A Toothache on Zenob

"A Toothache on Zenob" by Boyd Ellanby is a science fiction story that follows Pehn Karn, a smart but awkward guy, as he deals with a really bad toothache. The story is about exploring new worlds and trying to talk to aliens, all while showing how old-fashioned ideas can clash with new, science-based ways of thinking in a strange alien world. Pehn and his pal Nautunal pick up signals from faraway planet, and think they might be from intelligent life. Pehn's toothache is getting worse, but he teams up with Bidagha, a forward-thinking Healer, to crack the code of the signals. Trouble brews as Pehn's dad, who's the Premier and stuck in his ways, butts heads with Pehn and Bidagha's scientific goals. The story reaches its peak in a sacred cave where Bidagha tries to use modern medicine to fix Pehn's tooth, but things go horribly wrong when the cave collapses, trapping them both. The story makes you think about what happens when people refuse to accept new scientific discoveries and choose tradition instead.