Once a Greech

"Once a Greech" by Evelyn E. Smith is a science fiction story set in the mid-20th century. Captain Iversen and the crew of the "Herringbone" discover Lieutenant Harkaway living among the Flimbotzik, a gentle race on the moon Flimbot. Harkaway's admiration for the Flimbotzik and their way of life blinds him to certain realities, leading to misunderstandings and conflict. The crew faces challenges when a Flimbotzik child is kidnapped, escalating tensions, complicated by the greech which morphs into a humanoid. A twist emerges when the child transforms into an advanced being, blurring the lines of existence and identity and establishing a higher form of existence. The story explores themes of friendship, the essence of the soul, and how cultural misunderstandings can lead to unexpected results.