Store of the Worlds: The Stories of Robert Sheckley by Robert Sheckley

shrub in the vicinity. But none of them was Ilg.
    Pid began to feel a cold panic run through him. What could have happened to the Radioman?
    â€œPerhaps he decided to go through the gate on his own,” Ger suggested.
    Pid considered the possibility. It seemed unlikely. Ilg had never shown much initiative. He had always been content to follow orders.
    They waited. But midday came, and there was still no sign of Ilg.
    â€œWe can’t wait any longer,” Pid said, and they started through the woods. Pid wondered if Ilg had tried to get through the gates on his own. Those quiet types often concealed a foolhardy streak.
    But there was nothing to show that Ilg had been successful. He would have to assume that the Radioman was dead, or captured by the Men.
    That left two of them to activate a Displacer.
    And still he didn’t know what had happened to the other expeditions.
    At the edge of the woods, Ger turned himself into a facsimile of a Dog. Pid inspected him carefully.
    â€œA little less tail,” he said.
    Ger shortened his tail.
    â€œMore ears.”
    Ger lengthened his ears.
    â€œNow even them up.” He inspected the finished product. As far as he could tell, Ger was perfect, from the tip of his tail to his wet, black nose.
    â€œGood luck,” Pid said.
    â€œThanks.” Cautiously Ger moved out of the woods, walking in the lurching style of Dogs and Men. At the gate the guard called to him. Pid held his breath.
    Ger walked past the Man, ignoring him. The Man started to walk over, and Ger broke into a run.
    Pid shaped a pair of strong legs for himself, ready to dash if Ger was caught.
    But the guard turned back to his gate. Ger stopped running immediately, and strolled quietly toward the main gate.
    Pid dissolved his legs with a sigh of relief.
    But the main door was closed! Pid hoped the Radioman wouldn’t try to open it. That was not in the nature of Dogs.
    Another Dog came running toward Ger. Ger backed away from him. The Dog approached and sniffed. Ger sniffed back.
    Then both of them ran around the building.
    That was clever, Pid thought. There was bound to be a door in the rear.
    He glanced up at the afternoon sun. As soon as the Displacer was activated, the Glom armies would begin to pour through. By the time the Men recovered from the shock, a million or more Glom troops would be here. With more following.
    The day passed slowly, and nothing happened.
    Nervously Pid watched the front of the plant. It shouldn’t be taking so long, if Ger were successful.
    Late into the night he waited. Men walked in and out of the installation, and Dogs barked around the gates. But Ger did not appear.
    Ger had failed. Ilg was gone. Only he was left.
    And still he didn’t know what had happened.
    By morning, Pid was in complete despair. He knew that the twenty-first Glom expedition to this planet was near the point of complete failure. Now it was all up to him.
    He decided to sally out boldly in the shape of a Man. It was the only possibility left.
    He saw that workers were arriving in great numbers, rushing through the gates. Pid wondered if he should try to mingle with them, or wait until there was less commotion. He decided to take advantage of the apparent confusion, and started to shape himself into a Man.
    A Dog walked past the woods where he was hiding.
    â€œHello,” the Dog said.
    It was Ger!
    â€œWhat happened?” Pid asked, with a sigh of relief. “Why were you so long? Couldn’t you get in?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Ger said, wagging his tail. “I didn’t try.”
    Pid was speechless.
    â€œI went hunting,” Ger said complacently. “This form is ideal for hunting, you know. I went out the rear gate with another Dog.”
    â€œBut the expedition—your duty—”
    â€œI changed my mind,” Ger told him. “You know, Pilot, I never wanted to be a Detector.”
    â€œBut you were born a