Perry Rhodan 0092 (B0084) - Cycle 002 Atlan - Molecular Transformer 02 - Secret Mission- Moluk
92
1/ POSITION DESPERATE CYBERNETIC MACHINES-There are people who can suffer inferiority complexes just by working on them. They sit at the evaluation unit of a calculating machine and cannot accept the fact that a positronicon can work faster and produce more logical arguments and conclusions than a human brain ever could. Such persons simply forget that they are the ones who give the robot brain the right data and ask the right questions. As yet this danger did not exist for Walt Hunter. Hunter’s antipathy towards positronicons was due mainly to the fact they forced him to work during the time he was on duty. Otherwise he always approached the machines with displeasure and apathy. One of the psychologists in Solar Defence had termed Hunter phlegmatic, which is to say lazy and sluggish. The mathematician’s plumpness seemed to bear out the headdoctor’s thesis. At that moment Hunter received a computer card by way of the pneumatic post over his seat. He picked it out of the capsule. “Hey, Ben!” he called bad-temperedly. A man sitting behind him and somewhat to one side got up and came over to him. Hunter waved the card. “Guess what they’re up to this time!” he said. Ben looked at the card as though it were a well-cooked steak with onions. “Eppan,” was all he said, clicking his tongue. Hunter dismissed the outburst of enthusiasm of his colleague with a resentful grumbling. “Naturally,” he said unhappily. “The Solar Defence’s entire positronic evaluation laboratory is on the hunt for molecular transformites. At Mercants order.” His cheeks inflated for a moment, giving him the appearance of an overfed hamster. “The way I heard it, good ol’ Mercant had nothing better to
Transcript of Perry Rhodan 0092 (B0084) - Cycle 002 Atlan - Molecular Transformer 02 - Secret Mission- Moluk
1/POSITIONDESPERATE
CYBERNETICMACHINES-Therearepeoplewhocansufferinferioritycomplexesjustbyworkingonthem.
Theysitattheevaluationunitofacalculatingmachineandcannotacceptthefactthatapositroniconcanworkfasterandproducemorelogicalargumentsandconclusionsthanahumanbrainevercould.Suchpersonssimplyforgetthattheyaretheoneswhogivetherobotbraintherightdataandasktherightquestions.
AsyetthisdangerdidnotexistforWaltHunter.Hunter’santipathytowardspositroniconswasduemainlytothefacttheyforcedhimtoworkduringthetimehewasonduty.Otherwisehealwaysapproachedthemachineswithdispleasureandapathy.
OneofthepsychologistsinSolarDefencehadtermedHunterphlegmatic,whichistosaylazyandsluggish.Themathematician’splumpnessseemedtobearouttheheaddoctor’sthesis.
AtthatmomentHunterreceivedacomputercardbywayofthepneumaticpostoverhisseat.Hepickeditoutofthecapsule.
“Hey,Ben!”hecalledbad-temperedly.
Amansittingbehindhimandsomewhattoonesidegotupandcameovertohim.Hunterwavedthecard.
“Guesswhatthey’reuptothistime!”hesaid.
Benlookedatthecardasthoughitwereawell-cookedsteakwithonions.“Eppan,”wasallhesaid,clickinghistongue.
Hunterdismissedtheoutburstofenthusiasmofhiscolleaguewitharesentfulgrumbling.“Naturally,”hesaidunhappily.“TheSolarDefence’sentirepositronicevaluationlaboratoryisonthehuntformoleculartransformites.AtMercantsorder.”Hischeeksinflatedforamoment,givinghimtheappearanceofanoverfedhamster.“ThewayIheardit,goodol’Mercanthadnothingbetterto
dothansendafastcruiserwithtwomutantstoEppaninordertofindoutifthismysteriousMataalhadleftanytracesbehind.”
Hemanipulatedsomeofthepositronicbrain’scontrolsandinstrumentlightslitup.
BenbentoverHunter’sshoulder.“Mercant’sideawasthoroughlyjustified,”hesaid.“ThemutantsfounddatainMataal’spalacethatwilltellusmoreaboutothermoleculartransformitespaceships.”
Relaysclicked,ahummingsoundedandHunterputthecomputercardintotheslitoftheprogrammingunit.“Moleculartransformitespaceships,”herepeated.“Nowthere’samouthfulforyou!”
“Inthecurrentsituation,”Benexplainedinthetonesofalecturer,“thereisonlyonepossibilityfortheSolarImperium:winningstrongfriends.”
Huntersnortedcontemptuously.“IcanjustseeRhodanwalkinghandinhandthroughthestreetsofTerraniawiththeselovelycreatures.YouknowthekindoftroubleEversonhadwithMataal.IfGoldsteinhadnotbeenabletofreehimselffromtheshapechanger’spsychicholdbackthen,weprobablywouldn’tbesittingherenow.”
TheevaluationsmadetothistimehadalreadygiventhespecialistsofSolarDefencesomeinformationtogoon.ThemutantsorderedtoEppanbyAlanD.MercanthadbroughtalongtinymetalleavesthattheyhaddiscoveredinsearchingMataal’squarters.Thefalsegladiator’shousehadstooduntouchedbytheEppanitesthemselvesfortheywereconvincedthattheirmatadorwouldonedayreturn.
Itquicklydevelopedthatthethinleaveswerecoveredwithnotesofsomesort.Withthehelpoftranslatorsandspecialpositronicons,thespecialistswereabletotranslatethealienlanguage.ThefirstresultsshowedthatinadditiontoMataal’sunfortunateshipasecondshipwouldsoontakeofffromtheunknownhomeworldofthemoleculartransformites.Mataal’sreportindicatednothingofthepositionofhisnativesolarsystem.Ontheotherhand,therewerejustifiedhopesoffindingouttowhatplanetthesecondshipwasdestined.
“Don’tcrackyourbrainsworryingaboutthepoliticsofyoursuperiors,”BensaidtoHunter.“BothSpringersandDruufshavealreadybargedintooursolar
systemrecentlyandyoucan’tsaythattheyhavetreatedusverykindly.Ifwesucceedinfindingtheshapechangersandmakingthemourallies,we’llbeabletofeelalotmoresecure.”
Hunter’swishforsecurityseemedtohavebeenextinguishedyearsbefore,forheonlysmiledironically.Thepositroniconinterruptedtheirdiscussion.Theevaluationsectorwassettingitselfintooperation.Hunterpressedseveralbuttons.Themachinewasnowintheprocessofturningthedatatheyhadfedintoitintoalogicalconclusion.
“Itconcernslocationdetermining,”Huntercommented.“Mercantwouldliketoknowwithwhatcertaintythemachinecancalculatethecosmicpositionoftheplanettowhichthesecondshapechangershipisflying.”Almostlovinglyhecaressedtheplasticedgeofthepositronicon.
Twohourslaterheheldtheresultsinhishands.Itwasofastoundingprecisionevenforarobotcomputing-machineofthatsort.
Themechanicalbrainhaddeterminedtheplanetarydestinationwith95.639%certainty.
Theman’slargebaldheadwaswreathedbyacrownofgold-blondhair.Themanwassmallandhisfaceshowedagood-naturedexpression.
Hiswasalively,slenderfigure,radiatingoptimismfromitsverybeing.Hestoppedinfrontofabroaddoor.“Mercanthere,”hesaidintothewallmicrophone.“MayIcomein?”
“Byallmeans,”soundedacommandingvoice.
AllanD.Mercantknewthatmanwithwhomhewouldbestandingfacetofaceinafewsecondswouldbegreatlytroubledwithworry.Heopenedthedoorandwalkedin.
“Hello,”PerryRhodangreetedhim,smilingweakly.
AlthoughitwasahotdayinAugust,theAdministratorworehisuniforminaccordancewithregulations.Thisman,alegendeveninhisownlifetime,wouldneverexploitanyadvantagehehadoverhismen.Rhodansatbehindadesk.Ataconsiderablysmallerdesksomedistanceawayayoungcadethadleapedupand
snappedtoattentionatMercant’sappearance.
Mercantnoddedtohimandtheyoungmansatdown.Inhisfacewassomethingofthebreathlessnessthataffectsnormalpeoplewhenencounteringfamouspeople.RhodanandMercant…Later,thecadetwouldconsiderhimselfunusuallyluckyinhavingbeeninthesameroomwiththosemen,oncehe’dhadachancetothinkaboutit.
Foramoment,Rhodan’sandMercant’sglancesmetinmutualrespectandgenuinefriendship.
Mercantlaidabriefcaseonthedesk.
“Youmaybeseated,”saidtheAdministrator.Inthepresenceofthirdpartiestheywereformaltooneanother.
TheDefencechiefthankedRhodanandsatdown.“ItconcernsEppan,”hesaid,pointingtothebriefcase.“YounodoubtrememberthecommandomissionledbyCol.Everson,sir.TheyoungtelepathGoldsteinrescuedtheguppycrewthen.”
Rhodan’sangular,almostgauntfaceassumedathoughtfulexpression.“Youmeantheaffairwiththoseuncannycreatureswhocouldinfluenceandchangethemolecularstructureofmatterwiththeirparanormalabilities?”
“Quiteright,sir,”Mercantconfirmed.
Thecadet,hiswritingforgotten,hadbentfaroverhisdesktolisten.Mercantsmiledslightly.
“I’vebroughtalongwithmetheresultsoftheevaluations,whichI’msurewillinterestyou,”thechiefofSolarDefencecontinuedcalmly.“MymeninthepositronicdepartmenthavefoundoutsomethingsthatIconsidermeaningful.”
ItwastypicalforMercanttorefertohismeninadiscussion.Heneverwouldhavethoughtofpassinganysuccessesoffastheresultofhisownabilitiesalone.
Rhodanpulledthebriefcaseclosertohimandopeneditup.Hereadthepapersoverinsilenceforsometime.Mercantdidnotdisturbhim.SuddenlyRhodanletoutalowwhistle.
“Iseethatyourspecialistshavebeenabletocalculateonwhichplanetthemoleculartransformiteshipmusthavelanded.AccordingtoMataal’sreport,it’sashipfullofemigrants.Ifitarrivedatitsdestination,thenitspassengersmuststillbethere.”
Mercant’sexpressionshowedsatisfaction.“Thesolarsystemconcernedliesclosetothecentralsectorofthegalaxy,”hesaid.“It’slistedintheArkonStarCatalogueasagreenstar,MEG-1453-AS-34.ThedistancetotheEarthisaround20,000light-years.ThestarwhichwecallGreenolisorbitedbysixplanets,allofwhichareconsidereduninhabited.Thesecondplanetisinquestiontous.Oneofthecyberneticistshasalreadygivenitaname:Moluk.”
Heleanedhissmallbodyforwardanddrewagreensheetofpaperoutofthebriefcase,givingittoRhodan.
“ThisisthereportofthetelepathSammyGoldsteinabouttheastoundingparanormalabilitiesofthemoleculartransformitewhostowedawayaboardEverson’sguppy.TheMDwasabletodoitinallopennessbecausetheColonelthoughthewasanEppanitenative.”
Rhodanfoldedupthepaperanddrummedonthedesktopwithhisindexfinger.“Iknowwhatyou’rethinking,”hesaidtoMercant.
Thefaceofthemanacrossfromhimshowedpoorly-hiddensurprise.However,beforeMercantcouldinterrupt,Rhodanwenton.“Tobefrank,ourpositionisdesperate.TheEarth’spositionisknowntoallthespacefaringraces.TheSolarImperiumisstilltooweaktorepulseanyearnestattack.Atlanhashisownproblemsandcan’tsupportusinthewayI’msurehewouldliketo.Quitetheopposite:he’sgoingtoneedourhelpverymuchandveryoften.Anyrelativelystrongfleetcouldriskaninvasionandwewouldnotbeabletosuccessfullydefendourselves.Thatwouldbefatal.EventhethousandshipsthatAtlangenerouslysuppliedustomakeupforourheavylossesarenotenoughtogiveusabsolutesecurity.True,theassemblylinesonTerraandLunaarerollingdayandnightandthemassproductionofspaceshipsofallkindsisrunningatfullspeedbutthepotentialsuperiorityofanyandeveryenemywouldbetoomuchforusatthistime.”Hepaused,hisexpressiongravewithconcern.“Iwouldmakeadealwiththedevilhimselftosavemankind.Wemustleavenostoneunturnedintryingtofindastrongally.OurgoalmustbefindingpowerfulfriendswhowillstandtogetherwithusinstrengtheningtheImperium.”
“That’smyopiniontoo,”Mercantagreed.“Theattempttomakecontactwiththeshapechangersmightboomerangonusbutwemustriskit.”
“Pleaseleaveyourdatahereforme,”Rhodansaid.“I’llgooveritmoreclosely.ItwouldbebetterifIdiscussedthiswithdifferentfriends,too.”
“MayImakeasuggestion?”Mercantaskedpolitely.
“Ofcourse,”saidthetallmanbehindthedesk.
“SendEverson,”Mercantsaid.“AndGoldstein.”
Theirsimultaneoussmileswereshadowedbyconcern:concernforthefurtherdevelopmentandcontinuedexistenceoftheracewhosecomet-likeclimbhadbeensuddenlyhalted.
Thehumanrace.
2/SHIPWRECKEDONMOLUK
WhenPoulWeissleanedovertheprotectiverailingoftheplatform,hecouldseewithoutdifficultytotheothertakeoffsites.Thecloudsofanair-clearingstormhadclearedawayandthesunwasreflectedinthepolishedmetalplatesofthespaceships.Downbelow,Weisssawthemechanicsinspectingthehydraulictelescopinglandinglegsofthespacesphere.Theycrawledaroundintheirwhitesuitslikelargebeetles.
ThegantryelevatorcametoastopnearWeiss,andWernerSternalsteppedoutontheplatformbeforethelargehatch.Hispocketwas,asusual,filledfarbeyonditscomfortablecapacity.
“Havetheimportantpeoplealreadyassembled?”heinquired.
“Wearetheimportantpeople,”WeissansweredwithaglanceatSternal’sload.“UnlessofcourseyouwanttoapplythattermtothatunbearablecivilianDr.Morton,whowentonboardafewminutesago.”
SternaldisappearedinthehatchwayofthebrandnewStateClasscruiser.TheultrafastMexicohad,likeallshipsofitsclass,adiameterof100meters.150menwerenecessarytoguidethisfabulousshipthroughthecosmos.
Weisswasawareofthespecialmissionthattheyhadtofulfil.UnderthecommandofCol.MarcusEversontheywouldmaterializeinspaceafterthreetransitions20,000light-yearsfromEarth.TheyweretolandonthesecondplanetofthestarGreenolandsearchforthemoleculartransformitesthatmustbelivingthereaccordingtotheresultsoftheSolarDefence’spositronicalculations.
Weissthoughtonlyreluctantlyoftheexperienceshehadlivedthroughincompanywithhiscomradesaboardtheguppy.HecouldnotimagineatallhowhecouldcometotermswithabeinglikeMataalwithoutsufferingdisadvantages.
HesawEversonandScoobeycomingacrossthelandingfield.TenmenfromtheoldguppycrewwouldgoonboardtheMexico.Thankstotheirexperiencestheywouldconstituteaneliteamongthemenofthecruiser.
Theelevatorglideddownwards.Weisslefttheplatformwithalastlookaroundatthesurroundinglandscape.“Beingaspacetravellermeansalwayshavingtosaygoodbye,”hethought.Neverthelesshecouldnotremembereverinhislifewantingtodoanythingdifferentthanstepintoanairlockshortlybeforebeingcarriedaloftintoavoidthatknewneitherendnorbeginning.
TheMexicoemergedfromhyperspace,bringinganendtoitsphantom-likeflightthatpermittedittocrosslight-years.Theeffectsofthedistortion-effectfadedaway.PoulWeisssatup.Herubbedhiseyes.
Theloudspeakercrackled.“Thethirdtransitionhasbeenterminated.”ItwasEverson’svoice.“Wenowfindourselvesinthesolarsystemthatwasourdestination.Wearenow170millionkilometresfromthestarGreenol.TheplanetMoluk,towhichwewillbeflying,isnowontheothersideofthesunfromus.ForthetimebeingwewilllimitourselvestoaremoteinvestigationofthesysteminordertochecktheinformationgivenbytheArkonCatalogue.”
Weissswungalegoffthepneumocouch.
Pentsteven,oneoftheastronomers,enteredthesmallcabinwithoutknocking.HismouselikeeyesfocussedontheyawningWeiss.“ThisisthefirstimeI’veflownamissionlikethisone,”heannounced.
“So?”askedWeisswithoutinterest.
“Whydoesn’tthecommandergoanyclosertoMoluk?Hecan’tfindoutmuchfromthisposition.”
Besideshavingtheunderstandablecuriosityofagreenhorn,Pentstevenalsoseemedtohavebeenfittedoutwithanampleportionofobstinacy.
“Uptonow,”Weissexplained,“thissystemhasneverbeenvisitedbymankind.Wehardlyknowanythingatallaboutthesixplanets.Itwouldbeutterlysenselesstolandsomewheretrustingentirelytoourluck.Whilewewerestrollingaroundthesecondplanet,itmighthappenthatsomeoneonthefourthplanetwouldsendasmallarmadatoattackus.That’swhywe’reobtaininganoverallviewofthesystembeforenarrowingourselvesdowntoluckalone.”
“Naturally,”saidPentstevensimply.
Weissglancedathimindisapproval.
“HowlongwillitbebeforewelandonMoluk?”astronomerwantedtoknow.“Forme,allofthisisreallyexciting.”
Weiss’facetookonadarkredcolour,whichmadePentstevendecidetoquicklyleavetheroom.
WhenWeisswentintothecontrolandnavigationroomsomewhatlater,thespecialistshadalreadybegunwiththeevaluationofthefirstbatchofrawdata.Newdatawasconstantlybeingfedintotheship’spositronicon.
“ConditionsonthetwoouterplanetsaresimilartothoseweknowonPluto,”MarcusEversonwassaying.“Itcanhardlybeexpectedthattheywouldsupportanylife.TheinnermostplanetcanalsobeexcludedbecauseitcomessoclosetoGreenolthatmuchofitssurfaceprobablybecomesmolten.Planetstwo,threeandfourremainaspossible.”
Scoobey,theFirstOfficer,said:“Sofarwehaven’tbeenabletodetectanysignoflife.”
WeissnoticedhowinhisnervousnessPentstevenwasperforatingastarmapwithhisdrawingcompass.SammyGoldstein,thetelepath,stoodclosetotheintercomunit.Hisyoungfacelookedtense.HedidnotbelongtothefirstrankofmutantsbuthisexperienceswithMataalhadmadehimseemtherightmanforthismission.
Eversonspokeagain.“Inanyevent,we’llbeflyingtoMoluk.I’mconvincedthattheevaluationoftheavailableinformationbythespecialistsinDefencewasthecorrectone.”
Weissheardthesewordswithrathermixedfeelings.
HeunderstoodRhodan’saspirationsofwinningallies.However,hewonderedifitmightnotbebetterforthecrewoftheMexicoiftheywereunabletofindanymoleculartransformites.
Everythinghastwosides,Weissthought.It’slikeflip-pingacoin:youdon’tknowwhichsideit’lllandon.
After12hoursofEarthlytime,Col.EversongavetheordertoflytoMoluk.Theinvestigationsoftheotherplanetshadproducednoresultsthatwouldcauseanyapprehensions.
Molukrequired38hoursand18minutestorotateonceonitsaxis.Theslowrateofrotationresultedinatmosphericdisturbancessincethenightsidecooleddownoverthelongperiodofdarknesswhileincreasinglywarmairstreamedintothecoolerareaswithconsiderableforce.
Everson,whosecautionhadbecomealmostproverbialinthelongyearshehadspentintheservice,directedtheMexicotowardsthenightside.Thevariousremotesensorsshowedsuccessontheirfirstdeployment:
Molukwasinhabited!
Theradiosurveillanceteamtooktheirpostsatoncebutdidnotpickupanysignalsindicatingradiotraffic.Theradiomenwerereducedalmosttotearsbythedisturbancesintheirequipmentcausedbytheatmosphereinmotionbelowbuttherewerenosignsofanysortofmessagetransmittalsystembuiltandorganizedbyintelligentbeings.
“ifthereareinfacttechnicallyadvancedcreatureshere,”Scoobeysaid,“thentheremustbesomeindicationsthatwouldpointtoit.”
“There’snothingelseforustodobutexaminethatplanetdownthereonemoretime,”Eversontoldbismen,“andthistimefromthegroundup.”
Locatingandmeasuringdeviceswereputintofulloperation.
Molukofferedspacetravellersawarmlayoveriftheywereevertolandthere.Itwasaworldwithlargedeserts,water-poorandcoveredonlybynatural,narrowstripsofvegetation.Theastronomersspokeofanaveragetemperatureofalmost42°Celsiusonthedayside.
“Andthat’sintheshade,”PentsteventoldamoaningWeiss.
Evenso,theairwasbreathable.ItsoxygencontentwasnotashighasontheEarth.Measurementsandanalysesshowedlargeamountsofnoblegases.
Sandstorms,dusthurricanesanddrythunderstormsfollowedononeanother’sheels.
Goldstein,themutant,pickedupvibrationsfromprimitivelifeformsbutnotevenhefoundanysignoftheparanormalsuperbeings.
Inanother48hoursallpossiblemeansofobservingtheplanethadbeentried.AtlengthEversongavetheorderfortheMexicotolandonthenightsideofMoluk.
Hisfaceimpassive,MarcusEversonlookedattheviewingscreeninfrontofhim.Supportedbythegravity-blockingscreenoftheantigravfield,thecruiserfloatedslowlytowardsthesurfaceoftheplanet.Eversonhaddecidedagainstalandingwithroaringengines.Thebrightglareoftheretro-beamswouldhavebeenvisiblefromaconsiderabledistanceinthenight.
Thealtimetershowed142meters.
ToEverson’sleftsatCarmene,thenavigator.Hisscarredfaceandblackeyeswereanoddcontrasttothecontrolpanel.
Ithappened34metersabovetheground.
AllofasuddenthefistofagiantseemedtoclutchforEverson.Hisstomachbecameawrung-outmass,causingnauseaanddizziness.Althoughithappenedwithinaspaceofafewseconds,hehadtimetothink:
Theantigravfieldhasbrokendown!
Theimpactcameinthesamemoment.Itsforcewasenoughtothrowthecoloneloutofhisseat.Hefelthimselfliftedintotheair.Heraisedhisarmsinstinctivelytoprotecthimself.Evenwhilehewasstillsailingacrossthecontrolroom,thelightswentout.Someonecriedoutinthedarkness.
Eversonstrucktheship’scomputer.Astabbingpainboredintohisrightshoulder.
Oneofthevidscreensbrokewithaviolentcrash.Glassclatteredtothefloor.Somewheremetalwascracking.Men’smoaningcamefromoutofthedarkness.Oneofthespacemencrawledoutfromunderthenavigationtable.Eversoncouldhearhisbodyrustlingthemapshangingdownfromthetabletop.
Hepushedhimselfalittlefartheralongsothathecouldtakeholdoftheprojectingedgeofthepositronicon.Oncehehaddonethat,hepulledhimselftohisfeet.
“Isanyoneclosetotheemergencylights?”Eversonaskedinthegloom.
“I’mlyingrightunderthem,”announcedavoice.ItwasScoobeywhohadspoken.“ThatbigmooseBellingerislyingcomfortablyonmygutandkeepingmefromstandingup,”headded.
Inspiteofhispain,Eversonhadtogrin.HecouldjustimaginehowthemassiveBellingerwouldbecrushingthesmallofficer.
“IthinkIcangetthelightson,”calledanothervoice.
Eversonwaited.Someonebegantocursetheantigravfield,softlybypointedly.
Thenthelightscameonagain.
Thecontrolroomwasasceneofdevastation.Itlookedasthoughagiantwithanoversizedwhirlwindathisdisposalhadbeenatworkcreatingdisorder.DirectlyinfrontofEversonseveralmenwhohadbeenflungtogetherwereoccupiedwithdisentanglingthemselves.PoulWeisscameoutfromunderthemaptable.Hisforeheadwasmarkedbytwosymmetricalbruises.HethrewEversonadisclaimingglanceandpointedwithhisthumbbehindhim.ThecommandersawPentsteven,whowithaslighttwinkleinhiseyewasemergingfromunderapileofmaps.
Finally,Carmenewasstillsittingathisplace.Hislegswerecrossedandhewastappingexcitedlywiththeupperone.Hiseyebrowswereliftedhigh.
“Wouldsomebodygetthisclownoffme?”Scoobeycalled.
SternalandLandifellonBellingerandpulledhimawayfromthefirstofficer.Severalmenwerestillunconscious.
Eversonpickedupamicrophoneandspokeintoit.“Thisisthecommanderspeaking,”hesaidcalmly.Hehopedthathisvoicecouldbeheardeverywhereintheship.Andhewishedthateachandeverycrewmembercouldbeabletounderstandhim.
“Shortlybeforethefinallanding,theMexico’santigravfieldwentoutonus.Thereasonsforthisfailurearestillunknown.Everyoneknowswhathastobedoneinsuchcases.Wemustdetermineatoncetheextentofthedamage.Moreover,I’mcallingthecrewtoastateofincreasedalarmreadiness.”
HestoppedtomotionreassuringlytoDr.Morton,whowasjustthenstormingin.Thedoctorturnedhisattentiontotheunconsciousandhurtmen.
“Theimpactwasnotsostrongthatweneedfearanyfatalities,”Eversoncontinued.“Dr.MortonandDr.Lewellynwilllookovertheinjured.TheseriouscaseswillbebroughttoDr.Lewellyninthemed-stationwhileDr.Mortonwillgoaroundintheship.AlluninjuredtechniciansaretobeginatoncewithdeterminingthedamagesufferedbytheMexicoduringitsfall.I’llbeawaiting
reportsofanyseriousdamage.”
HewatchedasScoobeystoodupandslowlycameovertohim.Bellingerwasstillunconscious.Pentstevenwassortingthroughthestarmaps.
Eversonclearedhisthroat,thencontinued.“Imustremindyouthatwefindourselvesonanalienplanet.Ourcurrentsituationdemandsutmostcaution.Nooneistoleavetheshipwithoutanexplicitordertothateffect.Weareontheedgeofanextendeddesertarea.Nightwillbeoverin7hours.Wecanbeginwithourexaminationoftheouterworldtotheextentthatourinstrumentsarestillinorder.However,keepinmindthat.wehavenomeansoftakingflight.Furtherannouncementswillfollow.Overandout.”
Scoobey,standingnexttohim,rubbedhimselfonthechest.“Weshouldconcernourselvesfirstwiththeairconditioning,”hesuggested.“Wedon’thavetotaxourownairsupplysystemifwecanmakeuseofMoluk’sair.
“Thatisoneproblem,”saidthecolonel.
“Andtheother?”WaltScoobeywantedtoknow.Everson’sfingersclosedaroundthemicrophone.“It’slessaproblemassuchandmoreanimportantquestion.Whydidtheantigravsystemsuddenlygiveout?Thereisn’tanyreasonforit.TheonlyexplanationIcanthinkofwouldbeoutsideinfluence.”
“Thatsoundsratherfantastic,”Scoobeyputin.“Perhapsthetechnicianswillfindthecauseofthebreakdown.”
Aloudspeakercrackledandinterruptedtheirdiscussion.
“TechnicianFerranionhere,sir,”anexcitedvoicesounded.Eversonraisedthemicrophonetohismouth.“Whatisit?”heasked.
“Badnews,sir.Thelifeboathangarwasalmostcompletelysmashedinthecrash.Extendedrepairsarenecessarytomakeitusableagain.Twooftheboatsareundamagedbutwedon’thaveanywayoflaunchingthem.”
“Thanks,”saidEverson.
“Nowwe’restuckhere,”Carmenecommenteddrily.“You’recertainlyperceptive,”Scoobeysaidsarcastically.HeturnedtoEversonandadded:
“Maybewecandismantlethetwolifeboatsandtakethepiecesoutthintheairlock.Outside,wecouldputthembacktogether.”
“Howlongwouldthattake?”Eversonasked.Scoobeyshrugged.“Aboutthreeweeks,”hesaid.“Orlonger.”
Agroaninterruptedthem.EdwardBellingerwascomingto.Dr.Mortonliftedhimup.
Bellingerheldhishead.“Whathappened?”hewhispered.
WhilePentstevenbrieflyfilledhimin,Eversonthoughtoverthesuggestionofhisfirstofficer.“Ithinkwecouldspareourselvesthelabourwiththelifeboats,”hefinallydecided.“We’llconfineourselvestotherepairwork.Thatcan’ttakeupmuchmoretime.”
ThestabilizationindicatorsoftheMexicowerenolongerworking.However,Eversonsuspectedthatallthelandinglegswerebroken.Judgingfromtheangleofthefloorinthecontrolroom,thespacespherewastiltingmorethan20°forward.
AfterfourhoursEversonhadbeeninformedofthescaleoftheaccident.
Morethan50menwereinjuredandcouldnotresumetheirnormalduties.Eversonhadabout100crewmenavailableforusewhenheneededthem.
ThetechniciansfiguredonfourweeksofworkbeforetheycouldmaketheMexicoreadyfortakeoffagain.Twoofthelandinglegshadsplitlikematchesandwerecompletelyunusable.Onehadbeentornawayandtheothersweremoreorlessbent.
Theworstdamagewastothesensitiveelectronicequipment.Valuablemeasuringdeviceshadbeenhopelesslydestroyed.Onlyoneofthetrackingdeviceshadsurvivedthecrash.Themattersensorwastotallywrecked.Almostalltheoscillographs,vidscreensandfluorescentscreenswerebroken.Thesmallship’sobservatory,locatednexttothelifeboathangar,hadbeencompletelydemolishedbyaspaceboatthathadcomeloose.
Thehangaritselfofferedableakscene.Threeboatshadbeentornoutoftheiranchoringandcausedconsiderabledamagewherevertheyhadstruck.
Thelaunchingbaywasnowonlyadeformedhole.
TheultrafastcruiseroftheStateClasswasawreck.Unabletomove,itlayinthedesertofanalienplanet.
Eversonsteppedintotheopenedairlockandsniffedtheairtestingly.ItwasnowbroaddaylightThegreensunhadnotyetreacheditszenithbutalreadytheheatedairshimmeredoverthedesert.
TotherightoftheMexicoextendedaflathillgrownoverwiththin,leaf-poorplanets.BehindtheriseinthegroundbeganoneofMoluk’snarrowvegetationbelts.
“Givemethefieldglasses,”saidEversontoWeiss,whowasstandingnexttohim.
“Whatdoyouhopetofind?”askedGoldstein,alsostandingintheairlock.
Thetelepathcarriedhisleftarminasling.Hehadspraineditinthecrash.
Eversontookthebinocularsandraisedthemtohiseyes,adjustingthefocus.“Wecanhardlymakeanythingoutfromhere,”hesaidafterawhile.“Thathillisblockingourviewoftheareathatmightbeinhabited.”Heshookhisheadandloweredthefieldglasses.
“Whatshouldwedo?”Weisswantedtoknow.
“We’llsendoutanexpedition.It’llgoovertothatsmallmountainandfindoutwhat’sontheotherside.Forthemoment,that’llbeall.”
HemotionedtoWeiss.“That’sbeyourdepartment,Poul.GogetDr.Morton.He’llgowithyouandGoldstein.It’dprobablybebetterifyouallputonspacesuits.HaveMr.Scoobeyfityououtwithweapons.”
Weissdisappearedwithasatisfiedsmile.Goldsteinremained,waitingexpectantly.
“Canyoudoitevenwithyoursprainedarm?”askedthecolonel.
“Ofcourse,sir!”
Eversonnoticedtheyoungmutant’shesitation.Somethingmadehimuncertain.
Eversonrestedhishandonthetelepath’sshoulder.“Itthereanythingelseyou’dliketotellme?”
“Yes,”Goldsteinburstout,“eversincewe’velanded,mytelepathicabilitieshavebeenweakening.”
“What?”demandedthecommanderoftheMexico.“Areyoutryingtotellmethatyoucan’treadthemindsofotherlivingcreaturesanymore?”
“Ibelievethat’saboutthecase,”Goldsteinadmitted.“I’mhavinggreatdifficulties,sir.It’snotonlythatmyparanormalpowerofperceptionhassufferedbutI’malsosensingamentalpressurefromoutside.”
Eversonlookedathimwithanincreasingsenseofdisquiet.“Explainthat,”hetoldGoldstein.
“Yourthoughts,sir,arecomingthroughtomeonlyinaveryblurredmanner.”Heblushed.“Excuseme,sir.Pleasedon’tthinkIwastryingtospyonyourthoughts.Itwasonlyanunconscioustest.”
“Verywell,”saidEverson.“Pleasecontinue.”Goldsteinwipedhisface.Smallbeadsofsweathadformedonhisforehead.Heseemedtobeextremelywroughtup.
“It’shardtoexplain,sir.Imaginetryingtoreadsomewritinginadimlight.Itwouldtakeyoualongtimebeforeyou’ddoneit.”
“Iunderstand,”saidthecolonel.“DothesesymptomsremindyouinanywayofMataalandhisspecialabilities?”
“Notatall,sir,”answeredthemutant.
Eversonlookedthoughtfullyoutintothedesert.Agentlewindstirredthehalf-driedoutplantgrowthinthedunes.
“DoyouwillwanttogowithWeisstothehill?”Eversonasked.
“Naturally,”saidGoldsteindeterminedly.
Threefiguresmadetheirwaythroughthesand.Theyleftdeeptracksbehindthem.
PoulWeissstopped.HelookedbackattheMexico.Theyhadleftthequestionablesafetyofthespacer.Weissknewthattheship’sgunpostsandtorpedotubesonthesidefacingthemwereinfullreadiness.Behindeveryraybeamer,behindeveryneutrinocannon,therewasnowaweaponsspecialistwaitingtoansweranyattackonthethreemeninafittingmanner.
Nevertheless,Weissdidnotfeelespeciallycomfortable.
“What’swrong?”askedDr.Mortonimpatiently.Hisunrulyredbeardwasvisibleeventhroughthehelmetviewingplate.HisblueeyesflashedquarrelsomelyatWeiss.
“Ijustturnedaroundonce,that’sall,”Weisstoldhim.Thedoctorgrumbledunpleasantlyandwenton.Goldsteinhadtakenholdofhiswoundedarm.
Whentheyreachedthefirstoftheplants,Weissstoppedonceagain.Herubbedoneoftheleavesbetweenthumbandforefinger.Itcrumbledaway.Weissopenedhishelmetandblewtheremnantsfromhishand.“Driedout,”hesaidtersely.
“Itwouldbebetterifyouweretocloseyourhelmet,”Dr.Mortonsaid.
Weissbrokeoffabranchandputitinhiscarryingbag.“I’dliketoknowwherethesethinthingsstoretheirmoisture,”hemurmured.“Thestemishollow.”
“Comeon,”Mortonpressedhim.“Wewanttogoon.”
Theyclimbedonwardsupthegentlerise.Theyremainedinconstantcommunicationovertheirhelmettelecoms.InthesamewaytheycouldmakecontactwiththeMexico.
Thehighertheywent,thethickerbecametheplantgrowth.Smallbushesandshrubsappeared.
Finallytheywerehighenoughthattheycouldseetheotherside.Theareawasthicklyovergrowninspots.Lizardlikecreaturesscuttledacrossthesandthatwasheremoredarklycoloured.
“Look,Poul!”Goldsteincalledexcitedly.“Overthere!”Dr.Mortonputhishandoverhisviewplatetoshieldhiseyesfromthebrightsunlightshiningdown.“What’sthat?”heaskedwithexcessiveloudness.
“Acity,”saidWeisssimply.
3/THEMYSTERIOUSTOWER
Itwasinfactacity,althoughbyTerranstandardsthewordvillagemighthavebeenmoreappropriate.Itlay,surroundedbystrange-appearingwoods,inthedeepestpartofthevalleythatstretchedoutbeforethethreespacemen.Thebuildingswerebasketlikeconfigurations,noneofthemmorethanfourmetershigh.Theyhadbeenbuiltquiteclosetooneanotherandpaintedoverwithsomestarkwhitesubstance.Narrow,tallopenings,evidentlydoors,androundwindowscouldbemadeoutAtfirsttheTerranswouldnothaveestimatedthenumberofbuildingsasbeingveryhighbutacloserlookshowedthatthebuildingshadbeenbuiltinsuchtangledconfusionthattheremightbemorethanathousandofthem.
Dr.Mortonwasthefirsttospeak.“Looksratherprimitive.Thebuildingsremindmeofbeehives.IfthebeingsthatliveinthemareasproductivebutlesscapableofdefencethanourTerranbees,thenwecanbethoroughlysatisfied.”
“Goldstein,”saidWeiss,turningtothetelepath,“whatdoyousense?”
“Nothing,”answeredGoldsteinwithacrackingvoice.
“Nothing?Whatdoyoumeanbythat?”
“Ican’tpickup.anymentalradiations,”saidGoldstein,neardesperation.“Myabilitieshavenowbeencompletelyextinguished.”
“Thatcan’tbe,”thedoctorbrokein.“Youcan’tallofasuddenfindyourselfhavingonlyanormalbrain.”
“Butthat’sthewayitis.”
Weisslookedatthecity.WassomethingtherethatcouldaffectGoldstein’sparanormalproperties?Gouldtheyhavealreadydetectedasignofthemysteriousmoleculardeformers?
No,Weissthought,atechnicallyadvancedracewouldnotliveinsuchbuildings.TheremustbeanotherexplanationforGoldstein’sblankout.
“Itlooksasthoughthecityisuninhabited,”Dr.Mortonsaid,interruptinghisthoughts.“Ican’tseeanysignoflife.”
“Let’sgotakealook,”Weisssuggested.
“Stop!”calledasharpvoiceintheirhelmetloudspeakers.
ItwasEverson.InvoluntarilytheyglancedbackattheMexico,althoughofcoursetheycouldnotseetheircommanderfromthere.
“Don’tdoanythingstupid,Poul,”Eversonwarned.“Youdon’tknowwhatmightbewaitingforyouthere.We’llhavetoobservethesettlementverycarefullyfirst.”
Irritated,Weisszippeduphiscarryingbag.“Itlookscompletelysafe,sir,”heremarked.“We’rearmedandwe’reincontactwiththeship.”
Atthatmoment,Dr.Mortonspoke.“Itwon’tbenecessaryforustogolookingforthenatives-they’realreadycomingtous!”
Henoddeddeliberatelyinthedirectionofthewoods.Weissstumbledashequicklyturnedaround.Hiseyeswidened.Hefelthisheartbeginningtobeatfaster.HeheardGoldstein’sloudbreathing-soundingasthoughtheyoungmutantwaslackingforair.
Agroupofstrangecreatureshadsteppedoutfrombetweenthetreesandwereslowlyapproachingthethreespacetravellers.Theywalkeduprightandthatalonewasenoughtojustifythesuspicionthattheywereintelligent.
Evenbeforemankindhadconqueredspace,importantscientistshadbeenconvincedthatonlyuprightwalkingbeingscoulddevelopacivilizationinthehumansense.Thetheoryhadbyandlargebeenborneout.
Thenativesweresomewhattallerthanaman.Theyhadtwolegsandtwoarms.Weissnoticedthattheyhadlong,gourd-shapedheads.Theirtrunkswereunusuallyshortbuttheyalsohadlong,powerfullegs.Astheycamenearer,themensawthattheskinofthebeingswasalmostadarkgreenandthattheirmouthsresembledduckbills.
Weisswastheonewhoputintowordswhattheotherswerethinking.“Theylooklikestorks!”
“Ican’tsensethem,”saidGoldsteinslowly.“Buttheymustsurelyradiatementalimpulses.”
“They’redraggingsomethingalongwiththem,”murmuredDr.Morton,hiseyesnarrowed.“Canyoumakeoutwhatitis,Poul?”
“Sticksofsomekind,”saidthebiologist.“Woodenstaffswithathickeningattheupperend.”
Mortonclutchedhiscompanionbythearm.“Thosethingsremindmeofsomething,”hesaidtensely.
Theapproximately30nativesstopped50metersaway.Beforethedoctorhadachancetosaywhatthestaffsremindedhimof,thenativesbeganwithanincomprehensiblelabour.Theyrammedthetipsofthestaffsintothesandsothatthethickerportionswereaboutonemeterabovetheground.Themenwatchedtheminsilence.
“They’reignitingthem,”Weisscriedoutinexcitement.“Look,Doc-theyhavefire.”
30explosionsshatteredtheair.
“Throwyourselvesdown!”Dr.Mortonshouted.“Getyourfacedown!”
“Whatisit?”Weissgasped,hisfacepressedintothesand.
Somethingtouchedhimatthefeetandslippedonwards.Helookedupcarefully.Thenativeswerestormingtowardsthemwithimprobablespeed.Dr.Mortonhaddrawnhisparalyserandopenedfire.GoldsteinandWeissfollowedhisexample.Thebirdcreaturescollapsed:theirnervoussystemshadfailedthem.
Goldsteinpulledaspear-likeobjectfromtheground.HehelditouttoWeiss.“Akindofarrow,”musedthebiologist.“Seemstobemadeofmetal.Thepointlookslikebronze.”
“NowIknowwhatthestaffsremindedmeof,”saidDr.Morton,puttingawayhisgun.“Fireworkrockets!”
“You’reright,”saidWeiss.“They’reprimitiverockets.Thepayloadgoesinthetop,whichinthiscaseisthemetalarrow.Alltheyneedisanexplosivesubstanceandafuse.”
Aroundthemlayother,similararrows.Onehadexplodedatthelaunchingsitewiththeresultthatitsownerhadsunkinjuredtotheground.
TheirhelmetloudspeakerscrackledandEverson’svoicebecameaudible.“Trytobringtwoofthesecreaturesonboard,Poul.Comebacknow.Theotherswon’tbeveryfriendlywhentheycometo.Iwouldn’tliketouseraybeamersagainsttheseprimitives.”
Weisssmiledpainfully.ItlookedverymuchasthoughRhodan’shopesforencounteringstrongallieshadbeeninvain.Theweaponsofthesebirdcreatureswouldinanycasebeofnohelp.TheChinesehadusedsimilarrocketsintheyear1232inthedefenceofKaifung-Fu.AndtheMongols,onwhomtheyhadfiredtherockets,hadbeenanincomparablymoreharmlessenemythanafleetofSpringersorDruufs.
Thenativelayflatonthebed,breathinginshort,forcefulgasps.Althoughhiseyeswereclosed,therecouldbenoquestionthathehadrecoveredconsciousness.Hisfour-fingeredhandswerepressedtightlyagainsthisbody.
ThesmallexpeditionhadbroughtonboardtheMexicotwoGreens-asMorton
haddubbedthenatives.Eversonhadletonegoinordertodemonstratehisgoodintentionstothenatives.
TheothernowlayhereinDr.Lewellyn’smed-stationandfeignedunconsciousness.Eversoncouldimagineverywellthefearthebeingmustbefeeling.
Dr.LewellynbentovertheGreen.Thedoctorwasanaverage-sizedmanwiththefaceofafilmstar.IncontrasttoDr.Morton,heplacedahighvalueontakinggoodcareofhisouterappearance.
Hetappedgentlyagainstthealien’sarm.Weiss,standinginthebackground,clearedhisthroatimpatiently.Dr.Mortonsatatthefootofthebedandtuggedathisbeard.
“I’mtellingyouthatyourmethodswon’tgetanyresults,”hesaidtoDr.Lewellyn.“You’llnevermakehimtractablethisway.”
Eversonmotionedhimtosilence.Dr.LewellynbegantospeaktotheGreeninareassuring,soothingvoice.Nowandthenittouchedhimsoftly.
FinallytheGreenopenedhiseyes.Theywerebrown,earnesteyeswhoselidslackedanylashes,givingthemareptilianstare.Theheadandbodyoftheprisonerwerecompletelyhairless.
TheGreenstaredatDr.Lewellyn.Fearandincomprehensioncouldbeseeninitseyes.Slowly,soasnottofrightenthecreature,thedoctorpointedhisfingertohisownchest.“Doctor,”hesaidquietly.
Mortonletgowithacontemptuoussnort.ItwasnotclearwhetheritwasdirectedatDr.Lewellynpersonallyorathismethodofmakingcontact.
“Goon,”Eversonordered.“We’vegottofindawaytocommunicatewithitsomehow.”
Patiently,Dr.Lewellyngesturedtohimselfoncemore,repeatingtheword“doctor.”
TheGreen’sparalysisrelaxedsomewhat.Thefourmemberedhandmovedcarefullyandtestinglyintotheair.Thenitmoveditsbeaklikemouth.“Mrght,”it
croaked.
Mortonshovedhisindexfingersintohisears.“Idon’tlikealotofconsonants,”hesaid.“Theymakemesick.”
“Verygood,”saidDr.Lewellyn.“We’vemadeastart.”
“Dgtr,”saidMurguthopefully.“Drftgzhgbsg!”
“Hesayshewantssomethingtodrink,”Weissoffered.HelaughedbuthislaughterdiedwhenhelookedatGoldstein.
Themutanthadpressedbothhishandstohistemples.“Ican’treachhim,”thetelepathmoaned.“He’sintelligentbutIcan’tgetthroughtohim.”
beforeanyonecouldsayanything,SammyGoldsteinhadrushedoutoftheroom.Thehatchclosedbehindhim.Murgutgaveastart.
“Whatwasthemeaningofthat?”Eversonaskedslowly.
“I’lltakecareofhim,”Dr.Mortonpromisedandstoodup.
Depressed,EversonrememberedtheeventsintheguppyasGoldsteinhadbeenputthroughthewringerwhileundertheinfluenceofthemoleculartransformiteMataal.Wasasimilarsituationabouttodevelop?Itwasstilltooearlytomakeanydecisions.Inanyevent,furtherinvestigationsmustbeundertakenwithgreatcaution.Rhodan,whourgentlyneededeveryship,hadsentthemtoMolukonlytofindeventualhelpthere.Thecommanderhadtokeepthisgoalinmindallthetime.Nohourshouldbeallowedtotickbyunused.
“Continuewithit,Doc,”hetoldLewellyn.Pleaseletmeknowonceyou’vegottenfarenoughalongwithhimthatwecanbringhimtothetranslator.”
Thenativeswerecertainlycivilizedbutthestateoftheirdevelopmentwasnotespeciallyadvanced.Butthataloneseemedparadoxical,fortwothingshadhappenedthat,consideredinconnectionwiththeGreens,seemedimpossible:theantigravfieldhadgoneoutandGoldsteinhadlosthisparanormalabilitiesaftermeetinganative.
Eversonwasanexperiencedmanwhodidnotactonthebasisofmere
suppositions.Nooneknewbetterthanhehowofteninthehistoryofhumanspacetravel‘provenfacts’hadbeenshowntobefalse.
IftherewereaconnectionbetweentheGreens,theantigravfieldandthemutant,thenitshouldbeonlyamatteroffindingit.Orwastheresomethingelseonthisplanetthattheyhadnotyetdiscovered?
ItoccurredtohimthatGoldsteinhadpickedupimpulseswhiletheMexicowasstillinspace.Then,afterthecrashthatfollowed,themutant’sabilityhaddecreased,finallyfailingaltogetherbythemeetingwiththeGreens.
Thecommanderpressedhislipstogether.ThatmeantnothingelsethanthatGoldstein’sabilityhadweakenedinproportiontohisapproachtothenatives.
WasthatstrictlycoincidentalorweretheGreensabletoparapsychologicallyblockGoldstein?Whatevertheexplanation,thiscluehadtobefollowedup.
Eversonleftthemed-stationwithathoughtfulexpressiononhisface.ThesituationoftheMexicoanditscrewdidnotseemdangerousforthemomentTherewereonlyafewunansweredquestions.
Theiranswering,thecolonelthought,couldverywellquicklypointoutadangerthattheyasyetdidnotevensuspect.
Afterfourdaysofstandardtime,Everson,Weiss,Scoobey,Goldstein,LewellynandMortonhad,withthehelpofthetranslatorandtheship’spositronicon,advancedfarenoughwiththeGreens’languagethattheycouldcommunicatewithMurgut.Othercrewmemberswerebusypracticingthe.tongue-twistingmannerofspeechpeculiartoMurgut’srace.
“Wewouldhaveneverattackedifwehadn’tthoughtyouhadcomeoutofthedeserttodestroyourvillage,”Murgutsaid,apologizingfortheshootingoftherockets.
ThefeartheGreenshadforthedesertandespeciallyforeverythingconnectedwithitwassoconspicuousthatitwasexpressedinalmosteverysentence.Murgut’sattitudecouldprobablybeextendedtotherestofhisrace.Thenativeswereruledbyasuperstitiousfear.
AfterDr.LewellynhadbeenabletoconvincetheGreenthattheMexicohad
fallenfromthesky,Murgut’smistrustrecedednoticeably.Hebecamemorevoluble.
“Careful,myfriend,”saidDr.Lewellyn,rubbinghissmooth-shavenchin.“Whatfrightensyouandyourpeoplesomuchaboutthedesert?Doyoufeartheterriblestormsordoyoubelievethatdemonsandevilgodslivethere?”
Heemphasizedhisquestionswiththehelpoffingersignsandgestures.
Thebirdcreaturenodded.“Thewastelandisevilembodied,Doctor,”saidMurgutfearfully.“ManyGreenshavedisappearedthereortheyhavereturnedinsane.Strangethingshappenthatareuncannytous.”
“Someoftheseduckbillshaveprobablygottensun-stroke,”Dr.Mortonputin.“Consideringhowhotitgetsoutthereduringtheday,it’snowonder.”
“Norisitsurprisingifoftenoneofthemgetsstuckoutinthedesertinasandstorm,”saidWeiss.“Totheprimitiveimagination,thedesertitselfisresponsible:that’swhytheycallit‘evilembodied’.”
“Whatdoyouthink,Doc?”askedEverson.
“Ithinkwe’remakingittoosimple,”saidDr.Lewellyn.“Let’snotforgetthattheGreenshavegrownupunderthelocalconditions.Generationupongenerationhavelivedhere.Theendlesssandmustbeapartoftheirenvironment-andthusnormal.Iwouldthinkthatthisraceknowsfullwellthedangerofadusthurricaneandalsohoweasilyapersoncoulddisappearinone.
Heconsideredforamoment.ThediscussionwascarriedoninEnglishandMurgutfolloweditwitheyesblinkinginincomprehension.
“Accordingtomytheory,”Dr.Lewellynwenton,“thefearofthenativeswouldbeinducedonlybylaterexperiences.Innocasecouldtheybeinherentorinborn.Uncannythingshavetakenplaceinthedesertthatdidnothappenearlier-that’swhytheGreensareterrified.”
Eversoncautiouslywethislips.Youhaveaverydefiniteideaofwhathappenedinthedesert,right,Doc?”heasked.
“Onehypothesisisasgoodastheother,”thedoctorsaid,avoidingadirect
answer.
“Don’ttrytospareme!”SammyGoldsteincriedoutshrilly.HemadeafewstepstowardsDr.Lewellyn.“Youthinktheshapechangersareoutthere,”heshoutedatthedoctor.“Andyou’reafraidthattheyalreadyhavemeundertheircontrolagain!”
Thestormblewwavesofsandbeforeit.Bushestornoutbytheirrootssailedthroughtheair.Theheavenshadtakenonadarkgreycolour.Fourshadowyfiguresmovedthroughthehurricane:threemeninspacesuitsandaGreen.Themenran,bentoverforwardagainstthewind,whilethedustwhirledaroundthem.
Eversoncursedthebadluckthathadallowedthemtorunrightintoasandstorm.TogetherwithWeiss,Dr.MortonandMurguthehadbeenonhiswaytotheGreenvillage.Thenthestormhadbrokenwithoutanywarning.Eversoncouldnotshakehimselfofthefeelingthatthenativehadknownofit.Murgutwasonlyadarkshadowaheadofhimbuthemovedalmostunhindered,asthoughthestormwerenoproblemforhim.
“Ihavethefeelingwe’regoingoffinthewrongdirection,”soundedthevoiceofthebiologistinEverson’shelmetloudspeaker.
“We’llhavetodependonMurgut’sorientationsense,thecolonelanswered.Hehadraisedhisvoiceinvoluntarilytomakehimselfheardabovethewhistlingwind.Thatwasofcourseanunconsciousreaction,sincethehelmetscreenedoutthenoiseofnaturegonewildalmostcompletely.
Weisswasnottobeputateasesoeasily.“I’dratherdependonmyfeeling,”hegrumbled.“Ittellsmewe’regoingthewrongway.”
Eversonfelthimselfinfectedbythebiologist’sdisquiet.DidtheGreenintendtolurethematrapanddisappear?hewondered.
ThenthecolonelrememberedthattheywereincontactwiththeMexicoandcouldatanytimecallforhelp.Evenso,itwouldnotbeoutofplaceifheasked
Murgutaboutit.
TheGreenwasjustinfrontofhim.Hislonglegsstridingasthoughtheywerestilts,hepassedthroughtheduneswithabsolutecertainty.Eversonwashard-pressedtokeepupthepace.Thewindwascomingfromonesideatfullforceandthreatenedtoblowhimover.Morton’ssturdyfigureappearednexttohim.
EversonpointedsilentlyattheGreen.Thedoctormotionedtoshowthathehadunderstood.BlueandyellowflashessparkledcontinuouslyinthegloomaheadandEversonsuspectedthattheywereelectricaldischarges.Hestumbledandfellandhadtousebothhandstoregainhisfeet.Thegroundbeneathhimfeltyieldingandcapableofmoving,asthoughitwerealivingmass.
ThenEversonwasnexttothebirdcreature.HetookholdofMurgut’sarm.TheGreenstopped.HesaidsomethingbutthecommanderoftheMexicocouldonlyseethemovementsofthebeaklikemouth.Eversonwasnotyetsofamiliarwiththelanguagethathecouldreaditbywatchingthemotionofthenative’smouth.
Hehadtoopenhishelmet.
BynowWeissandthedoctorhadreachedthem.Thebiologiststood,bentslightlyforward.Itlookedasthoughtheragingoftheelementshadcompressedhim.ThestockyMortonseemedlikearockthathadbeensetdownintheghostlylandscape.
Eversonopenedhishelmet’sfaceplate.Fortunately,hestoodwithhisbacktothewindsothestormdidnotforceitswayintotheinteriorofhishelmet.Butthenoisealonewasenoughtotakehisbreathawayforafewseconds.Air,sand,dust,branches,leavesandotherobjectsweretornawayatafantasticvelocity.Athousanddevilsseemedtobefanningtheatmospherewiththeirhotbreath,drivingitintofurioustossingandturning.Anapocalypticorchestrahadcomeonstagetoplayahellishconcertrangingfromshriekingcrescendotomutedthunder.
EversonpulledMurgutclosetohim.“Whereisthevillage?”heshouted.Hisvoicewastornawayandlostintheragingstorm.
TheGreenbroughthisugly,basket-shapedheadclosetoEverson’sface.Forabriefmomentthe.spacemanthoughthesawthebrowneyessparkle.
“Whereisthevillage?”Eversonrepeated.
ThistimeMurguthadunderstood.Hisfour-fingeredhandpointedinthedirectionalongwhichtheyhadalreadybeenmoving.
“Areyousure?”Eversonshouted,hisfaceredintheexertion.
TheGreennodded.Eversonletgoofhimandtheyworkedtheirwayonwards.
“Sir,”cameavoiceinEverson’shelmetloudspeaker.“GoldsteinhereaboardtheMexico.”
“Everything’salrighthere,”saidthecolonel.“We’reonourwaytothevillage.Murgutknowshiswayfromhere.”
“Ihavesomenewsforyou,”saidthemutantHisvoicewassolowthatEversoncouldunderstandhimonlywithdifficulty.“Dr.LewellynthinksthatIshouldtellyou.”
“Thenspeak,”Eversonordered.
“OnceMurgutlefttheship,Iwasabletopickupweakimpulsesagain,”thetelepathstated.
Everson’sbootskickedupthesand.Butofcourse,hethought.“It’sthenatives,Sammy,”hesaid.“Evidentlytheygiveoffsomesortofmentalradiationthathasanegativeeffectonparapsychologicalabilities.Theydon’tseemawareoftheirgift,though.Themorethereareofthemandtheclosertheyaretoyou,theweakeryourparanormalpowerbecomes.”
Goldstein’sanswerbetrayedconsiderableexcitement.“Dr.Lewellynisofthesameopinion.Hewantstoworkoutwiththehelpofthetwopsycho-techniciansadefencescreenthatwillprotectmefrommentalpressure.”
“Good,”Eversonagreed.“Tellthemtohurry.”
AthoughtshotthroughEverson’smind.Hecametoaninvoluntarystop.Thestormtookadvantageoftheopportunityforafrontalassault.ThegustvirtuallyblewEversonoffhisfeet.HefellagainstWeiss,whowasknockedtothegroundbytheimpact.ThenMortoncameupandhelpedthemtotheirfeet.Murgut
stoppedandwaited.
Whentheycouldproceed,thethoughtinEverson’smindhadsolidifiedalmostintocertainty.
IfGoldstein’sparapsychologicalpowersufferedfromthedisturbingradiationemanatingfromtheGreens,thenthemoleculartransformitesmustbesimilarlyaffected.Whatcouldhavebeenmorenaturalthanforthemtowithdrawintothedeserttoretaintheirpowersafterhavingencounteredtheunforeseendanger?
IftherewereshapechangersonMoluk,thentheyweretobefoundintheplanet’sendlessreachesofsand.
Butthedesertswereevilembodied!
Eversonshudderedatthethought.
Evenso,hethought.TherewasonEarthaproudandlonelyman-PerryRhodan-whoriskedeverystruggleformankind.Nowhewascountingonsupport;nowheurgentlyneededanyhelphecouldfind.
If,intheheat-bathedexpansesofMoluk,alliesformankindweretobefound,thenhewouldfindthem.SoEversonswore.
Someoneshookhim.ItwasMurgut.Thebirdcreaturepointedahead.
Itwasthevillage!
Althoughhecouldmakeoutonlytheoutlinesofthebuildings,thecommanderfeltrelieved.Now,astheywentdownthehill,thehurricanehadlostsomeofitsforce.Withaswiftmotionofhishand,Eversonreassuredhimselfthathisparalyserwasstillinitsplace.Hedidnotcarefortheideaofbeingunexpectedlypiercedbyanarrow.ThoughMurguthadassuredhimtherewasnodangerofthat,thecolonelwasstillsceptical.ThepurposeoftheexpeditionwastoaskotherGreensaboutthedesertandthestrangeeventsofwhichMurguthadspokenearlier.
TheyreachedthefirstbuildingandEversonregrettedthatinthetwilighthecouldnotseeallthedetails.Doorsandwindowsweresealedupwithplatestokeepoutthesand.Narrowstreets,throughwhichbushesandtrashwereblown,
snakedbetweenthehouses.Alllifeseemedtobeextinct.ThespacetravellerscouldimaginethattheGreenshadretiredtowaitoutthestorminsafety.Theglobularstructuresgaveamassiveimpression,althoughtheyresembledcavesmorethanadvancedformsofshelter.
Murgutledthemalongthestreetuntilhefinallystoppedinfrontofoneofthe‘igloos’.EversonwonderedsilentlyhowtheGreencouldtellthehousesapart-tohimtheyalllookedalike.Throughslitsinthedoorsandwindowscameflickeringlightofvaryingintensitythatshowedthenativesneithermadeuseofnorwerefamiliarwithelectricity.
Murgutmotionedforthethreementowait,thenslippedsuddenlyintothehouse.Eversonriskedopeninghishelmetbutheheardonlythewindsingingitscomplainingsongbetweentheigloos.Theairwashotanddry.Eversonfeltsandgratingbetweenhisteeth.
Whenhehadclosedtheviewpateofhishelmetoncemore,Murgutcameback.HewaitedfortheTerranstofollowhimintothehouse.
“Poul,”Eversonsaid,“waitoutsideuntilIcomegetyou.IfI’mnotbackinthreeminutes,somethingwillbewrong.”
HenoddedtoMortonandtheyfollowedthebirdcreature.Weissremainedbehind,alostphantominthemidstofanalienworldthathadgreeteditsvisitorswithhostilityandthreateningmysteries.
Eversonandthedoctorcameintoaroominwhichwassogloomytheycouldhardlyseemorethantwometersahead.Openlights,filledwithaburningsubstance,hunginarowaroundthewalls,throwingsurrealreflectionsontheground.Eversonrealizedthathehadnochoicebuttoopenhishelmetagain.
Apenetratingstenchhithisnostrilsfullforce.Hecoughedandforcedhimselftobreathemoreslowly.NowhesawthattheroomwasfilledwithGreens.Theycrouchedatthewalls,theirfrozenfacesstaringatthemen.Thecommanderfeltasthoughhewerepresentataseance.
“I’dbereadytotradeplaceswithLewellyn,”Dr.Mortoncommentedacidly.“Thecauseofthisterriblesmellwouldprobablypresentaseriousproblemtohissensitivityforcleanliness.”Thenhewasforcedtocough.
“Myfriendsbidyouwelcome,”Murgutsaid.“Theyregrettherocketattackandarereadytomakeupforit.TheindividualsassembledheremakeuptheReproductionCouncilofthecity.”
Eversondecideditwouldbebesttorememberthathewasaguestbeforeheturnedhisthoughtsinearnesttotheterm‘ReproductionCouncil’.Inanyevent,theywerefacingtherulingclassoftheGreens.
“CallPoulinhere,”hetoldthedoctor.
JudgingfromthespeedwithwhichDr.Mortonproceededtofollowhisorder,thedoctormusthavebeenhappytobeabletoescapethestenchforafewmoments.WhenhecamebackwithWeiss,therewasamischievousgrinonhisfacethatincreasedwhenthebiologistopenedhishelmet.
Weisssniffedcautiously.Then,whenMorton’ssmilefaded,hisfacetookonaradiantexpression.
“Aaah,”besighed.“Whatalovelyaroma!”
“Doyoureallythinkso?”demandedthedoctor.
Weissraisedhisarmsdefensively,asthoughhissenseofsmellwassomehowthreatenedbyDr.Morton’srumblingvoice.Heextendedhisheadfarforwardandsuckedinthestiflingairasthoughitwereanelixir.
EversonbroughtWeiss’theatretoanendbyturningtotheassembledGreens.“Wecomefromthe…”
Hefaltered,fortheGreenwordforstarswasunknowntohim,assumingtherewasoneatall.Murgutcametohisaidwithalong-windedexplanation.
“Ourhomelandisfaraway:sofarawaythatyouarehardlyabletoimaginesuchadistance.Wehaveamissionandwearehopingforyourhelptoaccomplishit:wewouldliketoputtogetheranexpeditiontogooutintothedesert.”
Anuncannystillnessdescendedontheroomwithhislastwords.EverymovementoftheGreensdied.
“Evilembodied,”saidMurgutafterawhile.“Youwillneverfindanyonetoaccompanyyou.”
AnotherGreenhadstoodupandcomebeforeEverson.HewasolderthanMurgut,andthecoloneljudgedfromtherespectfulwhisperingthataccompaniedhisactionthatthismustbealeader.TheoldGreenlookedquestioninglyatEverson.
“Therewasonceatimeinwhichyoucouldhavefoundsupport,”croakedthedescendentofaraceofbirds,“Butthatwasalongtimeago.Thelandofsandisdangerousandbringsdeath.Unholythingshappenthere.Anyonewhogoesveryfarfromthevillageonthehuntwilldie.”Hestampedhishornyfoottoemphasizehisword.
“Wehavepowerfulweapons,”saidEverson.“Thereisnoforcethatwecan’tturnback.Youneedhavenofear.Wepromisethatallwhocomewithuswillreturntothevillage.”
“Evilembodiedisnottobedefeated,”statedtheGreencategorically.
AmurmurofagreementarosefromtheassembledGreens.Eversonfeltagrowingsenseofbitterness.Withoutthelifeboatshewasforcedtogooutintothedesertonfoot.Forthathewouldurgentlyneedthehelpofanativeguide.HehadseenforhimselfduringthesandstormthatonlyMurguthadknownwhichwaytogo.Besides,itwasquestionablewhetherthelocationdeviceswouldstillfunctionproperlyduringastorm.
Hetriedagain.“Wewillmakeyougifts.Wewillbringyoueternallight,anddeadlythunderandlightningforthehunt.”
“Corpsescanhuntnomore,”theoldGreenanswered,hislogicirrefutable,andwithdrew.Hisanswerhadbeenfinal.
“It’suseless,”Weisssaid.“We’llneverbeabletoconvincethem,sir.Atleast,notwithoutforce.”
“Ihavenointentionwhatsoeverofusingforcehere,”thecolonelassuredhim.
“IknowaGreenwhowouldperhapsgowithyou,”saidMurgut.Hehesitatedandlookeduncertainlybackathisfellows.“WillIgetoneofyourpresentsifI
bringhimtoyou?”
“Good,”saidEverson.“Youwillberewardedifyouhelpus.”
“Evilembodiedwilldestroyyou,Murgut,forthistemptation,”awarningvoicecamefromoutofthefumes.
“We’dbetterhurry,”urgedDr.Morton.“Otherwisethesebabblerswilltalkourfriendoutofitagain.”
MurgutledthembackoutontothestreetThestormhadsubsided.
TheprospectofreceivingagiftseemedtospurtheGreenon,forhislonglegstooksuchwidestepsthatthespacetravellerscouldkeepstepwithhimonlywithdifficulty.Thesun,previouslyallbutcompletelyblockedbycloudsofdust,nowshonedownwithunmoderatedeffectontheland.Eversonsawwithaglanceathisexteriorthermometerthatthetemperaturehadalreadyclimbedtoover40°.
AttheedgeofthevillagemostdistantfromtheMexico,themendiscoveredforthefirstimelongstructuresthatincontrasttothehousesandresidentialbuildingslookedmodern.
“Thoseareourfactoriesandbreedinghalls,”Murgutsaid,replyingreadilytothecommander’squestion.
Hissing,droningandstampingcouldbeheard.Bluesteamswelledfromopeningsintheroofs.
“We’reexperimentingwithheatedair,”explainedMurgutproudly.“Incompressedformitcanbeusedformanypurposes.”
“They’reintheprocessofinventingthesteamengine,”saidWeiss,astonished.“Judgingfromthenoises,theirfirstmodelsarebynomeansinferiortothoseofJamesWatt.”
Anexplosionrenderedthemsilent.
“Often,”saidMurgutresignedly,“therearesetbacks.”
EversonpicturedtohimselfagroupofdisappointedGreensnowstanding
aroundthedemolishedresultoflongwork.Nevertheless,theywouldtryagain,justasthehumanracehadalwaystriedagain.Thedevelopmentofaracewasdependentonthedifficultiesithadtostruggleagainst,whetherintheinventionofasteamengineorindevelopinghighlyadvancedspacetravel.
Behindthefactoriesstretchedasortofplantation.SeveralGreenswereatworkinthefields.Offtoonesideofthefarmingareastoodasingle,partiallycaved-inigloo.Itdidnotshinewiththeradiantwhiteoftheotherbuildings.
“Thereitis,”saidMurgut.“TherelivesNpln.”
“Napoleon!”Dr.Mortoninterrupted.“Hisnamelivesonevenontheedgeofthegalacticcentre.”
SomewhereinthepasttherehadbeenanancestorofDr.Morton’sinwhoseveinsflowedthebloodofFrenchkings.Thedoctor’spassionforreferringtothatateveryavailableopportunitystoppedatnothing.Helookedatthetumbledownhutwithaninnerrapture,asthoughitwerethepalaceofLouisXIV.
Theyranalonganarrowpathpastthefields.TheGreensdroppedtheirworkandstaredoveratthem.Murgutwavedreassuringly.
Whentheyreachedthehomeof‘Napoleon’,Murguthadthemwaitoutside.“Nplnisaquarrelsomeandcantankerousoldfellow,”hesaidapologetically.“Hesleepsmostofthetime.Whensomeonedisturbshim,hebecomeshostile.I’llpreparehimforyourvisit.”
“Doyouthinkthattheoldcootthatallegedlylivesherecanhelpus,sir?”WeissaskedEversonirritably.“Withallduerespecttohishigh-soundingname”-abrief,ironicsideglancewenttoDr.Morton-“I’minsteadoftheopinionwe’llhardlyfindanyhelphere.”
Beforethecolonelcouldanswer,Murgutwasback.“He’sinabadmood,”hesaid,depressed.“Ihadtopromisehimmanygiftsforhimtoreceiveyou.”
EversonthoughtinamusementthatMurgutcouldhavesurvivedandevenprosperedinanArabianstreet-market.
Theyenteredthehutthroughadoorwhoseframewasbroken.Abrieftimewentbybeforetheireyesadjustedtothehalf-lightintheinterior.Eversonnoted
thankfullythatthestenchwaslessherethanintheotherbuilding.
Nplncrouchedinacorneroftheroom.
Itisnoteasyforamemberofanalienrace.toestimateanative’sagebuttheGreensittingonthegroundinfrontofhimwasold.Hisgreenskinwaswrinkledandshrivelled.Hewassothinthatheremindedoneofawirefigurewrappedinpaper.Hisfacewaswitheredandsunken;hiseyes,darkascoal,sparkledfromdeepcaverns.
Encounteringbeingsofasorthehadneverbeforeseennorheardofdidnotseemtoimpresshimatall.“They’reugly,”hesaidgrumblinglytoMurgut.“Fatanduglycreatures.Especiallythatonethere.”
AthinarmpointedoutDr.Morton,whoatthatmomentwouldhavegladlyexchangedhisFrenchroyalbloodwiththatofanIrishfreedomfighter.
“Wearedeeplysorrythatourexternalappearancecausesyoudispleasure,Napoleon,”Eversonsaid,“butbountifulgiftswillcompensateyouforthestrainofhavingtolookatus.”
Napoleongurgled-butwhethersatisfiedordissatisfied,whocouldsay?
Eversondrewupontheoldestofallpsychologicaltricks,onethatwasevennowthemosteffective:heplayeduptotheGreen’svanity.“Wehavecometothebravestmaninthevillagetobeseechhishelp,”hesaid.“Yourexperienceishighlyregardedeverywhere.”
“Theyallhateme,”croakedNapoleonbitterly.“I’maninconveniencetothem,afoolisholdmanwhoisn’tgoodforanythinganymore!”
“We’relookingforaguideforanexpeditionintothedesert,”saidEversonfrankly.“Noonehasthecourage,toaccompanyus.Howaboutyou,myfriend?”
Theoldnativeletoutashrillwhistle.Helookedatthemcraftily.“Evilembodied!”hewhisperedcunningly.“OnlyIdaregoout.Iknowthatland.Strangethingshappenthere.Deepintheinteriorthere’satowerinwhichdemonsanddevilslive.”
“Atower?”exclaimedWeissexcitedly.“Whatdoesitlooklike?”
Napoleontracedtheshapeofabuildingwithhishand.“Largeandmighty:thestrongesthurricanedoesn’taffectitatall,”hesaid.
“Canyoutakeusthere?”Eversonaskedslowly.
~You’llhavetocarryme,”saidNapoleon.“I’mtooweaktogolongdistancesbymyself.ThenI’llguideyoutoeveryplaceinthishell.”
Eversonfeltsomeonetuggingatthearmofhisspacesuit.HeturnedtolookinMurgut’sfear-filledface.
“CanIhavethepresentsbeforethisundertakingbegins?”theGreeninquiredworriedly.
Itwasnothardtounderstandthatquestion.MurgutwasconvincedthatNapoleonwouldleadthemenintothedesert.
Butnotoutagain!
4/EVILEMBODIED
Onallplanets,endlessdesertsandvastseashaveadangeroussimilarity:anygivenplacelookslikeanother.Therearenoreferencepointsatground-levelbywhichonecanorientoneself.
Evenduringtheearlierperiodoftheirdevelopment,menhadsolvedtheprobleminanobviousmanner:caravansandsailingshipsreckonedtheirpositionbydayaccordingtothepositionofthesunandbynighttheconstellationsservedasreferencepoints.
Napoleonhadneverheardanythingofsuchmethodsbutheseemedtohavesomespecialconceptionofhowtocrossunknownregions.
BellingerhadmaintainedthattheGreencouldsmellthedirectionbutacloserobservationofNapoleon’satrophiedolfactoryorgansshowedthatthisideadidnotcomeespeciallynearthetruth.
Col.MarcusEversonhadselected30men,andjustthreehoursbeforethepartyhadstartedoutunderhiscommand.WaltScoobeywasinauthorityonboardtheMexicoforthedurationofEverson’sabsence.Takingintoconsiderationallsafetymeasures,theFirstOfficerwastocontinuewiththerepairworkasquicklyaspossibleandhaveitcompletedbyEverson’sreturn.Theexpeditioncarriedampleradioequipmentalongsothatcontactcouldbemadewiththespaceshipatanytime.Allthespacemenwereheavilyarmedandworespacesuits.
TworobotscarriedNapoleononalitterespeciallypreparedforthispurpose.Thepeculiartroikaformedthepointofthegroup.Thecolonelhadseentoitthatalargesupplyoffoodconcentrates,watercapsulesandvitamintabletswerecarriedalong.Dr.Mortonwasawalkingmed-station.
Theweatherwasexceptionallycalmbylocalstandards.Itwasstillearlyinthemorningandthetemperatureswerestillbearable.
AccordingtoNapoleon’sclaims,theywouldrequirethreeMolukdaysandnightstoreachthemysterioustower.Differentopinionshadbeenairedconcerningthematter.Beforethepartystartedout,ScoobeyhadremarkedthatthestructureprobablyexistedonlyintheoldGreen’sfantasies.
Eversonhadlistenedtoallobjectionsbuthewouldnotbeswayedfromcarryingouthisplans.
Theywerenowgoingalongtheridgeofalongdunewhichlookednodifferentfromthecountlessothersthathadprecededit.EversonwalkedwithWeiss,BellingerandGoldsteinbehindtherobotsandNapoleon.IntherearwereSternal,LandiandDr.Morton.
GoldsteincameuptoEverson’sside.“Sir!ThefartherawaywegetfromtheMexico,thebetterIcanperceivementalimpulses.”
“Remember,too,thatwe’regettingfartherawayfromthenativevillageatthesametime.TheGreens’mentalforceisweakeningwithdistance.”
“Strange,”murmuredthehumanthoughtfully.“RememberwhatMurgutdidtomeinthisconnection?Napoleonhasnoeffectwhatsoeveronmypowers.”
“Hmm,”thecolonelclearedhisthroat.“Perhapsheistoooldandnolonger
hasthesamestrengthastheotherGreens.”
Acryintheirhelmetloudspeakersbrokeofftheconversation.Theystopped.Pentsteventheastronomercamerunningtowardsthem.Smallcloudletsofdustwhirledathissteps.Theyoungman’sfacewaspaleandnoteventheviewingplatecouldhidethepaleness.
“Ourgreenhorn,”murmuredWeisscontemptuously.“Nodoubthe’sgotsandinhisshoesanddoesn’tknowhowtogetitout.”
PentstevenstoppedbeforeEverson.Hewasgaspingforbreathandhiswordscameinbursts.“Thetrackingbeamreceiverisgone!”
ThedeviceservedtopickuptheguidingbeamemittedfromtheMexico.Theimpulseswereregisteredandofferedagoodmeansoforientation.Theastronomer’staskhadbeentocarrytheapparatus.
“What?”Eversonexclaimed.“Whatareyousaying?”
“Itdisappeared!”Pentstevenbabbled.
“Youmeanyoulostit!”saidEversonsharply.“Thinkaboutitcarefully,youngman.Yournegligencedoesn’tpleaseme.”
WithanunhappyexpressiontheastronomerturnedtoWeissbutthebiologistofferedhimnosupport.
“Sir,I’msureitwasstillthereafewminutesago.Iwasconstantlycheckingtheitemshangingfrommybelt.ThenIfelttheweightofthedevicevanish.WhenIlookedtosee,itwasgone.”
“Areyoutryingtomakeusbelieveinmiracles?”askedthecommander.“Nonsenseisbadenoughbutwhensomeonetriestoexcusehimselfwithlies,heisnotworthyofthestandardaspacefaringcitizenoftheSolarImperiumshouldliveupto.”
“Whathappened?”Napoleonbrokein.HehadbeengivenaloudspeakerandamicrophonetohangaroundhisnecksothatthespacetravellerswouldnotbecontinuallyrequiredtoopentheirhelmetswhentheywantedtospeakwiththeGreen.
Eversongavehimabriefexplanation.
“Thedesertdemonshavestolenthedevice,”theoldonemaintained.“Themanisinnocent.”
EversonwasnotinclinedtolendanycredencetoNapoleon’sfoolishtalk.“Gobacktoyourplace,”hetoldPentsteven.“Ihadagoodmindtosendyoubacktotheshipaltogether.”
“Yessir,”murmuredPentstevenalmostinaudibly.
“Let’sgoon,”orderedthecolonel.HebelievedneitherPentstevennorthenative-atleastnotuntilthematterofEdwardBellingertookplace.
EdwardBellingerstood1.97meterstallandweighed220pounds.Hemovedhisbodywiththegraceofamolewhomunfortunatefatehadledoutontoamirror-smoothsheetofice.InthePhys-EdclassesattheSpaceAcademy,Bellingerhadplayedaleadingroleinboxingandweight-liftingbuthadalwayscomeoutthebottommaninjudo.
AcharacterstudyofBellinger’sfacewasdoomedtofailureinadvancebecausehecouldtightenatwillhisfattycushioning,orwrinkleit,letithangandpullitin.Bellingerhaddevelopedhisunusualtalenttoagenuineskillwhichhadmanyimitatorsbutneveraseriousrival.Bytheageof36,thelieutenantwasabletomovehisearsata30°angle.
WithinBellinger’scircleofacquaintancestherewererumoursthathewasnottrainingtoformabstractfigureswithhisartfullystyledcurlyhairbythemusicofanIndiansnake~charmer’sflute.TheonlyquestionwaswherehecouldgetsuchaninstrumentonMoluk.
Hadthelieutenantlearnedofthesesuspicions,hewouldnothavebeenmarchingthroughthesandsoforth-rightlynexttohiscommander,thetelepath,andWeiss.
Thesun,standinghighinthesky,reflectedinthesmooth,polishedbacksof
thetworobots,andonlytheirfilterspreventedthemenfrombeingbotheredbythelightreflections.ForBellingeritwasthesameasaninsultforaspacetravellertogowalkingthroughthedesertonfoot.Why,hewondered,wastherenoQuadaboardtheMexico?
Suddenly,asthebloodseemedtofreezeinhisveins,Lt.EdwardBellingerwatchedashiscompanionsallbecameconsiderablylarger.Hisbreathfalteredandchokingfeargrippedathisthroat.
Theprocesscontinued.Therobots,theGreen,Everson,Weissandalltheothersbegantogrowandexpand.
Bellingerwantedtocryoutbuthischokedthroatwouldnotpermithim.Hethoughthewasgoingcrazy.Hisbrainwasahammeringmassofunclearthoughtsthatrefusedtoaccepttheterriblethingthatwashappeningtohim.
Itbecameunconsciouslycleartohimthatthenoisehewashearingcamefromtheshoutsofthespacemensurroundinghim.Forthelieutenanttheyhadbecomethunderinggiants,behemothsandcolossi.Eventhegrainsofsandweregettinglarger.
Icy,paralysingterrorgrewupinBellinger.Heheardhimselfsobbinglikeachild.Hewaitedtofalloverthebrinkintotheabyssofmadnessatanymoment;heevenhopedthathewould,forhesawinithissolehopeofsalvation.
Buthedidnotgomad.Instead,herealizedwhathadactuallyhappened.
Theothershadnotgrown.
Onlyhehadchanged.
Hehadshrunktothesizeofamidget!
Hedidnotaskhimselfhowsuchathingcouldhappen.Historturedbrainknewonlyonequestion:howcouldhequicklyregainhisnormalsize?Ifonlyhecouldunderstandtheothers!Buttheirwordssoundedliketherumblingofathunderstorm.Theirfacesweregiganticgrimacesfarabovehim.
Hewasnowsosmallthathehadfearofbeingtrampled.
Inthesandinfrontofhim,hespottedasmallhole.Acave!Herantowardit,betweenthelegsofthemen.Heforcedhimselfintothenarrowopening.Itgrewdarkandhehadtoswitchonhislamp,whichlikeeverythingelsehadalsobecomesmaller.
Theshineofthelightshowedhimveryquicklythathisflighthadtakenhimstraightintothearmsofanewdanger.
Theburrowwasinhabited!
Abrown-furredmonsterattackedhim.
Flashingcanineteethappearedintheglareofthelight,thenracedtowardBellinger.Anangrygrowlcouldbeheardeventhroughthehelmet.Thelieutenantforgothisweapons.Desperately,hethrewhimselftotheside.Thebiteoftheburrow-dwellersnappedonemptyair.Evenso,theimpactofitsbodywasenoughtobowlBellingerover.Hefellwithhisbackagainstasharpstonethatcertainlywouldhaveseemedverytinytoanormalman.Thepainbroadenedoutfromhisbacktohiskidneyregion.Buthehadnotimetothinkaboutit.
Hisenemysettoarenewedattack.
Bellingerrolledawayovertheground.Aclawrakedhisarmandrippedthespacesuit.Thespotlightfelltotheground.Glassbroke.Itbecamedark.Bellinger’sbreathcameingasps.Hequicklyopenedhishelmetsothathecouldatleasthearhisadversary.Hewasabletodeterminehispositionmorequicklythanhewouldhaveliked.
Theanimalwasdirectlybehindthelieutenant
Bellingerknewthathehadnotimeforanotherdodge.Thecreaturesprangandknockedthemandown.Bellinger’sarmsreachedoutinthedarknessandgraspedbristlyfur.Anangryhissingpenetratedtheopenhelmet.Bestialbreathstruckhim.
Bellinger’sglovedhandshadreachedthatpointonhisopponent’sbodywherehefelttheneckshouldbe.Withallthestrengthleftinhisover-taxedbody,hesqueezed.Thenhefelthimselfgrowingnauseous.Blackcirclesdancedinfrontofhiseyes.Somethinglayonhischest,threateningtochokehim.
It’sallover,thoughtBellinger.Thenunconsciousnessovertookhimandwrappedhiminoblivion.
Eversonwasthefirsttoovercomehisparalysis.Theunbelievabilityofwhathadhappenedhadlefthimalmostinatrance.Infrontofeveryeye,Lt.Bellingerhadshrunkuntilhewasonly15centimetreshigh;thenhehadvanishedintotheground.
“Quick!”orderedthecolonel.“Startdiggingupthesand.Careful-wedon’twanttoinjurehim.”
Theyfelltotheirkneesandscoopedtheearthawaywiththeirgloves.Eversonfeltsomethingsoftunderhishands.Gentlyhebrushedthesandaway.Thenhehadexposedit.Hisstomachturned.
“Ohmystarsandlittlecomets!”groanedWeiss,crouchingnexttohim.“Arat!”
Theylookedateachother,andtheirfaceswerefilledwithanalmostinsanefear.
Eversonthrewthedeadanimalaway.
“There,sir!”exclaimedafear-struckvoice.
Sternalhelpedhimtohisfeetandpointedoutinthedesert20metersawaylayamotionlessfigure.
Itwas.Lt.EdwardBellinger.
Innormalsize.
“Evilembodied!”shriekedNpln.
5/WHIRLWINDSINISTER
IntheSpaceAcademyofTerrania,trainingwasarigorousbusiness.Andthatwasagoodthing.Here,men-andmorerarely,women-werepreparedforlifeinouterspace.Theywereshownwithallvividnesswhatwaswaitingforthemoutthere.Onlythetoughest,bravestandstrongestpersonswithstoodtheexaminations.Anindividualhadtolearntodisengagehimselffromconventionalmodesofthinking,forthethingsthathappenedbetweenthestarscouldnotalwaysbecopedwithwhenregardedinanEarthboundframeofmind.Onlyaflexiblemindthatcouldgrapplewithnewideasandconcepts-negativeorpositive-couldholdup.
ThemenwhowerenowrunningthroughthedeserttowardsBellingerhadonlytheirtrainingtothankthattheycouldstillformclear,reasonabledecisions.
Thelieutenanthadopenedhiseyesandwastryingtogrin.Hissuitwastorninanumberofplaces,hanginginshredsandtattersfromhischest.Theheavyuniformshirtbeneathhadremainedundamaged.
TogetherwithDr.Morton,Eversonraisedthewoundedman.Bellingermoanedsoftly.Sternalbroughtupanextraspacesuit.
“Bruisesandscratches,”saidDr.Mortonafterabriefexamination.“Slightnervousshock.”
“Nonsense,”Bellingerpuffedindignantly.“I’llbealright.”
Theyhelpedhimintothenewsuit.HerefusedtohecarriedonthestretchernexttoNapoleonbutwhenhestumbledafterafewsteps,hereluctantlyallowedtherobotstopickhimup.TheoldGreendidnotseemespeciallyenthusiasticaboutsharinghisspaceandgreetedBellingerwithsomegrudgingremarks.
“Well,”saidWeissafterthelieutenanthadbeentakencareof,whatnow?”
Eversoninstinctivelyraisedhishandtowipehisbrow.HisfingertipscollidedwithhishelmetForafewmomentshefeltanurgentdesiretopinchhisarmtoseeifitwerenotalladream.Hismouthwasdryandhefeltaheadachecomingon.
“Nooneisgoingtosaywe’veallbeensufferingfromahallucination,”he
beganlowly.“Edward’sconditionisclearenough.Eachofuswasabletoseehowthismanrapidlyshrankwithinamatterofseconds.Theshrinkingproceededinaproportionalmanner,whichistosaythateachpartofthebodywasaffectedinthesameway.EvenBellinger’sequipmentwasaffected.Thestabilityofamolecularstructureisconstantbutonlyinarelativesense.Amoleculararrangementcanbecompressedorpulledapartbutthesystemwillremainthesame.Perhapsitcanbestbeexplainedbycomparingittophotography.Youcantakeatinypictureofamanandblowitupintoanenlargementthatshowsthefigureinthesamematerialsubstance.”Hesmiledweakly.“Ihavegiganticsize.Andyetbothphotosshowthesamebody,thesamematerialsubstance.”Hesmiledweakly.“Ihavenointentionoftryingtoexplainthisunbelievableevent.EverymanwhowitnessedMataarsabilitiesontheguppysometimeagowillagreewithmethatamoleculartransformiteisn’thinderedintheleastbythestabilityofamolecularstructure.Thesebeingsareabletoalterorreformanyarrangementofmoleculesastheydesire.Thispowerwouldseemtobepracticallyunlimited,exceptthatwecanassumewithcertaintythatevenamoleculartransformitehashislimits.”
“Soyouthinkthatsuchbeingsarearoundheresomewhere,sir?”askedLandi,thecommunicator.
“Allthesignspointtoit,”Eversonanswered.“MyguessisthatMataarscompatriotsaretryingtomaketheirpresenceknownbywayofwhathappened.Perhapsitwasawarning.Whoknows?Noneofushasbeenkilledsofar;whilethatdoesn’tguaranteethattheirintentionsarepeaceful,itdoesshowthattheyarewillingtoacceptourpresencetoacertainextentLet’shopewe’llsoonfindoutmoreaboutthem.”
Hewavedandthecolumnstartedoffoncemore.Napoleonpointedoutthedirectioninwhichtheyweretogo.Goldsteinhadstatedthathecouldnotperceiveanyalienthought-patterns.
IntheeveningEversonhadthegroupmakeahaltSternalsuggestedthattheyswallowNovaVivotabletsandmarchonbutEversonturnedtherequestdown.Theyhadtobudgettheirstrengthandanartificialstimulationnowmighthavedeleteriouseffectslater.LandimadecontactwiththeMexico.Scoobeyreportedthattherepairworkwasunderwayatfullspeedandwasalreadyshowingresults.MoreGreenshadappearedintheafternoonandsettleddownneartheship.Dr.Lewellynsaidthatinhisopiniontheyfearedthewrathofthedesertdemonsand
weresearchingforprotectionbygoingtothestrangers.Murgut,whohadbeengivenaflashlightasagift,hadremainedinsidetheship.EversondecidednottotellScoobeywhathadhappenedtoBellinger.HedidnotwanttodisturbtheFirstOfficerandthusdrawhimawayfromhiswork.
Aftertheyhadeaten,Eversonhadthetentsputup.Theyweremadeoffeather-lightplasticandwereallbutimpossibletotear.
Napoleonrefusedtosleepinatent.Hedugaholeinthesand,grumblingandswearingattherobots.Therobots,however,hadnotbeenprogrammedforconversingwithGreensanddidnotreply.Shortlythereafter,Napoleoncurledupinhisholeandwenttosleep.
ThatnightahurricaneblewupofsuchproportionsthatanyTerranmeteorologistfacedwithitwouldhaveeithergonemadoratleasthavedecidedtorequestanearlyretirement.
Atfirstitwasonlyawhisper,nolouderthanthegentlesprayofbubblesinafreshly-pouredglassofwine.Thenitsoundedlikethepatteringofuncountablenakedchildren’sfeetacrossastonefloor.Finallyitwasarustle,asthoughsomeoneinthedistancewerestirringupahalf-extinguishedfire.
Eversoncameoutofbissemi-slumberwithajolt.Hereachedforhislampandswitchediton.WeissandGoldstein,whowerespendingthenightwithhim,weresoundasleep.Thecolonellookedathiswatcharidsawthatthenighthadbegunonlytwohoursbefore.Theyhadlaidtheirhelmetsasidebecausetheeveningairhadbeenrefreshinginspiteofitspovertyinoxygen.IthadremindedEversonofhistripstothemountainsduringhisyouth.Now,althoughthesunhadlongset,theairwashumidandoppressive.
Eversonopenedthetentwindowandlookedout.Afloodofhotairstruckhimintheface.Finegrainsofsandprickedhisskin.Nowheknewthesourceoftherustlingnoise.Thewindwasblowingsandalongwithitanditwasstrikingthetentwall.
Thecommandershooktheothermen.“Somethingseemstobebrewingupout
there,”hesaid.“It’dbebestifwepreparedourselvesforit.”
Theunsuspectingcolonelcouldnotknowthatanypreparationwouldbeuselessinthemidstofnatureunleashed.
Theyawakenedallthesleepingmen.Eversoninstructedthemtodoublethetentanchoringandputtheirspacesuitsbackon.
TheonlydifficultywaswithNapoleon.Thenativehadbeenhalf-buriedbysandinhissleepinghole,andWeiss,whohadgoneouttoinformhimofthenewsituation,nearlystumbledoverhim.TheGreenrewardedthebiologistwithcurses,shookhimselflikeadogcorningoutofthewaterandfinallyfollowedWeissbacktothetents,cursingallthewhile.
“Thereseemstobeasandstormcomingon,”EversonsaidintohishelmetmicrophonewhenNapoleonstoodbeforehim.Theoldnativedidnotreact.Eversonrearrangedthehopelessconfusionofmicrophonesandloudspeakersaroundthebirdcreature’sneck,tappedoutthesandandtriedagain.
“Ofcourseit’sasandstorm,”saidNapoleon,irritated.Heraisedhiswitheredbasket-headtestinglytothewind.
“Whatshouldwedo?”askedthespaceman.
Thenativeclickedhisbeakcontemptuously.“Wait,”hesaidcategorically.“whatelse?”
Eversonshrugged.EventhecrankiestoldTerranwouldbeakindlyseniorcitizennexttothiswithered,ancientalien.EitherNapoleonsufferedfromanexcessofbileorhehadahopelesscaseofhardeningofthearteries.Inanyevent,theGreenwasatthemomentnomorethanaquarrelsome,thinoldbagofbonesfromwhichnousefuladvicecouldbeexpected.
“Everybodybackinthetents,”Eversonordered.“Perhapsitwon’tbeasbadaswefear.”
Thewindhadalreadyreachedaconsiderablestrengthandwasstubbornlyshakingthesimpleshelters.Theplasticofthetentsbulgedandstrainedagainstthewind.Thelightsofthespacemenflashedinthedarkness.
WeissandGoldsteinwerealreadyinthetentwhenEversoncrawledbacktohissleepingplace.
“Ihopethefasteningshold,”saidthemutant.“Ijustopenedmyhelmetandtherattlingofthetentwallssoundslikepistolshots.”
Eversoncrossedhisarmsbehindhisheadandstaredupatthepeakedceiling.Alampofferedanirregularlight.
SuddenlyEversonsawthetentroofbeginningtoturn.Thereseemedtobetwogianthandsatworkthatseeminglywantedtotwistthetentlikeawetrag.Thecolonelwasonhisfeetatonce.
“Holdtight,”hecalled.Inthelightofthelamphesawthatthemenweresittingup.ThenthebeginninghurricanehadsodeformedthetentthatitclosedinonEversonfromallsides.Hefelttheforceofthewindthreateningtodemolishhim.Hegrewconfusedinthefoldsoftheplastic.Andthenthethreeofthemhaddugtheirwayfreeofthetent.Thestormbleweverythingwithit.Everson’shands,feelingfordifferentobjects,graspedemptiness.
“Staytogether!”orderedthecolonel,whohadgrowngreyinmanyyearsofservice.
Theairblewwithsuchforcethatitpressedthespacesuitfabricagainsttheskinwhereveritstruckthebodyfully.Eversonswitchedonhislamp.Thelightwasvirtuallyentirelyabsorbedbytheblowingsand,reachingnomorethantwoorthreemeters.TwosuddengustsinrapidsuccessionthrewEversondown.Hedidn’tdaretrytostandupagain.Insteadhecrawledalongonhisknees.Itseemedtohimthatthegroundwasvibratingunderhishands.Weisscrawlednexttohim.Thetelepathhadvanished,evidentlyblownsomedistanceawaybythegustsofwind.Atentcameflyingthroughtheair,hittingEverson’shelmetandalmostrippingitawayfromhishead.Astabbingpainboredintohisneck.Anyfurthermovementwouldbeuseless.Hepressedhimselfflatintothesandanddugforahandhold.
“Everyonestaywhereheis,”hecalledintothemicrophone.Thatwouldcertainlynotbesosimpleforsomemenbuttheorderwouldpreventeveryonefromwanderingaroundsenselesslyinthedarkness,lookingforasafeplace.
ThepainranlikeablazingfirealongEverson’sback.Hehadthefeelingof
lyingonahuge,rotatingdisc.Involuntarilyheletoutacry.Herealizedwithgrowingterrorthathisfeelinghadnotbeenasimplecaseofimagination.
Thegroundwasmoving!
Thecolonelhadnotimetoponderthemeaningofthephenomenon.Hehadhishandsfulltryingtoholdhimselffastandresistthestorm.
“Glord!”someoneshouted.“Theground’sstartingtospin!”
TheincreasingspeedoftherotationproducedacentrifugalforcethattogetherwiththeragingwindwasenoughtosendEversonslidingoverthesandasifitwereasheetofice.Desperatelyhestruggledtofindahandhold.Aseparatedpieceofthedesertwaswhirlingaboutlikeatopandonitssurface30menslidaroundlikeinsectsandfearedtheywerestaringdeathintheface.Eversonhadthethoughtthathispositionwashalfwaybetweentheimaginarymiddleaxisandtheouteredgesofthetop.Soonerorlatertheragingelementswouldinevitablypushhimfartherandfarther‘outwards’.Terrified,thecommanderoftheMexicothoughtofthepossibilitythattheremightbeasuctionforceinvolved,formingaconeintheearthandcarryingeverythingwithit.Thatwouldmeanthattheywerenolongeronthesurfaceofadiscbutontheinnerwallofacone.Eversonknewthatsuchmanifestationswerepossibleonstormyseasbuttheconditionsforsuchthingsdidnotexisthere.Ordidthey?Couldn’tthesameforcesthathadplayedthegrimgamewithBellingerbeatworkheretoo?WeretheinvisiblebeingsnowfinallystrikingtodestroytheaudaciousEarthmen?
Hewouldfindnoanswerinthishowlingchaos.Hewouldhavealreadychokedtodeathwithouthisspacesuit.Ifhewerereallyontheinnerwallofasandcone,thenhewouldbedrawninslowspiralstowardsthebottom,middlecoreofthesectionandthenexpelled.Hisbodywasnowbathinginsand.Thepaininhisneckhadsubsidedtoadullpressurewhichincreasedtoastabbingviolenceatregularintervals.Althoughhewasnomorethanahelplessplaythingofnatureunleashed,hefoughtonunflagginglyagainstitssuperiorforce.Helostallsenseoftime.Therewasarushinginhisears,soundingasthoughbewerestandingunderawaterfall.Histeethweresotightlyclenchedthattheyhurt.Ahardobjectstruckagainsthisshoulder.Hereachedforitandsucceededintakingholdofthething.Itwasprobablypartoftheequipmentandhadbeensweptacrossthegroundbythewinduntilithithim.Eversonwasnolongerayoungmanandtheuninterruptedexertionwastiringhimoutconsiderably.Heclutched
theangularboxasthoughhecouldobtainstrengthfromit.Then,unexpectedly,somethingstruckhishelmet.Colouredflashesblitzedinfrontofhiseyes.Hishandsopened.Henoticedthathewasbeingdrivenoneverfaster,thenhefellintoabottomlessblackness.
Abuxomwomanwasbusyfoldingwhitewashcloths.
Shediditwithgreatcareandherhandswerecontinuallysmoothingoutthefabric.
“He’scomingto,”saidavoice.
MarcusEversonopenedhiseyes.Abrightlightblindedhim.ThewomanchangedintoDr.Morton,whowasbusypreparingbandagesandmeanwhilewasungentlyproddingthecolonel.Afterseveraltries,Eversonaccustomedhimselftothesunandcouldholdhiseyesopen.
Hewaslyinginthesand.Aroundhimwerestanding,lyingorsittingtheothermembersoftheexpedition.Theirspacesuitsmadeashabbyimpression.Eversontoldhimselfthatheprobablydidnotlookmuchbetter.Heraisedhishead,thencheckedthemovementatoncebecauseapenetratingpainranthroughhisneck.Slowly,hismemoryreturned.
Oncemore,thistimewithgreatercare,Eversonsatup.
Theexpeditionorrather,whatwasleftofit-founditselfinabasin-shapeddepressioninthemiddleofthedesert.
“IseverybodyOK?”heaskedwitheffort.
“Exceptfortheinjured,yes,”answeredDr.Morton.“Thetentsandalargeshareoftheequipmentaregone.”
Herolledabandageup.Theviewplateofhishelmetwassodirtythathisbeardedfacewasdifficulttosee.
“Almostallthemedicationsaregone,too,”headded.
Eversonfoundhimselfthinkingofsomeonecomplainingoflosingatoothfillinginthemiddleofanatomicexplosion.
“WhereisNapoleon?”heasked.
Mortonlookedathimsadly.“He’sgone,too,”hesaidmorosely.“SternalandWeisshavebeenlookingforhimbutsofartheyhaven’tbeenabletofindhim.”
Thecolonelwantedtolookathiswatchbutithadbeenavictimofthestorm.Dr.MortonnoticedthedirectionofEverson’sglance.
“It’sbeenlightforanhour,”hesaid.“Themenhavebeenabletograduallycometogetherhereduringthemorning.Wewereinthemiddleofaricelittlewhirlwind…andwelookit.”
Eversonwasusedtothephysician’sroughandinformalstyleanditcouldnotbotherhim.IfMortonwereeverfetchedbytheDevil-andtherecouldbenodoubtthatsuchafateawaitedhim-thenHellitselfwouldfacearevolutionthatwouldshakeittoitsveryfoundations.
Theconditionofthesmallpartywasbadbutitcouldhavebeenmuchworse.Landiwasinvolvedwithcleaningsandoutoftheradio,evidencethattheycouldstillcommunicatewiththeMexico.ButwiththedisappearanceoftheoldGreen,thesearchforthetowerhadbecomeanundertakingthatmadethesolutionofanAztecknotpuzzleseemlikechild’splay.EversonthoughtsuddenlyandvividlyofthirtyantscrawlingaboutthemainavenueofTerrania,hopingtofindanddestroythetrapofanantlion.
Itmatteredlittlewhatdirectiontheychosetotake.Therewerenoreferencepointstoguidethemtothelegendarytower.Theycoulddivideup,spreadingoutfromtheirpresentpositioninastar-likeformation,butthefarthertheywent,thegreaterthedistancebetweenthesinglegroupswouldbe…andthusthedangerofmissingthetoweraltogether.Therewereanynumberofotherpossibilitiesbutnoneseemedespeciallypromising.BecauseEversonwasthekindofmanwhofacedfactssquarely,hetoldhimselfthattheprobabilityoftheirsearchbeingsuccessfulwassoslightthat,mathematicallyexpressed,itwasnomorethanonechanceinamillion.Notevenapositroniconwouldhavegivenamorefavourableresultbecausetheresimplywasnotanypossible.
ThushelimitedhisactivityforthetimebeingtowatchingDr.Mortonbandagingtheinjuredmenandlisteningtothedoctor’sterseexplanations.Theedgesofthehollowinwhichtheyfoundthemselvesweresohighthattheyblockedallviewoftheouterworld.Ineffect,theylayonthebottomofasaladbowl.
“Whatdoesitlooklikeoutsidethishole?”Eversonaskedthedoctor.“Haveyoubeenabletodetermineanythingthatwouldgiveuscluesabouttheshapechangers?”
“I’vebeentoobusyallthistimetoinvestigatethehollow,”Mortonrumbled.“Incidentally,I’veseennothingmoreofthemenwho’veleftthearea.”
Thehollowhadanovalshape,havingadiameterofabout120metersalongthelongaxisand70alongtheshort.Itssidewallsledupthedesertsurfacejustthreemetersabovethehollow’sflooratanangleofroughly30°.Naturally,theedgeswereirregular,butatnopointsolowthatonecouldlookoverthem.
Eversongotup,makinganefforttoholdhisheadsteady.Hewasonlypartlysuccessfulandhesufferedacertainamountofpainasaresult.Atlengthhestoodfullyerect,stillsomewhatbentandstiff,buthemanagedtowalknonetheless.HehobbledovertoLandiandsmiledencouraginglyattheradioman.Eachstepdroveafieryneedleintohisneckfrombelow.Afterhehadgone20meters,itseemedtobe10needles.Eversonwonderedhowhecouldwalkseveralkilometresinsuchastate.HehopedthatDr.Mortonhadapainkillerforhim.Sweatgushedfromeverypore.Buthedidnotgiveupandfinallyreachedaplaceinthehollow’sedgethatseemedlesshighandsteepthanotherplaces.Helethimselfslowlyforwardandcaughthissluggishfallwithhishands.Henowlayparalleltothesandwall-butthatwasall.Lyingherewasonething-climbingupfromherewasanother.Hemovedallhislimbsbuttheonlyresultwasthatthesandslidawayfrombeneaththem,formingasmalldepression.Asusual,Eversonthoughtbitterly,itwasthesimplestofproblemsthatwasrenderinghimhelpless.Hetriedtoclimbwithhisfeetalone,drivingthemintothesandandtryingtopushhimselfup.Whenhehadslidbackafewtimes,herecognizedtheideaforwhatitwas:miserable.Tryingtopullhimselfupbyhishandshadroughlythesameresults.Eversonhoppedlikeagiantfrog…withthedifferencethatafrogwouldhavemovedaheadwhilethecolonelremainedinoneplace.
“I’llsupportyou,”said8voiceinthehelmetreceiver.
EversonturnedhisheadandsawPoulWeissstandingbehindhim.Thebiologistreachedhissidewithathleticskill.
“Usemeasaladder,”saidWeiss,entwininghishandssothatEversoncouldputhisfootintothem.Eversonwaslargeandweighed190pounds.Weissbentsomewhatatthekneeasthecolonelburdenedhimwithhisfullweightplusthatofthespacesuit.Evenso,thatwasstillnothighenoughforEversontohaveafreeviewofthesurroundingterrain.
“Climbonmyshoulders,”Weisssuggested.
Eversonmadeaneffortnottorewardtheman’shelpfulnesswithabotchedattempt.Somehowheworkedhiswayup.Whenhereachedthetop,thepainandexertionhadsoexhaustedhimthathehadtoclosehiseyesforamoment.
“Doyouseesomething,sir?”askedhislivingsupport.
Eversonstaredintothedesert.Atfirsthesawonlysandandflickeringbrightness.Then,asheturnedhisheadalittletotheside,hesawsomethingelse.Heblinkedinconfusionandglancedbackintothehollowinthehopethemiragewouldbegonewhenhelookedatitforasecondtime.Butthatwhichhadbeenseenthefirstimestillstood100metersfromtheircurrentlocation.
WeisswaveredsomewhatandEversonhadtoclingtotheupperedgeofthehollow.
“Doyouseesomething?”Weissrepeatedimpatiently.
“Yes,”Eversonansweredslowly.Andthen,afterasignificantpauseintendedtoimpartthefullscaleofthewondertothebiologist,headdeddrily:“Thetower!”
6/TRAPPEDINTHETOWER
Weissgaveacryofsurprise,nearlythrowingoffhisburdenintheexcitement.
“Careful!”Eversonreminded.
Thetower,whichaccordingtoNapoleon’sclaimshadbeenanothertwodays’marchaway,wastobefounddirectlyinfrontofthem.EithertheoldGreen’sinformationhadbeenwrong,ortheprecedingnight’shurricane-andthatseemedtoEversonthelesslikelyanswer-hadbroughtthemhereinsomemysteriousfashion.
Thebuilding,stretchinghighintothehotmorningskyofMoluknotfarfromthespacemen,wasimpressive.Atfirstglance,itseemedstrangeanduncanny.TherewasnopossibilitythatitcouldhavebeenbuiltbytheGreens.Itrearedabout150metersabovetheground.Ahorizontalcross-section,asfarasEversoncouldsee,wouldhaveshownthatthetowerhad8corners.Constantattacksbystormsandhurricaneshadforceditsomewhattotheside,andcertainlyonlydeep-reaching,stablefoundationskeptitfromtoppling.
Forsometimethatcouldnotbeestimated,wind,sand,heatandcoldhadeatenawayatthetower.Itwascoveredwithagrey-greencoating.Insomeplacestherewerecracksaswideasahandandameterlong.Therewasanairofendlessabandonmentaboutthestructure.ItseemedtoEversonlikethemonumentofalong-forgottengiantwhowantedtoimpresshimselfineradicablyonthememoriesofunknownbeings.Whoeverhadbeenthearchitecthere,hehadnotcomefromMoluk.
Stillhalf-entrancedbytheimpressivesight,Eversonclimbedbackintothehollow.Ifhehadeverseenacuriousface,thenitwasWeiss’.Hechosenottomakeanyprematurecomments.
“Comewithmetotheothers,”hesaidtothebiologist.“Idon’twanttohavetorepeatmyself.”
Weissregisteredhisdisappointmentbykickingthesandbutfollowedhiscommander.Theotherspacemenhadbeenwatchingandwaitedeagerly.
“We’vereachedthetower,”Eversonbeganterselyandreportedbrieflywhathehadseen.
“Whatarewegoingtodonow,sir?”askedBellinger,whohadprobably
sufferedmorethananyoneelsethenightbefore.
“We’llgooverandinvestigatethebuilding.Beforehand,however,wellwanttoseeifMr.LandicanmakecontactwiththeMexico.Wedon’tknowwhat’sinstoreforusandacertainamountofcoveringourrearwon’thurtanything.”
Itwassimpletolistento,lesssimpletoputintopractice.Wasthereanysortofopeningatallthroughwhichonecouldmakeone5wayinsidethetower?Eversonhadnotseenany.Ofcoursetheremightbeadoororotherentrancewayontheotherside.Norwastheremuchtobedoneaboutgettinghelpfromthespaceship.EvenifaftergreatdifficultytheymanagedtomaketheirpositionknowntoScoobey,itwouldstillbealongtimebeforetheFirstOfficercouldarriveonthescenewithanauxiliarysquadofmen.
Nomatterhowonelookedatit,theywerelefttotheirownresources.
“YoucantalkwiththeMexicoanytimenow,”Landiannounced.Hestrokedalmostlovinglythedevice,somepartsofwhichwereheldinplacebyDr.Morton’sbandages.Eversontriedtooverlooktheimprovisation.
“Ihadtofixitalittle,”LandisaidwiththeintrepidityofaSouthSeasislanderwantingtomakehiscanoewatertightwiththeadditionofafewleaves.Besides,itwasradiotechnology’sversionoffraudtospeakloftilyof‘fixing’whenatbestitwasanabortedattempttobringmedicalhelptobearonsomethingthatwasalreadydead.
“Verywell,”thecoloneldecidedwithadistrustfulsideglanceatLandi’swork.“Wewon’?loseanythingbytryingit.”
Despitehisgloomyexpectations,theradiomanmadeaudiocontactwiththeMexicoaftertwominutes.Scoobeyreportedthattheshiphadalsofallenintoabranchofthestormbuthadnotsufferedanydamage.ThetechnicianswereproceedingwellwiththeirworkandtheFirstOfficerbelievedthattherepairswouldtakeonlyafewmoredaystocomplete.Inthisrespect,theirearlypessimismhadnotbeenjustified.
Scoobeyreceivedadetailedreportaboutthestateoftheexpedition.Theradiogavethemenintheshipawaytofindthemifnecessarywithoutanyknownpositioncoördinatesortrackingsignaldevice.
Inconclusionthecolonelsaid:“Thereisnodoubtthereareforcesatworkhereforwhichwearenomatchatallshouldtheyattackusinearnest.Iamgoingtotrytogetintothetowerwithmymen.Perhapswewillfindfurthercluesthere.”
EversonspentthenextfewminutesbeingtreatedbyDr.Morton.Thephysiciantriedtodampenthepainenoughthatthecommandercouldmovenormally.
“Wewillallproceedtothevicinityofthetower,”Eversonsaid,announcinghisnextplans.“Bellinger,Goldstein,Weiss,SternalandIwillseeifwecan’tgetinsideit.We’llarrangewiththeothersaperiodoftimewithinwhichwemustreturn.”
Itseemedthatallthespacemenhadwithstoodtheterriblenightrelativelywell.Sincetheyhelpedoneanother,theyallwereabletoclimboutofthehollow.Withtheappearanceofthehugestructure,Eversonhadtroubleinterruptingtheensuingdiscussion.
Thirtymetersinfrontoftheirgoal,Bellingerstoppedsuddenly.Hepointedatthegroundwithoutstretchedhand.“Tracks,sir,”hesaid.
Eversonpushedhiswaynexttohim.Thelieutenanthadnotbeendeceived.Halfblown-overprintsofbroad,four-toedfeetweretobeseeninthesand.Therewasonlyoneindividualwhocouldhavemadethem:Napoleon!
ButtheGreenhadvanished.Therecouldbenodoubtaboutthedirectionofthetracks:theyledstraighttothemysteriousstructure.HadNapoleonbeenkidnappedorhadhegonethereofhisownfreewill?TheywerequestionswhoseanswersEversondidnotknow.Buthisconfusionwastobeincreasedevenmore.
“Thetower,sir!”criedLandi.
“Whataboutit?”askedthelargeman.
Theradioman’sanswersolvedoneriddle,itwastrue,butatthesametimeposedaninfinitenumberofnewones.Landi’srealizationwassosurprisinglysimple-andbesidesthatsoclearlyobvious-thatEversonwonderedwhynoonehadrealizeditlongbeforethis.
“Thetower,”saidLandi,“isaspaceship.”
Notmuchfantasyorimaginationwasnecessarytoadddetailtothatconclusion:itwasaspaceshipthathadcrashed.Evenifoneassumedthatapartofitwasburiedintheground,itwasstillnoespeciallylargeshipbyTerranstandards.Itwasslightlymorethan40meterswideatitsbase.Thatwasstillnoreasontounderestimatetheshiporitsbuilders.Dangercouldnotbereckonedaccordingtosize.Ifthiswastheemigrants’shipofmoleculartransformitesmentionedinMataal’snotes,thenitssizewasutterlymeaningless.
“You’reright,”saidEversonafterawhile.
Astheycamenearertoit,theymadeoutotherdetails.Theactualouterhullofthealienshipwascoveredwithathinsandycrust.Beneaththegrey-greenlayeremergedablackcolourofvaryingtone.Napoleon’stracksledaroundtheship.Despiteintensivethoughtaboutthematter,EversoncouldnotimaginewhatconnectiontheGreenhadtorecentevents.
Ontheothersidetheycameacrossanopening.Itwasround,itsdiameterjusttwometers,andwaslocatedaboutthelevelofone’skneeabovetheground.Beyondwasdarkness,notevenbrokenbythediagonally-fallingsunlightfarenoughthatonecouldseeanything.
“Canyoumakeoutanymentalimpulsesorthoughtpatterns?”Eversonaskedthemutant.
“No,sir,”answeredGoldstein.“Theredoesn’tseemtobeanyonehere.”
“Myordersareclear,”saidthecolonel.“IfSammy,Sternal,Weiss,thelieutenantandIarenotbackoutsideinanhour,informMr.Scoobeyatonce.Donotfollowusunderanycircumstances.”
Withouthesitating,heswungintotheopening.
Atfirsthethoughtabreathofcoolairhadtouchedhisfacebutthatwashisimaginationforhishelmetwasclosed.HeglancedbackandsawPoulWeissput
hisleginside.
Atthesametime,asuctiongrabbedhimandrippedhimupwards.
Hewhirledheadoverheelslikeapieceofpapercaughtinawarmairshaft.Fortunatelyhedidnotcollidewithanything.Outofpureinstincthishandsreachedoutinthedarknessinthehopeoffindingsomethingtoholdonto.
Naturallyitwasnotsuctionassuchbutacounterpoledforcefieldthatbadcancelledoutgravity.Amagnetictractionpulledhimupwards.Everson,inwhosemindthesethoughtsonlyslowlyformed,knewthattherewerestillotherpossibilities.Therecouldalsobeparamechanicalforcesatwork.Anoppressivefeelinggrippedhischest.Suddenlyhefeltagentlejerkandwaspushedtotheside.Heimmediatelyfeltasolidfloorbeneathhisfeet.Normalgravitationwasagainineffect.
Thecolonelnowfoundhimselfinaroomaboutfourmeterswideandtwicethatlong,illuminatedbyhiddenlightsources.Thewallswereofanundefinedcolourandthefloorandceilingwerewhite.Thespacemanturnedaroundandsawarectangularopeninginthewall,throughwhichhehadprobablycome.TheroomwasentirelyemptyexceptforanoddthingatEverson’sfeet.
Theobjectlookedsomethinglikeacircusperformer’srollingwheel,having2rimsseparatedatchestwidthbysupportingcrossbars.BeforeEversoncouldexamineitmoreclosely,someoneranintohimfrombehind.HegaveastartbutitwasonlyWeiss,whohadcomestumblingoutoftheshaft.
“Well,hereweare,”hesaidunnecessarily.“Afastandcomfortablewayofgettingfromoneplacetoanother,don’tyouthink?”
Eversoncouldnotsharehisenthusiasm.NorwereSternal,BellingerandGoldstein,whocameinrightafteroneanother,veryhappyabouttheirreception,either.
“Snap!”saidBellinger.“Themousetraphasbeentriggered!”
“What’sthat?”askedSternal,pointingtotherollerwheel.
“Itcouldbeanythingatall,”saidthelieutenant,bendingdowntolookatitmoreclosely.Hetoucheditandthenshookit.Itdidnotmove.
“Pfllllrtsch!”exclaimedsomethingintheirreceivers.
“Theshaft!”criedGoldstein.“Whereisit?”
Theopeningthroughwhichtheyhadcomeseemedtohavedissolved.Aroundthemstretchedsmooth,seamlesswalls.
“Nonsense,”saidEverson,disturbed.“Someone’sclosedtheentrance.”
Hiswordshadtheoppositeeffectofwhatheintended.Themenshoutedinconfusionandbegantofeelaroundthewallslikemadmen,tryingtofindtheshaft.Eversoncouldunderstandthattheywerenothappytobelockedinbuttheywouldnotregaintheirfreedomthisway.
“Stop!”hecalled.“Thisisuseless.”
Wasitpossiblethattheeventshadnotbeencausedbyalivingbeingbutbyastill-functioningmachinethatputitspre-programmedmeasuresintoeffectupontheentranceofaliensintotheship?
“Wecomeinpeace!”Eversonshouted.“Wewanttoparley.”
Hewaitedbutnoanswercame.Analienintelligencewouldhavehadtoassumehewastalkingwithhiscompanions.Thefacttheirliveshadsofarbeensparedwasaweakconsolation.
The‘wheel’begantoglowbeforetheireyes.Itscolourbecameabrightyellow.Eversonbentoverit.Thetemperatureonhisarmbandthermometerremainedconstantat43°.Suddenlythecolonelhadtheimpressionoflookingintoamirror.Dizzinessclutchedhim.Hewantedtopullhimselfawayfromthesight.Hislipsopenedtocryoutawarningtothemenbuthisvocalcordsfailedhim.Theimagehesawwasthree-dimensional.Ashiseyesnarrowedtomakeitoutmoreclearly,thereflectioncameclosertohim.Aroomofenormousproportionsopenedupbeforehim.
Thenavoicesounded,echoinginhisreceiverslikerollingthunder:“Whatdoyouwanthere?”
SometimewentbybeforeEversonwasfullyawareofthefactthatithadbeenSammyGoldsteinwhohadspoken.Desperatelyheforcedhimselfawayfromthe
near-hypnoticpowerofthestrangeimage.Hisbodywascoatedwithsweat.GoldsteinwashanginglimplyinBellinger’sarms,apparentlyunconscious.
“Hesimplycollapsed,”saidWeisslowly.
“Someoneaskedaquestionthroughhim,”saidEversonslowly.
“Idon’tunderstand,sir,”saidthebiologistinconfusion.“Whatdoyoumeanbythat?”
ThedisturbedexpressionsonthefacesofBellingerandSternalgavethecolonelthecertaintythatonlyhehadheardthemutant’svoice…inhismind.Hewasneithertelepathicnorgiftedinanyotherwaywithparanormalpowers.Thatcouldonlymeanthatthethingoverwhichhewasbendinghadputthequestionmentallytohim.
ExactlyontheoppositesideanopeningappearedinthewallandsavedEversonthetroubleofanswering.Theywentaroundthewheel,BellingercarefullypullingtheconsiderablylighterGoldsteinbehindhim.Theylefttheroomtogether,steppingthroughtheman-sizedopening.Nowtheyfoundthemselvesinatube-likecorridor.Fromtheceilinghungseveralcone-shapedobjects.Spirallingtubeswoundtheirwayaroundandthroughthem.Inthewallscouldbeseenthree-cornereddepressionsingroupsoffour.Thefloorwasroughintextureandlookedlikelargegrainsofsand.Atintervalstherewereirregularplatesthatgaveoffapalelight.
Somethingwasmovingattheendofthecorridor.Eversonstrainedtomakeitoutclearly.Awithered,fragile-lookingfigureapproachedthem.Theystopped,waiting.Thebeingcamecloser,althoughtheTerranshadtheimpressionitmightbreakapartonthenextstep.
ItwasNapoleon!
TheGreentottereditswaytowardsthem.Atitsthroatthecommunicationunitsstilldangled.Thewrinkledgourd-shapedheadlookedevenuglierinthestrangelightthanbefore.Allthesufferingofthisplanetseemedtobeengraved
initsancientface.
IfNapoleonhadsuddenlyappearedinthebreakfastroomoftheHilton-ChevalierinParis,theexclusiveguestscouldnothavebeenmoresurprisedthanEversonandhismen.OfcoursetheGreencouldhavegottentherebythesamemeansthespacemenhadpracticallybeenforcedtotake.Eversonthoughtfeverishly.Thesimplestwaytofindoutwouldbetoaskthenative.
Beforethecolonelcoulddoso,Napoleon’svoicecouldbeheardintheirhelmetloudspeakers.“Iconsideritbesttomeetyouinthisform,sinceitisalreadyfamiliartoyou,”saidtheGreenwithafirm,steadyvoice.“WhyshouldIshockyouralreadystrainednervesunnecessarily?”
“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”stammeredEverson.HadtheGreengonecrazy?Washeunderhypnoticinfluence?Wassomeoneusinghimasatool?
AnoutstretchedarmwithashockpistolflashedintoEverson’srangeofvision.ThearmbelongedtoWeiss,whosefacelookedgrimlytensebeneaththeviewplate.ThecommanderoftheMexicoknockedthebiologist’shandtooneside.
“Theyoungmanissomewhatexcited,”commentedNapoleon,orwhoeveritwas,withanindulgentvoice.
“Wemustn’tcondemnhimforthat.Bytheway,youcantakeyouruncomfortablespacesuitsoff.Theaironboardthisshipwillseemtoyouasapleasantrefreshment.”Hefoldedhisarms,clickedalittlewithhisbeakandcontinuedinatoneofself-satisfaction.“Anyway,you’llhavetogetusedtotheatmosphereofthisplanetsoonerorlaterbecauseyouwillneverleaveit.”
NowitwasEversonhimselfwhopulledhisthermobeamerandaimeditattheoldone’schest.“Sayswho?”demandedthecolonel.
Napoleongestureddisparagingly.Somehowallhisfragilityandagedweaknesshadfallenawayfromhim.
“Threateningmewithaweaponisnotevenhalfasdangerousformeasyounodoubtthink.Ifyoushoot,thereisnolimittowhatIcando.Icandisappear,absorbtheenergyandgiveitoffagain,destroythebeamer,crippleyourhand,setupabarrierbetweenusormakeyouexplode.Thoseareonlyafew
examples.RememberBellingerorthetornadoandthenyouwillrealizethatyourweaponcannottroubleme.”
Theirquesthadnotbeenfornaught.TheyhadfoundthosefromwhomPerryRhodanwashopingforhelp.FortherewasnodoubtthatNapoleonwasamoleculartransformite,HecouldnotknowthatwiththeexceptionofLt.Bellinger,themenstandingbeforehimhadhadacertainamountofexperiencewithanothermemberofhisrace.
“Don’tthinkthatIregardyouasenemies,”Napoleonassuredthem.“Youareonlymeanstoanendforme.Theastonishingchancethatledyoutothisplanetwillbemysalvation.Nowifyouwillfollowme,gentlemen!”
Hemovedhishandandanopeningformedinthewallthatwaslargeenoughtoletthemthrough.Goldsteinwasstillunconscious.Theroomthattheynowenteredwasbathedinapleasantlight.
“I’msureyou’llwanttositdownincomfort,”saidtheGreen-no,theshapechanger,Eversonmentallycorrectedhimself.
Asthoughfromnothing,fivechairsmaterializedbeforethem.Napoleongestured,invitingthemtosit.
“IfyouwishIcanchangetheformofthestools.Youneedonlytellmewhatsortyouwouldlike.Asformyself,Iprefertostand.”
Theentireperformancewasmeantonlytodisconcertandintimidatethem.Eversonvowednottobecowedbyvisualimpressions.Atthemoment,thelinebetweenthetwosideshadtobedrawn.
“Yourspacesuits,”Napoleonremindedtheminafriendlytone.
Eversonknewthatresistancewaspointlessforthetimebeing.Hetookoffhissuitandindicatedfortheotherstofollowhisexample.Bellingerpeeledtheunconsciousmutantoutofhisclumsyspacesuitandraisedhimintooneofthechairs.Napoleonwaiteduntiltheyhadalltakentheirseats.
“Therearetwopossibilitiesforus,”beganthepseudo-native.“Eitherwewillworktogetherinafriendlymanner,andIpromiseyouthatyouwillliveoutyourdaysonMolukverywell,oryoucanresistmywishesandinthatcaseIwill
havetocarryoutmyplansbymeansofforce.”
“Thosewordscancomeaseasilyfrommetoyou,saidEversoncoolly.“ThereforeIdon’thavetorepeatthem.”
“Yourcouragehasnorelationtoyourpossibilities,”answeredNapoleongently.“Idon’twishtodepriveyouofyourunjustifiedhopesbutyouwillsoonrealizethatyouareinnowayamatchforme.LetmebrieflysummarizenowhowIcametobeinmyposition.”
Goldsteincameslowlytoandlolleduneasilyinhisseat.Eversonbentovertothetelepathandshookhim.
Themutantopenedhiseyes.“Napoleon!”hewhispered.“Whathappened?”
“TheGreenisashapechanger,”saidEversoninEnglish.“Becareful,Sammy.”
“I’mawareofyourfriend’sweakability,”saidNapoleonindolently.“Thereisnouseinwarninghim.Hecannothurtme.”
EversonrememberedMataalwithagrimsmile.EvenhehadbeendefeatedbyGoldstein,althoughgivingthemutantparamechanicalpowershadbeensuicideinacertainsense.
“Iamintheunenviablepositionofbeingthelastofmypeople,”Napoleonbegan.“Thatneednotbringforthexpressionsofsympathyfromyou.I’vehadenoughtimetogetovermysorrow.Onecanlearntobearloneliness.Thisshipwastohaveset5000membersofmyracedownonMoluk.Thatdidtakeplace.Instead,allexceptfiveofficersweredead!Ourshipstrucktheplanet’ssurfacewiththeimpactofameteor.Imustpointoutherethatthedriveofourshipsisamixtureoftechnicalandparamechanicalforces,whichworkingtogetherproduceincomparableresults.TheparapilotssuddenlyrealizedintheupperlevelsofMoluk’satmospherethattheirconnectiontotheengineshadsuddenlybeenbrokenoff.Amentalforcethatcouldnotbeovercomewasforcingitselfonus.Welostallcontrol.Withinsecondsallourabilitieshadcompletelyvanished.Allattemptstosaveourselveswereinvain.Wewereinthepositionofamountainclimberwhoisunexpectedlyblindedwhilewalkingalongadangerouscliffandisdoomedtofall.Iactivatedwhatremainedofmypowertobracemyselfforthecrash.Perhapsthatwaswhatsavedme.Theotherfourwhosurvivedalongwith
meweresoseverelyinjuredthattheydiedwithinashortime.Ourdampenedparanormalabilitieshadnotbeenabletohelpus.Afterawhilethepressuregraduallysubsidedsomewhat.MeanwhileIhadbeenabletolocateitssource,forIcouldlocalizesomethought-patternsinthebroadattack-front.Myknowledgehadcomemuchtoolatetobeofanyaidtomyrace.Thenativesradiatedasortofparawavesthateffectivelyblockedanysimilarwavesgivenoffbyotherbeings.Naturallytheprimitivecreaturessuspectednothing.MoreandmoreIwasincreasinglyabletoovercometheforce.ThatwasamatteroflifeanddeathformebecauseIhadinanycasetoenterintocontactwiththenativestostayalive.Idon’twanttorelatenowwhatdifficultyIhadinapproachingthevillage.ThecloserIcametotheGreens,thestrongertheirmentalinfluencebecame.Evenso,Iwasabletoassumetheformofthecomicaloldfellowyouseeherebeforeyou.Hewaslivingattheedgeofthevillageeventhenandenjoyedtheformeadvantageousreputationofbeingimmortal.TheGreensdon’tgetveryoldbutI,Napoleon,couldliveforeverwithoutexcitinganysuspicion!Thebodyoftheoldcranksavedmethetroubleofmakinganewimitationwitheachgeneration.InthevillageIcouldactivatemyabilitiesonlywithindescribabledifficulty.That’swhyIcamebackherenowandthen.Sothatthenativeswouldnotgettheideaofwanderinginthedesertandsniffingaroundinthevicinityoftheship,Icausedsomethingstohappenthatwerewondersintheireyes.Fromthattimeontheystayedintheneighbourhoodofthevillage.”
Hepaused.Hisdarkeyesshone.Whennoneofthefivemensaidanything,hecontinued.“Itwasimpossibleformetomaketheshipreadytotakeoffonmyown.Therepairworkwouldhavepresentedaproblemtoexperiencedparamechanics.Moreover,Ihadnotrainingasaparapilot.ThementalforceoftheGreensmightincreasethehigheronewent,althoughthatwasonlyanassumptiononmypartthatlaterprovedtobewrong.Nonetheless,therewasnochanceofmyeverleavingMoluk.Isatvegetating,livingalifewithoutsenseorpurpose.Shortlyafterthisshiptookoff,myhomeworldexploded.Ourscientistshadwantedtomakeitindependentofthesun.Theyerectedenormousdomesandignitedtheplanetaryinteriorbybringingdifferentelementsintoanatomicfusionprocess.Theatomfirewastobekeptincheckbyparamechanicalcontrol-thatistosay,itwassupposedtohavebeenkeptincheck.However,therewereevidentlytinytracesofunknownmaterialsthathadnotbeenincludedintheoriginalcalculationssimplybecauseweweren’tawareofthem.Itwasnotlongbeforethefusionoftwodifferentatomswastakingplacebeneaththesurfaceoftheplanet.Thatwasthebeginningoftheend.Theatomfireexpandedinuncountablebranchesoutfromthesource,growingrapidlylikeanulcer,
expandinginvisiblyfartherandfartheruntilitfinallybrokethroughthesurface.Theplanetexplodedjustonedaylater.Thelastattemptofourdyingracetopreserveitselfendedinsteadinitstotaldestruction.”
Napoleonendedhiscommentaryforasecondtime.Somewhatnumbed,Eversonsatupstraight.Hegulped.Hehadbeeninvolvedincosmiceventslongenoughtounderstandthescaleoftheterriblecatastropheperfectly.Sympathycouldhelpthemoleculartransformitenolonger.Hewasalostandlonelycreature,embitteredbythetragicendofhisrace.Opposedtothedestructionofthisuniquespecies,thefactthatthemissionoftheMexicowasfornothinglostalmostallitsmeaning.Analliancewiththeshapechangerswasimpossible…becausethereweren’tanyleft.Napoleonwasthelastrepresentativeofthesebeings.PerryRhodanhadsentinvaintheultrafastcruisertoMolukwithitsspecialmission.Duringthetimeoftheoperation,150experiencedspacemenweretiedupwheretheycouldbeofnohelptotheEarth-andtheresultwaspreciselyzero.20,000light-yearsseparatedthemfromtheplacewheretheywereurgentlyneeded.Rhodanandhismostloyalaideswouldcertainlyhavenotbeensofoolishastoplanonanalliancewithanunknownraceintheiractions.Therewasnodoubtaboutthefailureoftheexpedition.TherewaseventhedangerthattheMexicoand150menwouldbelostcompletely,amongthelatteramutantandacolonel.
“WhenmyapathyhadgottentothepointwhereIdidnothingbutspendmydaysinmymiserablehut,themiraclehappened,”Napoleonwenton.“AnalienspaceshippenetratedtheatmosphereofMoluk.Itwasnothardformetofindoutthatitusedanantigravfieldtomakeitslanding.Idevelopedafeverishactivity.IovercametheradiationsoftheGreensandmadeparapsychiccontactwiththeship.Isucceededinfindingtheforcefield’scontrolswitchandbringingitundermyparamechanicalcontrol.Iwaiteduntilthevesselwascloseenoughtothegroundthatafallwouldnotdestroyitanditwouldbespaceworthyagainafterafewrepairs.ThenIswitchedofftheantigravfield.Therestyouknow,gentlemen.”
“HeattackedtheMexico!”criedBellingerangrily,drawinghisparalyser.“Heneedstobetaughtalesson.”
BeforeEversoncouldintervene,theLieutenanthadpulledhisweaponoutcompletelyandfired.Atthesametime,Bellinger’schairdematerialisedandtheheavymantumbledtothefloor.Inanyothersituationitwouldhavehadacomic
effect.Theshotdissipatedharmlessly.Bellingerpickedhimselfupquickly.
“Wewon’tgetanywherethatway,Lieutenant,”Eversontoldhim.“Itwouldbebestifyouweretorestrainyourtemper.”
Somewhatashamed,Bellingerlookedforanewplacetosit.However,afterwhathehaddoneNapoleondidnotseemwillingtogranthimanyfavours.
Eversonlookedathiswatch.OnehourhadgonebyandwithitthetimehehadtoldLanditowait.HewantedtoinformNapoleonofthisarrangementbutthemoleculartransformitewasjustthenintheprocessofdisappearing.Hediditbysimplyfallingthroughthefloor.ThesightwassoeeriethatSternalcriedoutinterror.HardlyhadNapoleondisappearedwhenBellingerfelltotheplacewherehehadbeenstanding.TheLieutenant’shandsfoundonlysolidmatter.
“Ithinkwe’renowsomethinglikehisprisoners,”saidPoulWeissslowlyandemphatically.
Eversonfeltthatthosewordsflatteredthesituation.HehadcometotheconclusionthatNapoleonwasfollowingadefinitepurpose.HewantedtowintheMexicoforhimselfandleavethespacementosomethingwithwhichtheywouldcertainlynotbehappy:alifeamongthelong-leggedGreens.
AtthatsamesecondinwhichCol.MarcusEversonlookedathiswatch,about50metersbelowinthemidstofthedesertsandAntonioLandiraisedhisvoiceandsaid:“Thetimehaselapsed.”
Twenty-fourpairsofeyeslookedindarkthreatatthealienshipthathadswallowedupfiveastronautsandsofarnotallowedthemtogofree.Althoughthecommanderhadgivenspecificorders,everysingleoneofthemwasreadytoriskhislifebyplungingintotheunseencalamity.TherespectandtheaffectionthemenhadforEversonwasmatchedbyveryfewothercommandersintheSolarFleet.Eachofhismenidolizedhim.Heknewhowtoallowalargemeasureoffreedomanddemandonlythemostnecessaryofdisciplinewithoutundermininghisownauthority.Hespokewiththeyoungestcadetinjustasfriendlyafashionaswithhisofficersandheupbraidedthemequallyiftheywere
guiltyofdoingsomethingwrong.
Soitwasnotsurprisingthatinthismomentvariousmenreachedfortheirthermobeamers.
“Keepcool,men,”Landisaid,althoughhewouldhavejoyfullystormedtheeight-corneredwreckrisinghighbeforethemintothepalegreensky.“Firstwe’llspeakwithMr.Scoobey.”
Hebusiedhimselfwiththatwhichhardlydeservedtobecalleda‘radio’anymore.Untroubled,asthoughthedevicewerethemoststableandruggedmodelonthemarket,theradioman’sroughfingersflewthroughthenecessaryadjustmentsoftheswitches.WhenthevoiceoftheFirstOfficeroftheMexicosoundedoverthereceiver,therewasnolongeranyonewhowouldnothaveswornthatAntonioLandiwasafirst-classgenius.
“Sixminuteshavealreadygonebysincethetimeweagreeduponranout,sir,”saidLandi.“Thecommanderandhiscompanionshavestillnotreturned.Everythingisalrightwithus.Whatshouldwedo?”
Landi,whooncewouldhavelikedtobecomeanofficerorevenacommander,thankedhisluckystarsthathehadchosenadifferentcourse.Hetriedtoimaginewhathewoulddoifheweretheonetomakeadecisioninsteadoftheofficer.Nomatterhowhardhethought,noideacametohimthatseemedevenhalfwayreasonable.
WaltScoobeyseemedtosuffersimilardifficulties,forsometimewentbybeforehespokeagain.“Sendthetworobotsintotheship,”hesaid,“andhavethemsearchforthemen.”
Theideawasgood-onlytherewerenolongeranyrobots.Theyhadbeenlostinthepreviousnight’ssandstormalongwithmanyotherobjects,somethingwhichshouldnothavebeenabletohappentocombatrobots.Landiexplainedittohisunseendiscussionpartner.
“Puuuh!”saidScoobey.Itsoundedasthoughhehadheavyphysicallabourtoperform.“Sendfourmoremenintotheship,Tony.Thatwaywecanstop,andoccupytheinvisibleenemyforawhile.Therestofyoushouldtaketheradioandpullbackabit-let’ssaytothelimitofyourrangeofsight.Observeanythingthattakesplace.Aboveall,keepyourradioinconstantoperationfromnowon.We’ll
trackitssignalandfindyouquicklythatway.I’mgoingtoassembleasmallpartyofmenhereandsenditouttoyouasfastaspossible.We’llbeequippedaccordingtothecircumstances.Perhapswe’llsucceedingettingoneofthelifeboatsout.Overandout.”
Landiconfirmedthereception.Headjustedtheradiosothatitbroadcastabriefcallsignevery10secondswhichcouldbepickedupbyanyreceivingunitwithinaradiusof500kilometres.“Fourvolunteers,”hesaidthen.“Wealreadyhaveone.”Heindicatedhimself.
“IfImaypermitmyselfasaciviliantomakeacomment,”Dr.Mortonbrokein,“thenIwouldsaythatyououghttoremainwithyourailingdevicesothatyoucanrepairitifitbreaksdownagain.Since,ontheotherhand,thehealthsituationofthegroupisasgoodascanbeexpectedunderthecircumstances,IseenoreasonwhyIshouldnotgo.”
ItwasundoubtedlythelongestandmostpolitestatementthatDr.Mortonhadevermadeinhisentirelife.Certainlythatwasnottheonlyreasonnoonecontradictedhim.
“Agreed,”saidtheradioman.“Delaney,Pentsteven,andTanakawillgowithyou,Doc.Goodluck.”
TheyoungPentstevenprovedonceagainthathehadnotoftenenduredsuchdangersforheshookLandi’shand,deeplymoved.Beforetheastronomercoulddramatizethesceneanyfurther,thedoctorpushedhiminthedirectionoftheship.
“Goahead!”hesnorted.“Whatareyouwaitingfor,boy?”
Fourmentrudgedthroughthesandtowardstheopeningthatstillseparatedthemfromtheirunknownopponent.Onebyonetheydisappearedintoit.Pentstevenwaslasttogoinandbeforehedidheturnedandwaved.
Agestureofgoodbyecanbevalidforashortwhileorforever.Inthiscase,Landithoughttroubledly,itlookslikeforever.
Duringtheentireexistenceofmankindtherehavebeenprisoners.Withspacetravelandtheappearanceofalienintelligences,thatfacthadbeengivennewvariations.Tillnowmenhadalwaysbeenlockedawaybytheirfellows;nowitwaspossibleforanotherspeciestotakemenintocustody.Thetakingofprisonerswasavicethathadspreadwidelyalloverthegalaxy,assumingeveryimaginableform.Uncountablevariationshadbeenaddedtothesimplephrase‘putbehindbars’.Inthepassageoftime,somenumberofprisonshadbeensoarrangedthattheirinmatesnoticednothingatalloftheirregrettablesituation.Butthatwastrueonlyintherarestcases.Generally,thosewhooperatedprisonsweremostconcernedthattheirvictimsknewwhatwashappeningtothem.
Justasoldastheinstitutionofmeninconfinementisthethoughtofescape.EvenStoneAgemanschemedtoescapefromthecaveofhisenemy.Themorecomplicatedthedungeon,themorerefinedtheplansforescape.Atlengththerewerepenitentiarieswhichwererenownedforthefactnoonebadeverescapedfromthem.Therewasnottheslightestpossibilityofobtainingthedesiredfreedombeforethewardenswerewillingtolettheprisonergo.If,however,oneoftheprisonersburrowedhiswayoutunderthewall,thepenitentiary’sgoodnamewasruined.Therewereinventedtime-locks,electronicbarriersandimpenetrablewallsandtheywerebuiltintotheprisons.Andastoundingasitmayseem,therewerestillescapes.Nosystemhoweverwell-devisedcoulddestroyaprisoner’swilltoescape.Eveninanageofscientificperfectionandsupertechnologicalinstallations,therewerestillmenwhorespondedtothelimitationoftheirfreedombyescaping.Thefeelingofbeinglockedinisoneoftheworstfeelingsapersoncanhave.Thefeelingofhopeisstronger,however…
“We’vegottogetoutofheresomehow,”saidWernerSternal.“Inanycase,we’vegottotry.It’sbettertodosomethingthansitaroundherewaitingforourfriendtocomebacktous.”
Bellingerwouldhavelikedtonotethatforhimthephrasewas‘standaround’butEversonspokefirst.“Ourbadluckisthateventheopeningisgone,”saidtheColonel.“Napoleoncanmovethroughwallsifhewantsto.”HeturnedtoSammyGoldstein.“Canyoumakementalcontactwiththeshapechanger?”heasked.“Canyousensewhereheisnoworifhe’sapproaching?”
Themutantmadeavaguegesturewithhisarm.Likealltelepaths,hewassensitiveandsufferedunspeakablywiththeslightestchangeinhisusualabilities.“NomatterwhatItellyou,”hesaidslowly,“howcanyouknowI’mnotbeinginfluencedwhenIsayit?Myinformationisofnousetoyoubecauseyouaredistrustfulofme.YouwillalwaysrememberhowIwaspossessedbyMataal.Thesamethingispossiblenow,too.Wedon’tknow.WhatItellyoumightleadyouastray.Thereforeanyreportfrommewillonlyconfuseyou.”
Eversonrealizedthatthemutantwasright.Itwasnowcompletelysenselesstorelyonhim.Goldsteinwouldspeakonlywhenhewassureofwhathewassaying.AndeventhenEversonwouldnotbeabletobelievehim.
MeanwhileWeissandSternalhadstoodupandtogetherwithBellingertheywereexaminingthewalls.Theyfelteverycentimetretheycould,althoughtheirhandscouldnotreachtotheceiling.
FinallyPoulWeissreachedaplacethathebegantoinspectwithespecialthoroughness.“Wecamethroughhere,”hesaid.“Theremustbeadoorhereorwhateveryouwanttocallit.”
“Napoleoncouldhavejustaseasilycreatedtheentrancesolelyforthepurposeofbringingusinhere,”saidEverson.“Thatdoesnotnecessarilymeantheopeningstillexists.”
“Don’tstartthat,sir!”exclaimedBellingershrilly.“Inafewhoursyou’llbeaskingyourselfifeventhisroomexistsatall.Whenyoubeginthattrainofthought,youendupdenyingtheentireworldaroundyou.”
Dismayed,Eversonregisteredthepanic-likeexcitementoftheLieutenant.HewentovertoWeiss.Thebiologistwasworkingunflaggingly.Eveniftheyweretounexpectedlysucceedinescapingfromhere,Eversonthought,whatwouldtheydothen?Beyondtheroomwasacorridor,beyondthatanotherroom.Iftheymadeanescape,theywouldnotbechangingtheirsituation;justtheirposition.ItwouldbethesameasifaprisoneratSingSinghadtunnelledoutfromunderhiscell,onlytoemergeintheguardroom.
“Done!”exultedWeiss.
Eversonblinkedinconfusion.Tohimthewallstillpresentedanimpenetrablesurfaceunbrokenbyanything.
“Whatarewewaitingfornow?”askedWeiss.
Bellingersnorted.SternalgaveEversonameaningfulglance.Theyoungmutantshookhishead.WiththeexceptionofWeiss,noonecouldseeanythingthroughwhichonecoulddisappear.
“Let’stalkthisoverfirst,”saidEversoncautiously.“Howdidyousucceedinfindingtheentrance?”
Weisssmiledwanly.“Itmaysoundridiculous,”hesaid,“butIhadfirmlywishedforanopeningthere-andtherewasone.”
“Interesting,”murmuredtheColonel.Hewonderedwhyofallpeopleithadtobethebiologistwhowaslosinghisgrip,theverymanwhohadbeenthemostsensibleofall.
“IthinkI’llgotakealookoutside,”Weissannounced.
Poorfellow,thoughtEverson,you’regoingtohaveanastysurprisewhenyoubangyourheadagainstsolidmatter.
ButitwasEversonwhohadasurprisecoming.
Weisssimplywentthoughthewall.
Dr.Mortonswitchedonhislightandlookedaround.Behindhimwastheentrance.Theyhadclimbedintolookoutatthedesertoncemorefromthispoint.Pentstevensteppednexttothedoctor,swinginghislightlikeatennisracketandtwistinghisheadallaroundtoseewherethelightfell.Sgt.Delaney,asmall,thicksetman,shonehislightonthefloor.EijiTanaka,theastronaut,hadthrusthisthumbsinhisbeltandwaited.
Nexttohimwasanopeninglargeenoughtobringanelephantthrough.Itwasnotsealedoffanditwasdark.Tangentialtotheopening,severalmetalsupportsofvaryingdiametersledupwards.Ataheightof10meterstheymetabulkheadinwhichanothercorridorcouldbeseen.Onthewallsthemenfoundcountless
swellingsanddepressionswhosemeaningnoonecouldevenguess.
“We’llclimbupthepoles,”saidDr.Morton.Withtheagilityofanapeheembracedoneofthesupportsandbegantopullhimselfupwards.Pentstevenfollowedasthesecondman.Theastronomerwasinnowaythedoctor’sathleticequalandhadtopauseforrest.Hewashangingunderthebulkheadlikeanoverripefruit.TheimpatientcallsofSgt.Delaneyfinallyencouragedhimtoswingovertothedoctor.TanakaandtheSergeantovercamethehindrancewithoutdifficulty.
“Whatarewegoingtodonow?”askedPentsteven.Hisvoicehadinvoluntarilysunktoawhisper.
Beforeanyonecouldanswer,aweakcallforhelpsoundedintheirreceivers.Fourbeamsoflightboredintothedarkness.
“Itcouldbeatrap,”warnedDr.Morton.Thelights’glarefoundafigurewrithingonthefloor.“It’stheGreen!”criedPentsteven.“Look,Doc!”TheyrantothemoaningNapoleon.Thegrizzledfaceofthenativewasdistortedwithpain.Evidentlysomeonehadbeatenhimbrutally.Dr.Mortonbentdownoverhim.
“Quietnow,”hesaid.“We’llhelpyou,oldfriend.”Napoleonraisedhisthinarmsdefensively.Intheharshlight,hiseyesseemedlikebottomlessseasindeeppits.Hisbreathcameasarattle.“Youmusthelpyourfriends,”hecroakedwitheffort.Heturnedovertopointoutthedirectiontothedoctor.“They’redowntherewiththedemons.Hurry!”
Dr.Mortonleapedup,collidingwiththeastronomer,whohadbeenlookingoverhisshoulder.Sgt.Delaneyhadpulledhisthermobeamerandlookedaroundwildly.
“Back!”orderedDr.Morton.“We’vegottogodownagain.”
HestrokedNapoleon’suglyhead.“We’llcomeback,”hepromised.
Theyhastenedaway,theflashingglareoftheirlightsstreakingacrossthewalls.TheydidnotseetheGreenstandupandvanishintotheblackness.
“Sinceweallsawthesamething,itmusthavehappened,”saidMarcusEverson,regardinghiscompanionswithanearnestlook.“SowemustagreethatPoulwentthroughthiswallasthoughitwerenotthere.”
Nooneansweredhim.Everyonewashangingonhisspeculations.IfhecouldnotobtainanyalliesforRhodan.Eversonhaddecided,hewantedatleasttobringthevaluablecruiserback.Thatwaseasiersaidthandone.Theobstaclesseemedinsurmountable.NapoleondoubtlesslyintendedtogethishandsontheMexico.Evenashapechangercouldnotguideaspaceshipthroughspacebyhimself.Hewouldneedhelp.Eversoncouldimaginejustaboutwhatthepseudo-nativehadinmind.HewouldputthemembersoftheexpeditionoutofthewayandreturntotheMexicoasthe‘solesurvivor’.LikeMataal,hewouldtrytobeonboardthespacerwhenittookoff.Onceoutinspace,hewouldbringthecrewunderhiscontrolandforcethementocarryouthiswishes.Inanyevent,heseemedtohaveinmindleavingthemostimportantmenbehindonMoluk.Thatshowedthathelookedatleastatthemutantasacertaindanger.
Butitwasaluxurytothinkanymoreaboutit;theyhadtofindawayoutoftheirsituation.PoulWeisswasnotfittedoutwithsupernaturalpowers.Therehadtobearationalexplanation.
JustasEversonbegantoconsideritseriously,thebiologistcamebackinthesamewayhehadleft.
“Let’sgo,sir,”hesaid,eagerforaction.“Thecorridoriscompletelydeserted.Napoleonisn’taround.”
Itdidn’thappeneverydaythatanormalTerranwentthroughthewallsofanalienspaceshipasthoughtheywereair.SomesecondspassedbeforetheColonelcouldcollecthimselfwellenoughtoaskaquestion.“Howdidyoudothat,Poul?Imean,howdidyoumanagetoleavethisroom?”
GuiltandapoorlysuppressedsmilemixedonWeiss’facetoformagrimace.“I’msorry,sir,”hesaid.“Ithoughtyouknew.”
“Giveussometimetotakeitin,”recommendedLt.Bellingersarcastically.
“Atthepointwherewecamein,”explainedWeiss,awallsimplydoesnot
exist.Itexistsonlyinourpoor,misledbrains.Themoleculartransformitesuggestedtousbyapsycho-trickthattheopeningclosed.Weweresoconvincedofitthatwecouldevenfeelthesolidmatter-orrather,webelievedwecouldfeelit.”
Hegrinned,steppedbackafewpacesandputhisarmthroughapparentlysolidmatter.
“Here,”hesaid,“istheproof.Youhaveonlytobelievethatthereisagapherethroughwhichwecango.”
“Let’stryitoutanyway,”suggestedBellinger.Withoutstretchedhandsthatdemonstratedhissuspicionwellenough,herantowardsthebarrier-anddisappeared.Hisheadappearedoncemore,lookinglikeagrinningBuddhaheadcoveredindefianceofalltraditionwithcurlyhair.Henoddedencouragingly.
Shortlythereafter,theystoodtogetherinthecorridor.
“Wecamefromthere,”saidWeiss.“Thebarrierseemstobestable.”Hepointedtoadarkspotwhosemidpointwasalmostblackwhileattheedgesitfrayedoutlikeablossom.“Eventhethermobeamerswillnothelpusanyfarther.”
Eversonpointedtothecolouredspot.“Haveyoualreadytried?”
Weissnodded.Hedidnotseemtobeespeciallyafraidoftheconsequencesofhisfire.HemovedwiththecasualnessofsomeonewalkingthroughGoshunStreetinTerrania.Thebiologistwasaslimmanofaverageheightinwhosefacehardlyanyirregularitycouldbeseen.Fromtheoutsideheseemedattractiveandsympathetic.Young,inexperiencedspacementendedconstantlytoturntohimforadvice.
“Wecan’tseetheotherendofthecorridorfromherebecauseitisn’tlightenough,”hesaid.“Butwecangooverthereandlookaroundalittle.”
“Alright,”Eversonagreed.Hewenttotheheadofthesmallgroupandtheywalkedtowardstheirdistantdestination,unconsciouslyavoidingmakinganynoiseastheywent.Thecorridornarrowedsomewhatbutamancouldwalkcomfortably.
“There’sonethingI’dliketoknow,”murmuredSternal.“Arewemovingverticallyorhorizontallyinrespecttothedesertsurface?”
“Trytofindawindow,”Bellingersuggested,grinning.
Goldsteinwastheonlyonewhowassilent.Itcouldalmostbebelievedthathehadnointerestintheescape.Hisattentionseemedtobefocussedinwards.Themutanthadneverbeenparticularlytalkativebuthehadrarelyeverseemedsouninvolvedbefore.
“Wecangoon,”Eversonexclaimed.“Theopeningisn’tclosedonthisside.”
Theotherslookedpasthisbroadback.
“Itlooksasthoughwe’llhavetogoonourwayinthedark,”saidSternalworriedly.“Itgetsdarkbeyondtheopenedbulkhead.”
“Switchonyourlights,”Eversonordered.Itturnedout,however,thatwiththeexceptionofthecolonel,everyonehadlefttheirlightsbackwiththeirspacesuits.
“Nooneisgoingback,”thecommanderoftheMexicodecided.“Thisonelightwillhavetodo.”
Heswitchediton.Abeamoflighttrembledoverthefloor,feltalongthewallsandflittedbrieflyundertheceiling.Theirsurroundingshadnotchanged.Theywentalongnowsomewhatmoreslowly.Eversonhaddrawnhisshocker.Theiractionwasofcoursesomewhatplanlessbutitwasstillmuchbetterthanresigningthemselvestotheirfate.
AllofasuddenEversonsank.Hislaststephadbeenintonothingnesseventhoughhehadilluminatedthefloorshortlybeforewithhislight.Thesensationoffallingmadehisstomachqueasy.Thelampinhiswildlyswinginghanddescribedfierycirclesintheblackvoidthroughwhichhefell.Someonecriedout.Shortlythereaftercamethemuffledsoundofabodybittingthefloor.
AdemonicfaceappearedclearlyvisibleinEverson’smind.Hedrewbackfromitbutitcamenearer.Foradesperatemomentcamethethoughtthatperhapshewasnotfallingbutfloatingweightless.Thehard,beaklikelipsofthefaceparted.Eversongaspedforair.Hewantedtostrugglebuttherewasnoplacetobegin.Herolledabout,somersaulted,fellbackwards,reeledforwards.His
bodycouldnotadjusttothiscondition.
Andthenavoicespokefromtheunfathomabledarkness-avoicethathadgrownbeyonditsyouth.“Thisisallonlyatrick,sir!Fightagainstit-we’lltakecareofit!”
“Goldstein!”Eversonwantedtocryoutbuthecouldgetonlyatorturedmoanpasthislips.Instinctivelyhefeltsomethingbuildinguparoundhimthatwouldbedecisive.
Hecouldnotknowthatitwasthebeginningofabattlethatwouldbefoughtwithinvisiblemeansandwouldlastforhours.Duringthespaceofhislongsilence,SammyGoldsteinhaddevelopedaplan.
Nowhewasintheprocessofcarryingitout.
7/THEMENTO-DUEL
Hisexpressionanannoyedone,Scoobeywatchedthefourrobotspullingtheraycannonthroughthesand.Therobotswere,ofcourse,abletoacceleratetheirpacebutthenthemenwouldnothavebeenabletofollow.Theofficerthoughtsomewhatpainfullyofhowtheattempttomakealifeboatbattle-readyhadfailed.WithsomesurprisehelookedatMurgut,whowasleadingthegroup.Thenative’slonglegscrossedtirelesslyovereveryunevennessintheground.
ScoobeywascertainthattheGreencoulddeveloparespectablespeedwhenhehadto.Murguthadalmostentirelyconqueredhisfearofthedesert.HehadbecomefamiliarwiththeweaponsofTerranspacemenwhileonboardtheMexico.ThearmamenthadsoimpressedhimthathewasconvincedthatTerranweaponrywouldproveamatchevenfor‘Evilembodied’.
Scoobeytookadeepbreath.Thesmalltroopfairlybristledwithguns.AlocatingdevicewasconstantlyreceivingthesignalsbroadcastbyLandi’sradio.Althoughtheyhadalreadycalculatedtheradioman’sposition,theyremainedincontact.TherewasthepossibilitythatLandi’smenmighthavetoflee.
MurgutslowedhispaceandwaiteduntilScoobeyhadcomealongside.ThelampthathadbeengivenhimtheGreenworefromastringtiedaroundhisneck.HehadtoldthespacementhatheplannedtorentthelightouttohisfellowGreens-foracertainpayment,ofcourse.
“Myheadhurts,”hecomplainedtoScoobey.“Andit’sgettingworse.”
“I’msorry,”sympathizedtheofficer,“butwiththisheatit’snotsurprising.Thedoctorwillgiveyousomething.”
Murgutpressedhis,handsagainsthistemples.Hisdarkeyeswerewidewithfear.ScoobeywavedforDr.Lewellyntocomeover.Beforethedoctorhadquitereachedthem,theGreenbegantomoan.Thegourd-shapedheadbegantoswayfromsidetosideasthoughmountedonaballjoint.
“Quick,Doc!”criedScoobey,althoughheknewthatitwasrelativelydifficulttomakeadiagnosisonalienbeingsor,forthatmatter,toevenhelpthematall.Amedicationthatcouldhelpahumanwasnotnecessarilyeffectiveonanextraterrestrial.
“Hisfearisgreaterthanhispain,”saidLewellyn.
Murgut,whoworethesamesortofspeakingapparatusasNapoleon,clutchedthedoctorwithonehandandrubbedhisforeheadwiththeother.“It’sademon,Doctor!”hecroakedfearfully.
“Nonsense!”Lewellyncontradicted.“We’vebeenunderwayforhourswithoutseeinganyofthoselegendarydesertspooks.Therearen’tany.”
Unexpectedly,thenativesanktothesand.Scoobeyglanceduncomfortablyatthephysician.LewellyngraspedMurgutbytheshouldersandattemptedtolifthimup.TheGreen’sentirebodytrembled.
“Leaveme!”heshrieked.“Evilembodiedwillkillme!”
Desperatelyherippedhimselfoutofthedoctor’sgrasp.Hepressedhimselfagainstthegroundasthoughitofferedhimprotectionandaid.Hisvoiceshookwithpanickedterror.“It’sinmyhead!”Murguthowled.“It’skillingme!”
Dr.MortonputhishandagainstDelaney’schestThesergeantstopped.Pentstevenwavedhislightaround.
“Whyaren’twegoingon?”askedTanakaquietly.
“ThatNapoleonhassentusoffonawildgoosechase,sureasanything,”Dr.Mortonsaid,hisvoiceedgedwithfrost.“Forsomereasonthatonlyheknows,heluredusawayfromupthere.”
“Thatpoisonousoldspider!”mutteredDelaney.
AshortimelatertheywerebackattheplacewheretheyhadfoundNapoleon.However,theGreenhaddisappeared.Dr.MortongrowledanappropriatecurseandinterruptedPentsteven,whowasabouttolaunchintoalong-windedexplanationofhisthoughtsonthematter.
“We’regoingon,”heordered.“Fromnowonwe’llproceedwithutmost…”
Atremblingranthroughtheshipandhewentsilent.
“Whatwasthat?”FearmadePentsteven’svoicelittlemorethanawhisper.
Thesecondvibrationwasstronger.ThetremblingwassoviolentthatDr.Mortonhadthefeelingofstandingonashakingnet.Pentstevenheldouthisarmstokeephisbalance.Sgt.Delaneysupportedhimselfwithhishandagainstthewall.Dr.Mortonopenedhishelmetsothathecouldheareverysound.
“Let’sgetoutofhere,”Tanakasuggested.Hespokewithacalmnessthatmightbetterhaveappliedtorequestingthedepartureoftheguestsatabirthdayparty.Pentstevenwhimperedhisagreement.
“AndEverson?”askedthedoctor.“Arewetoleavetheothersinthelurch?We’lllivethroughalittleshaking,Ithink.”
Heemphasizedhiswordsbycontinuingovertherestlessfloor.Unseenobjectsgroanedasthoughsubjectedtotheheavieststrain.Dr.Mortonreeled,staggeredandswayedalonglikeaspastic.Helithiswaypurelyautomatically.Hedidnotlooktoseeiftheotherswerefollowinghim.Hefeltnofearnoreven
uncertainty.Thewaveofvibrationgraduallyebbed.Ghostlynoisesechoedthroughthecorridorsandrooms.NowheredidhefindevenatinysignofEversonorthementhathaddisappearedwithhim.Threeotherbeamsoflightappearedalongsidehis.Delaney’svoicebuzzedinhishelmetloudspeakerlikeanangryinsect.
Thencamethethirdjolt.Therewasashockthatsweptthemenofftheirfeetandthrewthemdown.Mortonthoughtatfirstthatsomeonehadtrippedhimbutasheungentlyhitthefloorhesawthattheothershadfallenaswell.Ashetriedtostandupagain,threefurthertremendousshocksfollowinginrapidsuccessionsoshooktheshipthatthephysicianwonderedwhyitdidn’tbreakapart.Hehadfallenontheleftsideofhisrib-cageandithurtconsiderably.
Dr.Mortontoldhimselfthatitwouldbebesttostayquietuntilthevibrationswereover.Hedidn’twanttothinkofwhatwouldhappenifthestrangeshakingweretobecomeevenmoreviolent.
SammyGoldsteinstoodwithhisbackleaningagainstthewall.Infrontofhim,Everson,Bellinger,WeissandSternaltumbledaboutuncontrollably.Themutantfeltthepowerofthemoleculartransformite:aconstantassaultonthementalplane.Napoleonleftnostoneunturnedinhisstruggletodefeathim.However,Goldsteinhadbeenpreparinghimselfforthebattlesoithadbeengoingwellsofar.Hisactionhadbeenbasedontheorieswhosecorrectnesshehadnotbeenabletodetermine.TillnowhehadresistedtheGreens’radiatedenergies,foughtagainstthemandforcedthemoutofhisextrasense.ButwhentheoldGreenhadshownhistrueface,Goldsteinhaddoneanabout-faceandallowedtheparanormalcurrentsofthenativebrainstoflowintohimunhindered.Napoleonhadalreadyadmittedthathe,too,sufferedfromthenatives’unconsciousparanormalradiations.Thetelepathsoakedupthethoughtpatternswithfullconcentration.HissufferingbrainseemedreadytoexplodeastheuncontrolledparanormalforceoftheGreens’flowedintoit.AtfirstGoldsteinhadbelievedthatthedistancetothevillagewastoomuchtoreachthenativesmentally.However,betweentheshipandthe,village,hisextrasensecameuponsomesortofrelaystationoverwhichhecouldestablishcontact.GoldsteincouldnotknowthatitwasMurguthewasusingforthispurpose.
Whenthemolecular,transformitebeganthefirstattackagainstthemutant,Goldsteinimmediatelyandwithoutresistancelethimpenetrate.Heknewthathewaslostifhisreasoningshouldprovetobewrong.Forsomeseconds,Napoleon’smentalassaultrobbedhimofhisconsciousness.Whenhecametoagain,hewasfinallysensingtheforcefromthevillagecomingthrough.Hedidnottakeanytimetocelebratehistriumph,forhedidnotknowifthepseudo-Greenwouldbedefeated.Havinggrownbold,heredoubledhisefforts.ButNapoleonhadblockedhismind.ThatshowedhewasnotabletobestGoldsteininthissituation.Nonetheless,Goldsteindidnotdeceivehimself.ItwouldnotbelongbeforeNapoleonwouldsethimselftoattemptingasecondsurpriseattack.TheonlydefencewastheforceradiatedbytheGreens.
WhenNapoleonattackedagain,ithappenedsothatGoldsteindidnotnoticeituntilitwasalmosttoolate.EdwardBellingerstoodsolidlyonhisfeetoncemore.BeforeGoldsteincouldwonderaboutit,theLieutenanthadyankedouthisthermobeamerandaimeditatthemutant.
“Edward!”criedGoldstein.“Don’tdoit!”
Bellingerlaughedhelplessly.Heraisedtheweaponalittle.Asifinaslowmotionmovie,Goldsteinwatchedastheofficer’sfingerbegantotightenaroundthetrigger.Hethrewhimselfforward.Ahotbeamshotoverhisback.Hetwisteddesperatelyaround.ThenNapoleonattackedhimwithparanormalforce.Fierylightningflashedbeforehiseyes.InhissubconsciousheheardBellingerscreamoutinterror.ThencamethethunderoftheweaponGoldsteinhadthesensationthathisskullwasexpandinglikeasoapbubble.Hehadtodosomething.WithhislastenergyherenewedtheconnectionwiththeGreens’parawaves.Someonewassobbing.Itwashimself.HehadtoleavetheplacebeforeNapoleonhadeveryoneshootingathim.Hesprangupandtriedtorunaway.Afearfulshockknockedhimtothefloor.Theshipshookineveryjoint.Goldsteinwasnotsorry,fornowthemencouldhithimonlywithdifficultyifthelastlivingsurvivorofastrangeraceforcedthemtoshoot.
Aslightfeelingofnausearoseupinhim.Hewantedtocoughbuthislungs,whichweretryingtotakeinair,pressedtogether.SmallcirclesdancedupanddowninfrontofGoldstein’seyes.Stabbingpainragedinhischest.Oxygenstarvation,hethought.He’swithdrawingtheairfromthecorridor.
Oncemorehestruggledagainstthevibrations.Hecouldnowbreatheonlyin
shortbreaths.Whatwashappeningtotheothers?Theremustbesomewayout.Someonefellheavilyonhim.Gasping,Goldsteinfreedhimself.Onlynowdidheheartheindescribablenoiseofthevibratingship.Hefeltinfinitelytired.Helongedforrestandsleep.Hiseyelidssank.
Withthat,Napoleonhadwonthefirstround.
Atfirstitlookedasthoughtherewereashimmeringlayerofairbetweenthealienspaceshipandtheircurrentpositionandthateverythingbeyonditwasmadetowaverslightly.Landiwipedhiseyes.“Chancey,”hesaid,“whatdoyouseeoverthere?”
Somewhatlazily,themanaddressedstoodupandknockedthesandfromhisspacesuit.Thenhelookedintotheindicateddirection.“Thething’sshaking,”hesaidexcitedly.
Thespacemenbecameawareoftheuncannyoccurrence.
“Whatarewewaitingfor,Tony?”demandedOgieva,anenormousblack.“We’vegottogetourmenoutoftherebeforeit’stoolate!”
“Scoobeycan’tgethereverysoon,”saidanother.“There’snosenseinwaitingforhim.TheColonelmightbefightingitoutinthereandneedingourhelp.”
“No,”Landidecided.
Hepaidnoattentiontotheloudprotestsandrecriminations.Dr.Mortonandhisthreemenhadnotreturned,either,anditcouldbeassumedwithcertaintythatyetanothergroupofmenwouldsharetheunknownfateofthefirsttwo.AntonioLandiwasavolatileandimpulsivemanbuthisfeelingofresponsibilitywasstronger.Hetoldhimselfthatitwouldbebettertowait.
“GetintouchwithMr.Scoobey,”suggestedOgieva.“Askhimwhatweshoulddo.”
Theradiomanhadnoobjectionstomaketothat.However,hedoubtedifthe
firstofficeroftheMexicowouldhaveanideathatwouldhelpthemany.IthadbeenknownonEarththattheirmissionwasariskyone.LandibegantowonderifPerryRhodanwouldhavepermittedthesearchforalliesifhehadsuspectedwhatwouldhappenonMoluk.
Heoperatedtheradiodevice,hopingitwouldstandupunderthenewdemandonit.HisvoicewashodrseandexcitedwhenScoobeyanswered.
“Landispeaking,sir,”saidtheradioman.“Asyetnoneofthemenhavereturnedandwecan’traisethemoverthehelmetradios.Forsomeminutesthealienshiphasbeenshakinglikealeaf.Thementhinkweshouldgofindoutwhatbecameofthecommander.”
“Doyouhaveanyideawhatitcouldbe?”askedScoobey.
“Nottheslightest.It’sshakingbackandforthconstantly.Icanwellimagineitisn’tacomfortableplaceforpeopletobe.”
“Doyouconsiderthesituationdangerous?”askedScoobey.
Landithoughtthateverythingonthisplanetwasathreattolifebutaloudhereplied:“Notdirectly,sir.”
“Staywhereyouare,”instructedtheofficer.“Don’tundertakeanythingbeforemygroupandIreachyou.Shouldasituationariseinwhichyoufearforthelivesoftheninemen,thenI’llletyouhaveafreehand.We’rehavingdifficultiestoo.Murgutthenativeiswithusandseemstobegoingcrazy.Dr.Lewellynhasnotbeenabletohelphimyet.Overandout.”
LandiswitchedthedevicebacktotheautomaticcallsignalbywhichScoobey’sgroupwasorientingitself.ItwasnowuptotheradiomanwhentheywouldfollowEverson’strail.Hisnewpowerofdecisiondidnotmakehimanyhappier.
Landilookedoveratthesourceofalltheirtrouble.Thetremblinghadeasedsomewhatbutnowhesawsomethingelse.Thincloudsofdusthanginglowoverthegroundweremovingintheirdirection.Unlesshewasmistaken,theyseemedtobegrowingthickerandrisingintotheair.
“Itlooksasthoughwe’regoingtogetanothersandstorm,”observedDealcour.
“Thewindstrengthhasalreadypickedup.”
“Thehurricanewillblowusallaway,”Landispeculatedgloomily.“We’lllosesightoftheship.”
Landiwantedtodosomethingbeforeitgottothatpoint.HeglancedquicklyatOgieva.Theblackstood,legsapart,inthestand,amightyfigurethatwouldnotbetroubledbyallthestormsintheUniverseputtogether.One’sfirstideaisalwaysthebest,Landithought.Aloudhesaid,“Let’sgo.”
Hedidnothavetosaywheretheyweregoing-theyallknew.
AsDr.Mortonforcedhisachingbodybackintoastandingposition,herealizedthathehadnotimeinwhichtobesick.Theconstantvibrationshaddiedawaytothepointthatonecouldwalkalongwithoutfearofbeinghurledtothefloor.
“I’monesolidbruise,”saidSgt.Delaney.“Ifeelmorebeatenaroundandabusedthanapieceofsteakpoundedintobeingtender.”
Eveninconnectionwiththesergeant,thethoughtofsteakwascheeringtoDr.Morton.HeascertainedthatTanakaandPentstevenhadalsowithstoodthetorture.Thenheturnedthebeamofhislightforwards.HeheardPentstevengroan.
“Takeanaccountingofyourinjurieslater,”hetoldtheastronomer.“We’regoingon.”
ThatwasthesoleplanDr.Mortonhadforcontinuingtheundertaking.Itwas,headmitted,rathersimpleandunimaginative.However,hedoubtedifanyonewouldhavecometoabetteridea…evenafterlongconsideration.
Theywentthroughthecorridor,fourpain-buckledfigures.Eachcarriedalampinonehandandwiththeotherfeltcarefullyoverthebody.
WhileDr.MortonwonderedifheshouldcallCol.Eversonoverthehelmet
radio,amanfellintotheircircleoflightafewmetersahead.Hewasnotwearingaspacesuit.
ItwasBellinger.Hewasinbadshape.Hishairwasdishevelledandtheshirtofhisuniformwastorn.Hestaggeredtowardthem,movingdiagonallyfromonewalltotheother,pushingoffwithhisarms.
ThedoctorcaughtBellingerashewasabouttoreelonpast.ThelieutenantdidnotseemtoseehimforhiseyesstaredpastDr.Morton.Hetriedtopushthemedicawaywithafeebleshove.Delaneyhurriedovertohelpsupportthenotexactlylightman.
“Canyouunderstandme,Ed?”askedDr.Mortonpenetratingly.“Wewanttohelpyou.Youmustleadustotheothers.”
Lt.Bellingerraisedhisrightarmwithanunendinglyslowmotion.Henarrowedhiseyesasthoughtryingtoenvisionagoalandthenbenthisindexfinger,firinganimaginaryweapon.WithaglanceDr.Mortonrealizedthatthespacemanwaslackinghisthermobeamer.
“There’sbeenafight,Ed,”hesaidpointedly.“Tellusaboutit.”
Bellingerlookedathimforthefirstime.Hiseyeswidenedsomewhat.Hetrembledviolently.“Ishotandkilledtheboy!”heexclaimed.
Thenhecollapsedandthetwomencouldholdhimonhisfeetonlywitheffort.Whilenotbeingaconspicuouslycourageousman,Dr.Mortonwasnocoward.Still,thelieutenant’swordssentachilldownhisspine.“DoyoumeanGoldstein?”heasked.
ButBellingerhadsufferedsuchasevereshockthathecouldnolongerspeakrationally.
Unconsciously,Dr.Mortonstoodupstraight.“Trytogetoutoftheshipandintotheopenwithhim,”hetoldPentsteven.“Don’tstopforanything.”
Theastronomernodded,hisfacepale,butcertainlyhewasgladfortheopportunitytoleavethealienship.TheescapewillhardlybepleasantwithpoorBellingeronhishands,thedoctorthought.
“We’llsearchfarther,”hesaid.“Eversoncan’tbefarawaynow.It’spossiblethatwe’llbedrawnintoafight.We’llactaccordingly.”
Hedrewhisshockpistol.ForabriefmomentitsbarrelcaughtthelightfromTanaka’slampandreflecteditbrightly.
Ifthere’sonlyoneshapechangerhere,thoughtthebeardedman,thenthisweaponisaboutaseffectiveasapea-shooter.
Ahuman-evenifheisamutant-cannotsimultaneouslystruggleforair,keephisbalanceamidconstantvibrationsandrepulseasuperbeingwhoseparanormalpowerisalmostinexhaustible.Thenatives’parawaveswerenolongerenoughtoholdNapoleonback.Crouchingonthefloor,Goldsteinfelthiscontrolofhisownmentalfacultiesfadingaway.
Napoleon’sfaceappearedinhismind.TheGreensmiled.Hisheadswayedsomewhatfromsidetoside.Itlookedasthoughanoldmanwasthoughtfullyshakinghisheadtoshowhisdisapprovalofmisbehavingchildren.
Itwasnotmyintentiontofightyouwithsuchruthlessness,themoleculartransformitetoldhimtelepathically,butyourconductforcedmetoextrememeasures.Yourreasoningshouldhavetoldyouthatanyresistancewasuseless.
Goldstein’stelepathicfeelerscouldnolongertakeholdoftheGreen’sradiation.Hisenemynowhadhimcompletelyinhispower.Withgrowingterror,themutantrealizedthatsoonhewouldagainbeahelplesstool,carryingoutallordersandactingatNapoleon’swhim.
Helaythere,overcomebyexhaustionandhopelessness.Everson,WeissandSternalhadcollapsedintounconsciousness.Goldsteinhadonlytostretchouthisarmtotouchthecommander.
Itwouldbebestifwelefttheshiptogether,saidNapoleononcemore.Itisnotingoodcondition.Ihadtoactivateafewdeviceswhichcouldleadtoacatastrophe.Iwasforcedtodosobyyourobstinacy.Ineededtimetoadjustmyselftothementalpressurethatyouwereconcentratinginyourmindand
relayingontome.Theideawasnotbadbutinthelongrunyoucouldnotstandupagainstme.SinceIcouldnotseizeyoumentally,Ifirstovercameyouphysically.Whenwegooutnow,astormwillbeunderwaywhichwillpreventyourfriendsfromattemptinganyuncautiousacts.Theywillhaveenoughtodostayingontheirfeet.WhenIhaveputthemoneaftertheotherundermycontrol,thewindwilldiedownandwecangobacktoyourspaceship.I’llhaveenoughtimeuntilit’sflightworthyagaintopickoutthemostdocilemembersofthecrew.Withtheirhelp,I’llthentakeoff.TheotherswillbeleftbehindonMoluk.Theycanbusythemselveswiththeprimitivenativesandtheirfurtherdevelopment.
Goldsteindidnotasktowhichgrouphebelonged.Nomatterwhichsidefromwhichonelookedatit,theprospectofspendingtherestofone’slifeamongtheGreenswasnotespeciallycheering.Evenso,itseemedbettertohimthanmentalenslavementaboardtheMexico.HedidnotdarethinkofwhattheshapechangerhadinmindfortheTerrancruiser.Napoleon’sactionwaspiracy,accordingtothelawsoftheSolarImperium,buttherewasnoonewhocouldpunishhimforit.
OnceagainthetelepathtriedtoconcentrateontheGreens’parawaves.However,nosoonerhadhethoughtaboutitthanpainspreadoutinhisbrainandhebecameincapableofusinghisparanormalpowers.Napoleonhadparalysedtherelevantsectionofhisbrainwithapsychoblock.Themutant’sforceofwillwasnotenoughtodoanythingagainstit.Hisextrasenseswereinvoluntarilycrippledsystemsthatrefusedtoperformanyfunction.
“Ihopeyou’vefinallyconvincedyourselfoftheuselessnessofyourexperiments,”saidNapoleonaloud.“You’llsaveyourselfhardmeasuresfrommysidethatway.Afterall,Iwouldn’twanttoleaveyoubehindonMoluk,amentalwreck.”
EversoncametopreventingGoldsteinfrommakingadangerouslysarcasticreply.TheColonelsatupwithdifficultyandsomewhatuncertainlygottohisfeet.Goldsteinlookedupathimandsmiledwanly.
“Itdoesn’tlookgood,doesit?”Eversoninquired.
“Nosir,”saidGoldstein,indicatingNapoleon.“Hewantstogooutwithusnow.Heonlyledusaroundinheresothathecouldgetmeunderhiscontrol.
Andnowhe’sdoneit.”
Inasinglesmoothmotion,theColonelrippedouthisthermobeamerandfired.Goldsteinwouldhaveswornthatnobeingcouldhavereactedatthatspeed.
However,theglowingbeamthatthemutanthadexpecteddidnotcome.
“Don’theafool,”warnedNapoleon.“There’llbenomoreofthat.”
Eversonshruggedandshovedhisweaponback.HeglanceddownatGoldstein.“Ionlywantedtotryit,”hemurmured.
HegentlyproddedWeissandSternalwiththetipsofhisboots.Thebiologistgrumbledsomething.Tenminuteslater,theywereallontheirfeet.Bellingerhaddisappeared.Goldsteindecidednottomentionthelieutenant’sunsuccessfulattemptatshootinghim.Withoutadoubt,themanhadbeenunderNapoleon’sinfluence.
“Youcanputyourspacesuitsbackon,”saidNapoleon,histonefriendly.“Iwillaccompanyyou.Reachingforyourweaponsisuseless.Theyaren’tusable.”
Atthatmomentasmall,stockymaninaspacesuitappearedattheotherendofthecorridor.Hishelmetwasopenandabeardedfacecouldbemadeoutinside.Heheldaweaponinhishand.
“Hello,Doc,”saidEverson.
Dr.MortonstretchedtolookpastthecommanderatNapoleon.Heputhislightbackinitscase,fortheareawasnowbrightlylit.SgtDelaneyandEijiTanakaappearedbehindhim.WhentheysawEversonandtheothers,theirfacesshowedrelief.
ThedoctorpushedpastEversonandtrainedhisthermobeameronNapoleon.Hischeeksgrewredwithanger.
“Doc,”saidEverson,“IthinktherearesomethingsI’dbettertellyoubeforeyougetusallintotrouble.”
AntonioLandiwouldneverhavebelievedthat100meterswouldbeadistanceitwouldrequirehimmorethanafewminutestotraverse.Whentheybadgoneathirdoftheway,theshipwasalreadyhiddenincloudsofdustandsand.Theyhadtomarchagainstthewindandtheradiomanhadtheunpleasantfeelingthattheywerebeingblownthreestepsbackforeverysteptheytookforward.Heknewthattheothermenwerestrugglingonwiththesamesenselessobstinacywithoutdoinganybetterthanhewas.Landihadbecomeamachinemovinghislegsinsilentresignation,althoughhewasawareofbeinginmotion.Sandanddustpatteredagainsthim,swirledaroundhissuit,floodedabouthimlikewater.Hebentintothewindasthoughitwereasolidwall.Withallhisstrengthhestrainedforward,stepbystep,withonefreearmpaddlingwildlyagainstthethrust.
Thensomethingcametowardshimoutofthegloom.Hesquintedsothathecouldseebetter.
Itwasamaninaspacesuit.Landiwaved.Theyfinallymetandstopped.Athirdmanappeared,crouchingthroughthemaelstromtowardsthem.
“Everythingalright?”askedthemannexttoLandi.
Landirecognizedtherich,manlyvoiceatonce.“Sir!”hestammered.“Howdidyougethere?”
“Youmightsaythewindblewus,”saidtheColonel.“Theothersarerightbehindme.”
Asthoughtoconfirmhiswords,someshapelesssilhouettesappearedinthewallsofsand.Landicouldhaveshoutedloudlyinsheerrelief.“Whathappened?”heasked.“Dideverythinggowell,sir?”
Sometimewentbybeforethecommanderanswered.“Napoleonisashapechanger.Atthemomenthehastheupperhand.HistargetistheMexico.”
Landi,whoalsohadbeenaboardtheguppywhosecrewhadfallenundertheinfluenceofMataal,felthisjoytransformedintoalarm.“Whatshouldwedonow,sir?”heaskedlowly.
HeknewtheanswerevenbeforetheColonelpronouncedit.Theydidn’thaveeventheghostofachanceagainstthiscreature.Onceluckandchancehadcometotheirhelp.Luckisararethingandrepeatsitselfonlyinfrequently.Theradiomanwouldhavelikedtobelievethattheywouldovercomealldangers.However,realitylookedasthoughtheywereatanend.
Amidtheragingelements,thespacemanbecameawarethatanyhopeforrescuewasonlyself-deception.
8/ENDOFTHERACE
Thecallsignalhaddied.Threehoursbefore,ithadsoundedhesitantlyafewtimes,thenfinallyitwentsilentaltogether.WaltScoobeywonderedifthedarkcloudsvisibleonthehorizoninthedistancehadanythingtodowithit.Itwasundoubtedlyamassofdustbeingdrivenintotheairbyastorm.Thebadweatherwasevidentlytakingplacewheretheirgoallay.InvaintheFirstOfficertriedtotellhimselfthatnothingwashappeningtotheexpedition.HehopedthattheywouldhavereachedLandi’spositionbeforethenexttwohourshadpassed.WhethertheywouldthenencounterthemenwasaquestionthatWaltScoobeydidnotdaretrytoanswer.
Theyweremakinggoodprogress.Murgut’sstrangeattackhadpassed.ThenativehadrecoverednicelyafterhavingbeengivenaninjectionbyDr.Lewellyn.Nowhewasmoreconvincedthaneverthattheweaponsofhisfriendsweremightierthanallthespritsofthedesertputtogether.Hestaredrespectfullyagainandagainattheraycannonbeingtransportedbytherobots.
Nospaceshiphullnotprotectedbyenergyscreenscouldholdupunderanattackbythisweapon.Scoobeywonderediftheeffectonghostsanddemonswouldbeasimpressiveastheeffecttowhichonewasaccustomedonsolidmatter.
Thestormhadebbedtothepointthatthespacemencouldstandupright.Theareagraduallygrewlightagain.Napoleonkeptawayfromthegroup.HegavehisorderstelepathicallytoGoldstein,whohadtopassthemon.
Twoattemptsatattackingthemoleculartransformitehadfailedmiserably.NapoleonhadannounceddrasticpunishmentsshouldtherebeathirdattemptGoldsteinguessedthatthefalseGreenwasnowintheactofputtingthemalloneaftertheotherunderhismentalcontrol.Oncehehaddonethat,theywereirretrievablylost.Ogieva,Bellinger,DealcourandvariousothersalreadypresentedsuchanapatheticaspectthatthemutantsuspectedtheywerealreadymasteredbyNapoleon.Goldsteinhadlonggivenuptryingtoresistthetelepathicorders.Thelastmoleculartransformitewasabletoshrugoffanyactiononthepartofthemutant.Theymovedslowlythroughthedyingwind,30depressedTerransandonelong-leggedbeingwhosetrueshapeonlyafewmencouldimagine.
Goldsteindidnottakenoteofthetimethatpassedbyduringtheirslowmarch.ItwaspurelymeaninglesswhentheyreachedtheMexico.Thesunreappearedatsomepointduringthemarch.Itwasalreadylowoverthehorizon.
Thedesertwasquietagainandtherewasnothingtoindicatethatahurricanehadblownoveritjustafewhoursbefore.Goldstein’sbodyhurtindifferentplaces.AfeelingofparalysiswasspreadinginthearmhehadinjuredduringthecrashoftheMexico.Aglanceattheothersshowedthemutantthatnotoneofthemwasingoodshape.Bellingerhadtobesupportedbytwomen.Pentsteven,theyoungastronomer,draggedhisrightlegbehindhim.
ThemutantlookedatEverson.Evenifhehadwantedto,hewouldnothavebeenabletopickupthecommander’sthoughts.
JustasGoldsteinwasabouttoglancedownattheground,adarkspotappearedonadistantduneahead.Soonasecondappeared.BeforeGoldsteincouldsayanything,therewasanentiregroup.
Scoobeyandhismen!
I’vealreadyseenthem,saidNapoleoninhismind.Theycan’thelpyou.
Withoutstopping,thetwogroupsmovedtowardeachother.Goldsteinnoticedtherobotspullingaraycannon.Hesmiledpainfully.Thesizeoftheweaponwas
utterlymeaningless.AsurprisewasinstoreforScoobey.
ThenGoldsteinsawtheGreen.HewalkedbehindScoobey’smen,hislonglegsmovingoverthesandintheinimitablestyleofhisrace.ItwasprobablyMurgut.Themutantgraduallybecameawareofwhohadservedasamentalrelaystationforhim.
Athoughtshotthroughhismindlikelightning.Wasn’titpossiblethatNapoleon’sparanormalpowerwouldbeweakenedbytheproximityofthenative?Goldsteintrieddesperatelytotakeholdofthenative’sthoughtpattern.Nothinghappened.Theshapechangerhaddonehisworkcarefullyandnotleftthemutantanychances.
Theywerestill50metersapartwhenScoobey’svoicesoundedintheirreceivers.“Itlooksasthoughwewenttoallourtroublefornothing,sir,”hesaidhappily.“Ihopethatyourexpeditionwassuccessful.”
Eversonexplainedtohimwhatkindofsuccessthey’dhad.Hehadtobringallhisabilityinconvincingargumenttobeartoconvincetheofficerofthesenselessnessofanattack.
AfterawhileMurgutmovedtogogreethisassumedcompatriot
Keephimawayfromme!Napoleonorderedtelepathically.
AlthougheverythinginGoldsteinstruggledagainstit,hecouldnotrefusetoobeytheorder.Everynervefibreinhimfoughtthementalpressurefromthemoleculartransformite.Hisheadseemedlikeabuzzingbeehive.ButhislegsmovedhimtowardMurgutinordertocuthimofffromNapoleon.
Faster!camethementalcommand.
Goldsteinknewthatitwaswrongbuthebegantorun.HeracedacrossthesandtocatchupwithMurgut.Meanwhile,anoddchainofthoughtwasforminginhismind.TheclosertheGreencametohisfalsefriend,theweakerNapoleon’spressureonthemutant’spowerofdecisionbecame.Inreturn,theGreen’sparawaveswereintensifying.NowGoldsteinranofhisownvolition.Asheran,hedrewhisgun.ButhehadunderestimatedNapoleon.Now,whenthebeinghadbeguntolosecontroloverhim,Napoleonfellbackonothermethods.Directlyinfrontofthemutant,afountainofsandspewedintotheairwith
enoughforcetoteartheheadoffabull.AjumpbackwardsbroughtGoldsteintosafety.Hehadnotimetoseeiftheothersinvolvedthemselvesinthestruggle.MurgutmarchedunsuspectinglytowardsNapoleon.Thentheshapechangerbegantoflee.
Goldstein’seyesweresealedshutwithsweat.Hefiredwithoutaiming.“It’sademon!”hecriedtoMurgut.InhisexcitementhehadcalledoutinEnglish.Quicklyherepeatedhimselfsothatthenativecouldunderstand.
Themoleculartransformitestumbledandfell.Murgutreachedhimfirst.ThemutantdidnotdareshootforfearofhittingtheGreen.Horrified,hewatchedMurguthelptheenemytohisfeet.HowcouldheexplaintotheGreenthatNapoleonwasanenemy?Goldsteincalledonthelastreservesofenergyinhisbody.Ahugeholeformedinthesandinfrontofhim.Hestumbledandalmostfellin.Onlytheinaccuracyofthemaliciousattackhadsavedhim.Heranaroundthecrater.Histerrifiedeyeswatchedthesandbetweenhimandthemoleculartransformitebegintorise.Likeagiganticwave,itrolledtowardshim.InspiteoftheGreen’simmediateproximity,themoleculartransformitecouldstillinfluencematterashewished.
“Duck,Sammy!”shoutedavoiceinhishelmetloudspeaker.
Hethrewhimselfdown,expectingatanymomenttobeburiedunderawallofsand.Somethinghissedhotandangrilyoverhim.Heraisedhisheadcautiously.Theartificialwallhadcometoahalt.Witheffort,Goldsteinscrambledoverit.
Murgutkneltbeforethemotionlessfigureofthelastmemberofaverystrangerace.TheshotfromathermoweaponhadoddlychangedNapoleon.Henolongerlookedthinandfragile.Thewrinklesofhisfacehadsmoothedout.Hewashalf-buriedinsandbutthatwhichthemutantcouldseenolongerhadanythingincommonwithaGreen.
IndeathNapoleonhadassumedhistrueform.
SomeoneslowlycameuptoGoldstein’sside.ItwasCol.Everson.
“Whofiredtheshot?”askedthemutantsoftly.
“Arobot,”answeredEversonquietly.
TogethertheydrewMurgutawayfromthecorpse.Nowthatthebattlewasover,Goldsteinfeltnotriumph.EventhethoughtthatinafewdaystheywouldreturnunhinderedtotheEarthintheMexicocouldnotpullhimoutofhisdepressedmood.
