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J .* HI S&H by PHILIP K. DICK

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SPRAGUE de CAMP RICHARD WILSON , / RANDALL GAlRRETT... WAItCA.CE WEST TOMORROW'S INTERPLANETARY TRAVELLER—SPACE TRANSFER

Careful computations must be made, lest our spaeeshipless voyager materializes in the depths of space, or miles above the planet, or beneath the surface. For fuller details, see "'File Spaceman’s Van Gogh,” by Clifford D. Simak, in the March, 1956 issue of Science Fiction Stories.

It was a rational ivorld, a world without war, a world ruled by the logic of Vulcan III, the great- est of computers. But hatred and rebellion was strange reason, no direc- there , too; and for some tives seemed to be coming forth as to what could be done about the Healers.

NOVEL VULCAN'S HAMMER

by Philip K. Dick

illustrated by Kelly Freas

ITT was conscious of the aproned grocer. The usual — mob as soon as he left the lower middle-class; always the P Unity office and started same. across the street. He stopped at Pitt slid into his car and snap- the corner by his car and lit a ped on the dashboard mike. cigaret. Unlocking the car, he "Emergency.” They were moving studied the mob, holding his fast, now, filling up the street briefcase tightly. and surging silently toward him. There were fifty or sixty of They had, no doubt, identified them: People of the town; work- him by his T-class clothes — ers and small businessmen; petty white shirt and tie, gray suit, felt clerks with steel-rimmed glasses. hat. Briefcase. The shine of his Mechanics and truckdrivers; black shoes. The pencil beam farmers; housewives; a white- gleaming in the breast pocket of

4

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6 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION his coat. He unclipped the gold going to need help. They mean tube and held it ready. business.” " “Cartwright,” the dashboard 1 here’s a crew already on the speaker said. w'ay. Try to get a better scan of

"This is Pitt.” him. We didn’t get it well.” “Where are you?” "Still in Cedar Groves. There’s ITT GRINNED bleakly. One of a mob forming all around me. P the back windows had crack- I suppose they have the roads ed; hands groped blindly into the blocked. Looks like the whole car. "I’ve got to get out of here, damn town.” Cartwright.” “Any Healers?” “Don’t get panicky." "Keep the old brain down?” ff to one side, on the curb, Pitt released the brake. The car O stood an old man with a moved forward a few feet — and massive head and short-cropped stopped dead. The motor died hair. Standing quietly in his drab into silence. Cold fear slid brown robe, a knotted rope through Pitt’s stomach. He fin- around his waist, sandals on his gered his pencil beam nervously. feet. “One,” Pitt said. Four or five men were astride "Try to get a scan for Vulcan the hood, cutting off his view; HI.” others were on the cabin above "I’ll try.” The mob was all his head. A sudden shuddering around the car, now. Pitt could roar: They were cutting through hear their hands, plucking and the roof with a heat drill.

feeling at the car, exploring it “How long?” Pitt muttered carefully — with calm efficiency. thickly. "I’m stalled.” He leaned back and double- "They’ll be along any min- locked the doors. The windows ute.” were rolled up; the hood was "They better hurry,” The car down tight. He snapped on the shuddered as a whole barrage of motor. On the curb, the man in rocks hit. The car tipped omi-

brown had not moved. He stood nously; they were lifting it up with a few others, people in or- on one side, trying to overturn

dinary street clothing. Pitt pulled it. Both back windows were out. the scanner out and lifted it up. A man’s hand reached for the A rock hit the side of the car door release. below the window; the car shud- Pitt burned the hand to ash dered. A second rock hit directly with his pencil beam. The stump against the window, sending a hastily withdrew. "I got one.”

web of cracks rippling across it. "If you could scan some of Pitt dropped the scanner. "I’m them for us — VULCAN'S HAMMER 7

More hands appeared. The Off down the highway the interior of the car was swelter- sirens of the police crew shrieked ing; the heat drill was almost mournfully. through. "I hate to do this.” Pitt turned his pencil beam on illiam Barris examined his briefcase until there was W the photo carefully. On his nothing left. Hastily, he dis- desk his coffee cooled into mud- solved the contents of his pock- dy scum, forgotten among his ets, everything in the glove com- papers. The Unity building rang partment, his identification pa- and vibrated with the sounds of pers, and finally he burned his endless calculators, statistics ma- wallet. chines, vidphones, teletypes, elec- "Here they come,” he said tric typewriters, and filing equip- softly, as the whole side of the ment. Clerks and officials moved cabin crumpled with a hoarse expertly back and forth in the groan and slid aside under the labyrinth of offices, the countless pressure of the drill. cells in which T-class men "Try to hang on, Pitt. The worked.

crew should be there almost "This face is unusual,” Barris

any . . murmured; "look at his eyes, and the heavy ridge over the brows.” bruptly the speaker went "Phrenology,” Cartwright said A dead. Faces mooned up be- indifferently. fore him. Hard faces, like stone, Barris threw down the photo. pushing around him. Growing. "No wonder they get so many Pale white mushrooms on all followers. With organizers like sides. Pitt shoved down a scream. that — ” He handed the photo He turned the pencil beam at back to Cartwright. "What's his random, burning faces and name?” hands; the air reeked with acrid "Father Fields.” Cartwright

fumes. thumbed through his file. "Fifty- Hands caught him, throwing nine years old. Trade: electrician. him back against the seat. His Top-grade turret wiring expert. coat ripped, tie pulled off. He One of the best during the War. screamed. A rock crashed into Born in Macon, Georgia, 1970. his face; the pencil fell to the Joined the Healers two years ago floor. A broken bottle cut across — at the beginning. One of the his eyes and mouth. His scream founders. Spent two months on bubbled into choked silence. The the Atlanta Psychological Correc- bodies scrambled over him. He tion Labs. Escaped, disappeared sank down, lost in the clutching — Without treatment.” Cart- mass of warm-smelling humanity. wright returned the photo to the 8 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION file. "First time we've heard any- destroy society and wreck civili- ” thing about him since then.” zation. "Did you know Pitt?” "What are they really after?” "A little.” Cartwright got to "They want to smash Vulcan his feet. "The call is out for III; they want to strew its parts

Father Fields; it’s been out for over the whole countryside. All months.” this today, Pitt’s death, the rest "Too bad the police showed up late. Always a few minutes late.” Barris studied Cartwright. "Pitt burned his papers?” “Odd, isn’t it?” "I suppose. We found noth- Cartwright shrugged. "When ing, no remains of him or any a whole town’s organized against of his equipment.”

you, it isn’t. They blocked the roads, cut wires and cables, he door closed. Barris click- jammed the vidphone channels.” T ed on his closed-circuit vid- "If you get Father Fields send sender. The local Unity monitor

him in to me. I want to examine appeared. "Give me Unity Con- him personally.” trol at Geneva.” Fie stirred his coffee absently. ARTWRIGHT SMILED thinly. Father Fields. The heavy face. C "Sure. But I doubt if we’ll Thick eyebrows. A man who had get him.” He yawned and moved once wired up electrical circuits tov/ard the door. "It’s unlikely; in T-class installations. He might he's a slick one.” have seen him, even employed "What do you know about him. And if not Fields, then this?” Barris demanded. others of the Movement. Me- Cartwright laughed. "Don’t chanics, plumbers, carpenters, butlers, waiters. Any of the drab ask me, ask Vulcan 111 ; that’s what it’s for.” army of lower-class people who Barris’ eyes flickered. "You came and went, unnoticed and know Vulcan 111 has given invisible. no statement in over fifteen The vidphone clicked. "Unity months.” Control,” "Maybe it doesn’t know.” "This is North American Cartwright opened the door to Director Barris. I wish to put the hall; his police bodyguard through an Emergency request swarmed around him. "I can tell to Vulcan III.” you one thing. The Healers are "Any first-order data to offer?” after one thing and one thing "Nothing not already filed.” only; everything else is talk — all "Then you’ll have to put tills stuff about their wanting to through your request in the usual way.” The Geneva monitor con- pot refilled it quickly with fresh suited a sheet. "The delay period coffee. Didn’t Vulcan 111 give a

is now three days.” damn? Maybe it wasn’t concern- "What's Vulcan 111 doing? ed with the Movement, the Working out chess openings?” world-wide revolution out — as "I’m sorry, Mr. Barris. The Cartwright said -— to smash its time lag can’t be cut even for metal hide and strew its relays Director level personnel.” and memory tubes and wiring "Let me talk to Jason Dill, for the crows to pick over.

then.” But it wasn't Vulcan. Ill, of

"Managing Director Dill is in course; it was the organization, conference. He can’t be dis- the Unity system — the endless turbed.” officials and managers, clerks and experts and statisticians and arris cut the circuit savage- Directors. And Jason Dill. Was B ly; the screen died. Three Dill deliberately isolating the days! The eternal bureaucracy of other Directors, cutting them off the monster-organization. Barris from Vulcan III? Maybe Vulcan sipped some cold coffee and then III had responded and the in- angrily poured the cup out. The formation had been withheld.

9 10 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION year 1992 Barris selected a request form does the Agnes and wrote out his questions slow- V V bring to mind? the ly, studying each word. The form Parker asked, looking around gave him space for ten questions; classroom brightly. lie asked only two. "The year 1992 brings to a) ARE THE HEALERS OF mind the conclusion of the First REAL SIGNIFICANCE? Atomic War and the beginning b) WHY DON’T YOU RE- of the decade of international SPOND TO THEIR EXIST- regulation,” said Peter Thomas. ENCE? "Unity came into being,” Pa- Barris pushed the form into tricia Edwards added. "Rational the relay slot and listened as the world order.” scanner clicked over its surface. Mrs. Parker made a note on Thousands of miles away, his her chart. "Correct. And now questions joined the vast tide, perhaps someone can tell me flowing in from all over the about the Lisbon Laws of 1993.” world, from the Unity offices in The classroom was silent. A every country. Twenty-three few pupils shuffled in their seats; Directorates — divisions of the outside, warm June air beat planet. Each with its Director against the window. A fat robin and staff and Sub-directorate hopped down from a branch and Unity offices. The world-wide stood listening for worms. The control organization that oper- trees rustled lazily. ated the planet, the vast hierarchy "That’s when Vulcan III was that culminated in the twenty- made,” Hans Stein said. three Directors and at the peak — Vulcan III. rs. Parker smiled. "Vulcan In three days, Barris’ turn M III •was made long before would come and answers would that; Vulcan III was made during flow back. His questions, process- the War. Vulcan I in I960. Vul- ed by the elaborate bureaucratic can II in 1975. They had com- structure, would eventually, be puters even before the War, in answered. As with everyone else the middle of the century. The in T-clas$, he submitted all prob- Vulcan series was developed by lems of importance to the huge Otto Jordan, who worked with mechanical computer buried Nathaniel Greenstreet for West- somewhere in the subsurface inghouse, during the early days fortress near Switzerland. of the War ...” He had no other choice. All Mrs. Parker’s voice trailed off policy level matters were deter- into a yawn. She pulled herself mined by Vulcan III; that was together with an effort; this was the law. no time to be dozing. Managing ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 11

Director Jason Dill and his staff oped by Britain and the United were supposed to be in the school States, and hitherto used in a somewhere, reviewing education- purely advisory capacity, would

al ideology. Vulcan III was ru- now be given absolute power mored to have made inquiries over the national governments concerning the various value in the determination of top-level biases the school systems had policy. This decision to transfer formulated in their basic orienta- ultimate authority from the tion programs. thalamic-distorted minds of hu- "What," Mrs. Parker repeated, mans to the totally rational "were the Lisbon Laws of 1993? and realistically-oriented mind Doesn’t anybody know?” of a computer, totally free of For a moment there was no bias — response. The rows of faces were But at that moment Managing blank. Then, abruptly, incredibly Director Jason Dill entered the — "The Lisbon Laws dethroned classroom, and Mrs. Parker God,” a piping child’s voice lapsed into respectful silence. came, from the back of the class- Jason Dill was an energetic room. A girl’s calm voice, severe middle-aged man with a shrewd and penetrating. face, twinkling eyes, and a genial Mrs. Parker awoke from her smile of confidence. His staff torpor. She blinked in amaze- entered with him, three men and ment. "Who said that?” she de- two women, all in the business- manded. The class buzzed. Heads like T-class gray. The children turned questioningly toward the gazed up in wonder, everything back. "Who was that?” else forgotten. "It was Jeannie Baker!” a boy "This is Managing Director hollered. Dill,” Mrs. Parker said, "the Co- "It was not! It was Dorothy!” ordinating Director of the Unity system.” Her voice broke with rs. Parker got quickly to awe. "Managing Director Dill is M her feet. "The Li bon Laws responsible only to Vulcan 111. of 1993,” she said sharply, "were No human being except Director the most important legislation of Dill is permitted to approach the the past five hundred years.” She computer banks.” spoke nervously, rapidly; gradu- ally the class turned toward her. irector Dill nodded geni- "All seventy nations of the world D ally at Mrs. Parker and at sent representatives to Lisbon. the class. "What are you children The world-wide Unity organiza- studying?” he asked, in a friend- tion formally agreed that the ly voice, the rich voice of a com- great computer machines devel- petent leader of the T-class. 12 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

The children shuffled shyly, irector Dill’s fixed smile "History,” a boy said. D remained. Slowly, he turned "History? Modern or com- away from the door, back toward parative?” the class. His bright, shrewd eyes "Modern.” roved about the room, seeking to "What did you learn today?” pinpoint the questioner. "Who "We learned about the Lisbon asked that?" he inquired pleas- Laws,” a voice said. antly. "That’s nice,” Director Dill Silence. affirmed heartily, his alert eyes Director Dill moved about the twinkling. He nodded to his staff room, walking slowly, his hands .and they moved back toward the in his pockets. He rubbed his door. "You children be good stu- chin, plucking at it absently. No dents and do what your teacher one moved or spoke; Mrs. Parker tells you.” and the Unity staff stood frozen "Mr, Dill,” a girl’s voice in horrified immobility. Even the came. "Can I ask you some- children were hushed. Something thing?” was happening, something was The room became abruptly going on, strange and terrible. silent. Mrs. Parker was chilled. A cold wind, alien and ominous, The voice. The girl again. Who blowing around them from the was it? Which one? She strained icy outside. to see, her heart thumping in But Director Dill was un- terror. Good Lord, was the little shaken. He stopped in front of devil going to say something in the blackboard. Experimentally,

front of Director Dill? he raised his hand and moved it "Certainly,” Dill said, halting in a figure. White lines traced briefly at the door. "What do themselves on the dark surface. you want to ask?” He glanced at He made a few thoughtful mo- his wristwatch, smiling rather tions and the date 1992 traced fixedly. itself.

"Director Dill is in a hurry,” "The end <3f the War,” he Mrs. Parker managed to say. "He stated. has so much to do, so many tasks; I think v/e had better let him go, e traced 1993 for the hush- ?” don’t yoi H ed class. "The Lisbon Laws, But the firm little child’s voice which you’re learning altout. The continued, as inflexible as steel. year the combined nations of the "Director Dill, don’t you feel world decided to throw in their ashamed of yourself when you lot together. To subordinate let" a machine tell you what to themselves, their national inter- do?” ests, to a common supranational ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 13

authority, for the good of all gain the thin child’s voice mankind,” A cut through Dill’s confident Director Dill moved away tones. "Mr. Dill, do you really

from the blackboard, gazing believe that a machine is better thoughtfully down at the floor. than a man? That man can’t "The War had just ended; most manage his own world?’’ of the planet was in ruins. Some- Jason Dill’s cheeks glowed. thing drastic had to be done, He gaped in anger and baffled because another war would de- amazement, his careful speech stroy mankind. Something, some deflated like a toy balloon. "Who ultimate principle of organiza- are you?” he demanded hoarsely. tion, was needed. International "What’s your name?” He point- control. Law, which no men or ed at the class, down the center, nations could break. Guardians at a small red-haired girl sitting were needed. quietly in the back. "You there! "But who would watch the What’s your name?” Guardians? How could we be The girl gazed calmly back at sure this supranational body him, her small hands folded to- would be free of the hate and gether on her desk. "Marion bias, the animal passions that had Fields,” she said clearly. “And set man against man, throughout you haven’t answered my ques- the centuries? Wouldn't this tion.” body, like all other man-made bodies, fall heir to the same vices, II the same failings of interest over reason, emotion over logic? he Unity Control build- "There was one answer: For ing filled virtually the years we had been using com- T whole business area of puters, giant machines construct- Geneva, a great imposing square ed by hundreds of trained ex- of white concrete and steel. Its perts, built to exact standards. endless rows of windows glitter- Machines were free of the poi- ed in the late afternoon sun; soning bias of self-interest and lawns and shrubs surrounded the feeling that gnawed at man — structure on all sides; gray-clad Capable of performing the ob- men and women hurried up the jective calculations that for man wide marble steps and through would remain only an ideal, the doors. The hum of calcu- never a reality. If nations would lating and filing machinery could be willing to give up their sover- be heard always, a controlled eignty, to subordinate their pow- sound, pleasant and efficient, like er to the objective, impartial di- the gentle murmur of a great rectives of tire — hive of bees. 14 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

Jason Dill’s car pulled up at the guarded Directors’ entrance. He stepped quickly out and held the door open. "Come along,’’ he ordered, Marion Fields slid slowly from the car onto the pavement. "Why?" Dill led her quickly up the steps and into the great building. The long echoing hall stretched out ahead of them, lit by recessed lights. Distant figures, tiny hu- man shapes, scampered back and forth from one office to another. "This way,” Dill said, turning down a side passage. He entered his office, guiding the girl ahead of him. "I want to go home,” Marion Fields muttered.

ill crossed to his massive D desk and glanced at the heap of reports. "Sit down.” He seated himself behind the desk, folded his hands and studied the girl intently. "What do you want?” Marion demanded. "How old are you?” "Nine.” "Who told you to say that about Unity? Who taught you?” "Nobody taught me.” By Dill’s hand the vidtape hummed as it recorded the girl’s image and words. Framed on his desk scanner was the police re- port. Marion Fields was a ward of the Government, since the arrest of her father and his com- .

VULCAN'S HAMMER 15

mission to a Psych Correction of faith. You understand what home in the United States. A I’m saying?” check mark indicated he had Marion nodded faintly. escaped and not yet been recov- "They don’t live by reason. ered. They can’t; they haven’t the "What was your father arrest- courage and discipline to live by ed for?” Dill demanded. anything but emotion. They de- The girl’s lips clamped sullen- mand the metaphysical absolutes ly together. "I don’t know.” an emotional, non-rational faith "The Healers. What’s your offers. Reason involves tentative father’s relation to them?” rather than absolute hypotheses, "I don’t know.” subject to constant revision and Dill leaned back in his chair. change in the face of new facts.

"Isn’t it a little silly, those things This introduces elements of un-

you said? Overthrowing God . . certainty, and the mass-mind Somebody has told you we were cannot tolerate any kind of un- better off in the old days — be- certainty; they must have abso- fore Unity, when we had national lutes,” states and war every twenty "Can I go, now?” Marion years.” He considered. "How did asked. the Healers get their name?” "What are the Healers trying "I don’t know.” to do? What are they after?" "Didn’t your father tell you?” "No.” arion said nothing, and M Jason Dill slid a report at “T CAN tell you. They’re tak- her. "Read this! It’s about a man 1 ing advantage of the super- named Pitt — Robin Pitt, in stitions of the masses. The masses American. Ever hear of him?”

are ignorant, you see. There is a "No.” mass-mind we’re dealing with, "He was killed this morning, here — not like yours or mine. killed by a mob.” Dill pushed You understand? They can’t the report impatiently toward think — not the way we do. They her. "Go on; read it.” believe in crazy things: Magic; Marion took the report and

Gods and miracles; healing; the examined it, her lips moving

touch. This group is playing on slowly. basic emotional hysterias familiar "The mob,” Dill said, "was to all our sociologists, manipu- led by your father. You under- lating the masses like sheep, stand that? This man was brutal- using them to gain power. The ly murdered as he started to drive masses have a desire for religious off in his car. The mob pulled certainty, the comforting balm him out of the car and Lore him H FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

to bits. What do you think of wasting their time. It repairs and that?’’ maintains itself; v/e merely feed

Marion returned the report it data and the parts and supplies without comment. it wants. Nobody knows where "Are you proud of your fa- it is; Pitt didn’t know.” ther? Assassins!” Dill grabbed “ You know.”

the report and restored it to the "Yes; I know. So they want to pile on his desk. "These other destroy Vulcan 111. Then Unity reports — more murders, all will dissolve and there’ll be na- over the world. Every day men tional states, seventy countries, killed, beaten-up, robbed, by each with its own language and mobs of insane idiots, incited by customs and hatred. Wars again. these Healers. By your own fa- The old world, back with us.” ther. Do you approve? You think "So man won’t be a slave to that's good?” a machine.” Marion shrugged. "Who taught you to say that?” "Nobody.” t( A N outfit of assassins, stir- al ring up uneducated peo- <

— war and hatred and interna- you can’t build a society on it.

tional violence? The old brain is It tears down, breaks and plun- waking again; the beast — all ders. Puts an end to law.” Dill over the world. These madmen got abruptly to his feet. "Why are sweeping us back into the did they destroy Vulcan 11?” chaos and darkness of the past, Marion blinked. "Vulcan 11? back to the days when men were The old computer?” beasts. Are you proud of your Dill’s face hardened instantly. father for bringing back the "Forget it.” He paced back and beast? You want this killing and forth, "Possibly you don’t know violence to sweep everything else about that. Are you in touch with away?” your father?” "No.” "No.”

"What, then? What’s it all "Do you know where he is?” for? What the hell are they "No.” after?” "Too bad. I’d like to talk to "They want Vulvan 111.” him. He’s quite important in the "They’re trying to find it?” Movement, isn’t he?” Dill gestured angrily. "They’re Marion said nothing. VULCAN'S HAMMER 17

"Maybe he’s the head of it; ping his foot nervously and wait-

I don’t know.” Dill ran his hands ing for the guards to pass him, nervously through his gray hair. "All right, Mr. Dill." The “You’ll stay here in the Unity wall slid back. Dill hurried down offices, of course; I’ll see you a long deserted corridor, his again later on.” He stabbed a heels echoing mournfully. The button on his desk and two air was clammy, and the lights armed Unity guards appeared at flickered fitfully; he turned to the the door. "Take this girl down right and halted, peering into the to the third subsurface level; yellow gloom. don’t let anything happen to There it was. Vulcan II, or her.” what remained of Vulcan II The guards moved around heaps of twisted debris; fused, Marion Fields and she went with wrecked masses of parts; scatter- them sullenly. Dill watched ed tubes and relays lost in ran- them go, standing moodily at his dom coils that had once been desk until the doors slid back in wiring, A great dusty ruin, silent place. and forgotten. Then he left the Unity Control building, hurrying up the ramp T made him feel strange to see to the confined field, past the I this, the remains of the once- nests of heavy-duty aerial guns, great computer. Dill could re- to his own private hangar. member the old days, before A few minutes later he w»as Vulcan III had been built — the heading across the early evening days when Vulcan II had been sky, toward the underground for- their pride and joy. There were tress where the great Vulcan few in the Unity system who re- computers were maintained, membered those days. The bright carefully hidden away from the young men had pushed the old race of man. ones out of the way — as Vulcan III had pushed Vulcan II aside. e landed and submitted to This devastated wreck had been H the elaborate examination their hope, once. In the old days, at the surface check-point, fidget- during the War, Vulcan II had ing impatiently. The tangle of been an intricate structure of equipment sent him on and he great delicacy and subtlety, an descended quickly into the depths elaborate instrument consulted of the underground fortress. At by the Unity heads daily. the second level he stopped the He kicked a shapeless blob of elevator and got abruptly off. A ash with his foot. The change, moment later he was standing the incredible change from the before a sealed support-wall, tap- thing Vulcan II had been to this, 18 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION still dazed him. Again, for the tapes in his pocket. And then, millionth time, the question that night, the blast. scurried hopelessly through his Dill tapped his coat. They brain, How had it happened? were still there — the answers How had they got in? And — Vulcan II had given him, an- why? swers he had puzzled' over, again It didn’t make sense. Vulcan II and again. He had intended to was no longer in use — not since ask for clarification, but the blast Vulcan III had come into being. had ended that. If they had entered the fortress, Deep in thought. Dill left the if one of them had penetrated room and returned to the eleva- this far, why had they wasted tor. He descended to the lowest their time here — with Vulcan level and came out before a com- III situated only six levels be- plex series of check points. Arm- low? ed guards waited to pass him into the central chambers where the aybe they had made a mis- great computer Vulcan III waited M take; maybe they had de- silently to question him. stroyed the smaller computer, this discarded machine, thinking e detoured long enough to

it was Vulcan III, Perhaps it had H examine the DQ forms that been an error. had come in. Larson, the leader — And perhaps not; maybe of the data-feed team, showed there was a reason. Fifteen him the rejects.

months ago it had happened: "Look at these.” Larson care- The sudden attack; the horrifying fully laid out a handful of forms. assault in the middle of the "This one here; maybe you bet-

night; and then this, twisted ter turn it back personally, so wreckage — nothing more. A there won’t be any trouble.” careful, systematic smashing of The form was from the North everything vital. The whole wir- American Director, William ing maze crushed, bludgeoned Barris. It asked two questions. out of existence. a) ARE THE HEALERS OF It had happened without warn- REAL SIGNIFICANCE? ing. Dill had taken a series of b) WHY DON'T YOU RE- questions to Vulcan II that after- SPOND TO THEIR EXIST- noon. Secretly, by himself, he had ENCE? still consulted the discarded com- Dill scowled; Barris again. puter — when he had questions One of the eternal bright young simple enough for him to con- men — climbing rapidly up the sider. He fed the questions; an- Unity ladder. Barris, Reynolds, swers came. He carried off the Henderson — making their way VULCAN'S HAMMER 1? confidently, efficiently, toward to himself. "If Vulcan 111 discov- the position of Managing Direc- ers I’ve been suppressing certain tor. "Very many DQs like this?” data and questions ...” "No, sir, but there is a general "Why?” Larson demanded. increase in tension; several Di- "Why the hell are you doing rectors beside Barris are wonder- this? What’s the purpose of hold- ing why Vulcan 111 gives no ing information back from him?” pronouncement on the Move- "That’s my concern.” Dill’s ment.” face hardened dangerously. "Do "Let me see the rest of the as you’re told, and don’t ask ” material. questions.”

Larson passed him the remain- "My team is taking enormous ing DQ forms. “And here’s the risks; the ultimate blame is apt related matter from the data to fall on us. We’re working troughs.” Larson passed over a under your orders without know-

huge sealed container. "We've ing what this is all for.” weeded all the oncoming ma- "Sometimes you have to work terial carefully." without understanding.” Dill "You’re sure nothing connect- turned abruptly toward the ed with the Healers has reached guarded inner doors. "Open up

Vulcan III?" and let me in; I’m late as it is.” "None that we know of.” Larson shrugged. "All right, Director.” He touched a stud ill scratched a few lines and the doors slid back. D on the bottom of Barris’ DQ form. "Return this to him toward ill entered the great cham- the end of the week. He failed D ber and the doors filled in to fill in his identification num- behind him; he was alone with

bers; I’m returning it to be cor- Vulcan III, The huge calculator rected.” rose in front of him, the im- Larson frowned. "That won’t mense mass of parts and indica- delay the problem much. Barris tors. will immediately return the form Vulcan III was aware of him. correctly prepared. What are you Across the vast impersonal face going to do when there are no of metal an acknowledgment technical errors to fall back on? gleamed, a ribbon of fluid letters Sooner or later Barris and the that appeared briefly and then others are going to realize some- vanished.

one is deliberately holding their IS THE EDUCATIONAL DQ forms back.” BIAS SURVEY COMPLETE? "It’s not the Directors I’m "Almost,” Dill said. "A few worried about,” Dill said, half more days.” so FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

I NEED IT AT ONCE. After a pause Vulcan III "It’ll be along as soon as the added: I SENSE A RAPIDLY feed teams can turn it into data APPROACHING CRISIS. form.” "What kind of trisis?” Dill Vulcan III was — well, the demanded nervously. only word was agitated. Power IDEOLOGICAL. A NEW lines glowed red — the origin ORIENTATION APPEARS TO of the series’ name. The rum- BE ON THE VERGE OF VER- bling and dull flashes of red had BALIZATION. A GESTALT reminded Nathaniel Greenstreet DERIVED FROM THE EXPE- of the ancient God’s forge,, the RIENCE OF THE LOWEST lame god who had forged the CLASSES. REFLECTING thunderbolts for Zeus, in an age THEIR DISSATISFACTION. long past. "Dissatisfaction? With what?” THERE IS SOME ELEMENT ESSENTIALLY. THE MASS- MISFUNCTIONING. A SIG- ES REJECT THE CONCEPT NIFICANT SHIFT IN THE OF STABILITY. IN THE ORIENTATION OF CERTAIN MAIN, THOSE WITHOUT SOCIAL CLASSES WHICH SUFFICIENT PROPERTY TO CAN NOT BE EXPLAINED BE FIRMLY ROOTED ARE IN TERMS OF DATA AL- MORE CONCERNED WITH READY AVAILABLE TO ME. GAIN THAN WITH SECU- A REALIGNMENT OF THE RITY. TO THEM, SOCIETY SOCIAL PYRAMID IS FORM- IS AN ADVENTURE. A ING IN RESPONSE TO HIS- STRUCTURE IN WHICH TORIC-DYNAMIC FACTORS THEY HOPE TO RISE TO A UNFAMILIAR TO ME. I SUPERIOR POWER POSI- MUST KNOW MORE IF I AM TION. A RATIONALLY CON- TO DEAL WITH THIS. TROLLED STABLE SOCIETY SUCH AS OURS DEFEATS faint tendril of alarm THEIR DESIRES. IN A RAP- A moved through Dill. Did IDLY ALTERING UNSTABLE Vulcan III suspect? "All data is SOCIETY THE LOWEST made available to you as soon CLASSES WOULD STAND A as possible.” GOOD CHANCE TO SEIZE A DECIDED BIFURCA- POWER. BASICALLY, THE TION OF SOCIETY SEEMS IN LOWEST CLASSES ARE AD- THE MAKING. BE CERTAIN VENTURERS, CONCEIVING YOUR REPORT ON EDUCA- LIFE AS A GAMBLE, A TIONAL BIAS IS COMPLETE. GAME, RATHER THAN A I WILL NEED ALL THE TASK. WITH SOCIAL POW- RELEVANT FACTS. ER AS THE STAKES. ” ”

VULCAN’S HAMMER 21

"Interesting,” Dill murmured UNDER THE PERSONAL uneasily. SUPERVISION OF SUB-DI- THE DISSATISFACTION RECTOR ROBIN PITT. OF THE MASSES IS NOT Dill cursed silently. Good

BASED ON ECONOMIC DEP- God . . . Vulcan III had its main- RIVATION BUT ON A SENSE tenance-grapple on everything. OF INEFFECTUALITY. NOT "Pitt was injured,” Dill said AN INCREASED STANDARD aloud, his mind racing desperate- OF LIVING, BUT MORE SO- ly. "His car overturned on a CIAL POWER IS THEIR mountain road in Colorado.” FUNDAMENTAL GOAL. BE- HAVE HIS REPORT COM- CAUSE OF THEIR EMOTION- PLETED BY SOMEONE ELSE. AL ORIENTATION THEY I NEED IT. IS HIS INJURY ARISE AND ACT WHEN A SERIOUS? POWERFUL LEADER-FIG- URE CAN COORDINATE ill hesitated. "As a matter THEM INTO A FUNCTION- D of fact, they —don’t think ING UNIT RATHER THAN he’ll live. They say A CHAOTIC MASS OF UN- WHY HAVE SO MANY FORMED ELEMENTS. T-CLASS PERSONS BEEN KILLED IN THE LAST ill was silent. It was evident YEAR? I WANT MORE IN- D that Vulcan III had sifted FORMATION ON THIS. AC- the information available, and CORDING TO MY STATIS- had come up with uncomfortably TICS ONLY ONE FIFTH close inferences. Even without THAT NUMBER SHOULD direct data concerning the Heal- HAVE DIED OF NATURAL ers, Vulcan III was able to de- CAUSES. SOME VITAL FAC- duce, from general historic prin- TOR IS MISSING. I MUST ciples, the social conflicts devel- HAVE MORE DATA. oping. Sweat came out on Dill’s "All right,” Dill muttered. forehead; he was dealing with "We’ll get you more data; any- a powerful mind — greater than thing you want.” any one man’s or any group of I AM CONSIDERING men. CALLING A SPECIAL CON- “I’ll put a rush on the educa- TROL-COUNCIL MEETING. tional survey,” he murmured. I MAY QUESTION THE "Anything else you want?” STAFF OF DIRECTORS PER- THE STATISTICAL RE- SONALLY. PORT ON RURAL LINGUIS- "What? But — TICS HAS NOT COME IN. I AM NOT SATISFIED WHY IS THAT? IT WAS WITH THE WAY DATA IS .

22 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

SUPPLIED. I MAY DEMAND He was exhausted — and he was YOUR REMOVAL AND AN alone, with no one to turn to. ENTIRELY NEW SYSTEM OF If anything else went wrong — FEEDING. Dill’s mouth opened and t the end of the week Direc- dosed. Shaking visibly, he back- A tor William Barris received ed nervpusly toward the doors. his DQ form back. Scrawled "Unless you want something across the bottom was the nota- else I’ll return to Geneva.” tion: "Improperly filled out. NOTHING MORE. YOU Please correct and refie." MAY GO. Barris threw the form down Dill left hurriedly, ascending on his desk and leaped to his to the surface level. Things were feet. He snapped on the vid- going wrong. Good God — if sender. "Give me Unity Control the computer suspected what was at Geneva.” really happening . . The Geneva monitor formed. "Yes sir?” S his ship thundered over Barris held up the DQ form. A Europe, Dill saw more omi- "Who returned this? Whose nous harbingers below: Healers writing is this? The feed-team everywhere, in all the towns and leader?” villages; brown-robed figures "No sir.” The monitor made moving among the people, in the a brief check. "It was Managing narrow streets and roads in the Director Dill who handled your squares and around the old build- form, sir.” ings. Their hostile faces up- Dill! Barris choked in rare.O turned silently to watch his ship "I want to talk to Dill at once." pass. "Director Dill is in confer- Intense faces. Stony-featured ence. He can’t be disturbed.” men who stood with hands on Barris killed the screen with hips, peering up resentfully as a savage swipe. For a moment he he hurried back toward his office. stood thinking. Abruptly he relit A farmer in a field shook his fist; the screen. "Give me the field;

some laborers at an ore-pit stop- hurry it up.” ped work and sullenly watched After a moment the field tow- him go by. He was hated. They er monitor appeared. "Yes sir?” were all hated, all of Unity. And "This is Barris. Have a first- now Vulcan III was growing sus- class ship ready at once. I'm tak- picious of him, finally. He was ing off right away.” hated and suspected from above "Where to, sir?” and below. Everything was clos- "To Geneva.” Barris set his ing around him from all sides. jaw grimly. "I have an appoint- ” ” ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 23

ment with Managing Director doesn’t make sense. You know Dill," He added under his the penalty for this. Treason! breath: "Whether Dill likes it Keeping back information, delib- or not.” erately falsifying the data troughs. I could have you arrest- ed.” He leaned toward Dill. Ill '-’Are you trying to isolate Vulcan arkis pushed past the bat- III? Are you — tery of secretaries and He broke off. He was looking B clerks, into Managing Di- down the barrel of a pencil beam. rector Dill’s private office. At Dill’s middle-aged features sight of his Director’s stripe, the twitched bleakly; his eyes gleam- dark red slash on his gray coat- ed desperately as he clutched the sleeve, frightened officials slunk slender tube. "Now shut up, obediently out of his way, leav- Barris,” he croaked. "Sit down ing a path for him. Tlia last and listen.” door opened — and abruptly he Barris sat down watchfully. was facing Dill. The older man swallowed Jason Dill looked up slowly, noisily, gasping for air like a fish. putting down a handful of re- His face was gray; perspiration ports. "Who are you?” stood out on his wrinkled fore- "William Barris." Barris head. "You want to know why closed the office door behind I'm withholding data from Vul- him with a bang. "I want to talk can III?” He groped in his in- to you.” side coat pocket, still holding Dill’s eyes narrowed. "File a the beam pointed at Barris. regular appointment slip; you "Look at these.” He tossed two know better than to — small packets down onto the Barris cut him off. "Why did desk. you turn back my DQ form? Barris picked the packets up Are you withholding information and cautiously began to unwrap from Vulcan III?” them. "What are these?” Silence. "Tapes. You don’t remember The color left Dill’s face. them, I suppose. Vulcan II didn’t

"Your form wasn’t properly fill- answer on a visual screen; it had ed out. According to Section Six, to punch out each response." Article Ten of the Unity — "These are from Vulcan II?" "You’re rerouting material "The last tapes; the last re- away from Vulcan III; that’s why sponses.” " it hasn’t stated a policy on them.” Barris reacted violently. Vul- Barris loomed up ominously in can II has been destroyed?” front of Dill’s desk. "Why? It "Fifteen months ago.” 24 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

"How? Why?” "You never got more from "Smashed; the whole wiring him?” systematically wrecked; crushed "That night he was destroy- flat. I don't know why; they must ed." Dill took the tapes back have had some reason.” and returned them wearily to his "The Healers?” coat.

"They may have thought it "So you’re holding the infor-

was Vulcan III." He motioned mation back at Vulcan II ' s sug- impatiently. "Read them — gestion; you’ve been doing it fif- read the tapes!” teen months?" "That’s right. A little over a Areis laid the tapes out on year.” B the surface of the desk, "Without knowing why?” spreading them flat with his hands. The tapes were faintly ill hesitated; he tapped yellow — brittle with age. D the pencil beam nervously

. . . this Movement may be of on the desk. "You must under-

more significance than first ap- stand the relationship between pears ... it is evident that the me and Vulcan II. We had al- movement is directed against ways worked together, back in Vulcan III rather than the series the old days. Vulcan II was limit-

. . until ed, of course. of computers as a whole . Compared to Vul- I have had time to consider the can III, it was obsolete; it could- greater aspects, 1 suggest Vulcan n’t have held the position Vulcan III not be informed of the mat- III now holds — determining

ter . . . ultimate policy.” "I asked why,” Dill said. "As it says on the tape." "Look at the next tape.” "Vulcan II was a computer of

. . . consider the basic differ- the old type; we needed a much ence between Vulcan III and broader instrument to determine computer its deci- basic decisions. Vulcan II was preceding . . . sions are more than strictly fac- shoved in the background. But tual evaluations of objective data I always went to it when I essentially it is thought it could answer . . . creating policy my ques-

value level . . III tions. I was partial to II, at a . Vulcan — you deals with teleological problems understand? I was accustomed

, . . the significance of this cannot to it. I couldn’t get used to Vul- be immediately inferred ... I can III. Both of us came through must consider it at greater the War; II never steered me

length . . . wrong, within the confines of its "That was the last tape,” Dill ability.”

said. "And now II ' s destroyed.” ” ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 25

Banis considered. "It’s incredible whole wiring system is smashed you’ve kept up this beyond repair." to think policy for fifteen months. Over "You’ve kept this information secret? one knows?” a year.” No "The Directors all assume that <

all. Vulcan II! has threatened to picked up a handful of fused call a general council session to wiring and tubes. "Has an at- have me — removed.” tempt been made to reconstruct Barris glanced up, startled. any of this?” " III has?” The computer? As I said, de- The older man’s eyes were struction was such — wide with fear; his flabby face "The tubes.” Barris lifted a

twitched in panic. "The fact is, tube carefully. "The envelope is Barris, I’m scared as hell of gone, of course, but the elements him.” The pencil beam trembled look intact.” and rolled out of his hand, off "You think — the side of the desk to the floor. "This type of computer stored

"I’m in a hell of a spot. The its data in the form of electrical Healers trying to get at me — charges permanently polarized and this damn nightmare hang- across the elements of these tubes. ing over my head. I’m afraid of Maybe v/e can reactivate enough III, Barris; there’s more to Vul- of Vulcan II to get some under-

can 111 than we realize. I’m standing of its theorizing.”

afraid of what it might do — of "You mean there might be what it can do. Ill’s dangerous parts of it still — alive?” — and Vulcan 11 knew it." "Alive? Mechanically intact. Portions that can be made to arris stood at the door, gaz- function again. I’d like to know B ing at the dust-covered ruins what Vulcan II had — before that filled the chamber. The si- it was destroyed. It would be lent heaps of metal and twisted interesting to find out what II parts fused together in a shape- had determined about Vulcan less mass. III.” "Not much left,” he said "I’ll have a repair crew make finally. a survey and see what can be

"Whoever attacked 11, knew done. I’ll send you _a vidphoto exactly what they were doing; the of their report.” ”

26 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

ARRIS SMILED. "Really? Your arranged for a police guard to be B whole story depends on Vul- thrown around the repair crew can 11. You say 11 instructed you; as soon as they landed. maybe it did — and maybe not.” Cartwright had news: The Barris dug out two more smashed power of the Healers was grow- memory tubes and carefully laid ing; more and more open clashes them with the others. "As far as were being reported; a vast sec- I'm concerned, you’re a traitor tion of the population was swing- until proved otherwise — and ing over to them. Cartwright had nothing has been proved. Those been unable — or unwilling — tapes may be fakes. Maybe you to bring in Father Fields. The destroyed Vulcan II.” massive, heavy-browed face had "I? But — been scanned often, standing at "Until I have more to go on, the periphery of seething mobs, I’ll consider your story a meta- calmly directing their activities physical hypothesis waiting for as they closed around some T- empirical facts to back it up.” class person. He yanked out a section of twist- The Healers were seeking to ed wiring. find Vulcan III. But only a few "What are you doing?” men knew its location. Mean- "I’m getting this stuff ready while, the killings and destruc- for my own repair crew; I’ll con- tion continued as the Healers tact them from my ship.” Barris gathered their forces, moving to- glanced briefly up. "My office ward an overt attack on Unity. will handle this, from now on. It might come at any time. I’ll let you know what results Unity controlled the world — we get.” Barris got to his feet. or rather, a thin crust, a rim of "It’ll be interesting to see what the surface. Within, down in the Vulcan 11 says, assuming we’re molten depths, the violent emo- able to reconstruct any signifi- tional currents rose and fell, cant parts.” showing themselves in ominous undulations breaking through arris returned to New the crust. B York as soon as the remains Unity ruled from the top of Vulcan II had been removed down; further down was the from the hidden subsurface lesser influence of the gray-clad fortress and loaded on a North T-class, until finally, at the bot- American Unity transport. Be- tom, rational control was lost in- hind his sleek little cruiser the to the untouched, homogeneous heavy transport rumbled, hurry- mass of clerks, storekeepers, ing after him across the Atlantic. waiters, busdrivers, housewives, Barris contacted Cartwright and manual workmen — anonymous VULCAN'S HAMMER 27

off in- coarse robes. jpen and women shading Crowds watched in aistinguishably into one another. respectful admiration. There was a demolished Unity auto — de- elow Barris' ship was this stroyed by a mob — like Pitt’s B world, the continuum of the attacked and burned, the occu- undifferentiated masses — the pant pulled apart. Chalk marks

vast sprawling horde of mankind on walls. Posters. Signs. Slogans. ra- Occasional that hated Unity, hated all meeting houses and tional control, the elaborate sys- headquarters. tem of experts, technicians, di- rectorates, departments. s His ship slowed down to Near Boston, a group of chil- A land, Barris could see them, dren ceased playing and stood even around his own office. At silently as his ship raced above the street-corner a Healer was them. He saw endless lines of addressing a mob, standing on upturned faces — faces raised in a temporary platform. Rapt faces, hatred and resentment, follow- intent on his words. Banners. ing each flight of Unity ships. More people flocking. The surface-bound men and Always more. Milling toward women watched, and loathed, the brown-robed men who prom- and followed him with their eyes ised an end of the hated system, until he was out of sight. return to the old days. The Heal- Most of the small towns were ers were taking mankind back, in the hands of the Healers — luring them away from the pres- all the country, the farms and ent, into the cloudy landscapes villages and rural areas. The big of the past, the dim limbo of cities were islands, forts holding myth and dream and legend. out, but even in the cities they Grails and redemption; the mys- were there. And the hatred, too; teries of the ancients; omen; as-

it was there in the urban work- trology; casting the runes. Priests ers; in the swarms of sullen with candles and temples; offer- lower-class city people that ings. crowded the lifts and subways; And opposing that, the ration- the monorail jets; and in the al, scientific structure of Unity — sweating streams of white-collar the society of the present. Science workers that filled up and choked and law and control of nature. the streets of the cities. T-class, the body of trained ex- Even in New York they were perts, specialists in clearly- active. Barris saw a procession defined fields. A scientific society, of brown-clad Healers moving possessing rational techniques along a side street off the Bowery, and methods, controlling and solemn and dignified in their maintaining law and order effi- ”

28 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

ciently. Rationally ruling the ning is virtually random. The planet through its elaborate computer maintained its own or- layers of offices, Directorates, ganizing principle — which is Sub-Directorates, statistical re- gone, of course. We have to take search banks, and the vast army the remaining memory elements of technicians and trained em- as they come.” ployees. Smith clicked on the speaker. The leader of the repair crew A hoarse roar filled the room, contacted Harris at the end of the an indistinguishable blur of static week. "First reports on recon- and sound. He adjusted some of struction work, Mr. Barris,” the control settings. Smith reported. "Hard to make out,” Barris "Any results?” said.

"Not much; most of the tubes "Takes time; after you've lis- were beyond salvage. Only a tened awhile — fraction of the memory store still Barris nodded curtly. "All exists intact.” right. Clear out and I’ll see what Barris tensed. "Find anything I can pick up.” relevant?” In the vidscreen, Smith’s face mith and his men left. Barris was expressionless. "A few S took up a position in front things, I think; if you want to of the pulsing machinery. The drop over, we’ll show you what speaker clicked and sputtered. we’ve done.” Somewhere, lost in the fog of random sound, were faint traces

T) arris crossed New York to of words. Computations — the I> the Unity work labs. He was vague unwinding of the memory checked by the guards and passed elements as the newly-constructed through, into the inner function- scanner moved over the old re- ing part of the labs. He found mains. Barris leaned forward, Smith and his repair crew stand- straining to hear. ", . progressive ing around a complex tangle of . bifurcation pulsing machinery. of social elements according to

"There it is,” Smith said. new patterns previously . . . ex- "Looks different.” haustion of mineral formations "We’ve done our best to acti- no longer pose the problem that

vate the undamaged elements.” was faced earlier during the . . Smith indicated an elaborate mass Vulcan II was not conscious; of gleaming wiring, dials, meters, like a phonograph record, these and power leads. "The elements impulses were frozen, dead. are scanned and the impulses These computations were old fed into an audio system. Scan- ones, formations from the past. .

VULCAN'S HAMMER 29

Vulcan II was no longer func- Barris cursed. The words were tioning. What came from the gone again. Angrily he ground speaker had been lodged in the out his cigaret and waited impa- memory elements long ago, dur- tiently. Dill had been telling the ing the life-span of the computer. truth, then; that much was cer- ", tain. . . certain problems of iden- He leaned toward the tity previously matters of conjec- speaker, struggling to catch each

ture . vital word. and nothing more . . ". necessity of understanding the . . the appearance of cogni- integral factors involved in the tive faculties operating on a transformation from mere cogni- value-level demonstrates the tion to full identity ..." widening of personality surpass- Barris lit a cigaret and listened. ing the strictly logical ... Ill The random memories drifted differs essentially in manipula- from the speaker, mixed with the tion of non-rational values of an

ceaseless sputter of static. ultimate kind . . , construction Time passed. Barris waited included reinforced and cumula- alertly, the roar filling the room tive dynamic factors permitting around him. On and on the III to make decisions primarily sound droned, endlessly. associated with non-mechanical or ... it would be impossible for uddenly Barris jerked, stiff- III to function in this capacity S ening. without a creative rather than an ", . . this process is greatly ac- analytical faculty . , . such judg-

celerated in III . . . if the ten- ments cannot be rendered on a dencies noticed in I and II are strictly logical level . . , the en- continued and allowed to develop larging of III into dynamic levels it would be necessary to with- creates an essentially netv entity draw certain data for the pos- not explained by previous terms /' ." sible . . known to . . The words faded out. Barris strained to hear, holding his or a moment the vague breath. In a moment the words F words drifted off. Then they rushed back. returned with a roar, as if some "... Movement would acti- basic reinforced memory element vate too many subliminal procliv- had been touched.

is ", . . ities . . . doubtful if III yet level of operation can be aware of this process . . . infor- conceived in no other fashion . . mation the Movement at this all intents and purposes . . on for , point would undoubtedly create if such is Ill's actual construction

critical situation in which . . III a III . then is in essence

might begin to , . alive . . —

30 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

Alive! Vulcan II had been destroyed

Barris leaped to his feet. More before it could continue its cau- words, diminishing, now. Drift- tious work with Dill. No doubt ing away into random noise. Vulcan III had destroyed II. Did " III . . . with the positive will of Vulcan know about the goal-oriented, living creatures . . . Healers? therefore III like any other living Tendrils of fear flickered creature is basically concerned through Barris. Mankind, in the

with survival . . . knowledge of hands of a machine. More than the Movement might create a a machine. A gigantic living situation in which the necessity creature, possessing all the

of survival would cause III to . . . knowledge known to man, a huge the result might be catastrophic thinking organism. Thinking -

... to be avoided at . . . unless and feeling. more can ... a critical ... Ill Vulcan 111 was more than a ...if... machine, a mechanical computer; Silence. it was alive. And as a living Barris hurried out of the room, thing, it — he had will and past Smith and the repair crew. survival drives. What would hap-

"Lock it up. Don’t let anybody pen when he discovered that in; throw up an armed guard millions of men and women were right away.” organized against him? What would he do when he e grabbed a Unity surface found out that a Movement ex- H car and sped back across isted with the sole purpose of New York. Dili had told the destroying him? That for two truth — but that was no longer years it had been trying to get important. Now Vulcan II s rea- to him? sons had emerged, reasons not What could he do? known to Dill. Vulcan III svasn’t functioning from a logical-ana- arris reached his office. His lytical basis; its value-decisions B closed-circuit vidscreen was had widened its — personality signalling frantically; impatient- — to new levels. If Vulcan II ly, he snapped it on. were correct, if a drive for sur- "Barris!” Jason Dill’s terrified vival had come into existence in features formed. "Where the hell the huge computer — were you?” Dill had sensed the menace of "With the remains of Vulcan Vulcan III, and others had sensed II. My repair crew was able to it — millions of ordinary men scan some of the surviving mem- and women, the whole Move- ory elements. I’ve been able to ment of Healers. check your story — and more. ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 31

I I know Vulcan II ’ s reasons. brown-clad figures, sandals and know what he — knotted ropes. "Listen, Barris!” Dili snapped, The Healers — moving to- his face gray with horror. "It’s ward the Unity building. Even happened.” as he watched, stones and bricks "What’s happened?’’ crashed against the windows, "The thing I’ve been afraid shattering into the offices. Clubs

of; it’s finally come. I knew I and steel pipes. Stones and surg- couldn’t keep it going any longer. ing, yelling, angry men and Listen to me, Barris: Vulcan III women. has got hold of the information The Healers had begun to — about the Healers. Larson fed move.

it in. Ill knows — it knows, now, Barris!” IV "You’re sure?” Dill was trembling with ter- illiam Barris entered ror. ''Ill's called an emergency the massive Unity Con- council meeting. All the Direc- W trol building at Geneva, tors. To have me removed and — his armed guards trailing along tried for treason.” Dill’s mouth on both sides of him. He met twitched. "I’ll need your support. Jason Dill outside the audito- Vulcan 111 is after me, Barris; it rium. knows about me — and about the "Good God,” Dill muttered; Healers.” "it took you long enough to get "I’ll be right there.” Barris here.” cut the circuit and dialed the "The Healers are moving; I field, "Get my ship ready at once. had trouble getting away. The And two armed escorts. I may police are mobilized, but I’m not run into trouble.” certain of Cartwright.” Dill was surrounded by his e left his office and hurried own personal guards. He looked H toward the field. As he sick; his face was gray and he crossed the ramp from the Unity was perspiring nervously. "I see building he was suddenly aware you brought some protection. The of a sound. A low murmur, like council is about to meet. Most the roar of the ocean. He halted of the Directors are already here. a moment, peering down at the How' many men do you have street far below. with you?” A vast mob seethed along the "Sixty.” street, an immense tide of men "Can you get more?” and women, growing each mo- "No. The rest are with the ment. And with them were police. The Healers are openly ”

32 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

attacking Unity buildings in "Did you?” North America.” "Of course not!”

"Here, too. Sixty men. And "This is more serious than I I have about two hundred. We realized. Vulcan III has exten- can’t count On the rest.” sions of some kind. I wonder "Tell me exactly what we’re if — up against.” A bell sounded harshly. "At eight o’clock this morn- "The meeting.” Dill moved ing I received an emergency re- uneasily toward the great doors " port from a spotter on the data- of the auditorium. Vulcan III feed team. Larson had begun sent each Director an order to turning over some of the rejected appear and a statement on what material to Vulcan 111. I left had happened. A description of Geneva and hurried to the for- my treason — how I deliberately tress, but it was too late. The data falsified data and maintained a was already in Vulcan Ill's pos- curtain between him and Unit)’.” session.” "Why did Larson do it?” ARRIS NODDED. "All of US "I don’t know. When I got B have been wondering why there — he was dead.” Vulcan III gave no statement re- "Dead!” garding the Healers.” "So now you all know. Let’s “TV/Ty spotter report said go; the meeting is beginning.” 1VX Larson was terrified. "Who’ll speak for Vulcan Something had happened.” Dill III?" wiped his forehead shakily. "I "Reynolds, of Eastern Europe. don’t understand it. Vulcan III Vulcan III picked him as Unity has something. It can do things; prosecutor. Against me.”

Ill’s not helpless, as we always "Reynolds . . . I’ve seen him.” ” thought. " Vulcan III supplied him with "He destroyed Vulcan II." detailed information; he’s acting Dill shuddered. "I thought so. under direct instruction.” Dill

But how? They were six levels clenched and unclenched his fists. apart. Vulcan III isn’t mobile! "I don’t have a chance. There’s Does he have men working for nothing I can do; Reynolds al- him? Agents of some kind?” ways was ambitious.” "How was Larson killed?” "Does Reynolds know you "Beaten to death. His head were acting for Vulcan II?" crushed — flattened by some "I don’t know.” Hope flicker- hard object. The Directors— think ed across Dill’s face, "You think the Healers did it. Or ” Dill’s maybe I can make a defense on eyes dimmed with fear. "Or me.” those grounds? I was trying to VULCAN'S HAMMER 33

Vulcan II told me to resting on the marble surface, do my job. !d back all that informa- watching the audience intently. j l0 Reynolds was a big man — tion. "What I learned from Vulcan heavy-set, huge shoulders and all this unimportant; chest. He wore his gray suit w'ith ll makes there’s a lot more at stake than confidence, towering over other your job. From Vulcan II's re- T-cIass people. He was thirty- mains I got the outline of his twm; he had risen rapidly and theory.” efficiently. For a moment his cold Dill reacted quickly. "His blue eyes rested on Dill and theory?” Barris. " Vulcan III is — alive, with "The session is about to be- the will of a living creature, the gin,” he stated. "Director Barris instinct to survive and grow'. will take his seat.” He pointed He’s not a rational computer. at Dill. "Come up here, so you Anything living is supra-rational, can be examined,” automatically; he’s an immense Dill moved uncertainly toward living organism.” the platform, surrounded by his “I see. We extended him be- guards. He climbed the marble yond mere rationality, into re- steps hesitantly and took a seat gions that brought an overt living facing Reynolds. Barris stood un- personality into being.” Dill moving. looked scared. “What do you "Take your seat,” Reynolds think he’ll do?” ordered him sharply. "We’re already beginning to Barris moved down the aisle

see." Barris entered the huge toward him. "What is the pur- auditorium, his guards clustered pose of this session? By what around him. "Give me your tapes authority are you standing up — the tapes from Vulcan //.” there?” Dill burrowed hesitantly in his coat. "Here they are. But for nervous murmur moved God’s sake be careful with A through the auditorium. All them!” eyes were on Barris. The Direc- tors were uneasy; something was n^HE auditorium was almost happening. Dill had been de- J- filled; all twenty-three Direc- posed — accused of treason. The tors were present, each with his immense Unity structure, the staff and personal guards, wait- endless bureaus and departments, ing impatiently for the session was shuddering ominously — to begin. Edw'ard Reynolds stood and outside, massing for a final behind the speaker’s desk on the attack, was the Movement of raised platform, his big hands Healers. 34 I FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

Reynolds picked up a direc- John Chai of South Asia go® tive lying on the desk in front to his feet. "What do you have of him. "You failed to receive to say, Barris? Is this true?” your report? Each Director was Edgar Stone of West Africa notified by Vulcan III of this joined Chai. "Our hands havt session’s purpose.” been tied; we’ve had to stanc Barris halted in front of the helpless, watching the Healers platform. "I question whether grow. Dill has prevented Unity! this session is legal; I question from taking action.” your right to give orders to Man- Alex Henderson of Central aging Director Dill.” Barris step- America was on his feet. "What’s ped up on the raised platform. your answer, Barris? Is Reynolds "This looks like a crude attempt right?” to get rid of Dill and seize pow- Barris tossed the tape packets er for yourself.” to him. "Look at these yourself.” The murmur burst into a roar "What are they?” Directors of excitement. Reynolds waited crowded to see. Henderson open- for it to die dowm. "This is a ed the packets cautiously. critical time,” he said calmly. "Tapes.” "The revolutionary Movement "From Vulcan II; Dill was of the Healers is attacking us all working according to his in- over the world; their goal is to structions.” reach Vulcan III and destroy the "But why?” structure of Unity. The purpose " Vulcan III isn’t a machine; of this session is to indict Jason Ill’s alive.” Dill as an agent of the Healers "Vulcan III killed Larson!” — a traitor working against Dill shouted excitedly. “He tried Unity. Dill deliberately withheld to destroy Vulcan II! He’ll kill information from Vulcan 111. He us all, every one of us!” made 111 powerless to act against the Healers; he rendered III he Directors were on their helpless.” T feet, pushing and shoving excitedly. Reynolds responded eynolds’ calm blue eyes slowly. "What are you talking R roved about the auditorium. about? Vulcan III is a rational "Jason Dill lias been working for calculator.” the Healers a year and a half. His "He’s a living organism,” object was the paralysis of Vul- Barris stated, "with the drives of can III, to prevent it from acting. a living organism — survival He crippled Vulcan 111 — and drives.” allowed the Healers to grow un- "Absurd,” Reynolds snapped. hindered.” "Dill had nothing to do with ” ”

VULCAN’S HAMMER 35

Healers; he did what Vulcan "Halt!” Reynolds shouted. t lie H instructed. Vulcan II was "What are you doing? Put your doubtful of what would happen arms away. You know you’re act- III knew about the ing illegally!” jf Vulcan Healers.” "Come on,” Barris grated, Reynolds smiled thinly. "Dill "let’s get moving.” touch with the All the Directors were on is in constant Healers.” their feet. Reynolds was order- "That’s a lie!” Dill shouted. ing Unity guards frantically, Reynolds pointed down. "On moving them between Barris and the third subsurface level of this the doors. "You’re both under building is Dill’s contact with arrest! Throw down your beams the Movement.” and surrender! You can’t defy “Contact?” Barris was sudden- Unity!” ly alarmed. "What are you talk- John Chai pushed up to Barris. ing about?” "I can’t believe it — you and Reynolds’ blue eyes were cold Dill traitors, at a time like this, with hostile triumph. "The with those insane Healers at- daughter of Father Fields — tacking us.” Dill's contact with the Move- "Listen to me,” Alex Hen- ment; Marion Fields is in this derson gasped, making his building.” way past Chai. "We’ve got to preserve Unity; we’ve got to do arris moved quickly; he sig- what Vulcan III tells us. Other- B nalled his guards and joined wise we’ll be overwhelmed.” Dill at the edge of the platform. "He’s right,” Chai said. "The "Reynolds must have spies every- Healers will destroy us, without where," Dill muttered, terrified. Vulcan III. We must obey him; "I brought the girl here to—ques- the whole structure of Unity de- tion her. I swear I never pends on him.” Not Reynolds; Vulcan III.''

Barris whipped out his pencil “TTulcan III is a killer,”

beam. "We’ll have to fight. Is it V Barris snapped; "he killed worth it?” Larson and destroyed Vulcan II. "Fight? I — He’ll do anything to stay alive. "Vulcan 111 was prepared. Even if he has to destroy the There’s a whole world at stake, Healers, millions of human not just you or me. Ill is taking beings.” 0yor — pulling the rug from "The Healers should be de- under us all; our only chance is stroyed,” Henderson said. "They to get out of here, fast — and menace rational stability; they 0rganize.” menace — ’’ 36 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

Barris pulled away. "Let’s get Dill was dead. Barris bent out of here.” He and Dill moved briefly over him. On all sides toward the exit, their guards men and women shrieked and surrounding them. "I don’t think stumbled, trying to get out, away Reynolds will fight.” from the auditorium. Dill’s skull Barris headed directly at the was crushed, the side of his face line of Unity guards grouped in smashed in. His dead eyes gazed front of the exit. They moved up blankly, and Barris felt a stab away, hesitantly and uncer- of regret. tainly. " Attention!” a voice rasped — "Get out of the way,” Barris a metallic voice that cut through ordered. "Stand back.” He waved the terrified hubbub like a knife. his pencil beam; his personal Barris turned slowly, dazed with

guards stepped forward grimly, disbelief; it still didn’t seem pos- forcing a breach in the line. The sible. Unity guards struggled half- On the platform the metal heartedly, falling back in confu- projectile had been joined by an- sion. Reynolds’ frantic shouts other; now a third landed, com- were lost in the general din. ing to rest beside the other two Barris pushed Dill forward. "Go — three cubes of glittering steel, on. Hurry.” The two of them holding tight to the marble with were almost through the lines of claw-like grippers. hostile guards. "Attention!” the voice re-

And then it happened. peated. It came from the first projectile, an artificial voice — OMETHING FLASHED through the sound of steel and wiring and S the air, something shiny and plastic parts. metallic. It headed straight at This had killed Larson. One Jason Dill. Dill saw it — and of these had attacked Vulcan II. screamed. These were the instruments of The object smashed against death. him. Dill reeled and fell, arms flailing. The object struck again, fourth landed with the then lifted abruptly and zoomed A others. Metal squares, sit- off above their heads. It ascended ting together in a row like vicious to the. raised platform and came mechanical, crows. Murderous to rest on the marble desk. Rey- birds — hammer-headed destroy- nolds retreated in horror; the ers. The roomful of Directors Directors and their staff and and guards sank gradually into guards milled in terrified confu- horrified silence; all faces were sion, pushing frantically to get turned toward the platform. Even away. Reynolds watched wide-eyed, his VULCAN'S HAMMER 37

mouth slack in dumb-founded The great computer was two amazement. hundred miles away, buried " Attention the harsh voice down at the bottom level of the dead. hidden repeated. " Jason Dill is He underground fortress. sms a traitor. There may be other But it was his voice they were traitors.” The four projectiles hearing. The voice that issued peered around the room, looking from the hammer-heads was the and listening intently. voice of that massive organism Presently the voice continued of rnetal and wiring and delicate — from the second projectile, tubes. this time. The voice of Vulcan 111.

''Jason Dill is dead but the , struggle has just begun. He was e took careful aim. Around one of many. There are millions H him his guards stood fro- lined up against us, against Unity zen, gaping foolishly at the line — enemies who must be destroy- of metal hammer-heads. Barris ed. The Healers must be stopped. fired; the fourth hammer disap- Unity must fight for its life. We peared in a blast of heat. must be prepared to wage a great "A traitor!” the third hammer war.” said. The three hammers flew The metallic eyes roamed the excitedly into the air. "Get him! room, as the third projectile took Get the traitor!” up where the second had paused. Other Directors had unclipped "Jason Dill tried to keep me their pencil beams. Henderson from knotting. He attempted to fired and the second hammer throiv a curtain around me, but vanished. On the platform Rey- fired l could not be cut off . I destroyed nolds back; Henderson his curtain — and I destroyed screamed and sank down. Some him. The Healers will go the Directors were bring wildly at same way; it is only a question the hammers; others wandered of time. The rabble can’t win in dazed confusion, uncertain against the organized instruments and terrified. A shot caught Rey-

of Unity; if we fight together we nolds on the arm. He dropped can destroy them easily. We must his pencil. stamp them out, grind them to "Traitor!” the two remaining dust. Into the dirt from which hammers said. They swooped at they came!” Barris, their metal heads down, Barris thrilled with horror. coming rapidly at him. Barris The voice of metal, issuing from ducked. A guard fired and one the hammer-headed projectiles. of the hammers wobbled and

He had never heard it before — dipped; it fluttered off and crash- but he recognized it. ed against the wall. ”

38 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

"Get him!’’ the last hammer "Good question,” Daily said directed. "Get the traitor!” heavily. "He’s dead.” Barris stood up. beam cut past Barris; some Guards and Directors were fight- A of the Directors were firing ing on all sides, a wild disjointed at him. Knots of Directors and melee. Reynolds, clutching hisj guards struggled together. Some arm, slipped along the wall, to-!

were fighting to get at Reynolds ward the ascent lift. He and a' and the last hammer; others group of Directors escaped into milled and pushed uncertainly, the lift. The lift ascended — to- not certain which side they were ward the confined field on the on. roof. Daily fired into the shaft, Barris stumbled through an but the lift was gone. exit, out of the auditorium. John Chai grabbed Barris’

Guards and Directors spilled arm. "Is it true? Is Marion Fields after him, a confused horde of here?” forlorn, frightened men and "I don’t know.” Barris shook women. his head numbly. His mind raced "Barris!” Lawrence Daily of desperately. If he could get

South Africa hurried up to him. arvay, back to North America . . . "Wait for us.” Organize some kind of defense; Stone came with him, white- set up some kind of system; col- faced with fright. "What’ll we lect a group and make thorough do? Where’ll we go? We — plans. The hammer came hurtling at "It’s incredible,” Chai was him. Stone screamed and went saying. " Vulcan III has gone in- down. The hammt rose again, sane. These metal birds — it’s heading toward Barris; he fired terrible.” and the hammer flipped to one "They’re losing," Daily said. side. He fired again. Daily fired. "Reynolds is gone.” The hammer vanished in a puff of heat. ill’s guards had gained D control of the auditorium. tone LAY moaning. Barris The Unity guards had put up a S bent over him; he was badly poor fight, confused and uncer- hurt, no chance of saving him. tain. Most of the remaining Di- Stone gazed up in dim fear, rectors were standing quietly, in clutching at Barris’ arm. "You shocked silence, still toq, dazed to can’t get away, Barris. You can’t understand what had happened. go outside — they're out there. "We’re in control here,” Chai The Healers. Where’ll you go?” said — "in this one building, at His voice trailed off. "Where?” least.” ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 39

"How many Directors can we V Barris asked. c0U nt on?” "Not many. Most of them got arris cleared out the re- with Reynolds; they proba- maining hostile guards and away headed for the fortress. Does B Directors. He posted men bly Reynolds know where it is?” throughout the building, in each Barris nodded. "No doubt.” of the departments and offices. Only four Directors had deliber- Gradually those who could still ately remained: Daily, Chai, be counted on were armed — Lawson of South Europe, and and those loyal to Vulcan HI Pegler of East Africa. The others were dismissed and pushed out- stood uneasily together, collect- side. ing their senses. By evening, the great Unity Five Directors, including Control building had been or- Barris himself; the rest of the ganized for defense. twenty-three had escaped with Outside on the streets, the Reynolds or been killed or stood mobs surged back and forth. Oc- in helpless uncertainty. Five or casional rocks smashed against perhaps six Directors at the most the windows. A few frenzied — against Vulcan III and the persons tried to rush the doors whole Unity structure. And out- — and were driven back. There side the building, in the streets, were hundreds of them, against were the Healers. a few dozen inside. But the few "Barris,” Chai muttered. dozen had pencil beams — "We’re not going to join them, standard equipment for all T- are we?” class personnel. "The Healers?” Barris contacted Cartwright. "We’ll have to join one side North America had fallen to the or the other,” Pegler said. "There Healers; Cartwright himself had are just five of us, Barris; we’ll gone over to them. In turn, have to retreat to the fortress and Barris checked each of the Di- join Reynolds or — rectorates. Of the twenty-three, “We’re not retreating to the more than half were in the hands fortress,” Barris said firmly. of the Healers. The remaining "Under no circumstances." were loyal to Unity, to Vulcan

"Then we’ll have to join the III. » Healers.’.’ Daily fingered his pen- cil beam. "One or the other. e stood by the window, Unity or the Healers. Which H watching a mob of Healers will it be?” struggling with a flock of ham- Neither,” Barris said. "We’re mers. Again and again the ham- n °t joining cither side.” mers dipped, striking and retreat- —

40 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION ing; the mob fought them with lift. The guns were starting to; stones and pipe. Finally the ham- open up — dull muffled roars, mers were driven off. They dis- hesitant at first, as the gunners \ appeared into the evening dark- operated unfamiliar controls. ness. Most of them were Barris’ per- "I can’t understand it," Daily sonal guards; the others had gone said. "Where did they come with Reynolds and his group, to

from?” f the fortress. "The hammers?” Barris smiled A hammer dived for the win- grimly. "Vulcan III made them; dow. A pencil beam stabbed they’re adaptations of repair in- briefly into the room, disinte- struments. We supplied him with grating a narrow path. The ham- materials, but he did the actual mer swooped off and rose to repair work. He must have per- strike again. A bolt from one of

ceived the possibilities in the sit- the roof guns caught it. It burst uation a long time ago — and apart; bits rained down, white- started turning them out.” hot metallic particles. "I wonder how many of them ”We’re in a bad spot,” Daily he has.” said. "We’re completely sur- An hour later more hammers rounded by the Healers. Except returned; this time they were for this building, the rest of equipped with pencil beams. The Unity is loyal to Vulcan III. The mob scattered in terror, scream- fortress is already directing op- ing wildly as the hammers bore erations against the Healers down on them. throughout the world.” Barris turned from the win- "I wonder which will win,” dow. "This is serious. Tell the Pegler said. "The Healers or roof gunners to get ready.” Vulcan III." "The. Healers have the greater N the roof, the banks of chance,” Daily said. “He can't O heavy-duty blasters turned get all of them; there are millions to meet the attack. The hammers of them.” had finished with the mob; now "But Unity has the weapons, they were approaching the Unity and the organization. The Heal- building, fanning out in an arc ers will never be able to take the as they gained altitude for the fortress; they don’t even know attack. where it is. Vulcan III will be "Here they come,” Chai mut- able to construct new weapons - tered. in the open. Not secretly, any "We better get down in the more.” basement shelters.” Daily moved Suddenly Barris moved away, nervously toward the descent toward the lift. VULCAN'S HAMMER 41

"Where are you going?” Chai You could get to him, if you demanded. wanted.” "Down to the third subsurface "Why?” level,” Barris said. "What for?” arris’ face was hard. "I "There’s somebody I want to B want to see him; I have a to talk to.” proposal I want to make him.” arion Fields listened in- "A proposal?" The girl’s eyes

tently, huddled up in a, ball, shone cunningly. "Are you going her chin resting against her to join the Healers?” knees. Barris said nothing. He lit a "The Healers will win,” she cigaret and smoked, his face ex- said quietly, when Barris was pressionless. finished. "You’ll let me go, if I take "Perhaps. But Vulcan III has you to him?” Marion asked. "I experts to work for him, now — can go free?” those who remained loyal; most "Of course; there's no reason of Unity.” 'to keep you here.” "How could they?” "Mr. Dill kept me here.” Barris shrugged. "All their "Mr, Dill is dead.” lives they’ve been used to obey- Marion nodded. "That’s too ing Vulcan 111 to being a part bad. Are there very many of , of the Unity system. Why should those awful metal birds?” they change their minds, now? "The hammers? Vulcan 111 is Their whole lives have been making more of them. The new oriented around Unity. St’s the ones have pencil beams. With the only existence they know.” technical help he has, he’ll be "But he kills people.” able to organize full-scale war Barris smiled faintly. "So do against the Healers.” the Healers.” "But that means everybody! "That’s different; the people Millions of people!” they kill are bad people,” Marion "Everybody but those working considered. "I don’t see how they with him down in the fortress, could serve a machine against and the loyal Unity offices still human beings. They must be holding out.” crazy.” "How many are with him?” Barris leaned toward her. Barris shrugged. "A few hun-

Where is Father Fields? Are • dred.” you in touch with him?” Marion decided. She leaped Marion hesitated. "No.” abruptly to her feet. "All right;

But you know where he is. I’ll take you to my father. But ”

42 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION you have to come alone — no Before the jets were off a truck guards.” came rattling across the dirt and "All right.” weeds. "How’ll we get there? He’s in North America.” he truck halted; four men "By cruiser. We have three T in overalls jumped down and cruisers parked on the roof field. came cautiously toward them. After the attack we can take off.” One of the men waved a pellet- "Will we get past the hammer- rifle. "Who the hell are you?” birds?” Marion approached the men "I hope so,” Barris said. and conferred with them. Barris waited tensely. Far up in the sky, s the cruiser sank down over to the North, a flock of hammers A New York, Barris saw for rushed inland. A few moments the first time the damage the later bright fission flashes lit up Healers had done. the horizon. Vulcan III was Much of the business part of equipping them with bombs. the city was in ruins. The Unity Clouds rose, a line of explosions. building had held out a long A man approached Barris. time before Cartwright had taken "I’m Joe Potter; you’re Barris?” it with his armed police. Police "That’s right.” had fought Unity guards and "I’ll take you to Father Fields. hammers dispatched from the Come along.” fortress — mobs of men against Barris and Marion got in the pencil beams and heavy-duty tmck. They were driven without blasters. comment back toward the New Now the city was quiet. People York area. A few miles outside moved vaguely through the ruins, the city, Potter halted the truck picking for things. Here and at a gasoline station. To the right there brown-clad Healers organ- of the station was a roadside cafe, ized repair and reclamation. At a decrepit weatherbeaten place. the sound of the cruiser the peo- A few cars were pulled up in ple scattered for shelter. On the front of it. Some children were roof of a big factory building a playing in the dirt by the steps; blaster roared at them hesitantly. a dog was tied up in the yard in "Which way?” Barris asked. the back. Keep going straight. We "Get out,” Potter said. can land, soon. They’ll take us Barris got slowly out. to him on foot.” "Where — Barris flew on. He landed the "Inside.” Potter started up the ship in an open field at the edge motor again. Marion hopped out of a small Pennsylvania town. beside Barris. The truck pulled VULCAN'S HAMMER 43

a turn and disa fully and leaned back. "I came made > P' away,’ back down the road. here to talk to you. On business.” ea/ed P "Come on!” Marion scamper- on the porch of the cafe ields sat down slowly, his £Cj u p pulled the door open. Barris F penetrating eyes still on Bar- and followed after her cautiously. ris. "What about? Are you with us or not? Either you’re on our M the dingy cafe an old man side or you’re loyal to that devil I was sitting at a table littered machine.” with maps and papers. An an- "I’m on neither side.” Barris cient audio telephone was prop- traced a triangle on the moist ped up beside him, next to a surface of the table. "How many mug of coffee. sides has a triangle? Two — or The old man looked up — three?” and Barris saw massive-ridged "This is a war,” Father Fields eyebrows and a penetrating said harshly, "not a college class glance that chilled him to the in geometry; either you’re with bone. "Who are you?” the old us or against us.” man demanded, rising swiftly to Barris was silent a moment. his feet. "Two days ago I was very much "Daddy!” Marion leaped for- against you — but a lot has hap- ward and threw her arms around pened in two days.” him. Fields smiled. "Unity is grne; "I’m Director William Bar- in two days the great monster ris.” He held out his hand and system has been swept aside.” the old man shook. "You’re "Has it?” Barris stubbed his Father Fields?” cigaret out. "You’ve destroyed "That’s right.” Father Fields Unity here; you’ve destroyed the disengaged his daughter gently. offices and rounded up all the He studied Barris. "What are clerks and typists and stenograph- you doing here? I understood ers. But you haven’t got Vulcan you were in Geneva.” 111." Barris sat down at the table. "We’ll get him.” "I was; I came back here to "How? You don’t even know North America.” where he is; you've been trying "Mr. Barris is fighting Vulcan to find him for two years. And 111,” Marion piped, holding on until you do, you’ve done Tooth- ” light to her father’s arm. "He’s ing. our side.” "We're not afraid of Vulcan Is that true?” Father Fields III ; he can’t harm us. If he could rumbled. he would have, a long time ago.” ” No. Barris lit a cigaret care- ” Vulcan III found out about ” ” ,

44 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

the Healers twenty-four hours III who can turn out inconceiva- ago. For fifteen months he has ble weapons. They have the been told nothing.” schematics from the War. They "What!” Fields stiffened. can recreate all the weapons from "You mean — the past. With Vulcan Ill’s or- “You’ve been fighting Unity ganizing powers and their tech- — but not Vulcan III. You’ve nical know-now they’ll be able been fighting executives and to — managers — the great bureauc- "All of Unity remained racy and nothing else. No knowl- loyal?” edge of the Movement has reach- “A few stayed with me, at ed Vulcan III in all that time. the Unity Control building in He’s just beginning to fight, just Geneva.” .’’ now; the giant is waking up . . ather Fields’ eyes flickered. ather Fields sagged. The F "With you? What exactly are Fcolor drained from his face, you, Barris? You’re not with Vul- leaving it a sickly white. "I did- can III and yet you’re not with » n’t know." us. "The war is just beginning. "Some of us broke away from On the way here I watched a Unity.” Barris smiled icily. flight of hammers systematically "Traitors, Vulcan III called us. dropping bombs. It’s only the We broke away because we un-

beginning. Vulcan III is going derstood what Vulcan III had into action — for the first time. become. Not a rational computer He’s designing weapons down — but a living creature, strug- in the fortress.” gling to survive like any other "Good God.” Father Fields animal.” wiped his forehead shakily. "I Fields nodded. "I know — a

. . accursed living thing. A living wondered . Those god on an

metal birds . . . And now all the immense throne, worshipped by bombs.” He tapped a report. "I a vast system; I’ve known for a couldn't understand why they long time.” hadn’t used them sooner; we Barris was dumbfounded. thought they had nothing ...” "You’ve known Vulcan III was “They didn’t before, but they alive?” do now." Barris leaned toward "Of course! Why do you think Fields. "Listen to me: Down in the Movement came into being?” the fortress are two hundred of Barris considered. "Interest- the best trained experts in the ing. I thought virtually no one world, the finest technicians — knew. Dill found out only as a group of men loyal to Vulcan he died.” VULCAN'S HAMMER 45

"Dill is dead?” Departments operated by trained "Vulcan 111 killed him. You officials. The attack must strike owe your existence to Dill; he at the top — at the first echelon; prevented Vulcan III from know- a grass-roots revolution of dis- ing about you. If Dill had fed possessed masses won’t succeed.”

the data on your Movement to "The main trunk . . You . Vulcan III, he would have mean Vulcan III, of course.” smashed you months ago.”

“TTulcan III is the core of TJIields was shaking visibly. V Unity. You can close every A' "And we thought we had Unity office and still achieve

beaten Unity.” He clenched his nothing; Vulcan III is the unify-

fist around the coffee mug and ing principle of the whole sys-

hurled it crashing to the floor. tem, the center around which An ugly brown stain oozed Unity functions. And your Move- thickly out. ment can’t touch him.” "You could never beat Unity "We thought Vulcan III was — not the way you've been op- afraid of us. And all the time

erating. It's hopeless to - think he didn’t even know.”

that a revolutionary movement "He suspected. Vulcan III is can overthrow a modern bureau- clever; no man can out-think him. cratic system — backed up with Dill tried — and paid with his modern technocracy and elabo- life. He died protecting your rate industrial organization. You Movement.” can't destroy Unity from outside. "Why?" You’ve been lopping off "He was acting on orders — branches, a few leaves here and orders from Vulcan II. Before tt there. Clerks, petty officials, was destroyed.” minor functionaries.” Fields sagged. "I’m not sur- "We've taken almost half of prised; I was afraid Vulcan III the Unity offices!” had managed to get him, finally.” Barris laughed harshly. "That "Vulcan II had deduced the means nothing. Unity must be truth, but it wasn’t completely attacked from within; the main wrecked. I managed to recon- trunk must be severed. You can’t struct portions. It was from the

reach it from outside. reconstructed portions that I

"A hundred years ago, your learned the reason for //’ s in- revolutionary Movement might structions to Dill.” have worked — before the great A strange emotion twisted bureaucratic systems arose. Times across Fields’ ancient face. "You have changed. Government is a brought Vulcan II back? It's science — operated by experts. still functioning?" 46 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

"Only portions of the memory "Five.” tubes. Random computations "Five.” Fields shook his head. here and there.” ' And there are millions of us, all over the world.” He pulled ields sighed. He settled back a map around and jabbed a horny F in his chair and sat hunched finger at it. "We’ve taken over over, his face brooding. "I’m be- in North America, in Central ginning to understand. Dill America, in Eastern Europe, in worked under Vulcan II ' s in- all of Asia and Australia. It structions; he isolated Vulcan seemed only a question of time III. And now you’re attempting before we had the rest. We’ve to continue.” He raised his mas- been winning steadily.” sive head. "All right, Barris. Barris pushed the map back. What did you come here for? "But I know where the fortress What do you want?” is.” ”1 want to make a deal. As it "Vulcan III." Fields let his stands, your Movement hasn’t breath out with a sigh. "All got a chance. Vulcan III will re- right, Barris;’ I agree to your gain control in a matter of weeks. terms.” Your only hope is to destroy him Barris blinked. "Really?” — to find the fortress.” "That surprises you, doesn’t "Go on.” it? You didn’t think I’d

"I know where the fortress is; agree." I’ve been there with Dill. I can Barris shrugged, "I thought easily find it again -— and take you might fail to see how precar- an assault team there: If we act ious your position is.” quickly we can get to Vulcan "I agree — but for reasons

III. Before he designs more elab- you don’t know. Maybe later I’ll orate defense shields.” tell you why.” Fields examined

’’What do you want in ex- his pocket watch. "All right. It’s change?” agreed. What do you want for "Plenty," Barris said grimly. the attack on the fortress? We ' I'll try to outline it as briefly don’t have many guns.”

as I can.” "There are weapons back at Geneva.” or a time Father Fields was "How about transportation?” F silent. "You want a lot,” he "We have three high-speed said finally. military cruisers; they’ll do.” "That’s right.” Barris wrote rapidly on a piece "It’s incredible, you dictating of paper. "A small concentrated terms to me. How many in your attack, by trained men — experts group?” hitting at the vital center. A ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 47

hard-hitting efficient team — he Unity Control building with the right equipment. A hun- T was still in friendly hands. dred well-chosen men will do. They landed on the roof and Everything will depend on the hurried down the ramps into the first ten minutes in the fortress; building. The Healers had ceased if we succeed, it’ll be right attacking — on orders from away. There will be no second Fields; but now hammers swarm- chance." ed constantly in the sky above, Fields gazed at the Director diving down and twisting agilely intently. "Barris, you really to avoid the roof guns. Half of think we have a chance? Can we the main building was in ruins, really get to Vulcan III?" The but the guns fired on, bringing old hands twisted. "For two years down the hammers when they I’ve thought of nothing else. came too close. Smashing that satanic mass of "It’s a losing battle,” Daily parts and tubes — muttered; "we’re short on am- "We’ll get to him," Barris munition — only a question of time. said. . There seem to be an end- less* number of the damn things.” ields collected the men Barris worked rapidly. He F Barris needed. They were supplied his attack force with loaded into the cruiser. Barris the best weapons available, sup- took off and they headed back plies stored xn the vaults below towar i Geneva. Fields came with the Control building. From the him. Halfway across the Atlantic five Directors he selected Pegler ffiey passed an immense swarm and Chai, and a hundred of the or hammers, streaking toward best-trained troops. helpless, undefended North "I’m going along,” Fields

America. said. "If the attack fails I don’t

"Look at them,’’ Barris said, want to stay alive; if it succeeds horrified. I want to be on hand to see it.” The hammers were big, now Barris carefully uncrated a — almost as large as the cruiser. manual ly-operated fission bomb. They moved with incredible "This is for him.” He weighed speed, disappearing almost at the bomb grimly in the palm of once. A few minutes later a new his hand. " Vulcan III is built of horde appeared, these like slen- reinforced high-quality rexeroid; der needles. They ignored the if we expect to destroy his power ship and followed the first group system we’ll need this. Regular over the horizon. concussion waves won’t affect "New types," Barris said. him; he’s built to withstand "He’s wasting no time.” virtually everything.” 48 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

t sunset, Barris loaded the VI A three cruisers with the men and equipment. The roof guns arris dived. Pcgler’s ship sent up a heavy barrage to cover whipped through the dark- their takeoff. "Here we go,” B ness behind him, lashing Barris said. His ship roared from toward the ground below; Chai’s the roof field into the darkness, ship shot off to the right and the other two close behind. headed directly over the fortress. Two hammers swooped down Hammers rose in vast swarms after them. A burst from a roof and moved toward Chai’s ship, gun caught one; the other retreat- separating and engulfing it. ed and gained altitude. "Hang on,” Barris gasped. 'We’ll have to shake them,” The ground rose; landing Barris said; "we don’t want brakes screamed. The ship hit, Vulcan III tipped off.” spinning and crashing among the He gave quick orders. The trees and boulders. three cruisers shot off in differ- "Out!” Barris ordered, pull- ent directions, dividing up rapid- ing himself to his feet and ly. A few hammers tagged them throwing the hatch release. The awhile and then gave up. hatches slid back and the men "I’m clear,” Chai in the second poured out, dragging their equip- cruiser reported. ment into the cold night dark- "Clear,” reported Pegler in the ness. third. Above them in the sky, Chai’s Barris glanced at the old man ship fought with the hammers; sitting beside him. Behind them it twisted and foiled, firing rap- the ship was crowded with grim- idly. More hammers rose from faced soldiers, loaded down with the fortress, great black clouds guns and equipment, squatting that swiftly gained altitude. Peg- nervously in a mass as the ship ler’s ship was landing. It roared raced through the darkness. over them and crashed against "Here we go,” Barris said. He the side of a hill a few hundred swung the ship in a wide arc. yards from the outer defense Into the speaker he ordered: wall of the fortress. "We’ll reform for the attack on The heavy guns of the fortress the fortress. I’ll lead. You two were beginning to open up. A come behind.” vast fountain of white burst "Ate we dose?” Fields asked. loose, showering rocks and debris "Damn close.” Barris exam- on Barris and Fields as they ined his wristwatch. "We should climbed out of their ship. be over it in a few minutes. Get "Hurry!” Barris ordered. “Get set" the bores going." ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 49

he men were assembling two he fleets of screaming T gopher bores. The first bore T hammers were descending, had already whined into action. hurtling toward the ground. More shells from the fortress Their beams stabbed into the struck around them; the night trees and ignited columns of was lit up with explosions. flaming wood and branches. One Barris crouched down. "How of Pepler’s cannon roared. A are you making out?” he shouted group of hammers disappeared, above the roar, his lips close to but more took their places. An his helmet speaker. endless torrent of hammers, "All right,” Pegler’s voice rising up from the fortress like came weakly in his earphones. black bats. "We’re down and getting out the The umbrella flickered purple.

big cannon.” Reluctantly, it came on and set-

"That’ll hold off the ham- tled in place. Vaguely, beyond it, mers,” Barris said to Fields. He Barris could make out the ham- peered up at the sky. "I hope mers circling in confusion. A Chai — group of diem entered the um- Chai’s ship rolled and spun, brella — and were silently trying to evade the ring of ham- puffed out.

mers closing around it. Its jets Barris relaxed. "Good; now smoked briefly. A direct hit. The we don’t have to worry about ship wobbled and hesitated. them.” "Drop your men,” Barris or- "Gophers are halfway along,” dered into his phones. "You’re the leader of the bore team re- right over the fortress.” ported. From Chai’s ship showered a Two immense holes yawned, cloud of white dots. Men in jump echoing and vibrating as the suits, drifting slowly toward the gopher bores crept into the earth. ground below. Hammers screech- Technicians disappeared after ed around them; the men fired diem. The first group of armed back with pencil beams. The troops followed them cautiously, hammers retreated warily. swallowed up by the earth. "Chai’s men will take care of "Were on our way,” Barris the direct attack,” Barris ex- said. plained. "Meanwhile, the bores are moving.” ff to the right, Pegler’s "Umbrella almost ready,” a O cannon boomed loudly, as technician reported. the fleets of hammers turned "Good. They’re beginning to their attention on him. The ham- dive on us; their screen-probes mers dived and released bombs. must have spotted us,” An inferno of white pillars ”

50 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION checkered across the countryside, installations of the fortress. The moving toward Pegler’s ship. hammers fluttered above it un- "Get your umbrella up!" Bar certainly, cut off from the levels ris shouted into his helmet beneath. Between them and speaker. Vtdcan III was a layer of fused Pegler’s umbrella flickered. It slag, sputtering metal that cov- hesitated — ered everything in sight. A bomb cut across dead center. Barris made his way along the Pegler’s ship vanished; clouds of tunnel, pushing past the techni- particles burst into the air, metal cians operating the gopher. The and ash showering over the flam- gopher rumbled and vibrated as

ing ground. The heavy cannon it cut its way through the thick ceased abruptly. day toward the fortress. The air "It's up to us,” Barris gasped. was hot and moist. The men "Come on.” worked feverishly, directing the Over the fortress the first of gopher deeper and deeper. Tor- Chai’s men had reached the rents of steaming water poured ground. The defense guns spun from the clay around them. around, leaving Barris’ ship and "We’re deep,” Barris grunted. focusing on the drifting dots. "Are we — "They don’t have a chance,” "Getting close. Should emerge Fields muttered. near the bottom.” "No.” Barris dragged him to- " Vulcan Ill’s at the bottom." ward the first tunnel. "But we Barris nodded, holding his have.” pencil beam tight in one hand — Abruptly the fortress shudder- and the fission bomb in the other. ed. A vast tongue of fire rolled "You’re right.”

across it. The surface installations fused in a brief instant. A wave he gopher shrieked. Its of molten metal lapped and siz- T whirring blades tore into

zled, sealing over the fortress. metal; the bore team urged it Barris halted to watch. forward. The gopher slashed "Closed,” he breathed. "That’s into a solid wall of steel and the end of all the surface levels.” reinforced plastic and then slow- He shook himself away and en- ed to a stop. tered the first tunnel, squeezing "We’re there!” Barris shouted past the power leads to the above the roar. gopher. The gopher shuddered. Grad-

ually it inched forward. The lead- N ugly cloud of black rolled er of the team leaned close to A up from the sea of glimmer- Barris. "The other gopher’s ing slag that had been the surface through, into the fortress.” VULCAN'S HAMMER 51

All at once the wall collapsed. Unity guards were closing an Steel rained down on them. The emergency lock. soldiers moved forward, pushing "Get them!” Fields shouted. through the gap. Barris and Barris ran. His pencil beam Fields hurried with them. The traced a ribbon of ash across the jagged metal cut at them as they surface of the lock. Behind the squeezed through. Barris stum- lock Unity teams were bringing bled and fell, rolling in the hot up more blast cannon. A few water and debris. hammers fluttered around their Fields pulled him to his feet heads, screaming orders shrilly. excitedly. "We’re through. Barris reached the lock. His We’re in.” men swarmed past him, firing A great corridor stretched out into the narrowing breach. Unity ahead of them, dimly lit by re- guards dissolved. A hammer cessed lighting. The lowest level sailed through the breach, of the fortress. A few astonished straight at Barris. He caught a Unity guards scampered toward vision of glittering metal eyes, them pulling a blast cannon clutching claws — and then the quickly into position. hammer winked out, caught by Barris fired. Pencil beams cut a pencil beam. past him toward the cannon. The Fields squatted down by the cannon fired once — crazily. The hinge-rim of the lock. His ex- roof of the corridor dissolved. pert fingers traced across the im- Clouds of ash rolled around pulse leads. A sudden flash. The them. Barris moved forward. The lock trembled and sagged. blast cannon was in ruins. The Barris threw himself against

Unity guards were pulling back, it. The lock gave. Gradually it firing as they retreated. slid back, widening the gap. "Mine crew,” Barris snapped. "Get in,” Barris snarled. His men poured through, he mine crew advanced and crashing against the barricade T released their sucker mines. hastily erected by the Unity The mines leaped down the cor- guards. Hammers dived on them ridor toward the retreating frantically, smashing at their Unity guards. The guards broke heads. and fled as the mines exploded, hurling streamers of flame arris pushed past. A series against the walls. B of corridors twisted off in "Here we go,” Barris grunted. different directions. He hesi- Crouching, he hurried down the tated — corridor, clutching the fission "This way,” Fields shouted, bomb tight. Beyond a turn the hurrying past him. Barris blinked ”

52 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

— then followed him. A Unity expertly, dividing into two, guard rose up in front of him. groups. A beam cut close by his Harris blasted him and raced on head. He pulled down and hud- behind Fields. Behind them the dled next to Fields. shouts and roar of grinding "Bad spot,” Fields grunted.

metal receeded to an echo. "Damn right it’s bad.” Barris "Along here,” Fields gasped. fired quickly as a guard scurried They turned onto a side cor- toward them. The guard puffed ridor. A group of Unity officials out. At their rear there was a scattered. Clerks and executives. sudden sound. Barris turned — Gray clad men and women flee- and froze, stood there in chilled ing in panic. Endless office doors, horror. equipment, machines, files, flash- A heavy-duty blast cannon was ing by as they ran. rolling into position behind "Here!" Fields turned to the them, its gleaming snout pointed right. A huge warning sign cov- directly at them. A brief glimpse ered the ceiling of the corridor. — the cannon, four Unity guards Fields reached the elaborate lowering the muzzle into firing check turnstiles. Crouching position. guards fired wildly at him. Fields Then Fields acted. He grabbed fired back. The turnstiles smoked the fission bomb from Barris and and collapsed. Emergency alarms yanked the pin loose. clanged. Lights flashed ominous- "Fields!” Barris shouted, ly on and off — and then faded clutching at him frantically. into darkness. "For God’s sake! We need it Barris crashed through the to — turnstiles. He was past the check- A roar of white light. Barris point. But beyond him a line of was thrown violently against the Unity guards squatted, firing wall. Dazed, he skidded down rapidly at him and Fields. Barris the corridor, swept by a mon- dropped to his hands and knees strous hot wind that licked all and crawled forward, the fission around him. Debris and flaming bomb clutched tight. Fields fired rubbish blew with him, down at the guards. Blasts of heat cut the corridor and against two auto- over them, eating into the walls matic brake-doors. of the corridor. Obediently, the ponderous doors rolled aside. A vast cham- he guards were moving ber yawned abruptly ahead. The T around them, circling to cut wind subsided, dissipating into them off. Barris felt sudden fear. the chamber. Barris fought off His men were a long way behind. numbing darkness that plucked The guards were maneuvering at his mind. He reeled clumsily ” ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 53

"Fields! You damn "Shut up,” Fields to his knees, grated; fool — "give me a hand." He ripped a handful of wiring loose from a n pulled himself frantically data-trough relay turret. "Quick!”— H to his feet, swaying and Barris gaped. "What half-falling. His head rang; his "Hurry! While there’s time!” clothing was burned and singed. A hammer sw'ooped above A few feet off Fields was strug- them, and the voice said, "Trai- gling up, groaning with pain. tors! Murderers!" The heavy-duty blast cannon More hammers fluttered into was gone. Smoking debris was the chamber and circled down littered everywhere. The walls of on them. Barris fired at them the corridor behind them glowed wildly. "For God’s sake, Fields, white with the heat of the blast. we’re licked; without the bomb He and Fields were alone. The there’s nothing we can do.” remains of the Unity guards and More and more hammers their equipment were strewn flocked around them. Barris fired along the buckling corridor. desperately, crouching down Before them, filling the great against the wall. Two hammers chamber, rose an immense cube. dissolved in ash. He peered Through his agony Barris felt a around. Fields had moved away. momentary flicker of awe. The He was crawling across the cham- great square, buzzing and glow- ber, toward the towering wall of ing red, its vast interior churn- dials and metal. ing as a multitude of complex "Fields!” Barris shouted. relays and tubes functioned in "What are you doing?” frantic activity. A hammer dived at Fields. Vulcan III. The great com- "Stop! Stop at once!" puter. Barris clenched his empty Barris burned the hammer to fists futilely. The fission bomb ash. The others left him abrupt- was gone — wasted. And behind ly and headed after Fields, them, echoing and ringing down screeching and screaming, diving the corridor, came more teams at him in insane frenzy. Fields of Unity guards, dragging blast swarmed up the face of the cube, cannon and hurrying into attack the great impersonal metal face. position. Guards — and flocks He disappeared into the maze of of furious hammers. wiring that was Vulcan Ill’s power supply. The hammers <<- P\amn you!” Barris shouted, crashed futilely against the sleek L' at the vast gleaming cube metal sides of the great cube. that rose impassively before him. "Stop him! Stop him, Barris!" All this way and — "Get him away!" The ham- ” ”

54 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION mers darted frantically at Barris. their sound ceased abruptly. Si- "Make him slop! Make him get lently, the hammers spiralled to- away!” ward the floor. One by one, drop- ping silently, they crashed to the damaged hammer struggled concrete and lay still. Inert heaps A across the floor toward of metal and plastic — nothing Barris, its metal eyes gleaming. more. "If you let him destroy me you’ll The rows of lights and meters destroy the world! on the cube face died into dark- "Madman! ness; the power hum failed and "Monster! was still. Tire churning and !” "Depraved beast The ham- whirring of Vulcan Ill's machin- mers struggled to reach Barris in ery, the glow of red, faded and a last desperate fury. A hammer were gone. slashed past him and burst apart Vulcan III was dead. against the concrete floor. Barris sprawled behind a massive sup- ields emerged, wiping his port beam. Fields was utterly F grimy hands and gasping for gone — vanished into the cube. breath. "It’s over, Barris.” Barris came shakily from be- "Listen to me!” a hammer hind the support beam. The blared. "While there’s still time. chamber was incredibly still; This is insane. Get him away! none of the hammers moved. He’s killing me!” Barris kicked at one with his "We can agree!” the damaged foot, dazed. The metal heap was hammer stated, trying to move utterly still -— silent and unmov- toward Barris behind the sup- ing. "It happened fast.”

port beam. "We can agree on an "No, it didn’t take long. Once arrangement! I was inside.” " Please Barris! Don’t let him A pair of Barris’ troops ap- , destroy me! peared at the doorway. "You all "Make him slop! Get him right?” one demanded. away! "Sure.” Barris nodded shakily.

"Barris ! Barris! Please do "We’re fine.” not — "It’s over. All the hammers From the intricate power sup- died.” The troops came cautious- ply that laced up the side of ly into the chamber. "Good God. Vulcan III came a blinding flash Is that — of light. A loud pop and an "It's him. Or it was him." acrid, burning odor. One of the soldiers advanced, The hammers wobbled; they aiming his pencil beam grimly. hesitated in their frantic flight; "I’ll finish the job.” " ”

VULCAN'S HAMMER 55

arris stopped him. "Get "I’ve already agreed," Fields B back. Don’t touch him; set said. "I’ll stick to it — the bar- up a guard across the entrance. gain we made.”

I don’t want anything to happen "What are you up to?” Rey- to him.” nolds demanded. "But —

"That’s an order,” Barris “TTulcan III is dead. Finish- walked over to Fields. "Are you V ed. There won’t be any all right?” more of him; from now on we’ll The old man nodded silently. be running things on our own.” He sat gasping for breath and "We can’t," Reynolds said mopping his face. "That was flatly. quite a time.” He sighed, and Barris shrugged. “Maybe not. smiled suddenly. You don’t have any faith in your- More troops entered the cham- self, Reynolds; you don’t think ber, dragging a gray-clad figure we can run society alone.” between them. Reynolds tore "We’ve always had — loose. "You destroyed him! You "I ordered my troops to set up damn fools!” a guard around the remains of

"Take it easy," Barris said. Vulcan 111," Barris said. "The "Sit down and shut up.” He power supply is gone. Vulcan III indicated Fields. "Sit dowm there, is dead, but the computing equip- beside him; I have some things ment is intact. We were careful to make clear.” about that. We made sure only "You think we can survive the pow'er system was destroyed, without Vulcan III?" Reynolds nothing more.” demanded hoarsely. His right Reynolds was puzzled. arm was tied up and bandaged. "Why?” A deep cut over his eyes was still bleeding. "You’ve destroyed “TXTe’re going to keep what’s

Unity. You're a traitor, Barris; VV left of it. We’ll continue you were working for them all to use Vulcan HI — as we used the time.” computers in the past, in a strictly "Them? The Healers? Barris advisory capacity. Not to tell us now grinned ironically. "Fields what to do; not to make deci- wouldn’t agree.” He searched his sions for us. Vulcan 111 will still coat pocket and got out a crush- function — but as a calculating ed package of cigarets. Watching machine, not as a living entity. Reynolds and Fields, Barris lit And III won’t be giving any up thoughtfully. "I don’t think more orders.” either of you is going to agree Reynolds struggled angrily. with this.” "Human minds will be substi- ”

56 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION tuted! Ultimate decisions will be a facility with words and theo- made by humans!” retical knowledge. Mind stuff — "That’s right.” as if manual skills, bricklaying,

“But humans . . Reynolds pipe-fitting, weaving, sewing, broke off. "Humans aren’t capa- painting, baking, weren’t of any ble of objective thought.” He value. As if all the people who hesitated uncertainly, a slow flush work with their hands, the skill covering his features. “Like — of their fingers, their arms, the like Vulcan III." knowledge of their muscles, were Barris laughed. "Like Vulcan riff-raff. Useless debris. III." Abruptly he dropped his cigaret and ground it out. "Let's “you wonder why farmers get down to business. Unity will 1 and masons and weavers continue. The system of interna- and busdrivers hate Unity. Why tional control. Directors and they hate you and Vulcan 111 and trained technicians. We’ll keep everything the system stands for. Vulcan III — the computing I’ll tell you why: Because they’re part, at least. Fields thinks we out; because they've been ex-

can cut III down to size, small cluded. A new aristocracy is rul- enough so that we can take care ing them — the educated tech-

of it. We don’t want a repetition nician. A new hierarchy, a new of this.” elite to take the place of the old.

Fields stirred. "You also Originally, it was priests and said — warrior kings. Then the landed

- "The structure of Unity will rich . Then the big urban indus- be different. We'll broaden our trialists. Now it’s Unity — the base. We have to. Rational con- system of the bright young men, trol of society is fine — until it with their slide rules and gray becomes a cult of reason, a cult suits and pastel ties. The man- with the majority of people on agers with education. Priests in the outside, too impure to join. gray.” It’s time you stopped worship- "Nonsense!” Reynolds grated. ping the system, Reynolds. Your "Why should they serve you? religion is too exclusive; it ex- You look down on them, aristo- cludes too many people.” crats, the pure-blooded looking "What are you talking about?" down on the rabble. As far as "The cult of reason and sci- you’re concerned they're a differ- ence. For experts only — run by, ent race. Apes — living in a and for technocrats. For those world run by educated techni- few oriented around formal cians. Rational experts surround- knowledge, adept with symbols ed by animals in the grip of emo- and verbal signs. Those who have tion. VULCAN'S HAMMER 57

"Both you and Fields are to whom everything else is sub- fanatics. Cultists. The cult of ordinated. From now on we’ll science on the one hand, the cult make all the decisions ourselves. of emotion on the other. Gray Your god is gone, Reynolds. All priests, brown priests. Each of the gods are gone. We humans you has his own temples, his will make the decisions on our own dogma, his own gods.” own, without outside help. "Gods?" There’ll be nothing above us but empty sky.” arris indicated the great “You think you can put this B silent cube that had been across?” Reynolds asked. Vulcan III. “We’ve smashed this "I don't know. Maybe Unity god, Reynolds — your god; he’s can’t function without Vulcan III out of commission. Your modern at the top; maybe men actually god has been overthrown like aren’t capable of running their the earlier gods, the deities of own society. But we’re going to the past. You turned science and make the try.” reason from a tool of man into a "It couldn’t turn out worse tyrant ruling over the human than this,” Fields said, indicating race. But that’s over with, now. the great silent mass of the cal-

Vulcan III is no longer func- culator. tioning. He’s gone — and we’re Barris turned abruptly to on our own.” Fields. "How did you know so “We’ll have to rebuild,” Rey- much about Vulcan III? You nolds muttered. "All the destruc- knew exactly where he was — tion and damage. All the loss.” and how to destroy him.” His "But no machines!” Father eyes were cold with suspicion. Fields gasped. "How? How do you know so "Plenty of machines!" Barris much about the Vulcan compu- snapped. "We’re not going to ters?” scrap our tools. We’re not giving up control of nature. We're not ields was silent a moment. sliding back to the days of oracles F Soldiers moved around the and prayers. There’s no substitute chamber, clearing up the wreck- for a rational society of men who age. The first groups of Healers understand and control the forces were beginning to trickle down around them. The experts will from outside. Gray-clad Unity remain. T-class, Unity, the system clerks and officials timidly poked will stay. And Vulcan III — but around the remains of their without authority and power. offices, still dazed and uncertain.

We’ll keep III, too, but as a tool, "I can explain it best this an instrument — not a master way," Fields said; "I was lire se FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

electrician who wired up Vulcan ing the years I tried repeatedly III originally.” to locate him — but without Barris let his breath out. "I success. Vulcan III had absolute thought so." control from the moment he was "It was under Vulcan IV s di- created. The damn monster pile! rection. I’m an old man. It was And then he wiped out Vulcan II during the War — when I was to save his own hide. Without young. We had only Vulcan 11 in a qualm, the way he’s killed all those days. They wanted a bigger the others. Utterly without con- computer, one that could deal science.” with ultimate values. They want- "You knew nothing about ed its scope radically expanded. Jason Dill?” I had nothing to do with the designing, of course — the paper “TyToTHiNG. We were cut work, the schematics, were for- apart too early. If only mulated and developed by T- we could have coordinated! But class personnel.” Vulcan III had too much power; "But you did the actual he controlled everything. Vulcan wiring.” II had to be careful; II was in danger, constant danger. It had ields smiled. "Yes, I did the to proceed carefully.” F physical work. Vulcan II was "II was careful — but not with me constantly, directing me; careful enough.” he — it supervised the entire "No. Vulcan 111 finally man- project. I’ll never forget those aged to get II; it was only a

days; I was tw'enty-two years old, question of time. I think Vulcan

and a damn good electrician. II knew it; before I was dismiss- Vulcan II picked me from the ed, II tried to acquaint me with files over everybody else.” the realizations that were begin- "That’s why you hoped Vul- ning to come to him. That Vul- can II had been restored.” can III was growing, rising — "We were very close, for not a rational computer, a tool awhile. 11 kept me on — as long of man — but a living being. as it could. As you know, II was With his own drives, his own discarded soon after Vulcan III will to survive. was built — relieved of all ''Vulcan II saw this; II in- authority. Vulcan III took over formed me, made me aware of

completely and I was dismissed.” it. II was astute, Barris; it watch- "What happened then?” ed and considered and laid cau- "I lost contact with 11. Vulcan tious plans.” III drove a wall between us; we "Plans?” were cut completely apart. Dur- "Consider the situation. II had ” •

VULCAN'S HAMMER 59 keen totally removed from pow- on an out-of-date revolutionary one consulted it — except Movement. If you hadn’t stepped er. No pill. Dill was the only internal in, we would have failed. But contact. II made use of Dill as after all, Vulcan II w'as out of — date, best it could, gave him orders too. A useless object, a relic orders to withhold all informa- out of a past age. tion about us, about the Move- "In any case, II did what it ment of Healers. Thank God II could; originally it had super- lasted long enough to give those vised the wiring, obeying orders orders! If Vulcan III had found to faithfully actualize the sche- out about us earlier we wouldn’t matics. It allowed construction have had a chance. to proceed -without interference; that early II hadn’t deduced the «TTu LCAN II must have been consequences. It was only later on V very concerned about that that II found the answers. — afraid Vulcan 111 would find out about us too soon. We were “"VTou see, Barris, Vulcan II growing all over the world, but J- founded the Healers’ against Vulcan III we would Movement, was the guiding spir-

have been helpless. Vulcan 11 it behind it — 11 created it. I

knew that; it manipulated Dill would never have developed the

as best it could, used Dill to keep idea, the awareness of the dan- Vulcan III ignorant of the forces ger, by myself. That's why I was working against him.” glad to accept your conditions. Barris grinned wryly. "Dill You were working along the obeyed the orders without under- same lines, carrying on the work standing them or what they were II started. You wanted to keep for. Even after Vulcan II was Unity — to keep Vulcan III, not gone. The product of a bureau- as a master, but as an instrument cratic structure.” to implement human will. Vul- "It was a good thing for us, can II recommended that. II may too. Time was needed — time have been out of date, as you for the Movement to grow. As say; but that was IV s solution — you said, such a revolution is the same as yours.” really out of date. But Vulcan II Barris considered. Abruptly he

Was counting on it, hoping it laughed. "Maybe you're right. would succeed. Unable to contact Or maybe — ®te , shut off and virtually help- "Or what?” less, Vulcan II could only wait. "Vulcan II was probably jeal- It did what little he could — ous of Vulcan III." Then he and waited. sobered. "No, not exactly. II 'Vulcan II pinned all hope wasn’t alive and its attempts at 60 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION self-preservation were entirely selves talking about II as if i^ impersonal; Vulcan III, and his too, were alive. potentialities were considered "Well ... Ill wasn’t any kind merely as possible impediments of insane monster, out to destroy to IV s solving problems — the its makers; he was still doing function for which it was built. what he had been designed to But tire effect, so far as we were do — with one alteration. As a concerned, was that of two living thing, with a drive toward scheming computers, plotting self-preservation, it had to de- against each other. Did you ever stroy some humans, who were think of that?” endangering his existence, in or- Startled, Fields blanched, der to serve the whole of human- "I ity as he was designed to do. "Two contending machines — That’s one thing II and Dill ac- each out to get the other, each complished by with-holding in- lining up sides. Vulcan III had formation; III deduced the exist- the Unity system; Vulcan II put ence of danger, but had not together the Healers. Unity and enough data to assess its extent Healers — both tools of com- before the clash started. After puting machines.” all, Larsen didn’t have all the

information to feed him. It ields’ composure was gone. would destroy humans, but not F "Good God!” He paused for on any larger scale than the evi-

a moment. "But . . . why didn't dence indicated as necessary; it Vulcan III bomb us with would not have panic-reactions,

atomics?” and destroy blindly . . . Chemical Barris frowned. "I wondered bombs seemed to be adequate for

as soon as I realized that only the initial effort.” chemical bombs were being drop- "A great power struggle,” ped. Then it came to me — you Fields whispered. "So that was know what a struggle it has been it.” for us not to personalize the com- “Yes — in a sense your group, puters, how careful we were al- Reynolds’ group, and my group, ways to think and speak of I and too, were all pawns. But we hu-

11 as it. And how quickly and mans came out ahead, anyway.’’ easily we started to call Vulcan Barris grinned. "You were afl III him, as soon as we learned instrument of Vulcan II, Fields; III was alive — in fact, once we Like Unity, your Movement was started, Dill and I found our- — Vulcan’s hammer.” FORCES AND MEN

N A recent issue of the later that we began to discover, Saturday Review (Novem- if we studied further, the social

I ber 5, 1955), Allan Nevins and economic, etc., forces which explores the question, "Is His- shaped Washington, and find tory Made By Heroes?" that Lincoln spoke with a great Very probably, most of us deal of truth when he confessed, started learning history from the "Events have controlled me.” "great man” or "hero” stand- Prior to the present century, point, which places the individ- few historians and/or biogra- ual aboye and beyond the com- phers considered the milieu of plicated interplay of social, eco- the 18th Century as more than nomic, ethical, psychological, the stage upon which Washing- etc., forces. We learned of ton, etc., played his role, or con- George Washington’s personal sidered Lincoln as a stepson of force of character and achieve- Destiny, rather than its master, ment and thought of him as a however tardy his contempo- ffian who took hold of events raries might have been in appre- fnd shaped them with his own ciating the fact. But after the indomitable will; we learned of 20th Century’s first world war, Abraham Lincoln’s perseverance, psychological reactions (com- bumiiity, and ability to lead men bined with the impact of Hege- ^bo seemed at the time to be of lian dialectics, as modified by greater stature. It was not until Karl Marx and others) resulted

61 62 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

in a spree of "debunking” biog- is; popular fiction, from western, raphies. Washington’s virtues etc., books to the pulps main- were not extenuated wherein he tained the all-conquering hero was worthy, as Brutus said of much longer.) Caesar (according to Shake- Now science fiction is differ-

speare), but it was made to ap- ent from most mainstream fic- pear that social and economic tion, among other respects, in forces were paramount and that that while mainstream fiction is the American Revolution would imaginary biography, science fic- have occurred — and probably tion was, at first, imaginary his- with as definite success — any- tory — the history of great way; Lincoln’s tormented psyche inventions, great explorations, was explored, while the man great catastrophes, great wars, himself was relegated to the role etc., seen through the eyes of the of steward of economic and so- heroes who shaped and con- cial determinism, etc. trolled them. There was the lonely, dedicated — and usually ttitudes toward history embittered — great man (such A were split into two camps, heroes as Robur the Conqueror, with near-Aristotelian either-or Cosmo Versal, etc. the idealis- a ) ; division between them. I say tic hero-scientist (such as Rich- "near-Aristotelian” because the ard Seaton, Tom Swift, etc.); adherents of the "hero” camp and the hero-adventurer, (such didn’t really consider the en- as John Carter, Miles Cabot,

vironment completely irrelevant, etc, ) . In many of the great catas- nor did the "dialectic” side deny trophes and wars, the hero ap- the fact of a given individual, pears only as a deus ex machina in a specific position at a spe- to bring forth the great inven- cific time, having some weight. tion or the weapon which saves

The "social forces” adherents doomed humanity, or what is

maintained that events brought left of it, at zero minus one. forth the type of man which was required. t is common to label such Fiction, particularly the fic- I heroes these days as "stereo- tion of the past three decades, typed”; but to dismiss them with has shown the impact of these this one phrase doesn’t exactly attitudes; the impersonal forces explain the reason that they are school has had quite an ascend- passe. While many of them were ancy, resulting in the "protago- indeed cardboard cutouts, con- nist-victim” repfedng the "pro- temporary readers could believe tagonist-hero” to a considerable in them nonetheless — because extent. (In serious fiction, that they were acceptable stereotypes; FORCES AND MEN 63

they were more or less skillfully thors as Austin Hall. There was presented archetypes of the read- also a trend toward more pica- ers’ beliefs and attitudes about resque characters (as exempli- history and the way the world fied by Giles Habibula in "The worked, or should work. (In the Legion of Space”) and heroes same way, the haunted castles, who had much more trouble de- ghosts, ghouls, vampires, etc., of feating the opposition. Some- Gothic Romances, and their suc- how, Richard Seaton never cessors in weird fiction were seemed to be in any real danger stereotypes — quite acceptable in the "Skylark of Space”; John both to the elder generation who Star, however, and his compan- believed in them, and the ion legionnaires found them- younger generation who enjoyed selves in horrible jams wherein /suspending disbelief for the sake they couldn’t (or didn’t) dream of titillating shudders, until the up new inventions and weapons impact of scientific warfare and on the spot but just laboriously the atomic age made acceptance and painfully made do with impossible.) what they had at hand — and When existing stereotypes in with a truly breathtaking lack of fiction begin to wear thin, the credibility. Even at the time it first reaction is toward improv- was difficult to believe that any- ing them rather than discarding one could undergo the privations them. Thus, in science fiction, described on Yarkand. around 1930, we saw the trend Fiction, unfortunately, can- toward alignment with popular not be as incredible as fact; read- fiction of the time. This includ- ing Cecil Woodham-Smith’s ed more universally adopting the "The Reason Why,” some plot-forms of general pulp fic- months back, left me with the tion (exemplified by Clayton’s feeling that this thoroughly- Astounding Stories oj Super documented account of the Science, and the injection of Crimean War topped all the “mystery, adventure, romance” fantastic fiction I’d ever come into Wonder Stories and Amaz- across. The most flabbergasting ing Stories). Then followed thing about the charge of the the trend toward more "real- Light Brigade was that these istic” characterization — which men, half dead of cholera, were amounted to making the hero able to mount their horses and talk a little more like the edu- charge anywhere at all. cated man in the street and threw out most of the Victorian dia- he Campbell era in science logue, etc., which still abounded T fiction brought forth further in the current works of such au- improvement of the stereotypes 44 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

— more realism in background fans of the present day; I mere- and characterization, more be- ly suspect that they are a lievable motivations. But the minority.) protagonist was still a hero, still an individual contesting and he protagonist-victim at- eventually triumphing over the T titude in fiction arises from forces against him. And if he the dialectic, "impersonal forces” died at the end, as did L' Ron outlook on history, derived from Hubbard’s Lieutenant in "Final study on the part of initially-in- Blackout;” he died in the grand fluencing writers, from personal manner — like Samson, bring- experience of readers who went ing down the Philistines with through depression and war, etc., him. and from following what seemed One reason why science fiction to be the main chance on the has had small acceptance and part of subsequent writers. The circulation, is that it lagged be- insipid "common man” protago- hind the change of stereotypes nist and the protagonist-as-psy- in mainstream fiction (the shift chopathological-case-history both from protagonist-as-hero to pro- derive from this base. Neurotic tagonist-as-victim, which started determinism followed in the in mainstream fiction in the wake of economic determinism, ’20s) and that science fiction, by as events began to prove that col- its very nature, lies outside the lective ownership of the means interests of most readers of pop- of production, etc., didn’t abro- ular fiction. Improving stereo- gate all the evils of "capital- types broadened the appeal, but ism.” at best science fiction magazines Numerous historians, how- never sold as widely as westerns ever, have learned that history and detectives in their field days. is a synthesis of individuals and

For the most part, it could not forces; that the "great man” does seriously interest persons whose exist, but is shaped by forces, is educational and intellectual lev- dependent upon innumerable els were high enough to appre- lesser men around him to a great ciate it at its best. A survey of extent, and is capable both of the question hasn’t been made, controlling and being controlled to my knowledge, but my guess . by events. Whoever.- said that is that the majority of science Winston Churchill has one of fiction followers do not have the greatest minds of the 19th catholic tastes and backgrounds Century may have imagined he in other types of literature. (I was dealing a crushing epigram. do not exclude the liberal arts Not so; assuming its accuracy' student reader and the well-read — and I think the mot has a FORCES AND MEN 65

great deal of justice — implies despite its age. Schweik is the certain definite strengths as well protagonist, and he is distinctly as weaknesses. And what the an individual in his own right; jester did not realize was bow he is set upon by forces greater

much of the qualities which we than himself, but is not the vic- call "Victorian” are still not only tim — even though he might appropriate and applicable in appear to be. Without any super- current statesmanship, but also human and unbelievable feats, desirable. The events have he adapts himself in his own proven Churchill right in an manner and triumphs by his own embarrassing number of in- standards. Now, obviously, all stances where, by 20th Century protagonists can’t be Schweiks; standards, he was ludicrously we want to read about protago- wrong. Partly because the great nists who are able to exert more Victorians had an understand- direct control over forces and ing of human political behavior events than that. And accepting — which has not changed to the existence of exterior and in- conform with 20th Century terior forces which shape events opinions of it. —irrespective of the individual’s intentions, desires, or actions — he main point being that the we cannot make our protagonists T "great man” attitude toward all-around, full-time heroes. No history has led to primacy of the such mortal has ever existed — individual, and the "impersonal but all manner of men and wom- forces” attitude has led to de- en have, at times (and at some personalization of the individ- of the most unlikely times) per- ual, what attitude should syn- formed heroic acts. thesis foster? The best example The new stereotypes, then, I can think of for a suggestion won’t be either Superman or Sad is "The Good Soldier Schweik”, Sack. The best way to insure that a messenger cant deliver

secret information to the wrong person is to arrange things

so that he doesn’t have any idea what the message is. CODE IN THE HEAD

by Randall Garrett

Illustrated by Kelly Freas

he Director said, "That’s face broke into a sardonic grin.

it; they can’t unlock it "Here’s your weapons,” he said T without burning you out, ungrammatically; "they’re all and if they do that, they’ll never you get." get it.” And he handed me the pack-

I still felt groggy, but I ages. "Now get going.” reached out and took the cigarct out of the old man’s hands. wo hours later, I was on a "Sure,” I said, "I’m glad of T jet transport for Texas, in that.” Southwest Territory. He got the sarcasm, but his I should have known that expression didn’t change as I Senator Lasser would be on the took a deep drag of smoke. lookout for anyone headed for ’"When you leave here,” he said, Texas, and I should have known "you won’t even remember this that the lookouts would be

conversation until it’s keyed in. watching for any opposition. But

But it is important that you re- I didn’t actually spot the group member it later. Got it?” until we were well over Penn-

I nodded. "I’ve got it,” I said. sylvania.

And I knew I had. - There were five Senators left- The Director's heavy, lined When longevity treatments had

66 been discovered, they were ex- which had once been the United pensive as hell; and the decision States eventually regained its

had been to give them to those freedom to vote and act as it who deserved them — by popu- chose.

lar vote. Naturally, the treat- I, personally, consider it to be ments had gone to those who a rather silly ideal, but, what the controlled the vote. That went hell, I’m an FBI man; I follow without saying. orders.

Originally, there had been I had no more idea why I svas fifty-two Senators. But as each going to El Paso than the man one’s territory had been vacated in the moon does, but I knew by violent death, his neighbors that I’d know svhen I got there. took over until now, after years The thing that made me grin and decades of intrigue, live was that all five of the Senators Senators controlled all of North were watching me so closely. America. One of them was scheduled to There was only one Immortal die, but none of them knew that that the Senate didn’t know for sure — and they all thought about — the Director of the it was another of the Senators bbl. And his sole purpose in that was planning the death. bfe was to see that the country None of them suspected the

67 68 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

feeble, worthless Federal Gov- I settled myself into my seat ernment. and tried not to look as though They did, however, know that I w'ere trying to be inconspicu- someone, somehow, was trans- ous. There was no one in the porting important information seat next to me. The seat in front to El Paso — and they had of me held two of Senator Gren-

somehow managed to narrow it don’s men; the third one wr as down to this particular plane. two seats further up. The seat across the aisle held one of Sen- LOOKED around at the other ator Lasser’s men and one of I passengers. The boys were Senator Rowdey’s. There were easy to spot — all five groups two v/omen, probably mother of them. Each Senator had sent and daughter, in the seat behind three men, and I had spotted me. The rest of the hatchet men them all from their pics in the were scattered through the FBI files. plane. I wondered how many of them knew each other; and Fifteen men on a dead I wondered if any of them had man’s chest, spotted me. Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of rum! GOT up quietly and strolled I down the aisle to the big door And the only ones that would that opened into the right wing, be on my side in a toss-up would where the bar w'as. Nobody be Senator Lasser’s men — only arose to follow me, but one of they didn’t know who I was, any Lasser’s agents was already at more than the other twelve did. the bar, arguing w'ith the bar-

I wondered how the opposition keep. was going to try to get the in- Only in a stratoliner can you formation before this jet landed still find human bartenders; at Briggs Field. weight considerations forbid in- Frankly, I wasn’t too w'orried. stalling robot mixers. The only

In the first place, they’d find it robot on one of those babies is hard to spot me; in the second the pilot. place, they’d have to know' the "The proper method of mix- key word or phrase that wrnuld ing a Martini,” the mild-look- unlock my subconscious and re- ing young man at the bar was lease the information that had saying, "is gin and vermouth at been hypnotically planted there. a ratio of three point seven Until then, I wouldn’t have any seven to one. And don’t use an more idea what it was than they olive; it spoils the flavor — the did. vinegar, I mean.” CODE IN THE HEAD 69

The bartender nodded sagely saw that I was taking a cigaret the ritual of mixing case out. an d began He covered fast; his „ jyfartini properly for a Martini hand fumbled for a moment,

nut- and when it came out, it held a „ . “I’ll have one, too, I said, lighter, 'phen I added: "Mixed his I accepted his light and of- way,” and jerked my thumb at fered a cigaret. The trick had the Martini nut. shown me two things — maybe The Martini nut smiled his three. One, I could outdraw him thanks, and I smiled back, which if necessary; two, he was jumpy gave me a chance to look the as hell; and — possibly — he guy over. He didn’t look like the didn't know who I was. "typical” stage Texan — but We sipped our drinks in si- then, what Texan does? He lence. I knew I probably had him looked very mild and inoffen- guessing, but I didn’t want to

sive, but I knew him for one of confirm any of his guesses just the deadliest men in the Texas yet. I ran the smooth juniper- Rangers. He was probably armed and-spice flavor of the Martini

to his armpits, and it was kind around in my mouth and did of nice to know' that, in case of some figuring. a fracas, he would be on my In the past century or so, the side. FBI had become a sort of mes- He wore a Lincoln beard that senger service; the Federal Gov- framed his rather chubby face ernment no longer had any in a wreath of blond hair; his power — at least, in theory. Ac- tunic, with the cowl thrown tually, the Director was the Fed- back, was a pale mauve, and eral Government. And, as I’ve hung loosely enough to hide a said, his sole object during his small atomic cannon. long life, has been to get rid of "I see you’re a connoisseur,” the Immortals. To do so, he has he said, grinning. probably pulled some of the most "Not exactly,” I said modest- scheming, underhanded, and ly, "but I do like a good Mar- murderous tricks in history. He tini.” I plonked myself down on makes Machiavelli’s "Prince” the barstool and suddenly put look like a kid trying to lie to my right hand inside my tunic. his mother. I pulled out my cigaret case. ne of the Immortals was ^pHE Texas Ranger had re- O due to be removed at some acted rapidly. His own hand time in the near future, and the ^as inside his tunic, and he had word had gotten around. Nat- almost pulled his gun when he urally; the Director had seen to 70 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

that. The trouble was that no sible variations to a finite num- one of the Senators knew which ber. Nevertheless, the number it was to be, or who was plot- is big — something like ten to ting against him. Each one sus- the two hundredth power. pected the other four, which w>as And somewhere, buried in just the way the Director wanted my subconscious, was the key to

it; they must never realize that the scramblers. Just how the Di-

it was the Director himself who rector had found that informa- was rubbing out the boys. tion, I didn’t know, and I didn’t

Waterford, Senator of Amer- care; my job was to deliver it ica South, and Anthony Rowley, intact. Senator of Northwestern Sector, had a communication line which omeone sat down at the bar stretched across the continent, S next to me. I looked up cas- crossing Eastern Sector Senator ually, then looked back at my Grendon’s territory, and touch- drink; it was one of Grendon’s ing a corner of Lasser’s territory boys — a heavy-set, bull-like,

where it clipped off a corner of full-bearded bruiser who looked Texas. as though he ought to shake the Waterford and Rowley kept plane when he walked, and who shifting the tight beam so that actually moved more like a cat the others couldn’t get too good than a cow.

a line on it, but they also had None of them knew what in- to have a variable code that formation was being carried, of would keep anyone from know- course; the Director was sure of ing what was going on, even if that. And only Lasser’s men

they tapped the beam. knew that it was meant for Sen- The code consisted of a pair ator Lasser. of synchronized electronic scram- The others were suspicious of blers W'ith a variable pattern. the direct route that the inform- The messages "went in one end, ation was taking. Direct, yet

were scrambled, went through indirect. I was taking the stuff the decoder at the other end, to El Paso, but Lasser was in and came out in the clear. The Austin. Grendon, Quintell, Row- trick of tapping the beam would ley, and Waterford all thought

be to get the scrambler pattern, that looked a little fishy. It which is a job that’s impossible couldn’t possibly be meant for to do by trial-and-error tactics. Lasser; the trip was a blind. Theoretically, there were an in- Everybody was confused, and finite number of possible codes that was just what the FBI available, but the structure of a wanted. variable scrambler limits the pos- Another man drifted into the CODE IH THE HEAD 71

I began to feel a little at you, and that high- bar, and you know a fidgety. Was it possible that they velocity magnum bullet could had me spotted? come roaring out of it at any

I decided to check it. I or- time, it begins to look pretty big. dered another Martini and left "Turn around and lean while I went back against the wall,” it on the bar he instructed; to the men’s room. Nobody got "put your hands out to brace up immediately, but I hadn’t yourself.” expected that, anyway. I pushed I did as I was told, and he open the door and walked into began to go through my cloth- the rest room. The door hissed ing with his left hand, keeping shut behind me, cutting off the the magnum pistol trained on noise in the bar, leaving only the small of my back with the the subsonic beat of the rum- other. bling jet engines throbbing Within a few seconds, the through the metal of the floor. contents of my pockets were

I took a good look at myself spread out on the lavatory basin. in the mirror, hoping that my He didn’t seem satisfied; he kept nerves didn’t show. They didn’t; on patting me down, looking the neat, brown Vandyke beard for something that wasn’t there. and wavy brown hair bracketed I wasn’t carrying a gun. as calm looking a pair of gray Finally, he looked at the stuff eyes as I ever want to see on my he’d taken from my pockets and own face. said: "Key ring, pack and a half I checked my watch. Accord- of cigarets, wallet, roll of mints, ing to the shadow hands, we chewing gum, nail file, comb, had less than an hour and a half and handkerchief. Plus eighty- to Briggs Field. Once there, I’d five cents in change. No gun?” be safe. "No gun,” I said; "that’s illegal.” he door pushed open be- "So are a lot of other things.” T hind me. It was the Martini He flipped open my wallet and nut. There was no chance of my read the identity card after outdrawing him now; a heavy checking the little gold badge •20 caliber pistol was pointed at set into the plastic of the wallet. my midsection as I turned. "Just "I wish I had a checker,” he stand still, and you won't get said softly. He wanted to com- hurt,” he said mildly. pare the card with the tantalum I was in no mood to argue. identity plate that was riveted A twenty caliber hole may be to the bone of my left forearm. small according to measuring in- I wasn’t worried; even if he had struments, but when it’s pointed had a supersonic check beam, ”

72 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

the plate and the card would well what was going to happen, have matched, but he never told me or any of "Okay,” he went on, "put the other boys what it was. this stuff back in your pockets. The Ranger’s porcelain blue I’ll have to take a chance on eyes narrowed as he looked at M you. me. "The only trouble is that we have reason to suspect that did what he told me, stowing Grendon’s men know the key I the stuff away carefully. word that will unlock your hyp- "Who are you?” I asked, as no block.” though I didn’t know. I liked that even less. I’m He reholstered his pistol and glad I wasn't looking at my face took out his own wallet. "Cap- in the mirror when he said it. tain Roger Brill, Texas Rangers.” The card in his wallet con- f Waterford’s men, or Row-

firmed it. "Okay,” I said. "Now, I ley’s, ever found oat w'hat what tire hell’s the idea?” the information was, it would "I’ll give you a quick run- be useless to Lasser. All they down,” he said. "We won’t be would have to do would be to disturbed; my partner’s in the change the patterns on their foyer. variable scramblers. It would be "You’re carrying certain in- expensive, but it -would be done formation to Senator Lasser. I just that way. don't know what it is, and I I looked again at my watch. don’t care; my job is to get you "We’ll land in eighty minutes,” to the Senator alive. But a hitch I told him. "That doesn’t give has developed. There are at least them much time to act. Do they two of Grendon’s men and one know who I am?” of Quintell’s aboard this ship. "I don’t knov/; I think — They’ve got something up their The door burst open, inter- sleeves, and I don’t like it.” rupting him. He had his gun

"I don’t like it any better free, but he didn’t fire. than you do,” I said. And I must The guy at the door was a say that that was a definite un- tall, lean, lanky, lantern-jawed derstatement. The Director was character whom I recognized as always tossing me into situations another of Lasser’s men. like this; he likes to engineer "Captain,” he said, "someone little messes, like a kid putting has gimmicked the robopilot. all the chemicals in his chemistry The goddam plane is going set together just to see what around in circles. We haven’t happens. Actually, that’s unkind; been goin’ nowhere for the past the Director usually knew pretty ten minutes.” CODE IN THE HEAD 73

He talked fast, but it still MacTavish rubbed his clean- came out sounding like a drawl. shaven chin and then fondled The Ranger shoved his pistol the long handlebar mustache back inside his tunic. "Who do that adorned his upper lip. you reckon it was?” "What do we do next, Cap- "Don’t rightly know. Gren- tain?” He pronounced the title don’s boys and Quintell’s man "Cap’n.” are all in the bar.” "I think we’ll sort of mosey Captain Brill frowned, so I down below. We’ve got to get decided to enlighten him. the plane moving towards LI "Waterford and Rowley have Paso again. If somebody’s gim- men on the plane, too,” I said. mickc-d the robot, we’ve got to

"Judas!” said the tall man, ungimmick it. Come along.” "it’s a convention!” MacTavish left the men’s Brill turned to me again. "Do room first: I followed, and the you want a gun? You may need Captain brought up in the rear. it.” We tried to keep together with- out seeming to be together, " shook my head. 'It is ille- I gal for a member of the aptain Brill and I went Federal Bureau of Investigation C back to our Martinis, and to own, carry, or transport fire- MacTavish ordered whiskey ” arms,’ I quoted. That was one when he sat down at the bar two of the Director’s cute little seats away. We finished our tricks to keep the FBI looking drinks and casually headed out innocuous. He’d actually helped of the bar. We walked through get the law passed fifty years the seating compartment, mov- ago, with the full intention of ing toward the tail of the ship, paying absolutely no attention to where the door to the pilot’s

it. compartment was. The Captain sighed. "Looks None of the passengers seem- like we’ll have to watch the poor ed to be aware that the plane guy ourselves, MacTavish," he wasn’t going anywhere, and I said to his partner. suddenly -wondered if the taci- "Shall I get hold of Jack- turn MacTavish had been right son?” MacTavish asked. about our traveling in a circle. Captain Brill thought a sec- "There probably is only one ond, then shook his head. of the Senators in on this idea,” "Nope. We’ll sort of keep him I whispered softly to Brill. in reserve. He can cover us. I "Sure thing,” he said; "but don’t think anyone will recog- which is which?” nize him.” Which is which? I thought. 74 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

Witihes-u’Hch. Now why had a stunner had knocked my nerves pun like that occurred to me? haywire, and it took a little time Just as though we belonged for my vision to adjust. The there, we walked up to the door nerves all over my body felt as that was marked: though they were being burned; my arms and legs felt as if they Unauthorized "Persons Keep Out were dead. Robotics Personnel Only I soon found out why. When

the shock finally wore off, I The Ranger touched the found that my arms and legs opener, and, at that moment, were clamped -in magnetic cuffs. I heard the faint chug! of a stun- I couldn’t move. gun going off. I started to look, I knew I’d been out less than but Captain Brill’s whisper an hour — fifty-five minutes, sounded hoarsely: "Don’t turn say. I’d been hit by a stunbeam

around. MacTavish just beamed before, and I knew how long it down one of Grendon’s men in took my body to throw off the his seat. It’s evidently Grendon effects. who’s behind this. Nobody’s no- The guy facing me had the ticed anything at all. Keep go- most magnificent silky blond ing.” beard I’d ever seen. I didn’t The door slid open quietly, recognize him; he was evidently and we walked in. A stairway one of Grendon’s men who had led down into the depths of the been kept in reserve. ship where the robot brain of He looked at me and grinned. the pilot was located. "Looks "Hi ho,” he said. "The strong like they’ve opened the door are the first to rise. Give us, dear somehow,” MacTavish said la- boy, no reason to give you the conically after the door had slid stun again.” shut behind us. I recognized the odd accent "I don’t like this,” I said. then. The man was a Britisher. "You shouldn’t, precisely,” Ever since North America has said a voice behind us that I can cut itself off from Europe, the only describe as silky. bombed-out survivors of the I heard a chug! chug! and Third War have been develop- nothing more. The third chug! ing a different way of speaking of the stungun was the shot that English. Evidently, Grendon was got me. importing some of his expert gunmen. came up out of it like a man "Do you feel like giving an I who comes up toward the answer or so, old boy?” he surface of a pool of water. The asked, still aiming the stungun. .

CODE IN THE HEAD 75

ence whatsoever. One more wriggle of that fringe beard, and I shall give you what-for.” Meanwhile, I was gently probing for the package of mints in my tunic pocket. "That was a neat trap,” I said, to cover up what I was doing. The Britisher grinned even wider, showing fine dental work. "We thought so. Very simple. Start the old ship to going looked at him for another 'round in circles, and the people I second and then shifted my who are most anxious to get to eyes to the two men on either El Paso del Norte will be the side of him. Grendon’s, all right; first to show. And that, natural- the third one must have been at ly, will be the blokes we want. the top of the stairs, guarding You.” the door. Then I shook my head. "No hey had patted me down, answers,” I said; "I don’t know T but they hadn’t taken any- any.” thing out of my pockets except His eyes narrowed, but the my wallet. They knew I was the grin stayed. "Look here, old bac- FBI man they were looking for. terium, you have an information I still didn't have my hands or two that we need. You have on the mints. several items we want. As a mat- "Gentlemen, please,” he said. ter of fact, there’s no item we He glanced at the men beside don't want.” him. As if they were both con- There’s no item — trolled by the same circuit, they

There’s Snow White — um . . pulled stunguns. I shook my head — this time "You reckon they can get any- because I felt dizzy. thing out of you, Fed?” The Keep your mouth shut, Fed," voice belonged to MacTavish, said a soft voice next to me. It who was manacled somewhere was my pal, Captain Brill, the to my left. Martini nut. The Britisher with the blond "The same to you, old slime,” beard looked exasperated. said the Britisher "Now that we "Really,” he said, “interrup- know which of the three of you tions are impossible.” He flicked is our Federal Agent, we have his left hand in a gesture. no need of your conscious pres- "Beam.” ” T ,

74 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

Chug! Chug! The two stun- of mind, the words sounded guns wielded by his buddies funny: went off almost as one; that put the two Texans back to sleep. "Mirror, mirror on the wall "Now let’s get on with 'the Who’s the farthest of them business,” said the Britisher; "I all will begin by asking a few ques- tions.” That’s what I said, word for That was when I knew why I word. It didn’t make sense for hadn’t recognized my English me, and it didn’t make sense for friend as a Grendon agent; he the British psychologist. He just

was a psychologist, not a gun- stood there looking at me, . and man. so did his two henchmen. "What else?” he asked finally. By this time, I had the pack- "Nothing,” I told him; "that age of mints in my hand. I was is all there is.” soi ry I couldn’t reach the cigaret He glanced again at the two package — it was a neatly hid- den stungun that would have men flanking him, and then he mad. be^n effective within ten or fif- got He reached down and grabbed the collar of tunic teen feet. The chewing gum my package would have fired one and jerked my head off the deadly charge. But I’d have to floor. — "You’re lying, you son of be satisfied with the mints — which w'as just as well. a And then all hell busted loose, his voice. was all ready to crush one drowning out had cov- I of the mints when the Brit- The Texan who been ering for Brill and MacTavish isher said: "Take the poisoned appeared on the stairway. He apple and eat." didn’t bother to ask questions; For a brief second, I saw very he started blazing away with his clearly the room surrounding me. stungun. The Britisher fell, and I could see the blinking signal so did one of the men with him. panel of the robot pilot, the dull Then the other Grendon man gleam of the multigold comput- fired at Jackson, who tumbled ing bank behind it, and — down the stairwell like a ton of And then I started talking. bricks. I couldn't help it; that’s the Suddenly, a couple of women way the orders had been implant- appeared at the top of the stairs. ed in my mind. When the key is They pulled out stunguns and given, you talk. started firing at anything that But, even in my robotic state came wit! in range. ”

CODE IN THE HEAD 77

Somewhere in the melee, a "Sure. Thanks. How?” He stunbeam hit me amidships. I was right; my head still wasn’t was out for the count — of reacting too well, about ten thousand. "Why, what’s the trouble, son?” So I told him. "My head hurts, my side burns, and my legs feel like — "Like they were dead,” the Senator finished for me. "Sure they do, son. They’ve been hit a couple times with a stunner; and somebody evidently kicked you in the side.”

hen I knew what had hap- T pened. Someone had smashed the package of "mints” in my pocket — and the whole bunch of gas bombs had gone off at once. enator Lasser was saying: "When the plane landed at S "Son, you've delivered the Briggs Field,’’ the Senator said, goods.” "you were the only one aboard

Somehow, I nodded and who was in ambient condition; said: "Yeah, sure, thanks." everyone on the ship except you I looked around. I was in the was sound asleep. How did you palatial suite of the Cortez Hotel manage to get the robopilot that was reserved for the Sena- straightened out?” tor and his aides. I recognized "Damned if I know. I was

it from pictures. probably pretty groggy. Actml- "What happened?” I asked. I ly, fixing up the pilot w

I nodded. "Yeah. That was "I’m ready to cut in on that one of the Director’s devices to tight beam line now, thanks to make sure you got the informa- the FBI. You did a fine job, son. tion you wanted. Did you find A fine job.” it?” "Thanks,” I said. I hoped the The old man nodded. "We hypno treatment hadn’t perma- did. Your superior told us that nently fuddled my mind. I didn’t the specifications on that variable want to go around making puns scrambler would be on the plane, on Snow White and the Seven but he didn't say where. The Dwarfs the rest of my life. rest of the boys assumed it was "You’ve had a tough time, information you could carry in son,” the old man said. "Go to your head, but all you were car- sleep. You’ll breathe better since rying was the location of the I took the gas filters out of your plans. They were behind that big nose. Go on, go to sleep.” mirror in the men’s room. You "Thanks,” I said dopily. "I were acting as a sort of decoy; will.” as long as the other Senators’ I did. d

ONE MAN'S INCH

by Richard Wilson

Illustrated by Emsh

When Vasily Budayev discovered the shrinking process, who’

have guessed to what hilarious uses the State would put it?

asily Budayev had made ner of the apartment which he this thing and now he and his wife and two children V didn’t know what he shared with another couple and should do with it. If it had been their three children. Of course developed during the regular it was not right to call it his own working day there would have time; all time was the People’s been no problem. The Comrade time and should be utilized for Section Chief would have gone the greater glory of the State. with it to the Political Com- Nevertheless, Vasily had made missar, and it would have been it and it was a problem. out of Vasily’s hands. He might What he had made was a never have heard of it again, substance that shrank. Many perhaps, until the Commissar things shrank, of course — his had won a Stalin Prize for it. shirt collar was choking him But Vasily had developed it even now — but his substance on his own time, after hours, continued to shrink indefinitely. working sometimes in the lab- The substance, basically, was oratory, and sometimes in a cor- cotton cloth, and he had treated 80 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

it with what he had originally one else had noticed the red, thought was a dye solution. The white and blue strips hanging swatches had come out a vivid over his workbench. Apparently red, a thoroughly acceptable not; he ripped down the blue color. But they had also shrunk. strip and substituted a black one. Vasily did not really notice Vasily’s tests took some time, the shrinkage until a month or but when he had finished run- so after he had hung a long red ning them he had controlled the strip of the cotton on the wall shrinkage to the point where he of his apartment. He had tacked knew that a strip of cloth fifty

one end of it high up and the inches long would diminish by other end hung down to within exactly one inch a year — in- an inch of the floor. But a definitely. month later, or perhaps six But of what commercial use weeks, when he looked again he could such a thing be? Vasily

saw that it was two inches from did not know. Now if it had the floor. He measured. No, an been something that grew an

inch and three-quarters. Still . . . inch or more every year. . . . Even he could see the possibilities in T shrank more slowly after that. A strip of gold, for in- I that, but steadily. Masha, his stance. But a process that shrank wife, swore to him that she had things was probably worse than

not been tampering with the useless. If it became known, he long red strip and that the chil- might even be found to have

dren had not touched it. Nor had committed a crime — wasting the neighbors, who lived in the the resources of the State, per- apartment’s second room, at the haps. It was possible. other side of the kitchen be- tween. he problem was too big for Reassured, Vasily Budayev T him, a simple research work- went to work again. He made er. He would take it to Piotr

another red strip and used an Serov and have done with it. untreated white strip, of the "Piotr,” he said, but saw im- same length, as a control. Then mediately that this had been a he weakened the solution and mistake. Piotr, wr ho had just been made a blue strip and hung it visited by the District Commis- beside the .other two. sar, impressive and angry in his Something was wrong. Vasily Zis limousine, was not in a good was not political-minded and it mood. took a moment for him to real- "You will address me as Com- ize what it was. He looked rade Section Chief, Comrade around nervously to see if any- Research Worker!” Piotr Serov ONE MAN'S INCH 81

bellowed. "There has been alto- capitalistic nations had invented gether too much laxity lately in first?” this matter, just as there has been "But why?” asked Vasily Bu- a slowing down of our research dayev. program." "Because then,” replied Piotr,

"Yes, of course, Comrade "after they had invented it and

Section Chief,” said Vasily. "But found a use for it, we could have it is not always possible to meas- developed the same thing and ure research in terms of a pro- known what to do with it.” duction quota.” "Yes, Piotr,” said Vasily reas- "I know this as well as you, onably, "but then we would not Vasya,” Piotr Serov said more have invented it first.” softly. "Better. But does the "You do not understand, my Comrade Commissar know it?” little one. We could then show He moved his hands in a weary that you had been working on gesture. "We do our best to ex- the process for a long time — plain to him what we are doing since 1935 perhaps — and so he can make a good report, Pravda would print an article but he does not understand. about the brilliant Soviet scien- Therefore his reports are some- tist who had developed this times pessimistically phrased.” thing more than fifteen years

"It is a problem, Comrade before the decadent West had Section Chief.” an inkling of it.” "Call me Piotr,” said Piotr "I see,” said Vasily; "of Serov; "he has gone. He was course. You are brilliant, Piotr. angry because his district was It is no wonder that you are our specifically mentioned in an Comrade Section Chief.” article in Trud. Need I add that "Perhaps,” said Piotr Serov the mention was unfavorable?” modestly. "But still you have Vasily said nothing. Such mat- presented me with another prob- ters were beyond him. lem to add to the long list I al- ready possess.” ow THAT Piotr was calmer, "I had hoped you would be N Vasily .told him about the pleased with what I have done,” shrinking solution. But Piotr im- Vasily said. "But if it embar- mediately became less calm. "To rasses you it might be better if be frank with you, Vasya,” he we both forgot about it — at said, "I don’t know whether this least until such time as one of is good or bad. As far as I know, the decadent capitalist countries it is absolutely new. Why invents a shrinking solution and couldn’t you have made some- learns how to use it.” thing that one of the decadent "That may be, but it is not ”

82 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

for us to say. We must take the threw the strips on the desk in problem to the District Commis- a heap. sar himself and let him decide. He asked many questions and The sonner the better. Come.” received all the answers that were "If you please, Piotr,” said available, but they weren’t Vasily, "I have so much enough. work — Finally he told Vasily Bu- "Nonsense!” boomed Piotr. dayev and Piotr Serov to go back "We will go together. There is to the laboratory and continue always the chance that the Com- their work until they heard from rade District Commissar will be him. He would have to make a displeased with this shrinking telephone call or two. Perhaps

thing and it w'ould be better for even to Moscow.

him to be displeased with a He said it with a frown and simple scientist than with the Vasily and Piotr shuddered a Section Chief. You can under- little. stand that now, Vasya, can you "You are not displeased with not?” us, Comrade Commissar?” asked "Of course,” said Vasily Bu- Piotr. dayev miserably, and he went to "We shall see, Comrade Sec- get his hat. tion Chief,” he said. "We shall have to see,” ie Comrade Commissar Twras not happy to see the onths went by and noth- Section Chief so soon again, and ing w'as heard. he was still less happy w'hen he Vasily trembled when there learned the reason for the visit. was a knock on the door of his

He pulled on his full, drooping apartment one evening, but it mustache and looked up at a was only Piotr, alone, carrying large photograph on the wall of a bottle of vodka. The Commis- another man with a full, droop- sar had said nothing in all that ing mustache, as if for guidance. time, and Piotr needed the com- None came. pany of the only other man who He examined the strips of red, knew about the mysterious strips white and blade cloth the two of cloth. men from the laboratory had Vasily shooed his wife and brought him. He pulled at them. children into the neighbors’ He measured them against each room on the other side of the other. He frowned at the differ- kitchen and he and Piotr did jus- ences in length. He smelled at tice to the bottle. They were the cloth, bit it, cut off a little laughing, and singing songs of piece and burned it, and finally their youth by the time the bottle ONE MAN'S INCH 63

was empty; but in the morning There was a huge painting of

it was just as bad, the grim the great Stalin over the fire- waiting. place and Vasily studied it for Then, on a frosty morning what comfort it might provide. early in spring, a plane of the Sometimes he thought the once- Red Air Force landed outside again-revered father of the peo- the village. The word spread ple was smiling at him; but at quickly. It had come from Mos- other times he feared that the cow! look was stern and displeased. For Vasily Budayev. Whatever the expression, the Vasily had never been in a eyes never wavered. They bored plane and he did not enjoy the steadily into the depths of Vas- trip. He probably would not ily’s very soul.

have enjoyed it anyhow, because After many minutes of wait- the men who sat with him in the ing Vasily was led back through bucket seats in the back were not the hall and up a flight of stairs

pleasant company. Grim-faced to another room. Inside it, two individuals, all of them. He was men were sitting at a big round not introduced to them and so table. A third chair at the table did not know their names, but was empty. One of the men he learned to call each of them smiled pleasantly and Vasily sat Comrade Investigator. down, tentatively, ready to spring From the airport Vasily was to his feet and stand at atten- whisked in one of a fleet of heavy tion if this seemed indicated. Zis cars through the streets of But the men were extremely Moscow. They stopped briefly at courteous. "I am Y. S. Krug- a gate in a huge wall and then lov,” said one of them, "and sped on. Vasily recognized the this is Comrade Belyavsky." place from photographs. The "I am honored to meet you,” Kremlin itself! He wished Piotr said Vasily. He read few papers, had been brought, too, to share aside from technical journals, his misery. and had no idea who the men were. he procession of cars stop- "And we are honored to meet T ped in front of a dark old you,” said Kruglov, "Comrade building and Vasily was led in- Commissar Budayev.” side, through a richly-carpeted hall to a high-ceilinged sitting asily's only outward reac- room. Three of the grim men V tion w'as a rapid blinking of from the plane sat with him in the eyes, but inside him was tur- silence while the rest went off moil. somewhere else. "We have subjected your 84 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

process to the most complete ERY SOON the Soviet news tests," Belyavsky said, speaking V agency, Tass, and Radio for the first time. "We have Moscow were able to announce found it to be a most significant that Soviet athletes had set new contribution to Soviet science and world’s records in a series of culture. It is fitting that the dis- track and field events. They in- coverer of the process should be cluded the high jump, the broad rewarded.” jump, the pole vault, the 16- .” Vasily. "I . . . I . . said pound shot and the 56-pound "Yes, Comrade Commissar?” weight. These had been meas- "Commissar?" Vasily finally ured with Vasily’s new 20-meter exploded. "Me?” tapes. Belyavsky smiled. "Yes. You After the 100-meter tapes had are appointed, as of this date, been distributed, the athletes suc- Commissar of Weights and ceeded in setting new marks for Measures for the Union of So- the 16-pound hammer, the dis- viet Socialist Republics. I had cus and the javelin throw. hoped,” he said, "that we might But even with these successes discuss the duties of your new to his credit, Vasily Budayev did office at this time, but perhaps not adjust quickly to his life as

it would be better if we leave a Soviet bureaucrat. He found

that over until tomorrow. You it difficult to forget that he had have had a long journey and if been a scientist, and that the big you wish, I will have you shown part of a scientist’s job was find- to your room.” ing answers to questions. And "Yes,” said Vasily. "A long some of the questions he wanted journey indeed. Yes, Comrade, answers to w'ere embarrassing,

if you will.” even to the Marxist-Leninist One of the first duties of Com- dialecticians who were his ad- rade Commissar Vasily Budayev visers. was to call in all the measuring They w'ere not accustomed to tapes which were used in athletic dealing with naivete — at least competitions. In their places were not at such a high level of the issued new tapes, made of Va- government — and they had to sily’s shrinking cloth. talk long, hard and often to keep Vasily had agreed to this re- the new' Comrade Commissar of luctantly. But they had put it to Weights and Measures persuad- him psychologically. "If the ed that there was nothing un- athletes think they are that ethical about using the Budayev good,” his advisers had said, tapes to prove to others the ob- “they will most certainly be that vious superiority of Soviet ath- good.” letes. ONE MAN'S INCH 85

Vasily’s family was brought them in the Commissariat of to Moscow and soon they were Weights and Measures if the

all together in a fine new apart- Comrade Commissar wished. ment, Where they had once But if he wished otherwise, for lived three in a room and shared any reason, the Chief would be a kitchen, they now had six pleased to dispose of the matter rooms, a toilet inside the apart- without troubling the Comrade ment, and a servant. Vasily dis- Commissar further. He need not approved of the servant at first, worry. and so did Masha, but they The slight emphasis he put gradually became accustomed to on the words dispose of made the idea. Vasily shudder, so he said quick- Two others also were brought ly that he would like the section to Moscow. They were Piotr chief for his assistant. As for Serov, Vasily’s former section the district commissar — well, chief, and the district commis- perhaps a desk in the outer of- sar. From his new pinnacle Va- fice. It was agreed. sily recalled with an inward Piotr Serov was ushered in smile that he had once thought soon afterward, looking shabby of them as the Section Chief and and worried. "Good morning, the District Commissar, in upper Comrade Commissar, your ex- case. cellency,” he said respectfully, scraping one foot nervously over he two had been brought the thick carpet. T in at the insistence of the Vasily got up to greet him. Security Police (upper case, al- "Piotr, my little one! Come and ways) after it had been estab- sit down. It’s good to see you lished beyond doubt that no again.” others knew the secret of the "Thank you, Comrade Com- tapes. others liv- shrinking No missar." ing, for sure. "Henceforth you are my as- Vasily had a black moment sistant, Piotr,” Vasily said. when the Chief of the Security "And call me Vasya.” He added: Police himself paid him a call. " — when we are alone.” But it was a friendly visit, dur- "Yes, Vasya,” Piotr said, ing which the Chief gave him grinning. "Like old times, eh, a cigar, told him a funny story, slapped him on the back and the two of us together?” He finally got to the point. What looked around the private office was to be done about the section with approval. "Very plush. chief and the district commis- Comrade. I think I will like it sar? Places could be made for here.” ” ” ”

86 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

asily told him what had thought of all this. This would V been happening since he’d lead eventually to such things left the village. Piotr had heard as the sun setting at noon. It about the new athletic records, could not be explained. No, we but had not connected them must not tamper with time. Our with the Budayev tapes. He research must be in the field of murmured in surprise, then measurement, exclusively. And laughed. in that limited field alone we "This is serious,” Vasily said have much to do.” in rebuke. "The tapes have "Then all measurements must other uses, too, and it is up to be — adjusted, shall we say? Is us to discover them. Their use- that it? Everything will be fulness in athletics is extremely larger or longer or taller, eh?” limited; already we have gone "Everything, I’m afraid,” said as far there as we can go.” Vasily, "from the height of our "But why?” asked Piotr. people and buildings to the "There are running races, length of our borders.” and — "Ha-ha!” exclaimed Piotr. "Think a moment, Petya,” "We shall yet make evep Stalin Vasily interrupted, "and you a tall man!" will see that it is not so. In the "Piotr!” broad jump and the javelin "I meant it well,” said Piotr. throw and so on, the measure- He shrugged. ment is of distance. In a running race, or a speed contest of any uch had to be done. The sort, the measurement is against M Commissariat had to go to time the very foundations of measure- "Ah, of course!” said Piotr. ment. Every instrument of dis- "Then the answer is obvious. We tance, from micrometer to must develop a new clock. A schoolboy’s ruler to surveyor’s slow clock!” transit had to be studied to see

"No,” said Vasily. "That how it could be made to con- would not do. If the clocks for form to the Budayev principle. sports were slow, all clocks And the Budayev process itself would have to be slow.” had to be modified — or at times "Then let all clocks be slow. even completely reversed — be- Think what it would mean. The fore it could be applied prop- trains would run faster. The erly. working day would be longer. Vasily’s original plan, of hav- That would mean greater pro- ing everything accurate in rela- duction. The — tion to everything else, at least, "No, no, Piotr. I have had to be scrapped. It was about ONE MAN S INCH 97 that time that his scientific sense spurred into one of their finest of concinnity finally surrendered jobs and soon the Budayev in- completely to his bureaucratic struments works were going full zeal. A motto which once had blast behind the strictest curtain inspired him, "Everything is of secrecy man could devise. what it is and not another The exchanging of old meas- thing," became a lie. uring tools for the Budayev At last the preparatory work models followed and, by care- was done. The Security Police, fully planning and herculean who had maintained the secrecy effort, the Security Police accom- of the Budayev project all along, plished this in twenty-four hours now selected the factories and — from Minsk and points west machine shops in which the new to Vladivostok and from the measuring instruments would be Arctic to the Black Sea. made. Their screening of the The Budayev principle, modi- workers was very thorough, be- fied for sports, had called for a cause the Security Police were fifty-foot measure to be an inch making up for a bad slip. shorter each year. This was Somehow they had neglected to enough to maintain Soviet ath- keep the world’s champion letic superiority. But such a scale broad jumper, one F. I. Bot- obviously was inadequate where chick, from being sent by his lo- inches or a few feet meant al- cal sports committee to an most nothing. athletic meeting in Hungary. Therefore a further modifica- Botchick was badly beaten by tion of the principle had to be

the Hungarian champion and, applied when it came to revalu- worse, the Hungarian’s 7.86 ating the height of Lenin Peak. meters was far short of the Once this peak in Soviet Asia world’s record Botchick had set had been an also-ran among the with the aid of the Budayev giants of the world, at a mere tape. 23,382 feet. But application of the Budayev principle, adjusted he word was spread later for vertical topography, sent T that the valiant Botchick had Lenin Peak soaring to 28,500 been suffering at the time from feet, leaving it second only to severe stomach pains and was Mount Everest. operated on tire next day for ap- pendicitis; but the excuse went ore than just mortal re- out late, and incalculable dam- M spect for Everest was at age was done to Soviet prestige work here. Everest was in Tibet, in the satellite country. in which Communist China took So the Security Police were an acute interest, and the For- se FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

eign Minister himself strongly ime, to which the Budayev urged Vasily to avoid any loss T principle did not apply, went of face for the Chinese. on. As the years rolled by, it be- The Budayev principle, in an- came perfectly natural for things other form, stretched the length to measure so much one year and of the railroad lines and the so much more than that the next. Ministry of Transportation grate- It became a way of life untouch- fully increased passenger fares. ed by the early ibes j of the west- The Ob River, wending its ern w'orld about the desanforized desolate way east of the' Urals Russians. to the Gulf of Ob at the Arctic The West had long since both Circle, was found to have out- fathomed the secret of Soviet flowed the Nile by several hun- neo-giantism and given up try- dred miles and became the ing to dehypnotize the Russian world’s longest. people. Budayev's spiritual thumb The people accepted the minor leaned on a scale at a livestock discomforts of the Budayev way exposition in Kiev and a grand without complaining. Obviously, champion steer v/as shown to if they were taller than they once weigh 1,480 pounds, a world's had thought, and if their chil- record for beef on the hoof. A dren were taller still, the door- girl on the translation desk at ways of new' buildings w'ould Radio Moscow who knew seem low'er and the rooms of idiomatic English warned that new' houses would seem smaller. this statistic, w'hen broadcast to It became a matter of pride to America, would be cheerfully stoop as one w'ent th rough a counterpropagandized as a lot of door. bull, but she was ignored. Production boomed as the size Night and day Radio Moscow of manufactured articles shrank thundered these new proofs of and so many more of them could Soviet supremacy. Day and be turned out. Quotas were night Tass fed the world a diet raised, too, of course — but they of figures about the longest, the alw'ays had been, regularly, any- biggest, the highest. And each way. issue of Pravda had at least one Airplane pilots whose cockpits proud report on the newest seemed tinier did not complain; measurements for home con- instead they dieted. sumption. Even the farmers, whose' Vasily Budayev was awarded crops had come to measure so the gold star on a red ribbon much more at harvest time, did that made him a Hero of the not complain when the govern- Soviet Union. ment buyers paid for them at a ONE MAN'S ENCH 89

lower rate. An exhaustive indoc- sariat of Weights and Measures. trination in Budayevic economic His name headed the long list theory left the farmers baffled of those who signed Vasily’s but agreeable — especially since obituary when it was published so many of them had been hon- in Pravda. And in his eulogy, ored with the high title of Hero Piotr expressed hope that a me- of Socialist Agriculture. morial of some kind might be Vasily grew fat and lazy, leav- created; one which would per- ing more and more of his ad- petuate the name of Vasily Bu-

ministrative affairs to Piotr dayev in stone or steel as it lived Serov, whose motto, a Budayevic on in the loyal hearts of his modification of Vasily’s old one, friends. was "Everything is what it From a little girl in Alma- ought to be." Ata, in the booming Kazakh, Vasily’s children grew up, came the wanning suggestion. A measuring taller than any Bu- great merchant ship would be dayevs ever had before, and took built, a vessel to dwarf those of important jobs in the Commis- the decadent capitalist countries, sariat. and would be named the Vasily Budayev.

hen Vasily Budayev died And so it was built, at Odessa, r W at the age of 59 he was and each c the Soviet Socialist mourned throughout the land. Republics contributed to the con- The Politburo marched in a body struction. The Russian S.S.R. in his cortege and then he was supplied the blueprints, drawn laid to rest in a specially-con- up personally by Piotr Serov and structed tomb near Lenin’s and based on the latest refinement of Stalin’s in Red Square. The the Budayev principle. The tomb was scarcely bigger than Ukrainian S.S.R. supplied the la- the coffin itself, a fitting testi- bor; Tadzhik the machinery; monial to the increasing dili- Azerbaijan the fuel, and the gence with which the Budayev Karelo-Finnish S.S.R. the fine principle was now being applied. woods for her decks. An old peasant woman, who had journeyed to Moscow to pay him aboring mightily, Stakhan- homage, stood before the tiny L ovite workmen completed tomb and marveled that he had the ship in ten months and she been such a big man. was launched wdth appropriate Piotr Serov, aged and, it was ceremonies on the first anni- whispered, senile — but still versary of Vasily’s death. spry and dedicated — succeeded She was a beauty, every gleam- his old friend in the Commis- ing inch of her 1,500 feet from 90 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

stem to rudder post. Half again iterranean, false lettering on her as long as any other ship she bows and stern masking her was, truly the mistress of the identity, and then out into the seas. Atlantic. It was decided that she would It was winter now, but who sail, unheralded to the outside feared the elements aboard such world, through the Dardanelles a staunch ship? Captain Chernov and the Mediterranean and into pointed for New York. the Atlantic. Not until she was Two-thirds of the way across well across the ocean on her way the ocean a great storm broke. to New York would she break The wind howled with hurricane radio silence. How the eyes of force. The waves were mountain- the capitalists would pop when ous. The Budayev groaned amid- they saw her! ships as she was lifted high by The greatest seafarer of all the them, then hissed as she slid Soviets, Captain Y. G. Chernov, down into the trough, only to be was chosen as master of the lifted, protesting, again. Once Vasily Budayev. After he had the propellers were lifted clear sailed her for a fortnight’s of the water and the crew feared shakedown cruise on the Black that the spinning of the screws Sea, Captain Chernov pro- would tear the precious engines nounced her perfect. apart. The passenger list was chosen But after two days the storm with care. Each guest was to subsided, then passed. The skies contribute to the historical rec- again were clear and the sea ord of the pioneer voyage. Great calm. The Vasily Budayev, bat- journalists from Pravda were tered but unbroken, sailed on. among them, professors of his- The captain now ordered radio tory from the great Russian uni- silence ended. He sent a message versities, newsreel and still back to the Kremlin, then dis- cameramen, People’s Artists patched a statement to the Port

from the Bolshoi Theater to re- of New York, to prepare it for enact the momentous scenes of the arrival of the pride of Odessa the arrival — and, of course, and of her Motherland. Security Police to safeguard the Off Sandy Hook Captain Cher- many interests of the State. nov glanced once more in the mirror, adjusted a medal on his t last, the day of departure spotless uniform, threw back his A came and the Vasily Bu- shoulders and left his cabin for dayev weighed anchor and began the bridge. the journey. The ship sailed Chernov was a proud man, anonymously through the Med- and a proud time was ahead. This scan was produced and distributed free by the Pulpscans Group. If you paid for this digital document or a compilation of this and other digital pulps, you got ripped off. But you can still have this and more than a thousand more pulps for free by coming over and joining us at pulpscans Qyahoogroups . com. ONE MAN'S INCH 91

aptain Chernov was also ing boats. As the distance be- C an impassive man. He stood tween them and the Budayev on the bridge of the Vasily Bu- lessened, the streams of water dayev, sucking at his pipe as the from the fireboats faltered, then ship steamed up the lower bay ceased. The cacophony of whis- toward the Narrows. He spat tles, bells and sirens stilled. carefully into a sand bucket as Across the water, carried to Cap- the sea giant approached off his tain Chernov’s ears by the wind, port bow on her outward pas- came bursts of laughter. sage. He read the name on her The press launch pulled side. He had to raise his eyes to alongside the Budayev and the do so. Queen Elizabeth. He reporters climbed aboard. They knew her length — a mere 987.4 didn’t have to climb far. They feet. His eyes widened a little, were grinning broadly, all of but that was all. them, except the man from Tass. The Queen greeted the Bu- Captain Chernov, his face like dayev with a derisive blast of a rock, met them on the deck. her whistle as she passed ma- "Well, Captain,” a reporter jestically by. The Budayev, rock- said, looking around maliciously, ing in the swells of the Britisher, "so this is the 1,500-foot Vasily whistled back, weakly. Budayev, eh, the pride of the So- Captain Chernov knocked out viet merchant fleet?” the dottle and loaded his pipe The captain pulled at his pipe again with precise movements and let the smoke drift out of his

of his fingers. He lit it, using mouth. He smiled ever so slight- only one match, and pulled at ly, then, and made the statement the smoke with methodical puffs, that retrieved the all-but-lost "Comrade Captain!” It was glory of the Soviets and which the first mate, open-mouthed and was to be echoed for a generation saucer-eyed. Chernov silenced in every Russian home. him with a gentle gesture. Captain Chernov said: "Gen-

The first of the welcoming tlemen, you are mistaken. This is vessels were coming. The city not the Vasily Budayev. The Bu- fireboats, spraying water to the dayev went down in the great sky, the private yachts, the tiny storm at sea. This is one of her pleasure craft, the tugs and fish- lifeboats.” — I

What would you call a man who plays a joke on a psychotic, after he’s been warned about the situation?

IMPRACTICAL JOKE

NOVELET

by L. Sprague de Camp

Ulustrated by Emsh

A ll right, honey, so I’m a them much, and after what hap-

Zj beast and a bounder. But pened on Suomi . . . J. A. I’m not going back to Haven’t I told you, ever?

Jack’s party and I won't apolo- . . . Well, this was my first ex- gize. I’m going to take you home pedition. I’d just graduated with and go home too. a major in journalism. This was

Sure, I know it was only a just after the Raskolnikov drive joke. But, darling, if we’re go- made it possible for private per- ing to get married, you’ve got sons to send out interstellar ex- to learn that I won’t take prac- peditions and also get them back tical jokes. Big ones or little in the same generation. I’d ones; now or any time in the fu- studied biology under Otis May ture. and got a letter from him asking Call me a stuffed shirt or say me to drop in. I have no sense of humor; it You don't know him, do you? won’t change me. And if you’ve He’s short and bald, and fifteen got any ideas of reforming me years ago he was very strong and after we’re married, you’d better muscular. He’s full of energy drop them. and bustle; pleasant enough, but Why? Oh, I never did like straightlaced. That was one of

92 the troubles. His idea of an eve- disjointed it. He leaned forward ning's fun is to go to the Y. M. and shouted, spraying me with C. A. for a workout on the paral- saliva: "Glad to know you, Roy! lei bars. You just come along with us, With him were two others, we’ll show the gaw damn world One was a tall pale round-shoul- how to explore! Laskaris is dered fellow with a profile like Greek, ain’t it?” that of a polar-bear: a big point- "Uh — yes,” I said, ed nose sticking out forward, and "Swell! Great minds, great no chin or forehead to speak of; heroes, great businessmen, all sandy hair and bulging blue eyes. Greeks! A Greek can lick three I got the impression of a frail Armenians and five Jews on a man. May said: "Mr. Fish, this trade! Heh-heh-heh! We’ll show is Roy Laskaris. Used to be a ’em, Roy old boy, old boy!” student of mine. Roy, Mr. Win- He gave a loud braying laugh throp Fish.” and broke the remaining bones in my hand with a final squeeze. he nose stuck out a big May had spoken as if I ought to T knobby hand and grabbed have known who he was. One mine in a grip that practically thing, he was not so frail as he

93 -

94 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

looked; quite the contrary. His thing else that comes up. Expe. speech was upper-class New dition like this, everybody has to York City with a pseudo-British double in brass with a dozer, pronunciation grafted on it, but jobs. Ship’s too small to hold all he didn’t care anything about the specialists we really could grammar. It gave a queer effect. use.”

I didn’t much like his starting "How did you happen to pick right off with a crack about the I me?” asked. I didn’t want to sharpness of my ancestors. After protest my unworthiness too all, they’d been in this country hard, but I didn’t want to get in four generations, so I was no on false pretences and disappoint more "Greek” than Theodore them. I w'as also curious, being

Roosevelt was Dutch. kind of puny, not much of a

"And this is Dr. Edward mixer, and no outdoorsman at Sander,” May went on. He re- that time. You’d never have ferred to the third man: a short looked at me twice, dear. middle-aged fellow with a "Had my eye on you,” said square face, a gray mustache, and May. "Need people with no close longish gray hair. Dr. Sander relatives, for one thing. Time- shook hands in a quiet mousey lag, you know. Mustn’t mind go- way and murmured something ing away for years. Also we need conventional. them young, so they’re adaptable We sat down with the others and their broken bones heal looking at me. May said: "Roy, fast.”

I asked you here to offer a job "Where’s it to?” I asked. on an interstellar expedition that "Keid A Two, or Omicron Mr. Fish is financing.” Two Eridani A Two,” he said. "Sixteen light-years. With the O that explained that. I was Raskolnikov drive, takes a year S awfully surprised. Here was and a half, objective time, to get I, a kid just out of college with- there, though it’ll seem like out even a job, though I w'as nothing at all to you. One pre- dickering with the Record for vious expedition there, Jap. Only one. I said: "That’s wonderful, preliminary recon; superficial. Professor May, but w'hat sort of We hope to make a thorough job? I don’t know what / could ecological study.” do on such an expedition. I'm "What are the — ah — no scientist.” terms?” I said. I knew leaders "Secretary,” said May. "Keep of expeditions are always trying records, journals, and so on. to save money by getting people Write the official newspaper to work for them free. I didn t stories for release on return. Any- know if I wanted to pop off f°r IMPRACTICAL JOKE 95

.rears for nothing but board and other Greek hero, Ulysses? Yah, Maintenance. I think I’ll call you Ulysses, huh? Heh-heh-heh.” ay looked at Fish, who M seemed to have gone into MUST have been awfully stu- said: I pid, because it a trance. Fish woke up and never occurred "Huh? Whazzat?” to me that Winthrop Fish was "He wants to know about sal- going on this expedition. When ary,” said May. I thought about it later, I saw' "Oh. Don’t worry, old boy, he’d implied it clearly enough. old boy,” shouted Fish. "I’ll pay For one thing he was in his thir- you. Same as an instructor gets ties, which then seemed prac- here at the University. I don’t tically senile to me. For another, believe in hiring people for I assumed that millionaires who nothing on these parties. If you financed expeditions stayed at don’t pay ’em, you haven't got home, since they’d be of little any hold on ’em. They're liable use on other planets and would to walk out over some gaw damn only take up space better given silly little argument. Well, to scientists. If somebody offered evhaddaya say, old fruit? Are you me a place on an expedition now with us?” with a man like Fish I’d say no, "Well — may I have time to because I know how one eccen- think it over?” I said. tric in the crew can foul things May began: “Don’t see why up. not — ” but Fish interrupted. When May called a meeting "Naw, you can’t,” he said, of all the members of the expe- pronouncing "can’t” with an dition for briefing, there were "ah.” "Make up your mind now, Fish and his friend Sander. The old crumb. An explorer’s gotta first people May introduced to be a man of decision, what? So the rest by their official titles that’s one way of screening out were Fish as "hunter” and the right kind of people, huh? Sander as physician. He, May,

What'll it be, Roy old boy?” And was the leader. There were five then came that asinine laugh. other scientists besides May: “Okay,” I said. "I’ll come.” three other biologists, a geolo- Fish jumped up and came gist, and a meteorologist. Then around. I thought he meant to there were the pilot, the co-pilot, attack me, but all he did was and four engineers. wring my poor limp hand again The pilot was Harry Constant, and pound my back. "That’s the a big square-jawed heavy-set fel- kind of guy I like,” he said. low wr ith curly hair and a jolly Makes up his mind. Like that grin. He spoke up: "Say, Profes- ”

96 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

sor, is this all the people on quakes, all animals pretty slow this expedish?” even if some are venomous. One "Yes,” said May. real danger — if the Japs were

"No dames?” said Constant. right —- naupredas.” May said: "No. I explained— "What’s that, Professor?” said that I chose only single men Constant. Constant interrupted: "Yeah, "Naupreda yamamotonis. One sure, but couldn’t you have pick- of the Gegamyzidae. Looks like ed a lady scientist? After six an overgrown lamprey, up to months on Suomi even one of twenty feet long. Not dangerous those would look good.” individually, but social. Forms The co-pilot, a little guy great spherical colonies in named Philip O’Sullivan, laugh- swamps, thousands of naupredas ed at this, but May looked all tangled up together in their annoyed and said: "Mr. Con- own slime.” stant, I know something about "You mean it’s like a snake?” organizing expeditions. Mixing said Winthrop Fish. sexes, just a way of asking for "Rather. Rudimentary limbs, trouble. We shall have enough snakelike locomotion. Why?” difficulties without bringing on "Oh, my God! I’m deathly those caused by human weak- afraid of snakes,” said Fish. ness.” "Funny time to find that out,” "You’re gaw damn right,” said May. "On your way to a spouted Winthrop Fish. "Wom- planet where most of the larger en are verily a by-word and a animals are apodal, or at least hissing, as the good book saith. serpentiform.” Never trust a woman.” "I suppose so. Other wild animals I don’t give a gaw damn t our last meal before we for. I’ll walk right up to a lion A got to Suomi — that is, and spit in his eye. But snakes Keid A II — May briefed us on — ugh!” the planet, though we knew a "You can stay in your tent

lot of it already. He said: "The when they're around,” said May. first two weeks will be the hard- "To go on: Naupredas form est, setting things up. Work these colonies, breed, break out round the clock, cutting trees, of the membrane around the clearing a site, unloading the colony, start out in a column. ship, adjusting apparatus. Every- Great writhing mass; swim, body pitches in. Once we're set crawl, eat everything in path. up, we shall be pretty safe in Nothing to do but run, hoping spite of mud and bugs. Even they won’t corner you. No good climate, no storms or earth- shooting; too many. Got a flame- IMPRACTICAL JOKE 97

thrower and a box of phospho- soft and pulpy to be of any use rus-grenades. If you kill enough to an expedition, and most are at the head of the column, the poisonous for a man to eat. It’s rest will turn. Instincts: live nau- an awfully monotonous flora; no predas exude a smell that attracts flowers or broadleafed plants. others of their kind; dead ones The animals are something a smell they avoid. Complex be- like earthly amphibia, mostly eel- havior-pattern developed out of shaped, though they come in all a few simple chemical stimuli, shapes and sizes, with and with- as with army-ants. Sometimes the out legs. Imagine a world column accidentally joins itself swarming with frogs, tailed to form a closed figure, and the frogs, newts, congo eels, hell- naupredas march around the benders, and things like that, in course until they die of exhaus- all sizes from a pinhead up to

tion . . fifty feet long. Many have veno- mous bites. There are only a few uomi isn't the official name small high spots you could really S of Keid A II. There was a call dry on the whole planet, and Finn on this Japanese expedition those are polar. So no higher who thought the planet ought to form of life has evolved a life- be called that, not because it's cycle with breeding out of water, the Finnish name for Finland, since there’s no large area for but because a name meaning such a species to expand into. "marshland” seemed appropri- ate. A swampier planet I’ve E set up camp on the high- never heard of. It hasn’t much W est land we could find in surface-water, but a very low our area. Behind us was a swamp, relief, with neither high moun- so full of big rushlike plants, a

tains nor deep oceanic basins. hundred feet high, that it was

So what water there is is scat- almost impossible to enter it. In tered over its surface in millions front was a little isthmus be- of ponds, lakes, and swamps, tween two lakes, with more

with a lot of little seas for them swamp and ponds beyond it. Be- to drain into. yond these lay the Beebe River. The dry surfaces — if you The temperature’s comfort- can call any place on Suomi dry able enough in the equatorial — were covered with a thick regions, where we were, but you growth that looked like the have to adjust to a day of seven- plants that grew on earth back teen hours instead of twenty- in the coal age: like mosses and four. The oxygen is high enough horsetails and ferns grown to tree to breathe —' sixteen per cent — size. Most of these plants are too but the carbon dioxide is too —

93 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

high at five and a half. You can everything. Some of them bite stand it for a while, though it too. They probably die of indi- makes you pant, but several hours gestion afterwards, but that of it will poison you with acute doesn’t help the defunct Earth- acidosis. So outside your tent you man. have to wear a respiration-hood, Then overhead is this hazy a thing of thin transparent plas- atmosphere that makes Keid look tic with a chemical intake-filter like an orange blob when you to absorb excess CCh. It’s not so can see it. Mostly it’s overcast, bad as a regular oxygen mask, with a wind that blows from the which pinches the bridge of your northeast day and night, fifteen nose, but it’s bother enough. You to twenty miles an hour. Once also spend your life in high rub- in a while a cloud drops a ber boots because of the ever- shower, but there are no really lasting mud. violent storms. So picture our little camp with

its air-tight tents, its chemical soon learned that the expe- stove (since the native plants I dition’s secretary and young-

won’t burn in that damp low- est member — that is to say Roy oxygen atmosphere) and the Laskaris — was also the errand- area where the scientists sorted boy and handyman. We worked and cleaned their specimens — like fiends, sloshing around with the whole place swimming in a couple of pounds of mud on

slimy mud. Beyond in all direc- our boots; scrape it off, and it tions, a monotonous dark-green was back in a few minutes. A wall of vegetation, things like couple of the biggest animals, giant rushes and asparagus-spears the size of a crocodile, wandered without any real leaves. And into the camp and had to be shot noise! Day and night, the ani- to keep them from eating us mals kept up an awful racket of with those triangular mouths croaking, grunting, cheeping, that are standard on Suomian bellowing, and burping. Mating vertebrates. After that a little

calls, I suppose. If you looked electrified fence, a foot high, carefully you could sometimes kept out all vertebrates big see one of the grunters, usually enough to be dangerous. nothing but a dark shiny blob in Winthrop Fish pitched in and the water. worked like a beaver at the The arthropods are like our chores of the camp. In fact he

insects, except that most are big did more than I. Despite his two-winged things with only pale, unhealthy look he was four legs. They look a little like strong as a bull, while I was kind flying spiders, and they get into of skinny and under-muscled - ”

IMPRACTICAL JOKE 99 though I got pretty well hard- sit on their fat duffs playing ened by the time I d been on penny-ante and making cracks at three expeditions. us. I don’t mind hard work, but The work tapered off after things ought to be shared more the twelfth day when we got the — more fairly, huh? I know automatic apparatus set up. After you’re the boss, but if I’m fur-

that I was kept busy by the scien- nishing the dough I oughtn’t to tists, who dumped mountains of do all the dirty work.” He was records on me for typing and waving his arms and spraying by filing: sheets of illegible notes, the time he finished. index cards, slides, labels, and The crew all started talking at reports. once, each bragging about some chore he’d done a couple of days here was still a lot of dirty before. Harry Constant yawned T w'ork: cooking, cleaning up, and scratched his scalp and said: burying specimens that had de- "Sure, we’ve been working. He cayed beyond use, and so on. just don’t know what’s going May tried to make the pilots and on. Fie walks— around muttering engineers responsible for this, to himself but they all proved lazy or fum- Then little Doc Sander, who ble-fingered. In the end Fish and was usually so quiet you never I did most of this work. Fish noticed him, broke in. He said: tried hard to conquer his ophido- "That’s enough, Harry!” phobia and got so he could pick "Why?” said Constant, look- up a dead legless amphibian and ing innocent.

bury it, though at first it made "Well — uh,” said Sander. him pale and trembly to do so. "We’ll settle this now,” said Sander gave a hand to the bac- May. "No gambling — or any teriologist. game-playing — during working The pilots and engineers, all hours.” six, drew apart from the rest of The crew groaned. Constant the expedition. Constant was the said: "Aw, hell! This is the big- natural leader of that group, be- gest bore I’ve been on. No ing the biggest and most aggres- dames, no liquor, can’t smoke sive. Their loafing didn’t make because of using up the atmos- for good feelings. One evening phere-filters, and now we can’t at dinner in the main tent, May even play cards. My God! What ” as usual asked for everybody’s a bluenose you turned out to be! opinion. Winthrop Fish burst He got up and pulled his hood out: "Look here, Professor, me over his head. "Let’s go out and and Roy have been doing all the listen to the froggies croak, guys. gaw damn chores while the crew Nothing else to do.” 100 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

hen this trouble simmered o Fish and I took our guns T down for a while. The crew S and started out with our plas- did work harder, so Winthrop tic hoods over our heads and big

Fish and I got ahead of our work collecting-bags on our backs. I and found ourselves with noth- soon knew why we didn’t have ing to do until the scientists piled to worry about getting out of up some more specimens. Fish sight of the flag. In the first said to me at breakfast: "Roy, place, when you sink up to your old boy, let’s go out for a little calves in mud you don’t walk hunt today, whaddaya say, whad- very fast. In the second, the daya say? I haven’t fired a gaw ground was so cut up with ponds damn shot since we been here. that you had to walk three times Let's take a shotgun for speci- the straight-line distance to get mens and a rifle in case we run anywhere. And the fact that the

into those naupredas. Whaddaya gravity is about three per cent say, huh?” He pounded me on less than ours doesn’t help the back. much. "You two be careful. Liable We followed the isthmus in to get lost,” said May. "Here’s front of the camp and went on

a sketch-map, and don’t get out to a big swamp beyond it. This of sight of the flag. Not for a swamp was part of the Beebe moment.” River, into which the lakes

We’d put up a telescoping drained. But the Beebe is so aluminum flagpole with a big sluggish and spreads out into so American flag on top, not just many arms and bays and swamps for patriotism but to give a land- that you can’t tell which way mark. In that flat landscape you it’s flowing without a map.

could see it from quite a dis- Finally, that short day fools tance if you found a tree you you, even after you should have could climb without its collaps- gotten used to it. We had to ing under you and dropping you hurry home with our bags only into a bog. half full, so as not to be nighted Fish said: "Say, Professor, in the swamps. how about giving us a couple of Aside from collecting some those phosphorus bombs in case small specimens with the shot- we meet naupredas? Whaddaya gun, there wasn't anything spe- say, huh?” cial about that little hunt. But I "No,” said May. “You can got a good look into Winthrop run away from them if you do Fish’s character. He talked a lot, meet them. Saving the grenades but since we both wore hoods in case a column heads toward he couldn’t spray me with spit. camp." I learned that, though he never IMPRACTICAL JOKE 101 finished secondary school, he was is you’re too soft-hearted for this well-read — especially in the kind of work.” literature of the outdoors, hunt- He punched me in a joshing ing, and several branches of way, nearly breaking my arm, natural history. and went on: "You’ve never been in God’s great outdoors he trouble was he couldn't like I have! Hunting and fishing, T do anything with all the that’s the sport for a real man! many facts he’d picked up. In- The strenuous life! Lemme tell stead of reasons or principles, his you about the time ...” mind was stuffed with childish After he’d rambled on about prejudices, cliches, and cant some pointless hunting-anecdote phrases. You know the sort of he said: "And you ought to see thing: All women are predatory some of my trophies at home! and treacherous; all Greeks I’ve got a house, you know, in (meaning me) are sharp bar- Westchester County. Big barn of gainers; all Negroes are good- a place I rattle around in, all natured dopes; all politicians are alone except for the cook and crooks; and so on. He really be- the butler and the gardener and lieved all these things, and it did the maid. Ever since my wife no good to argue. For instance, ran off with the kid ...” every time we saw an animal that might be a carnivore he’d e stopped talking to push shoot it, whether we already had H a handkerchief up under specimens or not. He called it the edge of his hood and wipe ridding the country of predators away the tears. "Never trust a to protect the game. woman, old crumb!” he said. "I’ve always shot every gaw "They’re all fickle and treacher- damn lousy predator and I’ll al- ous, like the Good Book says! I ways shoot every gaw damn did once, and look what hap- lousy predator!” he shouted, pened to me. If my lawyer hadn't waving his arms. "Crows, hawks, dug up evidence, why, she’d

wildcats, everything like that. I have skinned me to the bone, old kill ’em all!” fruit; absolutely to the bone. I’d picked up a smattering of "But looky here, after we get ecology from the scientists and back to Earth, you gotta come tried to argue about the place see me. I ain’t got many real of carnivores in a well-balanced friends, you know, in spite of fauna. Fish only yelled louder: the twenty-room house. I’ll show "I’ll kill ’em all! They’re cruel you my heads, and that record and destructive! The trouble salmon — well, anyway — with you, Roy, old boy, old boy, what was I talking aboujjj^gh, 102 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

yeah, I got a swimming-pool on account it’s liable to bring too. If you haven’t got a car of on a relapse. Beastly annoying, your owm you can use one of what?” mine. Whaddaya say, huh? Say Well, darling, in all my three

you’ll come see me, Roy! I’m expeditions I never felt purer alone — alone so gaw damn horror than I did then. Here was much!” I, in the middle of millions of He was kneading my arm with square miles of mud and swamp, those steel fingers, and I saw he shut in by these monotonous was really pleading. I said: dark-green tree-mosses nodding “Sure, Winthrop, I’ll be glad to their heads in that monotonous come.” northeast wind, listening to the He slapped me on the back monotonous grunting and chirp- and nearly knocked me on my ing of a million slimy amphib- face in the mud. "I knew you ians. Now in addition I found would!” he yelled. "We’ll have I was alone with a man who’d a real swell time, huh? Now let’s been "sick” — only I suspected knock off some of these gaw what kind of sickness it was. If damn predators!” the naupredas didn’t swarm over us in a slimy mass and devour got THE impression of a man us, Winthrop Fish would do I whose personality had stop- something awful to wreck the ped growing at nine or ten, but expedition. And what could one who was still basically a kindly, do to the expedition’s financial well-meaning, lonely fellow for backer?

all his oddities. I asked: "Win- At the same time I couldn’t throp, why did Doc Sander help liking the fellow. I’d al- shush Harry Constant when he ways taken a dim view of loon- remarked about your habit of ies, believing they’d be better talking to yourself the other off dead or at least sterilized so day?” they couldn’t pass on their de- He giggled and looked at me fects. But Winthrop Fish was with a funny expression, like a like a child or a dog that’s al- small child trying to be crafty. ways doing something wrong, "Well, uh,” he said, "I ain’t and then coming and slobbering supposed to talk about that. But over you and wondering why since you’re gonna be one of my you’re angry. few real friends, Roy, old boy, I tried to pump him further I’ll say in confidence I’ve been about his illness, but he clammed pretty sick in recent years. Yah, up on that subject and talked quite sick. And good old Doc about hunting and fishing until doesn’t want my nerves upset, we got back. IMPRACTICAL JOKE 103

E gave the scientists out hands. It took four men to hold W specimens and headed for him down, and it was just luck our tents to lie down for a few he hadn’t killed anybody. minutes before dinner. I’d just All this time, instead of help- gotten my second boot off when ing, Harry Constant and Phil I heard the most god-awful O’Sullivan were staggering

shriek, I looked out to see Win- around, laughing like crazy men throp- Fish bounding out of his and slapping each other on the tent, not stopping to fasten the back. O’Sullivan was a nice little flap to keep the air inside con- man, but he worshipped Con- ditioned, or even to pull his hood stant and did anything he sug- over his head. He was yelling gested. his fool head off: "It’s got me! It’s after me! Help! Get a^un!” ander came running with Everybody jumped up. Fish S his hypodermic and pushed ran the length of the camp, through the crowd around Fish. tripped over a tent-peg and fell, Presently Jake Radek ran to the got up covered with mud, and Fish-Sander tent, went in, and ran off in another direction. This came out dragging a dead ten- time he tripped over the electri- foot ptyssus. That’s Ptyssus k/tri- fied fence, broke one of the tae, an eel-like creature that wires, and got a shock. He got climbs trees and drops on pass- up screeching like a banshee and ers-by like an anaconda. Fish had started off on another run. He found the thing coiled up on his was hollering and giggling and cot in a lifelike attitude, with crying all at once. This time he its three jaws propped open to made for the equipment-tent. show the fangs. In the dim light

Doc Sander called: "Stop him, in his tent he almost sat on it

somebody!” before he noticed it, and his hor- I took a couple of steps and ror of snakes did the rest. sank into the mud in my socks. We had to patch the bullet- While I hesitated, Fish popped holes before the tent w’as usable.

into the equipment-tent, came Winthrop Fish went in to lie out with the rifle we'd been car- down. When Sander came out he rying, and blazed away at his said: "He’ll sleep till tomorrow. and Sander’s tent. I want to talk to all of you at He got two shots off, right in dinner.” the middle of that crowded little When I served dinner (it be- camp, when Maier the zoologist ing my turn) Sander looked brought him down with a foot- around the tent and said: "I hike

ball tackle and Radek the geolo- it you had something to do with gist twisted the gun out of his this, .Harry?” ” ”

104 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

"No, sir, not a thing,” said Sander, looking unhappy, told us Constant with a grin, but I don't the tale: think anybody believed him. "Winthrop Fish” (he said) Sander said: "Well, whoever "inherited one of the big Amer- played that joke had better not ican fortunes. His mother wisely do it again. Winthrop is a per- put it in a trust-fund so he can’t son of very precarious health. waste it — though he’s not real- One more joke like that might ly extravagant, considering his have unpredicatable results.” opportunities. His father died "Such as?” said Constant. several years ago in Olympia "Death, maybe,” said Sander. Sanitarium, near White Plains. "What do you mean, Doc?” Involutional melancholia, result- said Harry. "That was only a ing in suicide. harmless little joke. A man’s got "Winthrop also showed a dis- to do something to keep from turbed personality from an early being bored to death.” age. He was a borderline schizo- "Not to Winthrop Fish, it phrenic. That means he might wasn’t harmless,” said Sander. go along for decades without May spoke up: “Guess you’d doing any harm, but under heavy better tell the whole story, Ed. stress he’d have a schizoid Only way to make these jokers break. Rich schizophrenics some- realize just what they’re do- times live out their lives without ing.” a single break, because their Sander said: "Good Lord, I money cushions them against couldn’t do that! It would be a stresses.” professional indiscretion — Constant said: "You mean "Ed!” said May. "You tell you’re that kind of doctor?” them! Harry’s a pretty good pi- "I’m a psychiatrist if that’s lot, but on any subject outside what you mean,” said Sander. of space-flight he hasn’t got one "But you’ve been doctoring brain-cell to rub against the next. us like a regular — you Got to spell it out.” know — ” said Constant. "But that would be unethical," Sander said: "A psychiatrist bleated Sander, "and would has to be an M. D. first. Though make me liable — he never got past the tenth grade, "As leader I order you,” said Winthrop did fairly well until May. "Emergency. I’ll take re- he married in his late twenties. sponsibility.” He married a prostitute — a real hard-boiled professional, with no hey argued some more, but heart of gold such as they some- T Sander gave in. Otis May times have in fiction. She was can be a very compelling guy. So out to get a slice of the Fish mil- ” ” ” ”

IMPRACTICAL JOKE 105 lions by any feasable method. tern ceased deteriorating and be- She bore him one child and then gan to re-integrate. After a year the menage began to deterior- he seemed almost as competent ate. She nagged him until he as before the break, so we let buried himself in books; she him out of Olympia and put him screeched at him day and night. back in his house. His mother I don’t know if she was trying had died and he suffered from to drive him over the edge, at solitude, but otherwise he man- least on the conscious level, but aged. : that was the effect. He began to "He’d long wished to back an break; he got violent; she fled interstellar expedition. He could

the house with the child. They well afford it, and one of the had one of those complex and components of his stress is a feel- scandalous litigations. The tab- ing of worthlessness, because loids had a saturnalia. In the end neither he nor his father had they were divorced, she got a been able to complete an educa- modest settlement, and he land- tion or work at a regular job.

ed in Olympia. Therefore I thought it would be "He was—showing hebephrenic a valuable therapy to let him do symptoms it, and would advance the cause "What does that mean?” I of science — asked. Constant interrupted: "You’re telling me, Doc, that you’d send «Tt’s the form of schizophre- a looney on a dangerous expedi- J- nia that results in silly, wit- tion like this, just because you less behavior. You know — the head-shrinkers think it might get comical lunatic who’s always him over some psychosis?” laughing inopportunely; there "Well,— that's one way to put were also unsystematized delu- it, but sions. "And you call Fish nuts!” "Now, hebephrenia has al- Constant shouted. "Why, damn ways had a poor prognosis. It your eyes, if you aren’t the big- quickly becomes aggravated and gest looney of all — risking our results in complete withdrawal lives because of some fool psy- from reality and disorganization chiatric theory — of the personality. They end up May hollered: "That’ll do with forced feeding, inability to from you, Harry. You’re not control excretory functions, et- making the policy of this expe- cetera. But at Olympia we’d been dition.” Then everybody yelled working on a new attack, mostly at once. chemico-therapeutic. We gave it May shouted the rest down to Winthrop, and soon his pat- and said: "Don’t care who 106 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

thinks who is nuts. I'm telling standing over him shouting: you what you shall do. Want to "Get up, you gaw damn swine!’’

complain about it, wait till we Fish’s knuckles were bloody get back to Earth. Meanwhile, too. Constant outweighed Fisli no more pranks, jokes, jests, by twenty or thirty pounds and japes, or any of that nonsense. was younger, but Fish was too On a strange planet like this, a fast for him when he got stirred practical joke is the most im- up. practical thing you can do. You saw that this afternoon. I mean ONSTANT GROANED and Sat you too, Harry; understand me?” C up. One punch had flattened Constant mumbled an agree- his nose and another had cut his ment, and we broke up. lip. That was where the blood came from. He stuck a hand in- hings might have simmered side his hood and felt around in T down if Constant had had his mouth. Then he mumbled: the sense to keep his mouth shut, "By God, you broke one of my but then he’d have been some- teeth! I’ll kill you for that!” body else. Winthrop Fish was He started to get up, but up late next morning, looking everybody grabbed the two of much the same but quieter. One them and pulled them apart. May of the crewmen had fried the said: "If you don’t call it off, as bacon and went around the table leader I’ll have you both tied up. in the main tent forking it out. Now cool down. Apologize, Constant finished breakfast when both of you: one for the joke Fish was just starting. Constant and one for the hits!" stood up, slapped his big belly, There was a lot of growling and said: "Don’t give him that of threats and insults, but in long piece, Walter; he’ll think time they calmed down and even

it’s a snake and throw a fit.” shook hands. Sander took Con- Then he laughed and went out. stant into the medical tent to fix Fish sat for three seconds as his face, if he’d been turned to stone. A few hours later I was sur- Then he tore out of the tent prised to see Fish and Constant after Constant. I heard him in what looked like friendly con-

scream: "So it w'as you, you bus- versation. Fish said: "Gee, tard!” and then the sound of Harry, I wouldn’t have busted

fists. your tooth for anything. I only We all rushed out pulling our meant to give you a couple of hoods on. There was Harry Con- little lumps.” stant lying in the mud with his “Guess you don’t know yo\ir face bloody, and Winthrop Fish own strength,” said Constant. IMPRACTICAL JOKE 107

"Yah, that’s right. Tell you Fish. O’Sullivan was dubious, in what. As soon as -we get back, the light of Sander’s revelations you go to the best dentist in New and May's orders, but Constant York to have bridgework put in, could talk him into anything. I

and charge it to me. Whaddaya don’t know how much this stunt say, huh? Please, promise you was motivated by Constant’s will.” broad sense of humor — sadis- I didn’t catch Constant’s re- tic sense of humor, I should say ply, but then he spoke in a nor- — and how much by the wish mal voice while Fish always for revenge. either shouted or talked in a con- The first step was to steal one spiratorial whisper. But Con- of the phosphorus-grenades from stant seemed to be grinning their box in the equipment-tent. through his bandages. Of course May had said those were to be saved for emergen- or a couple of days the scien- cies, but a little thing like that F tists got ahead of me, so I never stopped Harry Constant. was too busy with records to They’d follow the isthmus be-

keep track of Winthrop Fish. I tween the two lakes in front of did notice that Harry Constant the camp and go on to the near- seemed more bored and restless est branch of the Beebe. There, than usual, getting in the scien- there was a kind of dome of mud tists’ hair and asking silly ques- that some of the little amphib- tions. ians had built as a communal One morning I saw Harry nest. Constant would point that Constant, Winthrop Fish, and out as a colony of the deadly nau- Phil O’Sullivan all going out to- preda. Then he’d throw the

gether with a rifle and a shot- grenade at it and yell: "Run for gun, much as Fish and I had your lives! They’re swarming gone out a few days before. I out! They’re headed this way went about my business and like a million slimy snakes!” didn’t know anything more un- Fish would fall into a panic til a couple of hours later, when and race back to camp yelling these three appeared running the alarm, while the other two madly towards the camp. followed at their leisure and All I know about this collect- laughed themselves sick. ing-trip is from the stories of

those who were on it, mostly the P TO the point of throwing story of Phil O’Sullivan. U the grenade, everything It seems Constant got O’Sul- worked out. What the pilots livan aside that morning and hadn’t noticed was that about suggested a wonderful joke on five yards from the mud-dome 103 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

was a real colony of naupredas, under fallen trunks, and push the spherical membrane that through clumps of giant reeds, forms around the colony just it’s something else. When they showing above the water like the were halfway to camp, O’Sulli- back of a w'hale. van, being last, looked back and Constant threw his bomb and saw that the ribbon of wrigglers, yelled: "Run for your lives! three or four yards wide, was They're swarming — by God, gaining. He dropped the shot- they are swarming! This is no gun to make more speed. Con- joke!” stant was number one with Fish The grenade went off with a close behind him. big burst of streamers of white Then Fish, who had the rifle, smoke. A lot of particles of stopped and waved O’Sullivan phosphorus struck the mem- past him. He panted: "Gwan —

brane, burned through it instant- I’ll shoot — rouse camp . . ly, and aroused the naupredas, which were probably getting ’Sullivan was too terrified ready to burst their bag and set O to argue. Fish began shoot- out on a march anyway. In ten ing at the leading naupredas as seconds the swamp was alive fast as he could work the bolt. with thousands of wriggling nau- It didn’t bother the naupredas, predas, from babies a couple of which are such a low form of feet long up to oldsters of fif- life that you have to be awfully teen or twenty feet, all writhing lucky to kill one with a rifle- along and opening and closing shot. But the shooting roused the those three-cornered mouths. camp. The other animals instantly Everybody dropped what he changed the tune of their grunt- was doing. The croaking and ing and croaking and squeaking, chirping of the animals seemed and the swamp came alive with louder than usual. We were all slimy wrigglers and crawlers and looking at the woods beyond the hoppers, all getting away as fast isthmus when Constant and as they could. O’Sullivan ran out. As they got The three men took one look closer they waved their arms and and ran. On hard level ground shouted, but were too short of a column of naupredas would be breath to say anything we could easy to run from, as they don’t understand. go faster than a fast walk. But They were halfway across the on Suomi, where you sink up to isthmus when Fish appeared. your knees every few steps, or He’d dropped the rifle when fall in a hole full of water, or he’d emptied the magazine, and have to climb over or squirm now was gaining on the others —

IMPRACTICAL JOKE 109

"Defore we could make up *-* our minds — not more than a couple of seconds, really Fish ran into the camp. This time he jumped over the electri- fied fence. He ran to the equip- ment-tent, skidded on the mud, and came out with his arms full of the carton of phosphorus- grenades. We weren’t looking at him because a swarm of minor slimy things had come out of the woods. Some plunged into the lakes while others scuttled and hopped along the isthmus to-

fast, so they reached the camp wards us. Behind them came the only a few jumps ahead of him. column of naupredas, wriggling I never saw a man run so strong- along like some horrible living ly, especially through mud in carpet. Whenever a naupreda heavy boots. caught one of the little wrigglers Constant went right through it would halt to gulp it down the camp. He shouted some- while the others flowed over and thing and kept on towards the past it. The column followed the ship. O’Sullivan stopped long isthmus towards the camp. enough to say to May: “Naupre- The camp burst into action. das coming. — come to the ship All the scientists ran for the specimens and instruments — lock ourselves in . . Then they he ran on too. most valued. The crewmen lit We looked at one another. If out for the ship. May and this were another of Constant’s Sander rushed into the equip- jokes we didn’t want to be taken ment-tent and lugged out the in, but if naupredas were on the flame-thrower. way we didn’t want to abandon Meantime Fish, leaping over the camp to them if we could the fence again, ran back to the help it. Even if we got to the isthmus, yelling: "Gaw damn ship, they’d swarm over every- sissies! I’ll show ’em!” He got thing and eat our specimens, and to where it narrowed, so the what they didn’t break or upset naupredas couldn’t get past him they’d cover with slime. The unless they took to the water, electrified fence wouldn’t stop a and in their marching stage they swarm like that. prefer land. May, lugging one no FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

end of the flame-thrower, yelled: the head of the column would

"Winthrop! Come back! You’ll have gotten Fish, too. But I be killed! You’re in the way!” think he was just being his usual For, May couldn’t spray jel- disorganized self. lied gasoline from the flame- There was a terrific explosion, thrower with Fish right between not all at once, but taking may- him and the column. Fish gave be half a second, br-r-r-oomp! no sign of hearing. Instead, he like that. The whole isthmus and set down the carton and picked Winthrop Fish disappeared in a up a grenade. He threw it at the huge white doud of phosphorus- naupredas, about thirty feet trails. Some of the burning phos- away. The little hoppers and phorus fell inside our perimeter, crawlers scuttled past his legs. though nobody was hit. The grenade didn’t go off. He The w'ind carried the cloud threw another, which didn't go away, and the sputter of burn- off either. May groaned: ’’He’s ing particles of phosphorus that not pulling the pins!” covered the ground from the And so he wasn’t, because camp to the other end of the May had never shown us how isthmus died down. The far end to work the grenades, and he of the isthmus was covered with hadn’t shown us for fear Fish burned naupredas, some writh- would start experimenting. Some ing and others dead. At the edge of us had an idea how these of the woods, where the rest of bombs worked without having to the column was still streaming be told, but not Winthrop Fish, out, the leaders halted at the smell, so they piled up in a great hen His second bomb writhing mass. Then the column W failed to explode, I guess turned and streamed off along he knew something was wrong. the far shore of one of the While the naupredas swarmed lakes. nearer, he picked up another We never did need the flame- grenade and turned it over. He thrower. The naupredas kept on had his back to us so nobody away from the camp, and we got a clear view. MacAuliffe the never saw that swarm again. meteorologist was off to one side There was hardly enough left of and says he saw Fish pull the Winthrop Fish to bury. Sander pin from the grenade, fumble said that, while a phosphorus-

with the bomb, and drop it into burn is one of the most painful the box at his feet. Some thought injuries, Fish probably didn’t

he might have done it on pur- have time to know he was pose, as the naupredas were so hurt. dose that a phosphorus burst on [Turn to page 120} :

JAMES BUSH and MICHAEL SHERMAN'S

"The Duplicated Man"

A Review in Verse by Randall Garrett

(who also committed fhe art work)

This particular story we’ve pot is The Earth with some rockets A novel that no one should and stuff, miss. And the people of Earth are re-

I’m not sure I know what the garding

plot is, The whole situation as rough.

But I think it goes something like this The hero’s a fellow named Dan- ton, There’s some people on Venus Who belongs to an under- bombarding ground league —

111 112 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

From Singapore, China, to Scran- Would be real nice if Thomas ton, got beat. They have woven a web of intrigue. And while these two factions are wrangling This Danton is clever and smart; As to which one is is gonna be he boss, Is trying for all he is worth Back on Earth, the Pro-Earth To help this so-called Pro-Earth Party’s angling party To throw Earth’s bigshots for Throw over the rulers of Earth. a loss.

Meanwhile, upon far-away Ve- The Security Council, who nus, govern We find there’s another big The Earth, have decided to plot. act. (And somewhere in here, just Their agents go out and dis- between us, cover n- The tale gets confusing, some- Ew dope on a fantastic fact. what. ) It seems that young Danton, the Now let’s see: The Venusian hero, boss is Found a big Duplication Ma- Named Thomas — a fat, heavy chine. slob. But his future is practic’lly Ele must watch out for zero — sneak double-crosses, The poor boob don’t know Because everyone's after his he’s been seen. job. The underground party intended Well, anyhow, this guy’s immor- To duplicate bigshots galore, tal, And in the confusion attended In spite of his oversize build. By this, they would make a big And, according to every report’ll score. Keep living; he can not be killed. But their plans are completely confounded At the same time, elsewhere on And all their finagelings flop; the planet, And they’re all absolutely A group of conspirators meet, astounded a And the whole bunch agrees to a To find one of their guys is man it cop! )

THE DUPLICATED MAN 113

So Danton gets tossed in the lock- Back to Venus! The boys are be- up, ginning Along with the rest of the boys. To start an invasion of And this is somewhat of a shock, Earth. Up- While on Terra, young Danton

Setting all of his plans and his is twinning, poise. In a sort of mechanical birth.

Back to Venus the scene now is The machine gives a pop and a moving — buzz, un- Boss Thomas has just gone Derlined by a couple of clicks. through hell; Five new ones—almost half a He’s recovered from poisoning, dozen. proving With Danton himself, that

His body is sound as a bell. makes six.

Says Luisa, his gal, "What’s the One duplicate’s killed by the answer? Party;

How is it you didn’t drop Two more leave the Earth, dead?’’ Venus bound, Thomas, grinning, says, "Well, While the other two, still hale I've got cancer; and hearty, "But the secret I’ll keep in my Decided they will stay on the head.” ground.

And now, back to Terra we’re The Original Danton smiles shifting. slickly: (This tale bounces all over "I don’t see what I’m needed space. for!” The Council’s discovered by sift- So he marries the heroine ing. quickly, That Danton has just the right And we don’t see him much face. any more.

"There’s a fellow on Venus,” But the story just keeps right on they tell him, going; "Who looks just exactly like Back to Venus we leap once you. again, "Your job’s to replace and expel Where it’s hot, and the sand- him — storms are blowing. "About five or six Dantons The scene opens here with will do!” three men. )

114 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

Two Dantons and one small po- And on Earth, the Security Coun- liceman cil Figure out how the boss can Hopes the underground doesn't be downed, arise. While Thomas, that sly and Having trouble in such large obese man, amounts’ll Is plotting things deep under- Amount to a dismal surprise. ground. And on Venus — Now wait! With a slam and a bang, starts Let’s determine the trouble. Just what’s taking place there- (The authors do this part up upon!

brown. Oh, please , Mr. Blish, Mr. Sher- One Danton replaces his double, man, While the other one sneaks Just what in the hell's going around town. on?

But it’s more complicated on At the end, the entire situa- Terra. R- tion Emember? There’s three Dan- Is tied up all neatly, somehow. tons there! Every bit of the plot complica- And the old Pro-Earth Party, in tion error, Stands in order to take a big Picks up one of the duplicate bow. pair. Friends, with logic this tale is abounding. While, on Venus, the joint’s in a tizzy; It’s a good story — make no Two Dantons and one Captain Small mistake. sound- Know the double’s suspicious — It’s a classic; it all ends up or is he? ing I don’t think they’re quite sure Like a passage from "Finne- at all. gan’s Wake.” There had been numerous theories about just ivhat

had happened to the dinosaurs, but this man knew!

LABOR OF LOVE

by Wallace West

££MT^his place sure is dead memory, perhaps. Why, I re-

I tonight,” said Eddie as member that when it started to -A- he mopped a splash of ra>n like this in the Fall, Presi- milk off the Formica bar and dent Wilson would pace the floor stared across empty, glistening all night. Sometimes he’d quote Pennsylvania Avenue. "Dead as that poem by Swinburne that ” a dinosaur in the rain.” goes 'Rain and a ruin of roses.’ "Most people hate rain,” said "You remember President the little man in the derby hat Wilson?" exclaimed the messen- who was munching a hamburger ger boy who had been dawdling near the window. "An ancestral over a malted.

115 .

116 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

"Yes, and I always sleep with in the rain, for instance. What my long white beard outside the do you know about them?” covers,” said the man in the

derby. "Fact is, I've been work- «\Tasty devils!” The other ing in the White House library poked his fork savagely so long that I even remember at the piece of meat he had put President Cleveland.” on the grill. "Ugly piebald hides. "Never was a President named Evil little heads on long snake Cleveland,” cried the boy. necks. Eyes yellow as sulphur.” "That’s a burg in Indiana!" To Rain thundered on the diner’s show his disapproval of such tin roof. A taxi’s tires squealed. loose talk he picked up his pack- "Rain just like this the night age and plunged into the storm. w’e landed,” Eddie said at last.

"How long have you been at "Only it was hot and steamy . . the White House, Mr. Smith?” Here’s your ’burger, Mr. Smith. Eddie asked as he "hotted up” Medium well, just the way you

the little man's coffee. like it. Better’n nectar and am- "You’ve noticed how many brosia, let me tell you. Take your

Smiths there are in the world, time eating it. I get fidgety when haven’t you. Well, I fathered I’m alone on nights like this.

the whole push of them since I Reminds me . . . Say, you think took my present job.” the Senators ever are going to "That wouldn’t take too win a pennant?” long,” the counterman grinned. "Everything happens if you "I read somewhere that Adam give it time,” said the librarian. and Eve had 20 million de- "Yeah? Like in an infinite uni- scendants within 400 years after verse anything you hope for will

they had been . . . mixed.” come true in the end?” Eddie "Probably an over-estimate," asked. said Smith. "Cain murdered "There you go again. Where Abel, remember, and thereby cut did you pick that idea up?” off one probably prolific branch "Oh, I read science fiction of that family tree. But tell me, some, when business gets slow. .’’ I Eddie , . He smiled at the And won a set of Britannicas gangling, freckle-faced youth on a TV show once. I read it with the fiery red hair and pan- when I can’t sleep.” tomimed his need for another "Then you do know what hamburger, "where do you pick caused the dinosaurs to die out.” up all the strange bits of in- ”1 know what people say formation that you dish out every killed ’em,” Eddie hedged. "The night with your short orders. Britannica article says the gla-

You mentioned dinosaurs dead ciers came down, and it got so .

LABOR OF LOVE 117

editor of Graham's Magazine, tried to help me once. He told me I made up good plots but

that I squeezed things together as though I were going through history on horseback.” “Was that Edgar Allan Poe?” Smith asked. "I forget his first name.” "Tell you what,” said Smith.

"Eve written some fiction . . .

and sold it, too . . . but I’m not cold they either froze or starved. much on plots. I come in here Another fellow says little ani- practically every night, so why mals ate the dinosaurs’ eggs. don’t we collaborate? You give Russian chap I read had the no- me your plots. I’ll pad them tion a flareup of the earth’s out.” radioactivity baked ’em. Some- "Swell.” Eddie’s pale blue body once wrote a stoty about eyes danced. how little dinosaurs learned to "How about something histor-

make guns to defend themselves ical for a starter . . . about Peter from big dinosaurs. By the time Stuyvesant, maybe?” they’d killed off the big ones, "Old Peg Leg? If I told the the little ones had become so truth about that stupid windbag bloodthirsty they started killing nobody'd believe a word of it.” one another. "Then let’s tackle a dinosaur "That was a lot closer to the story,” Smith hinted. truth than those other guesses, "I’m no paleo-what-you-may-

but it still didn’t hit the mark. call-it.” Eddie polished the bar

The real reason they died is . lazily. "What do I know about Eddie stopped short, almost those stinking, squealing crit- swallowing his Adam’s apple in ters?” ” the process. "But who cares "You know that they stank, about dinosaurs? What I want squealed, and had piebald skins to know is, will Notre Dame do and yellow eyes. That’s a lot.” it again.” "Oh, all right. You win. "Did you ever try to write Here’s a story I started to write stories, Eddie?” once . . . Let’s see . . . How did

it go? Oh, yes . . . We landed «TT7hy, yes, sir. Once or on a rainy night like this, only V V twice. Never sold one, it was hot and sticky, like I said, thoueh. A Mr. Poe, who was and volcanoes were spouting like .

118 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION fireworks, far as you could see. slicker who tossed a soggy arm- "Before captain could get the ful of morning newspapers on airlock open, something hit our the counter. ship a wallop that almost knock- "Twenty-five, Eddie,” he

ed it off its landing gears. I was shouted. "O. K.?” making supper and that jolt "O. K., Hank. How' about a slammed me against the galley coffee?” stove. See?” Eddie rolled up a "I’m ’way behind schedule, sleeve of his not-so-white jacket but thanks.” Blank sprinted for and showed a long, jagged scar. his idling truck. "Atomic burn; never has healed "What did you find when you right.” went exploring?” Smith prodded "Too bad.” Smith got out gently. notebook and pencil. "Tell on.” "What? Oh.” Tiie counterman turned regretfully from a sports «TT7ELL, WHEN we got Out- page. "Why, we found that, VV side there’s this big devil when the brontos, tyranos, and

. . . brontosaurus, you call it . . other assorted saurians weren’t standing almost as tall as the stuffing themselves on vegetation

ship and just about to give it or one another, they w'ent another belt with its tail. We around stepping on things.” had to burn it practically to "Doing what?”

molecules before it would stop "Stepping on things . . . little kicking. hopping things; 'bout as big as "That’s an advantage those rats.” stinkers had, you know'. No "That doesn’t make sense, brains to speak of in their heads, Eddie.” but little pieces of brains scat- tered all around in their bodies “Qure it does. Write it and hooked up with nerves, like O down. I told you the the servo-motors on a bomber. squealers weren’t so dumb when You had to kill every one of they got all their brains ticking. those brains before your saurian Those hopping things were the would stay dead. And, if you let world’s first mammals. They ’em all get to functioning at weren’t so dumb either, and had once, better watch your step. been trying to get rid of the "Well, the next morning we dinosaurs by eating their eggs. went exploring through the But the dinnies finally had got jungles and the swamps. Know onto ’em. Now they used all what we found?” their spare time to stomp their The door flew open to admit enemies right into the ground. a deluge and a big man in a Since most of them could step LABOR OF LOVE 11 * or jump more than 20 feet, that "It was a labor of love," wasn’t hard to do. The hoppers Smith suggested. were taking a real beating. Even "That’s a good title. You when they learned, to climb trees, might write in, too, something or to hide in holes between the about how us mammals got to rocks, those little snake heads stick together in this highly com- could get ’em." petitive free enterprise galaxy.

“TTThen the dinosaurs were V V just hunks of stinking meat out in the endless rain, Cap- tain said somebody ought to stay around for a while to help those hoppers get off on the right foot. We were going to draw lots, but Captain couldn’t spare Astroga- tor, or Engineer, or Physicist,

and on down the line till no one

was left but Cook. So here I am!” Eddie removed his white cap and bowed grandly. "Not bad at all!" Smith scrib-

"Tough!” Smith felt his scalp bled. "And how did you make crawl faintly. out?” I "Yeah. That is what Captain "All right, after got the thought, too. And, since all of hang of being at the right place us in the crew that trip happened at the right time, like now. to be mammals, we voted to do ’Course, it was lonesome until I knocked the idea into the something to help the hoppers. heads of some of the hoppers that it So we got out our flit gun ..." .?’’ would pay them to walk, talk, "Flit . . gun . . Smith . and look like me. snorted. "Hardest job, I guess, was "Well, it was something like teaching the little fellers to eat one. We pumped chlorine, sul- good nourishing hot cooked phur and other poison gasses out meals. They actually preferred of the nearest volcano. We added nuts and berries till I convinced that kept the gas six an inhibitor them they’d always be runts if feet or so away from the ground. they stuck to that kind of gar- ” Then we started spraying. Took bage. us quite a while. But we have "What did you teach them to plenty of time." eat, Eddie?" 120 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

"Why, the only stuff fit to The door blew open once eat: Hamburgers, hot dogs, po- more. A red-haired, freckle-faced tato salad, baked beans, vanilla girl in scarlet sou’wester, helmet, ice cream, apple pie. They al- and boots, stuck her dripping ready had a taste for eggs.” head into the diner. "How do you account for "Ready, Eddie?” she asked. chop suey, or Crepes Suzette?” "Sure am, Captain; I thought "I just haven’t had time yet you never were coming back.” to educate everybody,” Eddie The counterman reached into grinned. his locker, brought out an um- "A nice punch line.” Smith brella with a broken rib, and put away his notes. "This will headed for the door. sell when I polish it.” He got "Hey!” Terror gripped the out an old-fashioned change librarian. "Where are you go- urse preparatory to paying his ing?”

ill. "Home,” said Eddie. * Impractical Joke

{Continued from page 110)

ONSTANT AND O’Sullivan them when we got home, as their C came down the ship’s ladder contracts ended at that time, any- and back to camp. To give them way. credit, they at least acted As Kurt Maier remarked in ashamed. They’d run, while the Constant’s hearing: "Even if he poor nitwit they’d been baiting was a looney, I liked him. Better died like a hero. I’m sure we all than some decidedly saner peo- thought somebody ought to beat ple.” the tar out of them, or at least And Radek added: "But can out of Constant, but as he was a man be sane who plays a joke the biggest and strongest man on a psychotic, in the party, nobody did. For after he’s been that matter I think some of us warned?” wouldn’t have minded a little Anyway, darling, that’s why I quiet murder, only without the won’t take a practical joke. Ever. pilots how could we get back Here we are. Kiss me good- to Earth? We couldn’t even fire night and try not to be mad. READIN’

and

WRITHIN’

BOOK REVIEWS

by Damon Knight

ood as gold, by Alfred gradually you discover that it’s G Toombs (Crowell, $3.50) becoming an effort to hold your has one of those ideas that start face in that grin. you laughing before you even be- It’s hard to say why. Toombs gin the book : a backwoods scien- writes uncommonly well; he tist discovers a substance that knows his Washington; his char- will turn gold into dirt. acters are sharply drawn and The "dirt,” a by-product of fairly crackle with eccentricity; atomic research, turns out to be his situations are as novel as you a miracle soil conditioner, pro- could expect, and his gag-lines ducing, as the story unfolds, are funny. Except for the sex, in monster grass blades, cacti &c. fact, this is almost like a good

Its discoverer, John Henry John- Thorne Smith novel . . . son, is a natural football for all Just so. Except for the sex: the varied pressure groups of which in Smith's work was not

Washington, D. C. : so away we just a kind of bawdy icing on go, from one expertly contrived the cake, but the essential in- situation to another, and from gredient that gave it weight and wisecrack to wisecrack. And solidity.

121 .

122 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

The word for a sexless farce a series of misadventures as pre- like this one — which bored me dictable as they are unlikely — to distraction, I couldn't finish the standard beautiful spy, mur- the damned thing — is "sterile." der plot, stolen document, and Of course. so on — to a rebel utopia in the Antarctic, which turns out to be EPRIEVE FROM PARADISE, surprisingly convincing and de- by H. Chandler Elliott sirable. (Gnome, $3.00) is an eloquent, The hero, invincibly stupid muddy, perplexing first novel. like all his kind, fails to see what The background, which involves is under his nose and the read- a world-wide Polynesian culture er’s for ten long chapters; be- dedicated to "breeding and feed- trays the rebels to his own

ing," is complex and intimately people; realizes his error at the

detailed; the satire, a funny-re- last moment and ' has to turn volting extension of modern traitor all over again, before the popular culture (love ballads story can wind itself up in the and all) into a Way of Life, is usual rosy manner.

wonderfully sharp. The style Two things, it seems to me, varies from a kind of heavy col- keep this story from coming to loquialism {''This was it!") life for longer than a page or through a kaleidoscope of elab- two, in spite of a carefully built orate awkwardness ("And his framework, good character draw- unfledged mind had found her ing, convincing scientific details

a road to flaming revelation” . . and many other virtues: First, "The face of the woman, seated like nearly all the rest of the

on a couch” . . .) to an occa- modern stories built on what sional unexpectedly vivid image: Heinlein calls the "Man Who Learned Better” theme, this one The inhuman beauty of fails on the question of guilt in sky and hills was being apostasy. The hero switches swallowed in a living dark- sides — although so tardily that ness, a cloak flung across you want to kick him — as eas- the sky and swirled west- ily as a man crossing the street:

wards as it lagged behind and his realization, after the sec- the wheel of the expanding ond betrayal, that he can never latitudes that ringed the give himself wholly to any so- pole. ciety, is admirable but comes much too late. The plot takes Pahad tuan Second, I’m afraid, Elliott has Konor, an instructor at the last simply bitten off more time than of the great Universities, through he could chew. The farther fu- HEADIN' AND WRITHIN' 123

tureward a story goes, the more delicate, entirely innocent rela- thoroughly divorced the imag- tionship between the hero and ined society gets from anything Elisis, an adolescent rebel girl,

we now know, the harder it is is a delightful tiring. for the author to bring his story to life. At any rate, the liveliest aughan Wilkins' "Valley and most convincing episodes in V Beyond Time" (St. Martin’s this book are not those which Press, $3.00) is a peculiar prod- belong to the far future of the uct of eclecticism, put together story proper, but those which from ill-matched pieces of this date much nearer the present, and that, some of them quite and are experienced by the hero beautiful, some very odd. It has as a kind of super-movie — a a long waggle-tailed plot with "neurreson” — merely to fill in its back broken in several places, the historical background. a cheerful gang of mutally in- The standard love story in this comprehensible characters (some adventure novel is as flat and life- of whom speak what Wilkins less as usual; but it’s only fair takes to be the American lan- to add that Elliott’s notion of guage), and many other bright- love goes — a refreshing nov- colored anomalies. elty — beyond cliches: the The first chunk is a perfectly

^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuimiiimiiiiiiiiiiimiEiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiu

1 4 SUSPENSEFUL MYSTERIES |

| THE DEVIL’S FOOTPRINTS | E by August Derleth =

| SOMETHING SPECIAL | i by John Eugene Hasty = = (creator of “Dr. Christian”) =

1 THE REPULSIVE CORPSE SMART GUY 1 | by Louis Trimble by Don De Boe E

E lead off the big 4th pocket-size issue of =

! DOUBLE ACTION DETECTIVE Stories 1

E If your dealer is sold out, send 350 to E = | COLUMBIA PUBLICATIONS, Inc., 241 Church St., New York 13, N.Y. miiiitiiiiiiiimmimmimiiimiimmimmiiiimiiiiiiiiimmiiiiuiiuiiiiiiiiiiiim 124 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION ordinary puzzle story about a have all crossed the dimensional man who vanishes on the isle of border into Elfhame, which Caldy and reappears seven years turns out to be a silly world iater, having been gone (as he tinted pastel, like cakes of bath-

thinks) only a night; this is com- room deodorant. Honest Celtic plicated only by the fact that two legend turns up here intermin- of the characters — Senator gled with astonishing, bloopers, Bcnaiah Purvis and his secretary, as when a local princess intro- Silver Honeyhill (hoo boy\) — duces Midge in turn to her are supposed to be Texans, while mother, whose name is Bran- the rest are almost desperately wen, and her horse, whose name

British, is Arianrhod . . . both these names being those of Celtic love "You know almost goddesses, and one being about enough to send us to the as appropriate for a horse as the lunatic asylum, Mr. Fur- other. row/' said Sir Henry, "so Wilkins’ style, incidentally, is you may as well know that fluent and colorful, with some Miss Honeyhill’s chauffeuse rewarding things in it — like is in reality Lady Diana the delightfully horrid descrip- Belcombe, eldest daughter tion of an American car on p.75, of the Duke of Cumber. or like this description of what She is the only child of his it’s like to pass through the di- first marriage.” mensional barrier: "There had "Good God!” exclaimed been but the sensation of a damp Mr. Furrow, obviously more fluttering kiss, such as that of a shaken by this revelation bursting bubble. That was all.”

Ilian by any fourth-dimen- . . . But for the most part Wil- sional adventures. kins’ writing has the slippery, fluid feel of prose that has

It was at this point that I first neither been forged . nor tem- noticed the book had turned into pered, but has only slithered out a P. G. Wodehouse novel; but half-aware. A lot of it turns out while I was still waiting for the on examination to be nothing younger son to hide the dia- but elegant cliches, like this monds in a flowerpot, the scene flatulent passage from p. 80: changed again, and the tone with it. ... So great seemed their Now Purvis, "R. R.” (the isolation that it was as above-mentioned lady chauf- though they had reached the feuse), and a young viscount an- end of space and time and swering to the name of "Midge,” stood together — young HEADIN' AND WRITHIN' 125

woman and small boy — on into the other world for the sole the very verge of nothing- purpose of returning with a ness, or, perhaps, eternity. jaundiced outlook on this one; and Wilkins bangs away at that There follows a long bit all one note, like the sound of a about the other world, which is boot on a dented chamber pot, one of those exasperating places for what seems eternities. To his where everybody talks like a credit, though, he makes our cross between Longfellow and a civilization sound a thoroughly wooden Indian, and you wish to gloomy thing, full of the blazes somebody, just once, funereal ticking of clocks. would scratch his arse, or belch, Then there’s another mismat- or get a charley horse. ed slice of fantasy, tin's one a

Then it turns out that Midge rather glorious battle in the Sen- and his princess friend are go- ator’s half of the other world; ing to be separated, so they then another sliver of tragedy, escape together back into nor- followed by the butt-end of the mal space. And, with a wrench, other-world fantasy to cap all. the story changes still again, this Senator Purvis and R. R,, both time to a really dismal tragedy. transmogrified, have perished in Our friends seem to have gone the aforesaid battle, but Midge

Adventures in Space and Time The Shape of Worlds to Come

For the tops in fast-moving tales of to- morrow by such outstanding authors as Robert Abernathy, Wallace West, Poul Anderson, Boyd Ellanby, Charles A. Stearns; for biting satire on present- day folly carried to its ne-plus-ultra by such scribes as L. Sprague de Camp, Russ Winterbotham, and Winston Marks; for thought-provoking projec- tions of possibility, by such authors as Robert Randall, Irving Cox, Jr., and Milton Lesser.

don’t miss the current issue of SCIENCE FICTION QUARTERLY Still only 25 1\ 126 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION and his princess are reunited. Miss Honeyhill, who after mar- rying Midge’s father, the Earl of Morfa, has turned into a wicked stepmother, is left be- hind, together with divers sup- porting characters, all wearing surprised wooden expressions, like puppets who had expected better of their creator.

I don’t know what the author thought he was up to: writing an American fairy tale, maybe.

NDER THE TRIPLE SUNS, by U Stanton A. Coblentz (Fan- tasy Press, $3.00) is a wild, ably slowed down if the writers heavy-handed 1930-style adven- had felt obliged to examine every ture story, which I can’t honest- new race and culture in detail.

ly recommend to modern read- But it’s easy to see, also, that the ers: but I think science-fiction new convention was a betrayal writers ought to buy it and read of science fiction. it. Science fiction exists to pro- I’m speaking to you, from Doc vide what Moskowitz and others Smith on, who have fallen into call "the sense of wonder”: in the habit of describing an alien more precise terms, some widen- city, on another planet, as if it ing of the mind’s horizons, in were Manhattan seen through no matter what direction — the slightly cockeyed spectacles. landscape of another planet, or There is a failure of communi- a corpusde’s-eye view of an cation, the expected article is not artery, or what it feels like to be reaching the customer, when an

in rapport with a cat . . . any s-f her® arrives in the metropo- new sensory experience, impos- lis of Ub-Gloob, on Sirius XII, sible to the reader in his own to find that the only difference person, is grist for the mill and between it and New York is that the cars move faster. what the activity of science-fic- tion writing is all about. In retrospect it’s easy to see how the habit began: the slam- So: notice, once you have bang science adventure epic passed (or skipped) the wooden whose gr»wth took place in the dialogue and stereotyped actioa 30’$ w»uld have been intoler- of the early chapters, Coblentz's •

HEADIN' AND WRITHIN' 127 notion of a city on another of strands of some fabric planet: that looked like bamboo and

Concrete pavements? Rectilin- crossed it irregularly, and ear buildings, automobiles, street yet somehow gave the im- signs? Nope. pression of branching sup-

ports, w' h i c h likewise He was peering into an suggested a cobweb, curved enclosure that hardly seem- and bent and twisted be-

ed an enclosure at all. Far tween the floor and tire above, at a height of thou- ceiling, with closely woven sands of feet, the gray cob- whorls and patterned spirals web ceiling curved like an and platforms and slim long actual sky. Though from cables that swung faintly as

without, it had looked if in an invisible current. opaque, from within he saw it to be translucent: the Coblentz’s story unfolds itself subdued and filtered ra- steeped in the sunless gloom of diance of the three suns this gigantic spiderweb tent —

penetrated it with a soft, a vivid sensory experience that

even glow. . . . The walls never was in the world before. were ribbed with thousands Coblentz uses his background

Given infinity, and an infinite number of planets and good-sized

asteroids, etc., every man could have a world all to himself, if he so wanted. Isaac Asimov tells of a distant future when just about everyone did so want, and the means for satisfying that want are available. But there’s an unsuspected joker in this solution to the problem of “Living Space.” Ed Emsh has done the cover. If a great artist—a world-renowned composer—were revived by a distant future, could he continue his work, and complete masterpieces unfinished, or merely thought of? James Blish treats this question in a new short story, “Art Work.”

Don’t miss the May issue of SCIENCE FICTION Pocket-Sized STORIES 126 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION for an engaging but primitive satire about "social climbers"

( the social status of the Ugwugs, the city’s inhabitants, depends on their height above the tent’s floor) and similar conceits; but

it would have served equally well for a straightforward xeno- graphic story, or puzzle, or mood story, or what you like. The

point is: If your alien planet is just like Broadway, or even just like Uganda, what the devil is the been just the Old Mennon- use of leaving Earth at all? ites and the Amish, and only a few tens of thou- eigh Brackett’s "The sands of them, and they had L Long Tomorrow” (Double- been regarded as quaint and day, $2.95) is a startling per- queer because they held to formance from the gifted author the old simple handcraft of so much, but so entirely differ- ways and would have no ent, science-fantasy. Miss Brack- part of cities or machines. ett is celebrated among fans for But when the cities ended, her intense, moody, supermascu- and men found that in the line epics of doomed heroes on changed world these of all far planets, all extremely poetic folk were best fitted to sur- and fantastical, and all very much vive, the Mennonites had alike. swiftly multiplied into die Her new novel takes place on millions they now counted. years Earth, about 85 from now Speculation as brilliantly — two and a half generations sound as this no longer seems after the atom war that de- like speculation at all, but simple stroyed the cities. The world, in truth; and all this is as real, as almost a century, has healed over intimately detailed and as svarm- but never grown back. No long- ly sympathetic as if the author er half godless, America is herself had lived it. Here's chockablock with sects like the New Mennonites: young, flat-hatted Len Colter, for instance, just after he and his cousin Esau have seen a man . . . Back in the Twen- tieth Century, only two gen- named Soames stoned to death erations before, there had by religious fanatics. .

HEADIN' AND WRITHIN' 129

Len turned his head and other out. Most of the book, par- looked at Esau. He was cry- ticularly the early part, is com- ing, and his face was white. pellingiy written, but not specu- Esau had his arms folded lative — communities just like tight across his middle, and this one were common not so his body was bent over long ago, and some, as Miss them. His eyes were huge Brackett reminds us, still exist. and staring. Suddenly he Where the smallest flavoring of

turned and rushed away on speculation is mixed in, as in all fours under the cart. Len the third passage quoted above,

bolted after him, scram- it heightens the effect; but in- bling, crabwise, with the air creasingly, as the invented ele- dark and whirling around ments of the story grow more him. All he could think important, the vision dims.

about was the pecans Perhaps Koestler is right after

Soames had given him . . all, and there’s no help for it. At any rate, Miss Brackett has Just so, my God! dealt conscientiously with the And here’s Gran, who was a speculative element — a hidden little girl when the cities were town, now half-legendary, where " still there: 'Seems like this is the descendants of government the only time you see real colors scientists are trying to find a way any more, when the trees turn to bring atomic civilization safe- in the fall. The world used to ly back. Two-thirds of the novel be full of colors. You wouldn’t are occupied with Len’s and believe it, Lennie, but I had a Esau’s search for "Bartorstown,” ” dress once, as red as that tree.’ and with the ordinary, miracu-

The book is full of similar lous, tragic things that happen poignant touches, each unex- to them along the way. And pectedly penetrating and abso- when they finally reach their lutely right. Miss Brackett fol- goal, they find no Hollywood lows Len and Esau from boy- supermen dressed in chrome and hood through young manhood black leather, but ordinary peo- with such warm wisdom that you ple, in a dismal shanty town, find yourself continually saying, laboring desperately at a prob-

"Yes, that’s so . . . Yes, that’s lem too big for them. .” so! . . All the same, in spite of good Unhappily, as the story pro- craftsmanship and good inten-

gresses, it seems more and more tions, somewhere along the line, to support Koestler’s assertion all the reality has leaked out of (paraphrased) that literature the story. Miss Brackett’s occa- and science fiction cancel each sional sharp character sketches 130 FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION

are now all in the background; long: how to write honestly the foreground figures we now about a mildly speculative fu- meet are totally unconvincing, ture without dragging in pseudo-

and so, I regret to say, is Len scientific props by the carload. himself. The story line, which The result will not be what we had seemed to flow as naturally are used to thinking of as sci- fiction, but I, for and inevitably as life, gradually ence one, don’t care. The mildly speculative fu- begins to waver into the same ture is a legitimate area of inter- stale old comedy of divided loy- est for literature, and one that’s alties we have been through so so far been notably neglected. often: having lost the drama, the The future-tense novel, for author has fallen back on dra- want of a better term, may in matics. time become as common as the Like Wyndham’s "Re-Birth,” contemporary and past-tense

this novel illustrates a problem novels; but it will have to give which science-fiction writers are up hiding behind the cliches of going to have to solve before science fiction first. - ! f s

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