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diff --git a/23339-8.txt b/23339-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e43b81 --- /dev/null +++ b/23339-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1345 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Indirection, by Everett B. Cole + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Indirection + +Author: Everett B. Cole + +Illustrator: Freas + +Release Date: November 5, 2007 [EBook #23339] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIRECTION *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + INDIRECTION + + _The best way to keep a secret is to publish it in a + quite unbelievable form--and insist that it is the truth._ + + BY EVERETT B. COLE + + Illustrated by Freas + + +Elwar Forell leaned back in his chair, looking about the small dining +salon. The usual couples were there, he noticed. Of course, the faces +were different from those of last evening, but the poses were similar. +And the people were there for the same reasons. They were enjoying the +food and drinks, just as many others had enjoyed them before. But like +all those others, their greater enjoyment was in the company of one +another. Forell glanced at the vacant chair across the table from him +and sighed. + +It would be nice, he thought, if-- But any arrangement involving a +permanent companion would be hardly practical under his circumstances. +After all, prudence dictated limits. + +He picked up his cup and drained it, then leaned back and beckoned the +waiter over. + +"The reckoning, please," he ordered. + +He looked again at the letter on the table before him, then folded it +and put it in his pocket. It was well, he thought. His latest book of +fairy tales and fantasy had enjoyed good acceptance. And the check in +the letter had been of satisfactory size. He smiled to himself. There +were compensations in this job of his. It seemed to be profitable to +have a purpose other than the obvious and usual one. + +He paid his bill and left the restaurant, to walk slowly along the +street, enjoying the mild, spring air. + +As he passed a sidewalk café, a man beckoned from one of the tables. + +"Oh, Forell," he called. "I was hoping I'd see you this evening." He +held up a book. + +"Just finished your 'Tales of the Sorcerers,'" he added. "Some of those +yarns of yours seem almost real." + +Elwar Forell nodded. They should, he thought. Factual material, however +disguised, often shines through its fictional background. And he had an +inexhaustible source of material, drawn from many sources. He twisted +his face into a gratified smile. + +"That's my objective," he said aloud. "I do all in my power to place the +reader inside the story." + +Charo Andorra nodded. "It's the secret of good fiction, I know," he +admitted, "and every storyteller tries to do it. But I seem to see more +than that in your stuff. There's an almost believable pattern." He +hesitated. "You know, while I'm reading it, I can almost see beings of +superior powers walking the earth. And sometimes, I visualize us working +with them." He laughed shortly. + +"Of course, I may be more credulous and imaginative than most. Probably +why I'm a critic. And I really should know better." He looked down at +the book in his hands. + +"But that stuff of yours can be mighty convincing." He tilted his head. +"Somehow, I can't help but look at some of the old legends--and some of +the things that have happened in more recent years, too. Can't help but +wonder if we actually are babes of the cosmos, and if we haven't been +visited and watched by some form of extra-planetary life at one time or +another." + +Forell looked closely at his friend. Andorra, he knew, was a clear +thinker in his own right. And he just might start a serious +analysis--and publish it. He grimaced. It wasn't time for that, he knew. +Many years must pass before it would be time. + +He placed a hand on the back of Andorra's chair, remembering the words +of one of the teachers. + +_"Remember, Elwar," he had been told, "your objective is clear, but your +methods must be most indirect--even unclear. Some things you must +obscure in a mass of obviously imaginative detail, while you bring +others to the fore. You must hint. You must suggest. You should never +fully explain or deny. And you must never be guilty of definite, direct +falsehood._ + +_"There may come a time when you will be directly questioned--when +discovery of your real background and purpose seems imminent, and you +will have to take positive action. For such an eventuality, I cannot +outline any steps, or even any definite plan of action, since I neither +fully understand many of the factors involved, nor have any way of +knowing the circumstances which may arise. You'll have to prepare +yourself for almost anything, always keeping in mind the peculiarities +and capabilities of your own people."_ + +It looked as though the time might have come. If Andorra, a clever, +influential critic, should guess at the real background and the sources +of the Forell tales, and if he should misunderstand the motives behind +those tales, he would probably publish his thoughts. And those thoughts +would be widely read. Many would smile as they read and regard the thing +as a hoax. But others might start their own analyses. And some of those +might come to highly undesirable conclusions and cause undesirable, +even disastrous, reactions. It would be many generations before clear +explanations could be made and definite principles outlined without +causing misunderstanding and serious damage. The Forell tales were +evasive and preparatory as well as vaguely instructive. + +[Illustration] + +He recovered his self-discipline and waved his hand negligently. + +"You know, Charo," he said laughingly, "I've been thinking along similar +lines for a long while. Of course, you know I must have built up some +sort of fantasy world to base my yarns on?" + +Andorra nodded. "That's obvious. I've been wondering about some of your +basic theory. Like to see your notes some time." + +Forell spread his hands. "You're quite welcome to look them over," he +said. "Come on up to my rooms now." He smiled. "As a matter of fact, +I've been doing a little extension on my dream world. Built up a little +sketch a while ago, and I'm not just sure what to do with it." + + * * * * * + +As they entered the study, Forell walked across to his desk. He fumbled +for a few seconds under the desk, then opened a drawer. For a moment, he +paused, looking inside, then pulled out a thin folder. Again, he +hesitated. At last, he picked a small, metallic object from the drawer +and held it in his left hand. + +"Might need this," he told himself. "If I'm wrong, it'll take a sector +patrolman to straighten out the mess. And I could be wrong--two ways." + +Casually, he placed his left hand in his pocket, then he turned toward +Andorra, holding out the folder. + +"Here," he said. "See what you think of this one." + +Andorra opened the folder, taking out a few sheets of paper. He read for +a moment, then looked up quizzically. + +"A little different from your usual style, isn't it?" + +Forell nodded, watching the man tensely. "I'm trying something new," he +said. "Go ahead and read it, then tell me what you think." + +He busied himself with a bottle and glasses. + + * * * * * + +INFORMAL MEMO + + 130-263 + From: Explorations Officer, Sector Nine + To: Ecological Officer + Subject: Incident Report + +Enclosed is the file on that recent occurrence on Planet 3-G3-9/4871, +consisting of the certificates and statements of the various officers +and guardsmen concerned, together with a digest of the interrogation of +Elwar Forell, a young planetary native, who appears to have been the +instigator. + +It seems to me that something is seriously wrong with our system of +operation, at least on the subject planet. After all, our operations +have the purpose of research and observation, with a view to protection +and development. Certainly, we cannot create chaos. And knowledge of our +existence by very young cultures would certainly cause just that. We've +got to clear this up in a hurry. The Elder Galactics are most certain to +be unhappy about it in any event, and I don't like to make them unhappy. + +Obviously, there was a chain of errors, and some of our people concerned +will have to be reassigned for further training, but that's just the +beginning. I've recalled all the observers from this planet, pending +reorganization, and we've got to come up with an answer that'll prevent +further occurrences of this nature, as well as covering this affair on +the planet concerned. + +I realize that the situation has some of the elements of comedy, and I +presume that it will eventually be regarded with considerable amusement, +but right at the moment, my sense of humor is working very poorly. + +I have a few ideas of my own, but would like to have your +recommendations and those of other section officers before I make any +final decision or report. I am calling a conference on this incident at +280.1000, so make a full investigation on this, and give me some +practical recommendation as soon as possible. + + CIJORN + 6 enclosures + + +STATEMENT + +I, Florand Anremdor, am assigned to the Communications Branch, +Exploratory Section, Sector Nine. + +At 261.0196, I was on duty in the emergency communications room at +Increment Four. A call came in from Resident Station number fourteen, +Planet 3-G3-9/4871, requesting emergency condensation over the immediate +station area. Co-ordinates were not given and I checked the planetary +co-ordinates with the call sign and the Communications List. I added +these to the message and forwarded the request to the Patrol Duty +Officer for his action. + +There was no visual on the call, but the voice sounded urgent. I relayed +the request without requiring special authentication, since the station +was precisely on the correct settings, no inimical culture is known to +be operating in this sector, and the coded call was correct. At the +time, I had no way of suspecting that this was not a genuine emergency +call. + + Florand Anremdor + Comm. 1/c + + +CERTIFICATE + +I, Captain Binkar Morancos, am assigned to the 334th Vector, which is +presently under the orders of the Commander, Sector Nine. + +I was assigned as Sector Patrol Duty Officer at 261.0200, when a message +was relayed from Increment Four, requesting emergency condensation on a +planet in that increment. I checked the co-ordinates and data furnished, +consulted the situation chart, and instructed Cruiser P-4730, Captain +Klorantel commanding, to carry out the mission. + +Since the message came through normal channels, I had no doubt as to its +authenticity, and treated it as routine. I felt that the cruiser +commander could deal with the matter at his discretion. + + Binkar Morancos + Capt. StG(C) + + +CERTIFICATE + +I, Captain Corrondao Klorantel, am in command of the Stellar Guard +Cruiser _Myloren_, number P-4730. I am assigned to duty with the 334th +Vector, which is operating in Sector Nine. + +The _Myloren_ was on routine patrol in the Fourth Increment at 261.0203, +when a message was received from Sector Headquarters, giving +co-ordinates on Planet 3-G3-9/4871, with a request for emergency +condensation. I proceeded to the subject planet and took position +outside the atmosphere. Visual checks failed to show any emergency +condition on the surface, though a burned-out area was noted in the +forest a short distance to the planetary south of the station concerned. +A call was made to the resident station, requesting clarification of the +request, and the answer proved to be unsatisfactory. + +There was no visual transmission, and the voice was strongly accented. +The message gave insufficient data for action, contained no +identification, and was in improper form for station-to-ship contact. I +decided to make contact by other means, and shifted my secondary +communicator to the guardsman's personal settings, requesting further +information, suitable identification, and confirmation of the request. +Guardsman Jaeger immediately informed me that the call was spurious, +stating that he was away from his station, and that he would return +immediately. During the conversation, I noted that full condensation was +taking place to atmospheric limits. + +I called Auxiliary, and Technician Melran stated that his control +circuits were inoperative and that he was tracing the difficulty. He +cleared the trouble, but condensation had already been established and +precipitation had commenced. I ordered re-absorption, which was started +as soon as repairs had been accomplished. + +At the request of Guardsman Jaeger, we stood by to render aid if +necessary, maintaining contact with his station. At 0572, Jaeger +requested immediate evacuation for himself and for one other person. I +entered atmosphere, made planetfall with nullified visibility, and took +off the guardsman and a young native. During the evacuation, I noted a +number of natives armed with various implements, who were attempting to +break their way into the station. Guardsman Jaeger fired his demolitions +as he left, firing the screen generator with his last flare. For a few +minutes, the natives fell back before the flames, but they were entering +the station by the time we cleared the planet. It is believed that the +installation was completely destroyed. + + Corrondao Klorantel + Capt. StG(C) + Commanding P-4730 + + +STATEMENT + +I, Danaeo Melran, am assigned to the Patrol Cruiser _Myloren_, number +P-4730, for duty. + +At 261.0204, I was on duty in Auxiliary Equipment when Captain Klorantel +called, informing me that a request had come in for emergency +condensation. He told me to set up and await execution order. I preset +two forward radiators for forty kilometers at low condensation, with a +three kilometer radius at surface. I then put the controls on automatic +trigger, notified the captain, and went on with my normal duties. At +0221, we came out of trans-light, and I adjusted my equipment for +slow-drive operation. + +At 0223, my indicators showed activity on the forward radiators. I +checked and discovered that full power was being applied. Attempts to +override the automatics were unsuccessful, and while I was attempting to +clear the trouble, the captain called again, saying that the request was +false, and asking why I had turned the radiators on. I told him that the +controls were jammed, and he instructed me to make repairs and set up +re-absorption. + +I discovered a short between the automatic trigger and the ship's +secondary communication antenna. After clearing this, I found trouble in +the control section of the condensation driver. The automatic trigger +had become fused, and the control paths were shorted to full-drive +throughout. The sub-assemblies were replaced and trouble cleared by +0300. I then set up re-absorption as ordered. + + Danaeo Melran + Eq Tech 3/c + + +STATEMENT + +I, Franz Jaeger, am Resident Guardsman at Station Fourteen, Planet +3-G3-9/4871. + +I have been assigned to my station for eight planetary years for survey +and observation duty. During the past five years, I have employed Elwar +Forell, the son of a local peasant, to keep the living quarters clean +and to do general work about the station. I have never discussed the +possibilities of extra-planetary civilization with him, and I have been +careful to exclude him from knowledge of my technical equipment, which I +have kept in a secure room in accordance with regulations. I have +presented myself to him, as well as to all the villagers in my area, as +a scholar, tired of city life, and desirous of a quiet existence. + +There has been a drought in part of my area for the entire season. We +have suffered from one forest fire and there is a strong possibility of +others. Crops are doing very badly, and the peasants have been +complaining bitterly. This is not an unheard-of situation, but it has +caused considerable discomfort and worry, since there is a very definite +threat of famine. There have been numerous attempts to obtain rain by +occult means, and I have been personally approached on the matter. For +some time, the villagers in the immediate area of the station have +regarded me as a sorcerer, and I have been asked to cast a spell to +cause rain. + +I had considered a request for light condensation, but had hesitated to +make such a request, since I felt that rain closely following the +villagers' petition to me would confirm their supernatural beliefs, +which I have attempted to discourage. + +At 261.0223, I was on a routine tour of my area. I received a call from +the cruiser _Myloren_, Captain Klorantel commanding, asking for further +information on a request for emergency condensation. I informed him that +I had made no such request, adding that a light rain would be desirable +if he were in position and prepared to radiate. + +During the conversation with Captain Klorantel, I noted that the sky was +darkening. There were several flashes of lightning, and I felt the signs +of imminent, heavy rain. I promptly started back to my station. + +Upon my arrival, I discovered that Elwar had managed to open the +communications room and had been using the equipment. He was extremely +frightened, and made incoherent remarks about talking to a demon. When I +attempted to question him as to how he had opened the room, and where he +had learned the operation of the communications equipment, he became +hysterical and I could find out precisely nothing. + +By this time, it was raining violently. There was a high wind. Several +trees had been blown down and lightning was frequent. A flood was +starting down the mountainside toward the village, threatening severe +damage. It was quite apparent that crops, such as they were, would be +almost completely destroyed. + +At the time, I could do little to remedy the situation. I re-established +contact with the cruiser, informed Captain Klorantel of the situation, +and requested that he stand by. I then turned on my viewsphere to keep +watch on the village from the communications room. Since Elwar had been +in the room on several previous occasions, I saw no reason for excluding +him. On the contrary, I thought it would be advisable to keep him with +me, since I felt that he would be seriously injured if he were turned +loose in the village. I do not believe he would have survived the fury +of the villagers, who had taken shelter, and were watching the +destruction of their crops. + +The flood had become a torrent, which overflowed the banks of the +village brook, tore at the bridge, and swept through the lanes. In the +fields, grain was beaten into the ground and it was clear that the +villagers would have little or no harvest to celebrate during the +approaching festival. The wind grew in force, lashing at the tall +festival pole, which bent, crashed down in the village square, and +partially demolished the front of the inn. + +During this period, there was no human activity, since everyone had +taken what shelter he could find. + +At 0448, the rain slackened, the wind died down, and people started +gathering in the square. For a time, they milled about, wading through +the ebbing flood. They examined the damage, then they gathered in +groups, talking earnestly. + +The dry wind came up at 0510, and by 0550, the entire village was on the +march toward my station. Their intentions were quite easy to determine. +They were armed with pitchforks, scythes, axes, and other tools which +could be converted to offensive use. I established a protective screen, +but realized that to set up a permanent defense would be impractical and +even harmful. I therefore called the cruiser, requesting evacuation for +myself and for young Forell. Prior to evacuation, I demolished all my +fixed equipment, so that the only things left for the villagers to find +when they entered the station were damaged remains of those things +normal for a recluse scholar of their era. + + Franz Jaeger + Observer 2/c + + +INFORMAL MEMO + + 130-265 + + From: Evaluations Officer + To: Explorations Officer + Subject: Interrogation + +Enclosed is a digest of the interrogation of one, Elwar Forell, who was +evacuated from forty-eight seventy-one, in company with Guardsman +Jaeger. This boy was abjectly terrified and had to be calmed several +times during questioning. He was pitiably hysterical when recalling his +conversation with Captain Klorantel, who, you will remember, is a +capriform humanoid. + +The subject appears to be an intelligent specimen of his race, and when +he had conquered his hysteria, was extremely co-operative, showing +active interest in his surroundings. I believe he would be able to +assimilate training, and would make a valuable addition to the Stellar +Guard. I recommend his retention and training. + +If Elwar is a typical "son of a simple peasant," and if the planet from +which he comes has any considerable number of "simple peasants" with +sons like him, I can foresee some strangely interesting problems in +connection with further dealings on that planet. + + FONZEC + 1 enclosure + + +DIGEST + +Interrogation of Elwar Forell, native of Planet 3-G3-9/4871. + +"My Masters, I did mean no harm, but only good. I have long known that +my master was possessed of power denied to most men. When I was +apprenticed to him five years ago, I thought I would one day learn some +of the dark secrets of the hidden worlds, but never did my master +mention aught of those secrets he so surely knew. He taught me only of +those things known to the scholars. He told me of reading, of writing, +and of ciphering, and taught me many facts of our world which are known +to the learned. I wished to know of many other things, but of these he +was silent. Even so, I am grateful for his teachings, for how else could +the son of a simple peasant gain the knowledge of the scholars? + +"I saw that my master often repaired to a room which I was never allowed +to enter. This room he cleaned himself. And he always entered in the +greatest of secrecy, being quite cross with me when I once betrayed +curiosity. I remained curious, however, and fell at last to watching him +in secret as he opened the door. + +"He slid aside a secret panel, then turned a wheel this way and that, +finally pushing a handle. I watched, at last learning to what numbers he +did turn the wheel, and how he pushed the handle. During his absences, I +went sometimes to that room of magic, and I read the books of power, +though there was much I could not read, since much of the writing was in +strange tongues and I dared not ask my master the meanings of the +strange words. But for his own convenience, my master had written many +instructions plainly. And these, I read. + +"I did learn that there were powers beyond those of men. I learned that +these strange instruments on the table did have strange ability to call +forth demons and spirits, but never until that day did I dare touch +other than the books and papers. And those I took great care to restore +to their original condition. + +"For three months past, my father's land and the fields of his neighbors +have been dry. During this time, there has been no rain, nor hint of +rain, and the peasants have cried out for relief. They have appealed +even to my master, who has told them that he has no strange powers--that +he can do naught to call up rain. But they did not believe him, nor did +I, Elwar, who knew better than this. I had seen the books of power, and +I knew the demons could cause the skies to deliver water if rightly +asked. So, I visited the room of magic upon the occasions of my master's +absence. And I tried to decipher his writings that I might find the +means to ask for the skies to open. Always, when I felt my master's +presence approaching, I left the room, taking care to properly lock the +door and to hide all evidence of my entry. + +"On that day of direful events, I found a paper in my master's hand. It +mentioned fire in the forests. It mentioned rain. And it had on it words +of power. + +"For a time, I practiced the strange syllables. Many times did I speak +them aloud, then I pressed the bosses on the table, as shown by one of +the books. There was a light. Then, the great ball glowed with color, to +show me the first demon. + +"He spoke. And I conquered my fear, to repeat the syllables I had +labored to learn. Once again, he spoke, and I could not understand him. +I could think of nothing but to say again those words which I hoped +would bring the rain we so badly needed. I took my hands from the bosses +and stood, wondering what would happen. The ball became dark. + +"I stood, waiting. And nothing happened. Finally, thinking nothing was +to occur, I turned and started to leave the room. Then, a great voice +spoke. Again, the wall was alight. Within it was a fearsome demon who +glared at me ferociously and demanded something in that tongue of power. +I could not think. I stood, trembling fearfully. And he spoke again. +Then did I repeat again the words I had learned, and ran from the room. + +"It became dark. The lightnings flashed, and the rain fell, and my +master came, but not as I had ever seen him before. He did not walk from +the forest as was his wont, but appeared before me from the air. I +started back in fright, for now I was certain beyond doubt that he was a +man of great wizardry. I thought he would beat me, or possibly cast me +under a spell. + +"Never has he beaten me, always saying that it was wrong to beat an +apprentice, and that those who so did were lacking in their senses. And +this is but another proof of his sorcery, for who, other than a +sorcerer, could handle his servants without beating them? + +"I dared do nothing other than to tell him of my misdoing, and he +rushed to the room, taking me with him. He pressed the bosses, turning +one that I had not known of, and the demon appeared again and talked +with him. Then, my master made strange passes about the instruments and +the village was shown in the ball. + +"At last the rain stopped. A wind blew--hot and dry, as from the +pit--and the people came and did try by violence to enter. But they +could not. At last, the great machine came, and though we could not at +first see it, we entered and were carried away through the sky. + +"The people watched the house burn, then entered, to scatter the ashes. + +"And I am here, and afraid." + + * * * + +Doer Kweiros flipped off the playback and gazed at the unresponsive +wall. He rubbed the back of his head, looked at the viewsphere, then +checked the playback index and tapped the rewind. + +"Oh, me," he complained sorrowfully, "how do we get into these things?" + +He looked toward the communicator controls unhappily, then reached out +and dialed a number. The sphere lit and an alert face looked at him +inquiringly. + +"How is that Forell boy?" + +"Soaking up information like a sponge, sir." + +Kweiros nodded. "Gathered he might," he remarked. "Send him up here, +will you? And have Jaeger come with him." + +"Yes, sir." + +Kweiros snapped the communicator off, sat back to drum idly on his desk, +then got up and walked over to his master file control board. He glanced +at the index, then punched out a sequence on the buttons. There was a +subdued hum and a door opened. Kweiros reached into the compartment, to +take out several tape reels. He glanced at them, nodded, and went back +to the desk, where he spread them out and looked from one to another. +Finally, he selected one of the smaller reels and started to thread it +into the playback. + +There was a light tap on the door and he looked up. + +"So soon? Come in." + +A tall, sharp-featured guardsman entered and stood at attention. Beside +him was a boy, who looked curiously and a little fearfully at the +officer, who waved to chairs. + +"Sit down, both of you. I'm not going to claw you. Just want to go over +a few things. I've some ideas, but I want to be sure of a couple of +points." The captain glanced at the reels before him. + +"One thing puzzles me, Jaeger. Why did you have notes in the planetary +language in your communications room?" + +Jaeger stirred uneasily. "I started doing that some time ago, sir," he +explained. "You see, their language is quite dissimilar to either my own +or to Galactica, and I have yet to learn to think in it. I wanted to +avoid any possibility of lapsing away from it, so I translated my +instructions and notes, hoping to keep myself constantly reminded to +refrain from using Galactica at any time." He spread his hands. "I +suppose--" + +Kweiros waved. "Logical, I presume," he admitted. "Anyway, that's done, +and we can't do much about it now. Now for another thing." He glanced at +the tape reels. "I noticed that the villagers in your area regarded you +as a sorcerer. What cause did they have to form such an opinion?" + +"None, sir, that I know of." Jaeger shook his head. + +Kweiros looked at the boy. "Elwar?" + +"Why, all the village knew it, Master." The boy shook his head. "One had +but to be near Master Jaeger for a time, and he could feel the power, +just as I can feel it now." He shook his head again. "But it is very +strong, Master. You must be one of the ones of truly great power." + +Kweiros looked speculatively at Jaeger. + +"I understood they were nontelepaths. All the reports agree on that." + +"Definitely, sir, they are. They're absolutely mute. Not a trace of +radiation, even when they're close. And they don't receive. You can try +it now, sir. It's just like punching into space itself. No resistance, +no reflection, just nothing." + +"Shield?" + +"No, sir. Just no indication. Makes me feel as though I were in free +space with a dead drive." + + * * * + +Kweiros looked for a moment at Jaeger, then sent out a probing thought, +searching for some indication of mental activity from the boy. But there +was nothing. It wasn't anything like a shield, he thought. It seemed +more like an infinite baffle. + +But there was some reaction. The boy shrank back in terror. + +"Please, Master," he begged. "Do not place me under enchantment." He +held up his hands in a peculiar gesture. + +"What made you do that?" Kweiros raised a hand slowly, palm out. "I have +no intention of harming you." + +"But I could feel you, trying to cast me under a spell." + +"You ... felt me?" + +"To be sure, Master, just as I have felt the same power from my master, +Jaeger. But this was far stronger. It hurt. And it seemed as though you +wanted me to do something." + +Kweiros nodded. "I think I'm getting an idea," he remarked. "And it +scares me a little. They're not really nontelepathic, any more than the +Kierawelans, for example, are nonvocal. I think we've got something here +that's almost unique in the galaxy." He rubbed his neck. "Excuse me a +few minutes. I want to check something in one of these tapes." + +Jaeger nodded and leaned back in his chair, looking curiously at the boy +beside him, then back at his superior, who had selected a tape reel. He +threaded it into the playing heads, put on a headband, and snapped a +switch. Jaeger and the boy watched as Kweiros leaned back. + +The officer's face became vacant, then twisted, seeming to reflect +painful mental effort. Slowly, he leaned forward again, touching another +switch. Then, he sank back, to concentrate on his thoughts. + +Jaeger looked again at the boy, who was sitting tensely, his hands +gripping the arms of his chair, his eyes fastened fearfully on the +officer before him. As Jaeger watched, Elwar half rose from his chair, +then sank back, his face appearing to mirror Kweiros' efforts. + +[Illustration] + +At last, Kweiros sat up. Shakily, he removed his headband and snapped +the playback off. + +"Long time since I checked that tape," he said. "Pretty rugged stuff, +and highly speculative. Always gives me a headache." He shook his head +as he looked at Elwar. + +"And this makes it even worse. It was bad enough as pure speculation, +but we've got something real here. Something rough. For one thing, we +have got a planet where no one but native operatives stand a chance of +working. For another we--" He cupped his chin in his hands and examined +Elwar closely. + +"Do you really want to learn the secrets you looked for in the books, +youngster? Do you still want the secrets you first thought you might +learn?" + +The boy seemed to withdraw a little. "I have a great fear," he admitted +tremulously. + +"You haven't been injured or mistreated, have you?" + +"No, Master, but--" Elwar looked toward the door. + +"And you won't be," he was told reassuringly. "Now you just go ahead on +back to your quarters." + + * * * + +As the door closed, Kweiros turned to Jaeger. + +"Think we'll put you on special assignment. For the next few cycles, +you'll act as a private tutor. Then you can go back to Main Base with +Elwar while they give him his training." + +Jaeger raised his eyebrows. "Yes, sir," he said doubtfully. "You think +the boy will develop?" + +Kweiros nodded. "I'm quite sure of it," he said. "And he's got a big job +ahead of him. He may be instrumental in preventing a major disaster." He +waved at the tape reels. + +"I got that little tape out just on an off chance," he added. "Didn't +really expect to find anything, but--" He flipped his hands out. +"Anyway, I pulled it." He leaned forward, looking at Jaeger. + +"We may have run into a second, or even third growth culture," he said +slowly. "Once, before some ancient war of destruction, the people of +this planet might have been normally telepathic." He closed his eyes for +an instant. "Possibly they were unable to use their telepathic power. +And equally possibly, they could have had a highly developed mechanical +civilization. Something went wrong." He waved at the tape reel. + +"In this reconstruction, there's an hypothesis on just such a situation. +Here, a race reaches high development and wrecks itself--leaving no +trace of its accomplishments. Growth starts over from the most meager of +beginnings. Survival becomes a matter of the most bitter conflict, with +everyone becoming a hunter and being hunted in his turn. In this +situation, detection of an enemy becomes vital." He grinned wryly. "Can +you imagine what would happen to someone who radiated his thoughts?" + +Jaeger ran a finger over his lips. "He'd be easy to locate," he mused. +"And he'd have a hard time evading an enemy." + +"Precisely." Kweiros nodded. "And he'd never be able to approach his +prey. In short, he'd fail to survive. Complete telepathic blankness +would have a high survival value. But an ability to detect mental +radiation would still be a big help." He waved a hand. + +"So, a race like this one could evolve. And the author of this tape +extrapolated from there. A normal telepathic reception will be +accompanied, by a slight feedback. A completely black body, however, +will neither radiate nor feed back. It merely absorbs energy and, unless +it's super-imposed on a reflective background, it leaves no trace. Since +nothing in nature other than a telepathic mind can reflect telepathy, no +background would survive for long." He frowned a little. + +"Of course, no mind we are familiar with could act as a telepathically +black body, but this author hypothesized a race that could do just +that--plus. There's a further hypothesis of an ability to detect and +localize radiations as such, without bothering to resolve them." + +"Sounds like just what we have here," Jaeger admitted. + +"It does, doesn't it?" Kweiros nodded. "And there's a further +extrapolation. Some of the members or the elder races have speculated on +a sort of second-order telepathy, undetectable to the normal telepath, +but capable of noting normal radiation. And some of the speculations +seem to make sense--though they're a little confusing. If you don't have +a specific sense, it's difficult to visualize it, or even to speculate +on its presence." He drew a deep breath. + +"That leads us into a real problem. Our people roamed around this planet +for several cycles this time. And there may have been others before us, +who didn't record their visits, other than in the minds and legends of +the natives. And there may be other legends from that other, older +culture." He shrugged. + +"We picked up what we could on the culture, but we didn't get the full +story on them. And we've probably left a thousand legends behind us, +including that beautiful mess at your station." He grinned. + +"Right now, their folklore is loaded with sorcerers, warlocks, wizards, +and what not. After all, whatever their past is, they're primitive now. +So those stories are going to grow and continue. Eventually, long before +they really develop a stabilized ethic, someone's going to collate that +whole mess. And do you know what he'll come up with?" + +"Us?" + +"Us, yes. Us, in a distorted form." Kweiros nodded emphatically. "They +will come to a full realization that there are advanced entities running +around the cosmos, entities that have all kinds of mysterious powers. +And they'll invent still more powers and characteristics--mostly bad." +He spread his hands, then laid them on the desk in front of him. + + * * * + +"That way, they could develop a hopeless, planet-wide trauma--a sort of +super inferiority complex--and they could contract on themselves, devote +their time to an intensive study of demonology, and very possibly come +apart at the seams. + +"Or, they could do something else. I was watching Elwar while I was +checking that tape. Did you notice anything peculiar?" + +"He seemed disturbed." + +"As though he were sensing my thoughts?" + +"Something like that. But--" + +Kweiros nodded. "But I had a shield up. You could detect no trace of +mental action. Right?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"That's what I thought." Kweiros shook his head and looked closely at +Jaeger. + +"Can you imagine," he added, "a primitive race with the power to detect +a galactic by his thoughts? And can you imagine that power developing +until that detection is possible at interstellar ranges, with members +of that race being able to pick up faint impressions from received +thoughts--distorted impressions? And can you imagine that same race, +ignorant of the humanic equations, devoid of a stable ethic, +superstitious, distrustful and fearful of advanced entities? They would +be undetectable by normal telepathic means, you know. And suppose they +were disposed to destroy what they could not understand." He frowned. + +Jaeger looked back at him, his eyes becoming wide. Suddenly, his gaze +defocused and he looked aside, to stare unseeingly at the floor. + +"Something's got to be done, sir," he said reluctantly. + +Kweiros nodded. "Something's got to be done," he agreed. "Of course, +there's another side to the picture. If this race develops and learns, +they'll be just as valuable to the galaxy as they would otherwise be +dangerous." He looked toward the door. + +"And our boy out there is one of the few who can help in this situation. +He's going to have to work out counter stories--amusing stories--about +all those magical creatures his people tell about. He's going to have to +hint at the possibilities of close co-ordination and co-operation +between members of his own species. And he's going to have to suggest +the possibility of friendly co-operation between his species and +others." He drew a deep breath. + +"And he's going to have to do all this without taking any risk of +exposing the existence of other, more advanced species in the galaxy." +He brushed a hand across his head, then pressed the back of his neck, +kneading the skin. + +"These stories of his, he'll have to publish. He'll have to get them +circulated all over his planet, if he can. Possibly we can give him some +indirect help, but he's going to have to carry a good share of the load. + +"He knows his own people as we could never hope to. And he'll have to be +thoroughly educated, so he can say what he wants to. And he'll have to +be fully aware of the humanic equations and all their connotations. If +he's to have any direct help, he'll have to choose his helpers from +among his own people, and he'll have to choose carefully." Kweiros +thrust at his temple with the heel of a hand, then shook his head +violently. + +"Somehow, he's going to have to accentuate any legends he may be able to +find which present a favorable light on co-ordination and co-operation, +and he'll have to invent more. And all those other legends--the ones +which treat of superstition and destructive force--will have to be +reduced to the realm of the storybook, submerged under a layer of amused +condemnation, and kept there. All these things, that youngster is going +to have to do. + +"It's your job to help teach him." + + * * * * * + +Forell watched his friend closely as the critic laid aside the last +page. + +Andorra sat for a moment, his head cocked in thought. Then, he picked up +the last page and looked at it again. Finally, he laid the sheet aside. +He looked at his friend with a wry smile, then picked up his wineglass, +looking at it quizzically. + +"Do you always give your own name to one of your characters?" + +Forell's grip tightened on the small object in his hand. + +"Oh, sure," he said. "Gives me a better identification. If I can get +into the story, it's easier to draw the reader in." He forced a casual +smile. "I'll change that name later, of course." + +"I see what you mean." Andorra sipped from his glass. + +"You know," he added, "a couple of hours ago, I was almost ready to get +excited about the idea of a cosmos full of super beings. And I even +might have dreamed up something like this myself--and more than half +believed it." He shook his head. + +"But when a fantasist like yourself comes up with it, and makes it look +so nicely possible, the idea almost looks foolish. After all, Elwar, if +you actually were the guy in that little sketch of yours, you'd hardly +be asking me to read it, now would you?" He looked down at the papers, +then raised his head again, frowning. + +"'He'll have to choose his helpers from among his own people,'" he +quoted. "'All these things, that youngster is going to have to do.'" He +sipped again from his glass, keeping a searching gaze on his friend. + +"And on the other hand, if your story here should be true, you just +might be asking me to read it, for one reason or another." He raised his +glass, examining the bright liquid within it. + +Elwar tensed, his hand coming part way out of his pocket. + +Suddenly, Andorra set the glass down and leaned forward, hands gripping +his knees. + +"Tell me, Elwar," he begged, "this isn't a hoax, is it? Surely, no one +could be so warped as to present a friend with something like this and +then to laugh it off?" + +Forell drew a deep breath and examined his companion closely. At last, +his left hand relaxed a little. + +"It's no hoax," he admitted. + +Andorra sighed and leaned back. + +"And you can use help? You're asking me?" + +He paused, waiting as Forell nodded, then spread his hands. + +"You know," he said, "it shouldn't take me too long to fix it so I would +not be missed too much for a few years." He looked at the wall. + +"It must be quite a training course." + + +THE END + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Astounding Science Fiction_ January + 1956. 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