A man named Moran finds himself marooned on a hostile planet after a failed escape attempt from a crew aboard a space-yacht. The crew, fugitives from their own world, decides to abandon him on a planet filled with bizarre and dangerous life forms. As they approach the planet, Moran observes its dense cloud cover and ice cap, indicating a potentially habitable environment. However, he quickly realizes that the planet is teeming with monstrous creatures, including giant insects and other terrifying fauna. Moran's predicament is compounded by the crew's intention to leave him with minimal supplies, including an emergency kit. He reflects on his past actions that led to his current situation, including a fatal confrontation on his home planet. The crew, while initially practical, shows signs of unease as they encounter the planet's strange sounds and sights. Upon landing, they discover a crashed ship, the remnants of a previous crew that had attempted to survive on the planet. Moran, along with the crew, explores the wreckage, uncovering valuable resources, including a rare mineral called bessendium. Tensions rise as they navigate the dangers of the planet, including giant insects that threaten their lives. As they attempt to salvage the bessendium, they face numerous challenges, including a giant spider that captures one of the crew members, Hallet. In a desperate attempt to save him, Moran and the others engage in a frantic battle against the spider, leading to a catastrophic explosion that destroys the creature and the fuel block necessary for their escape. In the aftermath, Moran realizes that they can still salvage the situation by using the fuel block from the wrecked ship. The crew, now united by their shared experiences and the threat of the planet, prepares to leave, with Moran reflecting on the irony of his survival and the bonds formed in adversity. Ultimately, they aim to return to civilization, having faced the horrors of the planet and emerged with newfound resolve.
By Murray Leinster · First published 1956 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy · 4 chapters