A professional hunter, known for his skills, is approached by a government agent seeking a rare Martian creature called a zloor. The hunter, initially skeptical and uninterested, learns that the zloor is suspected to be an alien life form, prompting him to accept a bet and the job to capture one. He travels to Mars, where he discovers that zloors are much larger and more resilient than expected, making them difficult to capture. Upon arrival, he encounters fellow hunters who reveal that they have all been sent by the same agent, Westley Marks, who profits from their attempts to capture the zloor. The hunters share their failed strategies, including attempts to trap or poison the creature, which seems impervious to harm. The protagonist realizes that traditional methods won't work and begins to think outside the box. After much trial and error, he discovers that zloors are attracted to peach pits, leading him to successfully tame two zloors. He returns to Earth with the creatures, much to the surprise of Marks, who had underestimated the hunter's capabilities. The protagonist not only collects his winnings but also realizes that other hunters will likely follow his lead, potentially flooding the market with zloors and undermining Marks' profits. In the end, the hunter's ingenuity and persistence pay off, allowing him to outsmart both the zloor and the agent who sought to exploit him. The story highlights themes of resourcefulness, competition, and the unexpected consequences of ambition.
By Mack Reynolds · First published 1964 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Humor