The Devil's Asteroid, by Manly Wade Wellman

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Title: The Devil's Asteroid

Author: Manly Wade Wellman

Release Date: September 8, 2007 [EBook #22538]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's note. This etext was produced from Comet July 1941. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

DEVIL'S ASTEROID

by MANLY WADE WELLMAN

[Illustration: The Rock Bred Evolution in Reverse]

It was not very large, as asteroids go, but about it clung a silvery mist of atmosphere. Deeper flashes through the mist betokened water, and green patches hinted of rich vegetation. The space-patroller circled the little world knowledgeably, like a wasp buzzing around an apple. In the control room, by the forward ports, the Martian skipper addressed his Terrestrial companion.

"I wissh you joy of yourr new home," he purred. Like many Martians, he was braced upright on his lower tentacles by hoops and buckles around his bladdery body, so that he had roughly a human form, over which lay a strange loose armor of light plates. In the breathing hole of his peta

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