Episode 28: "Missing Link" (1959) by Frank Herbert

Orne braked to a creaking stop that shifted the load behind him, found himself staring through the windshield at a native of Gienah III. The native crouched on the hood, a Mark XX exploding-pellet rifle in his right hand directed at Orne’s head. In the abrupt shock of meeting, Orne recognized the weapon: standard issue to the marine guards on all R&R survey ships.

The native appeared the twin of the one Orne had seen on the translite screen. The four-fingered hand looked extremely capable around the stock of the Mark XX.

Slowly, Orne put a hand to his throat, pressed the contact button. He moved his speaking muscles: “Just made contact with the mob. One on the hood now has one of our Mark XX rifles aimed at my head.”

The surf-hissing of Stetson’s voice came through the hidden speaker - but it wasn't Stetson's voice, instead a podcast, talking all about Frank Herbert's 1959 short story, "Missing Link."

"Missing Link" was originally published in the February 1959 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. We read the text as it appeared at Project Gutenberg, here: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/23210/pg23210-images.html

Cover art is from the same issue and credited to Van Dongen.