A medical ship, the _Esclipus Twenty_, arrives at the planet Maya for a health inspection, but the crew, led by Calhoun, finds the planet deserted. After repeated attempts to contact the spaceport go unanswered, Calhoun decides to land. Upon arrival, he discovers an eerily quiet city with no signs of life, as if the inhabitants had vanished without a trace. The buildings are intact, and daily life appears to have been abruptly interrupted, with food left uneaten and shops open. Calhoun, accompanied by his _tormal_ companion Murgatroyd, investigates the city and finds that the local flora, particularly a type of ground-cover plant, is dying. He suspects that something has driven the population away, possibly a health crisis or a natural disaster. As he explores further, he learns from a passing liner, the _Candida_, that they too have been unable to contact anyone on the planet. The situation escalates when Calhoun encounters a man named Arthur Allison, who parachutes onto the planet with a briefcase full of money. Allison insists he has important business and is shocked to learn of the city's abandonment. Calhoun, suspicious of Allison's motives, deduces that the people of Maya were likely driven away by a ground-induction field, a technology used on another planet to control cattle. This device, he theorizes, has been misused to herd the population of Maya, causing them to flee in fear. As Calhoun and Allison travel through the deserted landscape, they experience strange muscle spasms, indicating they are near the source of the ground-induction field. Calhoun realizes that the field is still active and could be dangerous. He formulates a plan to disable the device, which requires the help of local engineers and a coordinated effort to cut off the power supply. The narrative builds tension as Calhoun races against time to save the inhabitants of Maya, who are stranded without food or water. He successfully leads a group back through the cattle fence, using medication to mitigate the effects of the induction field. They reach the control center and devise a way to interrupt the power supply to the field, allowing the people to return safely. In the end, the inhabitants of Maya return to their city, and the threat of the cattle fence is neutralized. Calhoun resumes his duties as a Med Ship officer, ensuring the health and safety of the planet's population while Murgatroyd enjoys the social interactions he craves. The story concludes with a sense of normalcy restored, highlighting the importance of vigilance in the face of potential dangers and the role of medical service in maintaining public health.
By Murray Leinster · First published 1957 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Space Opera · 5 chapters