Investigating Joe's background, Pete becomes less nervous as the trained cortex takes over in his psychosomatic system. The Psychotechnic Institute did some good before it was suppressed.
Joe claims to come from a planet called Astan IV. Pete takes this to mean the fourth planet out from a star called Astan. But could it instead be the fourth satellite out from a gas giant called Astan? Or, alternatively, might it not represent some alien numbering system? In "T" by Brian Aldiss, an extra-galactic race called the Koax numbers planets from the outermost inward. Thus, as counted by the Koax, Uranus is Sol III and Earth is Sol VII. The Koax, threatened by mankind, counterattack in the past. Accidentally and partially destroying what had been Sol VI, they generate the Asteroid Belt. Completely obliterating what had been Sol VII, they bring it about that Earth is now to them Sol VII, to us Sol III: an intergalactic temporal paradox - as well as an alien numbering system.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Of couurse "Astan IV" needed to be investigated. But Pete should have been a bit less quick to think it was numbered the same way humans preferred to list planets and moons.
One of Anderson/Dickson's Hoka stories has a non-human criminal being called "Number Ten," instead of "Number One," because these non-humans thought of "ten" as being more senior to "one."
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
In a political context in Britain, "No.10" means "No 10, Downing St," the address of the Prime (=first) Minister. Are those Hoka copying that? I can't remember.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
No, it was not the Hokas, but another non human species, in "The Adventure of the Misplaced Hound."
I forgot about how "Number 10" can be used in the UK to refer to the PM, from his official residence at 10 Downing Street. And people mean the Queen when they sometimes talk about "The Palace."
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
In the Terran Empire, they say "the Throne."
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I remember that as well! Sometimes such references can be understood in wider senses, to include as well the people around them, such as their ministers, advisers, staffs, etc.
Ad astra! Sean
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