â€œIt is entirely possible,” Thinker went on inexorably,