We Are Alone by Robert Sheckley. Short summary

5 seconds

Without wishing to, earthlings almost destroy the aliens’ minds with nightmares from their subconscious.

1 minute

The Earthlings land on a planet in an unexplored galaxy. Here they discover deserted settlements. They discover that the natives are panicking and abandoning their dwellings just before the Earthlings approach.

The aliens hide in the forests. No matter how hard the Earthlings try to contact them, the natives run away from them. The Earthlings cannot understand their fear, for they are pursuing peaceful goals.

They decide to capture the aliens. They surround the group of natives trying to escape.

One of the natives telepathically explains that the Earthlings are destroying their minds with nightmares from their subconscious. He shows them what the aliens see. The natives retreat to the ship in horror.

They arrive in shock at the disgusting images and thoughts their subconscious is hiding. Having recovered a little, the pilot suggests that the navigator find another planet, but the navigator doubts whether it is worth it after what has happened.