Next of Kin

the long version

81, 82 new hostile worlds discovered: 83 - and then another five propulsors blew their linings simultaneously and Scout-Officer John Leeming knew he would have to make a crash landing. Soon he was a prisoner of the Zangastans - and filled with a determination to get back to Earth just as soon as possible. It took the failure of an orthodox escape attempt to make him realise that his alien life-form captors knew precious little of human nature. So unprompted corroboration from another Terran prisoner held by the Lathians, Zangasta's senior allies, that said Lathians had the Willies was good enough proof that Leeming's Eustace could be pretty dangerous. Does this baffle you? Read on!