
Dimension X - Potters Of Firsk - 07/28/1950
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Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.
Michael Tom
Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
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Commentator/Friend
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
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Commentator/Friend
Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.
Dimension X Announcer
Wheaties presents Dimension X
Narrator
Adventures in Time and Space Transcribed in Future Tense Dimension X.
Dimension X Announcer
On stage tonight. Dimension X. Another in the Wheaties big parade of exciting half hour presentations.
Wheaties Announcer
Just about the time you're getting up tomorrow morning, you know what's happened? You've been without food for so long that you gotta get more if you're gonna get your work done. That's why first you need your Wheaties. Sure, Wheaties. Because when you dip into those golden flakes, you're getting real whole wheat. Yup. Every single Wheaties is a kernel of wheat. And you know what that means. Vitality. For working well, feeling well, looking well. Whole wheat energy, whole wheat vitamins, all the goodness of plump whole wheat and crisp little flakes that are mighty nice to meet any morning of the week. So be good to yourself. Tuck into the Wheaties at 7am and see if you don't feel the difference. Have yourself breakfast of champions and see how Wheaties at 7 can help at 11.
Michael Tom
Come on now. Try them.
Narrator
What will happen when man, finally conquering the galactic distances of interstellar travel, finds life on the strange worlds across the universe? Will he discover civilizations of incredibly advanced scientific knowledge? Or primitive cultures deep in a stone age of savagery? Here is a story of the relation between men of our world and beings from beyond the stars. On the desk stood a yellow bowl, the profile a simple curve, clean and sharp. The body was thin, without fragility, and the beauty of its shape was matched by the glowing intensity of the glaze. A glorious transparent yellow, soothing as sunlight, yet glowing with the fire of a volcano's core. The desk belonged to Michael Tom, Regional Administrator for the Department of Interplanetary Affairs.
Michael Tom
That bowl. Why, it's a souvenir. I got it many years ago on the planet First. I'd been out on the Channel Planet in the frontier service for 19 months when my transfer came through to First. I was surprised to see that I'd been promoted to three grades and my orders read to report to the regional office as Assistant Resident, my ship came in at Penol Pond Spaceport and I was met by the office car and showboat.
George Coville
Mr. Tom?
Michael Tom
That's right.
Werrichek
I'm Werrichek, sir.
Michael Tom
Welcome to First.
George Coville
Thanks.
Michael Tom
Well, I didn't expect to find a 1992 Rolls.
Werrichek
The resident had it shipped out in parts. Mr. Covel. Changes every year for the new model.
Michael Tom
Pretty smooth, hey? This is certainly different from the Channel planet. Nothing there but ice. Frost, please. And the dullest aborigines in the system.
Werrichek
Well, you won't find the Aborigines very dull here.
Michael Tom
What kind of people are they?
Werrichek
The Me too. They're humanoid. Very close to us systemically. Tall, sort of amber colored and graceful.
Michael Tom
Oh, is that one the girl balancing the bowl on her head?
Werrichek
Yeah, yeah, she's a me too. And there isn't a very big human population at first.
Wheaties Announcer
Well, well, well.
Michael Tom
Looks like Mike Thomas found a home in the circus.
Werrichek
You haven't met Mr. Coville yet, have you?
Michael Tom
What do you mean by that?
Werrichek
Oh, nothing, sir.
Michael Tom
Nothing. Look, we're a chick. If there's anything wrong, you'd better tell me.
Werrichek
Well, there's nothing, sir. Nothing you won't find out. It's just that Mr. Covel is a very forceful personality. Very forceful.
Michael Tom
We drove through penalpine, threading our way through narrow streets between rows of low houses of reed, parchment and wood. Canals of green water laced the city and the bridges trailed ivy and orange flowers. Suddenly we turned a corner and there on the bank of the main canal was a large concrete and glass building, Earth style. This was the district office. And in a room that gleamed with black plastic and glass, I found George Covill, senior resident.
Mr. Colville
You're Tom?
George Coville
Michael?
Mr. Colville
Tom?
Michael Tom
Yes, sir.
Mr. Colville
My last junior. Took off for the hills with a dancer from a Me too and grog shop. If I have any trouble with you, I'll ship you back to earth with a minus 50 efficiency rating. That clear?
Michael Tom
That's clear, sir.
Mr. Colville
And don't get edgy with me. Sit down. Now listen, Tom. I'm easy to get along with. I like things done. Done right the first time. Gotta give a good example for the gooks.
Wheaties Announcer
Gooks?
Mr. Colville
Yeah, the natives. I don't know what's good for them. I brought in a high grade silica yarn to replace the root fiber they were using in fish nets. Took me three months to talk them into using it.
Michael Tom
I thought the Bureau policy was to avoid introducing Earth technology to stable cultures.
Mr. Colville
That's what those boneheads at the main office say. They don't have to live Here. Have you seen those pigsties they live in? There isn't a concrete building on the planet.
Werrichek
Me too. And delegation. Mr. Colville.
Mr. Colville
Tell them I'm busy for 15 minutes.
Michael Tom
Yes, sir. Well, I'll be going along then, sir.
Mr. Colville
Why?
Michael Tom
Well, if you're busy, forget it or.
Mr. Colville
Forget it. I always let those gooks wait at least 15 minutes. Softens them up. They're not hard to handle. You know how.
Michael Tom
I was assigned to pest control? A duty Covell considered beneath his dignity. In the next few weeks, I carted rat poison and insect spray through the poorest sections of Penolpan, where the trees ended and the plains stretched out to the Cookman Mountains. It was there that I first heard of the Potters of Firsky. I had found a pottery bazaar. Long shelves of jars of every size and shape. Crocks, paper thin. Vases, bowls, demijohns, tankards. The glazes were remarkable. Deep, glowing colors. And yet something was missing. I looked up and down the shelves.
Werrichek
Mr. Tom, is anything wrong?
Mr. Colville
No, no.
Michael Tom
It's just. I've got it. There isn't any yellow. Yellow? That's right. There are no yellow glazes at all. They have every other color. Ruby green. There's a jar that's translucent, but no yellow.
Werrichek
Well, maybe it's a superstition.
Michael Tom
Could be yellow might be connected with death or disease.
Werrichek
Well, you can find out. Mr. Tom, here comes a. Me too. And she probably runs a place.
Sue Thin
May I help you, sir?
Michael Tom
Oh, you speak English.
Sue Thin
I must. We trade with the Earth colony.
Michael Tom
You're. Your wares are very beautiful. For example, how much is this bowl?
Sue Thin
75 credits.
Michael Tom
That much?
Sue Thin
They are our ancestors. And to sell them as cheaply as wood or glass would be irreverent.
Michael Tom
Your ancestors? You mean the bowls?
Sue Thin
Yes.
Michael Tom
Tell me, where's the pottery made? In Pinolpon?
Sue Thin
No.
Michael Tom
Back there in the mountains.
Sue Thin
There our ancestors go and the pots are brought back. Aside from this, I know nothing. The meatjorn fear the potters.
Michael Tom
Why?
Sue Thin
No one knows what lies beyond the first hill. Earthman. Sometimes we see the glow of furnaces. And when there are no dead for the potters, they take the living.
Michael Tom
Living.
Sue Thin
There are the potters now.
Michael Tom
What are they shouting?
Sue Thin
That they have sold all their wares. That they will ride back to the mountains now.
Mr. Colville
Hey.
Michael Tom
Big devils, aren't they?
Mr. Colville
Red hair.
Sue Thin
They are very strong.
Michael Tom
I think I'll visit the potters one of these days.
Sue Thin
No, Earthman, no.
Michael Tom
Why not?
Sue Thin
It is dangerous for you. They have guarded their secrets from all pen or pen. They are very fierce.
Mr. Colville
Tom, where the devil you been? I told you to get the estimates for that power plant.
Michael Tom
I put them on your desk sir.
Mr. Colville
Oh yeah, so you did.
Michael Tom
Say, what do you know about the potters back in the Cookmans, Mr. Coville?
Wheaties Announcer
Huh?
Mr. Colville
Oh they're a tribe of bandits or something.
Michael Tom
Why I was at the bazaar today. A girl called the vases ancestors. Seems strange.
Mr. Colville
Ancestors. Well it probably has something to do with religious death rites. They take away the dead bodies and cremate them for a fee or trade goods.
Michael Tom
The girl said that when they don't get the dead, sometimes they take the living. What?
Mr. Colville
Well. So that's it.
Michael Tom
What sir?
Mr. Colville
Rating about every month or so a couple of meat tuan turn up missing. The whole city clams up like tongue tied parrots. For two years I've been trying to track it down, Tom. These potters must be behind it. Raiding huh? We'll see about it.
Michael Tom
No, we don't know anything. Definitely.
Mr. Colville
Well we will get wearer check to roll out the copter. We're flying out to those mountains. I'll put a stop to this if I have to blow them clean off the planet. We'll never find a village in that mess down there. Look at those cliffs.
Michael Tom
There's a smoke trail over there to the right. Potters need kilns, kilns need heat.
Mr. Colville
That's a volcano, not a chimney. Lets try out along that ridge. Then we'll go back.
Michael Tom
Wait. I think we found them.
Mr. Colville
Where?
Michael Tom
At the base of the volcano. Look close. You can see buildings. Yeah, yeah.
Mr. Colville
Set her down.
Michael Tom
Should we land sir? They're supposed to be pretty rough on home ground.
Mr. Colville
We're official representatives of the system, remember that.
Michael Tom
That might not mean much to a tribal mountaineer.
Mr. Colville
Don't argue with me Tom. Land. Get your pistol ready.
Michael Tom
I don't see anybody. The village is deserted.
Mr. Colville
They're hiding.
Michael Tom
The potter's all right. There's a heap of old broken jars but I don't see the kiln.
Mr. Colville
They'll stay here till something moves. What's that?
Michael Tom
One of the potters. Wait a minute. Here they come. Three of them.
Mr. Colville
You cover them Tom. I'll do the talking. Hey there you.
George Coville
What brings strangers to the village of the potter?
Mr. Colville
I'm Covill, chief of the Planetary Affairs Bureau in Penalpa. This is an official visit to see how things are going.
George Coville
With you we make no complaints.
Mr. Colville
Oh, I've heard reports of you potters kidnapping me toon. Is there any truth in that?
George Coville
There is an ancient agreement. The potters are granted the bodies of the dead. And occasionally, when the need is great, we do anticipate nature by a year or two.
Mr. Colville
You mean you admit it?
George Coville
The soul lives forever in the bowl. It beautifies.
Mr. Colville
What do you mean?
Supporting Character
Look here.
Mr. Colville
Just what do you do with the corpses?
George Coville
Our glazes require lead, sand, clay, alkali, spar and lime. All but the lime is at our hand. And this we take from the bones of the dead.
Mr. Colville
I see. Well, we don't want to interfere in any native customs or rights. Corpses. That's between you and the me too. If you need lime, I can ship you in.
George Coville
Tons of natural lime is a poor substitute for fresh, live bones. The spirit of the person is in the bones and it passes into the glaze and gives it an inner fire.
Mr. Colville
You listen to me. I don't care what you use, as long as there's no kidnapping or murder.
Michael Tom
Tell me, potter, I don't see any furnaces. Where are your kilns?
George Coville
Our firing is done by the great monthly burn.
Michael Tom
You mean the volcano?
George Coville
Yes, Earthman. Once each month the heat roars up white and glowing.
Michael Tom
I see. Potter, why don't you ever use yellow glaze?
George Coville
Yellow glaze? We have no metal to give the pure, rich yellow the color of the sun. It is strange, Earthman, that you talk of the yellow, for my people have sought the sun glaze for thousands of years.
Mr. Colville
Listen, if there's any technical help you people want, that's my business. But there'll be no more murder. If necessary, I'll put a stop to the potting altogether.
George Coville
Your words are not friendly.
Mr. Colville
Don't think I can't do it. I'll drop an atom bomb down the throat of your volcano and cave in the whole mountain.
Michael Tom
We'd better pull off, Mr. Colville.
Mr. Colville
Shut up, Tom. You understand my job is to protect everyone on this mud hole planet. And that includes the Me too.
Michael Tom
Get back in the cockpit, Mr. Colville. They're getting ugly.
Mr. Colville
Fire over their heads. Keep them back.
Michael Tom
Quick, get in. Sir, they're scared now, but in a minute they may jump us.
Mr. Colville
All right, let's go. Don't worry, Tom. Now those gooks know who's boss. Now, sir, we won't have any more trouble from the potters.
Michael Tom
Coville kept me pretty busy the next few weeks. But I got to spending a good deal of time at the pottery bazaar with the girl. Her name was Sue Thin. She was interested in everything. I had to tell her about the rest of the galaxy. And I was lonely. So I got to looking forward to my visits there. I was on my way there one evening when suddenly I heard shouts down the side streets. I hurried toward them, pulling out my gun. And then I heard the deep cry of the giant potters and the crack of hooves on the cobbled streets. Suddenly, a group of riders burst around a corner and charged down on me. When they were gone, I hurried to the pottery bazaar. Xu Fen was gone.
Supporting Character
Erst man, Earth man. She is not here. They took her, the potters. She has gone to her ancestors.
Michael Tom
Did they kill her?
Supporting Character
No, no. They have taken her to the hills. But soon she will live forever, her spirit wrapped in the glorious glaze suthem. There is nothing to be done. When the potters take you, it is the end.
Mr. Colville
I've been raiding again.
Michael Tom
Huh.
Narrator
Poor.
Michael Tom
Me too. And tonight?
Mr. Colville
Bring the copter around in front.
Michael Tom
It's ready, Tom.
Mr. Colville
I'm gonna break out the atom bomb from the arms locker. You fly out there and drop it down that volcano crater. I'll teach those murdering devils a lesson they won't forget. But the me crawling to the city on their hands and knees. I know how to run this plan.
Dimension X Announcer
Dimension X will continue in just a moment.
Wheaties Announcer
Friends, this is Frank Martin, the Wheaties man. And I want you to know an associate of mine, Ed Prentice. Okay, Ed.
Michael Tom
Folks, I'd like to have you meet a good friend of mine and a prominent member of a fine little organization known as the Chicago White Sox. Mr. Lucius Benjamin Appley.
Commentator/Friend
Ooh, Ed, don't say it like that. Whoever heard of a ballplayer named Lucius? What if I went around calling you Paul Edward Prentice? Let's just make it Ed and Luke, huh?
Michael Tom
All right, Luke. Say, just how long have you been with the White Sox?
Commentator/Friend
Over 20 years, Ed. Golly, I played in darn near 2500 games. Been at bat almost 9000 times. Man, I'm from way back.
Michael Tom
Well, Luke, you don't look it. How do you keep up the pace anyway?
Commentator/Friend
Well, Ed, I sleep good. I eat good. I eat mighty good Wheaties about four mornings a week. Those little old flakes put a lot of snap even in an old timer like me. Must be because they're 100% whole wheat. I sure like Wheaties and milk and fruit.
Michael Tom
You know, Luke, that's exactly what I hear from a lot of ball players and plenty of other people too. No wonder they call Wheaties the breakfast of champion.
Wheaties Announcer
Thank you, Mr. Prentice. And Mr. Luke Appling of the Chicago White Sox. Mighty nice of you to say those good things about Wheaties. Now, folks, you and I may not be playing baseball for a living, but we can use those whole wheat Wheaties too. Step around to the grocery tomorrow yourself for Wheatie's breakfast of champions. Breakfast for you.
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Michael Tom
There's the village winner.
Mr. Colville
Check.
Michael Tom
Swing over it.
Werrichek
Shall I pull the safety on the bomb?
Michael Tom
No, no. Hold it.
Werrichek
But Mr. Cole said.
Michael Tom
I know what he said. They got a girl down there and I'm gonna get her out alive. And I'm gonna start by trying to Talk with that 7 foot red headed potter. All right, we're a check ted her down right in the middle of Main Street. Have your gun ready, Werachek. Here they come. Tall one's the chief.
George Coville
So this is the insolent lordling again.
Michael Tom
Come on out of the copter.
George Coville
Good. We are in need of bone lime. And yours will suit us well.
Werrichek
Closing in, Mr. Tom.
George Coville
Prepare your soul for the great burn.
Michael Tom
Stand back. I'll kill a lot of potters and you'll be the first. I've come for the four. Me too. That you took from Gnome. You don't seem to understand that we can punish.
George Coville
We can kill you before you can do much damage. We potters do not fear death. Death is merely eternal meditation from the glass.
Michael Tom
Potter, listen to me. I didn't come here to threaten, but to bargain. You have a me too. And girl. Is she still alive?
George Coville
She still lives.
Michael Tom
Chief Colville gave me orders to destroy your volcano. We can do that easily. If I'm harmed, the next bomb will drop on your village. I've come down here against his orders to bargain.
George Coville
Bargain with what? We care for nothing but our craft.
Michael Tom
Potter, I can give you the secret of the yellow glade.
George Coville
Empty word.
Commentator/Friend
No.
Michael Tom
The truth. In exchange, I want the girl and the other metoon you've stolen and your word not to raid again.
George Coville
How would we get lime?
Michael Tom
We've told you. We can ship it in pure lime as good as yours. Do the potters of Fisk want the yellow glaze fy?
George Coville
That has been the goal of the tribe of potters for a thousand years.
Michael Tom
And if I show you the yellow glaze, Earthman?
George Coville
If it comes clear through the burn, I agree to your bargain. If it does not, your spirit will be lodged forever in the ugliest bowl we can spin on the wheel.
Michael Tom
It's a bargain, all right. We're ajack. Disarm the bomb.
Mr. Colville
Disarm it.
Werrichek
Mr. Tom, are you crazy?
Michael Tom
They'll kill us. There'll be nothing left to stop them. Nothing but the yellow glaze.
Wheaties Announcer
Yeah, but do you know how to make it?
Michael Tom
We'll soon find out. I've been doing a little reading on the subject lately.
Wheaties Announcer
Reading?
Mr. Colville
Holy smokes.
George Coville
Enough, Earthman. I will take you to the potter's shed. If your glaze is the bright yellow of the sun, you live. If not, you die.
Michael Tom
Come on, Renacek, let's get to work.
Dimension X Announcer
With what?
Werrichek
You never made a glaze in your life. What are we supposed to work on now?
Mr. Colville
Our last will and testament.
Michael Tom
Who's that? Are you all right?
Sue Thin
Yes. Why did you come? They will kill you. Two earthmen.
Michael Tom
Maybe. How did you get in here?
Sue Thin
When I heard that you were here, I asked the chief potter to come. He said it would not matter. They would have all our bones soon.
Michael Tom
Cheerful so stir. This where A check? Yes, sir.
Sue Thin
They said you were trying to make the yellow glaze. O Earth men, we will die.
Michael Tom
This goo may turn out yellow. It had better.
Sue Thin
No one on Firsk has been able to make it.
Michael Tom
But I'm not from Firsk. Hang on, Sufan. We're not dead yet.
Sue Thin
Earthman, I am glad you came, although I wish you had not.
Michael Tom
Suit, then. All right, Wheelerjack, call that redhead. Tell him I got his glaze ready.
Supporting Character
Hey.
Michael Tom
Hey, you out there.
George Coville
Earthman, are you ready?
Michael Tom
Here's your glaze. Test it.
George Coville
You have six bowls of glaze.
Michael Tom
I'm no potter. This stuff ought to turn out yellow, but I can't be sure in one mixture.
George Coville
We will coat six tablets, one with each glaze. Then we will fire them.
Michael Tom
How long will it take?
George Coville
20 hours before you know if the burn has brought you life or death.
Werrichek
How long can they keep that up? It's been hours.
Michael Tom
Tiles ought to be done soon.
Sue Thin
Earthman. Here comes the chief potter.
Michael Tom
It must be time the tiles are cooled.
George Coville
It is time now to open the kiln and test your glaze. A bargain has been made. The glaze is yellow or you die. I will open the kiln.
Werrichek
How are they, Mr. Tom? Mr. Tom?
Michael Tom
I can't see inside. It's dark. All right, potter, pull them out. What are you waiting for?
George Coville
I will remove the first tile.
Sue Thin
No.
George Coville
A dull, dirty brown.
Michael Tom
Earthman, pull out the next one.
Mr. Colville
The color of mud.
Supporting Character
Hiya.
Michael Tom
Now Wait a minute.
George Coville
What is the use? There is no yellow glaze.
Michael Tom
Get that next tile out. We made a bargain, Mr. Earth Brown.
George Coville
Your glazes are worse than the feeblest work of our children. Prepare your spirits for the great burn.
Mr. Colville
Now wait.
Michael Tom
Wait. Look in there the next time. I'll get it out.
George Coville
Here, Earth man, you waste time.
Michael Tom
I'll get it out myself. There, there. Look at it.
Sue Thin
Yellow. Bright shining yellow.
Michael Tom
There it is. The yellow glaze.
Mr. Colville
Tom, where in thunder have you been?
Michael Tom
Mr. Colville, I've been trying.
Mr. Colville
I send you out on business which should take two hours and you stay two days.
Michael Tom
Why? I got the four. Me too, and back. And I made a contract with the Pollard's. No more rating.
Mr. Colville
You what?
Michael Tom
I made a deal with them and it turned out to be a better idea than yours.
Mr. Colville
You disobeyed you deliberately, Tom. You're through here, through with planetary affairs. Listen, mister, the man can't be trusted to carry out orders. He's not worth a lead nickel to the bureau. Get your gear together. Leave on the next ship out.
Michael Tom
Yes, sir. Wait.
Mr. Colville
You're on company time till 4 o' clock tonight. Until then, you obey my orders. Take the copter back to the hangar. Bring the atom bomb back to the armory.
Michael Tom
I can't. What? I've been trying to tell you. There's only one way. I had to make that yellow glaze.
Mr. Colville
Tom, what the devil have you done with that bomb?
Michael Tom
I gave it to the potters.
Mr. Colville
What?
Michael Tom
It was uranium salt that made the yellow glaze. The potters didn't have any, so I gave them the uranium out of the bomb. That was part of the bargain.
Mr. Colville
What you gave that murdering tribe of gooks at uranium.
Michael Tom
You heard me. And if you think you could have used it better by blasting them out of that mountain in your crate.
Mr. Colville
Why, you abysmal blasted imbecile. That's the only bomb we had. Those potters could tear Penalpan off the face of the planet.
Michael Tom
If you want that uranium, Colville, you can go out and get it. If I'm fired, I'm through.
Mr. Colville
Now, you fresh mutt. You yellow livered louse.
Carvana User
I ought to kill you.
Michael Tom
If you asked me, I'd say it'd be dangerous business trying to get that uranium back. Now we're a check.
Supporting Character
We're a check.
Mr. Colville
Yes, Mr. Colville.
Michael Tom
Yes, sir.
Mr. Colville
Get the copter fuel. Get me a double holster and a full bandolier of ammunition. Yes, sir. Tom, when I get back, I'll see that you rot in the deepest cell in the gallatin tower. I'm going out now to those hills. I'm gonna bring in that uranium myself.
Michael Tom
Two days later we're a came into my office. His face was pale. His hands shook with excitement.
Mr. Colville
He's.
Werrichek
He's here, Mr. Tom.
Michael Tom
He's here. Colville?
Werrichek
No, the chief potter.
Mr. Colville
The potter.
Michael Tom
Bring him in. Should I call the guard? Just bring him in. Well, Potter, I was just going to the mountains to see you.
George Coville
Earth man. Does that bargain we made still stand?
Michael Tom
Just a minute. First I want to know what happened to my chief. He has not returned.
George Coville
A madman came to the village of the potters. He said you had no authority. He said he could not allow the potters to keep the heavy metal that makes glazed like the sunset.
Michael Tom
What happened to Covil? Tell me.
George Coville
There was violence. He killed six good wheel men. He was captured. I come to find whether our contract is good.
Michael Tom
Captured? All right, potter. The contract is good. It is bound by my word and by the word of my great chief back on earth. But only if Colville is returned. He must be brought back. Good.
George Coville
Then to seal the bargain, I have brought you the first bowl made with the new yellow glaze.
Michael Tom
It's a beautiful vase, potter. And now about returning Kovil.
George Coville
It is done. The madman is a lucky man indeed. For his spirit dwells in the brightest glass ever to come from the great burn.
Michael Tom
You mean that Koville?
George Coville
Here I return him to you. The fiery soul of the madman has given luster to an already glorious glaze. He will live forever in the shining life.
Narrator
On the desk stood a yellow bowl and the beauty of its shape was matched by the intensity of the glaze. A glorious, transparent yellow glow of a volcano's core.
Dimension X Announcer
Tonight, Dimension X has transcribed the Potters of first written by Jack Vance and adapted for radio by Ernest Kanoy. Featured in the cast were Carl Weber as Michael, Tom Wendell Holmes as Coville and Raymond Edward Johnson as the chief of the potters. Your narrator, Norman Rose. Music by Albert Berman, engineer Bill Chambers. Dimension X is produced by Van Woodward and directed by Edward King. Tomorrow hear sam spade. Now it's truth or consequences on NBC.
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Michael Tom
It's done.
Carvana User
The car is gone. I'm holding a check anyway. Carvana, give it a whirl. Love ya.
Michael Tom
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Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: May 5, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: A classic radio science fiction drama about colonialism, culture clash, and a mystery involving alien potters and a coveted yellow glaze.
This episode of Harold’s Old Time Radio features an original broadcast of the classic radio program “Dimension X,” specifically the episode “Potters of Firsk.” The story, adapted from a work by Jack Vance, weaves together a tale of interstellar colonial administration, cultural misunderstandings, ritual, and technology, all centered on a strange people whose pottery preserves the souls of the dead and who covet the secret of an otherworldly yellow glaze.
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |--------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 02:02–03:35 | Introduction to Michael Tom and setting | | 07:15–08:21 | Discovery of meaning behind the pottery | | 11:11–13:01 | Visit to the Potters – secrets revealed | | 13:52–14:44 | Sue Thin kidnapped by the potters | | 15:12–17:44 | Coville decides to bomb the potters | | 17:44–20:03 | Michael's bargain for peace with the potters | | 20:31–23:43 | Attempt and success in making the yellow glaze | | 24:46–25:06 | Michael reveals he gave potters uranium from the bomb | | 26:07–27:26 | Potter returns with the yellow bowl and Coville’s fate |
The episode maintains the suspenseful, cerebral tone typical of “Dimension X,” fusing speculative fiction with morality tale elements about cultural collision, colonial hubris, and the cost of peace. The dialogue is crisp, with an undercurrent of grim mystery and wry wit; the outcome is as unsettling as it is poetic.
“Potters of Firsk” stands out as a thought-provoking sci-fi morality play: the alien customs that so repulse the colonial officials turn out to be both profound and dangerous; attempts at domination backfire; and a desperate, clever protagonist negotiates a fragile peace—at a high personal and planetary cost. The episode ends with lasting ambiguity: a beautiful yellow bowl, suffused with both hope and haunting consequence.