\u201cMy God!\u201d He stood staring, his hands on his hips. Peterson was walking along the path, his face red, leading it<\/em> by a string.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Captain,\u201d he said, tugging at the string. Franco walked toward him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wub stood sagging, its great body settling slowly. It was sitting down, its eyes half shut. A few flies buzzed about its flank, and it switched its tail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It<\/em> sat. There was silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a wub,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cI got it from a native for fifty cents. He said it was a very unusual animal. Very respected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis?\u201d Franco poked the great sloping side of the wub. \u201cIt\u2019s a pig! A huge dirty pig!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, sir, it\u2019s a pig. The natives call it a wub.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA huge pig. It must weigh four hundred pounds.\u201d Franco grabbed a tuft of the rough hair. The wub gasped. Its eyes opened, small and moist. Then its great mouth twitched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tear rolled down the wub\u2019s cheek and splashed on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s good to eat,\u201d Peterson said nervously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll soon find out,\u201d Franco said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wub grunted and wheezed, squeezing up the passageway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome on,\u201d Jones grated, pulling at the rope. The wub twisted, rubbing its skin off on the smooth chrome walls. It burst into the anteroom, tumbling down in a heap. The men leaped up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood Lord,\u201d French said. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeterson says it\u2019s a wub,\u201d Jones said. \u201cIt belongs to him.\u201d He kicked at the wub. The wub stood up unsteadily, panting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter with it?\u201d French came over. \u201cIs it going to be sick?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They watched. The wub rolled its eyes mournfully. It gazed around at the men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think it\u2019s thirsty,\u201d Peterson said. He went to get some water. French shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo wonder we had so much trouble taking off. I had to reset all my ballast calculations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peterson came back with the water. The wub began to lap gratefully, splashing the men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Captain Franco appeared at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s have a look at it.\u201d He advanced, squinting critically. \u201cYou got this for fifty cents?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, sir,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cIt eats almost anything. I fed it on grain and it liked that. And then potatoes, and mash, and scraps from the table, and milk. It seems to enjoy eating. After it eats it lies down and goes to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see,\u201d Captain Franco said. \u201cNow, as to its taste. That\u2019s the real question. I doubt if there\u2019s much point in fattening it up any more. It seems fat enough to me already. Where\u2019s the cook? I want him here. I want to find out\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wub stopped lapping and looked up at the captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReally, Captain,\u201d the wub said. \u201cI suggest we talk of other matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The room was silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat was that?\u201d Franco said. \u201cJust now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe wub, sir,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cIt spoke.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They all looked at the wub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat did it say? What did it say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt suggested we talk about other things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Franco walked toward the wub. He went all around it, examining it from every side. Then he came back over and stood with the men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wonder if there\u2019s a native inside it,\u201d he said thoughtfully. \u201cMaybe we should open it up and have a look.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, goodness!\u201d the wub cried. \u201cIs that all you people can think of, killing and cutting?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Franco clenched his fists. \u201cCome out of there! Whoever you are, come out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing stirred. The men stood together, their faces blank, staring at the wub. The wub swished its tail. It belched suddenly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI beg your pardon,\u201d the wub said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s anyone in there,\u201d Jones said in a low voice. They all looked at each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cook came in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou wanted me, Captain?\u201d he said. \u201cWhat\u2019s this thing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a wub,\u201d Franco said. \u201cIt\u2019s to be eaten. Will you measure it and figure out\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think we should have a talk,\u201d the wub said. \u201cI\u2019d like to discuss this with you, Captain, if I might. I can see that you and I do not agree on some basic issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captain took a long time to answer. The wub waited good-naturedly, licking the water from its jowls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome into my office,\u201d the captain said at last. He turned and walked out of the room. The wub rose and padded after him. The men watched it go out. They heard it climbing the stairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wonder what the outcome will be,\u201d the cook said. \u201cWell, I\u2019ll be in the kitchen. Let me know as soon as you hear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure,\u201d Jones said. \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captain nodded impatiently. He sat down at his desk and folded his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s get started. You\u2019re a wub? Is that correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wub shrugged. \u201cI suppose so. That\u2019s what they call us, the natives, I mean. We have our own term.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd you speak English? You\u2019ve been in contact with Earthmen before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen how do you do it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSpeak English? Am I speaking English? I\u2019m not conscious of speaking anything in particular. I examined your mind\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy mind?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI studied the contents, especially the semantic warehouse, as I refer to it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see,\u201d the captain said. \u201cTelepathy. Of course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are a very old race,\u201d the wub said. \u201cVery old and very ponderous. It is difficult for us to move around. You can appreciate that anything so slow and heavy would be at the mercy of more agile forms of life. There was no use in our relying on physical defenses. How could we win? Too heavy to run, too soft to fight, too good-natured to hunt for game\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow do you live?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlants. Vegetables. We can eat almost anything. We\u2019re very catholic. Tolerant, eclectic, catholic. We live and let live. That\u2019s how we\u2019ve gotten along.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wub eyed the captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s why I so violently objected to this business about having me boiled. I could see the image in your mind\u2014most of me in the frozen food locker, some of me in the kettle, a bit for your pet cat\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo you read minds?\u201d the captain said. \u201cHow interesting. Anything else? I mean, what else can you do along those lines?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA few odds and ends,\u201d the wub said absently, staring around the room. \u201cA nice apartment you have here, Captain. You keep it quite neat. I respect life-forms that are tidy. Some Martian birds are quite tidy. They throw things out of their nests and sweep them\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed.\u201d The captain nodded. \u201cBut to get back to the problem\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQuite so. You spoke of dining on me. The taste, I am told, is good. A little fatty, but tender. But how can any lasting contact be established between your people and mine if you resort to such barbaric attitudes? Eat me? Rather you should discuss questions with me, philosophy, the arts\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captain stood up. \u201cPhilosophy. It might interest you to know that we will be hard put to find something to eat for the next month. An unfortunate spoilage\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know.\u201d The wub nodded. \u201cBut wouldn\u2019t it be more in accord with your principles of democracy if we all drew straws, or something along that line? After all, democracy is to protect the minority from just such infringements. Now, if each of us casts one vote\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captain walked to the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNuts to you,\u201d he said. He opened the door. He opened his mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stood frozen, his mouth wide, his eyes staring, his fingers still on the knob.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wub watched him. Presently it padded out of the room, edging past the captain. It went down the hall, deep in meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo you see,\u201d the wub said, \u201cwe have a common myth. Your mind contains many familiar myth symbols. Ishtar, Odysseus\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peterson sat silently, staring at the floor. He shifted in his chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo on,\u201d he said. \u201cPlease go on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI find in your Odysseus a figure common to the mythology of most self-conscious races. As I interpret it, Odysseus wanders as an individual, aware of himself as such. This is the idea of separation, of separation from family and country. The process of individuation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut Odysseus returns to his home.\u201d Peterson looked out the port window, at the stars, endless stars, burning intently in the empty universe. \u201cFinally he goes home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs must all creatures. The moment of separation is a temporary period, a brief journey of the soul. It begins, it ends. The wanderer returns to land and race\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The door opened. The wub stopped, turning its great head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Captain Franco came into the room, the men behind him. They hesitated at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you all right?\u201d French said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you mean me?\u201d Peterson said, surprised. \u201cWhy me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Franco lowered his gun. \u201cCome over here,\u201d he said to Peterson. \u201cGet up and come here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo ahead,\u201d the wub said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peterson stood up. \u201cWhat for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s an order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peterson walked to the door. French caught his arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Peterson wrenched loose. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter with you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Captain Franco moved toward the wub. The wub looked up from where it lay in the corner, pressed against the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is interesting,\u201d the wub said, \u201cthat you are obsessed with the idea of eating me. I wonder why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGet up,\u201d Franco said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you wish.\u201d The wub rose, grunting. \u201cBe patient. It is difficult for me.\u201d It stood, gasping, its tongue lolling foolishly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShoot it now,\u201d French said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor God\u2019s sake!\u201d Peterson exclaimed. Jones turned to him quickly, his eyes gray with fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t see him\u2014like a statue, standing there, his mouth open. If we hadn\u2019t come down, he\u2019d still be there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho? The captain?\u201d Peterson stared around. \u201cBut he\u2019s all right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They looked at the wub, standing in the middle of the room, its great chest rising and falling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome on,\u201d Franco said. \u201cOut of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The men pulled aside toward the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are quite afraid, aren\u2019t you?\u201d the wub said. \u201cHave I done anything to you? I am against the idea of hurting. All I have done is try to protect myself. Can you expect me to rush eagerly to my death? I am a sensible being like yourselves. I was curious to see your ship, learn about you. I suggested to the native\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The gun jerked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSee,\u201d Franco said. \u201cI thought so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wub settled down, panting. It put its paw out, pulling its tail around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is very warm,\u201d the wub said. \u201cI understand that we are close to the jets. Atomic power. You have done many wonderful things with it\u2014technically. Apparently, your scientific hierarchy is not equipped to solve moral, ethical\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Franco turned to the men, crowding behind him, wide-eyed, silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll do it. You can watch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n French nodded. \u201cTry to hit the brain. It\u2019s no good for eating. Don\u2019t hit the chest. If the rib cage shatters, we\u2019ll have to pick bones out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cListen,\u201d Peterson said, licking his lips. \u201cHas it done anything? What harm has it done? I\u2019m asking you. And anyhow, it\u2019s still mine. You have no right to shoot it. It doesn\u2019t belong to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Franco raised his gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m going out,\u201d Jones said, his face white and sick. \u201cI don\u2019t want to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMe, too,\u201d French said. The men straggled out, murmuring. Peterson lingered at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was talking to me about myths,\u201d he said. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t hurt anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He went outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Franco walked toward the wub. The wub looked up slowly. It swallowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA very foolish thing,\u201d it said. \u201cI am sorry that you want to do it. There was a parable that your Saviour related\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It stopped, staring at the gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan you look me in the eye and do it?\u201d the wub said. \u201cCan you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captain gazed down. \u201cI can look you in the eye,\u201d he said. \u201cBack on the farm we had hogs, dirty razorback hogs. I can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Staring down at the wub, into the gleaming, moist eyes, he pressed the trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They sat glumly around the table, some of them hardly eating at all. The only one who seemed to be enjoying himself was Captain Franco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMore?\u201d he said, looking around. \u201cMore? And some wine, perhaps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot me,\u201d French said. \u201cI think I\u2019ll go back to the chart room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMe, too.\u201d Jones stood up, pushing his chair back. \u201cI\u2019ll see you later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captain watched them go. Some of the others excused themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you suppose the matter is?\u201d the captain said. He turned to Peterson. Peterson sat staring down at his plate, at the potatoes, the green peas, and at the thick slab of tender, warm meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He opened his mouth. No sound came.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captain put his hand on Peterson\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is only organic matter, now,\u201d he said. \u201cThe life essence is gone.\u201d He ate, spooning up the gravy with some bread. \u201cI, myself, love to eat. It is one of the greatest things that a living creature can enjoy. Eating, resting, meditation, discussing things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peterson nodded. Two more men got up and went out. The captain drank some water and sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell,\u201d he said. \u201cI must say that this was a very enjoyable meal. All the reports I had heard were quite true\u2014the taste of wub. Very fine. But I was prevented from enjoying this pleasure in times past.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He dabbed at his lips with his napkin and leaned back in his chair. Peterson stared dejectedly at the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captain watched him intently. He leaned over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome, come,\u201d he said. \u201cCheer up! Let\u2019s discuss things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs I was saying before I was interrupted, the role of Odysseus in the myths\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peterson jerked up, staring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo go on,\u201d the captain said. \u201cOdysseus, as I understand him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Author: Philip K. Dick [Full text]<\/p>\n\n\n\n They had almost finished with the loading. Outside stood the Optus, his arms folded, his face sunk in gloom. Captain Franco walked leisurely down the gangplank, grinning. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re getting paid for all this.\u201d The Optus said nothing. He turned away, collecting his robes. The captain put his boot on the … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[577,552,570],"class_list":["post-7781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-short-stories","tag-philip-k-dick-en","tag-science-fiction","tag-united-states","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":559,"label":"Short stories"}],"post_tag":[{"value":577,"label":"Philip K. 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The wub survived the takeoff, sound asleep in the hold of the ship. When they were out in space and everything was running smoothly, Captain Franco bade his men fetch the wub upstairs so that he might perceive what manner of beast it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wub eased itself down in the corner with a sigh. \u201cYou must forgive me,\u201d it said. \u201cI\u2019m afraid I\u2019m addicted to various forms of relaxation. When one is as large as I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The room was quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The taste was excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lecturia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/divider2.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBibliographic data<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Title: Beyond Lies the Wub
Published in: Planet Stories<\/em> (July 1952)<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Philip](\"https:\/\/lecturia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Philip-K.-Dick2-150x150.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"