The Thought-Men of Mercury

"The Thought-Men of Mercury" by R. R. (Russell Robert) Winterbotham is a science fiction short story set on Mercury that explores how humans might react when confronted by an alien species with telepathic abilities. Two Earthmen, Terry Hall and Cappy Upjohn, face a challenging predicament when they are held captive by the Mercurians, led by Chomby, who are interested in learning about human fear. As Terry gives way to his fear, Cappy tries to brave the situation and think his way out of it. Their escape is filled with tense moments of fear and realizations about the extent and limits of the Mercurians' powers, which culminates in a discovery about their technology and sets the stage for a battle of wills and the complex relationship between bravery, fear, and interspecies understanding.