Anybody familiar with this short story?

[collinE]

It was science fiction, but from the perspective of these natives. Some people from this tribe were burned, some were kidnapped by "monsters" which were really hazmat people dressed in the radiation suit things. In the process of running through this facility rescuing the captives, one native kills a hazmat person and skins him and wears his skin as a disguise, but really it was just the suit. It had some twist and it was like "he didn't tell anyone else, but to us he said that underneath it's skin, it looked just like you or me"

At the end of the story it just has a short little blurb in technical language that revealed it was a quarantine area with researchers and not a bunch of monster people.

I read it when I was little and I've forgotten what it is. Any help would be appreciated.

[Master Kirby]

I remember reading the same story years ago. If I had to take a guess, I would say it may be a short story by Arthur C Clarke.

When I first read your description, I thought you were talking about "Battlefield Earth", due to your reference to natives (the main character grew up in a tribe of human survivors), people being burned (radiation poisoning) and monsters in Hazmat suits (the aliens had to breath different air, though they didn't need full body suits).

[collinE]

Thanks, I'll try to scour some of his short stories and see if I find it. Is Battlefield Earth that John Travolta movie? Terrible.

[Black Six]

Thanks, I'll try to scour some of his short stories and see if I find it. Is Battlefield Earth that John Travolta movie? Terrible.

Before it was a horrible movie it was a book by L. Ron Hubbard.

[Master Kirby]

Thanks, I'll try to scour some of his short stories and see if I find it. Is Battlefield Earth that John Travolta movie? Terrible.

That movie had very little in common with the book. The book is a huge epic 1000+ page adventure that I would definitely recommend for any Scifi fan.