Jason climbed out of the spaceship. This was the most dangerous moment of the mission – stepping out onto the surface of a planet for the first time. Of course he, his crew and Central Command had taken precautions. They knew the atmosphere was breathable and the gravity was such that a human could walk without difficulty. The evidence suggested there were living creatures here - possibly intelligent ones, as they had seen shapes that looked like low buildings as they did a first orbit of the planet. He’d arranged that Brad would stay with the ship, ready to get them out in a hurry if necessary. Sensible, steady Brad could be relied on in a crisis.

The second in command, Greg, stepped beside Jason with binoculars and scanned the horizon. They had landed near the bottom of a line of rocky hills, which they intended to explore.

"The rocks look like some kind of sandstone," Greg said. “There are green plants and there could be water at the bottom of that cliff."

Jason nodded. "We’ll set out in that direction, but go carefully."

They hadn’t walked more than a few metres when Jason stopped. "Something’s moving on that ridge. Take a look."

Greg trained his binoculars on the rocky ridge. "There’s a group of creatures. Twenty or so. Coming our way, I think."

"Let’s stay here." Jason took the binoculars.

He watched as the creatures came slowly closer, making their way between rocks. They were shorter than humans, but bipedal, with big hands and heads. That and the way they moved, staying in the cover of the rocks, suggested that these were intelligent beings.

"I think they’ve seen us."

Greg took his laser gun out of its holster.

Jason shook his head. Greg was a great pilot but his military background made him a bit trigger happy. "Don’t make any movement that could be seen as hostile. We don’t want to fight. We don’t know how many of them there are."

Greg nodded.

As the creatures reached the plain, Jason noticed two things. Firstly, what he’d taken for fur was actually clothing of some kind. Secondly, there was one member of the group who was taller. The group stopped at the edge of the rocks, and the taller creature moved into the open alone.

"Must be some kind of chief." Jason suggested.

"He's brave to face us alone."

Jason trained his binoculars on the lone figure. There was something familiar about that stride, the angle of the head and movement of the arms. He gasped. "Human."

"Can't be."

As the figure moved closer, it became clear this was a man.

"I thought we were the first people here," said Greg.

"Officially."

"If he's unofficial, he's trouble." Greg fingered his laser gun.

Jason nodded. This was probably true. Although Central Command tried to keep control of trips to new planets, there were mineral prospecting companies prepared to send men out unofficially. Those men were notoriously rough."And he’s got friends. Look." The creatures who had been lingering at the base of the rocks were moving across the plain in a group.

The man who approached presented a strange figure. He was fair skinned, a light brown beard covered the lower part of his face, and he wore a coat of rough furs. To Jason he looked like the European explorers he'd seen in pictures dating back to the pre-space age.

Although Jason was aware he didn't know what language this man spoke, he decided to try the version of English used widely across the galaxy.  "Greetings. We were sent by Central Command to explore this planet and our intentions are peaceful."

“Then why does your friend have a gun?” asked the stranger, in perfect English.

"Purely as a precaution. But can I ask who you are?"

The stranger took a few steps forward and held out his hand. "I’m Andrew McIntyre. I've been here for three years, preaching the word of God to these people. They call themselves the Shanfimoon and they’re good folk."

It was at this point that Jason realised the Shanfimoon were fanning out around the spaceship. He and his men were surrounded. "Good folk?" he asked.

Andrew nodded. "The mining company said they were cannibals but of course it isn’t true. They may once have eaten the enemies they defeated in battle, but they've  lived in peace for generations. And many of them are now good Christians."

"What happened to the enemies?" asked Greg.


"They died out long ago," said Andrew.


Greg and Jason looked at each other.

"I suppose you told them that Christ said we should love one another," said Jason.


Andrew shook his head. "Oh no. Christ  said that He came to bring a sword."