 What do the vines in the forest represent?
By H. B. Fyfe THE TALKATIVE TREE Dang vines! It may be useful to discover temporary sources in this area of natural foods." The Planetary State of Haurtoz had been organized some fifteen light-years from old Earth, but many of the home world's less kindly techniques had been employed. Lack of complete loyalty to the state was likely to result in a siege of treatment that left the subject suitably "re-personalized." "You will scout in five details of three persons each," Chief Slichow said. The maintenance of a proper viewpoint was a necessity if the Planetary State were to survive the hostile plots of Earth and the latter's decadent colonies. Since the crew would be eating packaged rations during repairs, Yrtok could be spared to command a scout detail. To reach their assigned sector, they had to climb a forbidding ridge of rock within half a kilometer. Only a sparse creeper grew along their way, its elongated leaves shimmering with bronze-green reflections against a stony surface; but when they topped the ridge a thick forest was in sight. Yrtok and Ammet paused momentarily before descending. They marched down into the valley at a brisk pace, becoming more aware of the clouds and atmospheric haze. Distant objects seemed blurred by the mist, taking on a somber, brooding grayness. For all Kolin could tell, he and the others were isolated in a world bounded by the rocky ridge behind them and a semi-circle of damp trees and bushes several hundred meters away. He suspected that the hills rising mistily ahead were part of a continuous slope, but could not be sure. Low creepers became more plentiful, interspersed with scrubby thickets of tangled, spike-armored bushes. Occasionally, small flying things flickered among the foliage. Once, a shrub puffed out an enormous cloud of tiny spores. Finally, after a longer hike than he had anticipated, they approached the edge of the deceptively distant forest. Yrtok paused to examine some purple berries glistening dangerously on a low shrub. "I think the stuff puts out shoots that grow back into the ground to root as they spread," said the woman. Except for one thick trunked giant, all of them were about the same height. They craned their necks to estimate the altitude of the monster, but the top was hidden by the wide spread of branches. The depths behind it looked dark and impenetrable. Fifty meters away, Ammet sat beside the bush with the purple berries, utterly relaxed. As he reached her, whatever Yrtok was examining came to life and scooted into the underbrush with a flash of greenish fur.
 The nature of rampant colonialism
 The nature of rampant colonialism  The possibility to be who one wishes to be  The destructive power of nature  The lower end of social strata