October 3, 2025 • 13 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Hour of Battle by Robert Sheckley, as one of
the Guardian ships protecting Earth. The crew had a problem
to solve. Just how do you protect a race from
an enemy who can take over a man's mind without
seeming effort or warning. That hand didn't move, did it,
(00:22):
Edwardson asked, standing at the port looking at the stars. No.
Moore said he had been staring fixedly at the Attison
detector for over an hour. Now. He blinked three times
rapidly and looked again. Not a millimeter. I don't think
it moved either, Castle added from behind the gunfire panel,
(00:44):
and that was that. The slender black hand of the
indicator rested unwaveringly on zero. The ship's guns were ready,
Their black mouths opened to the stars. A steady hum
filled the room. It came from the Attison detector, and
the same was reassuring. It reinforced the fact that the
detector was attached to all the other detectors, forming a
(01:06):
giant network around Earth. Why in hell don't they come,
Edwardson asked, still looking at the stars. Why don't they hit? Ah?
Shut up? Morre said he had a tired, glum look
high on his right temple was an old radiation burn,
a sunburst of pink scar tissue. From a distance, it
(01:28):
looked like a decoration. I just wish they'd come, Edwardson said.
He returned from the port to his chair, bending to
clear the low metal ceiling. Don't you wish they'd come?
Edwardson had the narrow, timid face of a mouse, but
a highly intelligent mouse, one that capts did well to avoid,
(01:50):
don't you, he repeated. The other men didn't answer. They
had settled back to their dreams, staring hypnotically at the
detector face. They've had enough time, Edwardson said, half to himself.
Castle yawned and licked his lips. Anyone wants a place
in Gin, he asked, stroking his beard. The beard was
(02:14):
a memento of his undergraduate days. Castle maintained he could
store almost fifteen minutes worth of oxygen in its pollocles,
although he had never stepped into space and helmet it
to prove it. Morse looked away and Edwardson automatically watched
the indicator. This routine had been drilled into them, branded
into their subconscious. They would as soon have cut their
(02:36):
throats as leave the indicator. Unguarded. Do you think they'll
come soon? Edwardson asked, his brown rodent's eyes on the indicator.
The men didn't answer him. After two months together in space,
their conversational powers were exhausted. They weren't interested in Castle's
undergraduate days or in Morse's conquests. They were bored to death,
(02:59):
even with the their own thoughts and dreams. Bored with
the attack they expected momentarily, just one thing I'd like
to know, Edwardson said, slipping with ease into an old
conversational gambit. How far can they do it? They had
talked for weeks about the enemy's telepathic range, but they
always returned to it. As professional soldiers, they couldn't help
(03:22):
but speculate on the enemy and his weapons. It was
their shop talk well, Morse said, wearily, I detect a
network covers the system out beyond Mars's orbit where we sit,
Castle said, watching the indicators. Now that the others were talking,
they might not even know we have a detection unit working.
(03:44):
Morse said, as he had said a thousand times. Oh stop,
Edwardson said, his thin face twisted in scorn. Their telepathic
They must have read every bit of stuff in Eversett's mind.
Everset didn't know we had a detection unit. Morse said,
his eyes returning to the dial. He was captured before
(04:04):
we had it, look Edwardson said. They ask him, boy,
what would you do if you knew a telepathic race
was coming to take over the Earth? How would you
guard the planet? Idle speculation? Castle said, maybe Everset didn't
think of this. He thinks like a man, doesn't he
Everyone agreed on this defense. Everset would too syllogistic. Castle murmured,
(04:29):
very shaky. I sure wish he hadn't been captured. Edwardson
said it could have been worse. Morse put in his face,
sadder than ever. What if they captured both of them?
I wish they'd come. Edwardson said. Richard Everset and C. R.
(04:49):
Jones had gone on the first interstellar flight. They had
found an inhabited planet in the region of Vega. The
rest was standard procedure. A flip of the coin had
decided it. Everset went down in the scouter, maintaining radio
contact with Jones in the ship. The recording of that
contact was preserved for all Earth to hear. Just met
(05:11):
the natives Eversett said, funny looking bunch. Give you the
physical description later. Are they trying to talk to you?
Jones asked, guiding the ship in a slow spiral over
the planet. No, hold it, well, I'm damned they're telepathic.
How do you like that? Great, Jones said, go on,
(05:36):
hold it, say jonesy, I don't always I like these boys.
They haven't got nice minds. Brother, what is it? Jones asked,
lifting the ship a little higher, Mines. These bastards are
power crazy. Seems they've hit all the systems around here
looking for someone to Yeah, I've got that a bit wrong,
(06:00):
Everset said, pleasantly. They're not so bad. Jones had a
quick mind, a suspicious nature, and good reflexes. He set
the accelerator for all the gees he could take, lay
down on the floor and said, tell me more, Come
on down, Everset said, in violation of every door of
(06:21):
space flight, these guys are all right. As a matter
of fact, they are the most marvelous. That was where
the recording ended, because Jones was pinned to the floor
by twenty gees of acceleration. As he boosted the ship
to the level needed for the sea jump. He broke
three ribs getting home. But he got there. A telepathic
(06:41):
species was on the march. What was Earth going to
do about it? A lot of speculation necessarily clothed the
bare bones of Jones's information. Evidently, the species could take
over a mind with ease. With ever Set, it seemed
that they had insinuated their thoughts into his delicately altering
his previous convictions. They have possessed him with remarkable ease.
(07:05):
How about Jones? Why haven't they taken him? Was distance
a factor? Or haven't they been prepared for the suddenness
of his departure? One thing was certain. Everything ever Set
new the enemy knew. That meant that they knew where
Earth was and how defenseless the planet was to their
form of attack. It could be expected that they were
(07:26):
on their way. Something was needed to nullify their tremendous advantage.
But what sort of something? What armor is there against thought?
How do you dodge a wavelength pouch? Eyed scientists gravely
consulted their periodic tables? And how do you know when
a man has been possessed? Although the enemy was clumsy
(07:47):
with ever set, would they continue to be clumsy? Wouldn't
they learn psychologists tore their hair and bewailed the absence
of an absolute scale for humanity. Of course, something had
to be done at once. The answer from a technological
planet was a technological one. Build a space fleet and
equip it with some sort of detection network. This was
(08:10):
done in record time. The Attison detector was developed, a
cross between radar and the electro encephalograph. Any alteration from
the typical human brainwave pattern of the occupants of a
detector equipped ship would boost the indicator around the dial.
Even a bad dream or a case of indigestion would
jar it. It seemed probable that any attempt to take
(08:32):
over a human mind would disturb something. There had to
be a point of interaction somewhere. That was what the
Attison detector was supposed to detect. Maybe it would the
space ships. Three men to a ship dotted space between
Earth and Mars, forming a gigantic sphere with Earth in
the center. Tens of thousands of men crouched behind gunfire panels,
(08:55):
watching the dials on the Attison detector, the unmoving dials.
Do you think I could fire a couple of bursts?
Edwardson asked his fingers on the gunfire button just to
limber the guns. Those guns don't need limbering, Castle said,
stroking his beard. Besides, you throw the whole fleet into
(09:17):
a panic, Castle, Morse said, very quietly, get your hand
off your beard. Why should I? Castle asked, because, Morse answered,
almost in a whisper, I am about to ram it
right down your fat throat. Castle grinned and tightened his
(09:39):
fists pleasure, He said, I'm tired of looking at that
scar of yours. He stood up. Cut it. Edwardson said, wearily,
watch the birdy. No reason to you, really, Morse said,
leaning back. There's an a lamb bell attached, but he
still looked at the dial. What if the bell doesn't work?
(10:03):
Edwardson asked, what if the dial is jammed? How do
you like something cold slithering into your mind? The dial
will work, Castle said, His eyes shifted from Edwardson's face
to the motionless indicator. Oh, I think I'll sack in,
Edwardson said, stick around, Castle said, play some gin, all right.
(10:29):
Edwardson found and shuffled the greasy cards while Mooseter could turn,
glaring at the dial. If you all wish they'd come,
he said, cut. Edwardson said, handing the pack to Castle,
what do what our friends look like? Morse said, watching
the dial, Probably remarkably like us, Edwardson said. Dealing the cards,
(10:52):
Castle picked them up one by one, slowly, as if
he hoped something interesting would be under them. The should
have given us another man. Castle said, we could play bridge.
I don't play bridge. Edwardson said, you could learn. Why
didn't we send a task force? Moss asked, why didn't
(11:13):
we bomb their planet? Don't be dumb. Edwardson said, we'd
lose any ship we sent, probably getting a back at
us possessed and firing. Not with nine, Castle said, I
don't give a good damn if you're not with a thousand.
Edwardson said, gaily, how much to wear are you now?
(11:34):
Three million, five hundred and eighty ten dollars. I sure
wish they'd come, Morse said, want me to write a check.
Take your time, take until next week. Someone should reason
with the bastards, Moss said, looking at the port, Castle
immediately looked at the dial. I just thought of something,
(11:57):
Edwardson said, Yeah. I bet it feels horrible to have
your mind grabbed. Edwardson said, I bet it's awful. You'll
know when it happens, Castle said, did ever set Probably
he just couldn't do anything about it. My mind feels fine.
(12:18):
Castle said, but the first one of you guys starts
acting queer, watch out. They all laughed. Well. Edwardson said,
I should like a chance to reason with them. This
is stupid. Why not? Castle asked, what you mean, go
out and meet them? Sure, Castle said, we're doing no
(12:41):
good sitting here. I should think we could do something,
Edwardson said, slowly. After all, they're not invincible, they're reasoning beings.
Morse punched a course on the ship's tape, then looked up.
You think we should contact the command tell them what
we're doing, No, Castle said, and Edwardson nodded in agreement.
(13:06):
Red tape. We'll just go out and see what we
can do. If they won't talk, we'll blast them out
of space. Look out of the port, they could see
the red flare of a reaction engine the next ship
in their sector, speeding forward. They must have got the
same idea, Edwardson said, let us get there first, Castle said,
(13:29):
Mors shoved the accelerator in and they were thrown back
in their seats. That dial hasn't moved yet. Has it,
Edwardson asked, over the clamor of the detector alarm bell
not to move out of it, Castle said, looking at
the dial with its indicator, slammed all the way over
to the highest notch. End of the Hour of Battle
(13:52):
by Robert Sheckley
The Hour of Battle by Robert Sheckley, as one of
the Guardian ships protecting Earth. The crew had a problem
to solve. Just how do you protect a race from
an enemy who can take over a man's mind without
seeming effort or warning. That hand didn't move, did it,
(00:22):
Edwardson asked, standing at the port looking at the stars. No.
Moore said he had been staring fixedly at the Attison
detector for over an hour. Now. He blinked three times
rapidly and looked again. Not a millimeter. I don't think
it moved either, Castle added from behind the gunfire panel,
(00:44):
and that was that. The slender black hand of the
indicator rested unwaveringly on zero. The ship's guns were ready,
Their black mouths opened to the stars. A steady hum
filled the room. It came from the Attison detector, and
the same was reassuring. It reinforced the fact that the
detector was attached to all the other detectors, forming a
(01:06):
giant network around Earth. Why in hell don't they come,
Edwardson asked, still looking at the stars. Why don't they hit? Ah?
Shut up? Morre said he had a tired, glum look
high on his right temple was an old radiation burn,
a sunburst of pink scar tissue. From a distance, it
(01:28):
looked like a decoration. I just wish they'd come, Edwardson said.
He returned from the port to his chair, bending to
clear the low metal ceiling. Don't you wish they'd come?
Edwardson had the narrow, timid face of a mouse, but
a highly intelligent mouse, one that capts did well to avoid,
(01:50):
don't you, he repeated. The other men didn't answer. They
had settled back to their dreams, staring hypnotically at the
detector face. They've had enough time, Edwardson said, half to himself.
Castle yawned and licked his lips. Anyone wants a place
in Gin, he asked, stroking his beard. The beard was
(02:14):
a memento of his undergraduate days. Castle maintained he could
store almost fifteen minutes worth of oxygen in its pollocles,
although he had never stepped into space and helmet it
to prove it. Morse looked away and Edwardson automatically watched
the indicator. This routine had been drilled into them, branded
into their subconscious. They would as soon have cut their
(02:36):
throats as leave the indicator. Unguarded. Do you think they'll
come soon? Edwardson asked, his brown rodent's eyes on the indicator.
The men didn't answer him. After two months together in space,
their conversational powers were exhausted. They weren't interested in Castle's
undergraduate days or in Morse's conquests. They were bored to death,
(02:59):
even with the their own thoughts and dreams. Bored with
the attack they expected momentarily, just one thing I'd like
to know, Edwardson said, slipping with ease into an old
conversational gambit. How far can they do it? They had
talked for weeks about the enemy's telepathic range, but they
always returned to it. As professional soldiers, they couldn't help
(03:22):
but speculate on the enemy and his weapons. It was
their shop talk well, Morse said, wearily, I detect a
network covers the system out beyond Mars's orbit where we sit,
Castle said, watching the indicators. Now that the others were talking,
they might not even know we have a detection unit working.
(03:44):
Morse said, as he had said a thousand times. Oh stop,
Edwardson said, his thin face twisted in scorn. Their telepathic
They must have read every bit of stuff in Eversett's mind.
Everset didn't know we had a detection unit. Morse said,
his eyes returning to the dial. He was captured before
(04:04):
we had it, look Edwardson said. They ask him, boy,
what would you do if you knew a telepathic race
was coming to take over the Earth? How would you
guard the planet? Idle speculation? Castle said, maybe Everset didn't
think of this. He thinks like a man, doesn't he
Everyone agreed on this defense. Everset would too syllogistic. Castle murmured,
(04:29):
very shaky. I sure wish he hadn't been captured. Edwardson
said it could have been worse. Morse put in his face,
sadder than ever. What if they captured both of them?
I wish they'd come. Edwardson said. Richard Everset and C. R.
(04:49):
Jones had gone on the first interstellar flight. They had
found an inhabited planet in the region of Vega. The
rest was standard procedure. A flip of the coin had
decided it. Everset went down in the scouter, maintaining radio
contact with Jones in the ship. The recording of that
contact was preserved for all Earth to hear. Just met
(05:11):
the natives Eversett said, funny looking bunch. Give you the
physical description later. Are they trying to talk to you?
Jones asked, guiding the ship in a slow spiral over
the planet. No, hold it, well, I'm damned they're telepathic.
How do you like that? Great, Jones said, go on,
(05:36):
hold it, say jonesy, I don't always I like these boys.
They haven't got nice minds. Brother, what is it? Jones asked,
lifting the ship a little higher, Mines. These bastards are
power crazy. Seems they've hit all the systems around here
looking for someone to Yeah, I've got that a bit wrong,
(06:00):
Everset said, pleasantly. They're not so bad. Jones had a
quick mind, a suspicious nature, and good reflexes. He set
the accelerator for all the gees he could take, lay
down on the floor and said, tell me more, Come
on down, Everset said, in violation of every door of
(06:21):
space flight, these guys are all right. As a matter
of fact, they are the most marvelous. That was where
the recording ended, because Jones was pinned to the floor
by twenty gees of acceleration. As he boosted the ship
to the level needed for the sea jump. He broke
three ribs getting home. But he got there. A telepathic
(06:41):
species was on the march. What was Earth going to
do about it? A lot of speculation necessarily clothed the
bare bones of Jones's information. Evidently, the species could take
over a mind with ease. With ever Set, it seemed
that they had insinuated their thoughts into his delicately altering
his previous convictions. They have possessed him with remarkable ease.
(07:05):
How about Jones? Why haven't they taken him? Was distance
a factor? Or haven't they been prepared for the suddenness
of his departure? One thing was certain. Everything ever Set
new the enemy knew. That meant that they knew where
Earth was and how defenseless the planet was to their
form of attack. It could be expected that they were
(07:26):
on their way. Something was needed to nullify their tremendous advantage.
But what sort of something? What armor is there against thought?
How do you dodge a wavelength pouch? Eyed scientists gravely
consulted their periodic tables? And how do you know when
a man has been possessed? Although the enemy was clumsy
(07:47):
with ever set, would they continue to be clumsy? Wouldn't
they learn psychologists tore their hair and bewailed the absence
of an absolute scale for humanity. Of course, something had
to be done at once. The answer from a technological
planet was a technological one. Build a space fleet and
equip it with some sort of detection network. This was
(08:10):
done in record time. The Attison detector was developed, a
cross between radar and the electro encephalograph. Any alteration from
the typical human brainwave pattern of the occupants of a
detector equipped ship would boost the indicator around the dial.
Even a bad dream or a case of indigestion would
jar it. It seemed probable that any attempt to take
(08:32):
over a human mind would disturb something. There had to
be a point of interaction somewhere. That was what the
Attison detector was supposed to detect. Maybe it would the
space ships. Three men to a ship dotted space between
Earth and Mars, forming a gigantic sphere with Earth in
the center. Tens of thousands of men crouched behind gunfire panels,
(08:55):
watching the dials on the Attison detector, the unmoving dials.
Do you think I could fire a couple of bursts?
Edwardson asked his fingers on the gunfire button just to
limber the guns. Those guns don't need limbering, Castle said,
stroking his beard. Besides, you throw the whole fleet into
(09:17):
a panic, Castle, Morse said, very quietly, get your hand
off your beard. Why should I? Castle asked, because, Morse answered,
almost in a whisper, I am about to ram it
right down your fat throat. Castle grinned and tightened his
(09:39):
fists pleasure, He said, I'm tired of looking at that
scar of yours. He stood up. Cut it. Edwardson said, wearily,
watch the birdy. No reason to you, really, Morse said,
leaning back. There's an a lamb bell attached, but he
still looked at the dial. What if the bell doesn't work?
(10:03):
Edwardson asked, what if the dial is jammed? How do
you like something cold slithering into your mind? The dial
will work, Castle said, His eyes shifted from Edwardson's face
to the motionless indicator. Oh, I think I'll sack in,
Edwardson said, stick around, Castle said, play some gin, all right.
(10:29):
Edwardson found and shuffled the greasy cards while Mooseter could turn,
glaring at the dial. If you all wish they'd come,
he said, cut. Edwardson said, handing the pack to Castle,
what do what our friends look like? Morse said, watching
the dial, Probably remarkably like us, Edwardson said. Dealing the cards,
(10:52):
Castle picked them up one by one, slowly, as if
he hoped something interesting would be under them. The should
have given us another man. Castle said, we could play bridge.
I don't play bridge. Edwardson said, you could learn. Why
didn't we send a task force? Moss asked, why didn't
(11:13):
we bomb their planet? Don't be dumb. Edwardson said, we'd
lose any ship we sent, probably getting a back at
us possessed and firing. Not with nine, Castle said, I
don't give a good damn if you're not with a thousand.
Edwardson said, gaily, how much to wear are you now?
(11:34):
Three million, five hundred and eighty ten dollars. I sure
wish they'd come, Morse said, want me to write a check.
Take your time, take until next week. Someone should reason
with the bastards, Moss said, looking at the port, Castle
immediately looked at the dial. I just thought of something,
(11:57):
Edwardson said, Yeah. I bet it feels horrible to have
your mind grabbed. Edwardson said, I bet it's awful. You'll
know when it happens, Castle said, did ever set Probably
he just couldn't do anything about it. My mind feels fine.
(12:18):
Castle said, but the first one of you guys starts
acting queer, watch out. They all laughed. Well. Edwardson said,
I should like a chance to reason with them. This
is stupid. Why not? Castle asked, what you mean, go
out and meet them? Sure, Castle said, we're doing no
(12:41):
good sitting here. I should think we could do something,
Edwardson said, slowly. After all, they're not invincible, they're reasoning beings.
Morse punched a course on the ship's tape, then looked up.
You think we should contact the command tell them what
we're doing, No, Castle said, and Edwardson nodded in agreement.
(13:06):
Red tape. We'll just go out and see what we
can do. If they won't talk, we'll blast them out
of space. Look out of the port, they could see
the red flare of a reaction engine the next ship
in their sector, speeding forward. They must have got the
same idea, Edwardson said, let us get there first, Castle said,
(13:29):
Mors shoved the accelerator in and they were thrown back
in their seats. That dial hasn't moved yet. Has it,
Edwardson asked, over the clamor of the detector alarm bell
not to move out of it, Castle said, looking at
the dial with its indicator, slammed all the way over
to the highest notch. End of the Hour of Battle
(13:52):
by Robert Sheckley
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