FEBRUARY SHAMAR’S WAR THE STAR KING OH, TO BE'A-BtuBEL by by by KRIS NEVILLE JACK VANCE PHILIP K. DICK A New Complete Novelette

1964

GRANDMOTHER

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FEBRUARY, 1964 • Vol. 22, No. 3 FREDERIK POHL Editor CONTENTS WILLY LEY Science Editor

NOVELETTES ^SOL COHEN Publisher ' IS GRANDMOTHER EARTH . . 7 DAVID\PERTON * by J. T. McIntosh - & A t Production Manager j, SHAMAR'S WAR . . . ^ JOHN ASSANTE

by Kris Neville Art - Director SHORT STORIES V * DAVE GELLER, ASSOC i£c Advertising O ' OH, TO BE A BLOBELI • 4 • 89 «Cv . by Philip K. Dick GALAXY MAGAZINE is published A BAD DAY FOR VERMIN 35 bi^iwhthly by Galaxy Publishing by Keith Laumer .^Corporation. Main offices: 421 New York 108''' Hudson Street 14, THE AWAKENING \ N. Y. 50c per copy. Subscrip- by Jack Sharkey tion: (6 copies) $2.50 per year in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South and Central - SERIAL Conclusion America and U. S. Possessions. Elsewhere $3.50. Second-class THE STAR KING 114 postage paid at New York, N. Y. by Jack Vance Copyright, New York 1963, by Galaxy Publishing Corporation, Robert M. Guinn, President. All SCIENCE FEATURE rights, including translations reserved. All material submitted FOR YOUR INFORMATION 76 must be accompanied by selt- by Willy Ley addressed stamped envelopes. The publisher assumes no re- DEPARTMENTS sponsibility for unsolicited ma- terial. All stories printed in EDITORIAL 4 this magazine are fiction, and any similarity betwee'n charac- by Frederik Pohl ters and actual persons is coincidental. FORECAST 194 Printed in the U. S. A. By The Guinn Co., Inc. N Y. Cover by EMSH from GRANDMOTHER EARTH Title Reg. U. S. Pat. Off THE PAPER TIGER

'IXThen the New York City sub- Headless Horseman” and the * ’ way system purchased a subway officials term “the Auto- modified and rather rudimentary mated Train” it seems pretty computer and installed it in the clear that there’s a way still to cab of one of its subway trains, go. The automated train was, the operating union took an ex- to begin with, given the simplest tremely dim view of it. They sus- job in the system — it shuttles pected that if this experiment back and forth from Times worked it would be only a step to Square to Grand Central, never automating all transportation and switching, never stopping except thus to throwing the city’s whole at the ends of the line. It is a force of motormen and conduc- job that an idiot could do pretty tors out of work. well, and in fact the Headless In this suspicion they were un- Horseman does it in about the

doubtedly right. It’s true that it style of an idiot . . . and a neu- seems likely it would be a rather rotic and heavy-handed idiot, at long step, not to be taken in a that. It bumps irresolutely to its hurry. After a year’s experience terminal and, as soon as it real- with what Mike Quill calls “the izes it is there, flies into a panic

4 GALAXY .

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and jams on the brakes . . . while more than two hundred years. It the standby human motorman began with the steam textile mills scowls into a dark future with his in England; it grew with the in- hands in his pockets. troduction of the cotton gin in Why is the standby motorman the South. It came to a head a there? To take over in case of third of a century ago in what emergency, says the union. To was then called “rationalization” provide a means of testing and — or sometimes, “the assembly studying the equipment, says the line” — and indeed it did lead to company. But in fact he is there serious stress, playing a part in for only one reason — because the cause and prolongation of if the subway system hadn’t the Great Depression. agreed to employ him there the Automation is only a part of a employees would have gone out larger process — the continuing on strike, feeling, with much growth of techniques to increase logic, that the time to deal with the productivity of the individual a threat is before it gets too big worker. Granted that this has to handle. over the last couple of centuries abolished tens of millions of jobs. uestion is, how big is the Can you imagine anyone apply- Q threat going to get? And ing for any of those jobs today? more important — when is it go- There are simply some jobs ing to happen? that are too boring, too arduous, It is our opinion — admitted- too pointless for a human being ly backed by nothing much in the to do. These are the jobs that way of a guarantee, because we automation is out to get, just as don’t expect to be around long its predecessors have got the jobs enough to be called on it — that of picking the seeds out of cot- the worst fears of the opponents ton bolls and running a loom with of automation will never be real- a foot-treadle. ized because (a) the great dis- If it hadn’t been for previous astrous upsurge in unemploy- similar developments, a lot of us ment simply won’t happen and would have been doing those (b) anyway, most of it has hap- jobs today. Those jobs are gone pened already! For the tendency so those of us who would have to develop ways for two men to had them are, in a sense unem- do what used to be ten men’s ployed. work is not something that was And frankly — we’re doing invented with automation. It has pretty well out of it, aren’t we? been going on for something —FREDERIK POHL 6 GALAXY GRANDMOTHER EARTH

by j. t. mcintosh

ILLUSTRATED BY FINLAY

Old Earth was dying, and neither courage nor strength could save

it . . . but perhaps vanity could!

I was in itself intriguing. There were scarcely any strangers any /'"'vne after another the girls in more. There were so few people bikinis and stripsuits on the left that everybody knew nearly beach at Cannes raised their everybody else. heads and preened themselves as The Americas, Asia, Australia the tall, bronzed stranger strode and Africa were all empty, save past along the waterline. They for a few determined hermits. could have saved themselves the The Pyramids, Sydney Bridge, trouble. He didn’t even glance the Grand Canyon and Red at them. Square no longer drew throngs That he should be a stranger of gaping, camera-clicking tour-

7 ists — although they were all anything worth doing, he’s dead. still there, only Sydney Bridge A woman lasts longer because to and Red Square showing signs of the end a certain desire for ad- neglect. (The Grand Canyon and miration remains. She keeps her- the Pyramids were neglected too, self clean and firm and attrac- but they didn’t show it.) tive after her male counterpart The Riviera being as good a has surrendered to dirt and idle- place as any for a few score of ness and silent solitude. She thousands of people to live, win- seeks the company of her own ter and summer, with minimum sex, and at least the acknowledg- effort and least danger from ment of the other sex, when a flood, fire, drought, pestilence, man can’t be bothered going out. famine and wild animals, the So she remains half alive when population of Grandmother he is three-quarters dead. Earth had gradually collected Marcel was unaware of the in- there. California, Miami, Syd- terest he was kindling in a hun- ney, Biarritz and Algiers had dred golden-brown, scarcely cov- held out for a while in the hope ered breasts. He would not have

of winning the battle to be the cared had noticed it. He had last resort of a race dying of other things on his mind. lethargy and apathy. One by one, Marcel was one of the last however, they had put up the rebels. True, if he had lived a shutters. few centuries earlier, tempera- Cannes beach, although un- ment unchanged, he would have deniably part of a reservation been regarded as the most timid, for the aged, equally undeniably indolent conformist. But in his didn’t look it. The really old world, in his time, he was a couldn’t summon up enough en- rebel. He wanted to live, when ergy to go out any more. Only nearly everyone else was content teens and twenties, and the few to die. children, went to the immense trouble of prettying themselves IT e was in Cannes for a Coun- and walking to the beach to sun- cil meeting that afternoon. bathe. And most of these were He had cycled from San Remo, women. stopping overnight at Nice, for When a race is dying, the aver- the distance was all of fifty miles. age woman holds out longer than It was a long journey, but he the average man. preferred to cycle. Cars were be- When a man comes to the con- coming increasingly unreliable clusion that there is no longer and there were no spares any 8 GALAXY GRANDMOTHER EARTH 9 more. Marcel had left one car sunbathing up by the promenade in Genoa and another in Frejus, wall. She was a pretty blonde of the two limits of present-day hu- perhaps fourteen, her brown man habitation. Either might body lightly censored by a blue have been repaired in Nice or stripsuit. San Remo, but in Genoa and She smiled at him, frankly in- Frejus, the withering outposts of viting, promising all there was a shrinking community, they to promise. were so far from real civiliza- He crossed the ten yards of tion that they might as well have sand that separated them and sat been in dead, empty Chicago. beside her. Not many delegates would take “Hi,” she said. “I’m Roya. the trouble to come, he reflected How come I’ve never seen you as he walked along the golden before?” sand, the tideless Mediterranean “I’m from San Remo. Marcel throwing up wavelets at his feet. is the natfie.” Of the Council of 100 he doubt- “I’ve been in San Remo often, ed if more than thirty would be and I never saw you there.” She present. Perhaps only twenty- seemed unable to get past the five. astonishment that such a man Well, the fewer there were, the could exist, could have existed fewer he’d have to convince. for all her life and perhaps seven Something had to be done, and or eight years more, quite un- Marcel thought he knew what. known to her. Even if only twenty-five dele- “I’m not often on the beach. gates turned up, the Council re- I’m a carpenter. I make chairs, tained all its powers. Quorum tables, cabinets, things like that.” provisions had gone long ago — “I guess somebody has to make it was seldom that any meeting them,” she admitted. “But you of any committee achieved this must be on the beach sometimes. technical competence. Where else did you get that tan?” In his mind he examined his “The sun shines,” Marcel re- proposal for flaws. He found torted, “not only on the beach, none. It would work. And it was not only on the seventy by two perhaps the only thing which mile strip we live in, but over would work. There was no point the mountains, across the sea and in thinking about it any more. on other continents. I could ac- Released at last from his mood quire a tan eleven thousand concentration, Marcel took no- miles from San Remo beach.” tice of one of the girls sleepily She stared. “You talk funny.”

10 GALAXY .

“I suppose I do. Perhaps it wanted children, few who want- comes of occasionally reading a ed them were capable of bearing book.” them, and few men could give “You read books too? Looking them all the necessary assistance. like you do? You make tables Marriage was as dead as witch- and chairs and read books?” craft. All that was left was a lazy He looked at her thoughtfully, longing in both sexes to be wondering if behind her pretty stirred, however briefly and un- face there was a mind capable productively, into a semblance of understanding important of passion. Nobody expected it things, wondering whether she to happen often, or for long. was trivial because she had never Certain comparatively lusty encountered anything but triv- individuals of both sexes were iality. much in demand as kindlers of “What would you expect me passion. They could be amateurs, to do?” he asked quietly. subtle or crude, powerful or frail, “I thought you were a lover.” but they all had this in com- “You flatter me not.” mon: they offered life. Never had public opinion changed as T Tis tone was cold, but it failed drastically as in the way lovers to repress her. She giggled. were regarded. Once lovers Even sex was too much trou- would have been called gigolos, ble for a race which had lost its courtesans and worse. Now only vitality. In the early stages of odd people like Marcel were ir- the decline, a century or two ritated to be thought to be no back, when it was steep but not more than a lover. precipitous, promiscuity such as “/ want to be a lover,” Roya Babylon and the French court said. had never dreamed of became “You would.” the rule. It did not last. Con- She started telling him frank- quests in which there was no ly about her qualifications. Al- contest ceased to divert. It be- though she did not claim to have came necessary to search for and had the great complete experi- invent new sensations, and soon ence yet, she had come close, she there were none left. said. It was the fault of the males Now the jaded survivors lan- that she had not done better. guorously chased not sex but With Marcel she thought she. . pleasure in sex, some ghost of “How old are you?” he asked* meaning in sex. Sex with issue abruptly. was of course rare. Few women “Fourteen.”

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 11 “You’ve plenty of time.” ing hotels of Cannes. Marcel, a If you could achieve passion white coat over his trunks, ar- at twelve or with a partner of rived precisely as the meeting twelve, good luck to you. By the was due to start. time you were fifteen that com- His eyes widened incredulous- partment of your life might be ly. There were not twenty-five closed for ever. delegates present. Not fifteen. Briefly interested in Roya, Not even ten. Marcel looked her over. Her Apart from himself, one man blue stripsuit was a long ribbon and one woman were present. which went round behind her They waited for five minutes, neck, crossed her breasts and ran but no one else turned up. Then down in a narrow V to go up Dion, the senior member present, behind her and curve back round declared the Council in session. the hips to her abdomen again. The subject was the moribund It covered as much flesh as a state of human society on Earth bikini, but not the same flesh. (it usually was), and the purpose Young girls wore stripsuits to of the meeting was to consider show that they didn’t sag — if ways and means of improving they didn’t sag. the situation.

“Want me to go home with Earth was dying, and knew it, you now?” he asked ungracious- but didn’t like it. ly- Not unnaturally, the three “Why not? It’s only half a delegates who had taken the mile.” trouble to come (Marcel from He stood up. “In that case, San Remo, Selba from Nice and let’s forget it,” he said. “I have Dion from half a block away) to come back here anyway.” were the three who were not He strode on, unconscious of only the most concerned about the fact that he, the rebel, the the situation, but also the read- fighter, the energetic champion iest to produce possible counter- of lost causes, had just proved measures. that he was very nearly as in- Dion spoke first. An elderly, dolent as everybody else. silver-haired man, just on the point of turning querulous, he II addressed the meeting over the heads of Marcel and Selba as if rT''he Council meeting was held the hall, formerly a ballroom, •*- in the Majestic, on the prom- were packed with eager, atten- enade, formerly one of the lead- tive listeners.

12 GALAXY “The situation is grave,” he doned by his children, of Lear

said, as if they didn’t know it. betrayed by his daughters. He “The present population is had no positive suggestion. How roughly sixty thousand. But of the far-distant Terran colonies this number, ten thousand are were to be told of Earth’s need over seventy. In twenty years, if of their strength and lust for life the present trend continues, the was not mentioned. What exactly population will be fifty thousand. they were to do was not men- In another twenty, less than tioned either. (Come back and forty. I say again, the situation recolonize the planet which had .” is grave. Extremely grave. . given them all birth? Or send Nobody argued with him. some mystic talisman which He came presently to his main would miraculously restore life point “Yet we peopled the gal- to a dying world?) axy,” he declared. “We blazed In conclusion he held out his the way to the stars. On scores hands in pitiful appeal, and then of far-off worlds, human settle- sat down. ments are thriving, growing, prospering. It is our sons and elba, next in seniority, spoke daughters who gave the galaxy S next. She referred acidly to life. Now Mother Earth has be- Naro, the President, who had come Grandmother Earth. Our not bothered to come and pre- colonies are spawning new col- side, although he lived only a onies, ever further out, further mile or two away in Golfe Juan. from home.” Then she demolished Dion’s He suddenly looked directly vague complaints in a couple of at Marcel and Selba. “It is up sentences. to our children to help us,” he “The nearest colony is twenty- said. “We gave of our best. It two years away,” she said. “If was our strongest, bravest, most Dion wants to go there and bring eager men and women who voy- back a restoration team, I sug- aged on the starships. We have gest he will have to spend the heard how they prospered. Now next forty-four years of his life we need the help of our strong, doing it.” .” lusty children. We need. . She paused significantly. He went on in this strain for Dion’s age was uncertain; what some time. What started as an was certain, however, was that impassioned ringing appeal he didn’t have another forty -four slowly dissolved into the hurt years to live. bitterness of an old man aban- Selba was a tall, straight wom-

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 13 . ” an, once beautiful and still re- rival community, in which more gally handsome. Now nearly blunt, brutal, vital rules of con- fifty, she had grown out of the duct apply. Where can we find hot-headed certainty of youth such a community? Only in the into the cool, inflexible certain- colonies.” ty of age. She had everything So her solution was for the taped. Earth survivors to uproot them- “If we go to the colonies,” she selves, every last one of them, said firmly, “it must be to join and join one of the colonies. them, not beg from them.” There was a three-quarters-fin- Having made this brief open- ished ship, she said, somewhere ing statement she stood back, so in America. She understood it to speak, to admire it. was near Philadelphia. It would

“Women hold the key,” she de- be a small matter to finish it clared. “In every really impor- and evacuate Earth. . tant situation, women always hold the key. Now, most of us IV /T arcel’s turn came. Like Sel- are sterile or barren — most of ba, he began by demolish- us of both sexes. There is no ing the previous speaker. real reason for this, except that “Do you know what is done as a race we have lost the will last on any huge technical proj- to live. Yet if those of us who ect like building a starship?” he could have children had child- asked her directly. dren, the population level would She admitted she did not, con- stabilize and even increase. triving to suggest that the knowl- “Why don’t women who could edge was not important. have children bear them? Part- “I’ll tell you,” Marcel said. ly because they fear childbirth. “All the most difficult and com- Partly because they shrink from plicated things. The things which the responsibility and sheer hard demand the greatest skill and work of bringing up children. the greatest scientific knowledge. We must overcome both these It would be easier by far to things. build a starship to 75 per cent “As a closed community, we completion than to do the rest.” cannot do this. There is no com- Without a pause he demand- petition. Women who refuse to ed: “Do you know how many face the responsibility of being passengers such a ship could women are permitted to persist carry?” in their refusal. What we need “I imagine a great many— is a parallel community — a “Yes. A vast complement. Two 14 GALAXY hundred and eighty, plus crew. one of the best all-the-year-round Three hundred twenty in all. climates in the world. Fruit and And we have 60,000.” crops grow so easily we scarcely He waited. Selba waited too, have to do more than collect hostilely. them, there’s unlimited pasture “We can forget the colonies,” for our cattle, and we have vast Marcel said at last, “as they have stocks of the things we can no forgotten us. We’ll see colonists longer be bothered to make, like only if some settlement decides textiles, ballpoint pens and plas- to send a ship here. And why tic toilet-paper dispensers. Far should they? Nobody pays social from being desperate, we’re in calls that take forty-five to sev- such an easy situation that we’re enty years to complete. That’s all dying of sheer boredom.” why we haven’t seen a ship from There was sufficient truth in and of the colonies since before this for the others to let it pass, the last outward-bound starship although they would have ex- left here a hundred and fifty pressed it differently. years ago—carrying the last of Marcel made his suggestion our adventurers. One day, when without hedging. “There used to some of the colonies have fin- be a border at Menton, between ished building and have time to France and Italy. Let’s close it! waste on things that don’t matter Let’s create difference, hostility very much, a shipload of arch- and distrust. It’s our only way aeologists and anthropologists to survive.” will arrive — but, the way things Selba forgot for a moment to look now, by the time they do be acidly polite. She crowed there will only be remains for with triumph. them to argue over.” “Marcel is young,” she said. “It’s not right,” said Dion, al- “Too young to remember that most to himself. “They should the plan he suggests was tried come and see us. We gave them forty years ago — and was a birth.” miserable failure. Naturally! “Sentimentality,” said Selba Because the solution is an arti- coldly. “Why should they care? ficial one. The conflict he wants

It’s us that’s in a desperate situa- is artificial. When the border tion, not them.” was closed, people sailed past it “That’s just it,” Marcel ob- in boats. They swam round the served. “We’re not in a desper- barriers. Seeing no sense in arti- ate situation. We couldn’t be in ficial, unnecessary prohibitions, an easier situation. We’ve picked they ignored them.”

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 15 —

There was silence. Marcel, idly to hover near the harbor. disappointed, had to admit to Indolent as they were, the lo- himself that if the Council cal inhabitants flocked to the adopted his plan, the general spot. This was an incident com- public would probably do once pletely out of the ordinary: al- more exactly what they had done though there were planes at forty years ago — ignore the Nice airport still allegedly capa- closure. They wouldn’t storm the ble of flight, only a few old men barriers. That would be too had ever piloted an aircraft and much trouble, and somebody no younger people showed any might get hurt. They would particular inclination to learn. simply sail or swim past the bar- The black plane must be from rier when they felt like it. That some other, unknown commu- was no trouble at all. nity. That such a group existed There was still sense in his was not surprising. Tiny pockets idea, but as Selba bluntly said, of humanity were known to exist, it was an artificial solution. Al- or to have existed, in many most anything which might be places. That it should be at a tried suffered from the same level of achievement capable of flaw. There was no question of operating planes was a surprise, boredom when an individual or and by no means an unpleasant a community had to struggle one desperately for survival. But it Until the machine-guns open- was no use pretending that a ed up. desperate situation existed when No one was hit. The bursts of everyone could plainly see it did fire were evidently meant to con- not. tain the crowd which had already In the silence they heard a gathered. Isolated from the rest strange but not quite unknown of the town by a fusillade, they sound — the sound of aero en- crowded together fearfully with gines. screams of horror, and no one who was not already there made Ill any attempt to join them. Marcel was among the hun- 'T'he black raider swept in from dreds who, on their way to join across the Mediterranean, tow- the crowd on the promenade, ing a large anti-gravity barge. saw and heard what was going Linked together by a steel tow- on and crept under cover. wire, the two vessels circled The plane landed, the barge

Cannes and then dropped rap- settling slowly behind it. Scores

16 GALAXY of black-suited men emerged. The crowd consisted of those They spoke little. Their long who were quickest on their feet black guns did all their talking and had been on the beach or for them. promenade when the plans ap- Blind panic made some of the peared. They were therefore the trapped herd try to run to safe- youngest inhabitants of the town, ty. The black raiders shot over more than half of them children. their heads. The warning was The raiders ignored girls who enough. had not reached maturity. Those Silence fell again. The black who had were chosen if they raiders no longer had to shoot. were attractive enough, no mat- The two or three hundred men ter how young they were. and women huddled together in When they had screened the horrified apprehension had whole group, the raiders had learned their lesson. forty-nine girls between twelve The raiders all wore black and twenty-five. All of them pants, black sweaters and gro- were in the barge and the doors tesque gas masks. Those among were shut. But they could still the hundreds of prisoners who be sefen through the glass cover kept their heads saw the impli- which enclosed the vessel, cry- cations of the masks: The raid- ing, beating the glass. ers were prepared to release tear or poison gas if they had to. nr'here was no move to rescue The anti-gravity barge reached them. The people of Cannes, the ground. Another dozen black- whether in the crowd on the suited men jumped down. promenade or watching from And then the purpose of the the surrounding buildings, had raid emerged. The raiders went not forgotten the lesson of the among their prisoners, threaten- machine-guns or the significance ing all of them but otherwise of the gas masks. ignoring most of them. The raiders went back to the Those they did not ignore were grounded plane and the door in the youngest and prettiest wom- its shiny black side slammed be- en. These were sent to the barge. hind them. There were more screams and None were in the barge with several people fainted. Oddly the women prisoners. None were enough, they saved themselves needed, apparently. When the by fainting. The black raiders plane rose vertically into the air, contemptuously ignored anyone the barge rose with it, operated who lapsed into unconsciousness. by remote control.

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 17 . —

Those who remained on the windows high enough for the promenade cowered as if expect- girls to climb through, if the ing a blow. Many of them were. barge could be moved against It seemed not unlikely that the them. But how to get a rope to black raiders, their booty safe, the barge? would now open up with mur- Marcel remembered having derous guns or drop lethal gas. seen pictures of people jumping However, they did not. The from burning buildings into black plane suddenly darted east- sheets held by a dozen men. wards along the coast and was Would it work, without prac- soon out of sight. tice? Could the girls be per- The people of Cannes, on the suaded to jump? promenade or in the buildings Easier still, surely much easier, overlooking it, blinked and was to get a rope to the barge. frowned in surprise. The barge A rope could haul up a rope lad- with the forty-nine girls in it der. Failing that, surely the girls had been left sixty feet up, mo- were desperate enough to climb tionless over the promenade. down a rope? Marcel emerged from ' cover A thin cord could haul up a and ran to the beach. All around rope. Was it possible to throw him people were shouting, talk- a weight attached to a cord sixty ing excitedly, looking up at, the feet in the air? It ought to be barge. He ignored them. The and yet, judging the distance raiders would be back. Contemp- again, he knew he couldn’t do it tuously they had left their booty himself. Sixty feet was only an in plain sight, out of reach. estimate, it might be more. And Obviously the girls must be the girls couldn’t lean more than rescued. But how? Marcel a foot or so beyond the door. gauged the distance — sixty feet, It would be necessary for the with black asphalt below. Jump- thrower to stand back and throw ing was out of the question. the weight into the doorway. The girls had a door open and That would entail a throw of were crowded behind it, looking more like a hundred and twenty down fearfully. There must be feet.

some way to rescue them. . Some of the men standing The barge would stay at sixty around were already trying ex- feet, resisting any effort to pull perimental casts with small ob- it down. Could it be towed? jects they had in their pockets. Many of the buildings only a None of them managed to reach few hundred yards away had the barge.

18 GALAXY T>ut there had to be a way. “The fire station!” he sudden- --'Haul a cart with a bale of ly shouted. “Where’s the fire hay below the barge? That station?” might work, but the raiders Most of the people around would not be gone long. Con- him stared blankly, but some temptuous as they might be of caught on at once. A dozen men the courage and resource of the started to run up into the town. people of Cannes, they must be Marcel went with them. aware that in a couple of hours, The fire station was closed, even an hour, some way of re- derelict. Nobody still alive had scuing the women must be found. any fire-fighting training. The Whatever they had to do, what- ordinary citizen knew better ever sent them racing along the than to start fires and let them coast toward Nice and Monte, get out of hand — there would be would not occupy them more no organized rescue work, and than half an hour at most. everybody knew it. Such fires as Ordinary ladders were useless. did occur were left to burn You couldn’t jump from or to themselves out. They were rare, the top of a ladder. And from for no building had been built the top of a swaying ladder it for centuries of materials which wasn’t easy to throw a rope hard would bum easily. and accurately. In the first bay stood two dead Marcel thought of harpoons fire engines, rusting and rotten. and spring guns, only to aban- They had ladders which would don the line of thought. You still reach sixty feet and more, might unearth a harpoon in and although the motors would working condition in a couple never run again, the vehicles of days. Not in ten minutes. could be pushed. Couldn’t the girls make a rope But the ladders were power- out of their clothes? After an- operated and there was no way other glance up at them he aban- to raise them by hand. doned that idea too. Most of As Marcel was examining the them wore bikinis and stripsuits. fire engines, a shout came from The skirts, shorts and blouses deeper in the station. Someone which a few of them wore were had found an older fire engine, too brief and fragile to supply even rustier and more rotten, more than a few feet of rope lad- but with a ladder which could der in total. And the raiders be raised by hand. would not have left anything It took twenty of them to push useful in the barge. it out. The steering wheel was

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 19 jammed, but the front wheels rush. The women in the barge could be kicked into position who ten seconds before had been when the fire-wagon had to be hanging back doubtfully were turned. fighting to be next to descend. They manhandled it under the Quick as they were, it took a barge and turned the handles. surprisingly long time for forty- The metal ladder was rusted nine women to climb down a into a short, solid mass. One of sixty-foot ladder. Many anxious the handles broke under the glances were cast along the coast strain six men were putting on it. before the last girl reached the Marcel seized an ancient axe promenade. and jumped up on the engine. The last girl was Roya. Mar- He tapped the ladder and the cel pulled her off the fire escape rust gave, inch by inch. Others and dragged her away from the were smearing butter on the promenade. Now that the girls moving parts. The ladder crept were safe, no one was anxious to upwards. remain. They all knew the black When it reached the door in raiders would be back. the side of the barge a cheer The ancient fire engine was went up. Then there was sudden left where it stood. silence. The onlookers, hundreds When the plane came back ten of them now, were drawing minutes later there wasn’t a liv- breath for the next cheer, the ing creature to be seen in any one that would greet the sight street in Cannes. of the first girl climbing down The plane buzzed angrily the ladder. round the empty barge. Then it It didn’t come. The girls started machine-gunning the crowded in the doorway sixty streets. Hundreds of windows feet up were looking at the an- were broken and a few small cient, black, swaying ladder with fires were started. Several people distrust. They were less scared who had stood too close to a to remain where they were than window were injured by flying to entrust themselves to the lad- glass. der. The raiders did not, however, “Look—they’re coming back!” land again. They knew that this Marcel shouted. time they would be met by no The girls didn’t look to check. welcoming crowd. To rout out A fifteen-year-old girl in a white the women they had lost they bikini was first on the ladder. would have to search every That was enough to start the building in Cannes, risking any

20 GALAXY counter-measures that might when they had given the local have been taken against them. populace plenty of time to get At last they turned and flew under cover. out over the Mediterranean, tak- This was no more than the ing the empty barge with them. first act of a long play, and the tension would rise. What the IV climax would be Marcel had no idea, but he was sure there was (tTt was terrible,” Roya said. much more to come before a “I’ve never been so terrified crisis was reached. in my life.” And he was secretly delighted. “Of what, precisely?” Marcel Although he had helped to frus- enquired curiously. trate the black raiders, wasn’t Apparently Roya didn’t know, their sudden appearance exactly and that made it worse. what he and Selba and even “You’re not very sympathetic,” Dion wanted? The Council of she protested. 100, differing on details, had “Oh, but I am,” said Marcel. agreed for a long time that what “If I seem to be smiling, it’s just was needed to infuse life into a trick of the sun and the pecu- the dying community was con- liar shape of my face.” flict, different aims and interests “There’s nothing to smile strongly and stubbornly held. about!” Roya said warmly. “The The mere existence of the black raiders machine-gunned half a raiders might be exactly what dozen places and dropped tear was required to galvanize the gas in Monte. What’s funny Rivierans into new life. about that? It’s a wonder no- “You seem to be taking it very body was killed.” calmly,” Roya complained. “Nevertheless,” Marcel said “Inwardly I’m shaking,” Mar- comfortably, “nobody was.” cel assured her. Privately he was convinced The black raiders would be that the raiders’ object had been back. The Riviera community to frighten the Rivierans, not to must take defense measures. Be- murder them. They had shown fore returning to the Majestic, themselves ail along the inhabit- Marcel wanted to have some ed coast, not relying on tele- ideas to put before the Council. phone communication to spread “What’s that shouting?” Roya the word of their coming. Yet said suddenly. at each place they had fired wide They were both instantly alert. first, shooting up the streets only An hour before, there had been

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 21 ”

nothing to fear. Now everyone comed it. He even welcomed fear. held himself ready for instant When fear was present there was flight. no boredom, no apathy. The crowd gathering near the That day marked a turning- harbor, however, seemed to see point in human history. Things no reason for flight. Since the would never be the same again! crowd was forming just outside the harbormaster’s office, it was T> oya came running back. “It more than likely that the stir A was all a game,” she said, was caused by some fresh item laughing in breathless relief. of news that had come in by “A game?” telephone. Whatever had hap- “A trick, a stunt. The black pened had happened somewhere plane just landed at Alassio. The else. engine failed out at sea and it “I’ll go and find out what it’s had to limp back to the coast” .” all about,” said Roya, jumping “But. . Marcel’s thoughts up. Marcel was content to let were chaotic. A trick? A game?

her. The Council, still in session, “Naro was behind it. Imagine

might at that moment be discuss- it, Naro, the President of the ing the raiders, and Marcel still Council! It was just a trick to had no contribution to make. make us think we had enemies.” Guns. They’d have to look for “Naro?” said Marcel blankly. guns, ammunition, bombs. When “Yes, Naro. The real reason the raiders came back there the raiders wore gas masks was would have to be some kind of so that we wouldn’t recognize resistance. At least enough to them. When they left us in the make them cautious. barge, you were meant to get us Suppose there really was fight- out. Imagine that! Of course, ing, what would it be like? What when the engine failed— was war like? Marcel had read “Where did Naro get the books and seen old movies. But plane?” Marcel demanded. he couldn’t imagine scores, per- “In a shed near Genoa. As I haps hundreds of people impla- was saying, when the engine fail- cably determined to kill or be ed over the sea they had no killed. choice but to land where they He experienced strange sensa- could. And they had to admit the tions in his body. His chest was whole thing. They had to surren- tight, his belly uneasy. There was der and explain who they were.” a rushing sound in his ears. He Roya had more to say, much recognized excitement anci wel- more. For her the news was un- 22 GALAXY alloyed relief. She wasn’t angry lieved her arrival represented over what had happened, she anything very important, but no- was merely glad that the black body took any chances. Almost raiders didn’t represent a danger certainly this was another trick, after all. That nothing represent- another fake, another stunt. Nev- ed a danger. That the world (or ertheless, real shells had pepper- at least the narrow strip of coast ed Cannes the previous day, and she knew) was as safe a place somebody might have died. as she had believed for all of From under cover, the popu- her fourteen years. lation of Cannes waited cautious- The general reaction would be ly to see what happened. very like Roya’s. No great harm had been done. The whole black V raider affair had been a stunt, no more. It would be too much T'om Piggott turned the wheel trouble to figure out a just and of the magnifying screen to its fitting punishment for the raid- fullest extent. The docks of Mar- ers. The easiest thing to do would seilles rushed 'up at him. Then, be to laugh the incident off, treat as he cut in the power-operated it as a joke. fix mechanism, he was able to And the easiest thing to do scan parks and sidewalks from was always the thing that was an apparent height of twenty done. feet, the viewer swiveling to keep Marcel heard no more. He for- a succession of fixed points on got Roya and wandered blindly the screen although the ship was away, bitterly disappointed. making five hundred knots at Selba was right, damn her. Ar- fifteen thousand feet. tificial solutions were no use. The view was good, there be- Pretense was no use. A threat ing little or no haze and no might save the Rivierans — but cloud. But there was nothing it had to be a real threat. much to see, certainly nothing The trouble was, whatever was that Piggott was looking for. done had to be done from out- Here and there buildings had side the small community that collapsed, blocking streets from was Earth’s last civilization. And side to side. Parks and green there was nobody outside to do it. spaces had become jungle. In It was because of the abortive some places the jungle pockets incident of the black raiders that were driving salients into the when the Mercury arrived over dead concrete world that tried Cannes the next day, nobody be- to contain them.

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 23 “Want me to ease up so you ment would give him eyestrain. can take a closer look?” the pilot “Hurry on to Cannes and I’ll said. “Want me to drop to a few take another look,” he said. hundred feet?” “Sure, boss,” said the pilot. “You needn’t bother,” Tom “I guess it would make sense said. “There’s nobody there.” to recolonize Earth,” Tom

"But you still think there are mused. “It needs it. It needs it people left somewhere? Though so bad I can’t see the Terrans we’ve checked Lisbon, Madrid, raising any objections . . . assum- Barcelona and not seen as much ing there still are any left to ob- as a dead body?” ject to the idea.” “That’s just it,” Tom said. Although he was merely think- “There’s no bodies in the streets ing aloud, the pilot elected to and no sign of destruction, ex- answer. “You’re forgetting the cept through the natural erosion eighth settlement law. Nobody of time. So we can take it there’s can move in once a planet’s on been no pestilence and no war. the ‘developed’ list.” The people of these cities haven’t “But that law was intended to been struck down suddenly. protect expanding settlements,” They’ve migrated.” Tom objected. “It’s taken for “Where to?” granted that any colony past the “Well, on this continent they’d initial hardships will be grow- go to the Riviera or Southern ing like a forest fire. It wasn’t Italy or Greece, I’d say. Warm meant to apply to worlds where but not too hot. It’s not surpris- the population is dwindling.” ing there aren’t many of them “It’s still the law. And by the left. A hundred and fifty years time it’s changed and colonists ago the population was already can come here, another century drawing into pockets in the best will have passed.” climates — New Zealand, Cali- There was no need to comment fornia, Miami, the Riviera.” on this. If there were Terrans “The names mean nothing to left, there couldn’t be many. me,” said the pilot. Could they last another century? You should read.” He sighed Could they wait a hundred years and spun the wheel back, switch- for a blood transfusion? ing off the fix mechanism. The Tom spun the wheel and cut screen now showed a moving in the fix mechanism again. Al- picture shot from five hundred most at once he let out a yell: feet up. Tom did not watch it “This is it! There’s people down continuously; the rapid move- there!” 24 GALAXY T ess than ten minutes later the himself, spinning on his heels. -®-j/ news ship Mercury landed The pilot looked up sardonically beside Cannes harbor. as he entered the Mercury's con- Tom came out alone, looking trol room. “White man speak around him in surprise. From the with lungs of brass. Indians wait air he had seen scores, perhaps in bullrushes, laughing selves hundreds of people. Now there silly.” were none. Cannes looked as “Okay, so now you can see empty and deserted as Lisbon what you can do,” Tom retorted. and Madrid and Barcelona. “They’re timid, that’s all. But But it wasn’t. One or two bi- they’d hardly be scared of you.” cycles stood around, clean and The pilot stood up. “You don’t obviously in current use. The think so?” boats in the harbor were sea- “No. But if you go the way worthy, riding high. The litter you are, the point may be lost.” lying around was new litter. The pilot looked down at her Most significant of all, a paper shapeless overalls and evidently cup full of ice cream, dropped saw what he meant, for she un- on its side on the hot asphalt, zipped them and stripped them was only beginning to disgorge off. Then she took off her cap its contents in a slow, creamy and shook out her hair. stream. The point was no longer in Tom faced the blank windows. any danger of being lost. Her “Come on out!” he shouted, feel- sweater and shorts were utilitar- foolish. “We’re friends. Anyway, ian, not primarily decorative. there’s only two of us.” However, there was no doubt Nothing happened, though that she was a girl and unarmed. now he caught glimpses of faces “I go,” she announced, “brave- in upstairs windows. When he ly and without complaint. Have stared at any particular window, my medal sent to my mother.” the faces disappeared. “There’s no danger. They’re Fear of infection — that might scared of us, I tell you.” be it. They were afraid that he When Stella emerged into the had brought with him some sunshine, the Terrans remained plague harmless to him but dead- hidden. However, Tom’s reason- ly to them. They needn’t worry. ing was sound. A lone girl ob- He told them so, feeling even viously unarmed represented no more foolish, shouting explana- great danger. tions at silent buildings. After Stella had wandered a The hell with it, he said to couple of hundred yards from

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 25 the ship, Marcel, who had been they were doing on Earth. watching cautiously from the And already the Council was shadows between two buildings, bitterly disappointed. From the stepped out and faced her. very beginning Tom made* it “Hello,” he said, and then with clear that his visit was unofficial more enthusiasm as he got a and not the forerunner of a good look at her, “helloP’ larger-scale colonial expedition to Earth, that its object was not rT''his time there were over nine- in any sense to render assistance ty members present. There to the Terrans, that Earth was hadn’t been such a turnout at a only one of twenty worlds to be Council meeting for over a cen- visited and that he and Stella tury. Dion presided; Naro would remain for only thrae thought it prudent to stay quiet- days. ly at home for the time being. Most of the Council members On Dion’s left was Stella, on his were old. Many of them, like right Tom. Dion, felt that the colonies ought Tom had the floor. He was ex- to be far more interested in the plaining what the Mercury was, world which had given them who he and Stella were and what birth, ought to visit Earth far

26 GALAXY more frequently, and ought to “Some of you will be wonder- be gravely concerned over ing how we managed to come Earth’s problems. Briefly ex- here at all,” Tom was saying. cited when they learned the “As you can see we’re both in Mercury was from the colonies, our twenties. And we’ve already these members now slumped in- traveled over eighty light- .” to gloom, scarcely listening. years. . Others, like Marcel and Sel- Nobody was particularly in- ba, were still listening intently, terested in his description of the alert for anything that could be principle of the Mercury. Tech- turned to account. The Mercury, nical matters had long ago be- was, after all, from the colonies. come too much trouble to try to More than that, it would be back understand. Keeping the water there within a few weeks, if what and electricity supplies going Tom Piggott was saying could be was about the limit of present- believed. day technical achievement. What message was the Mer- Marcel gathered vaguely that cury going to take back? What the ship was a time machine and message did the Terrans want suspended animation tank as her to take back? well as a vehicle. The ship itself

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 27 had to go every inch of the way, would take back to the colonies taking many years to do so. But the interesting information that it was possible to play tricks with Earth was nearly dead. And that time if not with distance, pro- was all it would be, interesting vided the crew did not consist information. of more than two or three Marcel ceased listening to people. (Another disappoint- Tom, as many of the others had ment. A twenty-five-year journey done already. He looked instead still took twenty-five years if at Stella. more than three people had to Stella had hit Marcel like a travel.) The Mercury and her thunderbolt. Tom was energetic, crew, the latter in suspended ani- efficient, businesslike; Stella mation, took many years over was all these things and some- the various hops — but since the thing more. Tom’s vitality did journey was accomplished in a not startle Marcel. Stella’s did. kind of time vacuum, a hundred- Stella, Marcel had decided in year round trip could be com- that first moment, represented pleted in an apparent period of his personal future. What he weeks. wanted of her was more than “No mission like ours would sex, more than marriage, more ever be possible without such a than children. He needed her as technique,” Tom said. “Radio’s a man dying of thirst needs wa- no good in the galaxy. Until now, ter. He needed her and his race space travel was too slow to be needed her. used for anything less than set- (In the next few days, Tom tlement. It’s not worth spending was saying, he and Stella and fifty years in space, even in sus- the Terrans would exchange in- pended animation, merely to formation. Stella would take a find something out. So there’s record of all the events of the been little or no communication last century and a half on Earth, between distant settlements. But while he brought the Terrans up this way, some of our big news to date on what had happened agencies figured it was worth in the galaxy in that time.)

• financing a galactic news round- Marcel, and through him his up. Stella and I are visiting Sher- people, needed Stella so desper- bourne, Centauri, Sirius, Medoc ately that she could not be al- and Sol, catching up on the news lowed, could not be given any of the last century or so.” opportunity to refuse. You don’t So it was just another stunt. ask for what you need. You take

Well, what else? The Mercury it.

28 GALAXY Quietly, unobtrusively, Marcel “Don’t worry,” Tom said. “It slipped out of the ballroom. will be.” Entering her room, Stella VI switched on the light. She was not greatly surprised when noth- tella had wanted to sleep on ing happened. In the few hours S the ship, but Tom said that she had been with the Rivierans was no way to win the confidence she had formed a fair idea of of the Rivierans. So they had the situation on Earth, and she two rooms in one of the ex- already knew that though the hotels near the harbor. Two electricity supply was good and rooms, and not adjoining at that. reasonably reliable, all electri- It wasn’t very late when Stella cal fittings were over fifty years got to her room. The Terrans old and it was common to have seemed to need, or fancied they to test one component after an- needed, twelve hours’ sleep at other before light or heat could nights. And they didn’t get up be obtained. with the dawn. Since she was tired and the “Good night,” Stella said firm- moonlight from the uncurtained ly outside her room. window was adequate, she didn’t Tom grinned. “On several oth- propose to bother. She moved to er worlds I would have argued,” the bed, unclasping her belt. he observed. “On several other From behind, an arm went worlds I have argued. On this round her. A soft pad was held one, the state of your virtue over her mouth. doesn’t interest me.” She struggled violently, but in “In other words,” said Stella, the first moment of shock she “the natives are friendly. Got had drawn a deep breath through one waiting for you now?” the cloth. Her movements, de- “Yes. Roya.” spite herself, became slower and “Thought she was Marcel’s feebler and more purposeless. girl friend?” When she awoke she was in a “She wanted to be before I vehicle of some sort, roaring and turned up.” bumping over a rough road. She “Don’t you find her too in- sat up at once. sipid for words?” “What the devil is going on?” “There aren’t going to be any she demanded. words.” Marcel stopped the car and “Good night, then,” said Stella switched off the engine. “We’d tolerantly. better do some talking,” he said.

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 29 ”

He switched off the lights too to minutes he caught up with Stella, save the battery. who had stopped running. When “Oh, it’s you.” She recognized he drew in beside her, however, him easily enough. They were she took to the wasteland at the on an open road in bright moon- side of the road, running once light. There was no sign or sound more. of the sea. “Stop!” Marcel shouted. “Stop “Yes. We’re about fifty miles and we’ll talk it over.” from Cannes — that’s forty miles Already the girl was almost from the nearest human habita- out of sight. tion.” “And what,” she demanded ATarcel got out of the ca; and hotly, “is the idea?” ran after her. He was angry “I just want to make sure that and baffled. She hadn’t even when the Mercury leaves, you tried to discuss the matter with won’t be on it. I think I’ve made him, hadn’t bothered to ask him sure of that already, for the car’s to drive her back to Cannes. It practically out of gas and it was as if she regarded him as won’t be easy to find any more. insane — not dangerous, not im- I’m sorry I had to kidnap— you, portant, just a harmless, slightly but I had to be certain irritating lunatic. Before he could stop her she Well, he’d catch her and make was out of the car and running her discuss the matter. back the way they had come. Catching her wasn’t so easy. Marcel, taken aback, did noth- Once or twice he came close, and ing at all for several seconds. He then she pulled away from him had assumed that there would be again. Soon he realized that he a great deal more discussion be- had already lost his chance of fore any action was taken — catching her. In the first few possibly acrimonious discussion, minutes he might have done so but still discussion. The way by expending all his energy. But Stella made up her mind and Stella’s stamina was greater than acted took him by surprise. She his. had heard him say that they were She might let him come close, forty miles from the nearest hab- seeing no need to waste her en- itation. She didn’t intend to at- ergy. She had no intention of tempt forty miles on foot, did letting him catch her. she? The next time he came close Presently he turned the car enough, Marcel gasped: “All and drove back. Within a few right, I’ll take you back.”

30 GALAXY She stopped and turned, She looked at him with pity. watching him warily from fif- “I know jjpu do. But you can’t * teen yards’ distance. get it by taking it — any more “If,” Marcel went on, “you than a cannibal can acquire talk things over first.” bravery by eating his enemy’s “There’s nothing to talk over,” heart. You can o. y get it by she retorted. “I’m going back to having it.” Cannes. Don’t think I can’t find “With you, I’d be a different it. I’ll find the sea and work my man.” way along it. Tom will wait for “Don’t delude yourself. Tom’s me, even if it takes me a year. having a party right now with He has to.” Roya. He’s satisfied. If a man “Has to?” really is a man, he doesn’t need “What sort of reception do a woman to give him backbone. you think he’d get if he went If he isn’t, she can’t anyway.” home without me?” Marcel tried not to be con- Marcel hadn’t considered that. vinced, but the fact that Tom Now that she mentioned it, it was satisfied with Roya was hard was obviously something he to get around. should have considered. His plan Stella came closer still. “Don’t had been based on Tom’s firm try anything else,” she warned. declaration that 'the Mercury “Anyway, you were wasting your would remain only three days on time.” Earth. Marcel had thought, rath- “What do you mean?” er ingenuously, that if he kept “That if it came to a fight, I’d Stella out of the way for three win.” days Tom would leave without “I’m stronger than you.” her. She shrugged. “Want a demon- “All right,” he sighed. “We’ll stration? We both know what go back.” you want. Take it.” She came a little nearer. “I When he touched her, she don’t blame you for trying,” she caught his wrist and the next said, not unkindly, “even though moment he found himself on his it lets me in for a long walk. back. What is it, do I inflame you with “Try again,” she invited coolly. passion or something?” He said, “No, I’m convinced.” “That too,” he sighed. “But He was more than convinced. it’s more than that, and I wasn’t He was hurt. just thinking of myself. We need They didn’t have to walk after your spirit.” all. The car took them to the

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 31 nearest village before running “What’s Aidan?” Marcel asked. out of gas, and there Stella, not “A planet. Not an important Marcel, found more. He would world. Like Earth, only more so. have been content to sniff All anybody can say about ” around a filling-station and give Aidan is ‘Who cares?’ up if no fuel was readily ob- They didn’t know what he tainable. She found her way meant, and said so. down to the underground tanks “Well, what does it matter and bored a hole in the bottom where people come from, any- of one of them. way? I was born on a world called Pradis, and because it’s A /Tarcel didn’t try anything cold I like hot worlds. I like

-* else. The fact that Tom this one. At least, I like this bit spent all his spare time with of this one. I don’t owe Pradis Roya filled Marcel with gloom, any debt. Who cares whether I not because he was jealous but ever go back there or not? You because this seemed to prove that people have some cockeyed the fault lay in him, not Roya, ideas. . . Why should anyone that Stella was right when she come back here, anyway?” said that no woman could give “Because this is the mother a man backbone. world,” said Dion patiently. Just before they left for the “Didn’t I tell you about next world on their list, Tom Aidan?” and Stella talked to Dion, Mar- “No, you didn’t,” said Stella, cel, Selba and Roya in the ship. taking a hand. “Aidan’s a world “You’ve certainly got some just like this. The few thousand kind of a fixation, you people,” people there think the whole Tom said. “I’ve only seen one galaxy should honor her because worse case.” the human race evolved there.” “Fixation?” Marcel queried. “But they didn’t,” Selba said “About being old and finish- coldly. “Earth is the mother ed. About being the cradle of world.” the galaxy and being abandoned “Can’t be,” Tom said definite- by your ungrateful children and ly. “Your history only goes back all that.” about twenty thousand years. “That’s not a fixation,” said Aidan’s creative period was Dion sadly. “It’s true.” about ninety thousand years ago. “Nuts,” said Tom rudely. I don’t know whether Aidan “Didn’t we tell you about Aidan? colonized this world directly or Maybe we didn’t, at that.” indirectly, but there’s no doubt

32 GALAXY .

at all that they’re older than “Wait a minute,” Marcel sai«T you.” slowly. “Aidan. We’ve never “And they show it,” Stella re- heard of it, have we? What marked. “You’re old, but the about Eden? Maybe there’s people of Aidan are senile.” something in this story after all." “Older than us?” said Dion, puzzled. VII “Much older. They keep threatening to die out, as if the X^Then the Mercury had left, ” whole galaxy would collapse if the Rivierans found some they did. But they don’t manage further information about Aid- to die out, because every few cen- an, but not much, among the turies they become too lazy to data Tom Piggott had left. practice birth control any more.” Apparently there was such a “This is a lie,” said Selba icily. world. And it claimed to be the “For reasons of your own, you’ve cradle of the human race. And invented a world called Aidan.” nobody cared. . “To justify yourselves in re- At the next Council meeting fusing to help us,” said Dion. ar new rule was passed — any “It’s only to be expected. Young member who missed three meet- worlds have no time for the old.” ings running without an excuse Tom protested laughingly. would be suspended. “Give me one good reason why A labor force was organized to we should invent a planet that renovate the public service un- doesn’t exist.” dertakings like electricity, water “I’ve given you it,” Dion re- and sewage. First in Cannes, torted. “To justify yourselves in then San Remo, then Monte, refusing to help us.” then Nice. “What justifies you in refusing The first issue for five years to help Aidan?” of the Riviera Times came out. They blinked at him. “We This one was made necessary by can’t,” Selba said, “and any- the quantity and vehemence of way. . things which had to be said She stopped. about the visit of the Mercury

“And anyway, why should and all that came out of it. you?” Tom said easily. “Of The sober editorial simply course. Who cares about Aidan pointed out that if the rest of anyway?” the galaxy believed Aidan was “It’s a lie,” Selba said. “All a the birthplace of the human lie.” race, and didn’t care, Earth

GRANDMOTHER EARTH 33 . could not expect much attention might not be ready yet to rejoin now or in the future. the mad rush to colonize the gal- And already there were many axy; but at least she could colo- signs that Earth might not need nize Earth. charity after all. Well, it was a bit ridiculous, wasn’t it, to be Tust after the Mercury was complaining of your age when clear of Earth’s atmosphere your mother was still alive. and before they took to the sus- Especially when she spent so pended-animation tanks, Stella

much time complaining. . said: “I don’t think it’s going Naro’s son set up a still and to work.” began making whisky. Some said “Sure it’s going to work,” said this was a retrograde step. But Tom confidently. “Leave it to as the alcohol consumption went your Uncle Tom. I may as well up, so did the number of births. be your uncle — there doesn’t The two things might not, of seem much chance of any other course, be connected. relationship.” ' Crime went up, and this was “You should worry. After certainly a retrograde step. How- practically a honeymoon with ever, it could no longer be said yojir Terran popsy.” that nobody cared about any- “Anyway, it’s certainly going thing. People cared a great deal to work. You can’t wallow in about a great many things. Mar- your great age if you know cel nearly landed in serious there’s someone older than you.” trouble himself after a fight over “But there isn’t. We invented Roya. The child she was going Aidan. It’s another artificial so- to have was* his, not Tom Pig- lution to their self-imposed prob- gott’s. The man who said other-, lem. Just another, like the scores wise very nearly died for saying of others they’ve been trying un- it. successfully for years.” A scheme was afoot to sail “Artificial maybe,” said Tom across the Atlantic, and colonize complacently, “but the point is the New World. While this wa$ it’s an outside solution. You agreed to be a trifle ambitious can’t raise yourself by your own as yet, the plan found general bootstraps — but somebody else favor. There was an urge in all can!"

communities to colonize. . . Earth — j. t. McIntosh

34 GALAXY l A BAD DAY FOR VERMIN BY KEITH LAUMER

They came in friendship and love. They couldn't help the way they looked

Judge Carter Gates of the not unlike a large violet cater- " Third Circuit Court finished pillar undulated into view. his chicken salad on whole Judge Gates whirled to the wheat, thoughtfully crumpled telephone. Half an hour later, the waxed paper bag and turned he put it to the officials gather- to drop it in the waste basket ed with him in a tight group behind his chair — and sat trans- on the lawn. fixed. “Boys, this thing is intelligent; Through his second-floor of- any fool can see that. It’s putting fice window, he saw a forty-foot together what my boy assures flower-petal shape of pale tur- me is some kind of talking ma- quoise settling gently between chine, and any minute now it’s the well -tended petunia beds on going to start communicating. the court-house lawn. On the up- It’s been twenty minutes since I per, or stem end of the vessel, a notified Washington on this translucent pink panel popped thing. It won’t be long before up and a slender, graceful form somebody back there decides this

35 ”

is top secret and slaps a freeze and trousers and rimless glasses on us here that will make the and with a dark leather holster Manhattan Project look like a slapping his hip at each step, publicity campaign. Now, I say cleared the end of the front row this is the biggest thing that ever of seats, planted himself, feet happened to Plum County — but apart, yanked a heavy nickel- if we don’t aim to be put right plated .44 revolver from the hol- out of the picture, we’d better ster, took aim and fired five move fast.” shots into the body of the Fianna “What you got in mind, Jedge?” at a range of ten feet. “I propose we hold an open The violet form whipped con- hearing right here in the court- vulsively, writhed from the house, the minute that thing gets bench to the floor with a sound its gear to working. We’ll put it like a wet fire hose being on the air — Tom Clembers from dropped, uttered a gasping twit- the radio station’s already string- ter, and lay still. The gunman ing wires, I see. Too bad we’ve turned, dropped the pistol, threw got no TV equipment, but Jody up his hands, and called: Hurd has a movie camera. We’ll “Sheriff Hoskins, I’m puttin put Willow Grove on the map myself in yer perfective custody.” bigger’n Cape Canaveral ever was.” 'T'here was a moment of stun- “We’re with you on that,' Car- ned silence; then a rush of ter!” spectators for the alien. The Ten minutes after the melodi- sheriffs three - hundred - and - ous voice of the Fianna’s trans- nine-pound bulk bellied through lator had requested escort to the the shouting mob to take up a village headman, the visitor was stand before the khaki-clad man. looking over the crowded court- “I always knew you was a room with an expression remini- mean one, Cecil Stump,” he said, scent of a St Bernard puppy unlimbering handcuffs, “ever hoping for a romp. The rustle since I seen you makin’ up them of feet and throat-clearing sub- ground-glass baits for Joe Pot- sided and the speaker began: ter’s dog. But I never thought • “People of the—Green World, I’d see you turn to cold-blooded happy the cycle murder.” He waved at the by- Heads turned at the clump of standers. “Clear a path through feet coming down the side aisle; here; I’m takin’ my prisoner a heavy-torsoed man of middle over to the jail.” age, bald, wearing a khaki shirt “Jest a dad-blamed minute, 36 GALAXY ” . ” ”

Sheriff.” Stump’s face was pale, Any law against Cecil Stump ?” his glasses were gone and one killing the . . . uh . . . khaki shoulder strap dangled — The judge thrust out his lower but what was almost a grin twist- lip. “Well, let’s see,” he began. ed one meaty cheek. He hid his “Technically— hands behind his back, leaned “Good Lord!” someone blurt- away from the cuffs. “I don’t ed. “You mean the laws on mur- like that word ‘prisoner’. I ast der don’t define —what constitutes you fer perfection. And better —I mean, what look out who you go throwin’ “What a humem is?” Stump that word ‘murder’ off at, too. I snorted. “Whatever it says, it ain’t murdered nobody.” sure-bob don’t include no purple The sheriff blinked, turned to worms. That’s a varmint, pure roar, “How’s the victim, Doc?” and simple. Ain’t no different A small gray head rose from killin’ it than any other critter.” bending over the limp form of “Then, by God, we’ll get him the Fianna. “Deader’n a mack- for malicious damage,” a man erel, Sheriff.” called. “Or hunting without a

“I guess that’s it. Let’s go, license — out of season!” “ Cecil.” — carrying concealed weap- “What’s the charge?” ons!” “First degree murder.” Stump went for his hip pocket, “Who’d I murder?” fumbled out a fat, shapeless

“Why, you killed this here . . "wallet, extracted a thumbed rec- this stranger.” tangle of folded paper, offered

“That ain’t no stranger. That’s it. a varmint. Murder’s got to do “I’m a licensed exterminator. with killin’ humems, way I un- Got a permit to carry the gun, derstand it. You goin’ to tell me too. I ain’t broken no law.” He that thing’s humem?” grinned openly now. “Jest doin’ Ten people shouted at once: my job, Sheriff. And at no “ — human as I am!” charge to the county.” “— intelligent being!” “ — tell me you can simply \ smaller man with bristly red kill—” hair flared his nostrils at “— must be some kind of Stump. “You blood-thirsty law— idiot!” He raised a fist and shook

The sheriff raised his hands, it. “We’ll be a national disgrace his jowls drawn down in a scowl. — worse than Little Rock! “What about it, Judge Gates? Lynching’s too good for you!”

A BAD DAY FOR VERMIN 37 “Hold on there, Weinstein,” broken no law, ain’t none of the sheriff cut in. “Let’s not go these law-abiding folks going to gettin’ no lynch talk started.” do anything illegal — like tryin’ “Lynch, is it!” Cecil Stump to get rough with a licensed ex- bellowed, his face suddenly red. terminator just doin’ his job.” “Why, I done a favor for every He stooped, retrieved his gun. man here! Now you listen to “Here, I’ll take that,” Sheriff me! What is that thing over Hoskins said. “You can consider there?” He jerked a blunt thumb your gun license canceled — and toward the judicial bench. “It’s your exterminatin’ license, too.” some kind of critter from Mars Stump grinned again, handed or someplace — you know that the revolver over. as well as me! And what’s it “Sure. I’m cooperative, Sher- here for? It ain’t for the good iff. Anything you say. Send it of the likes of you and me, I can around to my place when you’re tell you that. It’s them or us. done with it.” He pushed his way And this time, by God, we got through the crowd to the corri- in the first lick!” dor door.

“Why you . . . you . . . hate- “The rest of you stay put!” a monger!” portly man with a head of bushy “Now, hold on right there. I’m white hair pushed his way as liberal-minded as the next through to the bench. “I’m call- feller. Hell, I like a nigger — ing an emergency Town Meet- and I can’t hardly tell a Jew ing to order here and now!” from a white man. But when it comes to takin’ in a damned pur- TTe banged the gavel on the ple worm and callin’ it humem -*• scarred bench top, glanced —that’s where I draw the line.” down at the body of the dead Sheriff Hoskins pushed be- alien, now covered by a flag. tween Stump and the surging “Gentlemen, we’ve got to take front rank of the crowd. “Stay fast action. If the wire services back there! I want you to dis- get hold of this before we’ve perse, peaceably, and let the law gone on record. Willow Grove’ll handle this.” be a blighted area.” “I reckon I’ll push off now, “Look here, Willard,” Judge Sheriff,” Stump hitched up his Gates called, rising. “This — this belt. “I figgered you might have mob isn’t competent to take legal to calm ’em down right at first, action.” but now they’ve had a chance “Never mind what’s legal, to think it over and see I ain’t Judge. Sure, this calls for Fed- 38 GALAXY ” ” .

eral legislation — maybe a Con- with . . . ah . . . creatures from stitutional amendment — but in other worlds, we’ve got to get the meantime, we’re going to re- our house in order.” define what constitutes a person “You tell ’em, Senator!” some- within the incorporated limits of one yelled. Willow Grove!” “We better leave this for Con- “That’s the least we can do,” gress to figger out!” another a thin-faced woman snapped, voice insisted. glaring at Judge Gates. “Do you “We got to do something. think we’re going to set here and The senator held up his hands. condone this outrage?” “Quiet, everybody. There’ll be “Nonsense!” Gates shouted. “I reporters here in a matter of don’t like what happened any minutes. Maybe our ordinance better than you do — but a per- won’t hold water. But it’ll start son — well, a person’s got two ’em thinking — and it’ll make a arms and two legs and— lots better copy for Willow “Shape’s got nothing to do Grove than the killing.” with it,” the chairman cut in. “What you got in mind, Sena- “Bears walk on two legs! Dave tor?” Zawocky lost his in the war. “Just this:” the Senator said

Monkeys have hands.” solemnly. “A person is . . . any — .” “Any intelligent creature harmless creature . . the woman started. Feet shuffled. Someone cough- “Nope, that won’t do, either; ed. my unfortunate cousin’s boy “What about a man who com- Melvin was born an imbecile, mits a violent act, then?” Judge poor lad. Now, folks, there’s no Gates demanded. “What’s he, time to waste. We’ll find it very eh?” difficult to formulate a satisfac- “That’s obvious, gentlemen,” tory definition based on consid- the senator said flatly. “He’s erations such as these. However, vermin.” I think we can resolve the ques- tion in terms that will form a /"'vn the courthouse steps Cecil basis for future legislation on ^ Stump stood, hands in hip the question. It’s going to make pockets, talking to a reporter some big changes in things. Hun- from the big-town paper in Mat- ters aren’t going to like it — and toon, surrounded by a crowd of the meat industry will be affect- late-comers who had missed the

ed. But if, as it appears, we’re excitement inside. He described entering into an era of contact the accuracy of his five shots.

A BAD DAY FOR VERMIN 39 the sound they had made hitting snorted. “Can’t touch me with the big blue snake, and the ludi- no ex post factory law.” crous spectacle the latter had “— and also what can be clas- presented in its death agony. He sified as vermin,” Custis went on. winked at a foxy man in over- Stump closed his mouth with alls picking his nose at the edge a snap. of the crowd. “Here, that s’posed to be some “Guess it’ll be a while ’fore kind of slam at me, Custis? By .” any more damned reptiles move God, come election time. . in here like they owned the Above, the door opened again. place,” he concluded. A tall man in a leather jacket The courthouse doors banged stepped out, stood looking down. wide; excited citizens poured The crowd pressed back. Senator forth, veering aside from Cecil Custis and the reporter moved Stump. The crowd around him aside. The newcomer came down thinned, broke up as its mem- the steps slowly. He carried Cecil bers collared those emerging Stump’s nickel-plated .44 in his with the hot news. The reporter hand. picked a target. Standing alone now, Stump “Perhaps you’d care to give watched him. me a few details of the action “Here,” he said. His voice car- taken by the . . . ah . . . Special ried a sudden note of strain. Committee, sir?” “Who’re you?” Senator Custis pursed his lips. The man reached the foot of “A session of the Town Council the steps, raised the revolver and was called,” he said. “We’ve de- cocked it with a thumb. fined what a person is in this “I’m the new exterminator,” town—” he said. Stump, standing ten feet away, — KEITH LAUMER

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I ety of Secretaries, selected by vote of the appropriate Councils. nphe year was 2346, and Earth, An independent Judiciary up- at the time, was a political held the laws. democracy. A unified Earth sent colonists The population was ruled by to the stars. Back came strange the Over-Council and, in order tales and improbable animals. of decreasing importance, by Back, too, came word of a bur- Councils, and Local Councils. geoning technological civiliza- Each was composed of repre- tion on the planet Itra, peopled sentatives duly apportioned by by entirely humanoid aliens. popular vote between the two Earth felt it would be wise for contending parties. Executive di- Itra to join in a Galactic Federa- rection was provided by a vari- tion and accordingly, submitted

41 . the terms of such a mutually ad- “Some day,” Old Tom said at vantageous agreement. last, “I’m going to take my leave

The Itraians declined. . of this. Yes, gentle Jesus! Oh, when I think of all the souls pace Captain Merle S. Shaef- still refusing to admit our pre- S fer, the youngest and perhaps cious Savior, what bitterness, oh, the most naive pilot for Trans- what sorrow is my wealth to me! Universe Transport, was called Look down upon the teeming unexpectedly to the New York millions below us. How many office of the company. know not the Lord? Yes, some When Capt. Shaeffer entered morning, I will forsake all this the luxurious eightieth story and go out into the streets to suite, Old Tom Twilmaker, the spend my last days bringing the President of TUT, greeted him. words of hope to the weary and With an arm around his shoul- oppressed. Are you a Christian, der, Old Tom led Capt. Shaeffer Merle?” to an immense inner office and General Reuter cracked his introduced him to a General knuckles nervously while Capt. Reuter, identified as the Chair- Shaeffer muttered an embar- man of the Interscience Com- rassed affirmative. mittee of the Over-Council. “I am a deeply religious man,” No one else was present. With Old Tom continued. “I guess the door closed, they were iso- you’ve heard that, Merle?” lated in Olympian splendor “Yes sir,” Capt. Shaeffer said. above and beyond the affairs of “But did you know that the men. Here judgments were final Lord has summoned you here to- and impartial. Capt. Shaeffer, in day?” Old Tom asked. the presence of two of the men “No, sir,” Capt. Shaeffer said. highest in the ruling councils of “General Reuter, here, is a Earth, was reduced to incoherent dear friend. We’ve known each awe. other, oh, many years. Distantly General Reuter moved about related through our dear wives, restlessly. Old Tom was serene in fact. And we serve on the and beatific. same Board of Directors and the

• When they were seated. Old same Charity Committees. . . A Tom swiveled around and gazed few weeks ago, when he asked long in silence across the spires me for a man, I called for your of the City. Capt. Shaeffer wait- file. Merle. I made discreet in- ed respectfully. General Reuter quiries. Then I got down on my fidgetted. knees and talked it over with 42 GALAXY ”

God for, oh, it must have been "I learned Spanish and Rus- all of an hour. I asked, ‘Is this sian at TUT PS,” Capt. Shaeffer the man?’ And I was given a said apologetically. “I’m sup- sign. Yes! At that moment, a posed to have a real high apti- shaft of sunlight broke through tude in languages, according to the clouds!” some tests I took. In case we should meet intelligent aliens, eneral Reuter had continued TUT gives them.” G his n e r'v o u s movements “You got no association with throughout the speech. For the crackpot organizations, anything first time, he spoke. “Good God, like that?” General Reuter ask- Tom, serve us a drink.” He turn- ed. “You’re either a good Liber- ed to Capt. Shaeffer. “A little al-Conservative or Radical-Pro- drink now and then helps a gressive, aren’t you? I don’t care man relax. I’ll just have mine which. I don’t believe in prying straight, Tom.” into a man’s politics.” Old Tom studied Capt. Shaef- “I never belonged to any- fer. “I do not feel the gentle thing,” Capt. Shaeffer said. Master approves of liquor.” “Oh, I can assure you, that’s “Don’t try to influence him,” been checked out very, very General Reuter said. “You’re thoroughly,” Old Tom said. embarrassing the boy.” The General signaled for an- “I—” Capt. Shaeffer began. other drink. With a sigh of ex- “Give him the drink. If he asperation, Old Tom complied. doesn’t want to drink it, he “Bob,” Old Tom said, “I really won’t have to drink it.” think you’ve had enough. Please, Sighing, Old Tom poured two now. Our Master counsels mod- bourbons from the bar in back eration.” of his desk and passed them over. “Damn it, Tom,” the General Martyrdom sat heavily upon his said and turned back to the space brow. pilot. “May have a little job for After a quick twist of the wrist you.” and an expert toss of the head, Old Tom shook his head at General Reuter returned an emp- the General, cautioning him. ty glass. “Don’t mind if I do “Actually,” the General said, have another,” he said. He was ignoring the executive, “we’ll be already less restless. sort of renting you from TUT. “How’s your ability to pick up In a way you’ll still be working languages?” General Reuter for them. I can get a million asked. dollars out of the—

SHAMAR'S WAR 43 44 GALAXY “Bob!” “ — unmarked appropriation if it goes in in TUT’s name. No questions asked. National De- fense. I couldn’t get anywhere near that much for an individual for a year. It gives us a pie to slice. We were talking about it before you came in. How does a quarter of a million dollars a year sound to you?” “When it comes to such mat- ters,” Old Tom interjected hast- ily, “I think first of the oppor- tunities they bring to do good.” The General continued, “Now you know, Merle. And this is serious. I want you to listen to me. Because this comes under World Security laws, and I'm go- ing to bind you to them. You know what that means? You’ll be held responsible.” “Yes, sir,” Merle said, swal- lowing stiffly. “I understand.” “Good. Let’s have a drink on that.”

(( T)lease be quiet, General,” -* Old Tom said. “Let me ex- plain. You see, Merle, the Inter- science Committee was recently directed to consider methods for creating a climate of opinion on Itra — of which I’m sure you’ve heard — which would be favor- able to the proposed Galactic Federation.” “Excuse me,” General Reuter said. “They don’t have a demo- SOHfJ 4/WM - 43 SHAMAR'S WAR 45 cracy. like we do. They don’t the menace of Itra across to the have any freedom like we do. I voters. Then, maybe fifteen, have no doubt the average what- twenty years. . . Let’s just take everyoucallem — Itraians, I one thing. We don’t have any- guess — the average gooks — where near enough troop trans- would be glad to see us come in ports to carry out the occupa- and just kick the hell out of tion of Itra. You know how long whoever is in charge of them.” it takes to build them? My point “Now, General,” Old Tom said is, we may not have that long. more sharply. Suppose Itra should get secret of “But that’s not the whole interstellar drive tomorrow, then thing,” the General continued. where would we be?” “Even fit were right thing to do, Old Tom slammed his fist on an’ I’m not saying isn’t — right the desk. “General, please! The thing to do — there’s log-lo-lo- boy isn’t interested in all that.” gistics. I don’t want to convey The General surged angrily to the impresh, impression that our his feet. “By God, that’s what’s Defense Force people have been wrong with this world today!” wasting money. Never had as he cried. “Nobody’s interested in much as needed, fact. No, it’s Defense. Spend only a measly like this. twenty per cent of the Gross “We have this broad base to World Product on Defense, and buil’ from. Backbone. But we live expect to keep strong! Good in a democracy. Now, Old Tom’s God, Tom, give me a drink!” Liberal-Conservative. And me, Apparently heresy had shocked I’m Radical-Progresshive. But him sober. we agree on one thing: impor- Old Tom explained, “The Gen- tance of strong defense. A lot of eral is a patriot. We all respect people don’ understan’ this. Feel him for it.” we’re already spendin’ more “I understand,” Capt. Shaef- than we can afford. But I want fer said. to ask them, what’s more impor- General Reuter hammered his tant than the defense of our knuckles in rhythm on the table. planet?” “The drink, the drink, the “General, I’m afraid this is drink! You got more in the bot- not entirely germane,” Old Tom tle. I saw it!” said stiffly. Old Tom rolled his eyes Heav- “Never mind that right now. enward and passed the bottle Point is, it will take us long across. “This is all you get. This time to get the serious nature of is all I’ve got.” 46 GALAXY The General held the bottle II up to the light. “Should have brought my own. Let’s hurry up nr'he Itraians spoke a common and get this over with.” language. It was somewhat Old Tom smiled the smile of the guttural and highly inflected. sorely beset and persecuted and Fortunately, the spelling appear- said, “You see, Merle, there’s ed to be phonetic, with only for- massive discontent among the ty-three characters being re- population of Itra. We feel we quired. As near as anyone could should send a man to the planet tell, centuries of worldwide com- to, well, foment change and, uh, munication had eliminated re- hasten the already inevitable gional pecularities. The speech overthrow of the despotic gov- from one part of Itra was not ernment. That man will be strict- distinguishable from that of an- ly on his own. The Government other part. will not be able to back him in Most of the language was re- any way whatsoever once he covered from spy tapes of tele- lands on Itra.” vision programs. A dictionary The General had quickly fin- was compiled laborously by a ished the bottle. “You she,” he special scientific task force of interrupted, “there’s one thing the Over-Council. The overall they can’t fight, an’ that’s an program was directed and ad- idea. Jus’ one man goes to Itra ministered by Intercontinental with the idea of Freedom, that’s Iron, Steel, Gas, Electricity, Au- all it’ll take. How many men did tomobiles and Synthetics, In- it take to start the ’Merican Rev- corporated. olution? Jefferson. The Russian It took Shaeffer just short of Revolution? Marx!” three years to speak Itraian suf- “Yes,” Old Tom said. “One de- ficiently well to convince non- dicated man on Itra, preaching Itraians that he spoke without the ideas of Liberty—liberty accent. with responsibility and property The remainder of his training rights under one God. That man program was administered by a can change a world.” Exhausted variety of other large industrial by the purity of his emotions, concerns. The training was con- Old Tom sat back gasping to ducted at a Defense Facility. await the answer. At the end of his training, “A quarter of a million dol- Shaeffer was taken by special lars a year?” Capt. Shaeffer ask- bus to the New Mexican space ed at length. port. A ship waited. SHAMAR'S WAR 47 The car moved smoothly from clothing. Capt. Merle S. Shaeffer the Defense Force Base, down became Shamar the Worker. the broad sixteen-lane highway, In addition to his jump equip- through the surrounding slum ment, an oxygen cylinder, a face area and into Grants. mask and a shovel, he carried Sight of the slums gave Shaef- with him eighty pounds of coun- fer mixed emotions. terfeit Itraian currency ... all It was not a feeling of superi- told, forty thousand individual ority to the inhabitants; those bills of various denominations. he had always regarded with a Earth felt this would be all he circumspect indifference. The needed to survive in a techno- slums were there. He supposed logically advanced civilization. they always would be there. But His plan was as follows: now, for the first time in his life, 1. He was to land in a sparse- he could truly say that he had ly inhabited area on the larger escaped their omnipresent threat masses. once and for all. He felt relief 2. He was to procure trans- and guilt. portation to Xxla, a major city, During the last three years, he equivalent to London or Tokyo. had earned $750,000. It was the headquarters for the As a civilian stationed on a Party. Defense Force Base, he had, of 3. He was to establish resi- course, to pay for his clothing, dence in the slum area surround- his food and his lodging. But ing the University of Xxla. the charge was nominal. Since 4. Working through student he had been given only infre- contacts, he was to ingratiate quent and closely supervised himself with such rebel intellect- leaves, he had been able to uals as could be found. spend, altogether, only $12,000. 5. Once his contacts were se- Which meant that now, after cure, he was to assist in the pre- taxes, he had accumulated in his paration of propaganda and es- savings account a total of nearly tablish a clandestine press for $60,000 awaiting his return from its production. Itra. 6. As quickly as the operation was self-sufficient, he was to Qhaeffer’s ship stood off Itra move on to another major city while he prepared to disem- — and begin all over. bark. The ship descended into the In his cramped quarters, he atmosphere. The bell rang. Sha- dressed himself in Itraian-style mar the Worker seated himself. 48 GALAXY put on his oxygen mask and sig- on the ground and cursed in naled his readiness. He breathed English. oxygen. The ship quivered, the At length he bundled up the door fell away beneath him and chute and removed all of the he was battered unconscious by packages of money but the one the slipstream. disguised as a field pack. He Five minutes later, pinwheel- used the shovel to dig a shallow ing lazily in free fall, he opened grave at the base of a tree. He his eyes. For an instant’s panic interred the chute, the oxygen he could not read the altimeter. cylinder, the mask, the shovel Then seeing that he was safe, he and scooped dirt over them with noted his physical sensations. He his hands. was extremely cold. Gyrating He sat down and unlaced his wildly, he beat his chest to re- shoe and found his ankle badly store circulation. swollen. Distant, unfamiliar He stabilized his fall by odors filled him with apprehen- stretching out his hands. He sion and he started at the slight- floated with no sensation of est sound. movement. Itra was overhead, Dawn was breaking. falling up at him slowly. He turned his back to the planet Ill and checked the time. Twelve minutes yet to go. X Toting his bearings carefully, He spent, in all, seventeen ^ he hobbled painfully west- minutes in free fall. At 2000 feet, ward, with thirty pounds of he opened his parachute. The money on his back. He would sound was like an explosion. intersect the major North-South He floated quietly, recovering Intercontinental highway by at from the shock. He removed his least noon. oxygen mask and tasted the alien Two hours later, he came to air. He sniffed several times. It a small plastic cabin in a clear- was not unpleasant. ing at the edge of a forest. Below was darkness. Then sud- Wincing now with each step, denly the ground came floating he made his way to the door. up and hit him. He knocked. The terrain was irregular. He There was a long wait. fought the chute to collapse it, The door opened. A girl stood tripped, and twisted his ankle before him in a dressing gown. painfully. She frowned and asked, “Itsil The chute lay quiet and he sat obwatly jei gekompilp?”

SHAMAR'S WAR 49 Hearing Itarian spoken by a “Good coffee,” he said. native in the flesh had a power- “Thank you. Care for a ciga- ful emotional impact on Sha- rette?” mar the Worker. “I sure would.” Stumblingly, he introduced He had no matches, so she lit himself and explained that he it for him, hovering above him was camping out. During the a moment, leaving with him the previous night he had become fresh odor of her hair. lost and injured his ankle. If The taste of the cigarette was she could spare him food and di- mild. Rather surprisingly, it sub- rections, he would gladly pay. stituted for nicotine and allayed With a smile of superiority, the sharp longing that had come she stepped aside and said in with the coffee. Itraian, “Come in, Chom the “Let’s look at your ankle,” she Worker.” said. She knelt at his feet and He felt panic, but he choked began to unlace the right shoe. it back and followed her. Ap- “My, it’s swollen,” she said sym- parently he had horribly mis- pathetically. pronounced his own name. It He winced as she touched it was as though, in English he had and then he reddened with em- said Barchestershire for Barset. barrassment. He had been walk- He cursed whatever Professor ing across dusty country. He had picked that name for what- drew back the foot and bent to ever obscure reason. restrain her. “Sit down,” she invited. “I’m Playfully she slapped his hand

about to have breakfast. Eggs away. “You sit I’ll — back! get it. and bacon ” the Itraian equi- I’ve seen dirty feet before.” valent — “if that’s all right with She pulled off the shoe and you. I’m Garfling Germadpoldlt peeled off the sock. “Oh, God, by the way, although you can it is swollen,” she said. “You call me Ge-Ge.” think it’s broken, Shamar?” The food was quite unpleas- “Just sprained.” ant, as though overly ripe. He “I’ll get some hot water with

was able to choke down the eggs some MedAid in it, and that’ll with the greatest difficulty. For- take the swelling out.” tunately, the hot drink that was When he had his foot in the the equivalent of Earth coffee water, she sat across from him at the end of the meal, was suf- and arranged her dressing gown ficently spicy to quiet his stom- with a coquettish gesture. She ach. caught him staring at the ear- 50 GALAXY ring, and one hand went to it “No,” he said hollowly. caressingly. She smiled that uni- “They’ll behead you.” versal feminine smile of security and recklessness, of invitation he laughed, not unkindly. “If and rejection. S you could see yourself! How “You’re engaged,” he noted. ridiculous you look, Shamar. I She opened her eyes wide and wonder what your real name is, studied him above a thumbnail by the way? Sitting with a foot which she tasted with her teeth. in the water and looking wildly “I’m engaged to Von Stutsman about. Here, let me fix more cof- —” as the name might be trans- fee and we can talk.” lated — “perhaps you’ve heard of She called cheerily over her him? He’s important in the shoulder, “You’re safe here. No Party. You know him?” one will be by. I’m not due back “No.” until Tuesday.” “You in the Party?” she said. She brought him a steaming She was teasing him now. Then, mug. “Drink this while I dress.” suddenly: “Neither am I, but I She disappeared into the bed- guess I’ll have to join if I be- room. He heard the shower run- come Mrs. Von Stutsman.” ning. They were silent for a moment. He sat waiting, numb and des- Then she spoke, and he was perate, and drank the coffee be- frozen in terror, all thoughts but cause it was there. His thoughts of self-preservation washed from scampered in the cage of his his mind. skull like mice on a treadmill. “Your accent is unbelieveably When Ge-Ge came back, he bad,” she said. had still not resolved the con- “I’m from Zuleb,” he said flict within him. She stood bare- lamely, at last. foot upon the rug and looked “Meta — Gelwhops — or even down at him, hunched miserably Karkeqwol, that makes no dif- over the pan of water, now luke- ference. Nobody on Itra speaks warm. like you do. So you must be from “How’s the foot?” that planet that had the Party in “All right.” a flap several years ago — Earth, “Want to take it out?” isn’t it?” “I guess.” He said nothing. “I’ll get a towel.” “Do you know what they’ll do She waited until he had dried when they catch you?” she the foot and restored the sock asked. and shoe. The swelling was gone.

SHAMAR'S WAR 51 He stood up and put his weight turned away from him. “But of on it. He smiled wanly. “It’s course, that’s neither here nor okay now. It’s not broken, I there, is it? I never imagined guess.” an adventurer type would look She gestured him to the sofa. like you. You have such a soft, He complied. honest voice. As a little girl, I “What’s in the field pack?” pictured myself being carried she asked. “Money? How off by a tanned desert sheik on much?” She moved toward it. a camel; and oh, he was lean He half rose to stop her, but by and handsome! With dark flash- then she had it partly open. ing eyes and murderously heavy “My,” she said, bringing out a lips and hands like iron! Well, thick sheaf of bills. She rippled that’s life, I guess.” She stood and them sensuously. “Pretty. Very, paced the room. “Let me think. very pretty.” She examined them We’ll pick up a flyer in Zelonip for texture and appearance. when we catch the bus next “They look good, Shamar. Ill Tuesday. How much does the bet it would cost ten million money weigh?” dollars in research on paper and “Eighty pounds.” ink and presses to do this kind “I can carry about 10 pounds of a job. Only another govern- in my bag. You can take your ment has got that kind of money field pack. How much is in it? to throw around.” She tossed the Thirty pounds? That’ll leave currency carelessly beside him about forty which we can ship and came to sit at his side. through on extra charges. Then, She took his hand. Her hand when we get to Xxla, I can hide was warm and gentle. “Tell me, you out in an apartment over Shamar,” she said. “Tell me all on the East side.” about it.” “Why would you run a risk So this is how easily spies are like that for me?” he asked. trapped in real life, Shamar told himself with numb disbelief. Qhe brushed the hair from her

The story came out slowly and ^ face. “Let’s say — what? I hesistantly at first. She said don’t really think you can make nothing until he had finished. it, because it’s so hopeless. But “And that’s all? You really maybe, just maybe, you might believe that, don’t you? And I be one of the rare ones who, if guess your government does, too. he plays his cards right, can beat That all we need is just some the system. I love to see them little idea or something.” She licked! 52 GALAXY “Well, I’m a clerk. That’s all. “I’ll get married and sit out Just a lowly clerk in one of the there, and I’ll turn the pages of Party offices. I met Von Stuts- the Party magazine and smile man a year ago. This is his cabin. sweetly to myself. Because, you He lets me use it. see, I’ll always be able to lean “He’s older than I am; but forward and say, ‘Dear? Once there’s worse husband material. upon a time, I helped hide an But then again, he’s about to be Earth spy in Xxla.’ And that’ll transferred to one of the big knock that silly and self-satisfied agricultural combines way out look off his face for once. . . Oh, in the boondocks where there’s I don’t know! Let me alone!” no excitement at all. Just little With that, she fled to the bed- old ladies and little old men and room and slammed the door be- peasants having children. hind her. “I’m a city girl. I like Xxla. He could hear her sobbing And if I marry him, all that goes helplessly. up the flue. I’ll be marooned In the afternoon, she came out. with him, God knows where, for He had fallen asleep. She shook years. Stuck, just stuck. him gently to waken him. “Still — he is Von Stutsman, “Eh? Oh! Huh?” He smiled and he’s on his way up. Every- foolishly. one says that. Ten, twenty years, “Wash up in there,” she told he’ll be back to Xxla, and he’ll him. “I’m sorry I blew up on come back on top. you this morning. I’ll cook some- “Oh ... I don’t know what I thing.” want to do! If I marry him, I When he came back, she was can get all the things I’ve always serving them their dinner on wanted. Position, security. He’s steaming platters. older than I am, but he’s really “Look, Ge-Ge,” he said over a nice guy. It’s just that he’s coffee. “You don’t like your gov- dull. He can’t talk about any- ernment. We’ll help you out. thing but Party, Party, Party. There’s this Galactic Federation “That’s what I came out to this idea.” He explained to her the cabin for. To think things over, crr'-s -fertilization of the two cul- to try to get things straightened tures. out. And then you came along. “Shamar, my friend,” she said, Maybe it gives me a chance for “did you see Earth’s proposal? something exciting before I ship There was nothing in it about off to the boondocks. Does that giving us an interstellar drive. make sense to you? We were required to give Earth

SHAMAR'S WAR 53 all transportation franchises. IV The organization you used to work for was to be given, as I Touring the week alone in the remember it, an exclusive ninety- cabin, Ge-Ge fell in love with nine year right to carry all Shamar. Earth-Itra commerce. It was all “Oh, my God!” she cried. covered in the newspapers, didn’t “What will I do when they catch * you see it?” you? I’ll die, Shamar! I couldn’t

Shamar said, “Well, now, I’m bear it. We’ll go to Xxla, we’ll not familiar with the details. I hide away as quietly as two wasn’t keeping up with them. mice, somewhere. We won’t go But I’m sure these things could out. The two of us, alone but be, you know, worked out. May- together, behind closed doors be, for Security reasons, we and drawn shades. Nobody will didn’t want to give you the in- ever know about us. We’ll be terstellar drive right off. but you the invisible people.” can appreciate our logic there. Shamar protested. “I don’t see Once we saw you were, well, like how we can ever be secure un- us, a peace-loving planet, once til something’s done about your you’d changed your government government. As long as you to a democracy, you would see don’t reach some kind of agree- it our way and you’d have no ment with Earth, I’ll be an out- complaints on that score.” law. I’ll be afraid any minute “Let’s not talk politics,” she they’ll tap my shoulder and said wearily. “Maybe it’s what come and take me away. I don’t you say, and I’m just naturally think we could hold up under suspicious. I don’t want to talk that. We’d be at each other in about it.” no time.” “Well, I was just trying to She wept quietly. ” help — The last day in the cabin, they The sentence was interrupted went out and dug up the rest of by a monstrous explosion. the money. The trip to Xxla “Good God!” Shamar cried. took place without incident. Ge- “What was that?” Ge rented an apartment for him, “Oh, that,” Ge-Ge said, shak- and he safely checked in. She ing off the effects. “They were went shopping for food and probably testing one of their clothing. damned automated factories to Thereafter she came nearly see if it was explosion proof every evening. They would eat and it wasn’t.” and she would reveal the incon-

54 GALAXY sequential details of the office if you only had papers so we regime to which she was daily could be married!” exposed. After dinner, they Ge-Ge’s mood, that evening, would sit in the living room and alternated between despair and practice Itraian and neck a little. optimism. In the end, she was Then she would go home. moros and restless. She repeat- One day, after a month of this ed several times, “I just don’t routine, she threw herself into know what’s going to happen to his arms and sobbed, “I gave us.” Von Stutsman back his earring “Ge-Ge,” he said, “I can’t today. It was the only fair thing spend my life in this apartment. to do. I’m afraid he knows about I’ve got to get out.” us. He’s had me watched. I know “You’re mad.” She faced him he has. I admitted it was an- from across the room. She stood other man.” with her legs apart, firmly set. Shamar held her tensely. “Well, I don’t care what happens She broke away. ‘‘You were any more. I can’t stand things born in Zuleb, you suffered am- to go on like they are. I’ll in- nesia, you woke up in a ditch troduce you to some people I one morning without papers. know, since you won’t be happy You’ve been an itinerant work- until I do. But God help us!” ' er since. Things like that hap- pen all the time. You hit a big \ fter approving his accent, lottery ticket a few months ago. which had improved under I told him that. How can he her tutelage, Ge-Ge took him to check it?” a party the following Saturday. “You told him I didn’t have The party was held in an ill- * any papers?” lighted railroad flat. People con- “Millions of people don’t have gregated cross-legged on the any papers — the drifters, bare floor. people that do casual labor, the Shamar listened to a man com- people that don’t work at all. plaining that citizens were be- The thing is, without papers he ing taxed beyond all endurance doesn’t have any way to check to support the enforced automa- on you. Oh, you should have tion program. “They aren’t in- seen his face when I gave him terested in building consumer back his earring. He was abso- goods. They’re interested in lutely livid. I didn’t think he building factories to build con- had it in him. I suppose I’ll sumer goods and blow them up have to quit my job now. Oh, testing them. Or the factories

SHAMAR'S WAR 55 are always obsolete just as soon “Shamar the Worker.” as they finish them, and they “Interesting name,” the host can’t phase into their new pro- said. “Another drink?” duction setup and Hundred Year Later, Shamar found himself Plan.” in an intense conversation with Ge-Ge whispered a warning to a bearded youth of perhaps sev- him to beware of spies. enteeen. “Spies?” “A guy’s responsible for his “The Party,” she said, draw- own conduct, right? Right! I’m ing him to one side. responsible for their conduct? “But — but — you mean the Each man goes to hell in his Party just lets people talk like own way, right? Right! I don’t this?” want anything to do with them.

“Whatever harm does it do?” You can’t do anything about it, she asked. “Everybody benefits man, that’s what I’m telling you. from talking out their aggres- I don’t seem to be getting sions. Now, have another drink through. Don’t you see, it’s a and relax, and Shamar, be care- machine ...” ful! Nobody minds local crack- “But if everybody joined the pots, but nobody wants foreign Party,” Shamar suggested. crackpots!” “So everybody joins? So She led him to another drink what’s new? Okay, you vote in and left him standing with the the Party elections. What do you host. get? You get these two guys run- “Nice party,” Shamar said. ning for office: one is slightly “Thank you,” the host said. “I left of center and one is slightly find it very invigorating. As right of center. And both are long as there’s still people that four-square for the Automated think and that criticize on this Factory Program. Just suppose planet, I feel there’s hope, don’t you did get a radical — suppose you? is This your first time? I they accidentally let one slip don’t recall your face. I have a through? He goes off and they study group that meets Wednes- argue him into line, and when day nights. You’re welcome to he comes back, you say, ‘Like, come. We have very stimulating man, what happened?’ And so discussions about government he tells you, ‘Well, I couldn’t do and politics. Please do come, any anything about it.’ That’s just time you can. Just drop in any what I’m telling you.” time after eight. What was your “I can’t see that,” Shamar name again?” said. “I just don’t believe that.” 56 GALAXY ”

\ t another time, Shamar tried you, work for them!’ And the to explain free elections to a price would go up. See what I female. He was informed, “Man, mean, son? They’d have another just give me a way to cast a vote stick to beat us with.” against all those crumbs — and Later, Shamar found himself then 111 think twice about all seated on the floor across from this guff you’re peddling.” an aesthetic in his late thirties. A sober, scholarly man told “You see, my friend, force and him, “Join the Party? Whatever violence never accomplish their for? You join the Party and stated ends. We must stand firm- you’re expected to spend all your ly on the principle of non-vio- free evenings at rallies and meet- lence.” ings and speeches and in cere- “But that’s taking it laying monial parades in honor of the down,” Shamar protested. ground breaking for a new auto- “No! Sometimes I think it mated factory. No, thank you.” goes to the very core of human Another told him, “You need existence. Perhaps this is the a lesson in economics, son. What central import of all philoso- do you mean by free society? phy: the way things are done is The only way you can run an more important than the ends industrial society is to limit pro- that are obtained.” duction. If you produce enough At that point, Ge-Ge arrived for everybody, the government breathlessly. “Shamar, quickly! would produce itself out of bus- We must go!” iness. Look here. The Party has “Huh? I’m having— this inter- millions of tabulating machines esting little talk of one kind or another clicking She tugged him from the floor. happily away day and night ar- Baffled, he followed her. As he ranging production to fit in- did so, the fighting broke out come distribution. They’ve never in the far corner of the room. been known to goof and produce “Quickly!” she said. “Let’s get a surplus of anything. Why, out of here before the police damn it, if every man, woman come.” and child in the world went out They fought their way, hand to buy a pound of nails apiece, in hand, to the door. There they the shortage of nails would be paused for a moment to look fantastic. But would they pro- back. duce more nails? You know they “It’s a couple of rival socialist wouldn’t. ‘So you want more parties fighting,” she explained nails?’ they’d say. ‘Well, damn breathlessly.

SHAMAR'S WAR 57 “What about?” brushed it away. “Don’t! Let me “God knows. Hurry.” alone!” They were in the street. “Don’t She retired to the other side run, walk,” she cautioned. After of the room. For a moment, and a block, she said, “I didn’t even for no reason, the hostility in need to watch you at the end. the air between them was like Everybody got so drunk nobody ice and fire. noticed you much.” “I’m sorry,” Ge-Ge said curtly. “Even the spies?” “That’s all right,” Shamar “Oh, they always get the said, his voice cold and distant. drunkest.” “Let’s talk about something The siren sounded. else.” “Let’s hurry.” They were silent for a minute. When they arrived at Shamar’s Then he said, “I wanted to ask apartment, she asked, “Well, you. Of all the people I talked what did you think of the to, I couldn’t find anyone who party?” seemed to give a damn, one way “It was an education,” he said or the other, about Earth. Why after a moment. is that? You’d think they’d be at least talking about Earth.” V “Why should they be? We’ve got our own problems.” 'T'he following week Shamar At that point, the police ar- spent many hours walking the rived and took Shamar the streets of Xxla. He tried to con- Worker away. vince himself that the people he had met at the party were not nphey put him in a cell in which representative. there were already three oth- They were. er prisoners. Friday night Ge-Ge announce “What you in for, buddy?” “Shamar, I can’t stand much Shamar studied the prisoner more of this! What’s going to for a moment without answering. happen? What is Von Stutsman His companions looked up. going to do? He’s onto some- “No visible means of sup- thing. I sometimes wish — oh, port,” Shamar said.

God ! — I sometimes wish some- “I’m Long John Freed.” thing would happen so we’d Shamar nodded. know where we stand, so we’d “They’re trying to hook you know what to do!” He tried to for evading the productivity tax, put an arm around her, but she huh?”

58 GALAXY Shamar declined comment Freed settled back on his bunk. “I say take them for all you can. Now, look, you’re a little guy. So they bleed us white. Take a factory manager or an important Black Market operator — you think they pay taxes? You can bet they don’t It’s a racket. The poor pay and pay because they can’t hire fan- cy lawyers to lie for them; and the rich take and take. I don’t see why the Party puts up with it.” Freed shifted his positioa. “Say what you will about the Party — and I know it’s got it’s faults—still, there are dedicated men in it. I may be a small-time crook, but I’m as patriotic as the next man. The Party’s done a lot of good. “First time for you? How old are you, twenty-seven or so? First time, they usually try to recruit you for the Factory Force. “It’s not such a bad racket. When you start out, they toss you in with lots of kids — usual- ly the draftees. You get six weeks pick-and-shovel, and you’re real- ly dragging when you finish that. Then comes specialist school. “Try to get in as an electrician or plumber. Plasterers or brick- layers have to work too hard. Carpentry’s not bad — I’d hold SHAMAR'S WAR 59 out for cabinet-making, rather to govern. It need only devote than rough carpentry, if I had itself to its own preservation. to go into that. Then there’s real Any other issue was secondary. specialties. Tile laying. You have It was an organic machine. to have a personality for that, The gears were flesh and blood. or you’d go nuts. Demolition’s The people on top were main- not too bad; you blow up ob- tenance engineers. Their job was solete factories. That would have to go around with an oil can been right down my alley.” that they could squirt when nec- Freed was silent a moment, essary to keep friction to a min- then he resumed: imum. “Sometimes I may talk like a He awakened the following radical, and maybe I am a little morning ravenously hungry and of a radical, I don’t know. You was hugely disappointed by look at the overall picture, breakfast. Even discounting his things ain’t too bad. I’ve known somewhat biased viewpoint, the a lot of thieves and petty crooks food was inedible. in my time. As a class, for pure Freed accepted Shamar’s share patriotism, I’ll stack them up eagerly with the comment, “It’ll against anybody you can name; taste better after you miss a few and in a way, you know, I’m meals. It always does.”

kind of proud of that. . . Well, An hour later, the jailer came let’s shut up and get some shut- to open the cell. eye.” “Shamar the Worker? Get your stuff. We’re going.” When finally he slept, Shamar Ge-Ge was waiting in the re- dreamed that the Party was ception room. Her hair had been a vast, invulnerable pyramid especially waved for the occa- resting on the shifting base of sion. She wore a suit newly the population. It was construct- pressed and gleaming. She had ed to dampen out vibrations. tears in her eyes. The bottom quivered, and the She fled to his arms. “Dar- quiver ran upward a few inches ling!” she cried, caressing his and was absorbed. The top of face with childlike wonder. “Was the pyramid remained stable, it awful? Did they beat you?” fixed and motionless, indiffer- “I’m fine.” rent even to its own foundation. “Darling, we’re going to get The pyramid was built like an you out on bail. I’ve made all earthquake-proof tower. It was the arrangements. We just have built to last. The Party was built to go to the Judge’s chambers 60 GALAXY ” .

for a minute, and they’ll let you sometimes feel my job is out go. Thank God you’re going to there on the street comers, be out of this horrible place, at preaching the Dream, awaken- least for a little while.” ing the souls, telling the story of The jailer brought Shamar’s love and beauty and abundance belt and his bag of possessions. in the life to come. Shamar signed a receipt for “Ah, me. But the world is not them and they went to the yet perfect, is it? And man’s un- Judge. derstanding is imperfect. Here The Judge said, “Please be you are before me today, Sha- seated.” He had a resonant mar, with no visible means of and friendly voice. He went to support and no record of hav- his desk and sat down. ing paid productivity taxes. Oh, Ge-Ge and Shamar seated what a grim and fearful picture! themselves before him. In all your life have you ever “Ah, you young people,” he once thought of your obligation said. “Now, you must be Shamar to the future? You have failed the Worker, and you— yourself; you have failed the “Garfling Germadpoldlt.” Party; and failed the future. “Of course.” He turned to “Yet — in a larger sense — al- Shamar. “I hate to see a fine though this in no way militates young person like you in trouble, against your own guilt — have Shamar. It seems to me such a we not failed you? How have waste. Man and boy, for sixty we permitted a human soul to years I’ve been a dedicated work- degrade himself to the point er for the Party. Oh, Shamar, where we must punish him?” when I think of that glorious Abruptly, the Judge stood up. paradise to come — that time of “Well, I’ve done the best I can. wealth and plenty for all—that I remand you to the custody of time when the riches and abun- Miss Germadpoldlt. Your trial dance of Mother Itra will, from will be set at a later date. You Automation, overflow alike the are not to leave Xxla without homes of the rich and poor. permission of this court. And I They waited. hope my lecture today has fallen He continued. “Here I sit, on fertile soil. It is not too late year after year, Garfling and to correct your ways. And I may Shamar, judging my fellow men. say, if I am the one who hears Judging poor creatures who do your case, your conduct between not live the Dream. I sometimes now and the trial may have some feel that this is not the way. I bearing on the outcome.”

SHAMAR'S WAR 61 nphey took a taxi back to his Shamar closed his mouth. “But apartment Ge-Ge trembled — you mean, he won’t tell any- violently most of the way and one?” nestled against him; they mur- “Of course not.” mured their affection. “Has the man no patriotism?” After he had been fed, she “Look, Shamar,” she said in said nervously, “It was Von exasperation, “you once asked Stutsman who was responsible me why the people in the street for your arrest. I should have aren’t upset about Earth. I’m be- known we couldn’t fight the ginning to see the way you think. Party. If he digs hard enough, What you mean is, aren’t we nothing on Itra can save us.” afraid of Earth? Aren’t we Finally, she went out to canvas afraid Earth would, oh, do some- lawyers. thing like invade us or some- She came back at dusk. thing? That’s what you mean.” “Shamar, darling,” she said, “Of course it is.” “I’ve located him. I asked a lot “Once upon a time,” she said, of my friends, and he’s the best. “when we first got space flight, He’s a big lawyer for left-wing the Party got all shook up about people. I talked to him, I told the possibility of some hostile him everything.” force out there developing an in- “What! You told him every- terstellar drive and coming along thing?” and doing their will with us. “Why, yes.” They asked the computers about “You, you told him I was an it. Invading and conquering a Earthman?” He grabbed her by planet is such a vast technologi- the shoulders. “Listen, Ge-Ge! I cal undertaking that the mind was arrested on a charge I could just boggles at it. Don’t forget, beat; now look what you’ve we’ve got a warning network out done. What makes you think he there. They’re not very alert, or won’t turn me over to the Party? you wouldn’t have gotten This is too big, now! This isn’t through, but they wouldn’t miss just a tax avoidance matter, this an invasion fleet. There’s com- is treason for him.” puter-controlled chemical rock- “It’s all right, darling,” she ets in orbit, and we’ve got a few said soothingly, breaking free sited on Itra that can blast down from him. “I had to tell him so anything that slows up to try to he’d take the case. Why would land. It wouldn’t take one-hun- a big man like Ijim want to de- dredth, it wouldn’t take one- fend a common vagrant?” thousandth of the technological

62 GALAXY resources required to defend Itra course, there are no political that it would to attack her. Earth overtones. I can think of several just simply can’t afford to attack good people who would be will- us. They’d go broke trying. Every ing to head up a Defense Com- million dollars you spent to get mittee. The fact that we have here, we’d spend a thousand to and I’m talking now about as keep you from landing. much as, oh, one hundred thou- “Oh, I suppose if Earth want- sand dollars?” He paused inter- ed to, they might figure out some rogatively. way to blow up Itra. But where’s “I’m prepared to pay,” Sha- the profit in that? We’re not mar said. bothering you. Why spend all “Maybe even more,” Council- that money when it’s not going man Freemason continued quick- to get you one damn thing in ly. “We can come to that later. return?” The important thing right now is to get down to work on your

' I 'he following day, Shamar case.” called on the lawyer, Counsel- “Counselor Freemason, now, or Freemason. obviously I’m not a lawyer,” Counselor Freemason inquired Shamar said, “and I know it’s politely as to the state of his bad business to tell a profession- financial reserves. Shamar re- al how to run his job. But I be- plied reassuringly. lieve Miss Germadpoldlt ex- “Good, good. That’s most en- plained the, ah, rather unusual couraging. Most encouraging in- delicacy of my own position. It deed. We need not place any would seem to me that the less limit on our ingenuity, then. publicity we got, the better.” “I’ve been thinking about your Counselor Freemason shook a case, Mr. Worker. The thing first pen at him. “A very good point, to do, in my opinion, is to stir Mr. Worker. It shows you’re up public sympathy in your fa- thinking, and I’m glad of the vor. It’s almost an ideal case. It opportunity to explain the rea- has no real political overtones. sons for this recommendation. If It’s not as if you’re accused of I brazenly parade you before anything serious. Well, I believe them, you see, by implication it I can interest some friends of means we’re not afraid of your mine who are always deeply background being examined. We concerned with cases involving have nothing to hide. Conse- the infringement of an individ- quently, they will not look for ual’s liberty — provided, of anything. If, on the other hand,

SHAMAR'S WAR

I’m cautious, fearful, defensive, of aggravation, people without they’ll ask themselves, ‘What’s papers beating up police and Counselor Freemason trying to things like that.” hide?’ And they’ll start digging into your past. nphree days later, Shamar met “Now, I hope that clears that with the newly formed Com- matter up to your satisfaction? mittee of One Hundred for Jus- Good. Good. I’ll get right to tice to Shamar the Worker. work on your case. Do you have There were five members of anything else? Miss Germad- the Committee and Counselor poldt explained rather nicely, Freemason in attendance. They I think, yesterday. As far as any- briefed him on their initial ac- one knows, you’re a man with- tivities. out papers. You’ve never paid They had printed letterheads any taxes but they have no proof and were circulating letters to you owe taxes. You won money people known to be friendly, in the lottery. You collected with a hastily printed booklet anonymously; lots of people do giving the facts of the case. for perfectly valid reasons. Let “As you can see,” Counselor them prove you didn’t win. The Freemason said, “we’re off to a Party can’t be very interested in very fast start. Um, the question a man like that. naturally arises as to finances. I “So, I’ll raise an issue. Maybe have advanced a certain amount

we’ll suggest that any lottery out of my own pocket. . . We will winner is likely to be persecuted. need more than I can conven- The Party wants things to go iently scrape together at the smoothly. The lottery makes the moment, and I’m reluctant to — people feel as if, you know, they ah — impose on the Committee actually own a piece of things. for a loan insofar as— And too many people don’t have “I took the liberty of bringing papers. along some cash,” Shamar said. “My job is to take the specific “For current expenses and, of and convert it to a vague general course, your retainer.” principle that a number of peo- They looked relieved. “Excel- ple feel deeply about. The Party lent, excellent. I might suggest, will take the easy way out: Mr. Worker, that we appoint one they’re not dumb. They’ve learn- of the Committee as treasurer — ed from experience. You’re not perhaps Mrs. Freetle, here— worth that much trouble to them. the lady smiled — ”to take these Otherwise, there’ll be a period financial worries off your mind. 64 GALAXY This will leave you free to de- so captivating. I’ve never heard vote yourself fully to activities anything quite like it.” defense.” “Now that that’s out of the VI way,” one of the male Commit- tee members said, “let’s get right ~\n the evening of his first pub- down to business. As you can see, lie appearance, Shamar was we’re moving fast. Our overall given a neatly typed speech. strategy is this. We must first He rehearsed it hurriedly, stam- establish a public image for mers and all. you, Mr. Worker, an image the “Fellow citizens! As I stand average man can identify with. here, looking over this sea of Counselor Freemason has de- faces, hearing your applause and scribed your case to us. I simply seeing how your hearts go out to don’t know what the Party’s com- one poor man in distress, it — I ing to to permit a man like Von — Well, I’m deeply touched. I Stutsman to persecute you this can’t tell you how much it means way. Oh, I tell you, it makes my to me. I prepared a speech for blood boil, Mr. Worker!” tonight, but I’m not going to use

Others of the Committee it. I’m just going to stand here, chimed in and the sentiment instead, and tell you, just as the passed heatedly among them. words come out, how I feel.” “Well,” said Counselor Free- Here he would pause for ap- mason, “I guess that about winds plause and then continue. it up for the moment. You all “Thank you so very much. know where to reach me. Any Thank you. I know you’re all time, day or night. I guess, Mr. behind me — except for the po- Worker, if you’ll just turn the lice agents in the audience.” money over to Mrs. Freetle. And Here he would wait for laughter. I think, Mr. Hall, if you’d hire “We all know them, don’t we? that speech writer — what’s his I see about a dozen. A dozen name? McGoglhy? — to work agents have come down here to with Mr. Worker on his find out what I’m going to say. speeches.” Isn’t that ridiculous?” Here “Speeches?” Shamar asked. there would be mixed laughter, “You’re going to be our fea- applause and cries in the affirm- tured speaker at all the rallies, ative. “All right! Thank you. I of course,” Mrs. Freetle said. “I hope they get an earful tonight.” know you will do splendidly, Later in the speech he would just splendidly! Your accent is demand, “Why are they doing

SHAMAR'S WAR 65 ” this to me? I want you to tell me was as if they were as well re- why. What have I done? What hearsed as he. am I accused of doing? Well, The next night, another meet- I’ll tell you this — I’m not the ing. And another. And another. kind of a man who is going to He slept no more than four submit meekly to this persecu- hours a night when the cam- tion. I’m going to fight back. I’ve paign was in full swing. He got a little money left from my spoke dozens of times into the lottery winnings, and I’ll spend bright glare of TV cameras. He every cent of it to fight these paraded down a million streets people doing this thing to me.” in an open-topped car. Faces Here he would pause dramati- poured in front of his own; on cally. “I want to leave you with and on they came. People with this point. It’s not just Shamar tears in their eyes cried, “God the Worker that’s involved. bless Shamar the Worker!” Once What am I? A poor, itinerant the Committee hired a brass laborer going from town to town. band. I’m nothing, I have never had So, for two weeks, it went. anything, and I guess I never Then the Party threw hirr will have anything. I’m no rich back in jail, in an apparent e:' black marketeer or businessman. fort to deprive the movement of I’m no fat politician. I’m just its momentus. one little man. But it’s not me — and this is the point I want \ fter three days, during which to leave you with — it’s not Sha- •**-time Shamar was held in- mar the Worker. He’s unimpor- communicado, Counselor Free- tant. What is important is that mason obtained permission to if they can do this to me, they interview his client. can do it to you. If they can do “We’re making marvelous it to Shamar the Worker today, progress! Ge-Ge is turning into next year one of you will be up a most effective crusader. You here on this platform speaking should hear her when she cries, just the way I am. So you see, ‘Give me back my man!’ This is this is your fight. It’s not me a wonderful development for us. that’s important — it’s the prin- It’s having the opposite of the ciple that’s important— intended effect. Von Stutsman The meeting went brilliantly. has over-reached himself this Every time he paused, the audi- time. The Party is going to have ence responded just as the to back down, and it will cost speech-writer had indicated. It him dearly.” 66 GALAXY ” ” ”

“How’s the finances?” “About three hundred thou- “Ge-Ge— has given us some ad- sand dollars.” vances “Good God! They’ll have it all “How much have you spent?” when they get through!— If I ever “Well, to tell you the truth, I get back to Earth haven’t been keeping track close- “I don’t care about money, ly. Perhaps we’ve run a little Shamar! I just want you free!” more than we anticipated. The He took her shoulders. “Ge-Ge, ” response, you see — suppose the Party can’t afford Shamar returned to his cell to back down? Maybe they feel wishing Earth’s printing presses they have to stand firm to pre- had worked a little longer. vent a lot of future trouble. And It took nearly two weeks to when Freemason gets ail the arrange for Ge-Ge to visit him. money . . . then what chance will When she arrived, she was near- we stand? They might railroad ly on the point of tears. me for years. They’ll make an “Oh, my darling, how I’ve example out of me. Now, are you missed you!” willing to gamble? Everybody She brought him up to date would jump at the chance to on the progress of his case. As vote them out. If we could— Counselor Freemason had re- “Please, Shamar,” Ge-Ge said. ported, his imprisonment mere- “All this voting thing you’ve al- ly increased the vigor of his sup- ways been so sold on is all right, porters. Now they were at their I guess — but it just won’t work. highest pitch : a pitch which To begin with, there isn’t any would be difficult to maintain. way to vote.” “I’m just worried sick,” she “Maybe there is,” he said. said. “If the Party can hold out another week or two. I don’t Chamar was still in jail the fol- want to worry you, Shamar, but ^ lowing day when Ge-Ge ap- I want you to know how you peared on the TV program. stand. Counselor Freemason says PAMDEN had been reluctant the worst that could happen to release time to her. PAMDEN would be a short prison sentence, was Itra’s largest industrial co- no more than a year, for not operative — Plastics, Agricul- filing tax forms. We could keep tural Machinery, Detergents, you out on appeal for quite a Electricity and Newsprint — while.” and, being the most efficient, “Ge-Ge, how much have we was responsible for operating spent so far?” the TV networks. SHAMAR'S WAR 67 “Good heavens,” said the sta- well in advance and was handed tion executive. “Nobody can say over to the makeup department. we haven’t already given you With deft skill they converted coverage, Miss Germadpoldlt.” her youth to age and contrived “They’ve ordered you to stop!” to instill in her face weariness she protested. and defeat. Her protests were “They? The Party? Miss Ger- ignored. madpoldlt, do you honestly be- “This is the way you make lieve that? Nobody tells a sta- up for TV,” she was told. tion manager what to program. They clucked collective Believe me. There is no prior tongues in disapproval when censorship whatsoever. But, on they were finished and sent her the other hand, we can’t turn on her way to a brief chat with over the TV stations to minority the M.C. propaganda either.” The M.C. assured her that she Ge-Ge argued and pleaded, looked divine and hastily and in the end the executive scanned her prepared remarks, sighed wearily. “I think we’ve which had been heavily edited been more than fair. But for you by some anonymous hand in the — and this is a personal favor, news department. The M.C. in- Miss Germadpoldlt, because you corporated a few pointless revi- are a young and attractive wom- sions and dispatched the mes- an — for you, I will phone our sage to the department handling program director and see if he idiot-board material. It was ex- can get you on the Noon Inter- plained that Ge-Ge was to read, view Show for tomorrow. It word for word, from the elec- gives you the Itra-wide network, tronic prompter. which is certainly more than Ge-Ge watched the program anyone has the right to ask. from the wings. When she heard You’ll have ninety seconds to a commercial message in favor make your case. That’s the best of the consumption of a parti-

I can do.” cular variety of candy, her heart “Oh, thank you, thank you,” ran away with itself. Her cour- Ge-Ge sobbed. “You’re so fair age faltered. But Shamar’s face and generous.” Outside his of- brought it back. fice she took a deep breath, The signal came. She walked crossed her fingers and went into the terrible glare which home to revise her speech. She held up every imperfection to had only expected sixty. microscopic inspection. She Ge-Ge arrived at the studio shook hands, turned, and the

68 GALAXY ” ” ”

camera closed in, full face. Be- quences. Shamar’s good faith yond the camera lay the largest would be prejudiced. One sim- daytime TV audience on Itra. ply did not, with impunity, go She felt they were examining outside the law in such matters. her pores with minute and cri- There were rules you absolutely tical attention. must play the game by. He She blinked nervously and be- washed his hands of all respon- gan to read. “I am here to tell sibility for her conduct. “I hope you about Shamar the Worker.” to God nothing comes of it,” he That was as far as she went with concluded. “I’m having the Com- the prepared text. Before the mittee prepare a denial of— horrified ears of the auditors in The phone rang at this point, the studio, she plunged into re- and without asking permission, marks of another kind entirely. Counselor Freemason answered “If you want to do something it. “Yes? This is Counselor Free- to help Shamar the Worker, stop mason, go ahead.” He listened a buying candy! Don’t buy any moment, said, “They did,” in a more candy. If you want to help weary voice and cradled the Shamar the Worker, don’t buy phone. any candy until he’s free. If you He turned to Ge-Ge. “Now want to help Shamar, please, we’re in for it. That was Pete please, don’t buy— Freedle from the Committee.” At this point the technicians “Well,” said Ge-Ge, “I think cut Ge-Ge out and, with pro- we’ll just wait a few days and found mistiming, faded in an see what happens.” oleogenous taped message from A week later, Ge-Ge was still the candy manufacturer which waiting. Counselor Freemason, began, “Friends, everybody likes deprived of finances, was power- Red Block candy, and millions less to move. He saw everything buy it every day. Here’s why— crashing in shambles at their Ge-Ge surveyed the surround- feet. ing confusion and walked un- “But are they selling candy?” molested from the studio. Ge-Ge asked. When she arrived home, an “That’s beside the point!” angry Counselor Freemason was Counselor Freemason cried. waiting on her doorstep. Inside, “Look here, every crackpot on she allowed the Counselor to the planet will get into the act. present his case. They don’t care about Shamar. This new move, he explained, All you’re going to prove now would have terrible conse- is that the Party is unpopular.

SHAMAR'S WAR 69 Everyone already knows that.” This further reduced the need He struck his forehead in ex- for supplies. asperation. At this point, the Party de- cided that the people would, by TT'or two weeks, all was quiet. heaven, eat candy. The Party There were no more rallies Leader himself went on TV to for Shamar the Worker. Signs appeal to the patriotism of the were torn down and destroyed. people and to order them to re- No bulletins were printed. No sume buying candy. This was a word passed over the electronic tactical error. But being the communications network. The idea of the Party Leader him- Committee, bankrupt, dissolved self, who had always crashed in mutual recriminations and headlong into obstacles, none bickering, convinced that the opposed it. cause of civil liberties had been The issue was directly joined. set back one hundred years. People resented being told that But candy was not selling. it was their patriotic duty to eat It clogged the distribution something that all medical opin- channels. It piled up in ware- ion held was harmful. Further- houses. It lay untouched in more, people realized that they stores. It grew rancid. Mechanic- had somehow stumbled on a fatal ally the factories continued to flaw in the system, which they turn it out. could exploit without immediate The Party denied the boycott danger. was having any effect. This did They responded by refusing to not appease the distributors of buy soap. candy and the sellers of candy The people were now in open and the producers of candy. revolt. At last they had a method Their jobs were at stake. They for disapproving of things in had payrolls to meet. general. The Party stopped production The economy plummeted. The of candy. People suddenly found computers were in a frenzy. Ef- themselves with no jobs to go to. fects of corrective actions were The economic system was so no longer predictable. The Party tightly controlled and organized frantically tried to buy soap and that the effect was immediate. dump it. The people turned to There was too little money avail- other commodities. able to purchase the supplies Pressure now mounted from normally purchased. Suppliers within the Party itself. The Su- cut back on their factory orders. pervisor of PAMDEN saw his 70 GALAXY carefully nurtured empire begin they can, but the people will to disintegrate. A massive layoff wring them dry for every last in Consumer Plastics (badly hit concession. Maybe now when by a running boycott) took with they build the factories, they’ll it valuable key personnel. The stay built and actually produce Supervisor of PAMDEN told something.” the Party Leader himself that he “For a little while,” Shamar damned well better do some- said. thing about the situation, and “Longer than a little while,” damned soon, too. Ge-Ge said. “We’ve got a way to The Party Leader himself or- vote now, when things get too dered the release of Shamar the bad.” Worker. The Judge, in his red robe, But by then no one was inter- came in. They stood respectfully. ested in Shamar the Worker. He looked at them for a long time and said nothing. Finally, 'T'he man came and unlocked he spoke:

Shamar’s cell door. Shamar “Well, Shamar the Worker, I stood up. The guard tossed in guess you’ve got what you want. Shamar’s clothing. “Get dress- You pulled down a whole civili- ed.” Shamar got dressed. “Come zation. I hope you’re satisfied. along.” Shamar came along. What Dream will you give us Shamar had had no word from to replace the Dream you have outside for nearly two months, taken from us?” and it was not until he saw Ge- His face hardened. Ge’s face, radiant with joy, that “Shamar the Worker,” he said, he realized he had won. ‘the Party Leader himself has “You’re free!” she cried ex- asked us to dismiss the pending citedly. charges against you. This I now Shamar was given back his do. You are free to go.” belt and possessions. As they “Thank you, sir,” Shamar said waited for the Judge to make it respectfully. official, Shamar asked, “I won- “Shamar the Worker, for your der what will happen now?” own sake, you better hope that I “Nobody knows. Everybody never see you in my court. You says the Party’s out for sure. In- better not get yourself arrested dividual Party members will try for anything. I will show you no to form a new government, but mercy, but justice will be swift it’s going to have to be radically and summary. So that you may different. They’ll try to keep all not rest easily at night, I am

SHAMAR'S WAR 71 having some of my very skillful When he entered the suite, he and competent friends check felt the personality of Shamar through your background thor- the Worker drop from him in- oughly. You should hope, very to memory. sincerely, that they find noth- “Captain Shaeffer! Captain ing. You may go.” Shaeffer! Oh, what a magnifi- Ge-Ge and Shamar stood. The cant job! I’m Gene Gibson from turned in silence. When they the new Department of Extra- were at the door, the Judge Terrestial Affairs. Who’s this?” called, “Oh, Shamar the Work- “This is my fiancee.” er!” “Good heavens, man, you in- He turned, “Yes, sir?” tend to marry a native?” The “Shamar the Worker, I do not man stepped back, shocked. like your accent.” Capt. Shaeffer turned to Ge- Shamar could feel Ge-Ge trem- Ge and performed bilingual in- bling uncontrollably at his side. troductions. But when they reached the They moved from the hallway street, they were greeted by hea- to the sitting room and arranged lines announcing that a delega- themselves on the furniture. tion from the planet Earth had “I must say, Captain Shaeffer, arrived. that your success on Itra has sur- passed our wildest expectations. VII The first inkling we had was when, out of the blue, as it were, 'TPhe Earth delegation had tak- there was your face looking out * en over a suite in the Party at us from the TV screen! You Hotel, grandest and most expen- should have been there for our sive on Itra. Usually it was re- celebration that night! You’d served for high Party members: been on Itra just a little over Shamar and Ge-Ge presented two months! You’re going down themselves at the desk. Shamar in history as one of the greatest wrote out a note in English. heroes of all time!” “Deliver this to the Earthmen,” Capt. Shaeffer said, ‘I think he instructed. it would be best if Ge-Ge and I Shamar and Ge-Ge retired to were to board your ship immedi- await results. Less than five ately. Her life may be in dan- minutes passed; the bell hop re- ger. Some old-line Party men turned. “Sir and Madam,” he might resent her role in the rev- said respectfully, “come with olution. Actually, she had more me.” to do with it than I did.”

72 GALAXY ”

“Oh, now, I’m sure you must he isn’t just the exact man to be exaggerating a bit on that, head up the new government. Captain Shaeffer. Her life in We’ve discussed a few details on danger? Surely, now! Speaking trade agreements and, I must say, frankly, Captain — and mind he’s been very reasonable.” you, I have no personal objec- Capt. Shaeffer said nothing. tion at all; this is none of my “Yes,” Gene Gibson said, “he’s business. But she is, after all, an really an exceptional individ- Itraian. You— know these mixed ual. A wealth of administrative marriages experience. A fine grasp of prac- “I don’t give a damn what you tical politics. I don’t regard him personally think,” Capt. Shaef- as a typical Itraian at all. He fer said. “Is that understood feels that, with us backing him, once and for all? She goes.” we can get this whole mess “Of course. I was just — now straightened out in a few don’t get huffy. Of course she months.” goes. Just as you wish, Captain.” “Mess?” The angry exchange over an “Well, you must admit, I unknown but fearfully expected think, Captain Shaeffer, that issue caused Ge-Ge to blink back you did — well — make negotia- tears. tions extremely difficult, in view of the, ah, present temper of the \ week later, Gene Gibson populace. came for the first time to visit “You see, Earth would like to them. Capt. Shaeffer inquired have a stable and responsible as to progress. government. A government, that “Well, Captain, things are pro- is, which can see larger issues gressing. We are establishing a in perspective. Not one which government which will be more must devote its full time to cop- responsive to the will of the ing with a group of unpatriotic people of Itra. We’ve had sev- anarchists running loose in the eral very pleasant, informal streets.” chats with the Party Leader, “What’s he saying?” Ge-Ge himself. Really a wonderful asked. man. Once he got all the facts — “As it is now,” Gene Gibson which were kept from him the continued, “we do have several first time we landed — he strikes rather difficult problems. I me as being quite responsible. I think we’ll probably have to think we may have misjudged quarantine Itra for a few months him. I’m not too sure but what until the Party Leader himself

SHAMAR'S WAR 73 can form a stable organizational fense Forces, so you’re now un- structure. Somehow news of our der military law — and it’s an trade discussions have leaked out order.” and for some reason has resulted At this point, Ge-Ge broke in in a general work stoppage. So to say, “How are things going in you see? By God, I’ll just come Xxla?” right out and say it: Shaeffer, General Shaeffer choked back you’ve left us one hell of a mess!” his anger and presented the ques- With that, Gene Gibson de- tion. parted. “They don’t tell us anything. “What did he say?” Ge-Ge The crew is confined to the asked meekly. But Shaeffer only ship.” shook his head. Shamar the Worker turned to The following day, the ship’s Ge-Ge. “It’s going about the captain came to pay a courtesy same,” he said. call. “A very neat piece of work, A year later. General Merle S. Merle. Your new assignment just Shaeffer’s card popped out of came in, by the way, on the space the computer. radio.” “General Shaeffer’s up for re- “New assignment? Ge-Ge and assignment.” I are on our way back to Earth.” “Who in hell is General Shaef- “No. you’re not. We’re to drop fer?” you off at Midway for tranship- “Never heard of him.” ment to Folger’s Hill. It’s a new The card passed upward. planet. You’re to be Earth rep- “Merle Shaeffer is due for re- resentative to the people of Fol- assignment,” a man who knew ger's Hill. The first shipload of the name told the Secretary of colonists arrived about a month the Over Council at lunch the ago.” following day. “There’s a new “I see,” Capt. Shaeffer said. planet opened up even further “The salary’s good,” the ship’s away than Folger’s Hill.” captain said. “He’s the one who butchered “Suppose I don’t want to go?" the Itra assignment? Send him “I’ve got orders to leave you there. Anything new from Itra at Midway. I’d want to go if I recently, by the way?” were you. They want you out of “Same as usual. I understand the way for a little while. You the anarchists have formed some can’t fight it. You’ve been ap- kind of government.” pointed a General in the De- “Terrible. Terrible. Well, the 74 GALAXY less said about that the better.” the Head of the Defense Forces!” A week later, again over lunch, “I’m sorry, sir, all the phones the Secretary was told: are tied up,” his secretary said. “I guess we needn’t worry “What in hell do you mean, about Merle Shaeffer any more. all the phones are tied up?” Disappeared from his post, he “I don’t know. Maybe all at and that Itraian woman of his, a once everybody just left their couple of weeks after they ar- phones off the hook or some- rived on Folger’s Hill. Probably thing.” a hunting accident got them “Why would they do that? both. Their bodies were never That’s ridiculous! Get a runner found. These things happen on over after him.” wild new planets.” Half an hour later, the Head The Secretary was silent for a of the Defense Forces arrived. long time. Then he said: “Shaef- “Do you know,” the new Secre- fer dead, eh? I guess it’s better tary demanded, “that yesterday that way. Well, a genius has all the pennies went out of cir- passed, and we’ll not see his like culation? People apparently again. Perverted, perhaps, but a have been saving them for the genius none the less.” last couple of months. It finally They drank solemnly. showed up. All at once, there “To Merle Shaeffer. You could aren’t any pennies. You can’t call him a hero, so let’s you and make change. Damn it, why I drink to that. No one else ever would those crazy idiots all de- will.” cide to save their pennies at the They drank again. same time? It’s not rational. Nothing further served to stir Why did they do it?” the Secretary’s memory of Merle The Head of the Defense Shaeffer, and he retired six Forces said nothing. months later at the end of his The Secretary raved at him term. The new Secretary was not in anger, but the Head of the familiar with the Itraian affair. Defense Forces did not have the He had been in office just a heart to tell him that a hero had few days less than a year when, returned home. one morning, he arrived at his office in a furious rage. “Get me — KRIS NEVILLE

SHAMAR'S WAR 75 for your information

BY WILLY LEY

THE EARLY DAYS OF THE METRIC SYSTEM

t may be traditional to divide I a length called a foot into twelve inches and then chop up these inches into halves, quar- ters, etc. Or, going the other way, to say that three feet make one yard (why not four, since the inch gets quartered?) and end

76 GALAXY Comparison of the Pound Avoirdupois and metic can be carried out in one’s the Foot r with other 'pounds" and "feet" head when using the metric sys- in 1704. tem, but needs paper and pen- • Pound Foot cil when carried out in the inch- London 1.000 1.000 foot system, the statement that Paris .930 1.068 Amsterdam .930 .942 the metric system will win out Leyden .960 1.033 eventually does not even deserve Antwerp .946 .980 the label “prediction”. Strasbourg .930 .920 Bremen ".940 .964 But how did it start and why? Cologne .970 .954 Frankfurt the Main .930 .948 nphe “why” begins with the fact Toledo 1.000 .899 that in, say, 1700 there was * According to the Lexicon Technicum by no system at all. John Harris. If this statement makes you think that each country had its up with the interesting figure of own “pound”, and “foot” and 5280 feet to a mile. “mile” you are only partly right. It may be equally traditional In actual fact, it was not each to say that one shilling contains country, but each province; and twelve pence and that twenty sometimes the northern part of shillings make one pound. At a province used one set of meas- least one historian holds that urements while the southern this relationship represents an part of the province used anoth- original relationship of values, er one. And the cities, being namely that one pound of gold rich, were much too proud to was worth twenty pounds of sil- use the rural measurements of ver while each pound of silver the surrounding countryside, so bought twelve pounds of copper. they had their own. While these things may be tra- The country that was best off ditional they are also quite im- in this chaos was England. There practical. Every individual has one system was used throughout had to memorize them at one by royal decree. But in France time in his or her life. On the there was no such uniformity; other hand, it needs no time at in the northern part of the coun- all to “memorize” that there are try alone the pound had twenty- 100 cents in the dollar, or that one different values, depending 1000 millimeters make one me- on where you happened to be. ter, and 1000 meters make one As for measures for grain, not kilometer. Since most of the less than three hundred different household and workshop arith- kinds have been compiled by pa-

FOR YOUR INFORMATION 77 V tient historians. Their relation- problem of the grain measure: ships were sometimes simple, as if you filled the kettle 64 times when a city council might de- with grain you had 90 measures! cree that the city unit for grain If one reads that in those days was three of the units of the sur- money changers and mer ants rounding countryside. coped with the endless varieties But sometimes the relation- of silver and of gold coins by ships were anything but simple. just weighing them it looks at In fact they were sometimes so first glance as if at least the complicated that a mathemati- money changers had found a use- cian had to be called in, as was ful shortcut, based on the fact the case in 1626 when the coun- that a pound of silver is a pound cil of the City of Ulm called on of silver, and a pound of gold is the great Johannes Kepler to a pound of gold. Well, yes. But straighten out their measure- which pound? The pound of ments. The merchants could nev- London, or that of Strasbourg er agree on the length of a (which was less), or that of “shoe” and the question of how Hamburg (which the English much grain constituted a “buck- then called Hamborough and et” often had the result that the which was .95 of the London suppliers and customers flung pound), or that of Leipzig, actual buckets at each other. which was 1.15 of the London Kepler accepted the job for two pound? reasons. One was that the math- No wonder that, in 1704, the ematical aspects of the problem Englishman John Harris com- intrigued him. The other was piled a book called Lexicon that the city paid him. Technicum which contained The final outcome was the endless tables of how the pound “Kettle of Ulm”, a metal con- of Calcutta, Rotterdam, etc. com- tainer which combined all the pared with that of England; customary measurements. They other long tables compared the were listed on the outside of the foot of the various countries. kettle in raised letters, even Glancing over these tables now, rhyming. The inside diameter of one sees with a good deal of as- the kettle was one ell. its depth tonishment that the “Spanish was two shoes, its capacity “one foot” was the same as the Eng- honest bucket”. The weight of lish, but the “Toledo foot” was the kettle, when empty, was 4 2 shorter (see Table) while, on the units; when full of water it was other hand, the Toledo pound 7 units. And now we come to the was the same as the English. 78 GALAXY — s

(There seems to have been no themselves. At any event that “Spanish pound.”) they were not definite enough But the internal confusion was to base decrees and laws on them. greatest in France. Many French- r men felt that, if the king of Eng- I 'he English had taken their land could decree uniform meas- •*- measurements from the hu- urements throughout his realm, man body. The “foot” was an the king of France should do actual foot; that is, it was the the same. The French, at the average of the foot lengths of a time, had a system of making dozen grown men, picked at complaints and suggestions. The random (or so the story goes). documents bore the name of Now it so happened that 36 bar- Cahiers de doleance (writs of leycorns “from the center of an grievances) and they seem to ear” made one foot; therefore have contained complaints about the “barleycorn” became the sub- the lack of uniform measure- division of an inch, with three ments almost every year. The barleycorn to the inch. Later on earliest known was in a cahier most artisans decided that halv- of 1576. By about 1785, the gov- ing and quartering the inch was ernment in Paris decided that a easier, so only bootmakers con- reform should be considered. tinued to use the barleycorn as Reading about a two-century in- the smaller unit — a practice terval one is reminded of the still continued by shoe manufac- famous lines turers in England and in the United States. A difference of the government, one size means a difference of the truth to tell, one barleycorn, or one third of did nothing in particular, an inch, in length. It also hap- but did it very well! pened that a piece of rope stretched from fingertip to fin- But it was not just a case of gertip across the chest of a man indifference and procrastina- (a “fathom”) was very closely tion. To say that things are con- six feet, and one half of that fused and that a reform is needed became a yard. is one thing. Making useful sug- The official English measure- gestions for a reform is some- ments, then, were based on the thing else. The French govern- human body, and the measures ment — ultimately the king — of other areas and cities prob- seems to have felt that the sug- ably were too. But the French gestions were incomplete in scientists did not wish to follow FOR YOUR INFORMATION 79 this pattern. The dimensions of tude, but Galileo did not know the human body were too vari- that. It was suspected by the able. Basing a set of official astronomer Jean Picard that lati- measures on the size of the plan- tude might be a factor involved. et Earth was more to their lik- But Picard made the general ing, since the size of the planet suggestion that a pendulum of a would not change. That was, of length resulting in a period of course, one second would useful true enough ; the prob- be a lem was that the size of the plan- basis for linear measurements. et was not accurately known. The length of the seconds It is not surprising that the pendulum, it may be mentioned first man to propose using the at this point, is 39.01 inches, or planet Earth as a standard was 99.09 centimeters; this is the an astronomer. He was Jacques standard figure, which requires Cassini, and for that reason of- a correction for the latitude. ten called Cassini the Second. To get away from the need for He suggested in 1720 that the corrections, de la Condamine standard foot should be the hun- suggested the length of the sec- dredth part of one second of arc onds pendulum at the equator of a meridian. The French Acad- as the unit for linear measure- emy thought this a fine and logi- ment. cal suggestion, which only had So these were the two sugges- the one drawback that the vari- tions, either a fraction of the ous attempts to measure the length of the meridian, or else length of a meridian showed the length of the seconds pendu- rather poor agreement. About lum. But both still had to be thirty years later another French determined. scientist, the mathematician and astronomer Charles-Marie de la \ long with the problem of find- Condamine, came with another ing a standard length which suggestion which would be easier would not vary — and which to carry out in practice. could be re-established in case Galileo Galilei had been the a catastrophe of some kind de- first to notice that the time re- stroyed the first standard — quired for a pendulum to com- there was the problem of sub- plete one swing depended on the division of the standard. Think- length of the pendulum. In real- ing in dozens was customary; as ity the time required depends we have seen the foot was di- on two factors, namely the length vided into a dozen inches or in- of the pendulum and the lati- to three dozen barleycorns. But

80 GALAXY the dozen was not the only sub- The word disme means “tenth” unit or super-unit in use. In and is related to “tithe”. At one some places the foot was divided time it was the name of an Amer- into eighths, and in Germany ican coin, the Half Dismes and things like eggs or hard rolls Dismes between 1792 and 1800, were sold not by the dozen, but later spelled “dimes”. by the Mandel which was 15 Apparently Simon Stevin’s units. To make things worse the book in its various editions con- Germans had the “peasant’s man- vinced everyone — with the ex- del” in addition; it consisted of ception of the Master of the 16 units. (Remember the “bak- Royal Mint — of the superiority er’s dozen”.) of decimal fractions, for the A dozen may be superior to French Academy decided from ten because it can be divided by the outset that this is what they

2, 3, 4 and 6, while ten can only would use in carrying out the be divided by 2 and 5, but it so mandate from the National As- happens that we have ten fin- sembly to create a new system gers. A division into ten sub- of weights and measures. The units is therefore easier to visu- National Assembly had recom- alize, at least for the beginner. mended the length of the sec- The man who was the first to onds pendulum as a suitable advocate subdivision into tenths (and repeatable) physical con- was the Dutch mathematician stant, but it had not said any- Simon Stevin, military engineer thing about decimal fractions. to Count Maurits of Nassau. But while the Academy de- Stevin was not concerned with cided on decimal fractions it al- the measurements themselves or so decided that the meridian their origin and accuracy; he would be superior to the seconds just advocated subdivision into pendulum as a standard. It rec- decimal fractions. In order to ommended in 1791 that the ten find a larger audience he wrote millionth part of the distance his book twice, once in Latin from the pole to the equator and once in French. Both ver- should be the new unit of meas- sions were printed in Leyden in urement, the meter. The Nation- 1585. The title of the French ver- al Assembly accepted the recom- sion was La Disme, and the Eng- mendation. And then the hard lish translation by Robert Nor- work of measuring began. ton (published in 1608) was In the meantime the savants called Disme: The Art of Tenths, had to fight with words. The unit or, Decimall Arithmeticke. was to be the meter (in French

FOR YOUR INFORMATION 81 metre') and a tenth of a meter be determined without much dif- was a decimeter. A tenth of a ficulty from the figure provided decimeter, or a hundredth of a by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille, meter, was obviously a centi- who derived the length of one meter. The tenth part of a centi- degree of the meridian under meter was a millimeter — the 45 latitude as 57,027 toises, word means a thousandth of a each toise being six feet Parisian. meter. (Take it from there ... if you Going the other way, a term have absolutely nothing else to meaning a thousand meters was do.) But the new system also was needed. The Greek word chilioi to include weights, and the unit suggested itself, in spite of two of weight was to be the weight drawbacks. In Greek letters the of a unit volume of distilled wa- “ch” was the letter chi, which ter weighed in a vacuum cham- looks like an x. But the letter ber at the temperature of melt- chi, considered as a numeral, ing ice. The name chosen for this meant 600. However, the Greeks unit was gravet. themselves had often used the Later on the unit volume was chi to mean 1000, as an abbrevi- chosen as one cubic centimeter, ation of the word chilioi. and the temperature was shifted One thing somewhat disturb- from that of melting ice to 4 de- ing to Frenchmen was that all grees centigrade because at that classical scholars were agreed temperature water shows its that the chi was a guttural and greatest density. Finally the Frenchmen, for no better reason name of this unit weight became that they cannot pronounce gram, with kilogram for a thou- them easily, are opposed to gut- sand of these units and ton turals. But somebody saved the (metric ton) for a thousand kilo- day by discovering that the Ion- grams. ian dialect of Greek used a kappa Everything would have been instead of the chi — the Ionians fine if France had not become apparently were opposed to gut- a republic in the meantime. Now turals too — and the name of the work of establishing the new the unit of 1000 meters became system was under a new commis- the kilometer. sion. Of course it had the name of Commission temporaire des VTow the unit of linear meas- Poids & Mesures republicans, ^ ure was to be the ten mil- the Temporary Commission for lionth part of the distance from Republican Weights and Meas- a pole to the equator. This could ures. The system that had been 82 GALAXY meant foe everybody in all coun- It made headway slowly in tries had now become the “Sys- France too. The system became tem of the Republic”, just as legal in December 1799 and the they concocted a “Calendar of First Consul of the Republic Na- the Republic” which was finally poleon Bonaparte made it com- abandoned by Napoleon to the pulsory in 1801. But in 1837, sev- jubilation of everybody. Wheth- eral governments later, a law er the French revolutionaries ac- had to be passed imposing fines tually intended the new system on recalcitrant silk and wine to be for France only is not quite merchants (among others) who clear, but the title page of the did not use the metric system ex- official book introducing the sys- clusively beginning January 1, tem sounded as if this were the 1840. case. By now the metric system is The title page read (the sign/ all but universal. The Russians indicates that a new line began adopted it in 1918, and in the on the page) : Instruction/sur two countries which are still /Les Mesures/deduites/de la holding out, the British Com- Grandeur de la Terrejuni- monwealth and the United States, formes/Pour Toute la Repub- it is at least legal. In the United lique/et/sur les calculs relatifs States, as a matter of fact, the /a leur division decimale. In yard and pound, etc., are defined

English : Instructions on the in terms of the metric system, Measurements derived from the so that a housewife buying two size of the earth, uniform for the yards of fabric is actually buy- whole republic, with tables in ing according to the metric sys- decimal fractions. tem, though she is not likely to With such a title page, he know the fact unless her hus- King of England, the King of band happens to be a lawyer or Prussia, the Czar of all the Rus- a scientist. sians and every other king or What opposition to the metric prince could not only suspect system remains is usually based that this might not be suitable on invested capital. A factory for his country, he almost had to will say that it has X million come to the conclusion that it dollars invested in non-metric should be forbidden in his coun- machinery, and even though try. As a matter of fact, because these machines could be convert- of these (purely accidental) po- ed it would not do any good, litical implications the new sys- because the raw material, bar tem made headway very slowly. stock, etc., comes in non-metric

FOR YOUR INFORMATION 83 dimensions from the rolling ed out to be almost the same as mill. And the rolling mill says, the English inch. of course, that they have X mil- Piazzi Smyth quickly conclud- lion dollars invested in their ed that the English inch was just machinery. a faintly corrupted “pyramid It is an opposition which will inch”. Hence the English system slowly dwindle away. But as far of measurement by inches really as argumentation is concerned it went back to ancient Egypt. By is certainly superior to that of a 1870 most of those who played now forgotten society which ex- around with the dimensions of isted in 1879 (and for a few years the Great Pyramid had also con- after) in Boston. cluded that the pyramid had The background for this socie- been divinely inspired in the ty had been the attempt of most literal meaning of the term. Charles Piazzi Smyth, Astrono- Hence the inch was sacred. mer Royal for Scotland, to find Hence it was necessary to form all kinds of “cosmic secrets” in a society with the ultimate pur- the Great Pyramid. Assuming pose of outlawing the “atheist that the number of the days of metric system”. James Abram the year had to be hidden in the Garfield, later president of the base line of the Great Pyramid, United States, was an active sup- Piazzi Smyth divided the base porter of this movement against line into 365.2422 parts and the meter. named the unit thus derived the The movement did not last “pyramid meter”. This he then long. divided into 25 parts to obtain Besides, the metric system had the “pyramid inch”, which turn- been legalized in 1866.

(&)ueAtionS ?

What are the “lost Messier ob- of Nebulosities, which was a by- jects?” product of Messier’s main work George P. Wallace — namely the hunting for new Boston, Mass. comets. Since a comet, before it develops a tail, looks like a fuzzy In 1771 the French astrono- star, and since Messier knew mer Charles Messier published that there are some objects in the first version of his Catalogue the sky which always look that

84 GALAXY way, it was only natural that he I agree that it would be “rea- compile a catalogue of these ob- son for rejoicing” if any one of jects so that he would not waste the three extra-solar planets now observing time on them. on record (the earlier two are The objects listed in Messier’s those of 61 Cygni and of Lalande catalogue are now referred to 2185) could be verified photo- with numbers preceded by an M. graphically. I could even cite M-l for example, is the crab historical precedent. It was nebula, M-13 the globular clus- Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel who ter in Hercules, M-31 the “neb- was the first to deduce the exis- ula” (galaxy) in Andromeda. tence of a body in space in this Two objects, namely M-40 and manner. He deduced the exis- M-91, could not be found by later tence of a Companion of Sirius, astronomers and are therefore and later of a Companion of called the “lost Messier objects”. Procyon, and both were discov- It is believed that they were faint ered visually at a later date comets which Messier mistook when telescopes had grown larg- for permanent nebulous objects. er. But in both cases the com- panions were dwarf stars — The announcement of the dis- bodies of stellar mass but of covery of a third extra-solar planetary dimensions. They are planet by Dr. Peter van de Camp self-luminous. prompts me to ask whether there The three extra-solar planets is any chance of actually seeing now known are of planetary or at least photographing such mass and planetary dimensions, planets. I understand that the though quite large. The two new extra-solar planet is a dark bodies accompanying 61 Cygni companion of Barnard’s Star, and Lalande 2185 must have a which is itself quite faint, and mass of about one per cent of that its presence was deduced the mass of our sun, while the from the examination of minute “planet” of Barnard’s Star has changes of position of the visi- only about one and a half times ble star. While I don’t doubt its the mass of the planet Jupiter. existence, I think it would be a It would be most surprising reason for rejoicing if the de- (though not completely impos- duction could be verified photo- sible) if they were self-luminous. graphically. The question of whether a true planet, visible by reflected light

J. D. Carbonara only, could be observed (or just Phoenix, Arizona. seen) over a distance of several FOR YOUR INFORMATION 85 light-years has been investigated They could improve their lot by several astronomers, e. g., the by placing their telescope on an late Dr. Otto Struve and Dr. atmosphereless satellite and by Lyman Spitzer. Dr. Spitzer as- using an occulting disk which sumed a planet of the same al- cuts off as much of the light of bedo as Jupiter, orbiting its star the star as possible, but will per- at the same distance as Jupiter mit most of the light of the plan- orbits our sun. If that planetary et to pass when it is in a favor- system were 16 light-years dis- able position. Even then they tant the maximum separation of would need a 300-inch telescope. star and planet would be one Our time for rejoicing, there- second of arc. fore, won’t come until we have It is easy to make the case a lunar observatory with more seem hopeless by saying that a powerful instruments than we separation of one second of arc have on earth right now. is equal to the diameter of a quarter-dollar coin seen from a Looking through several Al- distance of three miles. This is manacs, I notice that the num- quite true, but it is also true ber of isotopes for the various that it does not need a very large elements differs from list to list. telescope to see two luminous This, I presume, is the result of points which are separated by new discoveries. The almanacs one second of arc. The crux of are for different years. What I the matter is that both points would like to know is whether should be of about the same lu- there are elements which have minosity for easy separation, only one isotope. and a sun and its planet Herman Howard differ enormously in lumin- Manhattan, Kansas. osity. If we imagine astron- omers 16 light-years away look- If we disregard radioactive ing for Jupiter, they would find isotopes, natural or artificial, that the sun is approximately there are eighteen elements 900 million times as luminous as which have only one stable iso- the planet. It is like somebody tope. In alphabetical order they waving a flashlight next to a are: Aluminum, Arsenic, Beryl- •battery of searchlights. And if lium, Caesium, Cobalt, Fluorine, the astronomers of that other Gold, Holmium, Iodine, Mangan- planet have to look through an ese, Phosphorus, Praseodymium, atmosphere the case becomes Rhodium, Scandium, Sodium, hopeless. Terbium, Thulium and Yttrium.

86 GALAXY The element with the largest papermen, not a Russian word number of stable isotopes is Tin or designation. The first Rus- which has ten, followed by Cad- sian planetary probe was the mium which has eight. The other only one which had a name. It elements have two or more, but was called Metchta, which can less than eight, stable isotopes. best be translated as “daydream”. The total number of stable iso- Since then the Russians have topes now known is around 280 . become very matter of fact. Their Mars probe which is now Would you please write a in space is just called “Mars,l”. piece on the names of the arti- Our first satellite was named ficial satellites. What do their Explorer and our first to be fired names mean? over the poles was named Dis- Marion McNamara coverer, and it has become cus- Salem, Ohio tomary to name satellites in polar orbits Discoverers while Let me begin with the Russian the ones in orbits more or less satellites because there are fewer over the equator are named Ex- of them. The first Russian satel- plorers. lite was named Sputnik, which The moon rockets were named is a Russian word compounded Pioneer, and later Ranger while from “s” (meaning “with”), the planetary probes are called “put” (pronounced poot, mean- Mariner, all three obvious ing “road”) and the suffix “nik” names. But some other names which makes the word a noun. are less obvious. The satellite It therefore means “travel com- ANNA has that name because it panion”. Incidentally, the Rus- was a joint project of Army, sian plural is sputniki. Navy, NASA and Air Force. The The manned capsules are satellite OSO indicated its pur- named Vostok, which is the Rus- pose: Orbiting Solar Observa- sian word for “East”, but the tory. One that is coming up will name has historical significance. be named POGO, from Polar The first Russian sailing ship Orbiting Geophysical Observa- which circumnavigated the tory. As for Transit, the name globe happened to be called is clear once you know that it Vostok. The current series of is a navigational satellite. The Russian research satellites is Canadian satellite (fired by a called Cosmos; no explanation U. S. rocket from Cape Canaver- necessary. The term “Lunik” is al) is named Alouette, which is an invention of American news- French for “Skylark”.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION 87 The satellite Syncom is some- The best way to answer this what more complicated. It means question is to proceed histori- a communications satellite in cally. The classical Greek word the synchronous orbit, 22,300 meteoros means lofty, or high, miles above the equator, needing while the word logos means 24 hours to go around the earth knowledge. Therefore, when Ar- once and therefore seemingly istotle wrote a book on weather hanging motionless over one he called it Meteorologica — the point of the equator. Midas knowledge of things which hap- stands for Missile Defense Alarm pen high up — and the science System and Samos for Satellite of weather and weather forecast- and Missile Observation System. ing is still called “meteorology.” Echo was called that because the But Aristotle thought that cer- inflated balloon produced an tain phenomena, say shooting echo of radio waves thrown at it, stars, were events in the atmos- while the weather satellites phere — which, of course, is cor- Tiros are Television and Infra- rect as far as it goes. A shooting red Observation Satellites. The star is an event taking place in little satellite Oscar, for the use the atmosphere; that it was of of radio “hams”, had this name astronomical origin was not from the initials of Orbital Sa- known in the ancient world. tellite Carrying Amateur Radio. Later stones that had fallen out Clumsiest name ever was that of the sky were called meteors of Project SCORE back in De- or meteorites. The two words cember, 1958. Its name stood for were used interchangeably at Satellite Communications by Or- first — they are still so used in biting Relay Equipment! several languages — but then English astronomical usage be- Our local newspaper recently gan to make a sharp distinction. printed a release from NASA in A meteorite was the body that which the word “meteoroid” was could be picked up from the used. What is a meteoroid? And ground, while the flash it made since I am at it, why are the in the sky was the meteor. The words “meteorite” and “meteor- term meteoroid is -recent, and is ology” so similar, since they meant to designate meteorites mean such different things? still in space, before they have Elmer Green entered the earth’s atmosphere. Trenton, New Jersey —WILLY LEY

88 GALAXY !

OH, TO BE A BLOBEL

BY PHILIP K. DICK

ILLUSTRATED BY MORROW

The trouble with his wife was, she wasn't—usually—a woman. But ... he wasn't always a man!

I “Hello, Doctor Jones. I guess you’re not the same Doctor Jones T Te put a twenty-dollar plati- who did the definitive biography num coin into the slot and of Freud; that was a century the analyst, after a pause, lit up. ago.” He laughed nervously. Be- Its eyes shone with sociability. ing a rather poverty-stricken It swiveled about in its chair, man he was not accustomed to picked up a pen and pad of long dealing with the new fully-ho- yellow paper from its desk and meostatic psychoanalysts. “Um,” said: he said, “should I free-associate “Good morning, sir. You may or give you background material begin.” or just what?”

89 Dr. Jones said, “Perhaps you servation satellite full of Blo- could begin by telling me who bels; we’ll never know exactly you are und warum mich—why how many because of course, be- you have selected me.” ing Blobels, they tend to fuse to- “I’m George Munster of cat- gether and unfuse confusingly.” walk 4, building WEF-395, San He broke off then, feeling emo- Francisco condominium estab- tional. Even remembering and lished 1996.” talking about the war was too “How do you do, Mr. Mun- much for him. He lay back on ster.” Dr. Jones held out its hand, the couch, lit a cigarette and and George Munster shook it. tried to become calm. He found the hand to be of a The Blobels had emigrated pleasant body-temperature and originally from another star sys- decidedly soft. The grip, how- tem, probably Proxiina. Several ever, was manly. thousand years ago they had “You see,” Munster said, “I’m settled on Mars and on Titan, an ex-GI, a war veteran. That’s doing very well at agrarian pur- how I got my condominium suits. They were developments apartment at WEF-395. Veter- of the original unicellular amoe- ans’ preference.” ba, quite large and with a highly- “Ah yes,” Dr. Jones said, tick- organized nervous system, but ing faintly as it measured the still amoebae, with pseudopodia, passage of time. “The war with reproducing by binary fission, the Blobels.” and in the main offensive to Ter- “I fought three years in that ran settlers. war,” Munster said, nervously The war itself had broken out smoothing his long, black, thin- over ecological considerations. ning hair. “I hated the Blobels It had been the desire of the and I volunteered. I was only Foreign Aid Department of the nineteen and I had a good job UN to change the atmosphere on — but the crusade to clear the Mars, making it more usable for Sol System of Blobels came first Terran settlers. This change, in my mind.” however, had made it unpala- “Um,” Dr. Jones said, ticking table for the Blobel colonies al- and nodding. ready there; hence the squabble. George Munster continued, “I And, Munster reflected, it was fought well. In fact I got two not possible to change half the decorations and a battlefield ci- atmosphere of a planet, the tation. Corporal. That’s because Brownian movement being what I single-handed wiped out an ob- it was. Within a period of ten 90 GALAXY iSES

OH, TO BE A BLOBEL! 91 . — years the altered atmosphere hat evening, back in his small had diffused throughout the Tapartment at WEF-395, Mun- planet, bringing suffering — at ster opened a fifth of Teacher’s least so they alleged—to the scotch and sat sipping from a Blobels. In retaliation, a Blobel cup, lacking even the energy to armada approached Terra and get a glass down from the cup- put into orbit a series of tech- board over the sink. nically sophisticated satellites What had he gotten out of the designed eventually to alter the session with Dr. Jones today? atmosphere of Terra. This alter- Nothing, as nearly as he could ation had never come about, be- tell. And it had eaten deep into cause of course the War Office his meager financial resources of the UN had gone into action; . . . meager because the satellites had been detonated Because for almost twelve by self-instructing missiles . . hours out of the day he revert- and the war was on. ed, despite all the efforts of him- Dr. Jones said, “Are you mar- self and the Veterans’ Hospitali- ried, Mr. Munster?” zation Agency of the UN, to his “No sir,” Munster said. “And old wartime Blobel shape. To a —” he shuddered—“you’ll see formless unicellular-like blob, why when I’ve finished telling right in the middle of his own you. See, Doctor, I’ll be frank. apartment at WEF-395. I was a Terran spy. That was my His financial resources con- task. They gave the job to me sisted of a small pension from because of my bravery in the the War Office. Finding a job field, I didn’t ask for it.” was impossible, because as soon “I see,” Dr. Jones said. as he was hired the strain caused “Do you?” Munster’s voice him to revert there on the spot, broke. “Do you know what was in plain sight of his new em- necessary in those days in order ployer and fellow workers. to make a Terran into a success- It did not assist in forming ful spy among the Blobels?” successful work-relationships. Nodding, Dr. Jones said, “Yes, Sure enough, now, at eight in Mr. Munster. You had to relin- the evening, he felt himself once quish your human form and as- more beginning to revert. It was sume the form of a Blobel.” an old and familiar experience

Munster said nothing; he to him, and he loathed it. Hur- clenched and unclenched his fist riedly, he sipped the last of the bitterly. Across from him Dr. cup of scotch, put the cup down

Jones ticked. on a table . . . and felt himself 92 GALAXY . slide together into a homoge- San Francisco Bay, the Golden neous puddle. Gate Bridge, the playground for The telephone rang. small children which was Alca- “I can’t answer,” he called to traz Island. it. The phone’s relay picked up Dammit, he thought bitterly. his anguished message and con- I can’t marry; I can’t live a gen- veyed it to the calling party. uine human existence, reverting Now Munster had become a this way to the form the War single transparent gelatinous Office bigshots forced me into mass in the middle of the rug. back in the war times. . He undulated toward the phone — it was still ringing, despite his TTe had not known then, when A -* statement to it, and he felt furi- he accepted the mission, ous resentment; didn’t he have that it would leave this perma- enough troubles already, with- nent effect. They had assured out having to deal with a ring- him it was “only temporary, for ing phone? the duration,” or some such glib

Reaching it, he extended a phrase. Duration! Munster pseudopodium and snatched the thought with furious, impotent receiver from the hook. With resentment. It’s been eleven great effort he formed his plastic years. substance into the semblance of The psychological problems a vocal apparatus, resonating created for him, the pressure on dully. “I’m busy,” he resonated his psyche, were immense. Hence in a low booming fashion into his visit to Dr. Jones. the mouthpiece of the phone. Once more the phone rang. “Call later.” Call, he thought as “Okay,” Munster said aloud, he hung up, tomorrow morning. and flowed laboriously back

When I’ve been able to regain across the room to it. “You want my human form. to talk to me?” he said as he The apartment was quiet now. came closer and closer; the trip, Sighing, Munster flowed back for someone in Blobel form, was across the carpet to the window, a long one. “I’ll talk to you. where he rose into a high pillar You can even turn on the vid- in order to see the view beyond. screen and look at me.” At the There was a light-sensitive spot phone he snapped the switch on his outer surface, and al- which would permit visual com- though he did not possess a true munication as well as auditory. lens he was able to appreciate “Have a good look,” he said, and — nostalgically — the blur of displayed his amorphous form

OH, TO BE A BLOBEL! 93 ” ” ”

before the scanning tube of the the only one in this condition. video. Did you know that?” Dr. Jones’ voice came, “I’m Heavily, Munster said, “Sure. sorry to bother you at your In all, eighty-three Terrans were home, Mr. Munster, especially made over into Blobels at one when you’re in this, um, awk- time or another during the war. ward condition.” The homeosta- Of the eighty-three—” he knew tic analyst paused. “But I’ve the facts by heart — “sixty-one been devoting time to prob- survived and now there’s an or- lem-solving vis-a-vis your condi- ganization called Veterans of Un- tion. I may have at least a par- natural Wars of which fifty are tial solution.” members. I’m a member. We “What?” Munster said, taken meet twice a month, revert in .” by surprise. “You mean to imply unison. . He started to hang that medical science can now— up the phone. So this was what “No, no,” Dr. Jones said hur- he had gotten for his money, riedly. “The physical aspects lie this stale news. “Goodbye, Doc- out of my domain; you must tor,” he murmured. keep that in mind, Munster. Dr. Jones whirred in agita- When you consulted me about tion. “Mr. Munster, I don’t mean your problems it was the psy- other Terrans. I’ve researched chological adjustment that— this in your behalf, and I dis- “I’ll come right down to your cover that according to captured office and talk to you,” Munster records at the Library of Con- said. And then he realized that gress fifteen Blobels were form- he could not; in his Blobel form ed into pseudo-Terrans to act as it would take him days to un- spies for their side. Do you un- dulate all the way across town derstand?” to Dr. Jones’ office. “Jones,” he After a moment Munster said, said desperately, “you see the “Not exactly.” problems I face. I’m stuck here “You have a mental block in this apartment every night be- against being helped,” Dr. Jones ginning about eight o’clock and said. “But here’s what I want, lasting through until almost sev- Munster. You be at my office

• en in the morning. I can’t even at eleven in the morning tomor- visit you and consult you and row. We’ll take up the solution get help— to your problem then. Good “Be quiet, Mr. Munster,” Dr. night.” Jones interrupted. “I’m trying to Wearily, Munster said, “When tell you something. You’re not I’m in my Blobel form my wits 94 GALAXY . aren’t too keen, Doctor. You’ll another electronic fully-homeo- have to forgive me.” He hung static psychoanalyst in Los An- up, still puzzled. So there were geles and then late yesterday Dr. fifteen Blobels walking around Bing, my analyst, called me and on Titan this moment, doomed told me to fly up here and see to occupy human forms — so Dr. Jones this morning. Is this what? How did that help him? one good?” Maybe he would find out at “Um,” Munster said. “I guess eleven tomorrow. so.” We’ll see, he thought. That’s precisely what we don’t know 'VST'hen he strode into Dr. yet. Jones’ waiting room he saw, The inner office door opened seated in a deep chair in a cor- and there stood Dr. Jones. “Miss ner by a lamp, reading a copy Arrasmith,” it said, nodding to of Fortune, an exceedingly at- the girl. “Mr. Munster.” It nod- tractive young woman. ded to George. “Won’t you both Automatically, Munster found come in?” a place to sit from which he Rising to her feet, Miss Arra- could eye her. Stylish dyed-white smith said, “Who pays the twen- hair braided down the back of ty dollars, then?” her neck — he took in the sight But the analyst was silent; it of her with delight, pretending had turned off. to read his own copy of Fortune. “I’ll pay,” Miss Arrasmith Slender legs, small and delicate said, reaching into her purse. elbows. And her sharp, clearly- “No, no,” Munster said. “Let featured face. The intelligent me.” He got out a twenty-dollar eyes, the thin, tapered nostrils piece and dropped it into the — a truly lovely girl, he thought. analyst’s slot.

He drank in the sight of her . . At once, Dr. Jones said, until all at once she raised her “You’re a gentleman, Mr. Mun- head and stared coolly back at ster.” Smiling, it ushered the him. two of them into its office. “Be “Dull, having to wait,” Mun- seated, please. Miss Arrasmith, ster mumbled. without preamble please allow The girl said, “Do you come me to explain your — condition to Dr. Jones often?” to Mr. Munster.” To Munster it “No,” he admitted. “This is said, “Miss Arrasmith is a Blo- just the second time.” bel.” “I’ve never been here before,” Munster could only stare at the the girl said. “I was going to girl.

OH, TO BE A BLOBEL1 95 .

“Obviously,” Dr. Jones contin- binary fission — it’s lousy, I say ued, “presently in human form. really lousy, compared to the This, for her, is the state of in- Terran form of — you know. Re- voluntary reversion. During the production.” He colored. war she operated behind Terran Dr. Jones ticked and stated, lines, acting for the Blobel War “For a period of about six hours League. She was captured and your human forms overlap. And held, but then the war ended then for about one hour your and she was not tried.” Blobel forms overlap. So all in “They released me,” Miss Ar- all, the two of you possess seven rasmith said in a low, carefully hours out of twenty-four in controlled voice. “Still in human which you both possess identi-— form. I stayed here out of shame. cal forms. In my opinion ” it I just couldn’t go back to Titan toyed with its pen and paper — and—” Her voice wavered. “seven hours is not too bad, if “There is great shame attach- you follow my meaning.” ed to this condition,” Dr. Jones After a moment Miss Arra- said, “for any high-caste Blobel.” smith said, “But Mr. Munster Nodding, Miss Arrasmith sat and I are natural enemies.” clutching a tiny Irish linen “That was years ago,” Mun- handkerchief and trying to look ster said. poised. “Correct, Doctor. I did “Correct,” Dr. Jones agreed. visit Titan to discuss my condi- “True, Miss Arrasmith is basical- tion with medical authorities ly a Blobel and you, Munster, are there. After expensive and pro- a Terran. But both of you are longed therapy with me they outcasts in either civilization. were able to induce a return to Both of you are stateless and my natural form for a period of hence gradually suffering a loss about one-fourth of the time. of ego-identity. I predict for

But the other three-fourths ... I both of you a gradual deteriora- am as you perceive me now.” She tion ending finally in severe ducked her head and touched the mental illness. Unless you two handkerchief to her right eye. can develop a rapprochement.” “Jeez,” Munster protested, The analyst was silent then. “you’re lucky! A human form Miss Arrasmith said softly, “I is infinitely superior to a Blobel think we’re very lucky, Mr. Mun- form. I ought to know. As a Blo- ster. As Dr. Jones said, we do

bel you have to creep along. overlap for seven hours day . . You’re like a big jellyfish, no we can enjoy that time together, skeleton to keep you erect. And no longer in wretched isolation.” 96 GALAXY She smiled up hopefully at him, ter consulting his built-in mem- rearranging her coat. Certainly, ory banks. she had a nice figure; the some- “Had you investigated the what low-cut dress gave an ideal legal ramifications of their is- clue to that. sue?” Studying her, Munster pon- “Um, well,” Dr. Jones said, dered. “that’s not my worry.” “Give him time,” Dr. Jones told “You can be arraigned for ad- Miss Arrasmith. “My analysis vising any action contrary to of him is that he will see this UN law.” correctly and do the right thing.” “There’s no law prohibiting a Still rearranging her coat and Blobel and a Terran from mar- dabbing at her large, dark eyes, rying.” Miss Arrasmith waited. The UN legal expert said, “All right, Doctor, I’ll settle for a look II at their case histories.” “Absolutely no,” Dr. Jones 'T'he phone in Dr. Jones’ office said. “That would be a breach rang, a number of years later. of ethics.” He answered it in his customary “We’ll get a writ and sequester way. “Please, sir or madam, de- them, then.” posit twenty dollars if you wish “Go ahead.” Dr. Jones reached to speak to me.” behind his ear to shut himself A tough male voice on the off. other end of the line said, “Lis- “Wait. It may interest you to ten, this is the UN Legal Office know that the Munsters now and we don’t deposit twenty dol- have four children. And, follow- lars to talk to anybody. So trip ing the Revised Mendelian Law, that mechanism inside you, the offspring comprise a strict Jones.” one, two, one ratio. One Blobel “Yes, sir,” Dr. Jones said, and girl, one hybrid boy, one hybrid with his right hand tripped the girl, one Terran girl. The legal lever behind his ear that caused problem arises in that the Blo- him to come on free. bel Supreme Council claims the “Back in 2037,” the UN legal pure-blooded Blobel girl as a expert said, “did you advise a citizen of Titan and also suggests couple to marry? A George that one of the two hybrids be Munster and a Vivian Arra- donated to the Council’s juris- smith, now Mrs. Munster?” diction.” The UN legal expert “Why yes,” Dr. Jones said, af- explained, “You see, the Mun-

OH, TO BE A BLOBEL! 97 —

sters’ marriage is breaking up. his wife’s salary and he felt it They’re getting divorced and it’s keenly. To augment it, he had sticky finding which laws obtain searched for a way of earning regarding them and their issue.” money at home. Finally in a “Yes,” Dr. Jones admitted, “I magazine he had found this valu- would think so. What has caused able ad; their marriage to break up?” “I don’t know and don’t care. MAKE SWIFT PROFITS IN YOUR OWN Possibly the fact that both adults CONDO! RAISE GIANT BULLFROGS FROM rotate daily between being Blo- JUPITER, CAPABLE OF EIGHTY-FOOT bels and Terrans. Maybe the LEAPS CAN BE USED IN FROG-RACING strain got to be too much. If you (where legal) AND — want to give them psychological advice, consult them. Goodbye.” So in 2038 he had bought his The UN legal expert rang off. first pair of frogs imported from Did I make a mistake, advis- Jupiter and had begun raising ing them to marry? Dr. Jones them for swift profits, right in asked itself. I wonder if I his own condominium apart- shouldn’t look them up; I owe ment building, in a corner of at least that to them. the basement that Leopold, the Opening the Los Angeles partially-homeostatic janitor, let Phonebook, it began thumbing him use gratis. through the Ms. But in the relatively feeble Terran gravity the .frogs were nphese had been six difficult capable of enormous leaps, and years for the Munsters. the basement proved too small First George had moved from for them; they ricocheted from San Francisco to Los Angeles. wall to wall like green pingpong He and Vivian had set up their balls and soon died. Obviously household in a condominium it took more than a portion of apartment with three instead of the basement at QEK-604 Apart- two rooms. Vivian, being in Ter- ments to house a crop of the ran form three-fourths of the damned things, George realized. time, had been able to obtain a And then, too, their first child job; right out in public she gave had been bom. It had turned jet flight information at the out to be pure-blooded Blobel; Fifth Los Angeles Airport. for twenty-four hours a day it George, however consisted of a gelatinous mass His pension comprised an and George found himself wait- amount only one-forth that of ing in vain for it to switch over

98 GALAXY ” ” V to a human form, even for a mo- and played chess with his fellow ment. members, either in human form He faced Vivian defiantly in or in Blobel form; this was one this matter, during a period place in which both were ac- when both of them were in hu- cepted. man form. This particular evening he sat “How can I consider it my with Pete Ruggles, a fellow vet- child?” he asked her. “It’s an eran who also had married a alien life form to me.” He was Blobel female, reverting, as Vi- discouraged and even horrified. vian did, to human form. “Dr. Jones should have foreseen “Pete, I can’t go on. I’ve got this. Maybe it’s your child — it a gelatinous blob for a child. My looks just like you.” whole life I’ve wanted a kid, and Tears filled Vivian’s eyes. now what have I got? Something “You mean that insultingly.” that looks like it washed up on “Damn right I do. We fought the beach.” you creatures. We used to con- Sipping his beer — he too was sider you no better than Portu- in human form at the moment guese men-o’-war.” Gloomily, he — Pete answered, “Criminy, put on his coat. “I’m going George, I admit it’s a mess. But down to Veterans of Unnatural you must have known what you Wars Headquarters,” he inform- were getting into when you mar- ed his wife. “Have a beer with ried her. And my God, accord- the boys.” Shortly he was on ing to Mendel’s Revised Law, the his. way to join with his old war- next kid— time buddies, glad to get out of George broke in, “I mean I the apartment house. don’t respect my own wife.

VUW Headquarters was a de- That’s the basis of it. I think of crepit cement building in down- her as a thing. And myself, too. town Los Angeles, left over from We’re both things.” He drank the twentieth century and sadly down his beer in one gulp. in need of paint. The VUW had Pete said meditatively, “But little funds because most of its from the Blobel standpoint— members were, like George Mun- “Listen, whose side are you ster, living on UN pensions. on?” George demanded. However, there was a pool table “Don’t yell at me,” Pete said, and an old 3-D television set and “or I’ll deck you.” a few dozen tapes of popular A moment later they were music and also a chess set. swinging wildly at each other. George generally drank his beer Fortunately Pete reverted to Blo-

OH, TO BE A BLOBEL! 99 . bel form in the nick of time; no took human form fifty per cent harm was done. Now George sat of the time, and so at last George alone, in human shape, while had a child who was — occasion- Pete oozed off somewhere else, ally, anyhow — a member of his probably to join a group of the own species. boys who had also assumed Blo- He was still in the process of bel form. celebrating the birth of Maurice Maybe we can found a new when a delegation of their neigh- society somewhere on a remote bors at QEK-604 Apartments moon, George said to himself. came and rapped on their door. Neither Terran nor Blobel. “We’ve got a petition here,” I’ve got to go back to Vivian, the chairman of the delegation George resolved. What else is said, shuffling his feet in embar- there for me? I’m lucky to find rassment, “asking that you and her; I’d be nothing but a war Mrs. Munster leave QEK-604.” veteran guzzling beer here at “But why?” George asked, be- VUW Headquarters every damn wildered. “You haven’t object- day and night, with no future, ed to us up until now.”

no hope, no real life. . “The reason is that now you’ve He had a new money-making got a hybrid youngster who will scheme going now. It was a home want to play with ours, and we mail-order business; he had feel it’s unhealthy for our kids placed an ad in the Saturday to—” Evening Post for MAGIC George slammed the door in LODESTONES REPUTED TO their faces. BRING YOU LUCK. FROM But still he felt the pressure ANOTHER STAR-SYSTEM of the hostility from the people ENTIRELY! The stones had on all sides of them. And to come from Proxima and were ob- think, he thought bitterly, that tainable on Titan; it was Vivian I fought in the war to save these who had made the commercial people! It sure wasn’t worth it! contact for him with her people. An hour later he was down at But so far, few people had sent VUW Headquarters once more, in the dollar-fifty. drinking beer and talking with I’m a failure, George said to his buddy Sherman Downs, also himself. married to a Blobel. “Sherman, it’s no good. We’re T^ortunately the next child, not wanted; we’ve got to emi- bom in the winter of 2039, grate. Maybe we’ll try it on Titan showed itself to be a hybrid. It in Viv’s world.”

100 GALAXY ” —

“Chrissakes,” Sherman protest- of them reverted to Blobel form. ed, “I hate to see you fold up, They oozed angrily into each George. Isn’t your electro-mag- other for a time, but at last fel- netic reducing belt beginning to low veterans managed to sepa- sell, finally?” rate them. For the last few months, “I’m as much a Terran as any- George had been making and one,” George thought-radiated in selling a complex electronic re- the Blobel manner to Sherman. ducing gadget which Vivian had “And I’ll flatten anyone who helped him design; it was based says otherwise.” in principle on a Blobel device In Blobel form he was unable popular on Titan but unknown to get home; he had to phone on Terra. And this had gone over Vivian to come and get him. It well. George had more orders was humiliating. than he could fill. But Suicide, he decided. That’s the “I had a terrible experience, answer. Sherm,” George confided. “I was How best to do it? In Blobel in a drugstore the other day, and form he was unable to feel pain; they gave me a big order for my best to do it then. Several sub- reducing belt, and I got so ex- stances would dissolve him ... he cited—” He broke off. “You can could, for instance, drop himself guess what happened. I revert- into a heavily-chlorinated swim- ed, right in plain sight of a hun- ming pool, such as QEK-604 dred customers. And when the maintained in its recreation buyer saw that he canceled the room. order for the belts. It was what Vivian, in human form, found we all fear. You should have him as he reposed hesitantly at seen how their attitude toward the edge of the swimming pool, me changed.” late one night. Sherm said, “Hire someone to “George, I beg you — go back do your selling for you. A full- to Dr. Jones.” blooded Terran.” “Naw,” he boomed dully, Thickly, George said, “I’m a forming a quasi-vocal apparatus full-blooded Terran, and don’t with a portion of his body. “It’s you forget it. Ever.” no use, Viv. I don’t want to go “I just mean— on.” Even the belts; they had “I know what you meant,” been Viv’s idea, rather than his.

George said. And took a swing He was second even there . . . be- at Sherman. Fortunately he miss- hind her, falling constantly fur- ed and in the excitement both ther behind each passing day.

OH, TO BE A BLOBEL1 101 Viv said, “You have so much “you’ve made my life worth liv- to offer the children.” ing again.” He fooled with the That was true. “Maybe 111 buttons of her blouse. drop over to the UN War Of- “I respect you,” Nina Glaub- fice,” he decided. “Talk to them, man said, assisting him with the see if there’s anything new that buttons. “In spite of the fact — medical science has come up well, you are a former enemy with that might stabilize me.” of the people.” “But if you stabilize as a Ter- George protested, “We must ran,” Vivian said, “what would not think about the old days. We become of me?” have to close our minds to our “We’d have eighteen entire pasts.” Nothing but our future, hours together a day. All the he thought. hours you take human form!” His reducing belt enterprise “But you wouldn’t want to had developed so well that now stay married to me. Because, he employed fifteen full-time George, then you could meet a Terran employees and owned a Terran woman.” small, modern factory on the It wasn’t fair to her, he real- outskirts of San Fernando. If UN ized. So he abandoned the idea. taxes had been reasonable he In the spring of 2041 their would by now be a wealthy man. third child was bom, also a girl, Brooding on that, George won- and like Maurice a hybrid. It dered what the tax rate was in was Blobel at night and Terran Blobel-run lands, on Io, for in- by day. stance. Maybe he ought to look

Meanwhile, George found a into it. solution to some of his problems. One night at VUW Headquar- He got himself a mistress. ters he discussed the subject with Reinholt, Nina’s husband, Ill who of course was ignorant of the modus Vivendi between A t the Hotel Elysium, a run- George and Nina. down wooden building in “Reinholt,” George said with the heart of Los Angeles, he and difficulty, as he drank his beer, Nina arranged to meet one an- “I’ve got big plans. This cradle- other. to-grave socialism the UN oper- “Nina,” George said, sipping ates . . . it’s not for me. It’s Teacher’s scotch and seated be- cramping me. The Munster Mag- side her on the shabby sofa ic Magnetic Belt is—” he ges- which the hotel provided, tured — “more than Terran civ- 102 GALAXY ”

ilization can support. You get would tell Viv. It was only a me?” question of time. The marriage, Coldly, Reinholt said, “But as far as George could see, was George, you are a Terran. If you over. This perhaps was their last emigrate to Blobel-run territory moment together. with your factory— you’ll be be- “Viv,” he said urgently, “you aying your have to believe me; I love you. “Listen,” George told him, You and the children — plus the “I’ve got one authentic Blobel belt business, naturally — are child, two half-Blobel children, my complete life.” A desperate and a fourth on the way. I’ve idea came to him. “Let’s emi- got strong emotional ties with grate now, tonight. Pack up the those people out there on Titan kids and go to Titan, right this and Io.” minute.” “ “You’re a traitor,” Reinholt “I can’t go,” Vivian said. “I said, and punched him in the know how my people would treat mouth. “And not only that,” he me, and treat you and the chil- continued, punching George in dren, too. George, you go. Move the stomach, “you’re running the factory to Io. I’ll stay here.” around with my wife. I’m going Tears filled her dark eyes. to kill you.” “Hell,” George said, “what To escape, George reverted to kind of life is that? With you Blobel form; Reinholt’s blows on Terra and me on Io — that’s passed harmlessly deep into his no marriage. And who’ll get the moist, jelly-like substance. Rein- kids?” Probably Viv would get holt then reverted, too, and flow- them. But his firm employed top ed into him murderously, trying legal talent — perhaps he could to consume and absorb George’s use it to solve his domestic prob- nucleus. lems. Fortunately fellow veterans The next morning Vivian pried their two bodies apart be- found out about Nina. And hired fore any permanent harm was an attorney of her own. done. Later that night, still trem- ICT isten,” George said, on the bling, George sat with Vivian in ' phone talking to his top the living room of their eight- legal talent, Henry Ramarau. room suite at the great new con- “Get me custody of the fourth dominium apartment building child; it’ll be a Terran. And ZGF-900. It had been a close we’ll compromise on the two call, and now of course Reinholt hybrids; I’ll take Maurice and

OH, TO BE A BLOBEL! 103 ” she can have Kathy. And natur- thinking back to six years ago. ally she gets that blob, that first “I thought it’d be in the junk so-called child. As far as I’m pile by now.” To Miss Nolan he concerned it’s hers anyhow.” He said, “Call Doctor Jones and no- slammed the receiver down and tify me when you have it. I’ll then turned to the board of di- take a minute off to talk to it.” rectors of his company. “Now It was like old times, back in where were we in our analysis of San Francisco. Io tax laws?” Shortly Miss Nolan had Dr. During the next weeks the idea Jones on the line. of a move to Io appeared more “Doctor,” George said, leaning and more feasible from a profit from side to side and poking at and loss standpoint. an orchid on his desk. “Good to “Go ahead and buy land on hear from you.” Io,” George instructed his busi- The voice of the homeostatic ness agent in the field, Tom analyst came in his ear, “Mr. Hendricks. “And get it cheap. Munster, I note that you now We want to start right.” To his have a secretary.” secretary Miss Nolan he said, “Yes,” George said, “I’m a ty- “Now keep everyone out of my coon. I’m in the reducing belt office until further notice. I feel game; it’s somewhat like the an attack coming on, from anx- flea-collar that cats wear. Well, iety over this major move off what can I do for you?” Terra to Io.” He added, “And “I understand you have four personal worries.” children now— “Yes, Mr. Munster,” Miss No- “Actually three, plus a fourth lan said, ushering Tom Hen- on the way. Listen, that fourth, dricks out of George’s private of- Doctor, is vital to me; accord- fice. “No one will disturb you.” ing to Mendel’s Revised Law it’s She could be counted on to keep a full-blooded Terran and by everyone out while George re- God I’m doing everything in my verted to his war-time Blobel power to get custody of it.” He shape, as he often did these days. added, “Vivian — you remem- The pressure on him was im- ber her — is now back on Titan. mense. Among her own people, where When, later in the day, he re- she belongs. And I’m putting sumed human form, George some of the finest doctors I can learned from Miss Nolan that a get on my payroll to stabilize Doctor Jones had called. me. I’m tired of this constant re- “I’ll be damned,” George said, verting, night and day; I’ve got

104 GALAXY ” too much to do for such non- ate your factory on Io you must sense.” be a citizen of Titan.” Dr. said, “From your ought to be able to fix Jones . “We tone I can see you’re an impor- that up,” George said. tant, busy man, Mr. Munster. “But to be a citizen of Titan You’ve certainly risen in the —” Ramarau hesitated. “I’ll world since I saw you last.” break it to you as easy as I can, “Get to the point, Doctor,” George. You have to be a George said impatiently. Blobel!” “I, um, thought perhaps I “Dammit, I am a Blobel!” could bring you and Vivian to- George said. “At least part of gether again.” the time. Won’t that do?” “Bah,” George said contemp- “No,” Ramarau said, “I check- tuously. “That woman? Never. ed into that, knowing of your Listen, Doctor, I have to ring affliction, and it’s got to be one off. We’re in the process of final- hundred per cent of the time. izing on some basic business Night and day.” strategy, here at Munster, Incor- “Hmmm,” George said. “This porated.” is bad. But we’ll overcome it “Mr. Munster,” Dr. Jones ask- somehow. Listen, Hank, I’ve got ed, “is there another woman?” an appointment with Eddy Full- “There’s another Blobel,” bright, my medical coordinator. George said, “if that’s what you I’ll talk to you after, okay?” He mean.” And he hung up the ran off and then sat scowling phone. Two Blobels are better and rubbing his jaw. Well, he than none, he said to himself. decided, if it has to be. Facts And now back to business. He are facts, and we can’t let them pressed a button his desk and stand in our way. at once Miss Nolan put her head Picking up the phone he dial- into the office. “Miss Nolan,” ed his doctor, Eddy Fullbright. George said, “get me Hank Ra- marau; I want to find out— IV “Mr. Ramarau is waiting on the other line,” Miss Nolan said. 'T'he twenty-dollar platinum “He says it’s urgent.” coin rolled down the chute Switching to the other line, and tripped the circuit. Dr. George said, “Hi, Hank. What’s Jones came on, glanced up and up?” saw a stunning, sharp-breasted “I’ve just discovered,” his top young woman whom it recog- legal advisor said, “that to oper- nized by means of a quick scan

OH, TO BE A BLOBEL! 105 . ” ” of its memory banks as Mrs. eralities. Evidently he’s such a George Munster, the former Viv- big tycoon now that it’s hard to ian Arrasmith. approach him.” “Good day, Vivian,” Dr. Jones “And to think,” Vivian said cordially. “But I under- sniffled, “that he achieved it all stood you were pn Titan.” It rose because of an idea I gave him. A to its feet, offering her a chair. Blobel idea.” Dabbing at her large, dark “The ironies of fate,” Dr. eyes, Vivian sniffled, “Doctor, Jones said. “Now, if you want everything is collapsing around to keep your husband, Vivian— me. My husband is having an “I’m determined to keep him, affair with another woman . . Doctor Jones. Frankly I’ve un- all I know is that her name is dergone therapy on Titan, the Nina and all the boys down at latest and most expensive it’s VUW Headquarters are talking because I love George so much, about it. Presumably she’s a Ter- even more than I love my own ran. We’re both filing for di- people or my planet.” vorce. And we’re having a dread- “Eh?” Dr. Jones said. ful legal battle over the chil- “Through the most modern dren.” She arranged her coat developments in medical science modestly. “I’m expecting. Our in the Sol System,” Vivian said, fourth.” “I’ve been stabilized, Doctor “This I know,” Dr. Jones said. Jones. Now I am in human form “A full-blooded Terran this time, twenty-four hours a day instead if Mendel’s Law holds ... al- of eighteen. I’ve renounced my though I thought it only applied natural form in order to keep to litters.” my marriage with George.” Mrs. Munster said miserably, “The supreme sacrifice,” Dr. “I’ve been on Titan talking to Jones said, touched. legal and medical experts, gyne- “Now, if I can only find him, cologists and especially marital Doctor— guidance counselors. I’ve had all sorts of advice during the past \ t the ground-breaking cere- month. Now I’m back on Terra monies on lo, George Mun- but I can’t find George — he’s ster flowed gradually to the gone.” shovel, extended a pseudopodi- “I wish I could help you, Viv- um, seized the shovel, and with ian,” Dr. Jones said. “I talked to it managed to dig a symbolic your husband briefly the other amount of soil. “This is a great day, but he spoke only in gen- day,” he boomed hollowly, by 106 GALAXY means of the semblance of a vo- Ionans who will be employed. cal apparatus into which he had It will bring prosperity to this fashioned the slimy, plastic sub- area, plus a proud sense of na- stance which made up his unicel- tional achievement in the manu- lular body. facture of what we recognize to “Right, George,” Hank Rama- be a native invention, the Mun- rau agreed, standing nearby with ster Magic Magnetic Belt.” the legal documents. The throng of Blobels The Ionan official, like George thought-radiated cheers. a great transparent blob, oozed “This is a proud day in my across to Ramarau, took the doc- life,” George Munster informed uments and boomed, “These will them, and began to ooze by de- be transmitted to my govern- grees back to his car, where his ment. I’m sure they’re in order, chauffeur waited to drive him Mr. Ramarau.” to his permanent hotel room at “I guarantee you,” Ramarau Io City. said to the official, “Mr. Mun- Someday he would own the ster does not revert to human hotel. He was putting the pro- form at any time. He’s made use fits from his business in local of some of the most advanced real estate. It was the patriotic techniques in medical science to — and the profitable — thing to achieve this stability at the uni- do, other Ionans, other Blobels, cellular phase of his former ro- had told him. tation. Munster would never “I’m finally a successful man,” cheat.” George Munster thought-radiat- “This historic moment,” the ed to all close enough to pick up great blob that was George Mun- his emanations. ster thought- radiated to the Amid frenzied cheers he oozed throng of local Blobels attend- up the ramp and into his Titan- ing the ceremonies, “means a made car. higher standard of living for — PHILIP K. DICK

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OH, TO BE A BLOBELl 107 m i: AWAKENING

BY JACK SHARKEY

They awoke after ages of hiding —to emerge into a world richer than they had dared to dream of!

T) ik’s first impressions were an When he sat up and swung his uncomfortable chill creeping legs over the side, the interior along his bare flesh, and a bright of the vault began swirling milky swirling of light that en- again. He had to grip the edge compassed his entire vision. He of the slab to keep from falling. shivered and blinked his eyes a The air was humid, much too few times, and then the swirling humid, and he could taste the settled down and became the prickly presence of carbon di- vault. The chill, he realized, was oxide when he breathed. “The due to the body warmth being pump,” he mumbled, dropping methodically sucked away by the to the floor on feet that he could cold slab on which he lay. An- barely control. “Something’s other shiver brought a gasp of happened to the pump.” breath into his lungs, and then He pushed himself deter- he was wide awake. minedly erect, then stumbled

108 . — down the long corridor between trying to get his sense of direc- the other slabs, hardly glancing tion back. The atom-powered at their silent tenants, until he clock that marked off months in- got to Zina’s. She lay still as stead of minutes was in the cen- death, not flicking so -much as tral vault, where the elders slept. an eyelid, and her flesh was like The other nine vaults ringed frozen wax beneath his explor- that one, he recalled, veering at ing fingers. right angles to his first direction, There was nothing he could which would have taken him on do for her until he got the pump a circular tour of the nine vaults working again. . and back to his starting place Rik pushed away from the again. slab on which Zina lay, and went The archway to the vault of through the archway into the the elders was unaccountably next chamber. Here another fifty blocked, and Rik realized sud- of the group lay on their slabs, denly that part of the ceiling not so much as a muscle twitch there had fallen, carried by betraying the fact that they were some fault in the granite of the all quite alive. It seemed only mountain itself. But that was a few hours since he had lain impossible! The elders had se- down on his slab in the other lected this site on the basis of room and gotten his injection, the rigidity of the rocky strata but he could not, for a dizzy mo- that made it up. A fault could ment, recall in which direction not have occurred for more the pump lay. His mind seemed years than Rik’s own lifetime to be plumbing dust-covered Or had that many years passed depths to dredge out his mem- already? ories, one by one. He suddenly remembered the 'T'here was no way of knowing; War. The war that had driven not until he had examined the the group to build this place, to clock. Rik moved away from the try and safeguard a handful from blockade and made his way into the holocaust that would set fire the next vault, and the next, fin- to the surface of the world and ally finding an archway in the turn the seas to steam. Was it sixth vault from his own where possible the war had passed? Or the rock had not completely had it ever come! sealed the way into the elders’ There was no way to know vault. without going outside — Wait! Here he had expected to find There was! Rik thought hard. the air fresher, already having

THE AWAKENING 109 theorized that the staleness else- not like the tarnished look of where was due to the poor circu- the metal underside of the ped- lation occasioned by the block- estal-base, forged of an alloy aded central vault. But in fact supposed to be incorruptible. A the air there was even worse, sick thought took hold of his and laden with an odor that insides then, as he placed one made Rik suddenly afraid to see foot upon the rocky staircase un- its source. der the floor. The clock-indica- Still, he was the first to awake. tor had halted at its utmost num- It was up to him to try and save eral. himself and the others. Rik made But what if they’d lain here an effort of will, and then even longer than that? There squeezed through the narrow ori- would be no way of knowing. fice into the main chamber. He No way at all. looked once toward the slabs He descended the staircase holding the bodies of the elders, swiftly then, glad at least that then quickly away. It was true. the air was better down in the All were in advanced stages of pump chamber. “It would be, of corruption already. course,” he reminded himself, Choking, Rik went to the cen- “if the pump went off, even. This ter of the high room and looked air would never be circulated, into the horizontal face of the never have its chance to become clock. The broad indicator arm corrupt with our exhalations.” was at its utmost numeral, and And then his musing was halted was pocked with rust. They’d in midthought as he came upon lain here beyond the time-of- the pump. Or upon what had awakening by at least four times been the pump. the years they’d planned! Where rigid cylinders of “It can’t be right,” Rik gasped, gleaming metal had been, a few his brain reeling for want of jagged teeth of brown corrup- clean, cool air. “The mechanism tion lay in a circle. The pistons has failed somehow.” Afraid to were no better, though their think about it, he tilted the clock thickness had preserved more of up on its base until the pedestal their original shape despite the which supported it lay on its inroads of age, so they could be side upon the floor. The square recognized for what they were — block of metal that based the had been. The central shaft was pedestal was now uptilted be- a long mqund of flaking dust on yond the vertical, exposing a the floor between the path of gaping trap in the floor. Rik did the pistons, and the wall -sized no GALAXY . mass of the filters — woven of staggered back from the open- metal and powerful synthetic ing then back up the stairs into fibers — crumbled beneath the the chamber of the elders. Now pressure of his finger. that his nostrils had been stimu- He sought and found the pon- lated by the clean air the smell derous casing in which the en- of corruption was violently re- gine-empowering radioactive ele- pelling; but he held his breath ment had lain, and its thick and ran to the gap in the tum- walls tore away like wood pulp bled rock about the archway, in his hands. The element, when and squeezed his way into the he found it, was already become area of subsidiary vaults. cold grey lead. And it had had Without the pump in opera- a half-life of centuries. . tion, the air could not circulate Rik crumpled slowly to the to this point, but he hoped to floor, shutting his eyes, trying drag some of his companions not to think of the eons which down to the torn filter and re- must have passed while they all vive them — then, with their lay sleeping the pseudodeath in help, bring the others. the vaults. What might the world It would be all right. They have become in the interim! would be saved, as planned. He regretted the loss of the elders. \ current of cool air suddenly But no matter. They were but -‘^-touched his face. His head the rulers. He and the others came up instantly, his eyes seek- were the chemists, the scientists, ing the source. the engineers. New elderships A feathery motion of torn could be created when they had edges in the filter showed him become settled again, and could that it came through the gap he rebuild their civilization. had torn there. Rik sprang to He went to Zina’s slab first. his feet then, leaped at the filter She would not be as much help and tore out chunks by the arm- as some of the others, but Zina ful, letting the pulverized ma- and he were too close for him to terial float in spinning clouds delay her revival any longer. of dust motes behind him. The Life was not worth having with- air grew stronger, came faster, out Zina. He carried her out of as he ripped away the corrup- the vault, through the gap and tion, and then he could see the thick miasma of corruption, then tunnel beyond. down into the pump chamber. Gasping at the effort — how Leaving her lying on her back, long since he had eaten? — he with the breeze ruffling her hair THE AWAKENING 111 about her face, Rik went back perforated shield of rock that up for the next person. had been left intact to hide the Three exhausting trips later, location of the vaults from their he sat among the bodies of his enemies. Rik put his shoulder to friends, listening with joy to the shell. It cracked and fell their returning quiver of breath away as he’d thought it would, and life. Zina was the first to with weather and erosion having open her eyes. She seemed star- weakened it for centuries. Bright tled to find she was no longer yellow moonlight lay all about on the slab, and then joyous the land outside. Incredibly fine when her glance fell upon his sand was everywhere, but a smell eager face. of fresh water and green grow- “We’ve done it!” she sighed. ing things was mingled with the ‘We came through!” She tried night air. The region had not to sit up, then lay down heavily. been desert when the vaults were .” “Rik — I’m so weak. . constructed. The War had left “We need food, all of us,” he its mark of devastation here, Rik said. “I’m weak myself.” He saw, looking in vain for a trace arose from his crouch at her side of the magnificent towered city and stared down the tunnel to that had once been just beyond the outer world. “I don’t know this spot. what it’s like out there,” he said. He shook off his dismay and “There may be no food at all. set himself to the task for which If the War was as devastating he’d emerged. as predicted, it may be barren The animals had to be alive, rock, burning sun and overall yet, or they were doomed. He’d death.” always regretted the haste in “How long — ?” Zina began, their preparations that had pre- and then her eyes fell upon the cluded preparing survival vaults time-rotted hulk of the pump for the food animals. The best and she stopped, her face going they’d been able to do, before pale. “As long as that!” she the Day of Devastation, was herd whispered. “Oh, Rik! Do you the stupid beasts into caves and think — ?” ^ pile the entrances with loose “I’ll know when I’ve looked,” rock, hoping the animals would he said. Their eyes met for a dig themselves out only after the long, silent moment, then he worst fury of the War had turned and started up the tunnel. passed. . . Rik threw off the bitter Three hundred strides brought memory, abruptly, as his ears de- him to the barrier, the thinly tected a tiny buzz of sound. 112 GALAXY He dropped to the ground and hoped,” he said to Zina, when lay still, watching to see what they and the others had picked sort of beast would appear. It the thing clean. “Life promises sounded larger than the animals to be much more exciting, in- he remembered. “I must be near finitely more sporting in this a waterhole,” he reasoned. new age outside the vaults. With “There’s a pathway here, made care, we can survive until our by many animals passing this engineers rig up some whip- .” way. . he mused, studying the rays and herding-claws again.” narrow, flattened track that he’d “It will be fun,” Zina agreed, spotted in the night-chilled sand. smiling with grim anticipation. Then he saw something com- “I enjoy a challenge in the hunt. ing slowly up the trail, a thing Who’d have thought the animals much larger than the animals he would have come so far from the remembered. caves!” It was a long moment before he realized what it was, and Tt was hours later that the bus smiled. Then he reached out his -* company grew worried about hands and had it. It buzzed loud- their missing vehicle, and start- ly in his grip until he pounded ed an investigation. But they it to silence on a rock. By the could find no trace of the bus, time he’d returned to the pump anywhere, and it remained a chamber, he’d managed to prise mystery until the day everybody it open, but its contents — man- suddenly knew what had hap- gled by the smashing upon the pened. rock — were barely fit to eat. But that was far too late. “It’s better than I could have — JACK SHARKEY

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Read It In the February issue of Worlds of Tomorrow—the newest and fastest-growning science-fiction magazine—on sale nowl THE AWAKENING 113 THE STAR KING

Two were human. The third was a fearsome alien creature. Gersen gambled his life to decide which!

BY JACK VANCE

CONCLUSION

Synopsis

Gersen was a dedicated man.

As a child he had seen his family wiped out in the attack of a Star King, a human-seeming creature totally without morals or compassion. Gersen had been bred and trained ever since for one purpose: revenge. After decades of growing and learning he was at last on the track of the being who had ravaged his home. The trail began on a lonely outpost planet where a desperate space ex- plorer, doomed to death, told him of a wonderful virgin world he had sighted . . . and told him that the Star King was intent on owning the planet for himself.

Gersen stole the dying explorer’s coded control filament, which would enable him to locate the virgin planet. Tracking down the

114 Illustrated by EMSH names of the men who had sponsored the explorer, Gersen found three persons, Kelle, Detteras and Warweave, all seeming solid citizens with a philanthropic interest in space exploration . . . but one of whom was a monster

Gersen was certain he was on the right track when Sarkoy assassins tried to waylay him. Born and bred to kill in a thousand ways, they were yet no match tor Gersen, whose whole life had been devoted to countermeasures for any such attack. He made arrangements to interview the three men, one of whom was his enemy, and in the process met a girl, Pallis Atwrode, who touched the first human spark Gersen had felt in his whole life.

There had been no others.

In training himself to, combat a monster, Gersen discovered he had become almost a sort of monster himself.

THE STAR KING 115 VII Tf~ agge Kelle was a small com- pact man with a large solid Deeming the unsubstantiated well-arranged head. His skin was dogma of a localized religious only faintly dyed, to a waxy cult to be an undignified and bisque pallor; he wore a severe unsuitable base on which to erect costume of dark brown and pur- the chronology of galactic man, ple. His eyes were clear and re- the members of this convention mote, his nose was short and hereby declare that time shall blunt, his mouth prim, held firm- now be reckoned from the year ly as if in compensation for its 2000 A.D. (Old System), which over-fullness. becomes the year 0. The revolu- Kelle seemed to make a virtue tion of Earth about Sol remains of inscrutability. He greeted Ger- the standard annual unit. sen with austere courtesy, listen- ed to his story without comment, — Declaration at the Oiku- saw the photographs without menical Convention to perceptible show of interest. Standardize measures. Choosing his words with care, he said, “I am sorry that I can- “Everything of which we are not help you. I did not sponsor conscious . . . has for us a deeper Mr. Teehalt’s expedition. I know meaning still, a final meaning. nothing about this man.” And the one and only means of “In that case, will you allow rendering this incomprehensible me the use of the decoding comprehensible must be a kind strip?” of metaphysics which regards Kelle sat motionless a mo- everything whatsoever as having ment. Then he said in an even significance as a symbol.” voice, “Unfortunately this is con- trary to the rules of the depart- — Oswald Spengler. ment. I would encounter not a .” little criticism. Still. . He “Who are our basic enemies? picked up the photographs and This is a secret, unknown even examined them once more. “This to these basic enemies.” is beyond question a world of interesting characteristics. What — Xaviar Skolcamp, Over- is its name?” Centennial Fellow of the In- “I don’t have that information, stitute, indulgently, in re- Mr. Kelle.” sponse to a journalist’s too- “I cannot conceive why you searching question. seek Teehalt’s sponsor. Are you 116 GALAXY a representative of the IPCC?” Although I would naturally in- “I am a private individual, sist on a prior inspection of the though naturally I can’t demon- planet.” strate this.” “You know my qualms in the Kelle was skeptical. “Every- matter, Mr. Kelle.” one works to his own interests. Kelle’s response was only a If I understood what you were small incredulous smile. Once trying to achieve, I could pos- more he studied the photographs. sibly act with more flexibility.” “These — er — dryads, I must “This is more or less what Mr. say they are creatures of con-

Warweave told me,” said Gersen. siderable interest. . . Well, I can Kelle turned him a sharp look. help you to this extent. I will “Neither Warweave nor myself consult university records for in- are what might be called inno- formation regarding Lugo Tee- cent men.” He thought a mo- halt. But in exchange, I would ment, then said grudgingly, “On like you to assure me an oppor- behalf of the department, I can tunity to consider the purchase go so far as to make you an of- of this world, in the event that fer for the filament — though, you don’t find the ‘sponsor’.” as you tell the story, it actually Gersen could not restrain a is the property of the depart- mild gibe. “You gave me to un- ment to begin with.” derstand that you weren’t parti- Gersen nodded in full agree- cularly interested.” ment. “This is exactly the point “Your assumptions are of no I am trying to establish. Does consequence,” said Kelle evenly. the filament actually belong to “This should not injure your the university, or can I feel free sensibilities, for you clearly are to do as I like with it? If I could not concerned as to my opinion find Lugo Teehalt’s sponsor — of you. You approach me as if or determine whether the spon- I were mentally deficient, with sor actually exists — then any a tale which would not impress number of new possibilities a child.” would appear.” Gersen shrugged. “The tale is Kelle was not to be moved by substantially accurate. Naturally Gersen’s ingenuousness. “It is an I haven’t told you everything.” extraordinary situation ... As I say, I might be able to make you elle smiled again, rather an attractive offer for the fila- K more generously. “Well, let’s ment — even as a private party, see what the records have to tell.” if that would expedite matters. He spoke into the microphone. THE STAR KING 117 The non-human voice of the Gersen exhaled a small sigh, information bank responded. at the reduction of tension of “Confidential Information, whose existence he had barely ready.” been aware. It was definite: “The file on Lugo Teehalt.” Lugo Teehalt had been employ- He spelled out the name. ed as locater by someone within There was a series of subdued the department. mutterings, a quiet eery whis- “Quote in resume,” Kelle or- tling. The voice spoke once dered. more, reading off the informa- “Lugo Teehalt and Depart- tion it had gathered. “Lugo Tee- ment of Galactic Morphology halt: his file. Contents: applica- agree and covenant to the fol- tion for admission, verification lowing. Department will furnish and appended comment. April 3, Teehalt a suitable space-vessel, 1480.” provisioned, equipped, found in “Pass,” said Kelle. typical and useful manner, in “Application for admission to order that Teehalt shall conduct, advanced regimen, verification as agent of Department, assidu- and appended comment. July 2, ous exploration of certain areas, 1485.” of galaxy. Department advances “Pass.” Teehalt sum of five thousand “Thesis for degree in College SVU and guarantees a bonus of of Symbology: title: ‘The Mean- graduated values for degrees of ingful Elements in the Eye-Mo- successful exploration. Teehalt tion of the Tunkers of Mizar agrees to devote best efforts to Six’. December 20, 1489.” successful pursuit of explora- “Pass.” tion, to preserve results of said “Application for post as asso- exploration secure and secret ciate instructor, verification and from all persons, groups, and comment. March 15, 1490.” agencies other than those author- “Pass.” ized by Department. Signatures: “Discharge of Lugo Teehalt, Lugo Teehalt for Lugo Teehalt; associate instructor, for conduct Ominah Bazerman for Depart- which appeared predjudicial to ment. morale of student corpus. Octob- “No further information.” er 19, 1492.” “Mmf,” said Kagge Kelle. He “Pass.” spoke to the screen. “Ominah “Contract between Lugo Tee- Bazerman.” halt and Department of Galactic A click, a voice spoke. “Omin- Morphology, January 6, 1521.” ah Bazerman, Chief Clerk.” 113 GALAXY “Kelle speaking. Two years matter of hours. He made no at- ago a certain Lugo Teehalt was tempt to camouflage his ugliness. despatched as a locater. You Indeed, it seemed as if his rather signed his contract. Do you re- harsh blue-green skin-dye, al- member the circumstances?” most the color of verdigris, ac- There was a moment’s silence. centuated the coarseness of his “No, Mr. Kelle, I can’t say that features, the rather gauche I do. The contract probably brusqueness of his motions. His came to me in a set of other head was the shape of a gourd. papers.” The heavy chin rested on his “You don’t remember who breast with no perceptible inter- would have initiated this con- vention of neck; the hair was a tract, who sponsored this parti- bristle dyed the color of wet cular exploration?” moss. From knee to shoulder he “No, sir. It must have been seemed of uniform thickness,- either yourself or Mr. Detteras. with a torso like a log. He wore Or perhaps Mr. Warweave. No the quasi-military uniform of a one else would order out such an Baron of the Order of Arch- exploration.” angels: black boots, loose scarlet “I see. Thank you.” Kelle turn- breeches, a splendid blouse ed to Gersen, his eyes mild, al- striped green, blue and scarlet, most bovine. “And there you with gold epaulettes and fili- have it. If it wasn’t Warweave, greed breast plates. it must be Detteras. As a matter Rundle Detteras was of suffi- of fact Detteras is former Dean cient presence to command both of the College of Symbology. the uniform and his odd physio- Perhaps he and Teehalt were ac- gnomy. A man with the slightest quaintances. . dubiety or self-consciousness would instantly have seemed ec- ID undle Detteras, Director of centric. Exploration, seemed a man “Well, well, Mr. Gersen,” said completely at his ease—at peace Detteras, “is it too early for a with himself, his job, the world taste of arrack?” at large. When Gersen entered “I’m out of bed.” his office he held up his hand Detteras stared in brief puzzle- in easy salute. ment, then laughed heartily. Detteras was a large man, sur- “Excellent! This is when I usu- prisingly ugly for this age when ally hoist the hospitality flag. a pointed nose or an over-loose Tint, tang, or white?” mouth could be repaired in a “White, please.”

THE STAR KING 119 Detteras poured from the tall Gersen’s response. “Presumption slender flask. He raised his glass: on my part? No. Hear me out. “Detteras au pouvoir!" He drank You are a somber and pragma- with gusto. “First of the day, like tic man. You carry a heavy load a visit home to mother.” He of secrets and dark resolves.” poured himself a second tot, set- Gersen sipped suspiciously at tled back, turned upon Gersen the arrack. The verbal pyrotech- a glance of leisurely appraisal. nics might be intended as a dis- Gersen asked himself, which traction, a device to diminish one? Warweave? Kelle? Detter- his wariness. He concentrated on as? One of these exteriors hid the arrack, senses keen for the the ferocious soul of Grendel the faintest off-flavor. Detteras had Monster. Warweave? Kelle? poured both drinks from the Detteras? Gersen had inclined same flask, he had offered Ger- toward Warweave; now he was sen a choice of three distillations, once more dubious. Detteras had he had taken up glasses without undeniable force, a rude harsh- seeming calculation. There exist- textured energy that was almost ed, nonetheless, enormous scope palpable. for ruse, which no normal vigi-

Detteras apparently felt no lance could prevent. . . But the urgency about coming to grips drink was innocent, so Gersen’s with Gersen’s business, for all tongue and nasal passages, train- the reputed press of his affairs. ed on Sarkovy, assured him. It was not unlikely that he and He focused his attention upon Warweave had been in com- Detteras and the previous re- munication, and possibly Kelle mark. “Your opinions regarding likewise. “A never-ending puz- me are exaggerated.” zle,” said Detteras, rather pomp- ously. “The modes of why and T'Vetteras grinned, a great gap- how men differ.” lipped grimace. “But never- If Detteras were in no hurry theless essentially accurate?” thought Gersen, neither was he. “Possibly.” “No doubt you’re right,” he said, Detteras nodded complacent- “although I don’t understand the ly, as if Gersen had given him immediate relevance.” the most emphatic of corrobora- Detteras laughed, a heavy tions. “It is a skill, or habit of booming sound. “Quite as it observation, bom of long years Should be. I would be surprised of study. I formerly specialized if you professed otherwise.” He in Symbology, until I decided held up his hand to forestall that I’d cropped the pasture as 120 GALAXY short as my teeth were long, and —why bother in the first place?” as far as my tether would reach. Detteras seemed much amused. So here I am in Galactic Mor- “Aha! You show me for the phology. A less complicated fraud and charlatan I am! Still, field, descriptive rather than an- I cannot avoid the conviction alytic, objective rather than hu- that your symbols tell me more manistic. Still, I occasionally about you than mine do about find application for my previous me.” field. Now is a case in point. You Gersen leaned back in his seat. come into my office, an utter “To little practical effect.” stranger. I assess your overt sym- “Not so fast,” exclaimed Det- bolic presentation: skin color; teras. “You occupy yourself ex- shape, condition, color of your clusively with positivity! Con- hair; features, clothes, your gen- sider negativity for a moment. eral style. You will say this is Some people fret regarding the common practice. I reply, true. cryptic mannerisms of their col- Everyone eats, but a skilled tast- leagues. You protest that the er is rare. I read these symbols symbols tell you nothing of im- with minute exactitude, and they portance; you dismiss them. provide me with information These others worry because they about your personality. I, on the cannot integrate a proliferation other hand, deny similar knowl- of information.” Gersen started edge to you. How? I bedizen my- to demur; Detteras held up his self with random and contradic- hand. “Consider the Tunkers of tory symbols, I am in constant Mizar Six. You are acquainted camouflage, behind which the with them? A religious sect.” real Rundle Detteras watches, as “I heard them mentioned a calm and cool as an impresario few minutes ago.” at the hundredth performance of “As I say,” Detteras continued, a glittering carnival extravagan- “they are a religious group. As- za.” cetic, austere, devout to an as- Gersen smiled. “My nature tonishing extreme. The men and might be as flamboyant as your women dress identically, shave symbols, and I might dissemble their heads, use a language of it for reasons similar to your eight hundred and twelve words, own — whatever they are. A sec- eat identical meals at identical ond point: your presentation, if hours — all this to protect them- it can be believed, illuminated selves from the perplexity of you almost as clearly as the set wondering about each other’s of your natural symbols. Third motivations. True. This is the THE STAR KING 121 basic purpose of the Tunker Consider the Star Kings — non- mode. And not too far from Miz- men driven by their psyches to ar is Sirene, where for a similar literally superhuman excel- reason men wear highly conven- lences. They must enter the field tionalized masks, from birth to cold, as it were, without even death. Their face is their dearest the human racial unconscious secret.” He proffered the arrack as a matrix for their symbolic flask. Gersen held out his glass. education. Returning to Alpha- Detteras continued. “The prac- nor, it must be remembered that tice here on Alphanor is more the folk thrust an enormous complicated. We gird ourselves amount of perfectly valid infor- for offense and defense, or sheer mation at each other, as well as playfulness, with a thousand am- ambiguities.” biguous symbols. The business of “Confusing,” said Gersen dry- living is enormously compli- ly, “if one allows himself to be cated. Artificial tensions are es- distracted.” tablished. Uncertainty and sus- Detteras laughed quietly, evi- picion become normality.” dently well pleased with himself. “And in the process,” suggest- “You’ve led a different life than ed Gersen, “sensitivities are de- I have, Mr. Gersen. On Alpha- veloped unknown to either the nor the issues aren’t life and Tunkers or the Sirenese.” death; everyone is fairly sophis- ticated. It’s easier than not to etteras held up his hand. accept people at their own valua- “Again, not so fast. I know tion. Indeed it’s often impracti- a great deal about both these cal not to do so.” He looked side- peoples. Insensitivity is a word long at Gersen. “Why do you which cannot be applied to ei- smile?” ther. The Sirenese will detect the “It dawns upon me that the most remote nuance of uneasi- dossier on Kirth Gersen, re- ness when a man masks himself quested from the IPCC, is slow above his status. And the Tunk- in arriving. In the meantime, ers — I know less of them, but you find it impractical to accept I believe that their personal dif- me at my own valuation. Or ferentiations are as refined and even your own.” varied as our own, if not more Detteras laughed in his turn. so. I quote an analogous esthetic “You do both me and the IPCC

doctrine : the tighter the disci- an injustice. The dossier came pline of an art-form, the more promptly, several minutes before subjective the criteria of taste. your arrival.” He pointed to a

122 GALAXY photostat sheet on his desk. “I “Naturally . . . There is very ordered the dossier, incidentally, little more.” He tossed down the in my role as a responsible of- dossier. “Now you are anxious ficer of the institution. I think to make your inquiries. I will my caution was proper.” anticipate you. I knew Lugo Tee- “What did you learn?” asked halt, far back indeed, in my un- Gersen. “I haven’t seen the dos- dergraduate days. He involved sier recently.” himself in some sort of unsavory “It’s marvellously blank.” He mess, and dropped from sight. A picked up the paper. “You were year or so ago he came to me, born in 1490. Where? Not on one asking for a locater’s contract.” of the major worlds. At the age of 10, you registered into Galileo ersen stared at him fasci- Space Port on Earth, in the G nated. So here was Grendel! company of your grandfather, “And you sent him out?” whose antecedents perhaps we “I chose not to do so. I did should likewise check. You at- not want him dependent upon tended the usual schools, were me for the rest of his life. I was accepted by the Institute as cate- willing to help him, but not on a chumen, reached the eleventh personal basis. I told him to ap- phase at the age of twenty-four. ply either to the Honorary Pro- Quite respectable progress. Then vost Gyle Warweave, or the you withdrew. From now on Chairman of the Research Plan- there is no record, suggesting ning Committee Kagge Kelle; to that either you remained perma- mention my name, that very like- nently on Earth, or departed il- ly they could assist him. This legally, without registration. was the last I heard of him.” Since you now sit before me, Gersen took a deep breath. the latter seems to have been the Detteras spoke with the assur- case. Remarkable,” said Detter- ance of truth. But which of them as, “that a person could live to had not? Detteras at least had your age in a society as complex confirmed that one of the three as the Oikumene with so little — either himself, Warweave or official record! Long years of Kelle — was lying. silence while you were occupied Which? where? How? To what purpose Today he had seen Grendel, and to what effect?” He glanced looked into his eyes, listened to questioningly at Gersen. his voice. “If it’s not there,” said Gersen, He was suddenly uneasy. Why “I don’t want it there.” was Detteras so relaxed? Pre-

THE STAR KING 123 sumably a busy man, how could “Hm.” Detteras judiciously he spare so much time? Gersen nodded his head. “This demands sat abruptly up in his chair. “I careful thought. If your demands will get to the point of my call were not excessive, I’d be inter- upon you.” He told the story he ested. . . Or perhaps the three of had already related to Warweave us, in concert, could come to and Kelle while Detteras listen- some agreement with you. Hm. ed with a faint smile playing Let me speak to Warweave and over his coarse mouth. Gersen Kelle. And then, if you could, displayed the photographs and come back tomorrow, say at ten. Detteras looked at them negli- I might have a definite proposi- gently. tion to put before you.” “A beautiful world,” said Det- Gersen rose to his feet. “Very teras. “If I were wealthy I would well. Tomorrow at ten.” ask you to sell it to me for my personal estate. However, I am VIII not wealthy. To the contrary. In any event, you seem not so much \7"es, we are a reactionary, se- anxious to sell your rights to this cretive, pessimistic, organiza- wprld as to locate poor old Tee- tion. We have agents every- halt’s sponsor.” where. We know a thousand Gersen was somewhat taken tricks to discourage research, aback. “I’ll sell to the sponsor sabotage experiments, distort for a reasonable price.” data. Even in the Institute’s own Detteras smiled skeptically. laboratories we proceed with “Sorry. I can’t admit to a false- deliberation and discretion. hood. Warweave or Kelle is your But now let me answer some man.” of the questions and accusations “They deny it.” we often hear. Do the members “Strange. So then?” of the Institute enjoy wealth, “The filament is useless to me privilege, power, freedom from in its present condition. Will the law? Honesty compels the you furnish me the decoding answer: yes, in varying degree, strip?” depending upon phase, achieve- “I’m afraid that’s out of the ment. question.” Then the Institute is an in- “I thought as much. So I must bred, restricted, centripetal sell to one or the other of you, group? By no means. We con- or to the university. Or destroy sider ourselves an intellectual the filament.” elite, certainly. Why should we 124 GALAXY not? Membership is open to any- beneficence than prebendary one, although few of our cate- nutrient from the teat of an in- chumens achieve even so far as dulgent government. the fifth phase. — From the television ad- Our policy? Simple enough. dress by Madian Carbuke, Space-drive has given a terrible Centennial (Hundredth weapon to any megalomaniacs Phase Fellow) of the Insti-

who happen to occur in our tute, December 2, 1502. midst. There is other knowledge which, if equally free, could en- Conversation between two sure them tyrannical power. We Centennials of the Institute, therefore control the dissemina- in connection with a third tion of knowledge. not present: We are scathed as “self-anoint- “I would gladly come to your ed divinities”; we are accused of house for a chat, if I did not sus- pedantry, conspiracy, condescen- pect that Ramus were likewise sion; smugness, arrogance, ob- invited.” stinate self-righteousness. These “But what is so wrong with are the mildest of the objurga- Ramus? He often amuses me.” tions we hear. We are accused “He is a fungus, a flatulence, of intolerable paternalism, and a pompous old toad, and he irri- in the same breath reproached tates the hell out of me.” for disengagement from ordi- nary human affairs. Why do we Question occasionally put not use our lore to lighten toil, to Fellows of the Institute: alleviate pain, prolong life? Why Are Star Kings included do we stand aloof? Why do we among the fellowship? not transform the human estate The customary answer: We into a Utopia, a task well within certainly hope not. our power? The answer is simple — per- Motto of the Institute: A little haps deceptively so. We feel knowledge is a dangerous thing; these are false boons; that peace a great deal of knowledge is dis- and satiety are akin to death. aster, which detractors of the In- For all its rawness and cruel ex- stitute scornfully paraphrase to: cess we envy archaic humanity Somebody else’s ignorance is its ardent experience. We hold bliss. that gain after toil, triumph af- ter adversity, achievement to a allis Atwrode lived with two goal long-sought, is a greater P other girls in a seaside apart-

THE STAR KING 125 ment tower to the south of Remo. existed on remote worlds. Ger- Gersen waited in the lobby while sen envied them their detach- she ran up to change clothes and ment, their social skills. re-tint her skin. Still, would he change places He went out on the deck over- with any of them? He would looking the ocean, leaned against not. the rail. Great blazing Rigel Pallis Atwrode came to join hung low over the ocean, laying him by the rail. She had tinted a molten road from shore to hori- herself a beautiful soft olive- zon. Near at hand in the harbor, green, with a subtle patina of enclosed by twin piers, a hun- gold; she now wore her hair in a dred boats were moored: power loose dark curly cap. She laugh- yachts, sailing catamarans, glass- ed at Gersen’s obvious approval. hulled submarines, a shoal of “I feel like a wharf-rat,” said jet-powered aquaplanes, to be Gersen. “I should have changed ridden at maniacal speed over, into new clothes.” through and across the waves. “Please don’t worry,” she said. Gersen’s mood was complex. “It’s completely unimportant. It puzzled even himself. There Now. What shall we do?” was the heart-bumping anticipa- “You’ll have to make sugges- tion of an evening with a pretty tions.” girl, a sensation he had not “Very well. Let’s go into known for years. There was the Avente and sit on the esplanade. melancholy normally induced by I never tire of watching people sunset — and now the sunset was walk past. Then we can decide beautiful indeed; the sky glowed what’s next.” mauve and green-blue, around a great bank of persimmon-orange ersen acceded; they walked clouds stranded with magenta. G to the slide-car and drove It was not the beauty which north, Pallis chattering with in- brought on melancholy, mused genuous candor about herself, Gersen, but rather the quiet her job, her opinions, plans and halcyon light and its fading. hopes.

. And there was another melan- She was, so Gersen learned, a choly — different yet somehow native of Singhal Island, on the similar — which came to Gersen planet Ys. Her parents were as he watched the debonair folk prosperous, owning the only about him. They were all grace- cold-storage warehouse of the ful and easy, untouched by the Lantango Peninsula. When they toil and pain and terror that retired to the Palmetto Islands,

126 GALAXY her oldest brother took control mene sauntered past. The waiter of the warehouse and likewise brought goblets of punch. Ger- the family home. The brother sen sipped, his tensions began to next older had wished to marry relax. Neither spoke for a peri- her, this form of union being od; then Pallis suddenly turned countenanced on Ys, which had to face him. been settled originally by a “You’re so silent. So guarded. group of Reformed Rationalists. It is because you’re in from Be- But the brother was stout, red- yond?” faced, arrogant, without a trade Gersen had no ready reply. other than driving the ware- Finally he gave a rueful laugh. house van, and the prospect held “I hoped you’d think me easy ” no charm for Pallis. and suave, like everyone else At this point Pallis hesistated “Oh, come now,” said Pallis and her candor seemed to slip teasingly. “Nobody’s like every- gears, for she changed the sub- one else.” ject. Gersen guessed at the dra- “I’m not altogether sure,” said matic confrontations, fierce re- Gersen. “I suppose it’s a matter proaches and countering accusa- of relativity: how near you are. tions which had taken place. Even bacteria have individuality, Pallis had now lived in Avente if they’re examined closely for two years, and though some- enough.” times homesick for the sights “So now I’m a bacterium,” and sounds of Ys, she felt her- said Pallis. self happy and lucky. Gersen “Well, I’m another, and I’m was charmed by her talk. He probably boring you.” had never known anyone so art- “No, no! Of course noi! I’m less. enjoying myself.” They parked the slider, walk- "So am I. Too much. It’s — ed out along the esplanade, se- enervating.” lected a table in front of one of Pallis scented a compliment. the numerous cafes and sat “How do you mean?” watching the crowds stroll by. “I can’t allow myself the lux- Beyond spread the dark ocean, ury of emotional commitments with the sky now plum and in- — even if I should like to.” * digo-gray, with only the faintest “You’re much, much, much tinge of lemon to mark the too sober for a young man.” passage of Rigel. “I’m not young any more.” The night was warm, folk She made a gay gesture. “But from all the worlds of the Oiku- you admit you’re sober!”

THE STAR KING 127 ”

“I suppose so. But be careful, ed hastily. “Affairs which are don’t push me too far.” perfectly acceptable on one plan- “A woman likes to think her- et are absolutely taboo on an- self a temptress.” other. For instance, I told one of my friends that all my life I’d A gain Gersen had no response. expected to marry my oldest **-He studied Pallis across the brother — and her hair uncurl- table. For the moment she seem- ed!” ed content to watch the passers- “I’m sorry to disappoint you,” by. What a warm-hearted gay said Gersen, “but I’m not a creature, he thought, without a criminal. I don’t fit into any trace of malice or acerbity. category.” He considered. There Pallis turned her attention could be no indiscretion in tell- back to him. “You’re really such ing her what he had told War- a quiet man,” she told him. weave, Kelle and Detteras. “I’ve “Everyone else I know refuses come to Avente for a particular to stop talking, and I listen to purpose, naturally— continual floods of nonsense. “Let’s have dinner,” said Pal- I’m sure you know hundreds of lis, “and you can tell me while interesting things, and you re- we eat.” fuse to tell me any of them.” “Where shall we go?” ' Gersen grinned. “They’re “There’s an exciting new res- pfobably less interesting than taurant, only just opened. Every- you think.” one’s talking about it and I’ve “Still, I’d like to make sure. never been there.” She jumped So tell me about the Beyond. Is to her feet, took his hand with life really so dangerous?” an easy intimacy, pulled him up- “Sometimes yes, sometimes no. right. He caught her under the It depended on whom you meet, arms, bent forward, but his dar- arid why.” ing waned; he laughed and re- “But — perhaps you’d rather I leased her. She said archly, didn’t ask — what do you do? “You’re more impulsive than You’re not a pirate or a slaver?” you look.” • “Do I look like a pirate? Or Gersen grinned, half shame- a slaver?” facedly. “Well, where is the ex- “You know that I don’t know citing new restaurant?” what a pirate or a slaver looks “Not far. We can walk. It’s like! But I’m curious. Are you rather expensive, but I -plan to a — well, criminal? Not that it’s pay half the account.” necessarily a disgrace,” she add- “That’s not necessary,” said 128 GALAXY Gersen. “Money is no particular “It’s a small, barely habitable problem to a pirate. If I run planet out in the middle of no- short, I’ll rob someone. You per- where. All mountains. Wind, .” haps. . thunderstorms, an ocean black “It’s hardly worth the trouble. as ink. The tavern is the only . . . Come along then.” She took building on the planet. Some- his hand, and they walked north times it’s crowded, sometimes along the esplanade like any of there’ll be no one but Smade and the thousand other couples his family for weeks on end. abroad this fine Alphanor eve- When I arrived the only other ning. guest was a Star King.” “A Star King? I thought they Ohe led him to a kiosk circled were always disguised as men.” ^ by large luminous green letters “It’s not a matter of disguise,” reading: NAUTILUS. An esca- said Gersen. “They are men. Al- lator dropped them two hundred most.” feet into a tall octagonal lobby “I never have understood paneled with rattan screens. A about the Star Kings. Just what major domo escorted them along are they?” a glass-vaulted tunnel, out upon Gersen shrugged. “You’ll get a the floor of the sea. Dining different answer every time you rooms of various sizes opened off ask. The general speculation goes the passage, into one of which like this. A million years ago, they were conducted. They took more or less, the planet Lambda a table close beside the sloping Grus III, or ‘Ghnarumen’ — you glass dome. The sea lay beyond, have to cough through your nose with beacons illuminating the to get it even approximately sand, rocks, seaweed, coral, the right — was inhabited by a rath- passing submarine creatures. er frightening assortment of crea- “Now,” said Pallis, leaning tures. Among them was a small forward, “tell me about the Be- amphibious biped without any yond. And don’t worry about particular tools for survival ex- alarming me, because I love an cept awareness and an ability to occasional shudder.” hide in the mud. He probably “Smade’s Tavern on Smade’s looked a little like a lizard, or

Planet is a good place to start,” a hairless seal . . . The species said Gersen. “You’ve been faced extinction half a dozen there?” times, but a few always managed “Of course not. But I’ve heard to hang on, and somehow scav- it mentioned.” enge an existence among crea-

THE STAR KING 129 .

tures who were more savage, Ophis is all speculation, of more cunning, more agile, better course, and what follows is swimmers, better climbers, even speculation on an even more better scavengers than them- tenuous basis. But just let’s as- selves. The proto-Star Kings had sume that some race able to tra- only psychical advantages. Self- verse space visited Earth. It consciousness. Competitiveness. might have been the people A desire to stay alive by any which left ruins on the Fomal- means whatever.” haut planets, or the Hexadelts, “They sound rather like the or whoever carved Monument proto-humans on ancient Earth,” Cliff on Xi Puppis X. said Pallis. “We assume that such a space- “No one knows for sure. At traveling people came by Earth least no men. What the Star a hundred thousand years ago.

Kings know they’re not telling. . Assume that they captured a These bipeds differed from tribe of Mousterian Neander- proto-man in several respects. thals, and for some reason con- They were biologically much veyed them to Ghnarumen, the more flexible, able to transmit world of the proto-Star Kings. acquired characteristics. Second- Here is a challenging situation ly, they are not bisexual. There for both parties. The men are is cross-fertilization by means of far more dangerous opponents to spores emitted on the breath, but the Star Kings than the now-de- each individual is male and fe- feated natural enemies. The men male at once, and the young de- are intelligent, patient, crafty, velop as pods in the armpits. Per- ruthless, aggressive. Under pres- haps from this lack of sexual dif- sure of the environment the men ferentiation the Star Kings have themselves evolve into a differ- no natural physical vanity. ent type: more agile, faster of Their basic drive is the urge to body and mind than their Nean- out-do, to out-function, to out- derthal predecessors. survive. The biological flexibil- “The proto-Star Kings suffer ity coupled to a rudimentary in- setbacks, but they have their he- telligence provided the means to reditary patience as well as im- implement their ambitions; they portant weapons : the competi- consciously began to breed them- tive urge, the biological flexibil- selves into a creature which ity. Men have proved superior could out-perform as many of to themselves. To compete with their less resourceful competitors men they shape themselves into as possible. human semblance.

130 GALAXY “Their war continues . . . and “Sometimes even a doctor the Star Kings admit, very guard- can’t, after they finish disguising edly, that certain of their myths and faking themselves. There are describe these wars. differences, of course. They have “Another assumption now be- no genital organs; their pubic comes necessary. About fifty region is blank. Their proto- thousand years ago the space plasm, blood, hormones have a travelers return and convey the different composition. Their evolved Earthmen back to Earth. breath has a distinctive odor. And perhaps a few Star Kings But the spies, or whatever they — who knows? And so the Cro- are, are altered, so that even an Magnons appear in Europe. x-ray shows the same as that of “On their own planet the Star a man.” Kings are at last more man-like “How did you know the — the than men. They prevail. The creature at Smade’s Tavern was true men are destroyed. The Star a Star King?” Kings are supreme and remain “Smade told me.” so until five hundred years ago, “How did Smade know?” when the men of Earth discover Gersen shook his head. “I the intersplit. When they chance never thought to ask.” upon ‘Ghnarumen’ they are as- tonished to find creatures ex- T T e sat silent, preoccupied with actly resembling themselves: the a new notion. Star Kings.” There had been three guests at “It sounds far-fetched,” said Smade’s Tavern: himself, Tee- Pallis dubiously. halt, and the Star King. If Tris- “Not as far-fetched as conver- tano were to be believed — and gent evolution. It is a fact that why not? — he had arrived in Star Kings exist: a race not an- company only with Dasce and tagonistic, but not friendly ei- Suthiro. If Dasce’s statement to ther. Men are not allowed to visit Teehalt were to be credited, Ghnarumen. They tell us only Grendel must be reckoned Tee- as much about themselves as halt’s murderer. Gersen had cer- they care to, and they send ob- tainly heard Teehalt’s scream, servers — spies, if you like — while Suthiro, Dasce and Tris- everywhere throughout the tano stood within his range of Oikumene. There are probably a vision. dozen Star Kings in Avente.” Unless Smade were Grendel, Pallis grimaced. “How can unless another ship had surrep- you tell them from men?” titiously arrived — unlikely

THE STAR KING 131 events — then Grendel and the building at the back of the espla- Star King must be one. Think- nade glowed faintly, blue or ing back, Gersen recalled that green or pink; the pavement the Star King had left the din- gav° off a silver effulgence; the ing hall in ample time to allow balustrade emitted a pleasant, a conference outside with Dasce. almost unseen amber-beige radi- Pallis Atwrode lightly touched ance; everywhere was soft shad- his cheek. “You were telling me owless light, rich with muted of Smade’s Tavern.” ghost-color. Up in the dark sky “Yes,” said Gersen. “So I was.” stars floated, big, vague, pale. He looked at her speculatively. A v'-v’—r brought coffee and She must certainly know a great liqueur and they settled back to deal about the comings and go- watch the passing crowds. ings of Warweave, Kelle and Pallis said in a reflective voice, Detteras. Pallis, misunderstand- “You’re not telling me every- ing the nature of his gaze, flush- thing.” ed prettily under her pale-green “Of course not,” said Gersen. skin-toning. Gersen laughed un- “In fact. . Gersen paused, grap- easily. “Back to Smade’s Tav- pling with a disturbing new ern.” He described the events of thought. Grendel might mistake the evening. the nature of his interest in Pal- Pallis listened with interest, lis — especially if Grendel were almost forgetting to eat. “So a Star King, sexless, unable to now you have Lugo Teehalfs understand the male-female re- filament and the university has lationship. “In fact,” said Ger- the decoder.” sen in a bleak voice, “I really “Correct, and neither one val- have no right involving you in uable without the other.” my troubles.” They finished dinner. Gersen, “I don’t feel involved,” said with no credit account on Al- Pallis, stretching her arms lazily. phanor, paid the bill in cash, “And if I were, what of it? This and they returned to the surface. is Avente on Alphanor, a civi- “Now what would you like?” lized planet.” “I don’t care,” said Pallis. Gersen gave a sardonic “Let’s go back along the esplan- chuckle. “I told you that others ade to our table, for a while any- were interested in this planet. way.” Well — these others are pirates The night was now dark: the and slavers as depraved as you moonless black-velvet night of could want. Have you ever heard Alphanor. The facade of every of Grendel?”

132 GALAXY “Grendel the Monster? Yes.” Suthiro laughed in easy glee. Gersen resisted the temptation “Mr. Gersen judiciously uses the of telling her that she took mes- word ‘likely’. Certain of my sages and ran errands daily for friends surpass me as grandly as Grendel. “It’s almost certain,” he I surpass you. I hope indeed that said, “that stick-tights are watch- you do not meet them. Hildemar ing us. Now. This very minute. Dasce, for instance, who boasts And the other end of the circuit of his ability to paralyze dogs is possibly Grendel himself.” with a glance.” Pallis moved uneasily, scanned Pallis’ voice was troubled. “I’d the sky. “Don’t you mean that just as soon not meet him.” She Grendel is watching me? That’s stared at Suthiro in fascination. a creepy feeling.” “You really — admit that you’re Gersen looked to right, to left, evil?” stared. Two tables away sat Su- Suthiro laughed once more, a thiro, the Sarkoy venefice. subtle muffled sound. “I am a man. I am a Sarkoy.” A Teeting Gersen’s eye, Suthiro Gersen said, “I’ve just been nodded politely, smiled. He describing our encounter at rose to his feet, sauntered to the Smade’s Tavern to Miss Atwrode. table. Tell me something. Who killed “Good evening, Mr. Gersen.” Lugo Teehalt?” “Good evening,” said Gersen. Suthiro seemed surprised. “May I join you?” “Who else but Grendel? We “I’d prefer not.” three sat within. Does it make Suthiro laughed softly, seated any difference? It might as easi- himself and inclined his fox face ly have been myself or Beauty

toward Pallis. “And this young or Tristano. . . Tristano, by the

lady, do you plan to introduce way, is quite ill. He suffered a me?” dreadful accident, but hopes to “You already know who she see you on his recovery.” is.” “He can consider himself “But she does not know me.” lucky,” said Gersen. Gersen turned to Pallis. “Here “He is ashamed,” said Suthiro. you see Scop Suthiro, Master “He thinks himself skillful. I Venefice of Sarkovy. You ex- have told him he is not so skill- pressed an interest in evil men? ful as I.” Here you have as completely “Speaking of skill,” said Ger- evil a man as you’re likely to sen, “can you do the paper meet.” trick?”

THE STAR KING 133 .

Suthiro cocked his head side- “You are not my friend. You wise. “Yes, of course. Where did tricked me beautifully. Never- you learn of the paper trick?” theless I will warn you : never “At Kalvaing.” cross Fancy Dasce. Twenty years “And what wrought you at ago he was thwarted in some Kalvaing?” small escapade. It was a matter “A visit with Coudirou the of collecting money from an venefice.” obstinate man. Hildemar by Suthiro pursed his heavy red chance found himself at a disad- lips. He wore a yellow skin-tone; vantage. He was knocked down his brown pelt was glossy and and strapped hand and foot. So smooth with oil. “Coudirou is as now his creditor had the poor wise as any. As for the paper taste to cleave poor Hildemar’s .” trick. . Gersen handed him a nose, and cut off his eyelids. . napkin. Suthiro suspended it Hildemar eventually escaped from left thumb and forefinger, and now is known as Beauty stroked it lightly with his right Dasce, or Fancy Dasce.” hand. It fell to the table in five “How awful,” muttered Pallis. ribbons. “Exactly.” Suthiro’s voice be- came contemptuous. “A year lat- CC'V^T’ell done,” said Gersen, er Hildemar allowed himself the and to Pallis: “His finger- luxury of capturing this man. He nails are hardened, sharp as ra- conveyed him to a private place, zors. Naturally he would waste where he lives to this day. And no poison on the paper, but each occasionally Hildemar, remem- of his fingers is like the head of bering the outrage which cost a serpent.” him his features, returns to this Suthiro made complacent ac- private place to remonstrate with quiescence. the man.” Gersen turned back to him. Pallis turned glazed eyes at “Where is Fancy Dasce?” Gersen. “These people are your “Not too far distant.” friends?” “Red face and all?” “No. We are associated only •Suthiro shook his head sadly, through Lugo Teehalt.” Suthiro at Dasce’s poor taste in skin- was looking along the esplanade. toning. “A very able and very Gersen asked idly, “You and strange man. Have you ever won- Dasce and Tristano work togeth- dered about his face?” er and train together as a team?” “When I could bear to look “Often, though I for one pre- at it.” fer a singular scope.”

134 GALAXY “And Lugo Teehalt had the sit here now, beside this odious misfortune to blunder upon you wetness.” He grimaced toward at Brinktown?” the sea and rose to his feet. “It “He died quickly. Godogma is a presumption to advise you, takes all men. Is this misfor- but why not be sensible? You tune?” can never defeat Grendel. There- “One never likes to hasten fore relinquish the filament.” Godogma.” Gersen thought a moment, “True.” Suthiro inspected his then said, “I will also presume, strong agile hands. “Agreed.” He in the same spirit which prompts looked toward Pallis. “On Sar- you. My advice is this: kill Hil- kovy we have a thousand popu- demar Dasce the next moment lar aphorisms to this effect.” you see him, or even before.” “Who is Godogma?” Suthiro knit his furry brown “The Great God of Destiny, eyebrows in puzzlement, glanced who carries a flower and a flail, for the most fleeting instant up- and walks on wheels.” ward. Gersen put on an air of studi- Gersen continued. “There is a ous concentration. “I will ask stick-tight watching us, although you a question. You need not an- I have not located it. Its micro- swer. In fact, perhaps you do not phone probably registers our know; but I am puzzled. Why conversation. Until you told me, should Grendel, a Star King, so I had no idea that the Star King vehemently desire this particu- at Smade’s Tavern was Grendel. lar world?” I am interested. I do not think this is common knowledge.” uthiro shrugged. “This is a “Quiet!” hissed Suthiro, eyes S matter with which I have blazing with sudden red wrath. never concerned myself. Appar- Gersen lowered his voice. ently the world is valuable. I am “Hildemar Dasce quite possibly paid. I kill only when I must or will be asked to punish you. If when it profits me — so you you wish to forestall Godogma, see,” he told Pallis parentheti- if you wish to take your wagon cally, “I am not really so evil a across Gorobundur Steppe — kill man, am I now? Presently I will Dasce and go.” return to Sarkovy and live out Suthiro hissed something be- my days roaming the Gorobun- low his breath, jerked up his dur Steppe. Ah, now! There is hand as if to throw, then backed the life! When I think of those away, turned, melted into the times to come, I wonder why I crowd.

THE STAR KING 135 ”

Pallis relaxed, slumped into coif had covered the hair. Ger- her chair. In an uncertain voice sen had an impression that the she said, “I’m not as adventur- Star King had been taller than ous as I supposed myself.” Kelle, but not quite so tall as “I’m sorry,” said Gersen genu- Warweave. But would even the inely contrite. “I should never black skin-tone have camou- have asked you out.” flaged Detteras’s rude rough fea- “No, no. I just can’t accustom tures? myself to that kind of talk, here Pallis was speaking: “Will on the esplanade, in peaceful they really kill that man?” Avente. But I suppose I’m actual- Gersen glanced up to see if ly enjoying it. If you’re not a he could locate the stick-tight, criminal, who or what are you?” without success. “I don’t know. “Kirth Gersen.” He’s useful. Incidentally—” Ger- “You must work for the sen hesitated, wondering anew IPCC.” as to the ethics of involving Pal- “No.” lis in the sordid affair. “Then you must be on the In- “Incidentally what?” stitute’s Special Committee.” “Nothing.” For fear of the “I’m just Kirth Gersen.” He stick-tight’s microphone Gersen rose to his feet. “Let’s walk for dare not inquire as to the move- a bit.” ments of Kelle, Detteras and They went north along the es- Warweave; Grendel so far had planade. To the left lay dark no reason to suspect his interest. sea; to the right the edifices Pallis said in an injured voice, glowing in various soft colors; “I still don’t understand how and beyond, the skyline of all of this affects you.” Avente: luminous spires against the black Alphanor night. /^Ance more Gersen chose to be

Pallis presently took Gersen’s discreet. The stick-t i g h t arm. “Tell me, what if Grendel might hear; Pallis Atwrode her- is a Star King? What does that self might be an agent of Gren- mean?” del’s though Gersen considered “I’ve been wondering myself.” this unlikely. So he said, “Not at Indeed, Gersen had been trying all—except in the abstract.” to remember the look of the “But any of these people— Star King. Had it been War- she nodded to the passersby — weave? Kelle? Or Detteras? The “they might be Star Kings. How lusterless black skin-tone had could we separate them from blurred the features; the striped men?”

136 GALAXY “It’s hard. On their home plan- Gersen wondered about his re- et — I won’t attempt to pro- solve to avoid emotional involve- nounce it again — they come in ments. If they went to Les many approximations to man. Sirenes, if the night brought Those who travel the known them to closer intimacy, what worlds as observers — spies, if then? Gersen thrust aside his you prefer, although I can’t qualms. He would cope with imagine what they hope to leam problems as they arose. —they’re almost exact facsim- The stick-tight, if it had ex- iles of true men.” isted, was confounded and lost; Pallis suddenly seemed sub- they returned to the parking dued. She opened her mouth to area. There was little light; the speak, then closed it again, and ranked round shapes glimmered finally gave a gay fling of her with silky dull highlights. hands. “Let’s forget about them. They came to the slide-car; Nightmares. You have me seeing Gersen hesitated, then put his Star Kings everywhere. Even at arms around the swaying girl, .” the university. . kissed her upturned face. Gersen looked down into her Behind him was the loom of upturned face. “Do you know movement; ahead a furtive shift- what I’d like to do?” ing. Gersen turned, in time to She smiled provocatively. “No. look into a horrid blood-red What?” face with poisonous blue cheeks. “First I’d like to shake off the Hildemar Dasce’s arm descend- stick-tight, which is no great ed. .” problem. And then. . A great weight curled over “And then?” Gersen’s head; lightning explod- “I’d like to go somewhere ed inside his skull. He tottered quiet, where we could be alone.” and fell to his knees. Dasce lean- She looked away. “I don’t ed over him. Gersen tried to mind. There’s a place down the dodge. The world reeled and coast. Les Sirenes, it’s called. toppled; he saw Suthiro grin- I’ve never been there.” She ning like a sick hyena, with his laughed in embarrassment. “But hand to the girl’s neck. Dasce I’ve heard people talking.” struck again, and the world went Gersen took her arm. “First dim. .” to shake off the stick-tight. . Gersen had time for an instant Pallis entered into the maneu- of bitter self-reproach, before vers with child-like abandon. another thunderous buffet ex- Looking into the merry face, tinguished his consciousness.

THE STAR KING 137 IX Man or not man, the typical Star King is a courteous, even- Excerpt from When is a tempered fellow, even if suspi- Man Not a Man, by Podd cious and humorless. Do him a Hachinsky, article in Cos- favor, he will thank you, but feel

mopolis, June, 1500: no obligation ; injure him, he ... As men have traveled from will explode in tigerish fury and star to star they have encounter- kill you — if he is in a situation ed many forms of life, intelligent where human law cannot re- and non-intelligent (to empha- strain him. If such action will size a perfectly arbitrary and cause legal trouble, he will in- possibly anthropomorphic para- stantly dismiss the injury and meter). No more than half a hold no grudge. He is ruthless dozen of these life forms merit but not cruel, and is puzzled by the adjective “humanoid”. Of such perverse human manifesta- these half dozen, a single species tions as sadism, masochism, re- closely resembles man: the Star ligious fervor, flagellation, sui- Kings of Ghnarumen. cide. On the other hand he will Ever since our initial astound- demonstrate a whole battery of ed contact with the race, the peculiar habits and attitudes no question has recurred: are they less inexplicable from our point of the family of man — the “bi- of view, arising from the twists furcate, bibrachiate, monoceph- and quirks of his own psyche.

aloid, polygamite”, as Tallier To say that his origin is in Chantron waggishly puts it — or dispute is like a remark to the are they not? The answer, of effect that Croesus was well-off. course, depends on definitions. At least a dozen theories to ex- One point can instantly be plain the remarkable similarity settled. The Star Kings are not between Star King and Man ex- homo sapiens. But if what is ist. None are completely con- meant is a creature which can vincing. If the Star Kings them- talk a human language, walk in- selves know, they will admit to a haberdashery and dress him- nothing. Since they bar all an- self off a rack, play an excel- thropological and archaeologi- lent game of tennis, or fight a cal research teams from their bout of chess, attend the. regal planet, we are afforded neither functions of Stockholm or the verification - nor refutation of lawn fetes of Strylvania without any of these theories. occasioning a lift of autocratic On human planets they punc- eyebrow — then they are men. tiliously model their conduct af- 138 GALAXY ter the best human examples, but Star King builds for himself a their innate behaviour patterns spire or tower. The more fervent are unique to the race. Perhaps his ambition and more exalted to oversimplify, one can say that his rank, the higher and more their dominant trait is a passion splendid his tower (which he to excel, to outdo a competitor seems to enjoy only as a monu- at his own game. Since man is ment). Upon his demise the the dominant creature of the tower may be temporarily oc- Oikumene, the Star Kings accept cupied by some junior individ- him as the champion to be chal- ual during the period in which lenged and outdone. So they he accumulates sufficient wealth strive to outdo man in every as- to build his own tower. Inspira- pect of the human capacity. If tional as the cities seem from a this ambition (at which they are distance, they lack the most ob- often successful) seems unreal vious municipal utilities, and and artificial to us, no less so the areas between the towers are does our sexual drive seem to unpaved, dusty, littered. Fac- them; for the Star Kings are tories, industrial plants and the parthenogenetic, reproducing in like are housed in low utilitarian a manner which is beyond the domes and manned by the least scope of this article to describe. aggressive and least evolved of Knowing nothing of vanity, set- the species—for the race is by ting no store by either beauty no means homogeneous. It is as or ugliness, they strive for phys- if every human gathering in- ical perfection only to score cluded Proconsuls, Pithecan- points in their semi-amicable thropi, sinanthropus giganticus, contest with true men. Neanderthals, Magdalenians, What of their achievements? Solutreans, Grimaldi, Cro-Mag- They are fine builders, daring non, and all the races of Modem engineers, excellent technicians. Man. They are a pragmatic race, and not particularly apt at mathe- \ t midnight a group of young matics or the speculative sci- -**-folk came laughing and sing- ences. It is hard to conceive of ing into the parking area. They their giving birth to a Jarnell, had dined with unaccustomed who discovered the space-split- amplitude at The Halls. They ter by sheer accident. Their cities had visited Llanfelfair, Lost are impressive sights, rising Star Inn, Haluce, the Casino from the flatlands like a growth Plageale. They were intoxicated, of metallic crystals. Each adult but as much by exuberance as 140 GALAXY : by the wines, smokes, perfusions, seated himself and opened the subliminal whirligigs, chants, flap of the recorder lens. voltes and other exaltments pur- “Now, sir, what happened?” veyed by the houses which they “I was out for the evening had visited. The youth who stum- with a young woman, Miss Pal- bled over Gersen’s body uttered lis Atwrode of Remo. When we first a jocular malediction, then came back to the car, I was an exclamation of shocked con- slugged, and I don’t know what cern. happened to Miss Atwrode. The The group gathered. One ran last thing I remember she was to his vehicle and pressed the struggling to escape from one of emergency call-button; two min- the men.” utes later a police craft dropped “There were how many?” down from the sky, and then an “Two. I recognized them. ambulance. Their names are Hildemar Dasce Gersen was conveyed to a hos- and a man I know only as Su- pital where he was treated for thiro, a Sarkoy. Both are notori- concussion and shock with ap- ous men Beyond.” propriate irradiation, massage, “I see. The young lady’s name and vitalizing medicines. He and address?” presently returned to conscious- “Pallis Atwrode, Merioneth ness, and for a moment lay Apartments, Remo.” thinking. Then he gave a sudden “We’ll check at once to make lurch and tried to rise from the sure she hasn’t arrived home. bed. The attending interns cau- Now, Mr. Gersen, let’s go over tioned him, but Gersen, paying this again.” no heed, struggled erect and stood swaying. “My clothes!” he In a dull voice Gersen gave a croaked. “Give me my clothes!” detailed account of the attack, “They’re safe in the closet, described Hildemar Dasce and sir. Relax, recline, if you please. Suthiro. As he spoke, a report Here is the police officer to take came in from Constabulary Con- your evidence.” trol. Pallis Atwrode had not re- Gersen lay back fretfully. The turned to her apartment. Roads, police investigator approached airways and space-terminals were a keen-faced young man wearing under observation. The IPCC the yellow-brown jacket and had been called into the case. black breeches of the Sea Pro- “Now, sir,” said the investiga- vince Constabulary. He address- tor in a neutral voice, “may I ed himself to Gersen politely, inquire your business?”

THE STAR KING 141 “I am a locater.” rectly to a subway station. Ger- “What is the nature of your sen stood on an exchange plat- association with these two men?” form, straining to formulate a “None. I saw them at work coherent plan of action. A once before, on Smade’s Planet. phrase kept repeating itself com- Apparently they regard me as pulsively, like an inch-worm an enemy. I believe that they are traversing the inner surface of part of Grendel the Monster’s or- his skull: Poor Pallis, poor Pal- ganization.” lis. “Very strange that they should With no better plan in mind commit an actionable offense so he stepped into a capsule and brazenly. In fact, why did they sent himself to a station under not kill you?” the Esplanade. He emerged, but “I don’t know.” Gersen once instead of going to the car, took more staggered to his feet. The a seat in a brasserie and drank investigator watched with profes- coffee. “By now she’s in space,” sional attentiveness. “What are he told himself once more. “And your plans, Mr. Gersen?” it’s my fault. My fault.” Because “I want to find Pallis At- he should have foreseen this sort wrode.” of outcome. Pallis Atwrode knew “Understandable, sir. But it is Warweave, Kelle and Detteras best that you do not interfere. well; she saw them daily, heard The police are more effective whatever gossip there was to be than a single man. We should heard. Grendel the Star King, have news for you at any time.” Grendel the Monster, was one of “I don’t think so,” said Ger- three men, and Pallis Atwrode sen. “By now they’re in space.” evidently had knowledge which, The investigator, rising to his coupled to Suthiro’s indiscre- feet, made tacit admission that tions, made Grendel’s incognito such was the case. “We will na- insecure. Hence she must be re- turally keep you informed.” He moved. Killed? Sold into slav- bowed and departed. ery? Taken by Dasce for his per-

Gersen immediately dressed, sonal use? . . . Poor Pallis, poor with the disapproving help of an Pallis. orderly. His knees were weak. His hand floated in a kind of ersen looked out over the generalized all-embracing pain. G'ocean. A rim of lavender was There was a faint singing in his forming at the horizon, presag- ears from the drugs. ing dawn. The stars were fading. An elevator dropped him di- “I’ve got to face up to it,” Ger-

142 GALAXY sen told himself. “It’s my respon- do. The IPCC? He would be sibility. If she is harmed—but forced to tell everything he no. Ill kill Hildemar Dasce in knew. Could the IPCC act more any event.” Suthiro, treacherous, efficiently if he laid his infor- fox-faced Suthiro, was already as mation before them? He could good as dead. And there was tell them that he suspected an Grendel himself, the architect of administrator of the Sea Pro- the entire evil construction. As vince University to be one of the a Star King he somehow seemed so-called Demon Princes. What less hateful: a dire beast, which then? The IPCC, an elite police might be expunged without emo- force, with the vices and virtues tion. characteristic of such an organi- Surfeited with hate and grief zation, might or might not be and misery, he went to the car trustworthy. Star Kings had pos- in the now empty parking area. sibly infiltrated the group; in There, the spot where Dasce had this case Grendel would certain- stood. There, where he had lain ly be warned. And how could the unconscious—what a wretched, information help rescue Pallis careless fool! How the spirit of Atwrode? Hildemar Dasce was his grandfather must writhe in the kidnapper. Gersen had re- shame! ported this, and no information He started the car, returned could be more explicit. to his hotel. There were no mes- Another possibility: the ex- sages. change of Teehalt’s world for Dawn had come to Avente. Pallis Atwrode. Rigel threw wide horizontal fans Gersen would gladly accept of light between the distant Cati- the trade — but whom to trade line Hills and a darkling bank with? He still could not identify of clouds. Gersen set the alarm Grendel. The IPCC no doubt dial, dosed himself with a two- would have means to detect him. hour soporific, threw himself Then what? The exchange would down on the bed. no longer be conceivable. There He awoke to gloom and de- might be a quiet execution — pression even more intense than though the IPCC generally act- before. Time had passed; what- ed only upon the formal request ever had been in store for Pallis of some authorized government- Atwrode was now fact. Gersen al agency. And in the meantime, ordered coffee; he could not what of Pallis Atwrode? She bring himself to eat. would be lost — a small delight- He considered what he must ful spark of life, forgotten

THE STAR KING 143 But if Gersen knew Grendel’s with sudden quick jerking of the identity he would have vastly heart, he looked toward the re- more leverage. He could make ception desk. A different girl his offer with assurance. The was on duty. He asked politely, logic of the situation seemed to “Where is Miss Atwrode this be that Gersen proceed as before. morning?” But how slow! Think of Pallis, “I don’t know, sir. She hasn’t poor Pallis! . . . arrived. Perhaps she’s not feel- Nevertheless, Hildemar Dasce ing well.” had gone Beyond, and no effort Perhaps indeed, thought Ger- of Gersen or of the IPCC could sen. He mentioned his appoint- avail against this hard fact. ment and proceeded to the office Grendel alone had the power to of Rundel Detteras. order his return. If Pallis At- Warweave and Kelle were wrode still lived. there before him. The three un- The situation had not doubtedly had reached a deci- changed. As before his first ur- sion on a common course of ac- gency was to identify Grendel. tion. Gersen looked from face Then bargain — or extort. to face, Detteras to Warweave to With his course of action once Kelle. One of these creatures was more clear, Gersen’s spirits lift- human only in appearance. At ed. More accurately, his resolve Smade’s Tavern he had glimpsed and dedication burned at a fer- him. He tried to think back, to vent new heat. Hate gave him a visualize, to remember. No im- heady, almost drunken, sense of age came. Black-dyed skin and omnipotence. No one, nothing, exotic costume were a disguise could withstand emotion so in- beyond his penetration. Furtive- tense! ly he assessed each. Which? The hour of his appointment Warweave: aquiline, cold-eyed, with Detteras, Warweave and arrogant? Kelle: precise, humor - Kelle was approaching. Gersen -less, austere? Or Detteras, whose dressed, descended to the garage, geniality now seemed insincere slid his car out upon the avenue and counterfeit? and headed south. He could not decide. He forced himself into a pose of A rriving at the university, he studious courtesy, and made his -Sparked, rode the slide-way to primary gambit. “Let’s simplify the mall, crossed the quadrangle the whole matter,” said Gersen. to the College of Galactic Mor- “I’ll buy the decoding-strip. I phology. Hoping against hope, imagine the college could use a 144 GALAXY ” thousand SVU. In any event, “How much?” that's the offer I wish to make.” “Possibly as much as 5000 His adversaries, each in his SVU.” own style, seemed taken aback. “Ridiculous. This is an excep- Warweave raised his brows, tional world.” Kelle stared fixedly, Detteras “You do not know this,” War- put on a puzzled half-smile. weave pointed out. “You have Warweave said, “But we un- not been there, or so you claim.” derstood that you intended to “More to the point,” said Kelle sell what you conceived to be dryly, “neither have we.” your interest in this matter.” “You have seen the photo- “I don’t mind selling,” said graphs,” said Gersen. Gersen. “if you’ll offer me “Exactly,” said Kelle. “We enough.” have seen no more. Photographs “And how much is enough?” can be faked without difficulty. “A million SVU, perhaps two, I for one do not propose to pay or perhaps three, if you’ll go out a large sum on the strength that high.” of three photographs.” Kelle snorted, Detteras shook “Understandable,” said Ger- his big ugly head. sen. “But for my part I don’t in- “Fees of that sort are not paid tend to make a move without a to locaters,” said Warweave. guarantee. Don’t forget I have “Has it been established which suffered a loss. This is my op- of you sent out Teehalt?” asked portunity to make it good.” Gersen. “Be reasonable!” Detteras “What does it matter?” asked urged bluffly. “Without the de- Warweave. “Your interest in the coder, the filament is just an- affair — money — has become other spool of wire.” clear enough.” He looked from “Not completely. Fourier an-

Kelle to Detteras. “Whoever it alysis eventually can break the is has either forgotten or does code.” not care to disclose himself. “In theory. It is a long ex- Doubtless that is the way the pensive process.” situation will remain.” “Not as expensive as giving Detteras said, “It’s certainly the filament away for next to inconsequential. Come now, Mr. nothing.” Gersen, we have decided to make you a joint offer — certainly not 'The discussion continued an as grandiose as the figure you hour, Gersen gritting his teeth name— in impatience. A price of 100,-

THE STAR KING 145 000 SVU, to be deposited in es- But now this plan had good crow, was eventually arranged, by the boards. If all three went the sale conditional upon a list out to Teehalt’s planet, the iden- of provisos relating to the phys- tification of Grendel must de- ical characteristics of the world pend upon new circumstances. in question. Meanwhile the fate of Pallis At- Agreement having been reach- wrode bore no thinking about. ed, telescreen contact with the Gersen made a last-ditch pro- Bureau of Deeds and Contracts test. “My boat is small for four. at Avente was made. The four Better if only one went out with men identified themselves form- me. ally and the contract was read Detteras threw his hands into into the records. the air, turned to the screen, A second call, to the Bank of called his seeretary. “Cancel all Alphanor, established the es- my appointments. Urgent busi- crow account. ness is taking me out of town. The three administrators now We’ll take the departmental sat back and inspected Gersen, ship.” who in his turn looked from one to the other. “So much is settled. "D etuming to Avente, Gersen Which of you goes with me to pondered the future. What inspect this world?” challenges would he face from The three exchanged glances. these men, one of whom was “I’ll gladly go,” said Warweave. Grendel? It would be foolhardy “I was about to volunteer my not to arrange safeguards: this own services,” said Detteras. was the training imposed upon “In that case,” said Kelle, “I him by his grandfather, a meth- might as well come along too. odical man, who had labored dil- I’m overdue for a change.” igently to discipline Gersen’s in- Gersen seethed in frustration. nate tendency to rely upon im- He had expected Grendel to vol- provisation. unteer his services — in fact, to At the hotel Gersen examined assert them — whereupon Ger- his belongings, made certain se- sen could then take him aside, lections, then packed and check- and offer a new deal: the fila- ed out. After painstaking precau- ment for Pallis Atwrode. What, tions against stick-tights and hu- after all, was the world to him? man trackers, he went to a His single goal was Grendel’s branch office of the Amalga-

identity . . . and after that, his mated Distribution Service, an- life. other of the monster semi-public 146 GALAXY a utility companies with agencies ed the university ship. The con- throughout the Oikumene. In a tours were distinctive, as was the booth he consulted catalogues rather elaborate emblem at the which offered him a choice of a bow. Recollection stirred at the million products produced by back of his mind. Somewhere be- thousands of fabricators. Mak- fore he had seen this ship. ing his choice, he punched the Where? At Smade’s Planet on requisite buttons, went to the the landing field between moun- service counter. tains and black ocean. It was the There was a wait of three min- ship used by the Star King. utes, while automatic machinery The shape of a man passed in ranged the shelves of the enor- front of one of the observation mous underground warehouse, windows. When he moved out of then the mechanism Gersen had sight Gersen crossed the space ordered appeared on a belt. He between the two ships. examined it, paid the clerk, de- Cautiously he tried the outer parted and rode the subway to entry port. It eased ajar. He the space-port. He inquired the stepped into the transition location of the university ship chamber, peered through the from an attendant, who took him panel into the ship’s main saloon. out on a terrace and pointed Suthiro the Sarkoy worked at down the long line of space- an object which he apparently craft, large and small, each in had attached to the underside of its bay. “Notice, sir, the red and a shelf. yellow yacht with side plat- form? Well, count down three. Tnside Gersen something more First the CD 16, then the old ferocious than gladness— Parabola, and then a green and peculiar exaltation of hate — blue ship with the big observa- swelled and burst, suffusing his tion dome. That’s the job. She’s entire body. He tried the inner going out today, eh?” portal. It was locked from with- “Yes. About seven. How did in. There was, however, an emer- you know?” gency disengagement which “One of the crew is already would unlock the door if pres- aboard. I had to let him on.” sure were equalized between “I see.” Gersen went down to cabin and outer atmosphere. the field, walked along the way Gersen touched the emergency which led past the ranked space- switch. There was an audible craft. From the shadow of the click. Within the ship all was ship in the next bay, he inspect- silent. Not daring to glance

THE STAR KING 147 through the panel, Gersen press- innocence. “She was taken by ed his ear to the port. Useless: Fancy Dasce.” no sound could pass through the “With your connivance. laminated structure. He waited Where is she now?” a minute, then carefully eased Suthiro shrugged. “He had or- himself up to look into the cabin ders to kill her. Why I don’t once more. know. I am told very little. Dasce Suthiro had heard nothing. will not kill her until he has the He had gone forward, and now full use of her. He is a khet.” appeared to be adjusting the Suthiro sneered the epithet, a padding around a stanchion. His metaphor linking Dasce to the heavy flat-skulled head was bent obscenely fecund Sarkovy mink. forward, lips pursed out. “He has left Alphanor?” Gersen slid back the port, “Certainly.” Suthiro seemed stepped into the cabin, a projac surprised at Gersen’s naivete. pointed at the big square buckle “Probably for his little planet.” of Suthiro’s steppe-rider harness. He made a fretful uncomfortable “Skop Suthiro,” said Gersen. motion, which brought him an “This is a pleasure for which I imperceptible four inches closer had not dared hope.” to Gersen. Suthiro’s dog-brown eyes open- “Where is this planet?” ed and shut; he grinned broad- “Ha! Do you think he would ly. “I was waiting for your ar- tell me? Or anyone else?” rival.” “In that case — but I must ask “Indeed. And why?” you to stand back.” “I wanted to continue our dis- “Pah,” whispered Suthiro in a cussion of last night.” childish display of petulance. “I “We were speaking of Godog- can poison you any time I ma, the Long-Legged Walker, choose.” with Wheels on his Feet. Plainly Gersen allowed a faint smile he has wheeled across the path to cross his lips. “I have already of your life, and you will never poisoned you.” drive your wagon over the Goro- Suthiro raised his eyebrows. bundur.” “When? You have never closed

. Suthiro became very still, his with me.” eyes measuring Gersen. “Last night. I touched you “What happened to the girl?” when I handed you paper. Look asked Gersen gently. at the back of your right hand.” Suthiro considered, then re- Suthiro stared in slow hor- jected the feasibility of feigning ror at the red weal. “Cluthe!”

148 GALAXY Gersen nodded. “Cluthe.” “No. Dasce tells little. The “But — why should you do world is airless.” Suthiro care- this to me?” fully hunched himself together. “You merit such an end.” “Already the skin begins to itch.” Outhiro launched himself like a “Listen, Suthiro. You hate ^ leopard the projector in Ger- Dasce. Yes? And hate ; you me, sen’s hand discharged a stalk of for I have poisoned you. Think! blue-white energy. Suthiro fell You, a Sarkoy, poisoned by me, to the deck, lay staring up at and so easily.” Gersen. “Better plasma than Suthiro muttered, “I hate you cluthe,” he whispered huskily. indeed.” “You’ll die by cluthe,” said “Tell me how to find Dasce, Gersen. then. One of us must kill the Suthiro shook his head. “Not other. The death will be your while I carry my poisons.” doing.” “Godogma calls you. So now Suthiro rocked his furry head speak truth. Do you hate Hilde- in desolation. “But I cannot tell mar Dasce?” you what I do not know.” “I hate Dasce indeed.” Suthiro “What has he said of his

seemed surprised, as if there world? Does he talk?” were anyone who did not hate “He boasts. Dasce is a vile Dasce. braggart. His world is harsh; “I would kill Dasce.” only a man like himself could “Most people would do no master this world. He lives in less.” the crater of a dead volcano.” “Where is his planet?” “What of the sun?” “Beyond. I know no more.” Suthiro hunched himself to- “When are you to see him gether. “It is dim. Yes. It must next?” be red. They asked Dasce about “Never. I am dying, and Dasce his face. Why had he dyed him- is bound for a deeper hell than self red? To match his sun, said mine.” Dasce, which was the same color, “If you lived?” and not much larger.” “Never. I was to return to Sar- “A red dwarf,” mused Gersen. kovy.” “So it might be.” “Who knows of this planet?” “Think! What else? Which

“Grendel. . . Perhaps.” direction? Which constellation? “Is there no one else? Tris- Which sector?” tano?” “He says nothing. And now —

THE STAR KING 149 I do not care. I think only of ersen looked down at the Godogma. Go away so that I body. He walked around be- may kill myself decently.” hind it, studied it. The Sarkoy Gersen surveyed the huddled were notoriously treacherous form without emotion. “What are and revengeful. With his toe, he you doing here in the ship?” attempted to turn the body over Suthiro looked at his hand on its face. Quick as the strike of curiously, then rubbed his chest. a serpent the arm flashed around, “I feel it moving.” He examined poison-prongs ready. Gersen Gersen. “Well, then, since you jerked back; the projac ejected a would look on my death, watch.” second dazzling line of energy; He put hands to his neck, con- this time Suthiro was dead. vulsed his knuckles. The brown Gersen searched the corpse. eyes stared. “In thirty seconds In the pouch he found a sum of now.” money which he tucked into his “Who would know of Dasce’s own wallet. There was a kit of planet? Has he friends?” poisons, which Gersen examined, “ ‘Friends’?” Suthiro even in then, unable to comprehend Su- his last seconds took occasion to thiro’s cryptic nomenclature, sneer. discarded; also a device no “Where does he lodge in larger than his thumb, intended Avente?” to project crystalline needles of “North of Sailmaker Beach. poison or virus on a jet of com- In an old hut on Melnoy pressed air. A man could be in- Heights.” fected from a distance of fifty “Who is Grendel? What is his feet and know nothing save a name?” faint tingle. Suthiro carried a Suthiro spoke in a whisper. projac similar to his own, three “A Star King has no need for a stilettos and a packet of fruit name.” lozenges, undoubtedly lethal. “What name does he use on Gersen dropped the weapons Alphano?” back into Suthiro’s pouch, The thick lips opened and dragged the body to a waste ejec- closed. Words rattled in the pale tion locker and crammed it away, throat. “You killed me. Should out of sight. Once in space, the Dasce fail, let Grendel kill you.” touch of a button would dispose The eyelids jerked, quivered. Su- of Sivij Suthiro the Sarkoy. thiro lay back, seemed to stiffen, Next he looked to discover what made no further movement and Suthiro, while alive, had so earn- lay still. estly been trying to achieve.

150 GALAXY Under the shelf he found a took the subway for Sailmaker small toggle-switch controlling Beach. a set of wires which led to a con- At a stand beside the station cealed relay, which in turn ac- Gersen selected a self-service tivated the valves on four reser- cab — a single-seat scooter, gyro- voirs of gas at various secret scopically balanced, with a spots around the cabin. Death- transparent canopy. Two SVU in gas or anesthetic? He detached the slot gave him possession for one of the reservoirs and found an hour. Stepping aboard, he a label printed in the crabbed drove north through the noisy Sarkoy syllabary: Tironvirasko’s streets of Sailmaker Beach. Instantaneous Narcoleptic; an odorless sleep-inducent with rT''he district had a unique fla- minimal postreducts. vor. Avente, a suave cosmo- It seemed that Grendel, no less politan city, was almost indistin- methodical than Gersen, was tak- guishable from fifty other pol- ing his own precautions. ities of the Oikumene. Sailmaker Gersen took each of the four Beach resembled no other locale reservoirs to the entry port, re- in the known universe. The leased their contents and re- buildings were low and thick- placed them where he had found walled, constructed for the most them. He left Suthiro’s switch part of crushed coquina con- in place, but changed its func- crete, white or color-washed. In tion. the blazing light of Rigel even This accomplished, Gersen pastels seemed intense. For some brought out his own device: the reason lavender and pale blue, timer he had purchased at Amal- along with white, were the most gamated, and a grenade from his popular tints. The district was armament. home to scores of off-world na- After a moment’s reflection he tionalities, each forming an en- secured it inside the reactor clave with its characteristic food housing, where it would do maxi- shops, restaurants, specialty mum damage and yet be conve- houses. Though widely disparate nient in case of need. of origin, habit and physiogno- He glanced at his watch. One my, the inhabitants of the dis- o’clock. Time was growing short. trict were uniformly voluble, Far too short to accomplish all half- suspicious, half-naive, con- which must be done. He depart- temptuous of outsiders and ed, locking the ship behind him. equally contemptuous of each Returning to the terminal, he other. They earned their living

THE STAR KING 151 from tourists, as domestic serv- from a hole in his left nostril to ants or day laborers, as proprie- a hole in the lobe of his left tors of small shops and craft stu- ear. “Beauty comes in often to dios, as entertainers or musicians drink. A space man he claims in the innumerable taverns, bi- himself, but as to this I can’t be stros, bordellos, restaurants. certain. I have often declared At the north rose Melnoy myself a great lover. All of us Heights. Here the architecture lie, as much or more than neces- changed to tall apartment build- sary. ‘What is truth?’ asks Pons ings of almost Gothic elongation, Pilatus, in the fable, and I an- each seeming to peer over the swer: ‘A commodity as cheap as other’s shoulder, across Sailmak- air, which we hide as if it were ” er Beach to the more conven- as precious as yewl-stone.’ tional districts. In Melnoy The bartender was disposed Heights Hildemar Dasce re- to further philosophy. Gersen putedly had lodgings. As meth- hauled him back to the issue at odically as shortness of time and hand. “Where does Beauty Dasce anxiety allowed, Gersen sought house himself?” information regarding Dasce. “Up the hill, up back.” The There was no Hildemar Dasce bartender made a vague gesture. listed in the Melnoy Heights Di- “I can tell you no more, be- rectory — nor had Gersen ex- cause I know no more.” pected to find one. Dasce un- Gersen rode his scooter up the doubtedly would desire privacy steep lanes and switchbacks of and the pose of normality. Melnoy Heights. Inquiry at an- Gersen began to visit the tav- other tavern, a tiresome series erns, describing the tall man of questions at various shops, with the split nose, the red skin, lobbies and street-corners, final- the chalk-blue cheeks. He soon ly resulted in explicit directions encountered folk who had no- to Dasce’s lodgings. Riding a ticed Dasce, but not until the little unpaved road which left fourth tavern did he find anyone the area of tall apartments, Ger- who had spoken with him. sen circled a steep rocky hill- “You must mean Beauty,” said side, where gangs of children the bartender, a stubby orange- scrambled like goats. At the end skinned man, with russet hair ar- of the road stood an isolated rec- ranged in fine glossy festoons tangular cottage, rudely, if sub- and curls. Gersen stared in fas- stantially, constructed. It com- cination at the chain carved manded a magnificent view over from turquoise which looped the ocean; over Sailmaker

152 GALAXY Beach; the Grand Esplanade, of background. There was Dasce dwindling far to the south; and, in startling close-up, revealing only just perceptible through every pore of his skin, the split the haze, the apartment towers cartilage of his nose, the lidless of Remo. blue eyes. There was Dasce in the costume of a Bernal flame- ersen approached the cottage fighter — varnished black plates with care, though it exuded and horns and cusps and prongs, the indefinable but unmistak- like a titanic stag beetle. There able feeling of vacancy. He was Dasce in a palanquin of yel- walked around peering through low rattan, hung with persim- the windows, seeing nothing of mon silk, borne on the shoul- interest. After a quick glance to ders of six black-haired maidens. right and left, he broke in the The angle of the wall display- sash of an inconspicuous win- ed a set of photographs of a man dow and cautiously, in the event who was not Dasce. Apparently that Dasce had set man-traps, they had been taken over a pe- climbed into the cottage. riod of years. The first showed The house was strong with the the face of a man thirty years feel of Dasce’s habitancy; a faint- old: a sturdy, confident, bulldog ly acrid odor, together with an face, serene, even complacent. aura more subtle than odor, of The face had changed alarming- crudeness, dark pompous magni- ly in the second of the photo- ficent strength. There were four graphs. The cheeks were sunken, rooms, encompassing the usual the eyes started from their sock- functions. Gersen made a quick ets, the nerves at the temples general investigation, then con- showed in an intricate mesh. In centrated his attention upon the each succeeding photograph the parlor. face became ever more haggard... The ceiling was scrolled plas- Gersen glanced along a row of ter, painted pale yellow. The books: pornography of a child- floor was covered by a carpet of ishly obscene nature, weapon greenish-yellow fiber, the walls manuals, an index to Sarkoy were a checkerboard of maroon poisons, a late edition of Hand- and dark brown hardwood tiles. book to the Planets, an index to At the far end Dasce had placed Dasce’s micro-book library, a a desk and heavy chair. The wall Star Directory. over the desk was hung with The desk itself was extremely dozens of photographs: Dasce in handsome: side panels of dark all poses, against every variety wood carved to represent griffins

THE STAR KING 153 and winged serpents in a jungle; Twenty-three red dwarfs were the surface an exquisite inlay of listed. Eight of these were dou- opals polished flat. Gersen ble. Eleven hung solitary in checked the drawers and pigeon- space, forlorn feeble sparks. holes. They were barren of in- Four were accompanied by plan- formation — completely empty, ets, eight planets in all. These in fact. Gersen stood back, a tide four Gersen scrutinized with of grim despair rising within especial care. Reluctantly he was him. He looked at his watch. In forced to conclude that none of four hours he must meet Detter- these planets could conceivably as, Warweave and Kelle at the be considered habitable. Five of space-port. He stood in the cen- the planets were too hot, one ter of the room, carefully scru- was completely awash in liquid tinized every article. Somewhere methane, two were too massive must be a link with Dasce’s se- to allow human toleration of the cret planet; how to recognize it? gravity. Gersen’s mouth drooped He went to the book-shelf, in disappointment. Nothing. took down the Star Directory, Still, the page at one time had examined the lay of the binding. been earnestly consulted: there If Dasce’s red dwarf were listed must be information here which he certainly must have located Dasce needed or valued. Gersen it in the directory. If he had tore the page from the book. done so several times, there might be a crease, a smear, a dis- ,_p,he front door opened; Gersen coloration. No such mark was whirled. In the opening stood visible. Gersen held the book by a middle-aged man no larger its two covers, let it hang. A than a boy of ten. His head was third through the book the pages round. His eyes brimmed with separated a hair-breadth. Gersen curiosity, flicking over Gersen carefully opened the book at and around the room. He had this spot, looked down the list- large features, long pointed ears, ing. Each star — and on this a heavy protuberant mouth: a page there were two hundred — Highland Imp from the High- wqs described under eleven head- lands of Krokinole, one of the

ings : index number, constellation more specialized races of the placement as viewed from Earth, Concourse. He came forward, star type, planetary informa- fearlessly swaggering. “Who are tion, mass, vector of velocity, you that’s in Mr. Spock’s house? diameter, density, location co- Looking through Mr. Spock’s ordinates, remarks. things? A burglar, I think.”

154 GALAXY Gersen replaced the book, and end, mark my words! What’s he the Imp said, “That’s one of his done now?” precious volumes, that bit of “Kidnap. Murder.” stuff. Not likely he wants your “Bad deeds, both. I’ll have to fingers all over it. I’d better go caution Mr. Spock.” for the constable.” “He is a wicked man. How “Come back here,” said Ger- long has he lived here?” sen. “Who are you?” “Donkey’s years.” “I’m the by-your-leave care- “You know him well, then?” taker, that’s who I am. Also this ‘Well indeed. Who drinks is my land and my house and with him when everyone else my freehold. Mr. Spock is the turns their heads as if Mr. Spock man I let to, and why should I smelt poorly? Me. I drink with give every burglar north of him, and frequently. I have my Swansea leave to pillage and compassion.” loot?” “So you’re Spock’s friend?” “Mr. Spock is a criminal,” said Gersen. 'T'he big features twisted and “And if he is, it’s proof then moved in successive displays that there’s no honor among of tolerance, crafty speculation, thieves.” virtuous indignation. “I? Cer- “I’m no thief,” said Gersen tainly not. Do I look the sort mildly. “The IPCC is after your who consorts with criminals?” tenant, Mr. Spock.” “But — let us say — you have The Imp bent his big head for- heard Spock talking.” ward. “Be you IPCC? Show me “That I have, and oh the tales your blazer.” he tells!” The Imp’s eyes rolled On the assumption that a Kro- ludicrously upward. “Do I be- kinole Imp would not recognize lieve him? No.” an IPCC blazer when he saw “Has he ever spoken of a se- one, Gersen displayed a trans- cret world where he has a hide- parent tablet, with his photo- away?” graph under a gold seven-point- “Again and again. He calls it ed star. He touched it to his fore- Thumbnail Gulch. Why? He al- head and it glowed into light, a ways shakes his head when he’s factitious display which impress- asked. A tight-mouthed man, ed the Imp. He instantly became Mr. Spock, for all his loose brag- effusive in his cordiality. “Nev- gadocio.” er did think that Mr. Spock was “What more has he said of up to good. He’ll come to a bad his world?”

THE STAR KING 155 The Imp shrugged. “The sun’s thrive. Mr. Spock lives in a dead blood-red, hardly enough to keep crater, and he sees a whole line him warm.” of volcanos smoking up along “And where is this world?” the horizon.” “Aha! That’s where he’s sly. “What else?” No word of this will he speak. “Nought.” Many the time I’ve wondered, “How long does it take to get thinking that suppose poor Mr. to his planet?” Spock took sick on this lonesome “That I can’t say.” world — who’d know to tell his “You’ve never met any of his friends?” friends?” Gersen smiled grimly. “And “Toss-pots at the tavern, no this argument never induced more. But yes. One. Less than a him to confide in you?” year ago—an Earthman, a heavy “Never. Why do you wish to cruel man.”

1 know?” “Tristano ? “He’s kidnaped an innocent “I know nothing of his name. young woman and taken her to Mr. Spock had just returned this world.” from a business trip Beyond, to “The rogue. What a raffish a planet called New Hope. Do creature.” The Imp shook his you know it?” head in distress, from which a “I’ve never been there.” certain measure of wistful envy “Nor I, though I’ve wandered was not absent. “I’ll never let far. But the very day of his re- my land and house to him turn, while we sit in Gelperino’s again.” Saloon, the Earthman comes in. “Think. What has Spock said ‘Where have you been?’ he asks. regarding the world?” ‘Ten days I’ve been here, and we The Imp screwed up his eyes. left New Hope together.’ Mr. “Thumbnail Gulch. The world Spock gives him his haughty is bigger than the sun. Astonish- look. ‘If you must know, I looked ing, no?” in on my little hideaway for half “If the sun is a red dwarf, not a day. I have obligations there, too astonishing.” you know.’ And the Earthman “Volcanos. There are live vol- said no more.” canos on this world.” Gersen thought a moment and “Volcanos? That’s odd. A red suddenly was in a hurry to leave. dwarf’s planet shouldn’t have “What more do you know about volcanos. It’s too old.” Spock?” “Old or young, the volcanos “Nothing more.” 156 GALAXY .

ersen made a last survey of “Oh — one chance in fifty. In- the house, under the inquisi- clude also the constants of these tive scrutiny of the Imp, then stars as given in the directory departed, ignoring the Imp’s here.” sudden harsh demands for dam- “Very well, sir. The fee will ages when he discovered the be 25 SVU.” broken window sash. Hastily, Gersen brought forth money; now, Gersen rode down through the operator translated the prob- the winding avenues, across Sail- lem into precise language, spoke maker Beach, back into central into a microphone. Thirty sec- Avente. He went to an office of onds later a sheet of paper the Universal Technical Consul- dropped from a slot. The opera- tative Service, and gained the tor glanced at it, signed his attention of an operator. name, handed it without a word “Set up this problem,” said to Gersen. Gersen. “Two ships leave the Forty-three stars were listed. planet New Hope. One proceeds Gersen compared the list with directly here, to Avente. The the page he had tom from other goes to a red dwarf star, Dasce’s Directory. A single star spends half a day, then comes to occurred on both lists. Gersen Avente, arriving ten days later. frowned in puzzlement. The star I want a list of the red dwarf was a member of a binary, with- stars which this second ship out planets. The couple was. . might have visited in the nine Naturally! thought Gersen, il- and a half days.” lumination flooding his mind. The operator considered. How else could volcanos exist on “There is obviously an ellipsoid the companion of a red dwarf? shell here, the foci being New Dasce’s world was not a planet, Hope and Alphanor. We must but a dark star: a dead surface, take into account the accelera- perhaps still faintly warm. Ger- tions and decelerations, the prob- sen had heard of such worlds. able coast periods and landing Usually they were too dense, too times. There will necessarily be massive for human occupancy, a locus of most probability, and but if a small star in the course areas of diminishing probabil- of two or three billion years hap- ity.” pened to sweep up enough detri- “Set up the problem so that tus to build a thick shell of light the machine lists these stars in material the surface gravity order of probability.” might well be reduced to a toler- “To what limits?” able level.

THE STAR KING 157 \ t ten minutes to seven Kelle, Gersen and Kelle passed the Warweave and Detteras ap- cases into the cabin. Detteras peared at the space-port, wearing made a bluff attempt to assert spacemen’s harness, their skins command. “We have four com- washed the blue-brown tone partments aboard. I’ll take for- which originally, in popular cre- ward starboard; Kelle, you’ll dence, was thought to protect the have starboard aft; Warweave, human organism from certain port forward; Gersen, port aft. mysterious Jarnell effluviae, and We might as well move our lug- which by usage had become a gage out of the cabin.” normal adjunct to the space- “One moment,” said Gersen. traveler’s accoutrements. They “There is a situation that we halted in the middle of the must resolve before we proceed lobby, looked about, spied Ger- any further.” sen, turned to face him as he ap- Detteras’s big face creased in proached. a scowl. “What?” Gersen surveyed them with a “We are two parties of interest dour smile. “We seem to be here — at least two parties. Nei- ready, all of us. I thank you ther trusts the other. We are go- gentlemen for your prompt- ing Beyond, past the edge of law. ness.” All of us, recognizing this fact, “Achieved at great inconve- have brought weapons. I propose nience to all of us,” stated Kelle. that we lock all weapons in the “In due course the reason for security cabinet; that we open haste will become clear,” said the luggage, and if necessary, Gersen. “Your luggage?” strip ourselves naked, to assure “On its way to the ship,” said each other that all the weapons Detteras. have been declared. Since you “Then we will leave. We have are three to my one, if any ad- clearance?” vantage lies to either side, it is “Everything has been ar- to yours.” ranged,” said Warweave. “A highly undignified pro- The group proceeded from the cess,” grumbled Detteras. lobby, walked around to the Kelle, more equable now than docking area, toward which a Gersen could have believed, said, crane was already trundling. “Come now, Rundle. Gersen is The luggage, four large cases merely verbalizing reality. In and as many smaller packets, was short, I agree with him. The stacked beside the ship. War- more so since I carry no weap- weave unlocked the entry ports; ons.”

158 GALAXY Warweave made a careless ges- flashed a row of green lights. ture. “Search me, search my lug- “Everything ready to go,” he gage; but let’s get under way.” said. “Tanks full, machinery in Detteras shook his head, open- order.” ed his case, withdrew a projac Kelle cleared his throat, of great power, tossed it upon brought forth a handsomely the table. “I have my doubts mounted wooden case, bound in about the wisdom of this. I have red leather. “This is one of the nothing against Mr. Gersen per- departmental rationalizers. You sonally — but suppose he takes have Mr. Teehalt’s filament, I us to a far planet where he has assume?” accomplices waiting, who cap- “Yes,” said Gersen. “I have the ture us and hold us for ransom? filament with me. But there is Stranger crimes have occurred.” no hurry. Before we engage the Gersen laughed. “If you con- monitor we must reach zero base- sider this a real danger you need point, which is far distant.” only remain here. I don’t care “Very well,” said Detteras. whether one goes or all go.” “What are the coordinates?” “What of your own weapons?” Gersen brought forward a slip asked Warweave dryly. of paper. “If you will allow me,” Gersen brought forth his pro- he said politely, “I will make jac, a pair of stilettos, a dagger, the settings on the auto-pilot.” four grenades the size of walnuts. With ill grace Detteras rose to “My word,” said Detteras. his feet. “It seems to me that “You maintain quite an arma- there is no longer reason for dis- ment.” trust. We have stripped our- “I occasionally have need for selves of our weapons, all the it,” said Gersen. “Now, the lug- issues have been settled. So let .” gage. . The accumulated arms us all relax and behave amica- were placed in a cabinet which bly.” was secured with four locks, each “With pleasure,” said Gersen. man retaining a key to one of The ship was lowered to the the locks. launching pad, the crane disen- The crane trundled up to the gaged and rolled away. The ship; the boom swung around. group settled themselves into Hooks engaged in trammels; the take-off seats; Detteras started ship jerked, hung free, was car- the automatic launching se- ried out on the field. quence. There was a jar, a sense Detteras went to the main con- of acceleration, and Alphanor sole and touched a button, which retreated below.

THE STAR KING 159 X his own style, and seems to create a new crime. From the chapter Grendel In the previous chapters we the Monster, in the book have examined the maniacal Ko- THE DEMON PRINCES, kor Hekkus and his theories of by Caril Carphen, published absolute frightfulness; the devi- by Elucidarian Press, New ous Viole Falushe, voluptuary, Wexford, Aloysius, Vega: sybarite, and amateur of kin- ... In our cursory summary we aesthetics. have seen how each Demon Completely distinctive is Prince is unique and highly in- Grendel the Monster, in style and dividuated, each displaying his mannerism. Rather than enlarg- characteristic style. ing himself, projecting a macro- This is all the more remark- scopic delineation of his person able, in that the basic variety of and deeds, to mesmerize his vic- possible crimes is limited and tims and intimidate his enemies, can be numbered on the fingers. Grendel prefers the possibly There is crime for gain: extor- equalling chilling device of sil- tion, robbery (which includes ence, invisibility, dispassionate piracy and raids on settled com- impersonality. There is no reli- munities), swindling in its in- able description of Grendel. Cer- finite guises. There is slavery, tainly Grendel is a cognomen, with its various manifestations: derived from a folk-epic of an- procuring, selling, and using cient Earth. He acts with impla- slaves. Murder, coercion and tor- cable viciousness, although his ture are merely adjuncts to these cruelties are never wanton, and activities. The personal depravi- if he maintains a pleasure-palace ties are are equally limited, and after the style of Viole Falushe can be classified under sexual or Howard Alan Treesong, it is debauchery, sadism, violent acts a well-guarded secret. prompted by pique, vindictive- Grendel’s activities are pri- ness, revenge, or vandalism. marily extortion and slavery. In Doubtless the catalogue is in- the Conclave of 1500 at Smade’s complete, perhaps even illogical, Planet, where five Demon Prince but this is by the blow. I merely and a score of lesser operators wish to display the basic paucity, met to define and circumscribe in order to illustrate this point: their activities, Grendel was al- that each of the Demon Princes, lotted that sector of the Beyond in inflicting one or another centered on Ferrier’s Cluster. It atrocity, impresses the act with included over a hundred settle- 160 GALAXY . ments, towns and vicinities, up- to attack Caro. Grendel kid- on all of which Grendel levies naped Janous Paragiglia and tor- assessments. He rarely encoun- tured him for thirty-nine days, ters protest or complaint, for he telecasting the entire process to need merely cite the example of the cities of Caro, to all the plan- Mount Pleasant, a town of 5000 ets in his own sector and, in one persons, which declined to meet of his rare acts of bravado, to his demands. In the year 1499 the Rigel Concourse. Grendel invited four other As mentioned, his personal ap- Princes to join him. The junta petites are unknown. A rumor swept down upon the town, cap- frequently encountered runs to tured and enslaved the entire the effect that Grendel enjoys population. engaging in personal gladiatorial On the planet Grabhorne he duels with able-bodied enemies, maintains a plantation of about with swords for weapons. Gren- ten thousand square miles, with del is said to exhibit superhuman a slave population estimated at strength and dexterity, and twenty thousand. Here are care- seems to derive a satisfaction fully tilled farms, factories which from slowly hewing his oppo- build exquisite furniture, musi- nent to bits. cal instruments and electronic Like certain other Demon mechanisms. The slaves are not Princes, Grendel maintains a dis- overtly ill-treated, but working- crete and respectable identity hours are long, the dormitories within the Oikumene, and if are drab, social opportunities whispers are correct, occupies a are restricted. Punishment is a prestigious position on one of the

term in the mines, which few major worlds. . survive. Grendel’s attention is usually \ lphanor became a misty pale wide and dispassionate, but he disk, mingled with the stars. often focuses upon some individ- Within the ship the four men ual. The planet Caro lies in an settled into an uneasy accommo- area which none of the Demon dation. Kelle and Warweave Princes claim. Mayor Janous Pa- started a quiet conversation. Det- ragiglia of the city Desde es- teras stared forward into star- poused and advocated a militia spattered emptiness. Gersen and space-navy sufficient to pro- watched the three men. tect Caro, and to seek out and One of them was a simulated destroy Grendel or any other of man, Grendel the Monster. the Demon Princes who dared Which? THE STAR KING 161 Gersen thought he knew. Again a possibility, but distinct- There was still no certainty in ly less strong. his mind; his conjecture was Third, and a less simple set of based on indications, probabili- circumstances: what would hap- ties, suppositions. Grendel, for pen when the ship reached his part, must still feel secure in Dasce’s dead star? Here again his incognito. He had no reason variables piled on variables. Did to suspect Gersen’s objective. He Grendel know of Dasce’s hide- must still consider Gersen no away? If so, would he recognize more than an acquisitive locater it by sight? The answers here out to drive as hard a bargain as were both Probably yes. he could. So much the better, The question then would be thought Gersen, if it would help how to surprise and either cap- him to a sure identification. He ture or kill Hildemar Dasce with wanted only the freedom of Pal- out hindrance from Grendel. lis Atwrode and the death of Gersen reached a decision. Grendel. And of course, of Hil- Detteras had urged the need for demar Dasce. If Pallis Atwrode amicability. One thing was sure: were dead — so much the worse amicability would be sternly for Dasce. tested before long. Surreptitiously Gersen watch- ed his suspect. Was this man npime passed. A wary routine Grendel? It was frustrating to was established. Gersen chose be so close to his goal. Grendel a propitious time and gave the of course had his own plans. Be- body of Suthiro to space. The hind the human skull worked ship slid effortlessly past shin- thought-patterns incommensur- ing stars, at astounding speed, able with his own, moving to- by means only vaguely compre- ward a goal still obscure. hensible to the men who con-

Gersen could define at least trolled it. three areas of uncertainty in the The pale of human civilization situation. First, did Grendel still and law came to an end. The carry weapons or have access to ship passed Beyond and struck weapons previously concealed up and out toward the dwindling aboard the ship? A possibility, fringes of the galaxy. Gersen although Grendel might be re- kept steady if discreet surveil- lying entirely on the hidden lance over his three shipmates, tanks of anesthetic gas. wondering who would first show Second, were either or both of concern, anxiety or suspicion as the other men his accomplices? to the immediate destination. 162 GALAXY ”

This person was Kelle, though naped a young woman I happen any of the three might have been to be interested in, and conveyed muttering together out of Ger- her to a private world. I feel ob- sen’s hearing. “Where the devil ligated to this young woman. are we headed?” Kelle inquired She is suffering through no fault peevishly. “This is no area to of her own, but merely from attract a locater. We’re practical- Grendel’s desire, to punish or in- ly in intergalactic space.” timidate me. I believe I have lo- Gersen took up a relaxed posi- cated Dasce’s planet. I plan to tion. “I have not been altogether rescue this young woman, and I candid with you three gentle- hope for your cooperation.” men.” Detteras spoke in a voice thick Three faces turned swiftly, with rage, “Why could you not three pairs of eyes bored in at have told us of your plans before him. we left? You insisted on leaving, “What do you mean?” grated you forced us to break our en- Detteras. gagements at great inconve- “It is not a serious matter. I nience— have been compelled to make a Gersen said mildly, “You have detour. After I perform a cer- some cause for resentment but, tain errand, we will proceed since my own time is limited, I with our original plans.” He thought it best to combine the raised his hand as Detteras took two projects.” He grinned as a deep breath. “It serves no pur- Detteras’s neck swelled in new pose to admonish me. The situa- fury. tion is unavoidable.” Kelle said meditatively, “The Warweave spoke in an icy kidnaper has conveyed the voice: “What is this ‘situation’?” young woman to a world in this “I’ll be glad to explain, and vicinity?”

I’m sure all of you will appre- “I think so. I hope so.” ciate my predicament. First of all, “And you expect our help in I seem to have made an enemy rescuing this young woman?” of a well-known criminal. He is “Only in a passive sense. Just known as Grendel the Monster.” don’t interfere.” Gersen glanced from face to face. “Suppose the kidnaper kills “Doubtless you all have heard you.” of him. He is one of the Demon “The possibility exists. But I Princes. The day before we left have the advantage of surprise. one of his lieutenants, a creature He must feel completely secure, named Hildemar Dasce, kid- and probably I will have no

THE STAR KING 163 great trouble overpowering him.” filament will be lost. Naturally I “ ‘Overpowering’ him?” in- will need the weapons which are quired Warweave, delicately sar- now in the security locker, but donic. I see no reason why you should “Overpowering or killing him.” object to that” No one spoke. Gersen studied A t this moment the Jamell their faces and laughed inward- kicked out, the ship whined ly. Grendel was posed with a down into ordinary velocities. maddening dilemma. If he Ahead glowed a dim red star. If should interfere and by some it were double, its companion means warn Dasce, then Gersen was yet invisible. might well be killed, and Gren- Gersen said, “As I say, sur- del’s hopes of acquiring Tee- prise is my most important as- halt’s planet dashed. Would he set, so therefore I must ask that trade Dasce for the planet? Ger- none of you through inadver- sen was certain of his decision; tence or malice use the radio.” Grendel was notoriously callous. Gersen already had disabled the Detteras heaved a deep sigh. radio, but he saw no reason to “Gersen, you’re a subtle man. put Grendel on his guard. “I’ll You’ve put us in a position explain my plans so that there where for motives of sweet rea- can be no misunderstanding. son we are forced to do your First, I’ll bring the ship close bidding.” enough to inspect the surface of “I assure you that my motives the planet, but far enough out are irreproachable.” to avoid radar detection. If I lo- “Yes, yes, the damsel in dis- cate Dasce’s habitation, I’ll go to tress. All very well; we would the far side of the world, ap- not deny l}er the chance of proach the surface and land as rescue. My exasperation is not close to Dasce’s dwelling as feas- at your goals — if y.ou have told ible. Then I’ll take the platform us the truth — but at your lack flyer and do what must be done. of candor.” The three of you need only wait With nothing to lose, Gersen till I return. Then we shall be became contrite. “Yes, perhaps once more on our way to Tee- I should have explained more halt’s planet. I know I can count carefully. But I am accustomed on your cooperation, because I to working by myself. In any naturally shall take the monitor event, the situation is now as I filament with me, and hide it have described it. Do I have the somewhere. If I am killed, the cooperation of you all?”

164 GALAXY :

“Humph,” said Warweave. ered by what seemed oceans of “We have little choice, as you chocolate-colored dust. The out- are perfectly well aware.” line of the world was sharp and “Mr. Kelle?” asked Gersen. stark against the black of space, Kelle inclined his head. indicating a sparse atmosphere. “Mr. Detteras?” Gersen went to the macroscope “As Warweave points out, we to inspect the surface. The have no choice.” world’s relief leapt into perspec- “In that case I will proceed tive. Chains of volcanic moun- with my plans. The world on tains netted the surface; there which we are to land is a dead was a mesh of rifts and crevasses, star, not a planet.” a number of ancient isolated “What about the gravity? plutonic buttes, hundreds of vol- Won’t it make habitation incon- canos, some active, others dead venient?” asked Kelle. or quiescent. “We’ll know very shortly.” Gersen set cross-bars on a short sharp peak at the demarca- 'IIT’arweave turned away, went tion between day and night. The * * to look out at the nearing object seemed not to move re- red dwarf. lative to the line of darkness The dark companion now- had apparently the world held a con- became visible. It was a large stant face to its companion. In brown-gray disk, three times the such case, Dasce’s dwelling would diameter of Alphanor, mottled almost certainly be on the bright and reticulated in black and face, probably near the equator, umber. Gersen was pleased to at the longitude directly under find surrounding space rich in the sun. He scrutinized the re- detritus. The radar screen indi- gion carefully, under high mag- cated dozens of minuscule plane- nification. The area was large. toids and moonlets in orbits There were dozens of volcanic about each star. Gersen could ap- craters, large and small. proach the dead star boldly with Gersen searched an hour. War- small fear of detection. A mo- weave, Kelle and Detteras stood mentary shift into intersplit watching him with varying de- braked the ship; another brought grees of impatience and sardonic it to a state of lazy drifting a dislike. quarter-million miles above the Gersen reviewed his logic; it now looming mass. seemed to hang together. The red The surface seemed dim and dwarf had been listed on a well- featureless, with vast areas cov- used page in Dasce’s Directory;

THE STAR KING 165 it was tound within the requisite engaged the autopilot. The ship ellipsoidal shell: it had a dark veered and began its descent. star companion. This must be Kelle, unable to contain his the star. And by every likelihood curiosity, asked, “Well? Have Dasce’s crater must be located you found what you were look- somewhere within the warm sun- ing for?” lit area below. “I think so,” said Gersen. An odd formation attracted “If you are careless enough to his attention: a square plateau, be killed,” said Kelle, “you will with five mountain ranges radi- put us to enormous inconve- ating like the fingers of a hand. nience.” A phrase of the Melnoy Heights Gersen nodded. “This is essen- Imp occurred to him: “Thumb- tially what I meant to convey to nail Gulch”. At fullest magnifi- you a short while ago. I am sure cation Gersen examined the area that you’ll help me, at least pas- corresponding to the thumbnail. sively.” Certainly there was a small “We have already agreed to crater here. Certainly it seemed this.” to show a slightly different col- The dark star loomed below. or, a slightly different texture The ship landed on a shelf of than the others. And there where naked brown stone, a quarter the sunlight struck glancingly on mile from a heave of low black the inside wall, a glint? And be- hills. The stone was the texture low, the faint shine of white? of brick. The surrounding plain displayed a surface resembling ersen reduced the magnifica- dried brown mud. tion to study the surround- Overhead the red dwarf bulk- ing terrain. Even though Dasce ed large. The ship cast a dense might not detect approaching black shadow. A thin wind blew ships at planetary distances, his small curls of dust across the radar might warn him of some- plain, sifting a greenish blue one approaching for a landing. powder into long herringbone If he dropped down on the far drifts. side of the world, slanted in be- Detteras said thoughtfully, hind the horizon, to land behind “You know, I think it only fair ' the plateau which formed the that you leave the filament here. palm of the hand, he might well Why victimize us?” be able to surprise Dasce. “I don’t plan to be killed, Mr.

He fed the necessary informa- Detteras.” . tion into the course computer, “Your plans might go awry.” 166 GALAXY “If so, your troubles will seem skimming low to the ground, the very trivial in comparison to thin atmosphere keening over mine. May I have my weapons?” the wind-screen. The locker was opened. The three watched warily while Ger- nphe landscape was odd even to sen armed himself. He looked one accustomed to the terrain from face to face. In the mind of of strange planets : a dark spongy one of these men, feverish plots surface in varying shades of ma- were hatching. Would he act as roon, brown and gray, marred Gersen anticipated — which was here and there by volcanic cones to say, by not acting? and low wallowing black hills. Here was a chance Gersen This might be true star-stuff — must take. Suppose he were clinker remaining after the fires wrong. Suppose this were not had died — or it might be sedi- Dasce’s planet and Grendel knew ment swept up from space. More it; suppose Grendel through likely, both. Gersen wondered, some intuition suspected Ger- did the awareness that he was sen’s goals —he might be ready traversing the surface of a dead to sacrifice his hopes of acquir- star contribute to the sense of ing Teehalt’s world in order to weirdness and unreality?' The maroon Gersen out here on this thin atmosphere allowed abso- dark star. There was a precaution lute clarity of vision. The hori- Gersen could take; it would be zons were far, the panorama foolish for him not to do so. He seemed endless. And overhead, stepped back into the engine the glowering sphere of the red room and detached a small but dwarf, filling an eighth of the vital component from the energy sky. reactor. He tucked it into his The ground shouldered up to pouch along with the filament. become the plateau, which com- Warweave, standing in the prised the palm of the hand, a doorway, observed the act but titanic flow of lava. Gersen made no comment. swerved to the right. Far ahead Gersen dressed himself in an he could see a line of black hills air-suit and left the ship. Open- lying across the landscape like ing the forward hatch he winch- the back of a monstrous petrified ed down the little platform fly- triceratops. This was the er, loaded aboard a spare air- “thumb”, at the end of which suit and spare tanks of oxygen, rose Dasce’s volcano. Gersen and without further ceremony flew low to the ground, taking set out for Thumbnail Gulch, advantage of all possible cover.

THE STAR KING 167 swerving in and out, close to the The crater was not large: fifty wall of the plateau, and so ap- yards in diameter and almost proached the line of jagged perfectly cylindrical, the walls black peaks. being formed of striated volcanic Slowly, cautiously, Gersen glass. eased up the tumbled slopes, jets At the bottom of the crater muffled by the thin air to no Dasce had made a careless ges- more than a mutter. Dasce might ture at landscaping. There was have installed detectors along a pond of brackish water, a these slopes. But it seemed hard- clump of palm trees, a tangle of ly likely. Dasce would consider rank vines. the effort superfluous. Why at- In the center of the crater was tack by land when a torpedo a cage, and in the cage sat a from space would be easier? naked man. Tall, haggard, his Gersen gained the ridge. There face was a ghastly wreck, his two miles ahead, was the vol- body crooked, marked with a cano which he hoped to be hundred welts. Gersen remem- Dasce’s hideaway. Off to the side, bered Suthiro’s explanation of down on the plain which con- how Dasce lost his eyelids. Look- tinued on and on indefinitely, ing again he remembered the was the most welcome sight of photographs in Dasce’s parlor. Gersen’s experience: a small This man was the subject of the space-boat. photographs. His hypothesis had been cor- rect. Here was Thumbnail Gulch ersen looked elsewhere. Di- in all certainty; here would be rectly below was a pavilion found Hildemar Dasce. And Pal- of black cloth, a series of con- lis Atwrode? nected tents. There was no sign Gersen landed the platform of Hildemar Dasce. Entrance to and continued on foot, taking ad- the crater was apparently by vantage of all possible cover, way of a tunnel leading through avoiding approaches where de- the wall of the volcano. tectors would be most likely. He Gersen moved carefully mounted the slopes of mingled around the lip, looked down over basalt, obsidian and tuff. Reach- the slope. The porous brown- ing the lip of the crater, he black plain extended limitlessly peered cautiously over — out on off in three directions. Nearby a webbed dome constructed of rested the space-boat, seeming no thin cables, transparent film, larger than a toy in the clarity held distended by air pressure. of the atmosphere.

168 GALAXY Gersen turned his attention of film. The entire operation re- back to the dome. With a knife quired but a minute. Then Dasce he cut a small slit in the film, replaced the unused material then settled himself to watch. and the projector into the case Ten minutes passed before the and straightened up. He made pressure-drop activated a warn- another careful scrutiny of rim, ing signal. Then out from one of slope and plain; then, suspicion the tents charged Hildemar blunted, he started back down Dasce. the slope. He wore only loose white pan- Gersen rose from his hiding taloons. His torso, stained a place and followed, not fifty feet faded purple, was ribbed with behind. muscle. He stared up with lid- Dasce, jumping from rock to less eyes, the blue cheeks bloom- rock down the slope, failed to ing from the vermilion face. look back — until Gersen dis- Dasce marched across the lodged a rock which bounded crater floor. The prisoner with- ahead and past. Dasce stopped, in the cage followed him atten- turned sharply. Gersen was out tively with his gaze. of sight behind a jut of rock. Dasce vanished from sight. Ger- Dasce proceeded. Gersen fol- sen hid in a crevice. Dasce pres- lowed close behind. At the base ently emerged on the plain in of the slope a sound, a vibration, an air-suit, carrying a case. He alarmed Dasce. Once more he mounted the crater wall with turned to look up-slope — direct- strong easy strides, passing close ly at the figure bounding down by Gersen. on him. Gersen saw the loose Dasce put down the case, pale mouth open in startlement, brought forth a projector, swept and then he struck. Dasce top- a beam of radiation over the sur- pled, rolled, bounded to his feet, face of the dome. The escaping started to run awkwardly for the air, evidently dosed with a fluo- air-lock ; Gersen fired at the back rescent agent, glowed yellow. of one of the rangy thighs. Dasce Dasce went to the cut and bent fell. over it, and Gersen felt his in- stant suspicion. He straightened ersen seized him by the an- up, looked all around, and Ger- G kles, dragged him into the sen crouched back out of sight. air-lock, slammed the outer door. When he looked once more, Dasce struggled and kicked, the Dasce was at work mending the red and blue face hideously con- rip with cement and a new strip torted. Gersen pointed the pro-

THE STAR KING 169 ' \

jac, but Dasce merely tried to “Pallis — it’s Kirth Gersen.” The kick it from his grasp. Gersen words reached her, muffled by fired again, numbing Dasce’s the globe which Gersen still other leg. Dasce lay still, glaring wore; she only crouched and like a boar at bay. With a roll huddled more tightly. Gersen of tape brought hopefully for rolled her over. She lay with her the purpose, Gersen lashed eyes shut. Her face, once so gay Dasce’s ankles. Then warily he and impudent and charming, was seized the right arm, bent it bleak. “Pallis,” called Gersen, back and around. Dasce was “open your eyes. It’s Kirth Ger- forced over on his face. Present- sen! You’re safe!” ly, after a struggle, his arms were She shook her head slightly, taped behind his back. her eyes tight shut. The lock mechanism automa- Gersen turned away. At the tically had filled the space with door to the tent he looked back. air. Gersen now removed the Her eyes were wide open, staring vitrine globe from Dasce’s head. in wonder, but she instantly “We renew our acquaintance,” closed them again. said Gersen in a pleasant voice. Gersen left her, investigated Dasce said nothing. the entire crater, reassured him- Gersen dragged him out into self that no one else was present the floor of the crater. The pris- and returned to Dasce. oner jumped to his feet, pressed “Nice place you’ve got here, himself to the bars of the cage Dasce,” said Gersen in a conver- and stared at Gersen as if he sational tone. “A little hard to were an archangel, with wings, find when your friends want to trumpet and aureole. drop in.” Gersen assured himself as to “How did you find me?” said the security of Dasce’s bonds, Dasce in a guttural voice. “No ran over to the tent, projac ready one knows of this place.” for an unexpected servitor or “Except your boss.” comrade-in-arms of Dasce’s. The “He doesn’t know.” prisoner looked after him with “How do you think I found unbelieving eyes. out?” Pallis Atwrode lay huddled Dasce was silent. Gersen went under a limp dirty sheet, face to to the cage, unbarred the door the wall. There was no one else. and motioned to the prisoner, Gersen touched her on the shoul- wondering whether the man’s der, and fascinatedly watched mind had also failed him. “Come her flesh crawl. “Pallis,” he said. out.”

170 GALAXY The prisoner limped halting- His voice faded. Suddenly he ly forward. “Who are you?” asked, “What is the year?” “ “No matter. You are free.” 1524.” “ ‘Free’?” The man worked his Rampold seemed to become loose jaws over the word, turned smaller. “I did not know it was to look toward Dasce. He spoke so long. I have forgotten so in a reverent voice. “What of much.” He looked up toward the him?” dome. “There is no day or night “I shall kill him presently.” here — nothing but the red sun. The man said softly, “This When he is gone, there are no must be a dream.” events. . . Seventeen years I have stood in that cage. And now I /^ersen returned to Pallis. She am out.” He walked over to was sitting on the bed, the Dasce, stood looking down at sheet clutched around her. Her him. Gersen followed. Rampold eyes were open. She looked at said, “Long, long ago we were Gersen, rose to her feet, and two different people. I taught fainted. him a lesson. I made him suffer. Gersen lifted her, carried her The memory is all that has kept out to the crater floor. The erst- me alive.” while captive stood looking at Dasce laughed a harsh cackle. Dasce from a respectful distance. “I have sought to repay you.” Gersen spoke to him. “What is He glanced up toward Gersen. your name?” “Best kill me while you can, or The man looked momentarily I will do the same.” bewildered. “I am Robin Ram- Gersen stood reflecting. Dasce pold,” he said in a soft hushed must die. There would be no voice. “And you — you are his compunction when the time enemy?” came. But behind the red fore- “I am his executioner.” head was knowledge which Ger- “It is a marvel!” breathed sen needed. How to extract this Rampold. “After so long that I knowledge? Torture? Gersen sus- cannot remember the begin- pected that Dasce would laugh .” ning. . T ears began to course while being torn limb from limb. down his cheeks. He looked at Trickery? Subtlety? He looked the cage, walked over to it, stud- speculatively down into the ied it, then looked back at Ger- course red and blue face. Dasce sen. “I know this place well. did not flinch. Gersen turned to Each crack, each crevice, each Rampold. “Can you navigate fleck and crystal of the metal.” Dasce’s space-boat?”

THE STAR KING 171 Rampold sadly shook his head. Or Dasce might command Ram- “Then I suppose you must pold to release him. After seven- come with me.” teen years of degradation, Ram- Rampold spoke in a tremulous pold might be sufficiently under voice, “What of him?” Dasce’s influence to obey. And “Eventually I’ll kill him.” Pallis Atwrode, what of her? Rampold said in a low voice, Gersen locked Dasce in the “Give him to me.” cage. He assisted Rampold into “No.” Gersen returned to the an air-suit and took him back to inspection of Dasce. Somehow the platform. he must be made to reveal the identity of Grendel. A direct Jets roaring at full power, the question would be worse than over-loaded platform lurched useless. “Dasce,” he asked, “why sluggishly around the plateau, did you bring Pallis Atwrode blowing up a fan of dust which out here?” settled with startling rapidity in “She was too beautiful to kill,” the thin atmosphere. Ahead stood said Dasce easily. “Still, I enjoy the space-ship, minute against killing beautiful women.” the sweep of the vast horizon. Gersen grinned. Dasce possi- Gersen landed close beside the bly hoped to provoke him. “You entrance port. Hand-weapon may or may not live to regret within easy reach, he climbed your sins.” the accommodation ladder. “Who sent you here?” asked Inside, Grendel had watched Dasce. his approach, had seen the cargo. “Someone who knew.” Grendel could not know what Dasce slowly shook his head. Dasce had told Gersen. He must “There is only one, and he nev- be taut with indecision. Dasce, er sent you.” who would recognize the ship, So much for that ploy, thought might suspect but could not be Gersen. Dasce would not easily sure that Grendel was aboard. be deceived. Well then. He would The air-lock thudded shut, the take Dasce aboard the ship. The pumps throbbed, the inner door situation was certain to produce swung open. Gersen stepped for- some sort of reaction. ward. Kelle, Detteras, Warweave Now a new problem. He did sat at various quarters of the not dare leave Robin Rampold room. They looked at him with- alone with Dasce, not even for out friendliness. No one moved. long enough to fetch the plat- Gersen unfastened the head- form. Rampold might kill Dasce. globe. “I’m back.”

172 GALAXY “So we see,” said Detteras. Dasce said nothing. Gersen se- “I’ve been successful,” said cured him with exceeding care. Gersen. “I’ve got a captive with At the center of a long cable he me: Hildemar Dasce. A word of made a loop which he knotted warning to you. This man is a and clamped tightly around brutal murderer. He is desper- Dasce’s neck. The ends of the ate. I intend to hold him under cable he made fast at opposite rigid conditions. I ask that none sides of the hold, stretching the of you interfere or have anything cable taut. Dasce was now con- to do with this man. The other stricted in the middle of the two persons are a man Dasce has hold, the cable extending past kept penned in a cage for seven- him to right and left, the ends teen years, and a young woman ten feet out of his reach to ei- whom Dasce recently kidnaped ther side. Even with hands free and whose mind has suffered in Dasce would not work himself consequence. She shall use my loose. Gersen now cut the tapes cabin. I shall keep Dasce in the binding Dasce’s arms and legs. cargo hold. The other man, Dasce instantly struck out. Ger- Robin Rampold, will no doubt sen dodged aside and clubbed be happy for the use of a settee.” Dasce with the butt of his weap- “This voyage becomes stranger on. Dasce reeled over senseless. by the hour,” said Warweave. Gersen slipped off Dasc’s air- Detteras rose impatiently to suit, searched the pockets of the his feet. “Why do you bring this white pantaloons, finding noth- man Dasce aboard? I’m surprised ing. He made a final check of you haven’t killed him.” the bonds, then returned to the “Consider me squeamish.” main saloon, bolting the hatch Detteras gave a bark of sour behind him. laughter. “Let us proceed. We Rampold had divested himself are anxious to get this trip over of his air-suit and sat quietly as fast as possible.” in a corner. Detteras and Kelle Gersen sent Rampold into the had done the same for Pallis At- ship with Pallis Atwrode; then wrode, and had dressed her in with a winch, he slid the plat- spare clothing. Kelle cast a form with Dasce aboard, into the glance of disapprobation toward cargo hold, where he removed Gersen. “This is Miss Atwrode, Dasce’s head-globe. Dasce glared the receptionist at the depart- at him wordlessly. ment. What in the name of heav- “You may see someone aboard en is she doing out here?” you recognize,” said Gersen. “The answer is perfectly sim-

THE STAR KING 173 pie,” said Gersen. “I met her the Dasce, recovering consciousness, first day I visited the university swore a low vile mutter and test- and asked her out for the eve- ed his bonds with insensate fero- ning. For sheer malice, Hilde- city. He tore and twisted at the mar Dasce struck me down and clamps till the skin peeled from kidnaped her. I felt it was my his fingers; he plucked at the duty to rescue her.” metal strands in the cable till Kelle smiled thinly. “I suppose his fingernails broke. Then he we can’t fault you for this.” tried a new procedure. Thrust- Warweave spoke in the driest ing against the floor, lunging of voices: “Presumably we will from side to side, he tried to pull now make for our original des- the cable loose from where it was tination.” fastened at the walls : first to “Yes,” grumbled Detteras. the right, then to the left. He “The sooner we put a term to succeeded only in bruising his this fantastic voyage the better.” neck. Assured that he was in fact rT''he dark star and its feeble red helpless, though hands and feet -* companion became one with were free, he relaxed, panting. space. In the hold Hildemar His mind seethed with emotion. 174 GALAXY How had Gersen located the for corroboration, for some sign dark star? No one alive knew the to provide the absolute assur- location but himself . . . and ance he needed. Pallis Atwrode Grendel. Dasce reviewed the oc- sat quietly nearby, lost in re- casions on which he had circum- verie. From time to time her vented, cheated or failed Gren- face twitched, her fingers clench- del and wondered if one of these ed into her palms. occasions might not have come There would be no qualms to home to roost. the kiting of Hildemar Dasce. In the saloon Gersen sat Robin Rampold stood listless- brooding on a settee. The three ly at the microfilm library, look- men from the university — one ing at the index, stroking his of whom was not a man — stood long bony chin. He turned, together far forward. There was glanced toward Gersen, sidled Kelle: suave, fastidious, compact across the room wolfishly. In a in physique; Warweave: ecto- voice so polite as to seem servile morphic, saturnine; Detteras: he asked, “He — is he alive?” large-bodied, restless, moody. “For the moment.” Gersen eyed his suspect, probing Rampold hesitated, opened his every act, word and gesture his mouth, closed it again. Final-

THE STAR KING 175 ly he asked diffidently, “What Tears began to form in Ram- do you plan for him?” pold’s eyes. He spoke in a series “I don’t know,” said Gersen. of disjointed sentences. “It is “I want to make use of him.” strange. I feel grief now. What I feel for him I cannot put into D ampold became very earnest. words. It goes to an extreme and He spoke in a low voice, as beyond and becomes almost ten- if afraid that the other occu- derness. Substances can be so pants of the saloon would hear. sweet that they taste bitter, so

“Why not put him into my sour that they taste salt. . . Yes, charge? Then you would be re- I would care for him with great lieved of the effort of guarding pains. I would devote the rest of and tending him.” my life to him.” He held out his “No,” said Gersen, “I think hands. “Give him to me. I have not.” nothing, or I would repay you.” Rampold’s face became even Gersen could only shake his more haggard and desperate. heard. “We will talk of this “But — I must.” later.” “You must?” Rampold nodded heavily, re- Rampold nodded. “You can- turned across the room. Gersen not understand. For seventeen looked forward to where Detter- years he has been—” He could as, Kelle and Warweave contin- not find words. Finally he said, ued a desultory conversation. “He has been the center of my Apparently they were agreed on existence. He has been like a per- a policy of disinterest toward the sonal god. He has provided food new passengers. Gersen smiled and drink and pain. Once he grimly. He who was Grendel brought me a kitten — a beauti- would not care to confront Hil- ful black kitten. He watched as demar Dasce. Dasce’s tempera- I touched it, smiling as if be- ment was not a subtle one; he nign. That time I thwarted him. was as likely as not to blurt out I killed the little creature at some damaging disclosure. Gren- once, because I knew his plan. del would certainly try for a He wanted to wait until I came few quiet words of warning and to love it, then he would torture reassurance, or conceivably an it where I could watch. . . Of opportunity to discreetly mur- course he made me pay.” der Dasce. Gersen drew a deep breath. The situation was unstable; “He has too much power over sooner or later it was bound to you. I can’t trust you with him.” collapse into more truthful rela- 176 GALAXY tionships. Gersen toyed with the Gersen assured himself as to the idea of precipitating the col- clamps which constricted the lapse, but decided to bide his cable around Dasce’s neck, then time. moved back, out of Dasce’s reach He still carried his weapons. “It seems,” said Gersen, “that The three from the university, troubles are catching up with apparently assured of his good you.” intentions, had not required that Dasce spat at him. he restore them to the locker. “Fah! What more can you do Amazing, thought Gersen. Even to me? Do you think I fear now Grendel could have no death? I live only out of hate.” cause to suspect that Gersen “Rampold has asked that I stalked him. He would be less give you into his care.” wary than he might be, and using Dasce sneered. “He fears me the pretext of curiosity, might until he reeks and crawls. He is well seek to look in on Dasce. soft as honey. It was no longer Vigilance, thought Gersen. It gratifying to hurt him.” occurred to him that Robin “I wonder how long it will Rampold would be a useful ally take to make the same sort of in this situation. No matter man out of you.” what distortions and sublima- Dasce spat once more. Then tions seventeen years had pro- he said, “Tell me how you found duced, he would be no less alert my star.” than Gersen himself ... in any “I had information.” matters relating to Hildemar “From whom?” Dasce. “What difference does it make?” said Gersen. He thought ersen rose to his feet, went to insert an idea into Dasce’s aft, through the engine room, mind. “You’ll never have the into the cargo hold. Dasce, mak- opportunity of paying him off.” ing no pretense of stoic resigna- Dasce pulled back his mouth tion. glared at him. Gersen noted in a hideous grin. “Who is Dasce’s bleeding fingers. Putting aboard this ship?” his projac on a shelf to void the Gersen made no reply. Stand- possibility of Dasce wresting it ing back in the shadows, he away from him, he stepped close watched Dasce. He must suspect, to check Dasce’s bonds. Dasce to the point of certainty, that kicked savagely. Gersen hacked Grendel was aboard. Dasce could him behind the ear with the side be no less uncertain than Gren- of his hand, and Dasce fell back. del himself.

THE STAR KING 177 Gersen framed and discarded Gersen in suspicion and doubt. a half-dozen questions calcu- “Why should he do so?” he mut- lated to trick Grendel’s name tered. “I can’t understand any from Dasce. They were either of this.” too clumsy or too subtle; they Gersen had hoped to surprise would apprise Dasce that Ger- an exclamation from Dasce. He sen wanted information, and so asked, “Do you know whom I put him on his guard. refer to?” But Dasce only looked at him T^vasce tried to wheedle. “Come! blankly. Gersen picked up his As you say, I am helpless, at projac, left the hold. your mercy. I am interested in Returning to the saloon he learning who betrayed me.” found conditions as before. He “Who do you think it might signaled Robin Rampold back be?” into the engine room. “You Dasce grinned ingenuously. “I asked that Dasce might be put have a number of enemies. For into your charge.” instance, the Sarkoy. Was it he?” Rampold eyed him in tremu- “The Sarkoy is dead.” lous excitement. “Yes!” “Dead!” “I cannot do this, but I need “He helped you kidnap the your help in guarding him.” young woman. I poisoned him.” “Of course!” “Fah,” spat Dasce. “Women “Dasce is tricky. You must are everywhere. Why become ex- never enter the cargo hold.” cited? Release me. I have wealth Rampold winced in disa- and I will pay you half — if you pointment. tell me who betrayed me.” “Equally important, you must “It was not Suthiro the Sar- not allow anyone else near the koy.” cargo hold. These men are “Tristano? Surely not Tris- Dasce’s enemies. They might kill tano. How could he know?” him.” “When I met Tristano he had “No, no!” exclaimed Rampold. little to say.” “Dasce must not die!” “Who then?” Gersen had a new thought. Gersen said, “Very well, I’ll Grendel had ordained the death tell you; why not? An adminis- of Pallis Atwrode for fear that 'trator at the Sea Province Uni- unwittingly she might reveal his versity gave me the information.” identity. In her present state she Dasce rubbed his hand over posed no threat; nevertheless she his mouth, looked sidewise at might recover. Grendel might 178 GALAXY well wish to destroy her, if he But, REVERED, it is known could do so without risk. Gersen that other worlds demonstrate said, “Also, you must guard Pal- this fact of LIFE. I allude to lis Atwrode, and make sure that the jewels of Olam, as well as the no one disturbs her.” folk of the Chthonian Bog. Rampold was less interested. Witling, how have you glanced “I will do what you ask.” off the exact stroke of the ES- SENCE. XI REVERED, I crave your in- dulgence. From The Avatar's Appren- The way along the Parapet is tice, in Scroll from the not to the forward-footed. Ninth Dimension: REVERED GRAY, pray that Intelligence? asked Marma- my direction be defined. duke at one of the permitted in- Eight tones of the gong have tervals, as he attended the EMI- sounded. Be content for the NENCE upon the Parapet. What nonce, and fetch the morning is intelligence? wine. Why, responded the EMI- NENCE, it is no more than a rTphe filament from Lugo Tee- human occupation: an activity halt’s monitor fed impulses in- which men put their brains to, to the computer, which digested as a frog kicks his legs to swim; the information, combined it it is a standard which men in with the equations describing their egotism use to measure oth- the ship’s previous position and er and perhaps nobler races, who dispatched instructions to the are thereby dumbfounded. auto-pilot which swerved the Do you mean, REVERED ship off and away, on a course GRAY, that no living creature roughly parallel to the line be- other than man can share the tween Alphanor and Smade’s quality of intelligence? Planet. Time passed. Life within But ha! And why should I not the ship fell into a routine. Ger- ask, what is LIFE, what is LIV- sen, assisted by Robin Rampold, ING, but a disease of the primor- guarded the cargo hold, though dial slime, a purulence in the Gersen forbade Rampold entry original candid mud, which cul- into the hold itself. Hildemar minates through cycles and de- Dasce for the first few days grees, by distillations and sedi- evinced a brassy jocularity, al- ments, in the human manifesta- ternating with earnest threats of tion? vengeance at the hands of an

THE STAR KING 179 agent he refused to identify. ger; she slept hours on end, “Ask Rampold what he thinks,” curled into as tight a ball as said Dasce, leering from his possible. She spoke to no one, bright blue iidless eyes. “Do you and submitted without protest want this happening to you?” to the ministrations of Gersen “No,” said Gersen. “I don’t and Rampold. think it’s going to happen.” Occasionally Dasce demanded A /Tore time passed. The ship that Gersen answer his ques- traversed new regions, and tions. “Where are you taking regions after regions where no me?” he would ask. “Back to man had passed but one: Lugo Alphanor?” Teehalt. To all sides hung stars “No.” by the thousand and the mil- “Where then?” lion: streaming, swarming, flow- “You’ll see.” ing, glaring, glittering; shifting “Answer me, or by—” here silently one across the other, and Dasce swore obscene oaths — the other across another still — “I’ll do you worse than you’ve worlds of infinite variety, popu- ever imagined!” lated by who knows whom; each “It’s a chance we have to take,” drawing the eye, fixing the imag- said Gersen. ination, evoking wonder; each “ ‘We’?” asked Dasce softly. world an urge, a temptation, a “Who is ‘we’?” mystery; each a promise of un- “Don’t you know?” seen sights, unknown knowledge, “Why doesn’t he come in here? unsensed beauty. Tell him I want to talk to him.” Eventually a warm golden- “Any time he wants he can white star showed dead ahead. come in.” The monitor panel blinked al- At that Dasce fell silent. Goad, ternately green, red, green, red. prod, pry as he might, Gersen The auto-pilot choked down the never could induce Dasce to ut- energy output; the split began ter a name. Nor did any of the to collapse; the ship set up a three from the university show weird sub-sound as eddies and interest in Dasce. disturbances and back-drafts of As for Pallis Atwrode, her de- a substance which could only be tachment, if anything, became called space sucked at its fabric. more profound. For hours she The split collapsed with a would sit, looking out at the slight shock; the ship slid serene- passing stars. At times she ate, ly, like a boat drifting on a pond. slowly, hesitantly, without hun- The golden-white sun hung 180 GALAXY close at hand, controlling three make biometrics. In spite of its planets. One was orange, small appearance the world may be and near, a fuming cinder. An- completely unfriendly.” other swung in a far orbit, a Detteras said doubtfully, “It’s gloomy dismal world, the color rather awkward, with captives of tears. The third, sparkling and invalids and passengers. The green and blue and white, re- sooner back to Alphanor the volved close below the ship. better.” Gersen, Warweave, Detteras Kelle snapped in a voice as and Kelle, antagonisms tempo- sharp as any Gersen had heard rarily set aside, bent over the him use, “You talk like a jack- macroscope. The world was ass. All this way, merely to turn clearly beautiful, with a thick tail and run home? Obviously moist atmosphere, ample oceans, we must land, if only to walk a varied topography. out on the planet for five min- Gersen was the first to stand utes!” away from the screen. The time “Yes,” said Detteras glumly. had come to hone his vigilance “No doubt you’re right.” to its sharpest edge. Warweave “Very well,” said Warweave. stood back next. “I’m complete- “Down we go.” ly satisfied. The planet is non- pareil. Mr. Gersen has not de- ersen wordlessly swung the ceived us.” G auto-pilot toggle over into the Kelle looked at him in sur- landing program. The horizons prise. “You think it unnecessary extended, the landscape became to land?” distinct: green parkland, low “I do think it unnecessary, rolling hills, a chain of lakes to but I am willing to land.” He the north, a range of snow-clad moved across the cabin, stood crags to the south. The ship set- near the shelf to which was af- tled to the ground; the roar of fixed Suthiro’s switch. Gersen exhaled energy ceased. There tensed. Is it to be Warweave? was now solidity underfoot, utter But Warweave passed on. Ger- quiet except for the ticking of sen released his pent breath. Of the automatic environment an- course the time was not yet. To alyzer, which presently flashed profit from the gas, Grendel three green lights: the optimum must somehow protect himself verdict. from its influence. There was a short wait for Kelle said, “I certainly believe pressure equalization. Gersen that we should land, at least to and the three men from the uni-

THE STAR KING 181 versity donned exterior clothing, Across the meadow, on the far rubbed allergen-inhibitor on side of the river, Gersen saw face, hands and neck, adjusted what appeared to be a growth of inhalators against bacteria and flowering plants and knew them spores. to be the dryads. They stood at Pallis Atwrode looked from the edge of the forest, swaying on the observation ports in inno- supple gray limbs, their move- cent wonder. Robin Rampold ments easy and graceful. Magni- sidled uneasily along the back ficent creatures, thought Gersen, bulkhead like a lean old gray beyond a doubt — but somehow rat, making tentative motions, as they were a — well, a discordant if he wished to alight but did element. A perverse notion, but not dare leave the sure security there it was. On tl'eir own plan- of the saloon. et they seemed out of place! Air from outside flooded the Exotic elements in a scene as boat, smelling fresh, damp, xiear and beloved as — as what? clean. Gersen went to the port, Earth? swung it open, made a polite if Gersen felt no conscious emo- ironic gesture. “Gentlemen — tional attachment for Earth. your planet.” Still, the world most nearly like Warweave was the first to step this was Earth i— or, more ac- down to the ground, with Detter- curately, those occasional areas as close behind, then Kelle. Ger- of Earth which somehow had sen followed more slowly. evaded the artifices and modifi- The monitor had brought cations wrought by generations them to a spot hardly a hundred of man. This world was fresh, yards from Lugo Teehalt’s land- natural, unmodified. Except for ing. Gersen thought the land- the dryads — a jarring note — scape even more entrancing than this might 'be Old Earth, Earth the photographs had suggested. of the Golden Age, the Earth of The air was cool, scented with natural man. a vaguely herbacious freshness. Gersen felt a small exhilarat- Across the valley, beyond a stand ing shock of enlightenment. Here of tall dark trees, the hills rose, resided the basic charm of the massive yet gentle, marked by world: its near-identity to the outcrops of worn gray rock, the environment in which man had hollows holding copses of soft evolved. Old Earth must have foliage. Beyond rose a single known many such smiling val- great billowing cloud-castle, leys. The feel of such landscapes bright in the noon sunlight. permeated the entire fabric of

182 GALAXY the human psyche. Other worlds The dryads, gliding slowly on of the Oikumene might be pleas- supple legs, moved out of the ant and comfortable, but none shadows, toward the pool. Their were Old Earth; none of them fronds shone blue and magenta, were Home. copper-russet, gold-ocher. Intel- For a fact, mused Gersen, here ligent beings? is where I would like to build a Gersen turned once more to cottage, with an old-fashioned watch the three men. Kelle garden, an orchard in the mea- scowled faintly. Warweave in- dow, a rowboat tied to the river- spected the dryads with obvious bank. Dreams, idle yearning for admiration. Detteras suddenly

the unattainable. . . But dreams put his hands to his mouth and and yearning which necessarily shrilled an ear-piercing whistle, must affect every man. to which the dryads seemed ob- Gersen blinked at the impact livious. of a new thought. Suddenly at- There was a sound from the tentive, he watched the others. ship. Gersen turned to see Pallis Atwrode descending the ladder. 'y^T'arweave stood by the river- She raised her hands in the sun- bank frowning down into light, drew a deep breath. the water. Now he turned and “What a beautiful valley,” she shot a suspicious glance toward murmured. “Kirth, what a beau- Gersen. tiful valley.” She wandered slow- Kelle, beside a clump of ferns ly away, pausing now and then as high as his shoulder, looked to look around her in delight. first up to the head of the valley Gersen, on sudden thought, with its great white spire of turned and ran back up the lad- cumulus, then down toward the der into the ship. Rampold — far open parkland. The forest at where was Rampold? Gersen either side of the valley formed hastened back to the cargo hold. an aisle, continuing till it melted Rampold had already entered. and blurred into haze. Gersen advanced cautiously, lis- Detteras paced slowly along tened. the meadow, hands behind his Dasce’s voice came gruff, back. Now he bent, scooped up hoarse, full of a detestable exul- a handful of sod, worked it be- tation. “Rampold, do as I say. tween his fingers, let the soil you hear me?” sift and fall. He turned to stare “Yes, Hildemar.” at the dryads. Kelle did the “Go to the bulkhead. Unloose same. the cable. Hurry now!”

THE STAR KING 183 ”

Gersen moved to where he Dasce stared. “What orders?” could look unobserved into the “You fool,” said Gersen. “Can’t hold. Rampold stood not four you guess what’s happened? I’m feet from Dasce, staring down taking your old position.” One into the red face. side of the cable fell free. Ger- “Do you hear me? Hurry, or sen crossed the room. “Don’t I will cause you to bewail the move unless you want me to day you were born.” break your leg.” He unfastened Rampold laughed softly, quiet the other end of the cable. “Now ly. “Hildemar, I have asked stand up. Walk slowly forward Kirth Gersen for you. I told him and down the ladder. Don’t make I would cherish you like a son, I a single wrong move or I’ll shoot would feed you the most nutri- you.” tious foods, the most invigorat- Dasce rose slowly to his feet.

ing drink. . . I do not think he Gersen motioned with his projac. will give you to me, so I must “Move.” gulp down just a taste of the joy Dasce said, “Where are we?” I have promised myself for sev- “Never mind where we are. enteen years. I am now about to Move.” beat you to death. This is the Dasce slowly turned, and trail- first opportunity— ing the two long ends of the Gersen stepped forward. cable went forward — through “Sorry, Rampold, to interrupt.” the engine room, into the saloon, to the exit port. Here he hesi- D ampold uttered an inarticu- tated, looked back over his late cry of utter desolation, shoulder. “Keep going,” said Ger- turned and ran from the hold. sen. Gersen followed him. In the en- Dasce descended the ladder. gine room he made a careful ad- Gersen, following close, slipped justment of his projac, thrust it on the trailing cable. He jumped into a holster, returned to the to the ground and fell heavily, cargo hold. Dasce bared his teeth flat on his face. Dasce gave a like a wild animal. wild raucous cry of exultation,

. “Rampold has no patience.” leapt on him, seized the projac, He went to the bulkhead and sprang back. began to unfasten the cable. Gersen slowly rose to his feet, “What are you going to do?” backed away. Dasce demanded. “Stop there,” called Dasce, “The orders are that you shall “Oho, but I have you now.” He be executed.” glanced around. Fifty feet to one 184 GALAXY side stood Warweave and Det- a weak pale sizzle. It struck War- teras, and slightly behind them weave and knocked him to the Kelle. Pressed against the hull ground. Gersen charged Dasce. was Rampold. Dasce flourished Instead of fighting, Dasce hurled the projac. “All of you! Stand the weapon at Gersen’s head, together, while I decide what to turned and ran up the valley. do. Old Rampold, it’s time he Gersen picked up the projac, was dead. And Gersen, natural- snapped it open, inserted a fresh ly, in the belly.” He looked to power-pack. * where the three from the univer- sity stood. “And you—” he said TTe walked slowly forward to to one of the men — “you play- ^ where Warweave was picking ed me false.” himself up from the ground. Det- Gersen said, “You won’t do teras barked at Gersen, “You yourself much good, Dasce.” must be a moron allowing such “Oho, I won’t? I hold the a man to take your gun.” weapon. There’s three here who Kelle spoke in a puzzled voice, are going to die. You, old Ram- “But why shoot Gyle Warweave? pold, and Grendel.” Is he a maniac?” “There’s only a single charge Gersen said, “I suggest we go in the gun. You may get one of back into the ship, where Mr. us, but the others will get you.” Warweave can rest. There was Dasce turned a quick look at only a small charge in the gun, the charge indicator. He laugh- but no doubt it hurt.” ed harshly. “So be it. Who wants Detteras grunted, turned to- to die? Or rather, who do I want ward the ship. Kelle took War- to kill?” He looked from face weave’s arm; but Warweave to face. “Old Rampold, I’ve had shook him off and lurched up my pleasure from him. Gersen. the accommodation ladder, fol- Yes, I’d like to kill you — with lowed by Detteras and Kelle, a red-hot iron in your ear. And and finally Gersen. Grendel. You sly dog, you be- Gersen asked Warweave, “Are trayed me. What your game is you feeling better now?” I don’t know. Why you brought “Yes,” said Warweave in a me here I don’t know — but cold voice. “But I agree with you’re the one I’m going to kill.” Detteras. You displayed the ut- He raised the weapon, pointed, most folly.” squeezed the trigger. Energy “I’m not so sure as to that,” darted from the gun — but not said Gersen. “I carefully ar- the blazing blue bolt. It was only ranged the whole affair.”

THE STAR KING 185 Detteras gaped at him stupid- Warweave’s face twisted in a ly. “Purposely?” glacial smile. “You imply that “I shorted out the projac, I a good appearance guarantees arranged that Dasce could seize depravity of character?” it, I informed him that there was “No. I imply that Star Kings a single charge left — so that he seldom leave their planet unless could verify my own conviction they can compete successfully regarding the identity of Gren- against true men. Now, two oth- del.” er points. Kelle is married and “Grendel?” Kelle and Detter- has bred at least one daughter. as stared blankly at Gersen. Secondly, Kelle and Detteras Warweave watched him narrow- have legitimate careers at the eyed. university. You are Honorary “Grendel the Monster. I’ve Provost and I remember some- watched Mr. Warweave a long thing to the effect that a large time, suspecting that he should endowment brought you the more properly be known as job. Grendel.” “This is insanity,” declared “This is lunacy,” gasped Det- Detteras. “Warweave as Grendel teras. “Are you serious?” the Monster. And a Star King to “Certainly I’m serious. It had boot!” to be either you, Warweave or “It’s a fact,” said Gersen. Kelle. I picked Warweave.” “And what do you propose to “Indeed,” said Warweave. do?” “May I ask why?” “Kill him.”

“Of course. First of all I dis- missed Detteras. He is an ugly T'Vetteras stared, then lunged man. Star Kings are more care- forward, roaring in triumph ful with their physiognomy.” as he grappled Gersen, only to “Star Kings?” blurted Detter- grunt as Gersen twisted, swung as. “Who? Warweave? What an elbow and struck with the nonsense!” butt of the projac. Detteras reel- “Detteras likewise is a good ed back. eater, while Star Kings eat hu- “I want the cooperation of you man food with disgust. As for and Mr. Kelle,” said Gersen. Mr. Kelle, I also thought him an “Cooperate with a lunatic? unlikely candidate. He is short Never!” and round — again not the phys- “Warweave is frequently ab- iognomy characteristic of a Star sent from the university for long King.” periods. Am I right? And one 186 GALAXY . of these periods was only recent- at them, Kelle scowled, for we ly. Right?” men don’t want fantastic crea-

Detteras set his jaw. “I’ll say tures on a world so dear to us. . nothing about that.” But all this is theorizing. After “This is true enough,” said I managed to capture Hildemar Kelle uneasily. He glanced side- Dasce I went to great lengths to wise at Warweave, then back to convince him that Grendel was Gersen. “I assume you have his betrayer. When I gave him strong reasons for your accusa- the chance he identified War- tion.” weave — with the projac.” “Certainly.” Warweave shook his head pity- “I’d like to hear some of these ingly. “I deny all your allega- reasons.” tions.” He looked to Kelle. “Do “They make a long story. It’s you believe me?” . enough to say that I tracked Kelle pursed his lips. “Con-

Grendel to the Sea Province found it, Gyle, I’ve come to re- University and narrowed the gard Gersen as a competent man. possibilities to you three. I sus- I don’t believe him to be either pected Warweave almost from irresponsible or a lunatic.” the first, but I never was certain Warweave turned to Detteras. until the three of you stepped “Rundle — what of you?” out on this planet.” Detteras rolled up his eyes. “I “This is sheer farce,” sighed am a rational man. I can’t have Warweave wearily. blind faith — in you, in Gersen “This planet is like Earth — or anyone else. Gersen has made an Earth that no man alive has a case. Astonishing as it is, facts ever known; an Earth which seem to bear him out. Can you hasn’t existed for ten thousand demonstrate to the contrary?” years. Kelle and Detteras were Warweave considered. “I be- entranced. Kelle drank in the lieve so.” He strolled to the shelf view, Detteras reverently felt the below which Suthiro had install- soil. Warweave went to look in- ed the switch. The inhalator he to the water: and Star Kings had worn outside dangled from evolved from amphibious lizards his hand. “Yes,” said Warweave, who lived in wet holes. The “I believe I can make a con- dryads appeared. Warweave ad- vincing case for myself.” He mired them, seemed to consider pressed the inhalator to his face, them ornamental. To Kelle and touched the switch. At once the Detteras—and to myself—they air pollution alarm sounded: a are intruders. Detteras whistled racuous loud clanging.

THE STAR KING 187 CCTf you turn back the switch,” your encounter with Lugo Tee- Gersen called out, “the noise halt you have sought Grendel. will stop.” Why?” Warweave numbly reached be- “Grendel is one of the Demon low the shelf and reversed the Princes. I plan to kill them.” switch. Warweave thought a moment. Gersen turned to Kelle and “You are an ambitious man,” he Detteras. “Warweave is as sur- said in a neutral voice. “There prised as you. He thought that are not many like you.” the switch controlled the gas “There were not many survi- reservoirs which you will find vors of the raid on Mount Pleas- under the settees, hence his use ant. My grandfather was one. I of the inhalator. I emptied the was another.” tanks and changed the leads to “Indeed,” said Warweave. connect the switch to an alarm.” “The Mount Pleasant raid. So Kelle looked under the settee, long ago.” brought forth the canister. He “This is a peculiar voyage,” looked at Warweave. “Well, said Kelle, whose attitude had Gyle?” become one of wry detachment. Warweave tossed aside the in- “At least we have achieved our halator, turned his back in dis- purpose. The planet exists. It is gust. as Mr. Gersen described it, and Detteras suddenly roared. the money in escrow becomes his “Warweave! Let’s have the property.” truth!” “Not until we return to Al- Warweave spoke over his phanor,” growled Detteras. shoulder. “You’ve heard the Gersen spoke to Warweave. truth, from Gersen.” “You have taken great pains to “You are Grendel?” said Det- secure this world for yourself. I teras in a hushed voice. wonder why.” “Yes.” Warweave wheeled Warweave shrugged noncom- about, drew himself up to his mittally. full height. His black eyes glared “A man might want to live back and forth. “And I am a Star here, or build himself a palace,” King, superior to men!” suggested. Gersen. “A Star King “A man has defeated you,” wants none of these things.” said Kelle. Warweave said presently, Warweave’s eyes burnt even “You make a common mistake. brighter. He turned to consider Men are after all quite parochial. Gersen. “I am curious. Ever since You forget that individual dif-

188 GALAXY ” erences exist among folk other ing Gersen’s attempt to use his than yourselves. Some perhaps projac. Warweave turned, lashed are denied the freedom of their out with his foot, kicked Detter- own worlds. They become ‘rene- as in the stomach, jumped to gade’: neither man nor their own the ground and ran off down kind. The folk of Ghnarumen— the slope. he easily used the name which Gersen stepped to the exit sounded like a cough — are port. He sent a bolt of energy quite as orderly as the most law- unsuccessfully after the bound- abiding folk of the Oikumene. ing figure, descended the ladder In short, the career of Grendel and gave chase. is not one which the folk of Warweave reached the mea- Ghnarumen would care to emu- dow. He hesitated at the edge late. They may be right, they of the river, looked back at Ger- may be wrong. It is my~preroga- sen, continued down the valley. tive to organize my own style of Gersen kept to the upper slopes life. As you know, the Star Kings where the ground was hard, and are strongly competitive. This began to gain on Warweave, who world, to men, is beautiful. I find had come to a marshy area. War- it pleasant enough. I plan to weave once more went to the bring here folk of my race, to river-bank and hesitated. If he nurture them on a world more plunged in, before he gained the beautiful than Earth, to father a opposite shore Gersen would be world and a people, superior to upon him. He looked back over both men and the people of his shoulder. Ghnarumen. This was my hope, His face was no longer that of which you will not understand, a man; Gersen wondered how for there can be no such under- he could have been fooled, even standing between your race and for an instant. Warweave turned, mine.” uttered a cry in a slurred gut- tural language, went to his knees T'Vetteras said between clench- and disappeared. ed teeth. “But you took Gersen, reaching the spot, advantage of our liberality to found a hole in the river-bank dishonor us. If Gersen doesn’t almost two feet across. He bent kill you, I will.” to peer in, but saw nothing. Det- “Neither of you will kill Gren- teras and Kelle ran up, panting. del the Star King.” Two steps “Where is he?” took him to the exit port. Det- Gersen pointed to the burrow. teras lunged after him, frustrat- “According to Lugo Teehalt,

THE STAR KING 189 large white grubs live under the sen approached. She came over marsh.” to him, took his arm, smiled up “Hmf,” said Detteras. “His an- into his face. “Kirth, I like it cestors evolved in the swamps here, don’t you?” in just such holes. He probably “Yes, Pallis, very much.” couldn’t want a better haven.” “Imagine!” said Pallis. “A Kelle said dubiously, “He’ll pretty house up there on the hill, have to come out — to eat.” like old Sir Morton Hodenfroe’s “I’m not so sure. The Star house on Blackstone Edge. Kings dislike human food. Men Wouldn’t that be nice, Kirth? I .” find the Star King diet equally wonder. I wonder. . repellent. We cultivate plants “First we must return to Al- and domesticate animals; they phanor, Pallis. Then we’ll talk do similarly for worms and in- about coming back.” sects, such things as that. War- “Very well, Kirth. . . Do you weave should do quite well on know, I’ve had the most horrible what he finds underground.” dream.” She sobbed, clutched at Gersen looked up the valley him. He put his arms around where Hildemar Dasce had fled. her, patted her head and shoul- “I’ve lost them both. I was will- ders. ing to sacrifice Dasce to get Detteras said gruffly, “Well, .” Grendel — but both. . Gersen, you’ve made use of Kelle The three stood on the river- and myself in a most cavalier bank. A breeze rippled the sur- fashion. I can’t say that I enjoy face of the water, moved the it,' but I can’t bring myself to branchs of the great dark trees resent it either.” which grew at the base of the Robin Rampold approached hills. A tribe of dryads wander- slowly, keeping to the shadow of ing along the opposite shore the ship. “Hildemar ran away,” turned their purple-green eye- he said mournfully. “Now he smudges on the men. will make over the mountains to Gersen said, “Perhaps it’s just town and I will never seen him as bad, leaving them together on again.” this planet, as killing them.” “He can make over the moun- “Worse,” said Detteras devout- tains,” said Gersen, “but he won’t ly. “Worse by far.” find any towns.” “I have been watching up Hphey returned slowly to the along the hillside, and through -* ship. Pallis Atwrode, sitting on the forest,” said Rampold. “I the turf, rose to her feet as Ger- think he is somewhere nearby.”

190 GALAXY “Very likely,” said Gersen. “Just as well.” “It is distressing,” said Ram- “Look, Kirth, what are those pold. “It is enough to sadden a beautiful creatures?” man.” “Dryads.” Gersen laughed. “You would “What are they doing?” prefer to be back in the cage?” “I don’t know. Looking for “No, of course not. But then I something to eat, I suppose. Lugo had my dreams of what I would Teehalt says they suck up nour- do when I won free. Seventeen ishment from big grubs which years of hopes and dreams! But burrow under the meadow. Or now I am free and Hildemar is perhaps they lay eggs in the beyond my reach.” He moved soil.” disconsolately away. The dryads, wandering up the After a pause Kelle said, “As shore, flourished their gorgeous a scientist I find this planet a fronds, swaying slowly like place of fascination. As a man branches in the wind. On the I find it entrancing. As Kagge swamp they moved more slowly, Kelle, erstwhile colleague of a step at a time. One of them Gyle Warweave — I find it ex- stopped, stood stock-still. Under tremely depressing. I am pre- its foot showed a glint of white, pared to leave at any time.” as the concealed proboscis “Yes,” said Detteras in a gruff plunged down into the soft voice. “Why not?” ground. A few seconds passed.

Gersen looked up the valley to The ground heaved, erupted : the where Hildemar Dasce, wearing dryad toppled over backward. only soiled white pantaloons, Up from a crater staggered lurked in the forest like a raging Warweave, the proboscis still desperate beast. He looked down thrust through his back. His face the valley, far down over the was stained with dirt, his eyes hazy plain, then back to the started from his head; from his swampy meadow, under which mouth issued a series of appall- crawled Grendel the Monster. He ing cries. He shook himself, fell looked down into the face of to his knees, rolled over, disen- Pallis Atwrode. She was watch- gaged himself from the flutter- ing him. “Was it real, Kirth? ing dryad, jumped erect, ran What happened?” crazily up the hillside. His steps “Yes. But it’s all over.” flagged. .” “I’ve been. . She hesitated, He fell to his knees, clutched frowned. “I don’t remember too at the ground, kicked and lay much.” still.

THE STAR KING 191 yle Warweave was buried on Alphanor. Hildemar Dasce will G the hillside. The group re- take senseless but terrible ven- turned to the ship. Robin Ram- geance on you.” pold now diffidently approach- Robin Rampold said, “It is a ed Gersen. “I have made up my chance I must take.” mind to stay here.” “As you wish.” In one part of his brain Ger- The ship lifted from the mea- sen was shocked and astonished. dow, leaving Rampold standing In another part there was only beside his meager stack of sup- confirmation of a previous ex- plies. pectation. “So,” said Gersen The horizons spread out. The heavily, “you expect to live on planet became a green and blue this planet with Hildemar ball and fell astern. Gersen turn- Dasce.” ed to Kelle and Detteras. “Well, “Yes.” gentlemen, you have visited Tee- “Do you know what will hap- halt’s planet.” pen? He will make you his slave. “Yes,” said Kelle tonelessly. Or he will kill you for the food “By a roundabout method you which I shall be bound to leave have fulfilled the terms of your you.” agreement with us, the money Rarnpold’s face was bleak and is yours.” drawn. “It may be as you say. Gersen shook his head. “I But I cannot leave Hildemar don’t want the money. I suggest Dasce.” that we keep the existence of “Think,” said Gersen. “You this planet secret, to preserve it will be here alone. He will be from what could only be dese- more savage than ever before.” cration.” “I hope that you will leave “Very well,” said Kelle. “I’m me certain articles. A weapon, a agreed.” shovel, a few tools to build a “I agree,” said Detteras, “pro- shelter, some food.” vided that I may return another “And what will you do when time, under more relaxing condi- the food runs out?” tions.” “I will look for natural food. “This is what I wish to do my- Seeds, fish, nuts, roots. These self,” said Gersen. may be poisonous, but I will test “Can we build a house, them carefully. And what else Kirth?” asked Pallis Atwrode. is left for me?” “A pretty little house with steep Gersen shook his head. “Far gables?” better that you return with us to “If you like.” 192 GALAXY \ year later Kirth Gersen re- little pen I built for him. With turned alone to Teehalt’s your permission, I will not take planet in his old Model 9B space- you to see him, as the pen is in boat. a private spot, well hidden from Hanging in space he examined any who might visit the planet.” the valley by macroscope, but “I see,” said Gersen. “You de- discovered no signs of life. There feated Dasce then.” was now a projac on the planet “Of course. Did you ever doubt and it might well be in the hands it? I have much more resource of Hildemar Dasce. He waited than Dasce. I dug a pit during till nightfall and landed the boat the night, built a deadfall. In the on a shelf in the mountains morning Hildemar Dasce swag- above the river valley. gered forth, hoping to confiscate

The long quiet night came to my stores. He fell into it, and an end. At dawn Gersen started I took him captive. Already he down the valley, keeping always has become a changed man.” He to the shelter of the trees. looked closely into Gersen’s face. From far off he heard the “You do not approve?” sound of an axe. With great care Gersen shrugged. “I came to he approached the sound. take you back to the Oikumene.” On the edge of the forest Robin “No,” said Rampold. “Never Rampold chopped at a fallen fear for me. I will live out my tree. Gersen stealthily moved days here, with Hildemar Dasce. closer. Rampold’s face had filled It is a beautiful planet. I have out. He looked bronzed and found sufficient food to main- strong and fit. Gersen called his tain us, and daily I demonstrate name. Rampold looked up, star- to Hildemar Dasce the tricks and tled, searching the dark shadows. conceits he taught me long ago.” “Who is there?” They wandered down the val- “Kirth Gersen.” ley to the previous landing place. “Come forth, come forth. No “The life-cycle here is strange,” need to steal up so furtively.” said Rampold. “Each form Gersen moved to the edge of changes into another, endlessly. the forest, looked carefully all Only the trees are permanent.” around. “I feared I might find “So I learned from the man Hildemar Dasce.” who first found the planet.” “Ah,” said Rampold. “No need “Come, I’ll show you War- to worry about Hildemar.” weave’s grave.” Rampold led the “He is dead?” way up the slope, to a copse of “No. He is quite alive, in a slender white-timbered trees. To

THE STAR KING 193 the side grew a seedling, rather bid you farewell now.” He bow- different from the rest. The ed and departed, crossing the trunk was veined with purple, valley and disappearing into the the leaves were dark-green and forest. leathery. Rampold pointed. Gersen once more looked up “There rests Gyle Warweave.” and down the valley. The world Gersen looked a moment, then was no longer innocent; it had turned away. He gazed up and known evil. A sense of tarnish down the valley. It was as beau- lay across the panorama. Gersen tiful and placid and quiet as be- sighed, turned and stood looking fore. “Well, then,” said Gersen. down at what had become Gyle “I will once more depart. I may Warweave’s grave. never return. Are you sure you He bent, seized the seedling, wish to stay?” pulled it from the soil, broke

“Absolutely.” Rampold looked it, cast it aside. Then he turned up at the sun. “But I am late. and walked up the valley toward Hildemar will be expecting me. his space-boat. A pity to disappoint him. I will —JACK VANCE FORECAST

The first step in writing a science-fiction story is to guess what major developments in science may change the shape of tomorrow. How- ever, we ask more from our writers than that. We ask them not merely to suggest what specific inventions or discoveries the future may hold, but to tell us what's going to follow from them. We ask them, in short, to do

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it is, in short, a typical Cordwainer Smith story, and we recommend it.

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