PREVIEW-When artist Ed Valigursky introduced his spherical moon shuttle-ships in the May SCIENCE FICTION IIIIII~ I' filii. AU·GUST 1955

IWUpPd' \111 All Stories New and Complete

Editor: JAMES L. QUINN Assist. Editors: EVE WULFF, ROBERT W. GREENE Art Editor: ED VALIGURSKY UWIII ~~1II111111111 ~IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~

SHORT NOVEL BIRTHRIGHT by April Smith 16

NOVELETTES BLEEDBACK by Winston Marks 60 THE MOLD OF YANCY by Philip K. Dick 78

SHORT STORIES FRANCHISE by Isaac Asimov 2 THE ETHICATORS by Willard Marsh 55 THE PATRIOT by Charles L. Fontenoy 96 ECOLOGY ON ROLLINS ISLAND by Varley Lang 106

FEATURES WORTH CITING 54 WHAT IS YOUR SCIENCE I.Q.l 77 SCIENCE BRIEFS 118

COVER: By Kenneth Rossi, illustrating "Bleedback"

:1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111. IF is published bi-monthly by Quinn Puhlishin&. Company, Inc. Volume 5, No.5. Co~ght 1955 by Quinn Publishing Co., Inc. Office of ~ublication, 8 Lord Street, Buffalo New York. Entered as Second Class Matter at Post Office, Buffalo, New York. Subscription $3.50 for 12 issues in U.S. and Possessions; Canada $4 for 12 usueaj elsewhere $4.50. Allow four weeks for change of address. All stories ap~ ing in this magazine are fiction; any similarity to actual persons is coincidental Not responsible for unsolicited artwork or manuscripts. 35c a copy. Printed in U.S.A. EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES, KINGSTON, NEW YORK

Ne.' ;sSfle 011 sale Atlgud 12th ·e.:Y.· ISAAC ASI MOV FRANCHISE

It Was a frightening thing to happen to a person; the responsi- bility was just too great. But Norman Muller couldn't back out. Multivac had chosen him, and the entire nation waited . .. 2 Illustrated by Paul Orban

T INDA, aged 10, was the only Norman Muller gave up and r~se Done of the family who seemed blearily to his elbows. The day was to enjoy being awake. beginning. It was faintly stirring Norman Muller could hear her toward dawn outside, the germ of now through his own drugged, un­ a miserable gray that looked about healthy coma. (He had finally as miserably gray as he felt. He managed to fall asleep an hour could hear Sarah, his wife, shuf­ earlier but even then it was more fling about breakfast duties in the like exhaustion than sleep.) kitchen. His father-in-law, Mat­ She was at his bedside now, thew, was hawking strenuously in shaking him. "Daddy, Daddy, wake the bathroom. No doubt Agent up. Wake up!" Handley was ready and waiting for .He suppressed a groan. "All him. right, Linda." This was the day. "But, Daddy~ there's more Election day! policemen around than any time! . Police cars and everything!" To begin with, it had been like 3 every other year. Maybe a little face had been shifting from one worse, because it was a Presiden­ speaker to the next, said pipingly, tial year, but no worse than other "You going to be voting this year, Presidential years if it came to that. Daddy?" The politicians spoke about the Nonnan smiled gently and said, guh-reat electorate and the vast eel don't think so, dear." electuh-ronic intelligence that was But this was in the gradually its servant. The press analyzed the growing excitement of an October situation with industrial computers in a Presidential Election Year and (the New York Times and the St. Sarah had led a quiet life with Louis Post-Dispatch had their own dreams for her companions. She computers) and were full of little said, longingly, "Wouldn't that be hints as to what would be forth­ wonderful, though?" coming. Commentators and col­ "If I voted?" Norman Muller umnists pin-pointed the crucial had a small, blonde mustache that state and county in happy contra­ had given him a debonair quality diction to one another. in the young Sarah's eyes, but The first hint that it would not which, with gradual graying, had be like every other year, was when declined merely to lack of dis­ Sarah Muller said to her husband tinction. His forehead bore deepen­ on the evening of October 4 (with ing lines born of uncertainty and, Election Day exactly a month off), in general, he had never seduced "Cantwell Johnson says that In­ his clerkly soul with the thought diana will be the state this year. that he was either born great or He's the fourth one. Just think, would under any circumstances our state this time." achieve greatness. He had a wife, Matthew Hortenweiler took his a job and a little girl and except fleshy face from behind the paper, under extraordinary conditions of stared dourly at his daughter and elation or depression was inclined growled, "Those fellows are paid to consider that to be an adequate to tell lies. Don't listen to them." bargain struck with life. "Four of them, Father," said So he was a little embarrassed Sarah, mildly. "They all say In­ and more than a little uneasy at diana." the direction his wife's thoughts "Indiana is a key state, Mat­ were taking. "Actually, my dear," thew," said Nonnan, just as mildly, he said, "there are two hundred "on account of the Hawkins-Smith million people in the country, and Act and this mess in Indianapolis. with odds like that, I don't think It-" we ought to waste our time won­ Matthew twisted his old face dering about it." alarmingly and rasped out, "No His wife said, "Why, Norman, one says Bloomington or Monroe it's no such thing like two hundred County, do they?" million and you know it. In the "Well-" said Norman. first place, only people between 20 Linda, whose little point-chin and 60 are eligible and it's always 4 ISAAC ASIMOV men, so that puts it down to ~~~­ "If they did anything like that," be fifty million to one. Then, if It s pointed out Norman, "the politi­ really Indiana-" cians would follow the announce­ "Then it's about one and a quar­ ments like vultures. By the time it ter million to one. You wouldn't was narrowed down to a township, want me to bet in a horse race you'd have a Congressman or two against those odds, now, would at every street-corner." you? Let's have supper." Matthew narrowed his eyes and Matthew muttered from behind brushed angrily at his sparse, gray his newspaper, "Damned foolish­ hair, "They're vultures, anyhow. ness." Listen-" Linda asked again, "You going Sarah murmured, "Now, Fa­ to be voting this year, Daddy?" ther-" Norman shook his head and they Matthew's voice rumbled over all adjourned to the dining room. her protest without as much as a stumble or hitch. "Listen, I was around when they set up Multivac. y OCTOBER 20, Sarah's ex­ It would end partisan politics, they B citement was rising rapidly. said. No more voter's money wasted Over the coffee, she announced on campaigns. No more grinning that Mrs. Schultz, having a cousin nobodies high-pressured and ad­ who was the secretary of an As­ vertising-campaigned into Con­ semblyman, said that all the "smart gress or the White House. So what money" was on Indiana. happens? More campaigning than "She says President Villers is ever, only now they do it blind. even going to make a speech at They'll send guys to Indiana on Indianapolis." account of the Hawkins-Smith Act Norman Muller, who had had a and other guys to California in hard day at the store, nudged the case it's the Joe Hammer situation statement with a raising of eye­ that turns crucial. I say, wipe out brows and let it go at that. all that nonsense. Back to the good, Matthew Hortenweiler, who was old-" chronically dissatisfied with Wash­ Linda asked, suddenly, "Don't ington, said, "If Villers makes a you want Daddy to vote this year, speech in Indiana, that means he Grandpa?" thinks Multivac will pick Arizona. Matthew glared at the young He wouldn't have the guts to go girl. "Never you mind now." He closer, the mushhead." turned back to Nonnan and Sarah. Sarah, who ignored her father "There was a time I voted. whenever she could decently do so, Marched right up to the polling said, "I don't know why they don't booth, stuck my fist on the levers announce the state as soon as they and voted. There was nothing to can, and then the county and so it. I just said: This fellow's my on. Then the people who were man and I'm voting for him. eliminated could relax." That's the way it should be." FRANCHISE 5 Linda said excitedly, "You voted, She said, "Grandpa, did you Grandpa? You really did?" really once vote?" Sarah leaned forward quickly He said, "You heard me say I to quiet what might easily become did, didn't you? Do you think I tell an incongruous story drifting about fibs?" the neighborhood. "It's nothing, "N-no, but Mamma says every­ Linda. Grandpa doesn't really body voted then." mean voted. When he was a little "So they did." boy, they had something they "But how could they? How could called voting. Everyone did that everybody vote?" kind of voting, Grandpa, too, but Matthew stared at her solemnly, it wasn't really voting." then lifted her and put her on his Matthew roared, "It wasn't knee. when I was a little boy. I was 22 He even moderated the tonal and I voted for Langley and it was qualities of his voice. He said, "You real voting. My vote didn't count see, Linda, till about forty years for much, maybe, but it was as ago, everybody always voted. Say good as anyone else's. Anyone else's. we wanted to decide who was to And no Multivac to--" be the new President of the United Norman interposed. "All right, States. The Democrats and Repub­ Linda, time for bed. And stop ask­ licans would both nominate some­ ing questions about voting. When one and everybody would say who you grow up, you'll understand they wanted. When Election Day all about it." was over, they would count how He kissed her with antiseptic many people wanted the Democrat gentleness and she moved reluc­ and how many wanted the Repub­ tantly out of range under maternal lican. Whoever had more votes prodding and a promise that she was elected. You see?" might watch the bedside video till Linda nodded and said, "How 9: 15, it she was prompt about the did all the people know who to bathing ritual. vote for? Did Multivac tell them?" Matthew's eyebrows hunched Linda said, "Grandpa," and down and he looked severe. "They stood with her chin down and her just used their own judgment, girl." hands behind her back until his She edged away from him and newspaper lowered itself to the he lowered his voice again, "I'm point where shaggy eyebrows and not angry at you, Linda. But, you eyes, nested in fine wrinkles, see, sometimes it took all night to showed themselves. It was Friday, count what everyone said and peo­ October 31. ple were impatient. So they in­ He said, "Yes?" vented special machines which Linda came closer and put both could look at the first few votes her forearms on one of the old and compare them with the votes man's knees so that he had to dis­ from the same places in previous card his newspaper altogether. years. That way the machine could 6 ISAAC ASIMOV compute how the total vote would much care." be and who would be elected. You Sarah said, "Now, Father-" see?" But she had no time for anger. She nodded. "Like Multivac." The news had to be told and Mat­ "The first computers were much thew was the only recipient handy. smaller than Multivac. But the So she went on, "Agatha's Joe is machines grew bigger and they a policeman, you know, and he could tell how the election would says a whole truckload of secret go from fewer and fewer votes. service men came into Blooming­ Then, at last, they built Multivac ton last night." and it can tell from just one voter." "They're not after me." Linda smiled at having reached "Don't you see, Father? Secret a familiar part of the story and service agents, and it's almost elec­ said, "That's nice." tion time. In Bloomington!" Matthew frowned and said, "No, "Maybe they're after a bank it's not nice. I don't want a ma­ robber." chine telling me how I would have "There hasn't been a bank rob­ voted just because some joker in bery in town in ages ... Father, Milwaukee says he's against higher you're hopeless." tariffs. Maybe I want to vote She stalked away. cockeyed just for the pleasure of it. Maybe I don't want to vote. Nor did Norman Muller receive Maybe-" the news with noticeably greater But Linda had wriggled from his excitement. knee and was beating a retreat. "Now, Sarah, how did Agatha's She met her mother at the door. Joe know they were secret service Her mother, who was still wearing agents," he asked, calmly. "They her coat and had not even had wouldn't go around with identi­ time to remove her hat, said fication cards pasted on their fore­ breathlessly, "Run along, Linda. heads." Don't get in mother's way." But by next evening, with No­ Then she said to Matthew as vember a day old, she could say she lifted her hat from her head triumphantly, "It's just everyone and patted her hair back 'into in Bloomington that's waiting for place, "I've been at Agatha's." someone local to be the voter. The Matthew stared at her censo­ Bloomington News as much as said riously and did not even dignify so on video." that piece of information with a Nonnan stirred uneasily. He grunt as he groped for his news­ couldn't deny it, and his heart was paper. sinking. If Bloomington was really Sarah said, as she unbuttoned her to be hit by Multivac's lightning, it coat, "Guess what she said?" would mean newspapennen, video Matthew flattened out his news­ shows, tourists, all sorts of-strange paper for reading purposes with a upset. Norman liked the quiet rou­ sharp crackle and said, "Don't tine of his life and the distant stir FRANCHISE 7 of politics was getting uncomfort­ talk, he whispered, "I'm sorry, ably close. sir." He said, "It's all rumor. Nothing The secret service agent had re­ more." moved his coat, unbuttoned his "You wait and see, then. You jacket and was sitting at ease on just wait and see." the couch. As things turned out, there was "It's all right," he said, and the very little time to wait, for the mark of officialdom seemed to have door-bell rang insistently, and when vanished with the formal an­ Nonnan Muller opened it and nouncement and leave him simply said, "Yes?" a tall, grave-faced a large and rather friendly man. man said, "Are you Nonnan Mul­ "This is the sixth time I've made ler?" the announcement and I've seen Nonnan said, "Yes" again, but all kinds of reactions. Not one of in a strange dying voice. It was them was the kind you see on the not difficult to see from the stran­ video. You know what I mean? A ger's bearing that he was one car­ holy, dedicated look, and a charac­ rying authority and the nature of ter who says: 'It will be a great his errand suddenly became as in­ privilege to serve my country.' evitably obvious as it had, until the That sort of stuff." The agent moment before, been unthinkably laughed comfortingly. impossible. Sarah's accompanying laugh 11le man presented credentials, held a trace of shrill hysteria. stepped into the house, closed the The agent said, "Now you're go­ door behind him and said ritualis­ ing to have me with you for a tically, "Mr. Nonnan Muller, it while. My natne is Phil Handley. is necessary for me to inform you I'd appreciate it if you call me on the behalf of the President of Phil. Mr. Muller can't leave the the United States that you have house any more till Election Day. been chosen to represent the You'll have to inform the depart­ American electorate on Tuesday, ment store that he's sick, Mrs. Mul­ November 4, 2008." ler. You can go about your busi­ ness for a while but you'll have to agree not to say a word about this. ORMAN MULLER managed, Right, Mrs. Muller?" Nwith difficulty, to walk un­ Sarah nodded vigorously. "No, aided to his chair. He sat there, sir. Not a word." white-faced and almost insensible, "All right. But, Mrs. Muller," while Sarah brought water, slapped Handley looked grave, "we're not his hands in panic and moaned to kidding now. Go out only if you her husband between clenched must and you'll be followed when teeth, "Don't be sick, Norman. you do. I'm sorry but that's the Don't be sick. They'll pick some­ way we must operate." one else." "Followed?" When Nonnan could manage to "It won't be obvious. Don't wor- 8 ISAAC ASIMOV rye And it's only for two days till get that straight to begin with. the formal announcement to the Multivac weighs all sorts of known nation is made. Your daughter-" factors, billions of them. One factor "She's in bed," said Sarah, isn't known, though, and won't be hastily. known for a long time. That's the "Good. She'll have to be told I'm reaction pattern of the human a relative or friend staying with mind. All Americans are subjected the family. If she does find out the to molding pressure of what other truth, she'll have to be kept in Americans do and say, to the things the house. Your father had better that are done to him and the things stay in tlfe house in any case." he does to others. Any American "He won't like that/' said Sarah. can be brought to Multivac to "Can't be helped. Now, since have the bent of his mind sUIVeyed. you have no others living with From that the bent of all other you-" minds in the country can be esti­ "You know all about us, ap­ mated. Some Americans are better parently," whispered Norman. for the purpose than others at some "Quite a bit," agreed Handley. given time, depending upon the "In any case, those are all my in­ happenings of that year. Multivac structions to you for the moment. picked you as most representative I'll try to co-operate as much as this year. Not the smartest, or the I can and be as little of a nuisance strongest, or the luckiest, but just as possible. The government will the most representative. Now we pay for my maintenance so I won't don't question Multivac, do we?" be an expense to you. I'll be re­ "Couldn't it make a mistake?" lieved each night by someone who asked Nonnan. will sit up in this room, so there Sarah, who listened impatiently, will be no problem about sleeping interrupted to say, "Don't listen to accommodations. Now, Mr. Mul­ him, sir. He's just nelVOUS, you ler-" know. Actually, he's very well-read "Sir?" and he always follows politics very "You can call me Phil," said closely." the agent again. "The purpose of Handley said, "Multivac makes the two days preliminary to formal the decisions, Mrs. Muller. It announcement is to get you used picked your husband." to your position. We prefer to have "But does it know everything?" you face Multivac in as normal a insisted Nonnan, wildly. "Can't it state of mind as possible. Just re­ have made a mistake?" lax and try to feel this is all in a "Yes, it can. There's no point in day's work. Okay?" not being frank. In 1993, a selected "Okay," said Nonnan, and then Voter died of a stroke two hours shook his head violently. "But I before it was time for him to be don't want the responsibility. Why notified. Multivac didn't predict me?" that; it couldn't. A Voter might "All right," said Handley, "let's be mentally unstable, morally un- :, FRANCHISE 9 suitable, or, for that matter, dis­ clining quickly to a whisper. "'When loyal. Multivac can't know every­ they talk about the Ridgely ad­ thing about everybody until he's ministration of 1988, do they say fed all the data there is. That's why that Ridgely was corrupt and the alternate selections are always held nation was foolish to elect him? in readiness. I don't think we'll be Do they say he won them over with using one this time. You're in good pie-in-the-sky promises and racist health, Mr. Muller, and you've baloney? No! They talk about the been carefully' investigated. You 'goddam MacComber vote' as qualify." though Humphrey MacComber Norman buried his face in his was the only man who had any­ hands and sat motionless. thing to do with it because he "By tomorrow morning, sir," said faced Multivac. I've said it my­ Sarah, "he'll be perfectly all right. self-only now I think, the poor He just has to get used to it, that's guy was just a truck-farmer who all." didn't ask to be picked. Why was "Of course," said Handley. it his fault more than anyone else's. Now his name is a curse." In the privacy of their bed­ "You're just being childish," chamber, Sarah Muller expressed said Sarah. herself in stronger fashion. The "I'm being sensible. I tell you, burden of her lecture was, "So get Sarah, I won't accept. They can't hold of yourself, Norman. You're make me vote if I don't want to. trying to throwaway the chance I'll say I'm sick. I'll say-" of a lifetime." But Sarah had had enough. Norman whispered, desperately, "Now you listen to me," she whis­ ;'It frightens me, Sarah. The whole pered in a cold fury. "You don't thing." have only yourself to think about. "For goodness sake, why? What's You know what it means to be there to it but answering a question Voter of the Year. A Presidential or two?" year at that. It means publicity and "The responsibility is too great. fame and, maybe, buckets of I couldn't face it." money-" "What responsibility? There "And then I go back to being isn't any. Multivac picked you. It's a clerk." Multivac's responsibility. Everyone "You will not. You'll have a knows that." branch managership at the least Norman sat up in bed in a sud­ if you have any brains at all, and den access of rebellion and anguish. you will have, because I'll tell you "Everyone is supposed to know what to do. You control the kind that. But they don't. They-" of publicity if you play your cards "Lower your voice," hissed right, and you can force Kennell Sarah, icily. "They'll hear you Stores, Inc. into a tight contract downtown." and an escalator clause in connec­ "They don't," said Norman, de- tion with your salary and a decent 10 ISAAC ASIMOV pension plan." whined because she could not leave "That's not the point in being the house; Sarah divided her time Voter, Sarah." between preparation of meals for "That will be your point. If you the present and plans for the fu­ don't owe anything to yourself or ture; and Norman's depression to me--I'm not asking for myself lived and fed upon itself. -you owe something to Linda." And the morning of Tuesday, Nonnan groaned. November 4, 2008, came at last "Well, don't you?" snapped and it was Election Day. Sarah. "Yes, dear," munnured Nonnan. IT WAS EARLY breakfast, but On November 3, the official an­ .Ionly Norman Muller ate, and nouncement was made and it was that mechanically. Even a shower too late for Nonnan to back out and shave had not succeeded in even if he had been able to find either restoring him to reality or the courage to make the attempt. removing his own conviction that Their house was sealed off. Se­ he was as grimy without as he cret service agents made their ap­ felt grimy within. pearance in the open, blocking off Handley's friendly voice did its all approach. best to shed some normality over At first the telephone rang in­ the gray and unfriendly dawn. cessantly, but Philip Handley with (The weather prediction had been an engagingly apologetic smile took for a cloudy day with prospects all calls. Eventually, the exchange of rain before noon.) shunted all calls directly to the p0­ Handley said, "We'll keep this lice station. house insulated till Mr. Muller is Norman imagined that in that back, but after that we'll be off way, he was spared not only the your necks." The secret service bubbling (and envious?) congratu­ agent was in full unifonn now, in­ lations of friends, but also the egre­ cluding side-anns in heavily­ gious pressure of salesmen scenting brassed holsters. a prospect and the designing "You've been no trouble at all, smoothness of politicians from all Mr. Handley," simpered Sarah. over the nation. Perhaps even Nonnan drank through two cups death threats from the inevitable of black coffee, wiped his lips with cranks. a napkin, stood up and said, hag­ Newspapers were forbidden to gardly, "I'm ready." the house now in order to keep out Handley stood up, too, "Very weighted pressure and television well, sir. And thank you, Mrs. was gently but firmly disconnected, Muller, for your very kind hos­ over Linda's loud protests. pitality." Matthew growled and stayed in his room; Linda, after the first The armored car purred down flurry of excitement, sulked and empty streets. They were empty FRANCHISE 11 even for that hour of the morning. just so that you get used to your Handley indicated that and said, surroundings and get over any "They always shift traffic away thought you might have that there from the line of drive ever since is anything unusual in this, any­ the attempted bombing that nearly thing clinical, if you know what I ruined the Leverett election of mean." '92." "It's all right," said Norman. When the car stopped, Norman "I'd just as soon this were over." was helped oilt by the always "I understand your feelings. Still, °polite Handley into an under­ we want you to know exactly what's ground drive whose walls were lined going on. In the first place, Mul­ with soldiers at attention. tivac isn't here." He was led into a brightly lit "It isn't?" Somehow through all room, in which three white-uni­ his depression, he had still looked formed men greeted him smilingly. forward to seeing Multivac. They Nonnan said, sharply, "But this said it was half a mile long and is the hospital?" three stories high, that fifty tech­ "There's no significance to that," nicians walked the corridors within said Handley, at once. "It's just its structure continuously. It was that the hospital has the necessary one of the wonders of the world. facilities." Paulson smiled. "No. It's not "Well, what do I do?" portable, you know. It's located un­ Handley nodded. One of the derground, in fact, and very few three men in white advanced and people know exactly where. You said, "I'll take over now, agent." can understand that, since it is our Handley saluted in an off-hand greatest natural resource. Believe manner and left the room. me, elections aren't the only thing The man in white said, "Won't it's used for." you sit down, Mr. Muller? I'm Norman thought he was being John Paulson, Senior Computer. deliberately chatty, but found him­ These are Samson Levine and Peter self intrigued all the same. "I Dorogobuzh, my assistants." thought I'd see it. I'd like to." Norman numbly shook hands all "I'm sure of that. But it takes a around. Paulson was a man of mid­ Presidential order and even then dle height with a soft face that it has to be countersigned by Se­ seemed used to smiling and a very curity. However, we are plugged obvious toupee. He wore plastic­ into Multivac right here by beam rimmed glasses of an old-fashioned transmission. What Multivac says cut, and he lit a cigarette as he can be interpreted here and what talked. (Norman refused his offer we say is beamed directly to Mul­ of one.) tivac, so in a sense we're in its Paulson said, "In the first place, presence." Mr. Muller, I want you to know Norman looked about. The ma­ we are in no hurry. We want you chines within the room were all to stay with us all day if necessary, meaningless to him. 12 ISAAC ASIMOV "Now let me explain, Mr. Mul­ of your child's school, you may say, Ier," Paulson went on. "Multivac '1 think it is overcrowded.' Those already has most of the information are only words. From the way your it needs to decide all the elections, brain and heart and hormones and national, state and local. It needs sweat glands work, Multivac can only to check certain imponderable judge exactly how intensely you attitudes of mind and it will use feel about the matter. It will un­ you for that. We can't predict what derstand your feelings better than questions it will ask, but they may you yourself." not make much sense to you, or "1 never heard of this," said even to us. It may ask you how you Norman. feel about garbage-disposal in your "No, I'm sure you didn't. Most town; whether you favor central of the details of Multivac's work­ incinerators. It might ask you ings are top secret. For instance, whether you have a doctor of your when you leave, you will be asked own or whether you make use of to sign a paper swearing that you National Medicine, Inc. Do you will never reveal the nature of the understand?" questions you were asked, the na­ "Yes, sir." ture of your responses, what was "Whatever it asks, you answer done, or how it was done. The less in your own words in any way you is known about the Multivac, the please. If you feel you must explain less chance of attempted outside quite a bit, do so. Talk an hour, if pressures upon the men who serv­ necessary." ice it." He smiled, grimly, "Our "Yes, sir." lives are hard enough as it is." "Now, one more thing. We will Norman nodded. "1 under­ have to make use of some simple stand." devices which will automatically "And now would you like any- record your blood pressure, heart thing to eat or drink?" beat, skin conductivity and brain "No. Nothing right now." wave pattern while you speak. The "Do you have any questions?" machinery will seem formidable, Norman shook his head. but it's all absolutely painless. You "Then you tell us when you're won't even know it's going on. So ready." don't worry about it." "I'm ready right now." The other two technicians were "You're certain there's nothing already busying themselves with else you want to ask?" smooth-gleaming apparatus on "Quite." oiled wheels. Paulson nodded, and raised his Norman said, "Is that to check hand in a gesture to the others. on whether I'm lying or not?" They advanced with their fright­ "Not at all, Mr. Muller. There's ening equipment and Nonnan no question of lying. It's only a Muller felt his breath come a little matter of emotional intensity. If more quickly and his heart beat the machine asks you your opinion more rapidly as he watched. FRANCHISE 13 HE ORDEAL lasted nearly his upper arm, moved the machin­ T three hours, with one short ery away. break for coffee and an embarrass­ He stood up, drew a deep, shud­ ing session with a chamber-pot. dering breath and said, "Is that During all this time, Nonnan Mul­ all? Am I through?" ler remained encased in machinery. "Not quite," Paulson hurried to He was bone-weary at the close. him, smiling in reassuring fashion. He thought sardonically that his "We'll have to ask you to stay promise to reveal nothing of what another hour." had passed would be an easy one "Why?" asked Nonnan, sharply. to keep. Already the questions were "It will take that long for Mul­ a hazy mish-mash in his mind. tivac to weave the new data into Somehow he had thought Mul­ the trillions of items it has. Thou­ tivac would speak in a sepulchral, sands of elections are concerned, superhuman voice, resonant and you know. It's very complicated. echoing, but that, he now decided, And it may be that an odd contest was just an idea he had from see­ here or there, a comptrollership in ing too many television shows. The Phoenix, Arizona, or some council truth was distressingly undramatic. seat in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, The questions were slips of a kind may be in doubt. In that case, of metallic foil patterned with nu­ Multivac may be compelled to ask merous punctures. A second ma­ you a deciding question or two." chine converted the pattern into "No," said Nonnan. "I won't go words and Paulson read the words through this again." to Norman, then gave him the "It probably won't happen," question and let him read it for Paulson said, soothingly. "It rarely himself. does. But just in case, you'll have Nonnan's answers were taken to stay." A touch of steel, just a down by a recording machine, touch, entered his voice. "You have played back to Norman for con­ no choice, you know. You must." firmation, with emendations and Nonnan sat down wearily. He added remarks also taken down. shrugged. All that was fed into a pattern­ Paulson said, "We can't let you making instrument and that, in read a newspaper, but if you'd care turn, was radiated to Multivac. for a murder mystery, or if you'd The one question Nonnan could like to play chess, or if there's any­ remember at the moment was an thing we can do for you to help incongruously gossipy: "What do pass the time, I wish you'd men­ you think of the price of eggs?" tion it." He had answered, blankly, "I "It's all right. I'll just wait." don't know the price of eggs." They ushered him into a small Now it was over, and gently they room just next to the one in which removed the electrodes from vari­ he had been questioned. He let ous portions of his body, un­ himself sink into a plastic covered wrapped the pulsating band from annchair and closed his eyes. 14 ISAAC ASIMOV As well as he could, he must point for them. He was, in his own wait out this final hour. person, for this one day, all of America! He sat perfectly still and slowly the tension left him. His breathing The door opened, snapping him grew less rag~ed and h~ could. clasp to open-eyed attention. For a mo­ his hands wIthout beIng qwte so ment, his stomach constricted. Not conscious of the trembling of his more questions! fingers. But Paulson was smiling. "That Maybe there would be no ques- will be all, Mr. Muller." tions. Maybe it was all over. "No more questions, sir?" If it were over, then the next "None needed. Everything was thing would be torchlight proces­ quite clearcut. You will be es­ sions and invitations to speak at corted back to your home and then all sorts of functions. The Voter you will be a private citizen once of the Year! more. Or as much so as the public He, Nonnan Muller, ordinary will allow." clerk of a small department store in "Thank you. Thank you." Nor­ Bloomington, Indiana, who had man flushed and said, "I wonder neither been born great nor -Who was elected?" achieved greatness would be in Paulson shook his head. "That the extraordinary position of hav­ will have to wait for the official ing had greatness thrust upon him. announcement. The rules are quite The historians would speak strict. We can't even tell you. You soberly of the Muller Election of understand." 2008. That would be its name, the "Of course. Yes." Norman felt Muller Election! embarrassed. The publicity, the better job, "Secret Service will have the the flash flood of money that in­ necessary papers for you to sign." terested Sarah so much, occupied "Yes." Suddenly, Norman Mul­ only a corner of his mind. It would ler felt proud. It was on him now all be welcome, of course. He in full strength. He was proud. couldn't refuse it. But at the mo­ In this imperfect world, the ment something else was begin­ sovereign citizens of the first and ning to concern him. greatest Electronic Democracy had, A latent patriotism was stirring. through Norman Muller (through After all, he was representing the him!) exercised once again its free, entire electorate. He was the focal untrammeled franchise. •••

•••••

A new moral outlook is called for in which submission to the powers of nature is replaced by respect for what is best in man. It is where this respect is lacking that scientific technique is dangerous.-Bertrand Russell FRANCHISE 15 BIRTHRIGHT

Why was Cyril Kirk, highest man in his class, assigned to such an eni,gmatic place as Nemar? Of what value was it-if any­ thing? No one could tell him the answer. He wouldn't have believed them ...

BY APRIL SMITH

YRIL KIRK'S first sight of the had been unloaded on some planet C planet from the spaceship did along the way. None of them had nothing to abate the anger seething come this far-which was hardly within him. He stared at it in dis­ surprising, he thought; the last of gust, glad there were no other pas­ them had been taken off two-thirds sengers left to witness his arrival. of the way to Nemar. He was very All during the long trip, he had glad to see them go, though by that felt their curious stares and excited time they had stopped making their whispers everywhere he passed, and cautious, deferential attempts to he had felt a small wave of relief draw him into conversation and whenever a large batch of them elicit some clue about his mission 16 and destination. justified by a long trail of broken He had let them wonder. He hearts in high places, but the at.. knew that his aloofness was being tempt came to nothing. Kirk was taken as snobbishness, but he was aware of her efforts and aware that past caring. They all recognized in another mood he would have that he was a Planetary Adminis­ appreciated her chann, but he felt trator by the blazing gold insignia too sick and miserable to respond. on the dark unifonn, insignia call­ Remembering her piquant, ing for awe and respect allover the laughing face later in his cabin, galaxy. They guessed that this was Kirk thought morosely of the long his first appointment, but the thing train of girls he had known in the that really aroused their curiosity past. Many of them had been love.. was the bitter, angry look that went ly-a fledgling PA was considered with what they considered his ar­ a highly desirable date, even rogant reserve. though the chances were always Since polite efforts at conversa­ that he wouldn't make it in the tion by the braver or more confi­ end. But Kirk had always been dent among the company were met filled with an iron determination with icy monosyllables that cut off that he was going to make it in the further attempts, they were left end, and this meant no distractions. with a wide range of controversy. If he began to feel he might get Some of them held, though they really emotionally entangled with a had never actually seen a Planetary girl, he stopped seeing her at once. Administrator before in the flesh, He saw them seldom enough, any­ that all PA's were like this. They way. The regulations of the PA In­ argued that the long, grueling years stitute gave him a fair amount of of study, the ascetic,. disciplined life free time, but the study require­ from childhood, and the constant ments made the apparent freedom pressure of competition, knowing meaningless. that only a small percentage would How hard he'd worked for the finally make the grade, made them day he'd be wearing this unifonn, kind of inhuman by the time they he thought bitterly. How proud finished. Besides, they were near.. and happy he'd thought he'd feel geniuses or they wouldn't have wearing it! And now, instead, here been selected in the first place­ he was, practically hiding in his and everybody knows geniuses are cabin, hoping nobody would dis.. sort of peculiar. cover the name of his destination One of the bolder and more and guess the reason for the humil.. beautiful girls on board had been iated rage that was still coursing argued into making a carefully through him. planned attempt to draw informa­ He'd gone over the interview with tion out of him, and bets had been Carlin Ross a hundred times since placed on the results. She was eager the trip started, and he wasn't any enough to try her hand at this rich nearer to making sense out of it prize, and her self-confidence was than when he began ... 18 APRIL SMITH He'd entered Ross's office for the official head, he was too busy to be interview in which he would be seen in its halls more than rarely, awarded his post, full of confidence but Kirk had had several brief talks and pride. The final examination with him and one long one. He had results posted in the main lobby the feeling that Ross had a special were headed by his name. He knew interest in him, and this had added that, because of his good record and to his anticipation on the fatal day. general popularity, he had been As he entered the room, Ross watched with special interest by the looked up, his blue eyes friendly teachers and staff for some time; and alert in the weathered, tanned and he looked forward to being face. "Hello, Kirk," he said. As al­ awarded a particularly desirable ways, the simple warmth of his planet, in spite of its being his first smile threw Kirk off guard. It had post. never failed to surprise him the few Technical ability and sound times he had seen Ross. In this training in administration had long place of dedicated, serious men, of ago been decided upon as more im­ military crispness of speech, of stiff­ portant than practical experience, ly erect carriage, Ross's relaxed as mankind began to sicken of the body and quiet, open expression bungling of political appointees. seemed startlingly out of place. Ex­ The far-flung planets that had been cept for the alertness and intelli­ colonized or held an intelligent, gence of the eyes, he looked like a humanoid population were so nu­ country farmer who had wandered merous that even an experienced in by mistake. Kirk, and his friends, Planetary Administrator could had Inore than once wondered how know very little about each one. such an anomaly had risen to the Only son1eone brought up on a high position of Galactic Coordi­ planet could have a detailed knowl­ nator. edge of it, and it was a basic prem­ However, if his manner left you ise of the Galactic Union that puzzled, it also made you feel sur­ governors with a common upbring­ prisingly comfortable, and Kirk had ing and training on Terra were felt relaxed and happy as Ross mo­ necessary to keep the varied parts tioned him to a chair. Nothing pre­ of the empire from splitting off and pared him for the shock that was to becoming alienated from the rest. come. Ross was one of the half-dozen He remembered the apparent men in the top echelon governing casualness with which Ross had the galaxy and its warring com­ spoken. "I'm sending you to Ne­ ponents. His official title was Ga­ mar." lactic Coordinator, and one of his For a moment Kirk felt blank. minor duties was the supervision The name did not register. His of the Institute of Training for private speculations had centered Planetary Administration, which on the question of whether he had been home to Kirk for so long. would be sent to a thriving, pleas­ Although he was the Institute's ant, habitable planet or to one of BIRTHRIGHT 19 those whose bleak surface contained the outer rim of the galaxy. It had some newly discovered, highly val­ been incorporated into the Galactic uable mineral and whose struggling Union because it was considered colonists lived under pressurized dangerous to leave any inhabited domes. Either type could have held planet free of control; but it had the chance to work up to the ga­ not been considered a valuable ad­ lactic eminence and power he had dition. It was far off the established set his heart on. He had been over trade routes, and seemed to contain and over the lIst of planets that nothing worth the expense of trans­ were due to receive new PA's porting it. "The culture is very (there was a rotational system of primitive, isn't it?" Kirk asked, half five years, with an additional five thinking aloud. years made optional) , and he had a "It is so considered," Ross an­ private list of those which, as the swered. star graduate of his class, he hoped The reply struck Kirk as odd. he might draw. Nemar was not A sudden hope filled him. Maybe among them. something new had been discov­ His face stayed blank for a min­ ered about the place, possibly some­ ute as he searched his memory for thing that only Ross and a few of the name, and as vague bits of in­ the top command knew about. He formation filtered through to him, threw a sharp glance at Ross's face, his eyes widened in disbelief. "But, but it told him nothing. "I don't sir-" He fumbled for words. remember too much about the place "That's on the very edge of the from class," he ventured. galaxy." Ross rose, and with his incon­ Ross's voice was quiet. "Yes, it's gruously quick, lazy grace strode to a long way." the filing cabinet along the wall, "But there's nothing on it!" pulling out documents and pam­ Ross sounded a little amused. phlets. He plumped them in a pile "There are some very nice people in front of Kirk. "Most of the on it-the natives are of the same factual infonnation we have is in species as we are, though they look these. You can try the library, too, a little different. That means the but I doubt if you'll find anything air is breathable without aids. It's more." He added a book to the quite a pleasant planet." pile. "This covers their language. "That's not what I mean, sir. I You'll have two months of intensive mean there's nothing of any value instruction in it before you go. You -no minerals, no artifacts, no val­ were always good in your language uable plant or animal products." structure courses, so I doubt that He searched his memory for what you'll have any trouble with it. little he could remember about Ne­ You'll have another two weeks to mar from classes. He recalled that learn the stuff in these documents, the planet had been discovered only and two more weeks to rest or do forty years ago by a Survey ship whatever you like before you leave." that had gone off course far toward He resumed his chair. "You're luck- 20 APRIL SMITH ier than some of the others. The Remembering the scene now as boy who got Proserpine will have he watched Nemar swing closer, a stack of books up to there to Kirk felt the anger again, time absorb." He gestured toward the hadn't dimmed it at all. Ross must ceiling. have perceived his fury, but he had At the mention of Proserpine, shown no signs of it. Looking as Kirk's brown eyes darkened. Proser­ friendly as ever, he had told him pine had been recently discovered, mildly that he did not consider too, but that was all it had in com­ Nemar a "lemon", that he had ex­ mon with Nemar. Its inhospitable cellent reasons for sending him surface held vast amounts of a there, but he preferred not to tell highly valuable fuel ore, and it had him what they were. He wanted been one of the places on his list. him to discover them for himself He wondered who was going there, after he arrived. The rest of the his insides suddenly twisting with interview had concerned itself envy. He tried to keep his voice mainly with practical infonnation, even. "I don't understand why I'm most of which Kirk had scarcely being sent to Nemar." He searched heard through his fog of emotion. for words. After all, he couldn't His endless speculations since exactly mention his graduating first then had gotten him nowhere. He and his record. "Is there something had dredged out of his memory I don't know about? Has some­ every incident that might reveal thing valuable been discovered that some trait for which lle was being hasn't been publicized, or-" He discreetly given a back seat. He re­ waited hopefully. called a roommate who had said he Ross's answer was flat. "No, was going to become a living ma­ there's nothing there that can be chine if he kept it up, and no transported that's worth transport­ machine had the right to have ju­ ing." risdiction over people. But Jere had Kirk felt despair surging through flunked out along the way, like him, then suddenly changing to most candidates who had an atti­ sharp anger. "I've worked hard. I tude like that. He went over the have a good record. Why are you time he had been called to Ross's giving me this-this lemon? Why office and gently rebuked for work­ don't you give it to whoever gradu­ ing men under him on a project too ated lowest, or better still to some hard. "I don't ask anything from older PA who bungled things some­ them I don't ask of myself," he ",There, but not quite enough to be had protested. retired!" His face was burning with "I know," Ross had answered, rage. Somewhere inside he felt "and I respect that. But you work shocked at himself for speaking to that hard from choice." Then he a Coordinator this way; at the same had nodded in dismissal. time he felt a violent urge to carry Kirk had puzzled over these and it farther and sock Ross in the nose. other incidents, searching for a clue, His body was shaking ... but found nothing. All his probing BIRTHRIGHT 21 in a more optimistic direction led to cated the officials who would make blind alleys also. The documents up the Terran part of his staff. As on Nemar, all the information he the natives approached him, he could dig up, confirmed Ross's noted the green-gold hair and the statement that the planet held slightly greenish tinge to their skin, nothing of commercial value. for which his studies had prepared The planet, to judge by what he him. had read, was a pleasant place, ap­ Nothing in his studies, however, parently very pretty, with heavy had prepared him for the extraor­ vegetation and a warm, temperate dinary grace and beauty of these climate, and the natives were hos­ people. pitable and friendly. But all this They were dressed, men and held very little comfort for him and women alike, in a simple fold of did little to assuage the sense of bright-colored cloth circling their angry humiliation that had made body from the waist and reaching him seek isolation from the other a third of the way to their knees. passengers. Kirk noted, with a slight sense of He could see the planet more shock, that the women wore noth­ clearly now as the ship began to ing above the waist except for a angle into an orbit, preparatory to strand of woven reeds, interlaced sending out the smaller landing with shells and flowers, which fell ship which would take him down. loosely to their breasts. In these Hastily he reviewed in his mind brief and primitive garments, the once more the few facts he knew natives bore themselves with such about the place, and shaped his imperious grace and assurance that tongue to the unfamiliar sounds of for a moment Kirk felt as if his the native language. He fought role had been abruptly reversed­ down the feeling of humiliation, as if instead of being the powerful and straightened his shoulders. Aft­ representative of a great civilization er all, to these people, he would to a backward people, he were the he the most important person on the humble primitive waiting for their planet. If he was to be a big frog acceptance. in a small puddle, ·he was still su­ One of the older ·natives stepped preme administrator here, and he forward from the rest, his palm had no intention of letting them outstretched, shoulder high, in know his arrival signified a disgrace greeting. "Welcome to Nemar," he to him. said, his glance steady and gracious on Kirk's face. Kirk recognized the words of the ROM THE airlock of the land­ native language with surprise. The F ing ship, Kirk looked out on a clear, musical quality of the native's cleared plain. In the foreground speech made his own words, harsh a group of natives were gathered and grating by comparison, sound to greet him, and a scattering of like a different language, as he re­ dark uniforms among them indi- plied. "Thank you. I am very 22 APRIL SMITH happy to be here." Jerwyn in the small ground vehicle As he spoke, he realized that the which was to take him to his head­ lie had for a moment felt almost quarters. Jerwyn immediately re­ like truth. For a moment he won­ sumed the standard Galactic-Ter­ dered if the planet's apparent prim­ ran language, which he had itiveness was deceptive and if its dropped during the introductions. simplicity concealed a highly de­ "As soon as I show you around a veloped culture. But even as the bit, I'll be off on the landing ship hope surged through him, he re­ you came in. I wonder how Terra membered Ross's clear and definite will seem after all this time." statement to the contrary. Besides, "Five years is a long time," Kirk there would be no point in keeping ventured. a thing like that secret from the "Ten." rest of the galaxy, even if it could Kirk stared at him in astonish­ be done. Such a culture, moreover, ment. "You took the optional five would certainly have things of years! Why in heaven would any­ value to trade. one-" He broke off suddenly. The As these thoughts coursed question might be one Jerwyn through his mind, one of the Ter­ would not care to answer. He threw rans stepped forward from the him a speculative glance, wonder­ crowd. The insignia on his uniform ing why he had been sent here and were the same as his own, and he whether he, too, was bitter. Maybe realized, with a surge of curiosity, a poor record, or something in his that this must be his predecessor. past he didn't care to go back to The man reached forward to ...? That didn't fit in his own shake his hand. "Hello. The name's case-but then there was no know­ Jerwyn." His tanned face was open ing what did fit in his own case. and friendly, and reminded Kirk Jerwyn had an alert, perceptive curiously of someone; he couldn't look that indicated considerable in­ remember who. "Glad to see you." telligence, but still he somehow I'll bet you are, Kirk thought: looked inadequate. Some quality an your gain, my loss. "Greetings from Administrator should have was Terra," he replied, somewh~t stiff­ lacking ... dignity? drive? ly. "Cyril Kirk." He tried to keep Jerwyn's voice interrupted his his vague disapproval of Jerwyn's thoughts. "Beautiful, isn't it?" breezy informality out of his voice. The groundcar had left the plain It was hard to realize this man was and was entering a heavily wooded also a Planetary Administrator. He section. For the first time, Kirk took seemed to have lost completely the a good look at his surroundings. look of authority that was the life­ Some of the trees and plants were long mark of the PA graduate. very like those he had seen in parks at home. Still, there was a After the various introductions definitely alien feel to it all. The and a short period of conversation, trees were low and wide and had Kirk found himself seated beside peculiar contours, different from BIRTHRIGHT 23 those of trees on Terra, and their matic precipitrons for cleaning your flowering foliage came in odd sizes clothes, natural foods instead of and colors. The sky wasn't quite synthetics, no aircars, no automatic the blue he was used to, and the dispensers for food or drinks or shapes of the clouds were different. clothes; none of a hundred things He noticed for the first time a you take for granted till you don't heady, pungent perfume tarried on have them. But you get used to it. the breeze, that was both pleasant There are things to make up-" and stimulating. It came, perhaps, He broke off as the car began to from the wide-petaled flowers in descend into a valley. "Look!" His oddly shimmering colors that voice held an odd tone of affection. clustered thickly everywhere. "There's your new home." "Yes, it's beautiful," he agreed, Kirk gazed downward at the set­ "but-" The feeling of despair and tlement nested in the valley below frustration welled up in him again. them. He fished in his pocket for a The warmth he sensed in Jerwyn magnascope to bring the view made him suddenly long to blurt nearer and stared curiously, as ,the out the whole story. He controlled lens adjusted to the distance. He himself with difficulty, as he turned picked out groups of buildings, low toward him. "It's pretty enough. It units of some coarse, natural, ma­ might make a good vacation resort terial, widely spaced. This was the if it weren't on the edge of no­ largest city on the planet, he knew, where." His pent-up emotion ex­ but it seemed to be little more ploded as he spoke. "But five years than a village. It was undoubtedly in this hole! I'd feel a hell of a lot primitive-very primitive. Remem­ better if I were looking at some bering the magnificent high build­ rocky, barren landscape with some ings of Terra, he was filled with mines on it-with something of sudden homesickness for the speed­ value on it-with a name some­ ing sidewalks crowded with people, body'd heard of, where you could the skylanes humming with aircars. hope to get somewhere. I don't Turning the magnascope here want to waste five years here!" He and there, he kept his gaze trained paused for breath, staring angrily on the town beneath him, studying at the lush landscape. "And for it now in more detail. Slowly, some that matter, life on one of those of his depression began to leave planets where you live under domes, him, and he felt a strange sense with a sealed-in atmosphere, is of wannth begin to take its place. probably a lot more civilized and He stepped up the power of the convenient than in this prinlitive glass till he could see the inhabi­ jungle." tants walking in the streets. Like Jerwyn nodded slowly, an un­ the natives who had met him at spoken compassion in his face. "I the landing ship, they walked with know how you're feeling." He a beautiful, easy grace, a sumptuous paused. "And it does seem pretty ease that seemed somehow almost a primitive here at first-no auto- rebuke of his own stiffly correct 24 APRIL SMITH military posture. They gave an im­ sional glad-hander, though he cer­ pression of combined leisure and tainly doesn't seem like it." He vitality. shook his head. "Maybe that's the Gradually, as he watched, an odd secret of his success; I never could feeling of nostalgia began to stir figure out how he got where he is. in him, an old, childish longing. He He certainly doesn't seem typical remembered suddenly a dream he of,the command. Oh, he's brilliant had had years ago, in which he had enough, but there's a quality about run laughing through green mead­ hiin I'd almost call-\veak, I guess. ows with a lovely girl. He had Unsuitable for his post, ·anyway. fought against waking from it and He treats the janitor the same returning to his desk piled high as-" with books and his ascetically fur­ I<.irk stopped abruptly. He sud­ nished room. denly had the answer to the ques­ He blinked his eyes and put tion that had been nagging at the down the magnascope. "Rather at­ edge of his mind: it was Ross that tractive, in a way," he said grudg­ Jerwyn reminded him of. ingly to Jerwyn. He settled back Trying to cover up his confusion, slowly into his seat. he went on rapidly, hoping Jerwyn "Just the same," he added, an­ would not notice. "Anyway, what­ noyed at himself for his sentimental ever his reasons were, he's played lapse, "how have you managed to me a dirty trick, and if there's ever stand it all this time? I still can't any way I can pay him back for it, figure how I came to get it in the I'll do it. I'll have five years to neck like this." Abruptly, he think about it. Me! The fair-haired plunged into the words he had boy of the Institute! On my way to been holding back, telling the whole the top!" His face flushed with re­ story of his confusion to Jerwyn. sentment. "Sent to sweat out five He rationalized to himself that years in this Godforsaken place perhaps Jerwyn could help him with a bunch of savages hardly solve the mystery. At least he might evolved out of the jungle!" He tell him how he himself came to be passed his hand over his forehead, sent to Nemar, without his having wiping off sweat, feeling the full to ask directly; and this might give force of his pent-up anguish and him a clue. rage flood through him. "I've been over the whole busi­ Jerwyn spoke very quickly. "I ness a million times, trying to figure felt pretty much the same way it out," he concluded. "Somebody when I was sent here. But I feel with pull must have had it in for differently now. I could try to ex­ me. But who? And why? I never plain. But I don't think it's a good had any real run-ins with Ross. In idea. I don't think anyone could fact, I'd always thought he liked ·have explained to me. This is a me." He scowled. "Of course, he place you've got to live in; you gives practically everybody that im­ can't be told about it." He shifted pression. Maybe he's just a profes- in his seat as a small group of BIRTHRIGHT 25 buildings came into view. "As for Then, as sleep fell from his eyes, Ross-well, he was responsible for he remembered. He glanced at the my being sent here, too, and I spent window above his bed from which some time when I first came, think­ the orange light filtered into the ing of ways to cut his body in little room and saw it was completely pieces and throw them in a gar­ open to the outside air. Something bage pulverizer-but I wouldn't would have to done about that, he waste my time if I were you. I thought grimly, or he'd never be know now he had his reasons." As able to sleep with an easy mind. he spoke the car pulled to a stop. There were always people, Sooner "Well, here we are. This is where or later, who hated you if you had you'll be living and working." power; or if they didn't hate you, Jerwyn stayed with Kirk while they at least wanted you out of he was shown through various commission for one reason or buildings. He found most of the another. office buildings full of bright murals He sat up to take a better look and little watered patios, but lack­ at the room he had been too tired ing the simplest devices for working to investigate before. There were efficiency. He was introduced to mats of woven reeds, and low various officials, T erran and Ne­ carved chests, and flowers; the marian. Some of the latter, to his walls were clean and glimmering, surprise, were women-a rare and bare except for a single picture phenomenon for a primitive planet, of two young native children. He he remembered from his classes. got up and walked over to look at By the time the touring was it more closely. A boy of about over and he had said goodbye to seven was holding his arm out to a Jerwyn, he was too tired to do more girl, slightly younger, to help her than glance briefly at the quarters on to the low, swaying branch on to which he was shown. Left alone which he was sitting. The picture in his rooms, he took a quick, awk­ was full of sunshine and green ward bath, too weary to feel more leaves and happiness, and you than a brief annoyance at the lack could feel the trusting softness of of automatic buttons for tempera­ her arms reaching up to him. An ture controls, soaping, and drying, odd picture, Kirk thought. The and fell exhausted on the low bed. children looked childlike enough, but the emotions looked adult. As he looked at it, he heard a OR A MOMENT, as he woke, soft, swishing sound in the next F Kirk could not remember where roon1, and stiffened. There was no he was. Drowsiness mingled with a lock on the door, he noticed. Well, sense of eeriness at the sound of it was time to get up, anyway. He long bird-calls unlike any on Terra dressed hurriedly, trying to remem­ and the unfamiliar rustling of ber the layout of his rooms. Except leaves; the rays from the late after­ for the bathroom, he recalled· only noon sun seemed too crimson. one other room, a sort of arbored 26 APRIL SMITH porch, one side completely open to know. Maybe they made a practice the air, with a low table and some of diverting their rulers with beau­ cooking equipment at one end. tiful women. She certainly didn't As he opened the door, a faint look like a servant. He smiled at whisk of something made of reeds the thought that came to him: this went out of sight. A primitive servant was the first indication of broom, he thought, with a faint the luxury befitting a Planetary sense of relief. Some servant was Administrator. The thought en­ tidying the house. He opened the abled him to gain control of him­ door further-and stared. self again. He regained a semblance A native girl was standing before of his customary reserved look. him. She was extraordinarily love­ "Good afternoon," he said, in the ly. The gold-green hair of her race native language. rippled and flowed in waves over She smiled and held out her her bare back and shoulders down hand. to the circlet of vermilion cloth He hesitated, then held out his girdling her thighs. The band of own awkwardly. Did one shake small shells that circled her throat hands ,,,,ith one's servants here? He was netted with wide orange and wished he'd asked Jerwyn for more red flowers that half-hid, half-dis­ advice about protocol. closed the firm naked breasts. The She took his hand and pressed it light brown, gold-flecked eyes be­ lightly for a moment. "I am neath the gold-green eyebrows were Nanae." Her voice was low and soft; so was the tender mouth, rose­ musical. "I am going to clean and colored against the flawless skin, take care of your house." with its undertones of faint green. She turned and with exquisite Her body, too, looked soft and precision gestured toward the low yielding, but was borne with im­ table and cooking equipment at the perious grace that somehow dig­ end of the room. "I thought you nified even the broom held loosely would be waking soon. I have pre... now in one delicate hand. pared some jen for you." Kirk stared at this vision of len? he thought. Dh, yes, a. very beauty, taken by surprise, and light stimulant-the local variety found himself caught up in sudden of tea. He walked over to the low desire. She was like something out table and sat down, fighting the of a dream. He tried to get hold of impulse to enter into conversation himself. with her. He watched her as she You're just not used to half-nude poured the hot liquid into wide women, he told himself. You're cups of polished gourd, her hair used to girls in uniforms, crisp, radiant about her shoulders. A stab businesslike unifonns. A wild sus­ of longing shot through him. The picion caught at the edge of his long years of training in the In­ mind. He didn't know anything stitute paraded through his mind, about this planet, really-except the years' of strict routine, hard that there was something he didn't work, ascetic, bare rooms, with BIRTHRIGHT 27 women considered playthings that belling against being sent here in took too much time from needed the first place-and he'd let him­ study; the only beauty was the self go so far that he'd skipped his dream of power among the glitter­ chance of reassignment at the end ing stars. of the first five years, afraid of the Well, he wasn't going to give up problems of a new post after be­ and forget the dream, he told him­ ing a beachcomber for so long. self-and he wasn't going to be led That would account for the curious astray by any pretty girls, particu­ lack of deference he'd found in all larly a maid. Hell, he thought sud­ these people. They were friendly denly, maybe Ross is testing me. enough, but they lacked proper re­ Maybe he picked the worst planet spect for his position. You weren't in the whole damn galaxy to find supposed to be friendly to a PA; out if I could do something with you were supposed to be humbly it. It's obvious if I can get this polite. He recalled the respect and place on the trademaps, I can awe he'd received on the ship. handle anything. As he finished his cup, he real­ He looked speculatively at the ized he was very hungry. He looked girl as she pushed the cup toward around instinctively for food. He him. He wondered how she came had enough synthetics in his bags by her job. Did they hold beauty to do him for awhile, but he might contests here for the honor of be­ as well make the plunge and start ing cleaning woman in the PA's eating the native foods right away_ household? He realized he was feel­ No use coddling himself. ing more cheerful. The jen and the The girl noticed the look. "1 soothing quietness of the girl's pres­ didn't prepare food for you because ence were doing him good. He felt dinner will be served in just a little a resurgence of his old energy and while. We eat all together, down ambition that the interview with by the river. You will hear drums Ross had quelled for so long. to announce when the meal is "Did you work for ]erwyn, too?" ready, and you get there by walking he asked. Yes, his voice was just to the end of that path." She right, courteous, but not too friend­ pointed a delicate finger at a small ly, he thought. foot-path winding by a few yards "No, but 1 knew him." She from where he sat. looked at him with an odd smile. "He became one of our best qanc­ ers." OMING OUT of the little for­ "Dancers!" Kirk stared at her in C est at the end of the path, amazement. He started to open his Kirk paused to take in the scene. mouth, then stopped. He'd better Between him and the river was a not ask any more questions till he'd wild jumble of men and women, had a chance to talk to some Ter­ laughing and talking, children run­ rans. Apparently, Jerwyn had gone ning and stumbling over small pet native. Maybe it was his way of re- animals, piles of nuts and fruits 28 APRIL SMITH and hot foods heaped together be­ among them. If they can be in­ side small fires. Some of the people fluenced." He opened the leaf and sat on straw mats, but most, simply bit into the yellow vegetable inside. on the ground. There were neither Kirk looked dubiously at the ob­ tables nor chairs. To Kirk it looked ject in his hand. He hoped it like utter confusion. wouldn't make him sick. Pushing With a sense of gratitude, he back his sense of disgust, he bit into saw a tall, uniformed figure com­ it carefully. The bland, sweetish ing up to him, with a brisk, definite flavor filled him with delightful stride. The Terran's face was lined surprise. It was rather like a mix­ and firm, the kind of face Kirk was ture of sweet potato, carrot, and familiar with. The man with this peach synthetics--but the texture face would be a man who stood for and flavor were new and wonder­ no nonsense, a man who was a little ful. Maybe civilization had lost tough, but also fair and capable. something good when it gave up He recognized him as he came natural foods. Though, of course, closer. their preparation was time-wasting "Hello, sir. I'm Matt Cortland, and inefficient, he reminded him­ your second in command," he said self; and swallowing synthetics re­ brusquely. "I met you this after­ quired only a momentary break in noon, but you met so many people your work when you were pressed then it must have been just a blur for time. He looked up and found of names and faces." Cortland watching him. Kirk greeted him, feeling a sense "Pretty different from the food of satisfaction that this man would at home, eh?" He had slipped into be his chief assistant. He looked the Terran language. "Good food efficient; he should be able to help and pretty girls." He gestured to­ him learn the ropes and get a pro­ ward the graceful, half-nude wom­ gram of action started. en scattered along the mossy bank. "No chairs," Cortland said la­ "Everything for the lotus-eaters." conically, as they walked toward The phrase meant nothing to the gathering. He chose a soft spot Kirk. of lavender-tinted moss near a pile One of the girls came over to of hot food and sat down, cross­ them with a large gourd full of legged. Awkwardly, Kirk sat down fruit and nuts, and another on beside him, folding his legs under which she heaped hot foods from him stiffly. "You can be served in the piles on the ground as she your rooms, of course, if you like," passed. She placed them on the Cortland went on, turning to him. ground beside the two men. "These people are very obliging. "Yes, everything for the lotus­ Very obliging." He reached for eaters," Cortland repeated. "In­ two of the leaf-wrapped, steaming cidentally, I hope you're not under objects, handing one to Kirk. "But the impression that that girl is you probably have a better chance naked from the waist up." of influencing them if you eat Kirk looked at him questioningly. BIRTHRIGHT 29 "Oh, no. She's completely cov­ ing to eat." ered. They have taboos about "But to get back," he went on, naked breasts, just like we do." He "they're capable enough, or they laughed at Kirk's look of mystifica­ were once, anyway, but none of tion. "You notice those strands of them has the drive and brains it shells or woven reeds they wear takes to push through a project around their necks?" to develop this planet. They've Kirk looked around. They all pretty well given up. Some of them wore them. like it here and some of them don't, "Well, that signifies they are but they've all stopped trying." A dressed. If you ever see a native look of contempt crossed his face. girl without one, she'll be terribly "They go through the motions of embarrassed." He stuck his hand doing some work to earn their out toward the bowl of hot food. salaries, knock off at noon, and "Mter you've been here long spend their time lying around on enough you'll think they're dressed, the beaches with Nemarian girls. too." I've done what I could to keep a He laughed, then looked more semblance of discipline, but it's serious. uphill work." "I've been here a long time, get­ Kirk looked at him steadily. "All ting nowhere," he said, in a differ­ that's going to be changed." ent tone. "There are a lot of things Cortland smiled. "Good." Their that could be done here. I've spent eyes met, with understanding. a lot of time thinking about it. But "And I'm very happy to have a Jerwyn-" He hesitated. "I hope man of your caliber with me," Kirk you intend to make the name of said quietly. the Galactic Union mean some­ Cortland gave him a long look. thing here." "Maybe you've got what it takes. Kirk nodded, and Cortland went Maybe you have." He nodded slow­ OD. "Jerwyn tried when he first ly. "I should have told you I don't canle. But after awhile he seemed entirely blame the men. This plan­ to just give up. I couldn't do any­ et's a tough nut to crack." His voice thing without him backing me, I was grim. don't have enough authority." He Kirk felt a vague uneasiness, but looked grim as he spoke. "And be­ his look stayed determined. "We'll sides that, it takes more than one crack it." good man. Dh, the other GU men "We've been here forty years, here are capable enough-" He and we haven't made a dent. glanced toward a group of Ter­ They're funny people, these Ne­ rans sitting nearby. "They'll be marians. They're really alien. I've over in a little while \0 speak to been here fifteen years, and I don't you, incidentally; I asked them to understand them any better than hold off for a little, while I briefed when I came." you a bit-no sense deluging you "That's quite a statement." with new people while you're try- "They're very appealing. Naive. 30 APRIL SMITH Childlike. The soul of courtesy­ side them. He picked up one of the on the surface. But it's deceptive. filled cups and tried it cautiously. And you could spend a lifetime try­ It was delightful. He emptied it ing to find out what's underneath." and poured another. A young boy of about twelve He felt Cortland's hand on his came up as he spoke, setting a large arm, and looked up to find him gourd full of s~ea.II!ing liquid do~n grinning at him. "Hey, take it beside them wIth lithe grace, filhng easy with that stuff. That's fer­ smaller cups from it as he did so. mented kara root-the local variety Cortland nodded at him, turning of booze. They can drink quarts again to Kirk as the boy walked of the stuff and be all right; I've away. "Even their children aren't never seen one of them really really childlike. Did you see his drunk. But you'd better not try it." eyes-makes you damned uncom­ Kirk frowned. "Something dif­ fortable." ferent in our metabolism? I As Kirk started to answer, drum­ thought-" beats began to fill the air, first soft­ "No, they're quite human," Cort­ ly, then louder. Strange sounds land broke in. "And it's not a mat­ from unfamiliar. instruments began ter of immunity. I wondered about to nlingle with them, and a clear, it for a long time-and got quite high instrument added a melody. disgracefully drunk a couple of The whole effect had an alien, dis­ times, keeping up with them, before cordant quality for Kirk, but as he I figured it out." He sipped at his listened further he grew intrigued own cup. "No, the secret of their and began to enjoy it; a mood­ success is the dancing." happy and romantic and energetic, Kirk looked at the light, whirl­ all at once-came through to him ing figures, puzzled. from the music. Cortland smiled at his bewilder­ "The ?ancing's beginning," Cort­ ment. "It's the exercise. It burns land informed him. up the alcohol as fast as they drink Kirk saw young men and women it. When they're having a real feast, rise by ones and two's and begin they dance and drink all night, till swaying and turning their bodies they collapse from pure exhaustion. to the music. They all seemed to be They wake up feeling fine-not a doing different things, and yet sign of a hangover. Of course, to­ somehow it made an integrated night they'll only dance for a little pattern. To his surprise older peo­ while, so they'll only drink a ple and even young children grad­ little ..." ually joined in, and managed not to look inappropriate, although the "Sensible, aren't they?" The dance movements were rapid and voice came out of the air behind strenuous. them, sardonic, feminine. The lan­ He noticed a sweet, pungent odor guage was Terran. filling his nostrils and realized it Kirk whirled and peered through came from the steaming bowl be- the dusk, which was gathering BIRTHRIGHT 31 rapidly. He saw a slightly amused "You'll find out what I mean. pair of brown eyes, brunette hair, Didn't Cortland tell you?" and a trim body dressed in chic "What are you talking about?" good taste in expensive Terran "Well, you might as well go in clothes. cold at that. Form your own con­ Cortland stood up. "Mrs. Sherrin clusions as you go along. No use ... our new Planetary Administra­ giving you prejudices before you tor, Cyril Kirk." start. Maybe you're the man who'll She lowered' herself to the cut the Gordian knot. No use tell­ ground, spreading out a small mat ing you it can't be done." under her as she did so. "Jeannette, "What can't be done?" if you don't mind." She folded her "We'll all be rooting for you." legs under her carefully. "I don't She poured herself a drink and mean to be disrespectful. But downed it quickly. "Great stuff, there's such a small number of us this. Makes you forget the petty here, we need to be friends and annoyances of the garden-spot of stick together." the galaxy." She poured another. Cortland, who had been looking "To Nemar," she said, lifting it. away for a moment turned to them. "Now tell me about Terra. What's "If you'll excuse me, someone been happening back home?" wants to talk to me." Kirk nodded. He could get nothing more out "Did I meet your husband this of her. afternoon?" he inquired politely, as Cortland strode off. "No; I'm a widow." IRK STRUGGLED to control "Oh, I'm sorry," he murmured. K his irritation as the last Ne­ "Don't be. Not for me, I mean. marian on his list walked in, poised We'd been coming to a parting of and self-confident, casually uncon­ the ways for a long time. But let's cerned about his lateness. Some­ not talk about that. How do you thing would have to be done about like the dancing?" their sloppiness and lack of dis­ He looked at the firelit figures, cipline, but now wasn't the time. whirling in the growing dusk. "I It wouldn't do to lose his temper at don't know. I'm sort of over­ the first official meeting he called. whelmed by everything. It's all so First he needed to stir some am­ new. I've heard so many confusing bition in them, prod them out of things-" their lethargy. She nodded. "If you manage He looked around at the assem­ to make sense out of the Nemar­ bled members of his joint Terran­ ians, you'll make history. It's better Nemarian staff. The Terran mem­ not to worry about it too much. Im­ bers were making an attempt to merse yourself in their gay, happy stand stiffly at attention, some­ life." what awkwardly as though they "What do you mean?" were out of practice. They threw She gave him a sharp look. rather disconcerted looks at his 32 APRIL SMITH stern, impassive young face. The teously and looking slightly bored. Nemarians stood casually erect or The Terrans looked uneasy or em­ lounged against the wall. barrassed. Once more, he found himself "What prevents this change," he troubled by a faint sense of incon­ went on, "is the fact that there is gruity. Something. a~

WORTH CITING RECENT STATISTICS compiled by the United States Depart­ ment of Labor have shown that it costs American industry about $2,500,000,000 each year for research which enables it to give you deadlier insecticides, better weed killers, more efficient and smoother-riding cars, more rugged home appliances, better surgi­ cal instruments, more sensitive radio and television sets and the host of other n~wer developments that are easing the burden of life for the men and women of today. Add to this another $1,250,000,000 for research in the development of better planes for your son in the Air Force, or wanner uniforms for the boys in the Anny, or better life rafts for the sailor and his buddies, or safer landing craft for the Marines. The bill adds up to the staggering total of $3,750,000,000 a year just to keep American life improving! It takes 96,000 research engineers and scientists laboring over test tubes and slide rules, blue prints and calculators, weather instruments and cyclotrons to produce these gimmicks. and gadgets. And industry gets the utmost from these researchers by supplying them with a staff of technicians. About 143,000 supporting workers are busily engaged in twirling knobs, taking hourly readings and running series of long, routine tests. In short, research in this country is a big and costly business. And the organizational technique is such that it can help the country over industrial humps and bottlenecks created by war, famine, plague and cataclysm. Our Citation this month goes to the researchers, those men and women of American industry, who conceive and make the ma­ chines and instruments and products that make the standard of living in this country the finest in the world.

S4 BY WILLARD MARSH

They were used to retarded life forms~ but this was the worst.

Yet it is a missionary's duty to bring light where there is none, for who can tell what devious forms evolution might take?

the ethicators

HE MISSIONARIES came-out might not be a humanoid species T of the planetary system of a to whom they could reach down a star they didn't call Antares. They helping paw; some emergent cous­ called it, naturally enough, The in with at least a rudimentary sym­ Sun-just as home was Earth, Ter­ metry from snout to tail, and ra, or simply .The World. And hence a rudimentary soul. naturally enough, being the ascend­ The ship they chose was a com­ ant animal on Earth, they called pact scout, vaguely resembling the themselves human beings. They outside of an orange crate-except were looking for extraterrestrial that they had no concept of an souls to save. orange crate and, being a tesseract, They had no real hope of find­ it had no particular outside. It\was ing humans like themselves in this simply an expanding cube (and as wonderously diversified universe. such, quite roomy) whose "interi­ But it wasn't against all probability or" was always paralleling its "ex­ that, in their rwnaging, there terior" (or attempting to), in ac- 55 cordance with all the well.known, and down were meaningless in basic and irrefutable laws on the space, he kept them to himself. As subject. the second planet from its sun hove A number of its sides occupied into view, he switched on the mag­ the same place at the same time, niscan eagerly. giving a hypothetical spectator the "I say, this is more like it. Clouds illusion of looking down merging and all that sort of thing. Should sets of railway tracks~ This, in fact, we have a go at it, sir?" was its precise method of locomo­ The Conductor yawned. "Too tion. The inner cube was always bloody cloudy for my taste. Too having to catch up, caboose-fash­ equivocal. Let's push on," he said ion, with the outer one in time (or languidly. "I have a hunch the space, depending on one's perspec­ third planet might be just our dish tive). And whenever it had done of tea." so, it would have arrived with it­ Quelling his disappointment, the self-at approximately wherever in Bosun-Colonel waited for the third the space-time continuum it had planet to swim into being. And been pointed. when it did, blooming like an or­ When they felt the jar of the chid in all its greens and moist­ settling geodesics, the crew crowded nesses, he could scarcely contain at the forward visiplate to see where his excitement. they were. It was the outskirts of a "Why, it looks just like Earth," G type star system. Silently they he marveled., "Gad, sir, what a watched the innermost planet float master stroke of navigation. How past, scorched and craggy, its sun· did )lou realize this would be it?" ward side seeming about to relapse "Oh, I don't know," the Con­ to a molten state. ductor said modestly. "Things The Bosun-Colonel turned to the usually have a habit of occurring in Conductor. "A bit of a disappoint­ threes. I'm quite a student of nu­ ment I'm afraid, sir. Surely with merology, you know." Then he re­ all that heat .. .?" membered the Mission and drew "Steady, lad. The last wicket's himself erect on all his- legs. "You not been bowled." The Conductor's may prepare for landing, Mister," whiskers quivered in amusement at he ordered crisply. his next-in-command's impetuosity. The Bosun-Colonel shifted over "¥ou'll notice that we're dropping to manual and busied himself at downward. If the temperature ac­ the helm, luffing the square craft cordingly continues dropping-" down the troughs of air. Gliding He couldn't shrug, he wasn't over the vast tropical oceans, he physiologically capable of it, but put down at a large land mass it was apparent that he felt they'd above a shallow warm sea, twenty­ soon reach a planet whose climate five degrees below the northern could support intelligent life. pole. If the Bosun-Colonel had any Too numbed for comment, the ideas that such directions as up crew stared out at the alien vista. 56 WILLARD MARSH They'd heard of retarded life it was too insurmountable for the fonns from other Missionary ex­ imagination. peditions-of planets where the in­ "Even so," he conceded, "grant­ habitants, in extreme emergency, ing the impossible-whatever shape had been known to commit mur­ it took, the only worthwhile species der. But this was surely the worst, would still be .. ." He couldn't the most vicious imaginable in the bring himself to say it. galaxy. "Meat-eaters," the Conductor Here, with life freshly up from supplied grimly. the sea, freshly launched on the On hearing this, the Oarsman long climb to maturity and self­ who had just revived promptly realization-was nothing but hor­ fainted again. ror. With so lush a vegetation, so "It's too deep in the genes," the easily capable of supporting them Conductor continued, "too far ad­ side by side in abundance, the vanced for us to tamper with. All monsters were actually feeding on we can hope to do is modify their each other. Great lumbering beasts moral outlook. So that by the time they were with their bristling hides they achieve star travel, they'll at and huge tails, charging between least have a basic sense of Fair the giant tree ferns; gouging living Play." chunks from one another while Sighing, bowed by responsibilities razor-toothed birds with scaly wings flapped overhead, screaming for the remnants. As the sounds of carnage came through the audio ports, the youngest Oarsman NEVER, keeled over in a faint. Even the Conductor was visibly EVER BEFORE, shaken. The Bosun-Colonel turned to him with a sick expression. ANYWHERE! "Surely it's a lost cause, Skipper. Life like this will never have a 7000 fantasy and science­ soul worth saving." fiction books and bock­ "Not in its present stage," the issue magazines at 50% to Old Man was forced to agree. "Still, one never knows the devious 90% under what they've paths that evolution takes." He cost you before, here or considered the scene for a thought­ anywhere, while they last! ful, shuddering interval. "Perhaps LIST FREE. in several thousand millen- nlums. ..." The Bosun-Colonel tried to vis­ WEREWOLF BaOISIOP ualize the possibility of Ethical Life Shannon Rd., R.D. 2, Box 16K ever materializing through these Verona, Pennsylvania swamp mists, but the logic against THE ETHICATORS 57 incommensurate with his chrono­ Ethics Ray, lost in the far ooze logical youth, he gave the order below. Then even the seas receded, wearily. It was snapped down the and the mountains buckled up­ chain of command to the Senior ward in their place, their arrogant Yardbird: stone faces staring changelessly "All paws stand by to lower the across the epochs. Until they too Ethics Ray! Step lively, lads-bug- were whittled down by erosion. The ger off, now ...". ice caps crept down, crackling and There was a din of activity as grinding the valleys. The groWld the outer locks were opened and stretched and tossed like a restless the bulky mechanism was shipped sleeper, settled, and the Ethics Ray over the side. It squatted on a was brought to light once more. cleared rise of ground in all its As it always had, it continued complex, softly ticking majesty, beaming its particular signal, on a waiting for the First Human to pad cosmic ray carrier modulated by within range of its shedding Grace a pulse a particular number of and Uplift. The work party scram­ angstroms below infrared. The bled back to the ship, anxious to be beasts that blundered within its off this sinister terrain. Once more field were entirely different now, the crew gathered at the visiplate but they still weren't the Right as the planet fell away beneath Ones. Among them were some them, the Ethics Ray winking in shambling pale bipeds, dressed in the day's last light like a corner­ skins of other beasts, who clucked stone. Or perhaps a tambourine ... over its gleaming exterior and tried to chip it away for spearheads. In this of course they were unsuccess­ IGHT CLOSED down on the ful. N raw chaotic world, huge beasts And then one day the First Hu­ closed in on the strange star-fallen man wandered by, paused square souvenir. They snuflled over it; in the path of the beam. His phy­ then enraged at discovering it was siology was only approximate, his nothing they could fill their clam­ I.Q. was regrettably low-but he oring mindless stomachs with, at­ was Pre-Moral Life, such as it was, tempted to wreck it. They were un­ on this planet. successful, for the Machine had The Ethics Ray made the neces­ been given an extra heavy coat of sary frequency adjustments, tripped shellac and things to withstand on full force. The Primitive froze such monkeyshines. And the Ma­ under the bombardment, its germ chine, in its own finely calibrated plasm shifting in the most minute way, ignored its harassers, for they and subtle dimensions. Then, its had no resemblance to the Life it mission fulfilled, the Ethics Ray col­ had been tuned to influence. lapsed into heavy molecules and Days lengthened into decades, sank into the ground. The first eons. The seas came shouldering in convert raced away in fright, to stand towers tall above the having no idea what had hap- 58 WILLARD MARSH pened. Neither did his billion sons led. and daughters .•. He wrote rapidly for several mo­ ments, then gave the stylus back. The Conductor found a weathered ACK ON the home base, the paper-weight in his rear pocket, B Conductor reported in at the which he· traded him for it. It Ethication of Primitive Planets looked like it might have come office. It was a magnificently im­ from this very desk at one time. posing building, as befitting the Then with a smart salute, he about- moral seat of the universe. And the faced. . Overseer was an equally imposing On the way out, a pair of sec­ human with ears greyed by service. retaries paused in their trading of His congratulations were unre­ a pelt brush for a tail-curler to served. watch him admiringly. As well they "A splendid mission, lad," he might. Fleet Conductor! said, "and I don't mind suggesting The future Fleet Conductor of a -strictly entre nous-that it could solar system he would never think jolly well result in a Fleet Con­ of calling Antares paused at the ductorship for you." door. In its polished panel he re­ The Conductor was over­ garded himself with due apprecia­ whelmed. tion. He had sown the seeds of "Now just let me jot down the civilization on a far-flung planet essentials while they're still fresh where, countless light years from in mind," he continued, pawing now, they would flower to maturity. through a desk drawer. "Bothera­ Not among the strongest or clever­ tion! I seem to have traded the est species, to be sure, but among last of my styluses. Do you happen those most worthy of applying First to have one on you?" Principles, the moral law of give "With pleasure." The Conductor and take. handed over his monogrammed Among those remote cousins of gold stylus, receiving in exchange the Conductor himself-who under a toy silencemaker. no circumstances would ever think "My youngster traded it to me of himself as resembling a rather this morning," the Overseer chuck- oversized trader rat. ••• ••••• DON'T miss Irving E. Cox's latest-THE ALMOST MEN-in the October issue. It's a suspenseful short novel about a strange war in which one side is armed with the greatest weapons of the age, while the other side has nothing but a new way of life: science and mechanics notwithstanding, the mind is Man's greatest potential ... Also top-notch stories by Charles Beaumont, Robert F. Young, Edward W. L~dwig, Alan E. Nourse and others. THE ETHICATORS 59 BLEEDBACK

BY WINSTON MARKS

It was just a harmless, though amazing, kid's toy that sold for

less than a dollar. )7et it plunged the entire nation

into a nightmare of mystery and chaos . ..

HE THING is over now, but I chaos, it was, ironically, another T can't see a Teddy bear or a child's toy that saved us. A simple, set of blocks in a department store ordinary, every-day toy for tots window without shuddering. I'm stopped the "fever", halted the thankful I'm a bachelor and have carnage that was tearing our flesh no children around to remind me and eyes and viscera into shreds. of the utterly insane nightmare that With most the scientists in the a child's toy plunged our country world working for an emergency into-the millions of people who solution, they could come up with died in agony-the total disruption no better answer than a toy that'd and near dissolution of our nation. been around for generations before And yet, as the United States tot­ the "Mystery i-Gun" was even con­ tered on the verge of complete ceived. 60 Being a plain-clothesman, I have seen greed and impatience ruin many individual lives. If I could have guessed at the chain of events that would stem from my first con­ tact with the younger Baxter broth­ er, I would have put a bullet through his head in cold blood and Illustrated by Ed Emsh cheerfully faced the gas chamber. Instead I took off my hat and fol­ told, we would find a body. lowed him through the substantial Leo Baxter was a little guy about old house to a moderately large five-foot six, like me but with a ~oom in the rear where, I'd been better build. His size was important 61 for a couple of reasons, one being and when I came in he was on his that it was startling to say the least, face." when he pointed to the giant on the "Why did you ask for homicide floor and said, "My brother." when you called the police? Or He caught my look and shrugged let's put it this way: What makes impatiently. "1 know, 1 know, but you think it wasn't an accident?" this is no time for Mutt and Jeff "Two reasons. First, because I gags. Calvin has bee~ murdered. couldn't see any cause of the acci­ Now get with it, Lieutenant!" If dent. When I turned him over the Calvin was his brother, Leo's agita­ floor was smooth and clean under tion was understandable, but his his forehead except for the smear voice had a flat note of practicality of blood. Reason number two: Be­ in it that I didn't like. cause Calvin just doesn't have ac­ As I looked down at the sprawled cidents. All his life he's moved in length of the big man on the tiled slow motion. I've never known him floor, the Mutt and Jeff angle to stumble, or cut himself, or drop didn't fit at all. David and Goliath anything or even bump into any­ was a better bet. This Goliath one." seemed also to have met his fate 1 was checking around the room from a hole in the forehead. I say, myself, and I had to admit that "seemed," because it developed that both reasons might be valid. A man Calvin Baxter was not yet quite the size of Calvin wasn't likely to dead. be the skittish type. And by the "There's no pulse or breath," his time the ambulance arrived I was brother said when I mentioned this ready to admit that if the "injury error in his assumption. were an accident, Calvin Baxter "You're no doctor. Now call that had contrived to conceal its source. ambulance like I told you. Jump!" I t took several of us to load the I said. unconscious man onto the stretcher. He jumped. I made a quick ex­ I told his cocky little brother to stay amination, meanwhile, and when on ice, while I rode downtown in Leo came back from the phone I the ambulance. pointed. "See, the blood. It's still Dr. Thorsen called me into the coming out." emergency ward. "How did this "Corpses bleed, don't they?" happen?" he wanted to know. "Not in spurts," I said. "The Thorsen is a lean, learned old chap hole's tiny, but whatever's in there who normally gives more answers touched an artery. See that?" than he asks. He looked and seemed convinced. I said, "Don't know, Doc. I "The ambulance will be here. Any­ found him in a sort of home work­ thing else I should do?" shop. No power tools, nothing dan­ "Yes. Nothing. Don't touch a gerous in sight. The bench at one thing in this room ... or did you end had a couple of little gadgets already?" on it-looked sort of electrical. "Just Calvin. I heard him fall, Some wire, soldering iron, books, a 62 WINSTON MARKS few rough circuit drawings." passing for brothers, at least, for "The gadgets. What did they some time. look like?" On the third day Leo's patience I thought back and realized ~at began to crack. "You keep asking what I had to describe would sound me the same, stupid questions over a little peculiar. "Sort of like flash­ and over. I tell you, I'm a mechan­ lights with a pistol grip ... and no ical engineer. My brother was a lens where the light should come mathematician. We're both single. out. Just blunt, ·flat ends. I make enough money in the con­ Thorsen shrugged. "Then I don't struction game to support both of know. I expected you to report us. What's so suspicious about hu­ some kind of a blast or explosion." moring my brother's research?" "No sign of one." "Among other things," I said, "is "All right, then what else but a your ignorance of what he was flying particle could· drill a hole in doing." a man's forehead the diameter of a "For the fiftieth time I tell you piece of 16-gauge wire?" I didn~t know!" His exasperation "What do the x-rays show?" was mounting to the pitch I had "We'll know in a minute. What been awaiting. about the murder-attempt angle?" "You used the past tense. You I said that I had nothing to go on do know now?" yet. That was the whole truth and He wheeled and cro~d the the final truth! living room, poured himself a drink When Doc's x-rays revealed of straight bourbon and downed it. nothing but a blood clot deep in the "Yes, I have a notion now, but it's brain at the end of the tiny tunnel none of your damned business. His piercing the skull, I was left with­ ideas may be patentable." out even a "modus operandi", let I said slowly and quietly, "Now alone a substantial suspect. I'll tell you what I've been waiting for. I've been waiting for you to offer me information about the two OR TWO DAYS I investigated little gadgets that you removed Fbrother Leo, and when I wasn't from your brother's work-bench­ investigating him I was question­ against my explicit orders not to ing him. The small town in Min­ touch anything. Until you produce nesota where he claimed he and those items and explain your ac­ his brother were· born had been the tions I'll be around here asking county seat, and the whole shivaree stupid questions. From now on, un­ had burned up in a prairie fire derstand?" years ago, courthouse, birth rec­ "Damn cops!" He threw the shot ords and all. With no other living glass to the floor and glared at me relatives, I had to depend on peo­ for a long minute. "All right, come ple who had known both men. with me." From those whom I questioned, I We went into a little library. He ascertained that they had been took two volumes from a high shelf BLEEDBACK 63 and from the recess snatched the drawers, tou:ched it to the "muzzle" two gadgets with the pistol grips. end of the gadget where it stuck as From a table drawer, which he if magnetized. "Now keep your unlocked with a key from his eyes on the paper clip," he ordered. pocket, he took some drawings that His forefinger pressed a button looked like the ones that had dis­ in the pistol grip, and without appeared from his brother's little click, snap, buzz or munnur, the work-shop. . paper clip disappeared. "Calvin developed a new effect Leo stared at me, as thoughts of by . applying one of his esoteric "hyper-space", fourth-dimension mathematical symbols to a simple and space-warps flitted through my electronic circuit," Leo began, in mind. It wasn't a Buck Roger's his surly tone. He pointed at the atomic disintegrator, because there margin of the circuit drawing. was no heat, flash or sound. The There were jottings of algebraic clip was suddenly elsewhere. fonnulae in which the quantity "i" "And I suppose the other gadget appeared prominently. He pointed brings it back," I said. this out to me and continued, "That's what I thought, but I "Being a cop you wouldn't under­ can't make it work. I suppose my stand, but this symbol stands for an brother could, if he were here." imaginary number, the square root He tossed the thing to me, of a minus one." pointed at the little box of paper This rang a bell from away back clips in the drawer and said, "Have in my own college math. I said, fun." "Yeah, I think I remember. It's I did, for about five minutes. some sort of operational factor in Eight paper clips later I was con­ polar coordinates. No real meaning vinced that whatever else it might in itself, but-" be, the gadget was no potential "Well! An educated cop! That's murder weapon. The clips dis­ right, except that Calvin managed appeared, totally. You could pass to give this symbol an actual, func­ your hand through the point of tional application. I was telling the departure without a tingle of sensa­ truth when I said I didn't know tion. what he was doing. I still don't un­ Leo briefed me further. The derstand it, and I've been losing thing worked only on metallic con­ sleep over these formulae." ductors. It was harmless to human "Then why not take it to the flesh and other organic matter. university and let the professors--" Then he removed the cover that "Because," he interrupted, ran the length of the rather crude, "whether I understand it or not, hand-carved, wooden barrel. From Calvin's gadget, happens to work. front to back, were: One pen-light Watch. this." cell, a lumpy-looking coil of wire He picked an ordinary paper clip hand-wound on a spindle-shaped from the debris of pencils, stamps iron core, and a short, cylindrical and rubber bands from the top desk bar-magnet. 64 WINSTON .MARKS "In mass production," he said, as a motive, then what? No murder "About 40 cents worth of material~ weapon. No witnesses. Not even a and maybe 50 cents worth of labor! genuine murder yet, because Calvin Do you see why I wanted to keep was still alive. it a secret until I could patent it?" Yes, old Doc Thorsen had kept "No!" I said flatly. "Unless you the mathematician alive somehow. consider a paper-clip disposal unit The elder Baxter lay on his back an item of commercial impor­ across two, ~hite iron beds pushed tance." together in the City Hospital, and "But it's a whole new scientific Thorsen came in to report to me. principle-the rotation of matter "The clot seems to be absorbing completely out of our space-time better than I expected, but it's continuum!" doubtful that we could operate to "That much I grasp, but what remove the paralyzing pressure. good is it except as a demonstration The puncture is deep into the brain of a piece of pure scientific re­ tissue, and he's too nearly gone to search?" survive such an ordeal." "Good Lord, man, have you no "Any chance that he might re­ imagination?" cover consciousness?" "Okay, okay! Get rich," I said "Pretty remote," Thorsen told· and slammed the front door behind me. "We'll keep a special nurse me as I stomped out. I had been with him as you ordered, just in so certain that the missing gadgets case he does." would give me a motive for the at­ I left Calvin Baxter pale and tack on Leo's brother, or at least motionless as some great statue the method of inflicting the fan­ supine amid the tangle of plasma, tastic wound, that I was about glucose and saline hoses, under his ready to tum in my badge in frus­ transparent oxygen tent. The tration. All I could pin on Leo was wound that had laid him low was a desire to cash in on his brother's no more than a dot of dried blood gimmick-which, presumably, he on his massive forehead. could have done whether Calvin U ntiI his death, his file would re­ lived or died. main under unsolved crimes. In Suppose, I mused on my way my own mind I was no longer sure back to the station, that Calvin had of anything, except that if there refused to let Leo commercialize on was a nickel in Calvin Baxter's dis­ his discovery? Perhaps Calvin was covery, his mercenary brother preparing a paper for publication would wring it out. in scientific circles. Maybe cool­ And he did. Even before Calvin headed little Leo tried to knock off died. his brother to keep the' '-secret in Some seven weeks later Leo mar­ the family until it could be turned keted the "MYSTERY i-GUN" as to a selfish dollar. a combined, toy, trick and' puzzle, All right, suppose a jury would and it set the whole damned world accept such an impalpable theory on its ear! BLEEDBACK 65 I located Leo Baxter in his new sick of working for other people. suite of offices on the 34th floor This is my chance to get a bank­ of the State Building. He peeled roll to back my own contracting back his lips in a sneery grin. "I firm. Yes, I financed Calvin's re­ thought you'd be showing up." search because he's brilliant, and I He waved away his male secre­ knew he'd come up with something tary who was still clinging to my some day. Now he's done it, and ann trying to tow roe back to the I'm merely protecting his interests reception room. I said, "I kept and my investment in him. See your secret, then you pull an irre­ here." He shoved some documents sponsible thing like this! A kid's toy! at me. There was the patent ap­ Good Lord, man, that device might plication, a declaration of partner­ be dangerous!" ship for purposes of marketing the "I appreciate your professional Mystery i-Gun, and the articles of ethics, Lieutenant. I've applied for incorporation of the Baxter Con­ a patent, so you can tell all your struction Company. friends now. And stop worrying. "Okay," I said. "So you've cut The "Mystery i-Gun" is quite your brother in on all this. Who's harmless. I experimented a week his beneficiary when he dies?" before going into production." "Still looking for a motive for "A week?" I could scarcely be­ murder, aren't you, Lieutenant?" lieve my ears. "What happens when I didn't admit it to him, but he some kid jams his gun against a was right. Calvin's "accident" light-pole or an automobile ... or seemed too convenient to the pur­ the night lock on the First National poses of his practical little brother, Bank?" Leo. What's more, the lab and "Nothjng. It punches no holes. A medical men on the force were just large metallic object simply dis­ as mystified today as they were sipates the field. The largest object when we brought Calvin in with it will handle is about a half-inch the needle-thin hole in his skull. steel screw-" Old Doc Thorsen had admitted to "Baxter, your brother's accident me that he could name no imple­ is connected to that device-and ment-not even a surgical instru­ you turn it loose as a novelty!" ment-that could have inflicted "Nonsense. It's safe as a knot­ such a narrow gauge hole. It had to hole. It simply makes things dis­ be caused by a fragment, but there appear. Little things, like tacks, ball was no fragment in the brain! bearing, old rusty nuts and bolts-" "Leo," I said, "I know you con­ "And dimes and mamma's ear­ sider this case closed, but I want rings and the front door key," 1 you to do me a favor. I want to go snapped back. "Until you know over your-brother's lab once more." how to bring those things back you "But yo~'ve-" He stopped, had no right to market that rig." shrugged and nodded his head. He laid his small hands before "Okay. I'm interested in finding him on the desk. "Lieutenant, I'm out what hurt Cal, as much as you 66 WINSTON MARKS are. I'll tell you, I'm busy the rest Wall Street Journal estimated there of this week, but I'll meet you at were already more i-Gu.ns in the the old house next Monday evening hands of the juvenile public than at eight. You see, I closed up the all the yo-yos ever .produced. They place and moved downtown." retailed at eighty-five cents, made I agreed, with the feeling that he of plastic with a hole in the back was deliberately making me wait where you could change the pen­ just to annoy me. Leo Baxter was light battery. They sold, all right. an important man now, a man They sold in drugstores and toy graciously willing to cooperate with stores and dime stores and depart­ the police-at his own convenience. ment stores. Toddler's, tykes and I stood up. "Your brother has been teen-agers went for them. And calling your name. I suppose they adults. Maybe 30 million of them told you that?" were in the hands of the public "They phoned. Doctor said it before I saw Leo Baxter next. was just mutterings." Which was almost two weeks in­ "You haven't even been to see stead of the one week he had prom­ him?" ised. "What's the use? He wouldn't I finally got an appointment. recognize me." "Sorry," he said. "I've been tied Well, it wasn't any of my busi­ up with government people all ness, really, but it's funny how you week. The A. E. C. tried to get get to hate a man for his attitude. me in trouble." I don't know what I expected to I said, "Skip it. You promised find by going over that lab-work­ for tonight. Now let's go." shop again, but whatever it was, I "I can't possibly make it to­ hoped it would incriminate Leo. night." He pointed at his desk. It On the face of it he was guilty of was littered with correspondence, nothing more than a premature orders and contracts. "Give me one marketing of a new device, but the more week, Lieutenant." way he was cashing in on Calvin's It was an order, not a request. genius certainly did the dying man There was nothing to do but no honor. wait the third week. It was not, Cash in was right! The toys sold however, uneventful. It was the like bubble-gum. The papers, radio, week the accidents began to hap­ and TV picked up the sensational pen. gimmick and gave it a billion bucks At 4: 14 of a Tuesday afternoon, worth of free advertising. And the a man was admitted to a local profitable part of it was that the hospital with a perforated belly. i-Gun was so simple to mass-pro­ Straight through, hide, guts and duce that Leo's fifteen contracting liver. A newsman got hold of it and manufacturers were almost able to wrote a scare story about an attack keep up with the astronomical de­ with a pellet gun that must shoot mand. needles. Befor~ that week was up, the Before the edition was sold out BLEEDBACK 67 the hospitals were loaded with morning of the second day of ac­ emergency cases. People with holes cidents before I got a radio call in them. Tiny little holes, mostly, from the squad car stationed near but holes that went right through the old Baxter home. them. Then dogs. Then automo­ Leo had come home at last. He biles, trucks and busses. Holes in was a sad looking midget when I their radiators. Holes in windshields got there. Obviously no sleep, Wl­ that always went straight back, shaven, deep hollows under his through seats and 'sometimes pas­ eyes. sengers-right out through the rear "I figured you'd be waiting for end. me, Lieutenant, but you know what?" he demanded. "I don't give a damn! I kept waiting for HE CITY panicked. Then the them to figure out the answer to T county, state and nation. In these accidents and string me up. two days, yes, the whole nation! How come you didn't tell any­ At first everyone thought we body?" were being attacked by some secret I said, "Shut up and let's go in­ weapon. By some miracle of states­ side." manship, the President of the Sure, I figured the i-Gun was the United States prevented a "~assive cause, but the last thing I wanted retaliation" attack by the army up­ was for Leo to get strung up before on our· most likely enemy-long I laid my hands on that other de­ enough for Intelligence to affirm vice-the one that wouldn't work. I that no enemy on Earth was that wanted that rig and all the plans mad at us. and formulae, and Leo undoubted­ Then all thoughts turned to ex­ ly had them hidden deeper than tra-terrestrial space. A bombard­ Fort Knox. ment from the sky? It was ridicu­ He unlocked the door, and I told lous to even consider, because none the others to wait outside. We went of the holes that appeared in peo­ into the hall and closed the door ple and things came from above. behind us. "So your little toy was The holes were almost entirely in hannless?" I said, grabbing him by the horizontal plane. his wrinkled lapels. "So it just Strangely enough during those shoots stuff off into another dimen­ first two days, nobody thought of sion?" the Mystery i-Gun. No one but me. He stared at me, his eyes half Leo Baxter had disappeared into glazed. "I don't-know. That's thin air, as completely as if he'd what the notes said." He sank into turned to metal and crawled into a chair. "I guess it doesn't, though. the muzzle of one of his own It mus't ball up the metal object "toys". and shoot it out-infinite velocity I had every known place he fre­ -reduced in size-infinite mass---:­ quented staked out with a pair of infinite inertia-keeps circling the plain-clothesmen" but it was the globe like-like a satellite. Goes 68 WINSTON MARKS right through anything it hits. Goes eyes shocked me for just the instant on and on. Forever. Little bullets. it took him to wrench out of my Right through steel. Right through hands. He stumbled to the door of flesh and bones-" the study and burst through it "Simmer down," I said. "You've heading for the window. I didn't been reading the papers. Itve been hurry after him too fast, because I checking the facts." knew the boys outside would take "What do you mean?" him. "That you were right the first Leo Baxter was only three paces tinle. It does shoot metal objects into the stale air of the unused into another dimension. But they library when he screamed, clasping don't stay there. They ooze back. his hands to his chest and dropped. Slowly. Real slow, so the first edge A peculiar grating, plucking sound or corner that sticks back into our came faintly before he thudded to dimension is only a few millionths the carpet. of an inch thick. Then a few ten­ I stopped hard in my tracks and thousandths, then a few thou­ wiped the sweat from my face sandths-and that's about the time while Leo Baxter twitched almost they start making holes in people at my feet, his heart shredded and and objects that run into them." bubbling its last in his perforated "Run into them?" chest. "Certainly. There are no holes The paper clips: The ones 1 had in buildings or other stationary ob­ propelled into nothingness weeks jects. The holes are all horizontal. ago. Now look, Baxter, our only chance Hat in hand I advanced slowly, is to work on that other device and waving it before me chest high. your brother's notes, and maybe Then it caught suddenly, grated for we can develop an extractor of a split second and passed on in its some kind." arc. Now there were several tiny "No. No, you don't understand," holes in it. I backed away a foot he said shaking his head like a and brought my hat down slowly sleep-walker. "It balls up the metal. on the same lethal spot of air. Shoots it out. Infinite mass. Infinite Chest-high it caught and hung sus­ veloc-" pended. "Knock off that nonsense, and Leaving it there as a marker I tell me where those plans are." took off my suitcoat, held it before "Trying to steal my brother's me and inched forward toward other invention, are you? It's not the desk. Something plucked at the patented yet. You know that, don't dangling garment, and a chill froze you? Couldn't patent it because I my spine. Had I been walking can't make it work yet. You're forward normally, the tiny speck smart, but you won't get it from of metal that barely caught the me-" glint of light from the window, I had a fair hold on him, but would have pierced my skin at just the pure insanity that flared in his about the site of my appendix. I BLEEDBACK 69 circled the spot continuing to feel an inch from nowhere into clear forward with my coat. That was visibility. So litde was showing that the paper clip Baxter had fired to I couldn't be sure, but it looked demonstrate to me that first day. like the tip of an ordinary little At the phone I called headquar­ nail or wood-screw. ters and told the chief what to do. This was my "murder-weapon", "You're so right," he told me, the cause of Calvin Baxter's acci­ his voice slurring strangely. "Only dent He'd run into it, jerked his you're a little late. The order went head back, and the speck had come out to confiscate the i-Guns. They out the same hole it went in. think the damned toys might have In twenty minutes by the clock I something to do with the accidents. had the lab crew out from head­ And I bought one of the first ones quarters, and had explained the for my little Jerry!" His voice whole business to them. First they sounded hollow. measured the length of the pro­ So they were figuring it out! trusion, and my guess was about The next question was, how to ex­ right. It measured .0095 inches on tract the deadly particles from the the micrometer caliper. other dimension, or how to keep If it were a screw an inch long, them from bleeding back slowly at that rate of "bleedback" it would into ours. take another 98 weeks to come the I moved cautiously through the rest of the way out. Almost two old house fanning every inch of air years! ahead of me with a phone book. Paul Riley, the lab chief, was When I got to Calvin Baxter's sharp. He caught it about the same workshop I was especially careful, time I did and turned to look at but I needn't have been. The only me. "We've got to figure a way of metal·particles stuck into the thin getting those things out of the air seemed to be over his work­ way." bench where he had been experi­ I nodded. "But quick." menting with his device. All but Collins, our print man, said, one. "Why not just shoot them back It was right where I expected to into wherever it is they go, with find it-better than six feet in the another i-Gun?" air, just" fore-head high for a man "And have them come bleeding tall as Calvin Baxter. He had fired back after a few weeks?" Paul his proto-type of the i-Gun just frowned him silent. once into the middle of the room. He picked up a hammer from How long ago? Eight-ten weeks the bench and tapped the tiny, ago? glinting speck. The point flattened It seemed impossible that all this out a bit, but the thud of the ham­ horror had occurred in such a short mer indicated how solidly it was time. stuck. Then he walked around be­ But there it was, stuck in space, hind the point and struck it a hard protruding about a hundredth of blow from the cross-section side. 70 WINSTON MARKS The hammer shivered in his hand only salvation. and he dropped it, rubbing his When I explained everything to numbed fingers ,vith his other hand. Dr. Thorsen and told him how im­ "Lieutenant," he said slowly, "we portant it was that we bring Calvin are up against something." back to consciousness he shook his We found we could file away the head. "It might be done, but it metal easily enough. Sure it filed would probably kill him-" away until the file cut into empty "But you said he'd never recover space. But cold comfort that was. anyway," 1 argued. In a few hours, we knew, molecule Thorsen seemed to be consider­ by molecule, the screw buried in ing that. "Yes," he said at last. the other dimension would come "That's more apparent now than oozing back, a minute but lethal ever. He's beginning to suffer the speck ready to ambush the first very usual complications of immobility. tall man who walked toward it. Probably won't last more than a Tall man! few weeks anyway. But can't you That's why Leo Baxter and I get the dope you want from his had failed to find it in the first brother?" he stalled while he place. I had criss-crossed that room weighed his ethics against the ne­ half a thousand times in my pre­ cessity of the moment. vious examinations. If I had been "His brother," I told him, "is taller, or the speck of metal lower- dead. Paper clips. Right through "We've got to bring Calvin Bax­ the heart." ter back to consciousness some­ "I see. Well, we could operate, how," I said. "We've got to find but as 1 said, Calvin wouldn't sur­ out how that extractor of his vive for long. Maybe only hours or works." minutes. And maybe not even long "Right!" Jerry said, dFopping his enough to regain consciousness after hands in resignation. We'd run out we remove the clot." of ideas at the same time, and the I said, "I've left a crew at the senior Baxter appeared to be our Baxter house to tear it apart, board only hope. by board, until we find this so­ called extractor that Leo hid. But even after we fin~ it, we need Cal­ E FANNED our way out of vin to tell us how to make it work. W there, into the squad car, and There must be a part missing." proceeded at a gingerly five miles We had wandered into Calvin's per hour back to headquarters. On room and were talking over his my insistence, Calvin Baxter had great, supine body, covered to the been set up in a private room at the chin with a white sheet. The speck jail with Doc Thorsen in attend­ of scalp on his forehead had dried ance. The city hospitals were so up and dropped off leaving only a jammed with accident victims and faint white spot. frantic relatives that it was no place As I mentioned the missing part, to work with a man who was our his lips began moving and a grunt BLEEDBACK 71 issued from his throat. "Listen," I stine had his head down on his said. "He hears me! He's trying to anns, slouched over the desk fast talk!" asleep between two clanging tele­ "No, Lieutenant." Thorsen said, phones. putting a hand to his eyes. "He's "Wake up, chief!" I said, shak­ been grunting like that for days. ing him by the shoulder. "We have The only word that ever comes out to get Baxter to City Hospital is his brother's name, Leo." and-" The name struck anger and Durstine raised his head and frustration in me. "Leo," I half­ stared at me. His usually sharp, shouted. "That stinking little­ gray eyes were dull, and his face never even visited his brother!" looked dirty with a stubble of black "Relax, Gene. That won't do any whiskers. With a deliberate motion good. The man's dead," he re­ of both hands he knocked the re­ minded me. ceivers off both phones and fell "Relax? When all over the coun­ back in his swivel chair. "Now try people are tearing their bodies what?" he asked thickly. to pieces? Innocent people. Little "You're drunk!" I exclaimed. kids-" DUTstine, who would fire a 20-year "I know, I know. I just spent man without a q~alm if he caught nine hours in the emergency ward. a single trace of beer on his breath Peritonitis. Cardiac injury. Lungs. on duty. Torn eye-balls. And it's probably "What else is new?" He could just the beginning." barely focus his eyes on me. "Then what are you waiting I swallowed a couple of times for?" I demanded. "Our only and began explaining what must be chance is to bring Calvin Baxter to done. Get the mayor and Civil consciousness long enough to ex­ Defense on the phone. Com­ plain how his extractor works." mandeer all radio stations to ex­ Doc ran trembling hands through plain the true nature of the metallic his fuzz of white hair. For the first particles to the public. Tell them time I noticed that the pupils of his to stay put, and when they did eyes were moving b~ck and forth move, to walk slowly, fanniIl1g the in little quick, darting motions like air ahead of them with something a wild animal looking for escape. "1 solid-an umbrella, a coat, news­ --don't know, Gene. I suppose you paper, garbage can lid-anything are right. Only-we need permis­ to warn them of the tiny, sus­ sion-we must-you see, he might pended daggers. die, and-" "Yeah. Great idea. Some people I took a good look at him and doing it already." He said it with­ suddenly realized that despite his out enthusiasm. "Only trouble is, calm voice, the old man was going the phones are swamped. Com­ to pieces. I grabbed him by the arm munications are breaking down al­ and hauled him out of there, across ready, and when people learn about the hall to the chief's .sally, yet effective enough to give and inflated until it was a foot-and.. you positive warning? You see, a-half in diameter, then she tied these tiny particles are so 11ne at off the neck and proceeded down first that you can fan the air with the walk waving it before her in a plank and never know when. one great vertical sweeps. passes through." It was as simple as that. He raised me up from the Our undoing had been a 85­ stretcher and let me look out the cent kid's toy. And our salvation window of the police ambulance. was a penny-balloon! •••

• :«te•• Science surpasses the old miracles of mythology. -Emerson 76 What Is Your Science I. Q.? HERE'S ANOTHER QUIZ to test your knowledge of the scientific facts that you read about in science fiction. How well do you know them? Counting five for each correct answer, you should score 50. Anything over 65 makes you a veritable Mr. Wizard. See page 120 for the answers. 1. A googol is a one followed by zeros. 2. What percent of the moon's surface has been able to be obsexved by astronomers? 3. The measure of the extent to which one atom is able to combine directly with others is known as the _ 4. In which constellation is the point which is known as "the apex of the Sun's way"? 5. The substitution of machines or mechanical devices for human beings in a manufacturing process is described by the newly coined word . 6. What is the scientific term for the bright streaks or areas on the surface of the Sun? 7. Zero on the Fahrenheit scale represents the temperature produced by the mixing of equal weights of snow and

8. The distance from the Earth to the Sun, 93,003,000 miles, is the basis for what unit of measurement? 9. The height of the Earth's atmosphere is 600 miles, but about half of it by weight is below feet. 10. What is the term used to describe different forms of the same element which have the same atomic number but different atomic weights? 11. The mass of the Earth is equal to sextillion tons. 12. Are sidereal days longer or shorter than solar days? 13. The atomic weight of any element is represented by the total number of neutrons and _ 14. What is the polar radius of the Earth in statute miles? 15. If an astronomical unit were represented by one inch, a light year would be represented by ~bout . 16. During the fusion of deuterium and tritium, hydrogen is transmuted into what other element? 17. The tail of a comet always trails from the head in a direction ____ the sun. 18. The rotational speed of the Sun varies from about 24 2/3 days at the equator to approximately days near its poles.

77 Illustrated by Ed Emsh

THE MOLD

BY The obvious signs were mzsslng, yet Callisto was moving steadily toward a state of totalitarianism.

All the. people were beginning to be exactly alike!

EON SIPLING groaned and "You holding up progress, Sip? L pushed away his work papers. This has to be integrated with the In an organization of thousands daily by six tonight. The schedule he was the only employee not put­ calls for the works to be on the ting out. Probably he was the only vidlin~s during the dinner-hour yance-man on· Callisto not doing stretch." his job. Fear, and the quick pluck­ '1'he visual side of the gestalt had ings of desperation, made him already begun to form on the wall reach up and wave on the audio screen; Sipling turned his attention circuit to Babson, the over-all of­ to it, grateful of a chance to escape fice controller. Babson's cold glare. "Say," Sipling said hoarsely, "I The screen showed a 3-D of think I'm stuck, Bab. How about Yancy, the usual three-quarter running the gestalt through, up to view, from the waist up. John Ed­ my spot? Maybe I can pick up the ward Yancy in his faded work­ rhythm ..." He grinned weakly. shirt, sleeves rolled up, arms brown "The hum of other creative minds." and furry. A middle-aged man in After a speculative moment, Bab­ his late fifties, his face sunburned, son reached for the impulse synap­ neck slightly red, a good-natured sis, his massive face unsympathetic. smile on his face, squinting because he was looking into the sun. Behind Yancy was a still of his yard, his garage, his flower garden, lawn, the back of his neat little white plastic house. Yancy grinned at Sipling: a neighbor pausing in the middle of a summer day, perspiring from the OFYANCY heat and the exertion of mowing his lawn, about to launch into a few hannless remarks about the weather, the state of the planet, PHILIP K. DICK the condition of the neighborhood. 79 USay," Yancy said, in the audio ly different backdrop filtered in; phones propped up on Sipling's Yancy now stood firmly planted in desk. His voice was low, personal. a cosmic landscape, among moun­ "The darndest thing happened to tains and winds and huge old my grandson Ralf, the other morn­ forests. ing. You know how RaIf is; he's al­ "I got to thinking," Yancy sa~d, ways getting to school half an hour and his voice was deeper, slower. early ... says he likes to be in "There was that little squirrel. How his seat before anybody else." did he know winter was coming? "That eager-beaver," Joe Pines, There he was, working away, get­ at the next desk, cat-called. ting prepared for it." Yancy's voice From the screen, Yancy's voice rose. "Preparing for a winter he'd rolled on, confident, amiable, un­ never seen." disturbed. "Well, RaJf saw this Sipling stiffened and prepared squirrel; it was just sitting there himself,. it was coming. At his desk, on the sidewalk. He stopped for a Joe Pines grinned and yelled: "Get minute and watched." The look set!" on Yancy's face was so real that "That squirrel," Yancy said Sipling almost believed him. He solemnly, "had faith. No, he never could, almost, see the squirrel and saw any sign of winter. But he knew the tow-headed youngest grandson winter was coming." The finn jaw of the Yancy family, the familiar moved; one hand came slowly child of the familiar son of the up ... planet's most familiar-and beloved And then the image stopped. It -person. froze, immobile, silent. No words "This squirrel," Yancy ex­ came from it; abruptly the sermon plained, in his homey way, "was ended, in the middle of a para­ collecting nuts. And by golly, this graph. was just the other day, only the "That's it," Babson said briskly, middle of June. And here was this filtering the Yancy out. "Help you little squirrel-" with his hands he any?" indicated the size, "collecting these Sipling pawed jerkily at his work nuts and carrying them off for win­ papers. "No," he admitted, "actual­ ter." ly it doesn't. But-I'll get it worked And then, the amused, anecdote­ out." look on Yancy's face faded. A "I hope so." Babson's face dark­ serious, thoughtful look replaced it: ened ominously and his small mean the meaningful-look. His blue eyes eyes seemed to grow smaller. darkened (good color work). His "What's the matter with you? jaw became more square, more im­ Home problems?" posing (good dummy-switch by the "I'll be okay," Sipling muttered, android crew). Yancy seemed old­ sweating. "Thanks." er, more solemn and mature, more On the screen a faint impression impressive. Behind him, the garden­ of Yancy remained, still poised scene had been jerked and a slight- at the word coming. The rest of 80 PHILIP K. DICK the gestalt was in Sipling's head: soon as anything phony got the continuing slice of words and started." gestures hadn't been worked out uHow would we know?" Police and fed to the composite. Sipling's Director Kellman inquired. contribution was missing, so the Taverner indicated the data­ entire gestalt was stopped cold in sheets, graphs and charts of figures its tracks. and percentages that covered the "Say," Joe Pines said uneasily, walls of the Niplan Police offices. "I'll be glad to take over, today. "It would show up in hundreds of Cut your desk out of the circuit ways. Terrorist raids, political pris­ and I'll cut myself in." ons, extennination camps. We'd "Thanks," Sipling muttered, hear about political recanting, "but I'm the only one who can treason, disloyalty ... all the basic get this damn part. It's the central props of a dictatorship." gem." "Don't confuse a totalitarian so­ "You ought to take a rest. You've ciety with a dictatorship," Kellman been working too hard." said drily. "A totalitarian state "Yes," Sipling agreed, on the reaches into every sphere of its verge of hysteria. "I'm a little un­ citizens' lives, forms their opinions der the weather." on every subject. The government That was obvious: everybody in can be a dictatorship, or a parlia­ the office could see that. But only ment, or an elected president, OT a Sipling knew why. And he was council of priests. That doesn't mat­ fighting with all his strength to ter." keep from screaming out the reason "All right," Taverner said, molli­ at the top of his lungs. fied. "I'll go. I'll take a team there and see what they're doing." Basic analysis of the political "Can you make yourselves look milieu at Callisto was laid out by like Callistotes?" Niplan computing apparatus at "What are they like?" Washington, D.C.; but the final "I'm not sure," Kellman ad­ evaluations were done by human mitted thoughtfully, with a glance technicians. The Washington com­ at the elaborate wall charts. "But puters could ascertain that the Cal­ whatever it is, they're all beginning listo political structure was moving to turn out alike." toward a totalitarian make-up, but they couldn't say what that in­ Among its passengers the inter­ dicated. Human beings were re­ plan commercial liner that settled quired to class the drift as malign. down at Callisto carried Peter "It isn't possible," Taverner Taverner, his wife, and their two protested. "There's constant in­ children. With a' grimace of con­ dustrial traffic in and out of Cal­ cern, Taverner made out the shapes listo; except for the Ganymede syn­ of local officials waiting at the exit dicate they've got out-planet com­ hatch. The passengers were going merce bottled up. We'd know as to be carefully screened; as the THE MOLD OF YANCY 81 ramp descended, the clot of officials Trying to maintain his poise, moved forward. Taverner answered evenly: "I'm Taverner got to his feet and col­ here to take a rest. Acute alcohol­ lected his family. "Ignore them,:' ism-nothing official." he told Ruth. "Our papers will get "That's what your cohorts said," us by." The official grinned humorlessly. Expertly prepared documents "Well, what's one more Terran identified him as a speculator in cop?" He slid the lock-bars aside nonferric metals,' looking for a and waved Taverner and his family wholesale outlet to handle his job­ through. "Welcome to Callisto. bing. Callisto was a clearing-point Have fun--enjoy yourselves. Fast­ for land and mineral operations; a est-growing moon in the system." constant flood of wealth-hungry en­ "Practically a planet," Taverner trepreneurs streamed back and commented ironically. forth, carting raw materials from "Any day, now." The official ex­ the underdeveloped moons, hauling amined some reports. "According mining equipment from the inner to our friends in your little organi­ planets. zation, you've been pasting up wall Cautiously, Taverner arranged graphs and charts about us. Are we his topcoat over his arm. A heavy­ that important?" set man, in his middle thirties, he "Academic interest," Taverner could have passed for a successful said; if three spots had been made, business operator. His double­ then the whole team had been net­ breasted business suit was expensive, ted. The local authorities were ob­ but conservative. His big shoes viously primed to detect infiltra­ were brightly shined. All things con­ tion ... the realization chilled him. sidered, he'd probably get by. As But they were letting him he and his family moved toward through. Were they that confident? the exit ramp, they presented a Things didn't look good. Peer­ perfect and exact imitation of the ing around for a cab, he grimly pre­ out-planet business-class. pared to undertake the business of "State your' business," a green­ integrating the scattered team uniformed official demanded, pen­ members into a functioning whole, cil poised. I-d tabs were being checked, photographed, recorded. Brain pattern comparisons were be­ HAT EVENING, at the Stay. ing made: the usual routine. T Lit bar on the main street of "Nonferric enterprises," Tavern­ the commercial district of town, er began, but a second official cut Taverner met with his two team him abruptly off~ members. Hunched over their "You're the third cop this morn­ whiskey sours, they compared notes·~ ing. What's biting you people on "I've been here almost twelve Terra?" The official eyed Taverner hours," Eckmund stated, gazing im­ intently. "We're getting more cops passively at the rows of bottles in than ministers." the gloomy depths of the bar. Cigar 82 PHILIP K. DICK smoke hovered in the air; the auto­ belching. "Petty thieves, murderers, matic music box in the corner claim-jumpers, strong-ann hoods banged away metallically. "I've -the usual." been walking around town, looking "No political prisoners?" at things, making observations." "No." Eckmund raised his voice. "Me," Dorser said, "I've been at "We might as well discuss this at the tape-library. Getting official the top of our lungs. Nobody cares myth, comparing it to Callistote -the authorities don't care." reality. And talking to the scholars "Probably after we're gone they'll -educated people hanging around clap a few thousand people into the scanning rooms." prison," Dorser murmured thought­ Taverner sipped his drink. "Any­ fullv. thing of interest?" "My God," Eckmund retorted, "You know the primitive rule­ "people can leave Callisto any time of-thumb test," Eckmund said wry­ they want. If you're operating a ly. "I loafed around on a slum police state you have to keep your street corner until I got in a con­ borders shut. And these borders are versation with some people wait­ wide open. People pour in and out." ing for a bus. I started knocking "Maybe it's a chemical in the the authorities: complaining about drinking water," Dorser suggested. the bus service, the sewage disposal, "How the hell can they have a taxes, everything. They chimed totalitarian society without terror­ right in. Heartily. No hesitation. ism?" Eckmund demanded rhetori­ And no fear." cally. "I'll swear to it-there are "The legal government," Dorser no thought-control cops here. commented, "is set up in the usual There is absolutely no fear." archaic fashion. Two-party system, "Somehow, pressure is being ex­ one a little more conservative than erted," Taverner persisted. the other-no fundamental dif­ "Not by cops," Dorser said em­ ference of course. But both elect phatically. "Not by force and bru­ candidates at open primaries, bal­ tality. Not by illegal arrest and im­ lots circulated to all registered vo­ prisonment and forced labor." ters." A spasm of amusement "If this were a police state," Eck­ touched him. "This is a model de­ mund said thoughtfully, "there'd mocracy. I read the text books. be some kind of resistance move­ Nothing but idealistic slogans: free­ ment. Some sort of 'subversive' dom of speech, assembly, religion group trying to overthrow the au­ -the works. Same old grammar thorities. But in this society you're school stuff." free to complain; you can buy The three of them were tem­ time on the t-v and radio stations, porarily silent. you can buy space in the news­ "There are jails," Taverner said papers-anything you want." He slowly. "Every society has law viola­ shrugged. "So how can there be a tions." clandestine resistance movement? "I visited one," Eckmund said, It's silly." THE MOLD OF YANCY 83. "Nevertheless," Taverner said, I can see. Used to be a soldier; "these people are living in a one­ in the Mars-Jupiter War he party society, with a party line, with distinguished himself-battlefield an official ideology. They show the commission. Rose to the rank of effects of a carefully controlled to­ major." He shrugged indifferently. talitarian state. They're guinea pigs "A sort of talking almanac. Pithy -whether they realize it or not." sayings on every topic. Wise old "Wouldn't they realize it?" saws: how to cure a chest cold. BaIDed, Taverner shook his head. What the trouble is back on Terra." "I would have thought so. There Taverner examined the booklet. must be some mechanism we don't "Yes, I saw his picture around." understand." "Very popular figure. Loved by "It's all open. We can look every­ the masses. Man of the people­ thing over." speaks for them. When I was buy­ "We must be looking for the ing cigarettes I noticed he endorses wrong thing." Idly, Taverner gazed one particular brand. Very popular at the television screen above the brand, now; just about driven the bar. The nude girlie song-and- others off the market. Same with ·dance routine had ended; now the beer. The Scotch in this glass is features of a man faded into view. probably the brand Yaney endorses. A genial, round-faced man in his The same with tennis balls. Only fifties, with guileless blue eyes, an he doesn't play tennis-he plays almost childish twitch to his lips, croquet. All the time, every week­ a fringe of brown hair playing end." Accepting his fresh drink around his slightly prominent ears. Eckmund finished, "So now every­ "Friends," the t-v image rum­ body plays croquet." bled, "it's good to be with you "How can croquet be a planet­ again, tonight. I thought I might wide sport?" Taverner demanded. have a little chat with you." "This isn't a planet," Dorser put "A commercial," Dorser said, in. "It's a pipsqueak moon." signalling the bartending machine "Not according to Yancy," Eck­ for another drink. mund said. "We're supposed to "Who is that?" Taverner asked think of Callisto as a planet." curiously. "How?" Taverner asked. "That kindly-looking geezer?" "Spiritually, it's a planet. Yancy Eckmund examined his notes. "A likes people to take a spiritual view sort of popular commentator. Name of matters. He's strong on God and of Yancy." honesty in government and being "Is he part of the government?" hard-wqrking and clean-cut. "Not that I know of. A kind of Warmed-over truisms." home-spun philosopher. I picked The expression on Taverner's up a biography of him on a maga­ face hardened. "Interesting," he zine stand." Eckmund passed the murmured. "I'll have to drop by gaily-colored pamphlet to his boss. and meet him." "Totally ordinary man, as far as "Why? He's the dullest, most 84 PHILIP K. DICK mediocre man you could dream two of them stepped off into a luxu­ up." rious, carpeted hall, illuminated by "Maybe," Taverner answered, recessed lights. Babson pushed open "that's why I'm interested." a door, and they entered a large, active office. Babson, huge and menacing, met Inside, a screening of a recent Taverner at the entrance of the Yancy gestalt was in progress. A Yancy Building. "Of course you group of yance-men watched it can meet Mr. Yancy. But he's a silently, faces alert and critical. The busy man-it'll take awhile to gestalt showed Yancy sitting at his squeeze in an appointment. Every­ old-fashioned oak desk, in his study. body wants to meet Mr. Yancy." It was obvious that he had been Taverner was unimpressed. working on some philosophical "How long do I have to wait?" thoughts: spread out over the desk As they crossed the main lobby were books and papers. On Yancy's to the elevators, Babson made a face was a thoughtful expression; computation. "Oh, say four he sat with his hand against his months." forehead, features screwed up into "Four months!U a solemn study of concentration. "John Yancy is just about the "This is for next Sunday morn­ most popular man alive." ing," Babson explained. "Around here, maybe," Taverner Yancy's lips moved, and he spoke. commented angrily, as they en­ "Friends," he began, in his deep, tered the packed elevator. "I never personal, friendly, man-to-man heard of him before. If he's got so voice, "I've been sitting here at my much on the ball, why isn't he desk-well, about the way you're piped all around Niplan?" sitting around your living rooms." "Actually," Babson admitted, in A switch in camera work occurred; a hoarse, confidential whisper, "I it showed the open door of Yancy's can't imagine what people see in study. In the living room was the Yancy. As far as I'm concerned familiar figure of Yancy's sweet­ he's just a big bag of wind. But faced middle-aged homey wife; she people around here enjoy him. was sitting on the comfortable sofa After all, Callisto is-provincial. primly sewing. On the floor their Yancy appeals to a certain type of grandson Ralf played the familiar rural mind-to people who like game of jacks. The family dog their world simple. I'm afraid Ter­ snoozed in the corner. ra would be too sophisticated for One of the watching yance-men Yancy." made a note on his pad. Taverner "Have you tr.ied?" glanced at him curiously, baffled. "Not yet," Babson said. Reflec­ "Of course, I was in there with tively, he added: "Maybe later." them," Yancy continued, smiling While Taverner was pondering briefly. "I was reading the funnies the meaning of the big man's words, to Ralf. He was sitting on my the elevator ceased climbing. The knee." The background faded, and THE MOLD OF YANCY 85 a momentary phantom scene of abundant life." Pointing out the Yancy sitting with his grandson on window at the lawn and garden, his knee floated into being. Then Yancy said: "You know, I was ..." the desk and the book..lined study The voice trailed off. The image returned. "I'm mighty grateful for froze. Full room lights came on, my family," Yancy revealed. "In and the watching yance-men these times of stress, it's my family moved into muttering activity. that I turn to, as my pillar of "Fine," one of them said. "So far, strength." at least. But where's the rest?" Another notation was made by a "Sipling, again," another an­ watching yance-man. swered. "His slice still hasn't come "Sitting here in my study, this through. What's wrong with that wonderful Sunday morning," Yan­ guy?" cy rumbled on, "I realize how lucky Scowling, Babson detached him­ we are to be alive, and to have this self. "Pardon me," he said to Tav­ lovely planet, and the fine cities erner. "I'll have to excuse myself and houses, all the things God has -technical matters. You're free to given us to enjoy. But we've got to look around, if you care to. Help be careful. We've got to make sure yourself to any of the literature­ we don't lose these things." anything you want." A change had come over Yancy. "Thanks," Taverner said uncer­ It seemed to Taverner that the tainly. He was confused; everything image was subtly altering. It wasn't seemed harmless, even trivial. But the same man; the good humor was something basic was wrong. gone. This was an older man, and Suspiciously, he began to prowl. larger. A firm-eyed father, speak­ ing to his children. "My friends," Yancy intoned, T WAS obvious that John Yancy "there are forces that could weaken I had pontificated on every known this planet. Everything we've built subject. A Yancy opinion on every up for our loved ones, for our chil­ conceivable topic was available ... dren, could be taken away from us modern art, or garlic in cooking, overnight. We must learn to be vig­ or the use of intoxicating beverages, ilant. We must protect our liberties, or eating meat, or socialism, or war, our possessions, our way of life. If or education, or open-front dresses we become divided, and fall to on women, or high taxes, or athe­ bickering among each other, we ism, or divorce, or patriotism­ will be easy prey for our enemies. every shade and nuance of opinion We must work together, my friends. possible. "That's what I've been thinking Was there any subject th~t about this Sunday morning. Co­ Yancy hadn't expressed himself on.? operation. Teamwork. We've got to Taverner examined the volum­ be secure, and to be secure, we must inous tapes that lined the walls of be one united people. That's the the offices. Yancy's utterances had key, my friends, the key to a more run into billions of tape feet ... 86 PHILIP K. DICK could one man have an opinion on We must not surrender ourselves everything in the universe? meekly ... weakness invites attack Choosing a tape at random, he and fosters aggression. By being found himself being addressed on weak we promote war. We must the topic of table manners. gird ourselves and protect those we "You know," the miniature Yan­ love. With all my heart and soul cy began, his voice tinny in Taver­ I'm against useless wars; but I say ner's ears, "at dinner the other again, as I've said many times be­ night I happened to notice how my fore, a man must come forward grandson Ralf was cutting his and fight a just war. He must not steak." Yancy grinned at the viewer, shrink from his responsibility. War as an image of the six-year-old boy is a terrible thing. But sometimes sawing grimly away floated briefly we must ..." into sight. "Well, I got to think­ As he restored the tape, Taverner ing, there was Ralf working away wondered just what the hell Yancy at that steak, not having any luck had said. What were his views on with it. And it seemed to me-" war? They took up a hundred Taverner snapped the tape off separate reels of tape; Yancy was and returned it to the slot. Yancy always ready to hold forth on such had definite opinions on everything vital and grandiose subjects as War, ... or were they so definite? the Planet, God, Taxation. But did A strange suspicion was growing he say anything? in him. On some topics, yes. On A cold chill crawled up Taver­ minor issues, Yancy had exact rules, ner's spine. On specific-and trivial specific maxims drawn from -items there were absolute opin­ mankind's rich storehouse of folk­ ions: dogs are better than cats, lore. But major philosophical and grapefruit is too sour without a political issues were something else dash of sugar, it's good to get up again. early in the morning, too much Getting out one of the many drinking is bad. But on big topics tapes listed under War, Taverner ... an empty vacuum, filled with ran it through at random. the vacant roll of high-sounding "... I'm against war," Yancy phrases. A public that agreed with pronounced angrily. "And I ought Yancy on war and taxes and God to know; I've done my share of .and planet agreed with absolutely fighting." nothing. And with everything. There followed a montage of On topics of importance, they battle scenes: the Jupiter-Mars had no opinion at all. They only War in which Yancy had distin­ thought they had an opinion. guished himself by his bravery, his Rapidly, Taverner scanned tapes concern for his comrades, his ha­ on various major subjects. It was tred of the enemy, his variety of the same all down the line. With proper emotions. one sentence Yancy gave; with the "But," Yancy continued staunch­ next he took away. The total effect ly, "I feel a planet must be strong. was a neat cancellation, a skillful THE MOLD OF YANCY 87 negation. But the viewer was left techniques of communication had with the illusion of having con­ improved. sumed a rich and varied intellectual The first really successful totali­ feast. It was amazing. And it was tarian state was being realized be­ professional: the ends were tied up fore his eyes: hannless and trivial, too slickly to be mere accident. it emerged. And the last stage-­ Nobody was as hannless and va­ nightmarish, but perfectly logical­ pid as John Edward Yancy. He was when all the newborn boys was just too damn good to be true. were happily and voluntarily named Sweating, Taverner left the main John Edward. reference room and poked his way Why not? They already lived, toward the rear offices, where busy acted, and thought like John Ed­ yance-men worked away at their ward. And there was Mrs. Mar­ desks and assembly tables. Activity garet Ellen Yancy, for the women. whirred on all sides. The expression She had her full range of opinions, on the faces around him was be­ too; she had her kitchen, her taste nign, hannless, almost bored. The in clothes, her little recipes and same friendly, trivial expression advice, for all the women to imi.. that Yancy himself displayed. tate. Harmless-and in its hannless­ There were even Yancy children ness, diabolical. And there wasn't for the youth of the planet to imi­ a damn thing he could do. If people tate. The authorities hadn't over­ liked to listen to John Edward looked anything. Yancy, if they wanted to model Babson strolled over, a genial ex­ themselves after him-what could pression on his face. "How's it the Niplan police do about it? going, officer?" he chuckled wetly, What crime was being com­ putting his hand on Taverner's mitted? shoulder. No wonder Babson didn't care if "Fine," Taverner managed to an­ the police prowled around. No won­ swer; he evaded the hand. der the authorities had freely ad­ "You like our little establish­ mitted them. There weren't any ment?" There was genuine pride political jails or labor gangs or con­ in Babson's thick voice. "We do a centration camps ... there didn't good job. An artistic job-we have have to be. real standards of excellence." Torture chambers and extermin­ Shaking with helpless anger, ation camps were needed only when Taverner plunged out of the office persuasion failed. And persuasion and into the hall. The elevator took was working perfectly. A police too long; furiously, he turned to-· state, rule by terror, came about ward the stairs. He had to get out when the totalitarian apparatus be­ of the Yancy Building; he had to gan to break down. The earlier to­ get away. talitarian societies had been incom­ From the shadows of the hall a plete; the authorities hadn't really man appeared, face pale and taut._ gotten into every sphere of life. But "Wait. Can-I talk to you?" 88 PHILIP K. DICK Taverner pushed past him. the problem." "What do you want?" "You deliberately set out with "You're from the Terran Niplan the idea of remolding people along police? 1-" The man's Adam's Yancy's line?" Taverner inquired. apple bobbed. "I work here. My "I can't precisely say what the name's Sipling, Leon Sipling. I idea is, at top level. I was an ad have to do something-I can't writer for a mouth wash company. stand it any more." The Callisto authorities hired me "Nothing can be done," Taver­ and outlined what they wanted me ner told him. "If they want to be to do. I've had to guess as to the like Yancy-" purpose of the project." "But there isn't any Yancy," Sip­ "By authorities, you mean the ling broke in, his thin face twitch­ governing council?" ing spasmodically. "We made him Sipling laughed sharply. "I mean up ... we invented him." the trading syndicates that own this Taverner halted. "You what?" moon: lock, stock, and barrel. But "I've decided." Voice quavering we're not supposed to call it a excitedly, Sipting rushed on: "I'm moon. It's a planet." His lips going to do something-and I know twitched bitterly. "Apparently, the exactly what." Catching hold of authorities have a big program built Taverner's sleeve he grated: up. It involves absorbing their trade "You've got to help me. I can stop rivals on Ganymede-when that's all this, but I can't do it alone." done, they'll have the out-planets sewed up tight." "They can't get at Ganymede N LEON Sipling's attractive, without open war," Taverner pro­ I well-furnished living room, the tested. "The Medean companies two of them sat drinking coffee have their own population behind and watching their children scram­ them." And then it dawned. "I ble around on the floor, playing see," he said softly. "They'd actually games. Sipling's wife and Ruth start a war. It would be worth a Taverner were in the kitchen, dry­ war, to them." ing the dishes. "You're damn right it would. "Yancy is a synthesis," Sipling And to start a war, they have to get explained. "A sort of composite the public lined up. Actually, the person. No such individual actually people here have nothing to gain. exists. We drew on basic prototypes A war would wipe out all the small from sociological records; we based operators-it would concentrate the gestalt on various typical per­ power in fewer hands-and they're sons. So it's true to life. But we few enough already. To get the stripped off what we didn't want eighty million people here behind and intensified what we did want." the war, they need an indifferent, Broodingly, he added: "There sheep-like public. And they're get­ could be a Yancy. There are a lot ting that. When this Yancy cam­ of Yancy-like people. In fact, that's paign is finished, the people here THE MOLD OF YANCY 89 on Callisto will accept anything. "None of you is convinced?" Yancy does all their thinking for "Even Babson has to laugh. And them. He tells them how to wear Babson is at the top; after him their hair. What games to play. He come the boys who sign the checks. tells the jokes the men repeat in God, if we ever started believing their back rooms. His wife whips in Yancy ... if we got started up the meal they all have for din­ thinking that trash meant some­ ner. All over this little world­ thing-" An expression of acute millions of duplicates of Yancy's agony settled over Sipling's face. day. Whatever he does, whatever "That's it.. That's why I can't he believes. We've been condition­ stand it." ing the public for eleven straight "Why?" Taverner asked, deeply years. The important thing is the curious. His throat-mike was taking unvarying monotony of it. A whole it all in, relaying it back to the generation is growing up looking to home office at Washington. "I'm Yancy for an answer to every­ interested in finding out why you thing." broke away." "It's a big business, th~n," Sipling bent down and called his Taverner observed. "This project son. "Mike, stop playing and come of creating and maintaining Yan­ on over here." To Taverner he ex­ cy." plained: "Mike's nine years old. "Thousands of people are in­ Yancy's been around as long as he's volved in just writing the material. been alive." You only saw the first stage-and ~1ike came dutifully over. "Yes, it goes into every city. Tapes, films, sir?" books, magazines, posters, pam­ "What kind of marks do you get phlets, dramatic visual and audio in school?" his father asked. shows, plants in the newspapers, The boy's chest stuck out proud­ sound trucks, kids' comic strips, ly; he was a clear-eyed little mini­ word-of-mouth report, elaborate ature of Leon SipIing. "All A's and ads ... the works. A steady stream B's." of Yancy." Picking up a magazine "He's a smart kid," Sipling said from the coffee table he indicated to Taverner. "Good in arithmetic, the lead article. "'How is John geography, history, all that stuff." Yancy's Heart?' Raises the question Turning to the boy he said: "I'm of what would we do without Yan­ going to ask you some questions; cy? Next week, an article on I want this gentleman to hear your Yancy's stomach." Acidly, Sipling answers. Okay?" finished: "We know a million ap­ "Yes, sir," the boy said obedient­ proaches. We turn it out of every ly. pore. We're called yance-men; it's His thin face grim, Sipling said a new art-form." to his son: "I want to know what "How do you-the corps, feel you think about war. You've been about Yancy?" told about war in school; you "He's a big sack of hot air." know about all the famous wars in 90 PHILIP K. DICK history. Right?" in the boy's reedy answer. "We "Yes, sir. We learned about the can't let them walk over us, sir. American Revolution, and the That would encourage aggressive First Global War, and then the war. We can't pennit a world of Second Global War, and then the brute power. We have to have a First Hydrogen War, and the War world of-" He searched for the between the colonists on Mars and exact word. "A world of law." Jupiter." Wearily, half to himself, Sipling "To the schools/' Sipling ex­ commented: "I wrote those mean­ plained tightly to Taverner, "we ingless, contradictory words myselL distribute Yancy material--educa­ eight years ago." Pulling himself tional subsidies in packet form. together with a violent effort he Yancy takes children through his­ asked: "So war is bad. But we tory, explains the meaning of it have to fight just wars. Well, may­ all. Yancy explains natural science. be this-planet, Callisto, will get Yancy explains good posture and into a war with ... let's pick Gany­ astronomy and every other thing mede, at random." He was unable in the universe. But I never thought to keep the harsh irony from his my own son ..." His voice trailed voice. "Just at random. Now, we're off unhappily, then picked up life. at war with Ganymede. Is it a just "So you know all about war. Okay, war? Or only a war?" what do you think of war?" This time, there was no answer. Promptly, the boy ans\vered: The boy's smooth face was screwed "War is bad. War is the most up in a bewildered, struggling terrible thing there is. It almost frown. destroyed mankind." "No answer?" Sipling inquired Eying his son intently, Sipling icily. demanded: "Did anybody tell you "Why, uh," the boy faltered. "I to say that?" mean .. ." He glanced up hope­ The boy faltered uncertainly. fully. "When the time comes won't "!\0, sir." somebody say?" "You really believe those "Sure," Sipling choked. "Some­ things?" body will say. Maybe even Mr. "Yes, sir. It's true, isn't it? Isn't Yancy." war bad?" Relief flooded the boy's face. Sipling nodded. "War is bad. "Yes, sir. Mr. Yancy will say." He But what about just wars?" retreated back toward the other Without hesitation the boy an­ children. "Can I go, now?" swered: "We have to fight just As the boy scampered back to wars, of course." his game, Sipling turned miserably "Why?" to Taverner. "You know what "Well, we have to protect our game they're playing? It's called way of life." Hippo-Hoppo. Guess whose grand­ "Why?" son just loves it. Guess who in­ Again, there was no hesitation vented the game." THE MOLD OF YANCY 91 There was silence. real effort to work out, something "What do you suggest?" Taver­ that was hard to live .. ." ner asked. "You said you thought "Yancy plays croquet. So every­ something could be done." body fools around with a mallet." A cold expression appeared on Sipling's eyes gleamed. "But sup­ Sipting's face, a flash of deeply-felt pose Yancy had a preference for­ cunning. "I know the project ... Kriegspiel." I know how it can be pried apart. "For what?" But somebody has to stand with a "Chess played on two boards. gun at the head of the authorities. Each player has his own board, In nine years I've come to see the with a complete set of men. He essential key to the Yancy char­ never sees the other board. A acter ... the key to the new type moderator sees both; he tells each of person we're growing, here. It's player when he's taken a piece, or simple. It's the element that makes lost a piece, or moved into an oc­ that person malleable enough to be cupied square, or made an im­ led around." possible move, or checked, or is in "I'll bite," Taverner said patient­ check himself." ly, hoping the line to Washington "I see," Taverner said quickly. was good and clear. "Each player tries to infer his op­ "All Yancy's beliefs are insipid. ponent's location on the board. He The key is thinness. Every part of plays blind. Lord, it would take his ideology is diluted: nothing ex­ every mental faculty possible." cessive. We've come as close as "The Prussians taught their of­ possible to no beliefs ... you've ficers military strategy that way. noticed that. Wherever possible It's more than a game: it's a cos­ we've cancelled attitudes out, left mic wrestling match. What if the person a-political. Without a Yancy sat down in the evening with viewpoint." his wife and grandson, and played "Sure," Taverner agreed. "But a nice lively six-hour game of with the illusion of a viewpoint." Kriegspiel? Suppose his favorite "All aspects of personality have books-instead of being western to be controlled; we want the total gun-toting anachronisms-were person. So a specific attitude has to Greek tragedy? S.uppose his favor­ exist for each concrete question. In ite piece of music was Bach's Art every respect, our rule is : Yancy of the Fugue, not My Old Ken­ believes the least troublesome pos­ tucky Home?" sibility. The most shallow. The "I'm beginning to get the pic­ simple, effortless view, the view ture," Taverner said, as calmly as that fails to go deep enough to stir possible. "I think we can help." any real thought." Taverner got the drift. "Good solid lulling views." Excitedly he ABSON squeaked once. HBut hurried on, "But if an extreme, B this is-illegal!" original view got in, one that took "Absolutely," Taverner acknowl- 92 PHILIP K. DICK edged. "That's why we're here." past the knot of stunned officials He waved the squad of Niplan and workers, into the inner offices secret-servicemen into the offices of the project. Nodding curtly, of the Yancy Building, ignoring the Taverner made his way up to the stunned workers sitting bolt-upright desk where Leon Sipling sat sur­ at their desks. Into his throat-mike rounded by his work. he said, "How's it coming with the The first of the altered gestalts big-shots?" was already flickering through the "Medium," Kellman's faint voice scanner. Together, the two men came, strengthened by the relay stood watching it. system between Callisto and Earth. "Well?" Taverner said, when it "Some slipped out of bounds to was done. "You're the judge." their various holdings, of course. "I believe it'll do," Sipling an­ But the majority never thought swered nervously. "I hope we don't we'd take action." stir up too much ... it's taken "You can't!" Babson bleated, his eleven years to build it up; we great face hanging down in wattles want to tear it down by degrees." of white dough. "What have we "Once the first crack is n1ade, it done? What law-" should start swaying." Taverner "I think," Taverner interrupted, moved toward the door. "Will you "we can get you on purely com­ be all right on your own?" mercial grounds alone. You've used the name Yancy to endorse various manufactured products. There's no such person. That's a STEPHEN'S violation of statutes governing ethical presentation of advertising." Book Service Babson's mouth closed with a snap, then slid feebly open. "No­ 125 FOURTH AVE. such-person? But everybody NEW' YORK 3, N. Y. knows John Yancy. Why, he's-" Phone GRamercy 3-5990 Stammering, gesturing, he finished, "He's everywhere." We Stock• All Suddenly a wretched little pistol current American Science Fiction appeared in his pulpy hand; he in Book Form and carry current was waving it wildly as Dorser Magazines and Pocket Books. stepped up and quietly knocked it skidding across the floor. Babson A large selection •of Science Fiction is available of British Books, Maga­ collapsed into fumbling hysterics. zines and Pocket Editions. Disgusted, Dorser clamped hand­ grapples around him. "Act like a We carry a large• stock .of Back man," he ordered. But there was no Issues of Science Fiction response; Babson was too far gone Magazines. to hear him. Satisfied, Taverner plunged off, CATALOGUES• ISSUED THE MOLD OF YANCY 93 Sipling glanced at Eckmund who "Afternoon," Yancy rumbled lounged at the end of the office, genially. He wiped perspiration eyes fixed on the uneasily working from his steaming, florid face and yance-men. "I suppose so. Where got stiffly to his feet. "Man," he are you going?" admitted, "it's a hot day." He in­ "I want to watch this as it's re­ dicated a flat of primroses. "I was leased. I want to be around when setting them out. Quite a job." the public gets its first look at it." So far so good. The crowd At the door, Taverner lingered. watched impassively, taking their "It's going to be a big job for you, ideological nourishment without putting out the gestalt on your particular resistance. All over the own. You may not get much help, moon, in every house, schoolroom, for awhile." office, on each street corner, the Sipling indicated his co-workers; same gestalt was showing. And it they were already beginning to would be shown again. pick up their tempo where they "Yes," Yancy repeated, "it's real­ had left off. "They'll stay on the ly hot. Too hot for those primroses job," he disagreed. "As long as they -they like the shade." A fast pan­ get full salaries." up showed he had carefully planted Taverner walked thoughtfully his primroses in the shadows at across the hall to the elevator. A the base of his garage. "On the moment later he was on his way other hand," Yancy continued, in downstairs. his smooth, good-natured, over-the­ At a nearby street corner, a back-fence conversational voice, group of people had collected "my dahlias need lots of sun." around a public vid-screen. Antici­ The camera leaped to show the pating the late-afternoon t-v cast dahlias blooming frantically in the of John Edward Yancy. blazing sunlight. The gestalt began in the regular Throwing himself down in a way. There was no doubt about striped lawnchair, Yancy removed it: when Sipling wanted to~ he his straw hat and wiped his brow CallId put together a good slice. with a pocket handkerchief. "So," And in this case he had done he continued genially, "if anybody practically the whole pie. asked me which is better, shade or In rolled-up shirt sleeves and sun, I'd have to reply it depends dirt-stained trousers, Yancy on whether you're a primrose or a crouched in his garden, a trowel dahlia." He grinned his famous in one hand, straw hat pulled down guileless boyish grin into the cam­ over his eyes, grinning into the eras. "I guess I must be a primrose warm glare of the sun. It was so -I've hall all the sun I can stand real that Taverner could hardly be­ for today." lieve no such person existed. But The audience was taking it in he had watched Sipting's sub-crews without complaint. An inauspicious laboriously and expertly construct­ beginning, but it was going to have ing the thing from the ground up. long-term consequences. And Yan- 94 PHILIP K. DICK c::y was starting to develop them of cereal. And Ralf, he won't take right now. either. He likes flapjacks. And the His genial grin faded. That fa­ fellow down the street, the one miliar look, that awaited serious with the big front lawn, he likes a frown showing that deep thoughts kidney pie and a bottle of stout." were coming, faded into place. Taverner winced. Well, they Yancy was going to hold forth : would have to feel their way along. wisdom was on the way. But it was But still the audience stood ab­ nothing ever uttered by him be­ sorbing it, word after word. The fore. first feeble stirrings of a radical "You know," Yancy said slowly, idea: that each person had a dif­ seriously, "that makes a person do ferent set of values, a unique style some thinking." Automatically, he of life. That each person might be­ reached for his glass of gin and lieve, enjoy, and approve of differ­ tonic-a glass which up until now ent things. would have contained beer. And It would take time, as Sipling the magazine beside it wasn't Dog said. The massive library of tapes Stories Monthly; it was The Jour­ would have to be replaced; in­ nal of Psychological Review. The junctions built up in each area alteration of peripheral props would have to be broken down. A would sink in subliminally; right new type of thinking was being in­ now, all conscious attention was troduced, starting with a trite ob­ riveted on Yancy's words. servation about primroses. When a "It occurs to me," Yancy orated, nine-year-old boy wanted to find as if the wisdom were fresh and out if a war was just or unjust, he brand-new, arriving just now, "that would have to inquire into his own some people might maintain that, mind. There would be no ready say, sunlight is good and shade is answer from Yancy; a gestalt was bad. But that's downright silly. already being prepared on that, Sunlight is good for roses and showing that every war had been dahlias, but it would darn well called just by some, unjust by finish off my fuchsias." others. The camera showed his ubiqui­ There was one gestalt Taverner tous prize fuchsias. wished he could see. But it wouldn't "Maybe you know people like be around for a long time; it would that. They just don't understand have to wait. Yancy was going to that-" And as was his custom, change his taste in art, slowly but Yancy drew on folklore to make steadily. One of these days, the his point. "That one man's meat," public would learn that Yancy no he stated profoundly, "is another longer enjoyed pastoral calendar man's poison. Like, for instance, scenes. for breakfast I like a couple of eggs That now he preferred the art of done sunny-side up, maybe a few that fifteenth century Dutch master stewed prunes, and a piece of toast. of macabre and diabolical horror, But Margaret, she prefers a bowl Hieronyn1us Bosch. • •• THE MOLD OF YANCY 95 THE PATRIOT

Earth was through with war. And while it is right

.. tha~ man have peace, it is also right that he have free~

dome But Mars 'was in slavery, and to 'Mafs

Cornel Lorensse de'dicated his life and his tal-ent ...~ 96 Illustrated by Paul Orban

BY CHAR.LES L. FONTENAY

HE MARTIANNE is heard afraid of war, and desired to put T occasionally these days as a behind it all reminders of war. The stirring concert or band selectio'n. psychosociologists said uniforms of But there was a time when its play­ polic~men, of postmen, of airline ing was punishable by death-and pilots, of lodge brethren, of theater its defiant strains challenged the ushers, were militaristic, and they harried police in tavern and draw-· were abolished. The psychosoci­ ing room all over the Earth. ologists said the march rhythm in In the days just before one music was nationalistic and insti­ marche militaire changed two gated combative feelings, and it worlds, Earth was weary of war, was .banned. The scenes, the 97 sounds, the sights of antagonisms guests in person at the moment. between men were forbidden. "I'll play you a concert for a The Polonaise, the Marseillaise, meal," said Cornel, gesturing to­ the March of the Toys, all suffered ward the piano. the same fate. Sousa's marches and Wan Ti's dark eyes swept over Tschaikovsky's 1812 Overture went him, taking in the battered cover­ th~ same way. Dixie and the alls, the earnest face, the un­ Hawaiian War Chant were treated trimmed blond hair, the slender alike. All were relegated to tape in hands. Wan Ti's yellow counten­ dusty archives, and their sale or ance remained bland. public performance forbidden on "I have a piano player," said pain of fine and prison sentence. Wan Ti. Whatever unlawful violence Cornel laughed, with a note of there might be on faraway Mars, desperation in his tone. Earth was through with all fOnDS "Let me play one selection," he of war and its trappings. urged. "If you want to stop me Into these circumstances, Cornel then, you can kick me out." Lorensse intruded on the night of What Wan Ti thought could not December 6, 2010. He pressed his be gauged from his expression, thin face against .the steam-misted but he had not built his clientele window of The Avatar in Nuyork against fierce competition by turn­ and saw a piano standing idle in­ ing his face away from the un­ side usual. He inclined his head slight­ The Avatar was one of those ly, and waved Cornel to the piano. small restaurants sunk a few fe~t Cornel sat down at the keyboard, below sidewalk level, which catered brushed his hair back from his with exotic dishes to the tastes of eyes, and flexed his long fingers. a select group. It was well-popu­ Thrusting the tantalizing aroma of lated at this hour, and Cornel food to the back of his mind, he licked his lips hungrily at the played. epicurean delights unveiled at each The murmur of conversation in table. The Avatar faltered and died as He felt in the pocket of his worn the fervid melody of Beethoven's coveralls. A single coin answered Sonata Appassionata filled the air. the exploration of his fingers. He It was unusual music to people ac­ was down to his last resource, and customed to hearing the more he was no nearer to finding the modern compositions of Schonberg,. Friends than he had been when he Harris and Westine. The compari­ landed. son of Cornel's inspired touch to He looked again at the piano, the mechanical renditions of Wan hesitated, then went down the three Ti's regular piano player was no­ steps to the restaurant's door, ticeable even to those who were pushed it open and went in. It was unfamiliar \vith music. his good fortune that Wan Ti, own­ When the final movements of the er of The Avatar was receiving his allegro rna non troppo faded, Cor- 98 CHARLES L. FONTENAY nel sat back and looked toward on a victim unprepared for it. Wan Ti. The proprietor cocked She was clad in the cretan-can­ an ear toward the rare applause, can style just then becoming popu­ smiled and nodded slightly. Exul­ lar, with breasts exposed over a tantly, Cornel swung into Chopin's tight bodice and a short, ruffled Fantasie-Impromptu and followed skirt gathered in front to reveal it not pausing, with Liszt's Wal­ the knees. She smoked a long­ d~srauschen and Schubert's Seren­ stemmed, tiny-bowled pipe, studded ade. with jewels. The applause was just as en- Beside her sat a sleek, mustached thusiastic, but by now the hum of young man in ruffled lavender voices and the click of eating shirt and pink tights, his fingers utensils had begun to rise again. covered with rings. Frowning slightly, Cornel hunched "Sit down and eat with me, his shoulders and began a com­ musician," invited Meta. Some­ position the most musical of his what dubiously, Cornel took a seat audience had never heard before. at her right, across the table from Like the molten notes of the the beruffied escort. nightingale, the music floated and "Meta, I wish you wouldn't throbbed above the diners, almost demean yourself by taking up with a physical thing. The people in tramps and guttersnipes," objected the restaurant paused with food her companion, wrinkling his nose. halfway to their lips. They turned "Leave me, Passo," she ordered, to see the artist, carefully, so that waving an imperious hand. "Why no chair would scrape. The waiters should I sup with painted popin­ stopped with trays in their hands. jays when I can adore genius?" Wan Ti stopped a newly arriving Passo flushed and his mouth fell couple, his fingers at his lips. open. But he arose and slunk quiet­ In the midst of the applause that lyaway. roared through the room when "Now, musician," said Meta, Cornel had finished, a waiter leaning over the table so that her tapped. his shoulder. powdered breasts brushed the "Excuse ~e, sir," he said. "Miss glassware, "tell me, what was that Meta Erosihe asks that you join last number you played?" her at her table." "One of my own compositions," Rising and bowing to his audi­ he said diffidently. The odor of ence, Cornel followed the man to food was too much for him, and a table at the rear of the room, he leaned across the table to ap­ where a woman sat with her escort. propriate Passo's untouched salad. Meta Erosine's pale, heart­ "Its name is Wind in the Canals." shaped' face, with its mop of short "It should be Le Vent dans les black hair and luminous black Canals,'~ she said. "You should eyes, was widely known on Earth, title your compositions in French but Cornel had never been to Earth -they will be more fashionable." before. Her vibrant beauty blazed "I don't know French," he said, THE PATRIOT 99 munching a stick of celery. "We troIs botn spaceports. It owns all don't speak French on Mars." business and industry on Mars. It's She laughed, a laugh like the milking the planet dry of resources music of his playing. and profits, and it's set up a com­ "You will, my genius," she prom­ pany government that makes the ised him. Her eyes ran over his people of Mars no better than lean face, his unkempt hair. "You slaves." look as though ypu could use shel­ He smiled a bitter smile. ter and clothing. Come home with "Earth's government protects the me tonight. I shall give your genius freedom of Earth's people," he to the world." said, "but the people of Earth don't know what's happening on Mars. The Mars Corporation has ORNEL never had experienced its senators and representatives, Csuch luxury as was his in the bought and paid for, so the Earth apartment Meta assigned to him in government sends troops and sup­ her magnificent home in Jersi. He plies to Mars to fight the battles of had his personal servant. New the Mars Corporation. We aren't clothes were waiting for him. A rebels, we're fighting for our just barber cut his hair when he had freedom." finished a hot, scented bath, and "If the Mars Corporation con­ the big bed in which he slept was trols the spaceports, how did you soft as down. get to Earth?" she demanded. Meta asked no information of "We have three battered ships him until they met at a late break­ hidden in the desert near Syrtis fast the next morning. There, beau­ Major," said Cornel. "It takes a tiful in translucent white negligee, long time for us to get fuel to take she sipped her coffee and asked one of them up, but they thought questions. it worthwhile if I could get to "I came from Mars to get help Earth and get help for my people." for my people," he said. "We need "Why you?" guns and supplies, food and oxygen "My music is well known on equipment." Mars, and my people know that "You're one of the Charax the people of Earth love music. rebels?" she asked. Here on Earth, where there is "Rebels?" He snorted. "We're peace and prosperity, people pay free people, fighting for our free­ to hear good music and good mu­ dom. We want self-government, sicians. Our plan was for me to we want to own our land and our give great concerts and at each homes, we want the right to rule concert ask the people of Earth to our own lives." help their Martian brothers gain "That's guaranteed in the Con­ their freedom." stitution," said Meta. "A good way to get arrested," "Earth's Constitution. Mars isn't said Meta dryly. "You'd be con­ Earth. The Mars Corporation con- victed of inciting military action 100 CHARLES L. FONTENAY and sentenced to prison in any HE METEORIC rise of Cornel court of Earth." T Lorensse to fame in 2011 and "I didn't know that, but I sup­ 2012 now commands a full column pose the Friends would have a in the Encyclopaedia TeTTestriana. way." Brushed off in a single sentence in "The Friends?" the encyclopaedia, but much dis­ "The Friends of Mars. It's an cussed in that day, was 'his close organization of Earth people try­ relationship with Meta Erosine, his ing to help us. I suppose it must patroness. be a secret and illegal organization, For half a decade, wealthy, beau­ for I found that the man I was tiful Meta Erosine had been the supposed to get in touch with had toast of Earth. She was an actress, been arrested, and I haven't been a painter, a singer, a socialite, and able to find out anything more she had changed men almost as about the Friends." often as she changed the dresses she "Such an organization would be wore. Her face was familiar in illegal on Earth," said Meta. newspapers and on television "Come here, Cornel. I want to screens, her husky songs were on a show you something." million recording tapes, her color­ Taking him by the ann, she led ful antics were the grist for maga­ him from the breakfast room to a zine articles and the subject of terrace overlooking a snowy valley. denunciations from the pulpit. She moved closer to him in the In Cornel she seemed to have chill wind that billowed her thin found a vehicle for all the burning garments around her, and waved fire of her energy. She pushed him, her hand at the scene below them. she groomed him, she threw the "This is Earth," she said. "Look power of "her wealth .behind him. at those mountain peaks, the blue His slender figure clad in a black sky and the white clouds. In sum­ velvet suit sat at polished pianos mer, this valley is clothed with on a hundred stages; and for each green, and warm breezes bring the concert, the auditoriums and the scent of flowers to this terrace. audiences were bigger. Have you ever seen anything like Meta was with him on these this on Mars?" concert tours; and between tours "No," he said softly. "Mars is he stayed in seclusion at the big always cold and dusty, and the sky house in Jersi, putting into music is nearly black." his memories of his native Mars. "Cornel," she said softly, you're Each tour introduced to the world a great musician. Mars is rough the new compositions of Cornel frontier territory, and the frontier Lorensse. has no place for music. Last night What he wrote and played was you saw what your music could the haunting music of the deserts, mean here. the canals and the marches. Into "Forget Mars. You belong to his music he poured the loneliness Earth." of the red sands and the violence of THE PATRIOT 101 the desert winds, the beauty of communication.

BY VARLEY LANG

Man's every resource was being stripped to

feed the millions on; Earth . .. but George w'as

a throwback, and a poacher~ and his punish­

ment had to fit the crime . .. HERE'S a library in a small but it made me hard to live with; T town near Charles Neck on and since I live mostly with myself, Murdock Sound. It's so run down I had to quit. Still, I knew I and useless that a lot of old books couldn't get away with backward­ still hang around on the shelves, the ness, and that sooner or later the big kind with stiff backs and all WFI would slap me down, squash kinds of fancy little stars or small, this bussing insect, and get on with curly designs to show the end of one its work.again as usual. section and the beginning of an­ other. Very quaint. After the WFI Sure enough, one bleak Novem-

Illustrated by Paul Orban took over the Sound in our remote ber morning, when I was half area, I didn't have much to do in through a couple of eggs and a cup the day time, so I used to walk of coffee, I heard the throb of a down the road to town and get a motor. I walked down to the end handful of these stiff backs once in of my wharf and looked skyward. I a while. From reading them I got was pretty sure they wouldn't come the notion I'm a one man resist- by land, because most of the sec­ ance movement, which is pitifu:l ondary roads were in bad shape; and foolish, and, I gather, always and they wouldn't travel by water, has been a seedy, run-down sort of because that took too much gas and thing, a backward state of mind time. In fact, the WFI never wasted and feelings. That's me, alright: anything. They couldn't afford to. backward. I tried to be forward, Everything went for food, its 107 growth, collection, and processing. spector came to life. In three dex­ The big freighters, some of them, trous movements he had glasses on, had atomic piles, but that power a notebook in his hand, and stylus was impossibly clumsy and expen­ poised. "What do you feed them?" sive for smaller boats. So they came he inquired eagerly. by air in the usual inspection heli­ "Seeds," I said, "insects, chopped copter. The pilot dropped her in up garter snakes, mussels, ground the cove right alongside the wharf up oyster shells. You boys have all and made fast. Three men stepped the grain." onto the planks. They had the There was an excited light in the wheat sheaf insignia of the WFI on little man's eyes. He hurried out to their overcoat arms and caps, and a broken down shed to examine the they looked cold and bored. A small chickens. sea sucked at the pilings and the That left two of them. The in­ helicopter rose and fell, grating spector continued to gaze at the re­ against the wharf. I looked at the mains on the plate in a dreamy pilot and said, "Better put your way. The other man straightened chafing gear out if you intend stay­ his big shoulders, looked at me, and ing a while." We all watched while said, jerking his thumb toward the the pilot put a few kapoks at the shed, "Mr. Carter's an ecologist. He tight spots. Then he looked at a just came along for the trip. He's notebook and said, "You George on his way to the Government Ex­ Arthur Henry?" perimental Farm over at Murdock. I said, "Call me George." I'm a government sociologist. I was This inspector was the usual sent here to have a talk with you. type: tired from long hours, bored .My name is Ranson." from doing nothing on a weary "Sure. Sit down. I guess I'm round of food inspections. He licked, but there's no use making hunched his shoulders against the a rumpus about it." wind. I turned to the inspector whose I said, "It's warmer inside." eyes were still caught in the egg They followed me into the kitch­ plate. I said, "Ever taste them?" en of the house. All three of them "Once," he said, in a far away started to sit down, then stopped, voice. I went to the cupboard and and walked over to the table in came back with a paper bag full of perfect step. They looked at the eggs and put it in his hands. He cold remains of my breakfast eggs. held them as if someone had just The WFI inspector shoved his hat given him the wheat sheaf badge of up and said, "Eggs." The others merit. nodded, wordless with wonder. "I won't be needing these after Then the inspector said, "Chick­ our little talk, I expect. Take them ens?" home to the kiddies." "Where," I said, "do you think He smiled, looked at the sociol­ I got the eggs?" ogists, who grinned back and The little man alongside the in- nodded. The inspector walked very 108 VARLEY LANG carefully out of the back door and and if you happen to have one, it down to the wharf to stow his eggs doesn't work half the time. And the in the helicopter. busses don't run any more. And-" Ranson shifted in his chair. He Ranson held up his hand. "It's said, "That was very nice of you, an emergency, George. You have Mr. Henry." to realize that. It's been building up "George," I said. for a long time, long before your "Against the law, of course." father worked the oyster beds in There was a smile around his eyes. Murdock Sound." "Are you against the law, George?" "There's another thing," I said. "Yes. No use bluffing. You know "Before you fellows closed the the story. All the waters and every.. Sound, I was independent. I had thing in them are WFI. All the land my own boat and I made my own and everything on it. I don't like way. Now you put your WFI scoops packaged food. I like real food. I in the Sound and the whole job is don't like my oysters, crabs, clams, done in a month or two. And who fish minced up and blended with are the watennen? A couple of chick weed, cereals, yeast, algae, clerks to every scoop who turn a plankton, and flavored to taste a valve every once in a while and little like steak. And plenty of others draw their packaged food, clothing, feel the same. I have a market." and entertainment once a week. Do "An illegal market." you call that a job? Why, those food "Yes," I said. "By God, if you clerks couldn't even lift a pair of had told my father, before I was thirty foot rakes, let alone tong with born, that the oysters he tonged them." could not be eaten as oysters, he'd '~We get more oysters, George, have laughed in your face. And if and in less time, and we do it you had told him he wouldn't even scientifically." be allowed to tong them, he'd have Ranson tapped his notebook with cussed you good and proper!" the stylus and he looked out of the "People have to be fed. The only kitchen window. He was giving me way we can do it is to combine the time to cool off. He'd been kind and total food resources of the world, patient when he didn't have to be process and package them, and do it either. With his job he had no time as efficiently as possible. That means to sit and reason with a one man absolute control of all food sources resistance movement. He had no and their harvesting. You could time for anything but food, and work for WFI1. George. It would be organizing society to keep it grub­ important work." bing incessantly for food, and, at "I know. It's so important noth­ the same time, to keep society as ing else gets done. Have you seen orderly and contented as possible. I the roads around here? Half the was not orderly and I was not con­ bridges are down across Charles tented. But I was just one mao, not Neck and Walter Hook. You can't society. I cooled off. get gas. Yau can't get telephones, I said, "Look, Ranson. It's like ECOLOGY ON ROLLINS ISLAND 109 this. I know you're right. I've had "How did he get there?" a look around, and I've thought "What?" about it some. The figures are with "To the beds." you: too many men and not enough Ranson said, "Where did you get food. Only thing is, even from your the gas, George?" point of view, I'm not fit for WFI. "1 didn't. Took the engine out, I have to be on my own. There put in a well and center-board, ought to be somewhere, someplace shipped a mast, and rigged her for for a man, instead of a food clerk sail. She's tucked away up in -" I trailed off unhappily. Marshwater Creek." They were astounded. Nobody "I'm afraid you have no alter­ had sailed pleasure craft for a gen­ native, George. You are a criminal eration: no leisure and no money in the eyes of the WFI. Either you for such a waste of time; and sail will work for WFI or you will be craft were too inefficient for food punished." He paused. collecting. "I won't work for them." "My God, George," Ranson said, Carter, the ecologist, burst in at "you're a living anachronism!" the door, slammed his gloves down Carter nodde~. He adjusted his in the middle of the kitchen table. glasses, looked at me, and said "Ranson, you never saw anything quietly, "He is also an able man." like it. Fifty in the flock, two roost­ "His abilities will be largely ers, all in fine shape. Lice of course, wasted in a Penal Food Processing some bone malfonnation in the legs. Plant," Ranson said grimly. But healthy." "Oh, I agree, I agree." Carter He began to ask me dozens of nodded his head emphatically. questions, but Ransom interrupted. "The \vrong environment entirely. "I need your help, Carter, and No scope. No initiative." He gave time's wasting. Among other dep­ me a glance of understanding that redations, George Henry, here, has ~·armed me right through and also been robbing government oyster had the unfortunate effect of taking beds, trapping government crabs, some of the starch out of me. I ·had netting government fish, presum­ been prepared for hostility and in­ ably at night. I needn't add that he difference. I stood up and walked has a ready and lucrative market. to the sink for a glass of water I In effect, he refuses to cease his didn't want. depredations, he refuses to join the "Now," Carter said, talking to WFI, and he is generally uncooper­ Ranson, "you take the way he ative." walks. Notice how he swings his Carter said, "uncooperative," in anns, with his hands a little for­ an absent way. He dragged his mind ward, as if ready to grip, and the away from a flock of fifty fo\vl liv­ tilt of his head, alert, watchful. You ing in a most unusual ecology, nar­ don't see that often. Different atti­ rowed his eyes, and asked a shrewd tude, different environment." question. Ranson sighed. "Get down to 110 VARLEY LANG business." more than a few minutes without "Yes. There's always this terrible stifling." lack of manpower, machine power, "Healthy," Carter said. "Healthy. everything, all swallowed up in It does stink. That's one reason we food. And besides, the men can't have such trouble keeping the sta­ stand those bird stations. Too tions manned." lonely. Can't meet an emergency. "Boys," I said. "What is this pile Four of them died on Rollins Is­ of dung I'm supposed to sit on? land three winters ago when the And what birds? And why?" power plant failed. Just sat there Carter explained. In the desper­ and froze. Terrible thing. Had to ate search for food, the sea birds install emergency two-way radios; were now being subjected to an an­ need the equipment elsewhere." nual harvest. From various nesting "They died of loneliness, if you places along all the ocean coasts in ask me," Ranson said. the world, birds were harvested, to Carter nodded. "And no gas a­ say nothing of their eggs, in large vailable for boat inspection. Heli­ numbers. It was simply a matter of copter too wasteful for a single catching and killing the birds, gath­ station. Put George out there with ering their eggs, and feeding the one or two others. Could you sail processing hoppers with same. out? Seaworthy? Big enough?" These foods were later shipped to I said yes. Food Processing Plants to be "Good. Food processing all done added to other harvests and pack­ by machines. Just feed birds in. aged for consumption. In some Take up to half the colony of young cases, more specialized processing birds when bred, half the old ones was necessary, as with the fulmars when coming to nest. Regular in­ on Rollins Island. The fulmars were spection of tern colonies by sail, much prized because their alimen­ your boat. Helicopter lands June tary system contained an especially twenty, small freighter in July to stinking oil rich in fat and vitamin load processed birds in Rollins Har­ A. In their case, no eggs were col­ bor. Just the thing." lected, since they bred only once He took off his glasses to show in a season, and the birds were that the problem had been solved. separately processed to retrieve the "Look," Ranson said. "I don't oil. have anything against George per­ Literally millions of sea birds and sonally. I want him to be useful and their eggs were cropped yearly from contented. If he can't be contented, nesting sites on the east coast of then at least I want him to be use­ North America alone. It was a ful, instead of wasteful. Robbing regular and assured source of food government food resources is a on an enonnous scale the world grave offense, but even that doesn't over. The thousands of tons of ex­ justify putting him down in the crement were also gathered every middle of a pile of excrement where five years to be used in food pro­ no ordinary man can breath for cessing and in agriculture. It was ECOLOGY ON ROLLINS ISLAND 111 the policy of the WFI to waste Small Fish Processor. He oils his nothing and to use everything. traps and talks to ·himself. He may The cropping of the young birds be too far gone. I think he is." took place in the spring and early "Anyone else?" summer, depending on the species. "Others. But the WFI has a The adult birds were trapped by bight on them for good, I guess. various devices when they returned They were men, once." to their nests. Over-cropping was "Are the Jackson men married?" carefully avoided 'to insure a steady I smiled. "No. We're dying out." annual production. Carter chuckled. "If it's the island or a Penal Food Plant, I'll take the island. I'm a watennan, not a bird collector. At T WAS a twenty-five mile sail to least I'll get a chaI\ce to use the IRollins Island. The Jackson boys boat once in awhile." and I loaded the boat with clothing Both the WFI men looked re­ mostly. Food was stored on the is­ lieved. Then Ranson put a ques­ land. I took along four pairs of tion. oyster rakes, I didn't have the heart "Do you know of anyone else to leave them behind. And Bill and around here who might be fitted for Joy took a huge ball of linen twine, such work? I'm not asking you to ropes, corks, rings, all the makings infonn. I know there's been a good for a drift net. deal of discontent in this Sound Unexpectedly, Carter showed up region, which is one reason why I'm at the last minute by helicopter to here. The island may be a solution see us off. He jumped up on the for other misfits as well." wharf smiling. I thought it over. "The Jackson "About those chickens," he said, boys .aren't very happy. They were "they're condemned stock of course. the best men with drift nets this Better take them along. And keep Sound has ever seen. Now they sit an eye on them. Want to know how on stools all day long and watch a they make out in a new environ­ row of bottles pass in front of lights. ment." Once in a while they lift a bottle Then he took me aside and out of the line and put it aside. handed me a small book. They get very drunk every night on "Lot of information in this. Writ­ some stuff they make out of berries ten by a small animal ecologist. and dandelions from the marsh." Read it. Read it carefully. Think Ranson sighed. Carter again about it. Read it again, and think passed a wanning look of complete some more. Got that?" understanding, and nodded en­ I said, "Sure. I'll read it." I had couragement. the notion he was trying to get "Then there's Pete Younger. He something over without actually was a trapper before WFI closed coming out with it flat, so I listened the muskrat areas. He turns a valve carefully. several hundred times a day in the He paused for a while, wiping 112 VARLEY LANG his glasses and pursing his lips. birds to be taken, locations of nest­ "That island's not right for ful­ ing sites, and so on. Equipment, in­ mars and gannets. Wrong environ­ cluding snares and nets, was stored ment. Never have multiplied as they in an equipment room. And there should. Whole thing should be con­ was a storeroom containing pack­ centrated north. Plenty of cliff sites aged foods, no freezing or cooling north. None here. Won't do. Terns, necessary for preselVation. yes. Fulmars and gannets, no. Behind the barracks stood a Trouble is, WFI is tenacious. Stu­ warehouse for storing processed pidly so. It works, they say. I tell birds, and a shop with the proces­ them it works badly. It's going to sors themselves. Everything looked take a lot to move them: total fail­ orderly and efficient. A small plant ure of a colony or two. supplied us with light and heat "You're intelligent, George. Put and power for the machines. two and two together. Wish you We arrived in November. By De­ luck." cember, the first sea birds began to He shook my hand quickly and return to their nesting sites, a few jumped into the helicopter. Bill and at a time. Soon we were so busy Joy had to call me twice before I snagging them as they came to land could come out of a trance of be­ that we had little time for anything wildered speculation. In a daze I but work and sleep. Even so, Bill helped the boys load our last piece took the time to salt several dozens of equipment: a huge barrel of of gannets and fulmars for future salt they had pilfered from the local eating, and he was looking forward Food Plant. to the eggs. Spring and early summer soon rolled around, and we were collect­ HE ISLAND is big, about five ing young birds, the nestlings. So Tby fifteen miles, and it must it went. have been a fine piece of land. It I can't say any of us liked the still was, even though mucked ev­ work. For one thing we all sickened erywhere with white-to-greenish of the endless slaughter. For an­ bird dung. There were steep hills other, the stench and dirt were on the mainland side, marshes to overwhelming. The island should seaward, and in the middle natural have been a fine place for living. meadowland broken by woods con­ There were sheltered spots for taining pine, and some beech and houses, a small harbor, woodlots, maple. We moored in a small but meadows for cattle and pigs, some fairly deep harbor at a wharf for bottom land for food crops, the loading foods. Our barracks stood sea for fish-a fine location; but just off the wharf. In addition to all it was ruined by birds. It was a the necessities, there was a two-way slimy, stinking hell. radio, marked "Use in emergency The birds flew everywhere in only", and a handbook with infor­ huge flocks, especially in the morn­ mation on approximate numbers of ing when the gannets and fulmars ECOLOGY ON ROLLINS ISLAND 113 came back from fishing at sea. Ex­ their net knitted and hung. I went crement fell from the sky like a back to the book to find out what stinking sleet. We couldn't get away to do about this idea, and the boys from the smell or the smell away sailed out to drift the net. I waited from us. It was in our clothing, for them in a sweat of impatience. hair, under our fingernails. No They came back at dawn the next watermen ever washed so often or day with a boat load of food fish. I so thoroughly as we did, but the met them at the wharf. stink remained. We lost weight and "Bill," I said, "what are you go­ appetite steadily, for the packaged ing to do with that load of fish?" food tasted of excrement soon after Bill looked at the fish. He said it was opened, or seemed to, which with slow and tremendous satisfac­ is just as bad. tion, "I aim to eat them fish, However, by the end of June George Henry." most of the birds had left, and we "Bill," I said, "not even you can had our helicopter inspection. The eat all those fish. I've got a scheme. same man who was fascinated by Save back some of the fish, sure. Let the cold remains of a couple of eggs Joy smoke a few even. But take in my kitchen was on this route, the rest into Murdock tonight and and we cooked three or four of our sell them to Hornsby. He used to chickens. His enormous appetite buy my oysters. He'll buy your fish." sharpened ours, and we had a "What for?" Bill asked. feast. He was almost tearfully grate­ "Get some bootleg gin," I said. ful. By July, the freighter had put "That makes sense. What else?" in, loaded, and left. For the first "Rats," I said. "I want rats. Buy time in many months, we were un­ some traps or get Pete Younger to occupied. make some. Not muskrats. Barn Bill and Joy immediately set rats. As many as you can catch." about knitting a large drift net. "Fish," Bill said. "Fish for rats. They were happily excited at the Boy, the birds has got you." prospect of giBing large numbers He gave in after a while, more of government fish. As for me, I sat to keep me good natured than for down to read a book on small an­ any other reason, that and the gin. imal ecology. He came back with two dozen live, I read that book through three healthy specimens, and watched times. I kept at it night and day, with an open mouth as I let them and it was the hardest work I've loose. ever done, because I wasn't read­ ing just to pass the time. There was a message in that book, I was sure HE MONTHS passed, and I of it, a message from Carter, a man T was worried. To drive the prob­ I liked and trusted. lem from my head, I took the boat By the ~e I began to get a out and surveyed the shallow waters glimmering of an idea as to what off the island. I found something. Carter's message was, the boys had I found a bed of oysters in broken 114 VARLEY LANG rock, a bed not marked on WFI "We'll kill them." charts, because you could see it "If they don't get us first," Bill hadn't been worked for a long said. time. Later, I located clam beds It was an awesome and bloody on the marshy side of the island. slaughter. The fulmars and gannets, The damn place was a paradise, or most of the gulls, some of the terns, might be, once those birds were were either wiped out or harried cut down, but I couldn't eliminate off the island in a single season. them by sheer slaughter because of And the island became a heaving, the WFI. moving, revolting mass of rats, and There didn't seem to be many nothing but rats. They attacked us rats around. December came and on sight, from sheer hunger. Not a all the filthy, stinking work with blade of grass grew anywhere on it and still no rats. Once in a while, the island, and rats are not grass eggs would be missing from occu­ eaters as an ordinary thing. There pied nests, and that was all. Gulls was one hopeful sign. They were could have gotten those. We toiled beginning to eat each other. through stinking February, foul Day after day we were caged in March, odiferous April, and evil­ our barracks. The constant squeal­ smelling May. Still no rats. ing and scratching under the bar­ I sent Bill back to the mainland racks was bad enough. What made for more; and by September, rats us desperate was the fact that they were everywhere. Bill looked at me had gnawed a way into the store from his bunk one night and said, room and most of the packaged "I hope you're satisfied." food was gone. We still had some I was more than that. I was ter­ smoked fish hung on the rafters, rified. They absolutely swanned. and a few salted fulmars in I the It was impossible to walk from the barrel, but that was all. It was then barracks to the boat at mid-day that we remembered the two-way without having to kick rats off the radio, marked "Use in emergency path. They consumed most of the only". Bill said, after weighing all non-metallic gear in the boat, in­ the evidence coolly and carefully, cluding the sail. So far, they hadn't that this here, in his opinion, was gnawed a way into our barracks an emergency. store room, or we'd have literally I got WFI mainland and finally starved to death. persuaded them to put me in touch "Boys," I said, "just sit tight. with Carter, Bird Stations Ecolo­ Wait till December. These rats are gist. I told him we were having the best friends you ever had. a little trouble with the genus Rat­ They're going to make this island tus, and would he, for God's sake, livable. No more stink and stench." do something about it, quick. I can . "What," said Bill, "are you go­ still near him laughing. It was a ing to do with the rats when the while before he could speak at all. birds are gone?" "Keep them at bay, general. I'll Joy merely moaned. be over early tomorrow morning." ECOLOGY ON ROLLINS ISLAND 115 I don't believe any men have crops demanding a lighter, drier, ever been so happy to see Carter as and not so rich soil. Not only that, we were. but we were five, now, instead of "They'll balance," he said. three. The Jackson boys had lured "Starvation will do its work. I've a couple of husky girls to the island brought along a couple of pairs of in the boat. The boys claimed the barn owls. They'll help a lot. I see women fell in love with them. I you read that ecology book. Good think they fell in love with the is­ job. Station virtually wiped out. land. I'm sending supplies over in a This fast work on the part of the week's time. Anybody wants to Jacksons seemed a little rash to me. know, you're supposed to be help­ I was still not at all sure we'd be ing extend and restore the tern and allowed to remain and enjoy the gull colonies. Wouldn't be a bad work we had done. Several times, idea to try a few other animal ex­ I was tempted to use the radio periments. Milder, though. Smaller again, but decided to wait. I'm glad scale. Send canvas for a sail too." now I did. He was gone before we could answer. The small freighter put in In August, a little more than a July fifteenth. She had no cargo year after his last visit, Carter set of processed birds to take back, of his helicopter down at the wharf course. The captain detailed a few again. men to unload our supplies, and After lunch in the barracks of we helped them eagerly. There were baked fish, fresh milk, potatoes, six calves and heifers, two cows and salad, and melons, he pushed back a bull, five pigs, one boar and two ·his chair and said, "I suppose sows, several dozen hens and a you've been wondering." rooster. Best of all, there was a "We'd like to know," I said. big case containing seeds: corn, He nodded. "The mainland's go­ barley, oats, seed potatoes, melons, ing to pieces. So is the whole world. beets, kale, dozens of others. A plow 1t isn't just food. We can still pro­ and two draught horses, mare and duce that. Remember what you stallion. Several pounds of rat poi­ said about the bad roads, bad tele­ son. A hand forge and several tons phones? You put your finger on it. of coke. Iron. A hundred pounds of So much· manpower, machinery, linen twine for nets, as well as ropes energy, material is used up in get­ of all sizes. Canvas. Tools of all ting food and processing it and dis­ kinds. A big medical kit. tributing it, there isn't enough for other things. A tenth of the world's population and a quarter of its total NA YEAR'S time, we had pros­ power resources go into processing· I pered. No richer land, due to the plankton alone. We are literally eat­ bird droppings, was ever farmed. ing ourselves to death. Utilities and And the sandier areas could be de­ services are breaking down rapidly. pended upon for melons and other No new dwellings of any kind have 116 VARLEY LANG been built for ten years or more. Been no new basic idea for a couple Oil is short, cement, iron, steel, of centuries. Too much need for coal, plastics, wiring, radios, tele­ immediate, practical results. The phones, everything is in short sup­ well is dry, and it won't be filled ply and getting shorter. Transport again with a reservoir of new, big is staggering to a halt." ideas, not in our time. Been living He paused, took off his glasses, off the past; and the present has and twirled them by one side piece. caught up with us." "Many of us saw it coming. A few decided to do something. We Before Carter left the island to thought there should be undis­ visit the other stations, I had a turbed nuclei, a few able people chance to have a talk with him. with ample food supplies. You are "Was that sociologist, Ranson, one such center. There are others in on this?" at various bird stations along the "No. We had to be careful. Still coast. You'll be joined shortly by have to be. Just a few of us. That's a few more people, young men and why the loss of the bird colonies women, among them a trained here had to seem natural, or at nurse, a doctor, a skilled carpenter, least a natural accident. And I had so on." to keep clear of it. Yau can see Bill cleared his throat. that." "What you said, I guess it was "Carter, what happens on the all around me, only I never seen it, mainland when things break up?" not to put together. Just one thing. "Won't be pretty. Bad. Very The manager at the Food Plant, he bad." used to stop and kid me about all "For example?" the fish I'd stole from the govern­ "You read the ecology book. ment in my time. He was abraggin' What happens when a species about how WFI had newer and multiplies beyond its ability to feed better ways of gettin' things done, itself?" always newer and better every year. How come they couldn't keep A dozen new Rollins Islanders caught up?" showed up a few at a time in Car­ "Bill, those new techniques that ter's helicopter. We've been work­ manager talked about were old ing and waiting a long time now, stuff a hundred, two hundred years waiting for Carter to come back. ago. The applications are new, some For over a year now, our boat has of them, but the basic ideas are old. made no crossing to the mainland. "The World Food Institute drew Last night, over twenty-five miles of off all the scientific, inventive brains sea in clear weather, we saw the of the world, and put them to chas­ sky lit by a great fire. ing food. No time for basic research, I haven't forgotten those rats. I basic development; just time for dream about them, tearing one an­ tinkering and retinkering old ideas. other with bloody fangs. ••• ECOLOGY ON ROLLINS ISLAND 117 special feeding system pennits all ink to be consumed before another cartridge is needed.

The largest saucer-like radio tele­ scope in the United States will soon be under construction at Har­ vard University's Agassiz Station Observatory. The great "dish", a steerable parabolic antenna sixty feet in diameter, will be used to Defense Department officials pre­ study and record radio radiation dict an intercontinental guided being received on Earth from outer missile, carrying an atomic war­ space. Plans also include a large head, that can flash across 5,000 radio astronomy observatory from miles at speeds up to 9,000 miles an which radio waves could be hour. The weapon would be able bounced off Mars and other planets to hit a target area with a radius as well as the sun. of about ten miles, be ten times as accurate as a German V-2, have Patients who need a blood-vessel twenty-five times the range. Plans transplant will grow and store their call for at least two varieties of this own when animal experiments now intercontinental missile: 1. A bal­ in progress are eventually applied listic type that streaks out of the to humans. Since the body tends to atmosphere like an artillery shell at resist foreign tissue, person to person more than 12,000 feet a second. grafts in case of a damaged aorta 2. A jet-propelled type that flies are often untenable. The latest more slowly, but can be more ac­ solution is to cut a vein to the size curately controlled all the way to needed in the patient's own body the target and will be able to steer and fit it over a plastic rod. It is itself by the stars. then wrapped in muscle tissue and buried in the thigh muscle where Pointless, ball-less writing pens are it is nourished for two or three predicted by researchers working weeks until a firm tube is fonned~ on new writing devices. The one When the vessel is needed for graft~ now under development has a cone­ ing, the th~gh is reopened, the like tip made of sintered metal­ plastic rod removed, and the fresh­ powdered metal partly welded to­ ly elastic vein hooked into the aorta gether. Tiny capillary holes in the to replace the defective segment. tip permit a thick ink to filter through and rub off on the writing Future Motorists will drive on high­ surface. The pen will not leak ways that will help steer the cars when not in use, nor does it need and on which the dips and curves to be shaken or rolled over paper cannot be felt. Highway engineers to get it started after disuse. A predict that "pavement geometry" 118 can be used to bank curves so that of the future" for many years. a blindfolded person riding beside the driver would never know of the A new profession-that of crimi­ change of direction after going nalist-may be what all little boys around such a curve. During mo­ will aspire to be before many more mentary lapses on the part of a years roll by. Such a criminalist motorist, such a highway would be will be a specialist, but not in any able to "steer" the car until the one field. He will have to qualify driver could regain control. as an expert in identity, evidence of different kinds, from blood Our grandchildren's children will groups to ink-from textiles to have enough raw materials and metals-from vegetation to soil. In energy resources despite gloomy addition he will be well versed in predictions to the contrary. Recent the understanding of the practical scientific reports indicate that new side of crime investigation and legal methods of utilization of minerals, requirements of courts and evi­ a curbing of waste, discoveries of dence. Like a physician, a crimi­ new deposits and the substitution of nalist will begin training with a common rock and ceramics are broad knowledge of science, on this enough to quench any long range he must build a study of micro­ predictions of a raw material short­ scopy, microchemistry, law and any age. The harnessing of solar energy other off-branches concerned. through new discoveries in photo­ Training will require a minimum synthesis, atomic reactors and the of five years of college study which direct generation of electricity in closely parallels that of pre-medical transistor types of photovoltaic cells students. ~lso promise a supply of energy far in excess of the demand even if Blind persons someday may be able coal, gas and petroleum, to which to walk with certainty through un­ our civilization is now geared, familiar territory without the aid should be exhausted. of seeing eye dogs or canes. Scien­ tists and researchers have revealed Science and industry have caught a new electron device to warn up with fictioneers again. The latest blind users of obstacles and poten­ thing in bedding is a gyrating mat­ tial hazards, such as curbs and tress, set into motion by a small lampposts. Carried like a lunch pail, motor in the foot of the bed. De­ the device shoots out a beam of light signed to overcome insomnia by that is reflected by such obstacles. lulling the bed's occupant to sleep, The reflected light is then picked the "rock-a-by-bed" is the actual up by a built-in optical reception development of an idea that science system and a vibrator in the handle fiction writers have been using as translates the reflections into warn­ standard equipment in their "homes ings or reassurances for the user. • ••• • 119 THE PAT RIO T (Continued from page 105) prohibited on Earth for a decade home-recorded on the night of -yet they listened. The censors, Cornel's last concert. Too many shocked, galvanized, started to act, people remembered the basic to cut off the broadcast-and could strains, the theme of The MaT­ not. The powerful music had crept tianne. Laws could not confine it. insidiously into their minds, and It was hummed, at first secretly, their fingers were paralyzed above then openly and defiantly. the keys while The Martianne And too many people had hung flamed triumphant through the air on every televised instant of Cor­ of Earth. nel's trial and had heard him say, When the final note had died simply and earnestly, why he had away, Cornel stood up at his piano violated the laws designed to pro­ and said into the microphones: tect the peace of Earth, why he had "That is the music of Mars. Re­ willingly endangered his life. member it, people of Earth." "It is right that men should have It was a brief trial. Cornel was peace," said Cornel on the witness admittedly guilty of violating the stand, "but first, it is right that law against inciting the public to they should have freedom." military action, but because of At first secretly, then openly and Meta's influence and the temper defiantly, the Friends of Mars grew of the people, he was not sentenced into an organization that poured to prison. He was deported to the contributions of the people of Mars, freed to return to his own Earth into ships and guns for the people. free people of Mars. Spurred by the Mars Corpora­ Every Martian year they play it tion, the Earth government acted fonnally now, on the anniversary quickly. The Martianne was the of the signing of the Mars Charter. most dangerous of any music the In solemn ceremonies, the military psychosociologists had banned. Its band of Mars plays The Martianne perfonnance was prohibited on before the imposing edifice erected pain of death, possession of a tape at Charax by Meta Erosine in of it was punishable by fine and im­ memory of Cornel Lorensse, the prisonment. patriot who died in action during But too many tapes had been the final seige of Mars City. • ••

WHAT IS YOUR SCI'ENCE I.Q.? ANSWERS: 1-One hundred. 2-59 percent. 3-Valence. 4­ Hercules. 5-Automation. 6-Faculae. 7-Common salt. 8-As­ tronomica1 unit. 9-18,000. 1~Isotopes. 11--6.6. 12-Shorter. 13-Protons. 14--3949.99 miles. 15-0ne mile. 16--Helium. 17-Away from. 18-34.

120 _Continuea from Bade Cover

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