SOURCE: Alpha Centauri or Die! by Leigh Brackett

DESCRIPTION: "In the quiet, there was a sudden feeling of activity. Clumps of reed shook where there was no wind. Things plopped and swirled in the water. Out of nowhere a small pink-and-mud colored form appeared under kirby's feet, tripped him, and flickered out like a picture when the film breaks..." (Alpha Centauri or Die! by Leigh Brackett)

NOTES: The Espees are hippo-like wallowers that have learned to manipulate matter on the sub-atomic level as part of their evolution. This allows them to teleport as well as manipulate things like rocketships from a distance. With this ability they have not needed to evolve intelligence and are only about as smart as an animal like a pig.

HISTORY: Brackett does a great job of pulling a switcheroo. You think the baddies are going to be most monstrous aliens ever and they prove to be little darlings, almost Disneyesque.

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