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diff --git a/28486.txt b/28486.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e65ce6 --- /dev/null +++ b/28486.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2601 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Weakling, 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: The Weakling + +Author: Everett B. Cole + +Illustrator: van Dongen + +Release Date: April 3, 2009 [EBook #28486] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WEAKLING *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, David Wilson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE WEAKLING + +By EVERETT B. COLE + + + _A strong man can, of course, be dangerous, but he doesn't + approach the vicious deadliness of a weakling--with a weapon!_ + + +Illustrated by van Dongen + + + + +[Illustration] + + +[Illustration] + + +Naran Makun looked across the table at the caravan master. + +"And you couldn't find a trace of him?" + +"Nothing. Not even a scrap of his cargo or so much as the bones of a +long-neck. He just dropped out of sight of his whole train. He went +through this big estate, you see. Then he cut back to pick up some of +his stops on the northern swing. Well, that was all. He didn't get to +the first one." The other waved a hand. + +"Weird situation, too. Oh, the null was swirling, we know that, and he +could have been caught in an arm. It happens, but it isn't too often +that an experienced man like your brother gets in so deep he can't get +out somehow--or at least leave some trace of what happened." The man +picked up his cup, eying it thoughtfully. + +"Oh, we've all had close ones, sure. We've all lost a long-neck or so, +now and then. Whenever the null swirls, it can cover big territory in a +big hurry and most of that northern swing is null area at one time or +another. One of those arms can overrun a train at night and if a man +loses his head, he's in big trouble." He sipped from his cup. + +"Young caravan master got caught that way, just a while back. A friend +of mine, Dr. Zalbon, was running the swing after the null retracted. He +found what was left." + +"Told me he ran into a herd of carnivores. Fifteen or twenty real big +fellows. Jaws as long as a man. He killed them off and then found they'd +been feeding on what was left of Dar Konil's train." + +He shook his head. "It's not a nice area." + +"Hold everything." Naran leaned forward. "You said my brother went +through this big estate. Anyone see him come out?" + +Dar Girdek smiled. "Oh, sure. The Master of the Estates, Kio Barra, +himself. He saw him to the border and watched him go on his way." + +Naran looked doubtful. "And what kind of a character is this Barra?" + +"Oh, him!" Dar Girdek waved a hand. "Nothing there. In the first place, +he holds one of the biggest estates in the mountain area. So what would +he want to rob a freight caravan for?" He laughed. + +"In the second place, the guy's practically harmless. Oh, sure, he's got +a title. He's Lord of the Mountain Lake. And he wears a lot of psionic +crystalware. But he's got about enough punch to knock over some +varmint--if it's not too tough. Dar Makun might be your weak brother, +but he'd have eaten that guy for breakfast if he'd tried to be rough." + +"Psionic weakling, you mean? But how does he manage to be a master +Protector of an Estate?" + +Dar Girdek smiled wryly. "Father died. Brother sneaked off somewhere. +That left him. Title's too clear for anyone to try any funny business." + +"I see." Naran leaned back. "Now, what about this null?" + +"Well, of course you know about the time the pseudomen from the Fifth +managed to sneak in and lay a mess of their destructors on Carnol?" + +"I might. I was one of the guys that saw to it they didn't get back to +celebrate." Naran closed his eyes for an instant. + +"Yeah. Way I heard it, you were the guy that wrapped 'em up. Too bad +they didn't get you on the job sooner. Maybe we wouldn't have this mess +on our hands now." Dar Girdek shrugged. + +"Anyway, they vaporized the city and a lot of area around it. That was +bad, but the aftereffect is worse. We've got scholars beating their +brains cells together, but all they can tell us is that there's a big +area up there just as psionically dead as an experimental chamber." He +grinned. + +"I could tell 'em that much myself. It's a sort of cloud. Goes +turbulent, shoots out arms, then folds in again. + +"We'd by-pass the whole thing, but it's right on the main trade route. +Only way around it is plenty of days out of the path, clear down around +the middle sea and into the lake region. Then you have to go all the way +back anyway, if you plan to do any mid-continent trading. And you still +take a chance of getting caught in a swirl arm." + +Naran tilted his head. "So? Suppose you do get into a swirl? All you +need to do is wait." He smiled. + +"You know. Just sort of ignore it. It'll go away." + +"Uh huh. Sounds easy enough. It's about what we do when we have to. But +there are things living there. They can be hard to ignore." + +"You mean the carnivores?" + +"That's right. If you meet one of those fellow out in normal territory, +he's no trouble at all. You hit him with a distorter and he flops. Then +you figure out whether to reduce him to slime or leave the carcass for +his friends and relations." He smiled. + +"From what your brother said, you wouldn't need the distorter." + +Naran smiled deprecatingly. "That's one of the things they pay me for," +he remarked. "We run into some pretty nasty beasties at sea." + +"Yeah. I've heard. Big, rough fellows. Our varmints are smaller. But +what would you do if you ran into twenty tons or so of pure murder, and +you with no more psionic power than some pseudoman?" + +Naran looked at him thoughtfully. "I hadn't thought of that," he +admitted. "I might not like it. Jaws as longs as a man, you said?" + +The other nodded. "Longer, sometimes. And teeth as long as your hand. +One snap and there's nothing left. + +"When they kill a long-neck, they have a good meal and walk away from +whatever's left. But people are something else. They just can't get +enough and they don't leave any crumbs." He waved a hand. + +"There've been several trains caught by those things. A swirl arm comes +over at night, you see, and the caravan master loses his head. He can't +think of anything but getting out. Oh, he can yell at his drivers. +They've got a language, and we all know it. That's easy. But did you +ever try to get a long-neck going without psionic control?" + +"I see what you mean. It could be a little rough." + +"Yeah. It could be. Anyway, about this time, everybody's yelling at +everybody else. The long-necks are squealing and bellowing. Drivers are +jerking on reins. And a herd of carnivores hears the commotion. So, they +drop around to see the fun. See what I mean?" + +Naran nodded and Dar Girdek went on. + +"Well, that's about it. Once in a great while, some guy manages to get +into a cave and hide out till the null swings away and another caravan +comes along. But usually, no one sees anything but a little of the cargo +and some remains of long-necks. No one's ever come up with any part of +man or pseudoman. As I said, one snap and there's nothing left." + +Naran smiled wryly. "Tough to be popular, I guess." He leaned forward. + +"But you've been over the trail several times since he disappeared. And +you said you've seen nothing. No trace of the train. That right?" + +The other shook his head. "Not even a cargo sling." + +"You're making up a train now, aren't you? I'd like to go along on this +next trip. Fact is, I've been thinking some nasty thoughts. And I'm +going to be uneasy till I find out whether I'm right or not." + +Dar Girdek rubbed his chin. "Want to buy in, maybe?" + +"No, I don't think so. I'll work my way--as your lead driver." + +"Oh, no!" Dar Girdek laughed. "You don't put a psionic on some +long-neck. Lead driver's pseudoman, just like the rest." He sobered. + +"Oh, sure. You could handle the drivers, but it just isn't done." + +Naran smiled. "Oh, as far as the other drivers'll know, I'm just another +pseudoman. I've been a ship's non-psi agent, remember? We earn our keep +by dealing with the people in non-psi areas." + +"It won't work." The caravan master shook his head. "These drivers can +get pretty rough with each other. You'd have to set two or three of them +back on their heels the first day. It would be either that, or get a lot +of bruises and end up as camp flunky." + +"Could be," Naran told him. "Tell you what. You turn me loose in an +experimental chamber so I can't fudge. Then send your toughest driver in +and tell him to kick me out of there. I'll show him some tricks I +learned from the non-psi's overseas and he'll be a smarter man when he +wakes up." + + * * * * * + +Leuwan, Kio Barra, Lord of the Mountain Lake, Master of the Estates Kira +Barra, and Protector of the Common Good, stood examining the assortment +of crystals in a cabinet. He hesitated over a large, brilliantly +gleaming sphere of crystallized carbon, then shook his head. That one +would be pretty heavy going, he was sure. The high intensity summary +said something about problems of the modern world, so it could be +expected to be another of those dull reports on the welfare of the +Commonwealth. + +Why, he wondered, did some projection maker waste good time and effort +by making up things like that? And why did they waste more time and +effort by sending them around? When a man wanted to relax, he wanted +something to relax with. What he was looking for was something light. + +He turned his attention to other crystals, at last selecting a small, +blue prism. He held it up, regarding it, then nodded and placed it on +the slender black pedestal near his chair, where he could observe +without undue effort. + +He turned, examining each corner of his empty study, then took his +sapphire-tipped golden staff from under his arm, placing it carefully on +a rack built into his chair arm, where it would be convenient to his +hand should the need arise. + +One could never be too careful, he thought. Of course, he could deal +with any recalcitrant slave by other means, but the distorter was +convenient and could be depended upon to give any degree of pressure +desired. And it was a lot less trouble to use than to concentrate on +more fatiguing efforts such as neural pressure or selective paralysis. + +One must conserve one's powers for times when they might be really +needed. + +Too, there was the remote possibility that some lackland wanderer might +come by and find a flaw in the protection of the Estates--even somehow +penetrate to the Residence. Barra shuddered at that thought, then +shrugged it off. Kira Barra was well protected, of that he had made +sure. Ever vigilant surrogates were deposited in all the strategic spots +of the Estates--not only to allow quick observations of the condition of +the lands, but also to give automatic warning of the approach of anyone +of inimical turn of mind. + +He eased his bulk into the chair, twisted about for a few moments as it +adjusted to fit his body, then leaned back with a sigh of relaxation and +directed his thoughts to the crystal before him. + +Under the impulses of his amplified thought, the crystal glowed, +appeared to expand, then became a three-dimensional vista. + +The high intensity summary and excerpt leader had been not too +deceptive, Barra told himself as the story unfolded. It was a well done +adventure projection, based on the war with the Fifth planet. +Critically, he watched the actions of a scout crew, approving of the +author's treatment and selection of material. He, Barra, was something +of a connoisseur of these adventure crystals, even though he had never +found it necessary to leave the protection of Earth's surface. + +He shrugged, taking his attention from the projection. + +The lacklanders, he told himself--entertainment people, caravan masters, +seafarers, other wanderers of light responsibility--were the natural +ones to be selected to go out and deal with remote emergencies. + +Like all stable, responsible men of property and worth, he was far too +valuable to the Commonwealth to risk himself in wild dashes to the dead, +non-psionic lands, or out into the emptiness of space. As far as risking +himself on combat missions of interplanetary war-- He shook his head. +This was pure stupidity. + +He frowned uneasily. It had been a bit unfair, though, of the +Controllers. They had completely excused him from service on the basis +of inaptitude. It had rankled ever since. + +Of course he couldn't be expected to dash madly about in some two-man +scout. Even as his brother's assistant, he had been a person of quite +definite standing and responsibility and such antics would have been +beneath his dignity. He had made that quite plain to them. + +There had been responsible posts where a man of his quality and standing +could have been of positive value. And, as he had pointed out, they +could have assigned him to one of those. + +But no! They had merely excused him. Inapt! + +As far as that went, he told himself angrily, he, Kio Barra, could +comport himself with the best if necessity demanded. + +Those dashing characters in this projection were, of course, the +figments of some unstable dreamer's imagination. But they showed the +instability of the usual lackland wanderers. And what could such men do +that a solid, responsible man like himself couldn't do better? + +He returned to the crystal, then shook his head in disgust. It had +become full--flat--meaningless. Besides, he had matters of real import +to take care. + +He directed his attention to the chair, which obediently swung about +until he faced his large view crystal. + +"Might as well have a look at the East Shore," he told himself. + + * * * * * + +As he focused his attention, the crystal expanded, then became a huge +window through which he could see the shores of the inland sea, then the +lands to the east of the large island on which he had caused his +Residence to be built. He looked approvingly at the rolling, tree-clad +hills as the view progressed. + +Suddenly, he frowned in annoyance. The great northern null was in +turbulence again, thrusting its shapeless arms down toward the borders +of Kira Barra. He growled softly. + +There, he told himself, was the result of the carelessness of those +lackland fools who had been entrusted with the defense of the home +planet. Their loose, poorly planned defenses had allowed the pseudomen +of the Fifth to dash in and drop their destructors in a good many spots +on the surface. And here was one of them. + +Here was a huge area which had once been the site of a great city and +which had contained the prosperous and productive estates of a Master +Protector, now reduced to a mere wasteland into which slaves might +escape, to lead a brute-like existence in idleness. + +He had lost pseudomen slaves in this very null and he knew he would +probably lose more. Despite the vigilance of the surrogates, they kept +slipping across the river and disappearing into that swirling +nothingness. And now, with that prominence so close-- + +He had no guards he could trust to go after the fellows, either. Such +herd guards as he had would decide to desert their protector and take up +the idle life which their fellow pseudomen had adopted. A few of them +had gone out and done just that. Their memories of the protection and +privileges granted them were short and undependable. He sighed. + +"Ungrateful beasts!" + +Some Master Protectors had little trouble along that line. Others had +managed to hire the services of halfmen--weak psionics, too weak to +govern and yet strong and able enough to be more than mere pseudomen. + +These halfmen made superb, loyal guards and overseers--for some--but +none had remained at Kira Barra. They had come, to be sure, but they had +stayed on for a time, then drifted away. + +And, he thought angrily, it was illegal to restrain these halfmen in +any way. Some soft-headed fool had granted their kind the rights of +Commonwealth citizenship. Halfmen had even managed to take service with +the fleet during the war with the Fifth Planet. Some of them had even +managed somehow to be of small value--and now many of them held the +status of veterans of that victorious war--a status he, one of the great +landholders, was denied. + +No, he told himself, until such time as the nulls were solved and +eliminated, such pseudomen as managed to cross the northeastern river +were safe enough in their unknown land. And, he thought sourly, the +scholars had made no progress in their studies of the nulls. + +Probably they were concerning themselves with studies more likely to +give them preferment or more immediate personal gain. + +Of course, the wasteland wasn't entirely unknown, not to him, at least. +He had viewed the area personally. There were hilltops on the Estates +from which ordinary eyesight would penetrate far into the dead area, +even though the more powerful and accurate parasight was stopped at its +borders. Yes, he had seen the affected area. + +He had noted that much of it had regained a measure of fertility. There +was life now--some of it his own meat lizards who had wandered across +the river and out of his control. And he had even seen some of the +escaped pseudomen slinking through the scrub growth and making their +crudely primitive camps. + +"Savages!" he told himself. "Mere animals. And one can't do a thing +about them, so long as they let that dead area persist." + +Eventually, the scholars had reported, the dead areas would diminish and +fade from existence. He smiled bitterly. Here was a nice evasion--a neat +excuse for avoiding study and possible, dangerous research. + +So long as those nulls remained, they would be sources of constant loss +of the responsible Master Protectors, and would thus threaten the very +foundations of the Commonwealth. + +Possibly, he should-- He shook his head. + +No, he thought, this was impractical. Parasight was worthless beyond the +borders of the null. No surrogate could penetrate it and no weapon would +operate within it. It would be most unsafe for any true man to enter. +There, one would be subject to gross, physical attack and unable to make +proper defense against it. + +Certainly, the northern null was no place for him to go. Only the +pseudomen could possibly tolerate the conditions to be found there, and +thus, there they had found haven and were temporarily supreme. + +Besides, this matter was the responsibility of the Council of +Controllers and the scholars they paid so highly. + +He concentrated on the crystal, shifting the view to scan toward the +nearest village. + + * * * * * + +Suddenly, he sat forward in his chair. A herd of saurians was slowly +drifting toward one of the arms the null had thrust out. Shortly, they +would have ambled into a stream and beyond, out of all possible control. +Perhaps they might wander for years in the wastelands. Perhaps they and +their increase might furnish meat for the pseudomen who lurked inside +the swirling blankness. + +He snarled to himself. No herders were in sight. No guard was in +attendance. He would have to attend to this matter himself. He +concentrated his attention on the power crystals of a distant surrogate, +willing his entire ego into the controls. + +At last, the herd leader's head came up. Then the long-neck curved, +snaking around until the huge beast stared directly at the heap of rocks +which housed the crystals of the surrogate himself. The slow drift of +the herd slowed even more, then stopped as the other brutes dimly +recognized that something had changed. More of the ridiculously tiny +heads swiveled toward the surrogate. + +Kio Barra squirmed in his chair. Holding these empty minds was a chore +he had always hated. + +Certainly, there was less total effort than that required for the +control of the more highly organized pseudomen, but the more complex +minds reacted with some speed and the effort was soon over. There was a +short, sometimes sharp struggle, then surrender. + +But this was long-term, dragging toil--a steady pushing at a soggy, +unresisting, yet heavy mass. And full concentration was imperative if +anything was to be accomplished. The reptilian minds were as unstable +as they were empty and would slip away unless firmly held. He stared +motionlessly at his crystal, willing the huge reptiles to turn--to +waddle back to the safe grasslands of the estate, far from the null. + +At last, the herd was again in motion. One by one, the huge brutes swung +about and galloped clumsily toward more usual pastures, their long necks +swaying loosely with their motion. + +Switching from surrogate to surrogate, Barra followed them, urged them, +forced them along until they plunged into the wide swamp northeast of +Tibara village. + +He signed wearily and shifted his viewpoint to a surrogate which +overlooked the village itself. What, he wondered, had happened to the +herdsmen--and to the guards who should be overseeing the day's work? + + * * * * * + +Half hidden among ferns and the mastlike stems of trees, the rude huts +of Tibara nestled in the forest, blending with their surroundings, until +only the knowing observer could identify them by vague form. Barra +shifted his viewpoint to the central village surrogate. + +There were other open spaces in the village, but this was the largest. +Here was the village well, near which a few children played some +incomprehensible game. An old man had collected a pile of rock and had +started work on the well curb. Now, he sat near his work, leaning +against the partly torn down wall. Spots of sunlight, coming through +the fronds high above, struck his body, leaving his face in shadow. He +dozed in the warmth, occasionally allowing his eyes to half open as he +idly regarded the scene before him. + +Before some of the huts surrounding the rude plaza, women squatted on +the ground, their arms swinging monotonously up and down as they struck +their wooden pestles into bowls of grain which they were grinding to +make the coarse meal which was their mainstay of diet. + +A few men could be seen, scratching at small garden plots or idly +repairing tools. Others squatted near their huts, their attention +occupied by fishing gear. Still others merely leaned against convenient +trees, looking at each other, their mouths moving in the grotesque way +of the pseudoman when he could find an excuse to idle away time. + +Barra listened to the meaningless chatter of grunts and hisses, then +disregarded the sounds. They formed, he had been told, a sort of +elementary code of communication. He coughed disparagingly. Only some +subhuman could bring himself to study such things. + +Of course, he knew that some lacklanders could make vocal converse with +the pseudomen and caravan masters seemed to do it as a regular thing, +but he could see no point in such effort. He could make his demands +known without lowering himself by making idiotic noises. + +His communicator crystals would drive simple thoughts into even the +thick skulls of his slaves. And he could--and did--thus get obedience +and performance from those slaves by using normal, sensible means as +befitted one of the race of true men. + +And what would one want of the pseudomen other than obedience? Would one +perhaps wish to discuss matters of abstract interest with these beast +men? He regarded the scene with growing irritation. + +Now, he remembered. It was one of those days of rest which some idiot in +the Council had once sponsored. And a group of soft-headed fools had +concurred, so that one now had to tolerate periodic days of idleness. + +Times had changed, he thought. There had been a time when slaves were +slaves and a man could expect to get work from them in return for his +protection and support. + +But even with these new, soft laws, herds must be guarded--especially +with that null expanding as it was. Even some lackland idiot should be +able to understand that much. + +He turned his attention to the headman's hut. + +The man was there. Surrounded by a few villagers, he squatted before his +flimsy, frond-roofed hut, his mouth in grotesque motion. Now, he stopped +his noisemaking and poised his head. Then he nodded, looking about the +village. + +Obviously, he was taking his ease and allowing his people to do as they +would, without supervision. + +Barra started to concentrate on the surrogate, to make his wishes and +his displeasure known. Then he turned impatiently from the crystal, +seizing his staff. Efficient as the surrogates were, there were some +things better attended to in person. + + * * * * * + +He got to his feet and strode angrily out of the study, sending a +peremptory summons before him. As he entered the wide hallway, an +elderly slave came toward him. Barra looked at the man imperiously. + +"My cloak," he demanded, "and the cap of power." + +He projected the image of his fiber cloak and of the heavy gold +headpiece with its precisely positioned crystals, being careful to note +the red, green and blue glow of the various jewels. Meticulously, he +filled in details of the gracefully formed filigree which formed mounts +to support the glowing spheres. And he indicated the padded headpiece +with its incrustation of crystal carbon, so his servitor could make no +mistake. The man was more sensitive than one of the village slaves, but +even so, he was merely a pseudoman and had to have things carefully +delineated for him. + +As the man walked toward a closet, Barra looked after him unhappily. The +heavy power and control circlet was unnecessary in the Residence, for +amplifiers installed in the building took care of all requirements. But +outside, in the village and fields, a portable source of power and +control was indispensable and this heavy gold cap was the best device he +had been able to find. + +Even so, he hated to wear the circlet. The massive crystals mounted on +their supporting points weighed a couple of pounds by themselves and +though the gold insulating supports were designed as finely as possible, +the metal was still massive and heavy. It was a definite strain on his +neck muscles to wear the thing and he always got a headache from it. + +For an instant, envy of the powerful psionics crossed his mind. There +were, he knew, those who required no control or power devices, being +able to govern and direct psionic forces without aid. But his powers, +though effective as any, required amplification and when he went out of +the Residence it was essential that he have the cap with him. + +Proper and forceful handling of the things of the Estates, both animate +and inanimate, demanded considerable psionic power and this made the +large red power crystal at the center of his cap most necessary. + +Besides, simultaneous control problems could be difficult--sometimes +even almost impossible--without the co-ordinating crystals which were +inset at the periphery of the headband. + +And there was the possibility that he might meet some trespassing +lacklander who might have to be impressed with the resources of the +master of Kira Barra. He knew of more than one instance wherein a Master +Protector had been overcome by some predatory lackland wanderer, who had +then managed by one means or another to secure his own accession to the +estates of his victim. He smiled grimly. + +Carelessness could be costly. He had proved that to his brother. + +Kio Barra still remembered the first time he had quarreled violently +with Boemar. He still remembered the gentle, sympathetic smile and the +sudden, twisting agony that had shot through him as his power crystal +overloaded. The flare of energy had left him incapable of so much as +receiving a strongly driven thought for many days. + +He laughed. But, poor, soft fool that he had been, Boemar had carefully +nursed his brother's mind back to strength again. + +Yes, Boemar had been a powerful man, but a very unwise one. And he had +forgotten the one great strength of his weaker brother--a strength that +had grown as Leuwan aged. And so, it was Leuwan who was Kio Barra. + +[Illustration] + +But such a thing would never again happen at Kira Barra. With his +controls and amplifiers, he was more than a match for the most powerful +of the great psionics--so long as they didn't meet him with affectionate +sympathy. + +He stood silently as the servitor put the cap on his head and placed the +cloak about his shoulders. Then, tucking his heavy duty distorter under +his arm, he turned toward the outer door. The control jewels on his cap +burned with inner fire as he raised himself a few inches from the floor +and floated out toward the dock. + + * * * * * + +Not far from the forest shaded village of Tibara, logs had been lashed +together to form a pier which jutted from the shore and provided a +mooring for the hollowed logs used by men of the village in harvesting +the fish of the lake. Several boats nested here, their bows pointing +toward the fender logs of the pier. More were drawn up on the gravel of +the shore, where they lay, bottoms upward, that they might dry and be +cleaned. + +A few villagers squatted by their boats and near the pier. Others were +by the nets which had been spread over the gravel to dry. + +One large section of the pier was vacant. Always, this area was reserved +for the use of the Lord of the Mountain Lake. + +As Barra's boat sped through the water, he concentrated his attention on +the logs of the pier, urging his boat to increasing speed. The sharp +prow rose high in the water, a long vee of foam extending from it, to +spread out far behind the racing boat. + +As the bow loomed almost over the floating logs, Barra abruptly +transferred his focus of attention to his right rear, pulling with all +the power of the boat's drive crystals. The craft swung violently, +throwing a solid sheet of water over pier and shore, drenching the logs +and the men about them. + +Then the bow settled and the boat lay dead in the water, less than an +inch from the pier's fender logs. + +Barra studied the space between boat and logs for an instant, then +nodded in satisfaction. It was an adequate landing by anyone's +standards. + +His tension somewhat relieved, he raised himself from the boat and +hovered over the dock. + +Sternly, he looked at the villagers who were now on their feet, brushing +water from their heads and faces. They ceased their movements, eying +him apprehensively and he motioned imperiously toward the boat. + +"Secure it!" + +The jewels of his control cap glowed briefly, amplifying and radiating +the thought. + +The villagers winced, then two of them moved to obey the command. Barra +turned his attention away and arrowed toward the screen of trees which +partially concealed the village proper. + +As he dropped to the ground in the clearing before the headman's hut, +men and women looked at him, then edged toward their homes. He ignored +them, centering his attention on the headman himself. + +The man had gotten to his feet and was anxiously studying his master's +face. + +For a few seconds, Barra examined the man. He was old. He had been +headman of the village under the old Master Protector, his father--and +his brother had seen no reason for change, allowing the aging headman to +remain in charge of the welfare of his people. + +But this was in the long ago. Both of the older Kio Barra had been soft, +slack men, seeking no more than average results. He, Leuwan, was +different--more exacting--more demanding of positive returns from the +Estates. + +Oh, to be sure, Kira Barra had somehow prospered under the soft hands of +his predecessors, despite their coddling of the subhuman pseudomen, but +there had been many laxities which had infuriated Leuwan, even when he +was a mere youth. He frowned thoughtfully. + +Of course, if those two hadn't been so soft and tolerant, he would have +been something other than Lord of the Mountain Lake. He would have had +to find other activities elsewhere. He dropped the line of thought. + +This was not taking care of the situation. + +He put his full attention on the man before him, driving a demand with +full power of cap amplifier. + + * * * * * + +"Why are all your people idling away their time? Where are your herdsmen +and guards?" + +The headman's face tensed with effort. He waved a hand southward and +made meaningless noises. Faintly, the thought came through to Barra. + +"In south forest, with herd. Not idle, is rest day. Few work." + +Barra looked angrily at the man. Did this fool actually think he could +evade and lie his way out of the trouble his obvious failure to +supervise had brought? He jabbed a thumb northward. + +"What about that herd drifting toward the north river?" The two green +communicator crystals gleamed with cold fire. + +The headman looked confused. "Not north," came the blurred thought. "No +herd north. All south forest, near swamp. One-hand boys watch. Some +guard. Is rest day." + +Unbelievingly Barra stared at the pseudoman. He was actually persisting +in his effort to lie away his failure. Or was he attempting some sort +of defiance? Had his father and brother tolerated such things as this, +or was this something new, stemming from the man's age? Or, perhaps, he +was trying the temper of the Master Protector, to see how far he could +go in encroaching on authority. + +He would deal with this--and now! + +Abruptly, he turned away, to direct his attention to the central +surrogate. It was equipped with a projector crystal. + +The air in the clearing glowed and a scene formed in the open space. +Unmistakably, it was the northern part of Kira Barra. The lake was +shown, and sufficient landmarks to make the location obvious, even to a +pseudoman. Carefully, Barra prevented any trace of the blank, swirling +null from intruding on the scene. Perhaps the subhuman creature before +him knew something of its properties, but there was no point in making +these things too obvious. + +He focused the scene on the stream and brought the approaching herd into +the picture, then he flashed in his own face, watching. And he brought +the view down closely enough to indicate that no human creature was near +the herd. Finally, he turned his attention to the headman again. + +"There was the herd. Where were your people?" + +The old man shook his head incredulously, then turned toward one of the +few men who still remained in the clearing. + +He made a series of noises and the other nodded. There were more of the +growls and hisses, then the headman waved a hand southward and the other +nodded again and turned away, to run into the trees and disappear. + +The headman faced Barra again. + +"Send man," he thought laboriously. "Be sure herd is still south." He +pointed toward the area where the projection had been. + +"That not herd," he thought. "That other herd. Never see before." + + * * * * * + +Barra scowled furiously. + +"You incapable imbecile! You dare to call your master a liar?" + +He swung about, his furious gaze scanning the village. The pile of +stones he had noticed before caught his attention. He focused on it. + +A few stones rose into the air and flew toward the headman. + +The old man faced about, his eyes widening in sudden fear. He dodged one +of the flying stones, then turned to flee. + +Barra flicked a second control on him briefly and the flight was halted. + +More stones flew, making thudding sounds as they struck, then sailing +away, to gain velocity before they curved back, to strike again. + +At last, Barra turned from the litter of rock about the formless mass on +the ground. He stared around the village, the fury slowly ebbing within +him. + +A few faces could be seen, peeping from windows and from between trees. +He motioned. + +"All villagers," he ordered. "Here before me. Now!" He waited +impatiently as people reluctantly came from their huts and out of the +trees, to approach the clearing. + +At last, the villagers were assembled. Barra looked them over, +identifying each as he looked at him. Apart from the others, one of the +younger herd guards stood close to his woman. Barra looked at him +thoughtfully. + +This man, he had noted, was obeyed by both herds and herdsmen. He had +seen him at work, as he had seen all the villagers, and obviously, the +man was capable of quick decisions--as quick, that was, as any pseudoman +could be. He pointed. + +"This village needs a new headman," he thought peremptorily. "You will +take charge of it." + +The man looked toward the huddled mass in the center of the litter of +rocks, then looked back at his woman. A faint wave of reluctance came to +Barra, who stared sternly. + +"I said you are the new headman," he thought imperiously. "Take charge." +He waved a hand. + +"And get this mess cleaned up. I want a neat village from now on." + +As the man lowered his head submissively, Barra turned away, rose from +the ground, and drifted majestically toward the lake shore. He could +check on the progress of the village from his view crystal back at the +Residence. + +The situation had been taken care of and there was no point in remaining +in the depressing atmosphere of the village for too long. + +Besides, there was that adventure projection he hadn't finished. +Perhaps it would be of interest now. + + * * * * * + +As the projection faded, Barra looked around the study, then got out of +his chair and picked the crystal from its pedestal. He stood, looking at +it approvingly for a few seconds, then went over to the cabinet and set +it back in its case. For a time, he looked at the rest of the +assortment. + +Finally, he shook his head. Some of them, he would sell unscanned. The +others--well, they could wait. + +Yes, he thought, the record crystals had better be left alone for a +while. He hadn't finished his inspection of the Estates and the +situation at Tibara might not be an isolated case. It would be well to +make a really searching inspection. He sighed. + +In fact, it might be well to make frequent searching inspections. + +Shortly after his accession to the Estates, he had seen to the defense +of Kira Barra. He smiled wryly as he thought of the expense he had +incurred in securing all those power and control crystals to make up his +surrogate installations. But they had been well worth it. + +He had been most thorough then, but that had been some time ago. His +last full inspection had been almost a year ago. Lately he had been +satisfying himself with spot inspections, not really going over the +Estates from border to border. + +Of course, the spot inspections had been calculated to touch the +potential trouble spots and they had been productive of results, but +there might still be hidden things he should know about. This would +have to be looked into. + +He turned and went back to his chair, causing it to swivel around and +face the view crystal. + +There was that matter of Tibara, as far as that went. Possibly it would +be well to count that herd and identify the animals positively. + +Maybe the pasturage was getting poor and he would have to instruct the +new headman to move to better lands. Those strays had looked rather +thin, now that he thought of it. + +Maybe some of the other long-necks had strayed from the main herd and he +would have to have the headman send out guards to pick them up and bring +them in. + +He concentrated on the viewer, swinging its scan over to the swamp where +he had driven that small herd. + +They were still there, wallowing in the shallow water and grazing on the +lush vegetation. He smiled. It would be several days before their feeble +minds threw off the impression he had forced on them that this was their +proper feeding place. + +Idly, he examined the beasts, then he leaned forward, studying them more +critically. They weren't the heavy, fat producers of meat normal to the +Tibara herd. Something was wrong. + +These were the same general breed as the Tibara long-necks, to be sure, +but either their pasturage had been unbelievably bad or they had been +recently run--long and hard. They looked almost like draft beasts. + +He frowned. If these were from the Tibara herd, he'd been missing +something for quite a while. + +Thoughtfully, he caused the scan to shift. As he followed a small river, +he noted groups of the huge, greenish gray beasts as they grazed on the +tender rock ferns. Here and there, he noted herdsmen and chore boys +either watching or urging the great brutes about with their noisemakers, +keeping the herd together. He examined the scene critically, counting +and evaluating. Finally, he settled back in his chair. + +The herd was all here--even to the chicks. And they were in good shape. +He smiled wryly. + +Those brutes over in the swamp really didn't belong here, then. They +must have drifted into the Estates from the null, and been on their way +back. The headman-- He shrugged. + +"Oh, well," he told himself, "it was time I got a new headman for +Tibara, anyway. And the discipline there will be tighter from now on." + + * * * * * + +He started to shift scan again, then sat up. The view was pulsing. + +As he watched, the scan shifted automatically, to pick up the eastern +border of the Estates. Stretching across the landscape was a thin line +of draft saurians, each with its driver straddling its neck. The train +had halted and a heavily armored riding lizard advanced toward the +surrogate. Its rider was facing the hidden crystals. + +As Barra focused on him, the man nodded. + +"Master Protector?" + +"That is correct." Barra activated his communicators. "I am Kio Barra, +Master of the Estates Kira Barra." + +The other smiled. "I am Dar Makun, independent caravan master," he +announced. "The null turbulence forced me off route. Lost a few carriers +and several days of time. I'd like to request permission to pass over +your land. And perhaps you could favor me by selling some long-necks to +fill my train again. The brutes I've got left are a little overloaded." + +Barra considered. It was not an unusual request, of course. Certain +caravans habitually came through, to do business with the Estates. +Others were often detoured by the northern null and forced to come +through Kira Barra. + +Of course, the masters of the caravans were lacklanders, but they had +given little trouble in the past. And this one seemed to be a little +above the average if anything. In his own way, he was a man of +substance, for an owner master was quite different from someone who +merely guided another's train for hire. + +The northern null was a menace, Barra thought, but it did have this one +advantage. The regular caravans, of course, passed with the courtesy of +the Estates, doing business on their way. But these others paid and +their pasturage and passage fees added to the income of the Estates. + +In this case, the sale of a few draft saurians could be quite +profitable. He shifted the view crystals to allow two-way vision. + +"To be sure." He waved a hand. "Direct your train due west to the second +river. Cross that, then follow it southward. I will meet you at the +first village you come to and we can kennel your slaves there and put +your beasts to pasture under my herdsmen. From there, it is a short +distance to the Residence." + +"Thank you." Dar Makun nodded again, then turned and waved an arm. +Faintly, Barra caught the command to proceed. + +He watched for a few minutes and examined the long train as it moved +over the rolling land and lumbered into a forest. Then he shifted his +scan to continue his inspection of the rest of the lands. It would be +several hours before that caravan could reach Tibara and he could scan +back and note its progress as he wished. + +He relaxed in his chair, watching the panorama as the Estates unrolled +before him. Now and then, he halted the steady motion of the scanner, to +examine village or herd closely. Then he nodded in satisfaction and +continued his inspection. + +The Estates, he decided, were in overall good condition. Of course, +there were a few corrections he would have to have made in the days to +come, but these could be taken care of after the departure of the +caravan. + +There was that grain field over in the Zadabar section, for example. +That headman would have to be straightened out. He smiled grimly. Maybe +it would be well to create a vacancy in that village. But that could +wait for a few days. + +He directed the scan back to the eastern section, tracing the route he +had given the caravan master. At last, the long line of saurians came +into view and he watched their deceptively awkward gait as the alien +crawled through a forest and came out into deep grass. + +They were making far better progress than he had thought they would and +he would have to get ready if he planned to be in Tibara when they +arrived. + +He was more careful of his dress than usual. This time, he decided, he'd +want quite a few protective devices. One could never be quite sure of +these caravan masters. + +Of course, so long as they could plainly see the futility of any +treacherous move, they were good company and easy people to deal with, +but it would be most unwise to give one of them any opening. It just +might be he would be the one who was tired of wandering. + +He waited patiently as his slave attached his shield brooches and placed +his control cap on his head, then he reached into the casket the man +held for him and took out a pair of paralysis rings, slipping one on +each of his middle fingers. At last, he dismissed the man. + +He floated out of the building and let himself down on the cushions in +the rear of his speedboat. Critically, he examined the condition of the +craft. His yardboys had cleaned everything up, he noted. The canopy was +down, leaving the lines of the boat clean and sharp. + +He turned his attention to the power crystal and the boat drew out of +its shelter, gained speed, and cut through the water to the distant +shoreline. + +With only part of his mind concentrated on controlling the boat, Barra +looked across the lake. It was broad in expanse, dotted with islands, +and rich in marine life. + +Perhaps he might persuade this Dar Makun to pick up a few loads of dried +lake fish, both for his own rations and for sale along the way to his +destination. Some of the warehouses, he had noted, were well stocked and +he'd have to arrange for some shipments soon. + + * * * * * + +The boat was nearing Tibara pier. He concentrated on setting it in close +to the dock, then made his way to the eastern edge of the village, +summoning the headman as he passed through the village center. + +His timing had been good. The head of the long train was nearly across +the wide grassland. For a moment, the thought crossed his mind that he +might go out and meet the caravan master. But he discarded it. It would +be somewhat undignified for the master of the estate to serve as a mere +caravan guide. He stood, waiting. + +He could see Dar Makun sitting between the armor fins of his riding +lizard. The reptile was one of the heavily armored breed he had +considered raising over in the northwest sector. + +They were, he had been told, normally dryland creatures. Such brutes +should thrive over in the flats, where the long-necks did poorly. He +would have to consider the acquisition of some breeding stock. + +The caravan master drew his mount to a halt and drifted toward the +trees. Barra examined the man closely as he approached. + +He was a tall, slender man, perfectly at ease in his plain trail +clothing. A few control jewels glinted from his fingers and he wore a +small shield brooch, but there was no heavy equipment. His distorter +staff, Barra noted, was a plain rod, tipped by a small jewel. +Serviceable, to be sure, but rather short in range. Barra's lip curled a +trifle. + +This man was not of really great substance, he decided. He probably had +his entire wealth tied up in this one caravan and depended on his fees +and on the sale of some few goods of his own to meet expenses. + +As Dar Makun dropped to the ground near him, Barra nodded. + +"I have instructed my headman to attend to your drivers and beasts," he +said. "You have personal baggage?" + +The other smiled. "Thank you. I'll have one of the boys bring my pack +while the drivers pull up and unload. We can make our stack here, if you +don't mind." + +As Barra nodded in agreement, Dar Makun turned, waving. He drew a deep +breath and shouted loudly, the sounds resembling those which Barra had +often heard from his slaves. The Master Protector felt a twinge of +disgust. + +Of course, several of the caravan masters who did regular business at +Kira Barra shouted at their slaves at times. But somehow, he had never +become used to it. He much preferred to do business with those few who +handled their pseudomen as they did their draft beasts--quietly, and +with the dignity befitting the true race. + +He waited till Dar Makun had finished with his growls and hisses. One of +the caravan drivers had swung down and was bringing a fiber cloth bundle +toward them. Barra looked at it in annoyance. + +"This," he asked himself, "is his baggage?" He recovered his poise and +turned to Dar Makun. + +"He can put it in the boat," he told the man. "I'll have one of my +people pick it up for you when we get to the island. Now, if you'll +follow me, the pier is over this way." He turned and floated toward the +dock. + + * * * * * + +As they pulled out into the lake, Dar Makun settled himself in the +cushions. + +"I never realized what a big lake this is," he remarked. "I've always +made the northern swing through this part of the continent. Oh, I've +seen the lake region from the hills, of course, but--" He looked at the +water thoughtfully. + +"You have quite a lot of fresh-water fish in there?" + +Barra nodded. "We get a harvest." + +Dar Makun closed his eyes, then opened them again. "I might deal with +you for some of those," he commented. "People out west seem to like +fresh-water stuff." He looked at Barra closely. + +"I'll have to open my cargo for you," he went on. "Might be a few items +you'd be interested in." + +Barra nodded. "It's possible," he said. "I always need something around +the place." He speeded the boat a little. + +The boat came to the dock and Barra guided his guest into the Residence +and on into the study, where he activated the view crystal. + +"There's still light enough for you to get a look at some of the herds," +he told Dar Makun. "I believe you said you might need some more draft +beasts." + +Makun watched as the hills of Kira Barra spread out in the air before +him. + +"It's a good way to locate the herds and make a few rough notes," he +admitted. "Of course, I'll have to get close to the brutes in order to +really choose, though." + +"Oh?" + +"Fact. You see, these big lizards aren't all alike. Some of 'em are +really good. Some of 'em just don't handle. A few of 'em just lie down +when you drop the first sling on 'em." Makun nodded toward the +projection. + +"That big fellow over there, for instance," he went on. "Of course, he +might slim down and make a good carrier. But usually, if they look like +a big pile of meat, that's all they're good for. A lot of 'em can't even +stand the weight of a man on their necks. Breaks 'em right down." + +"A good carrier can handle a dozen tons without too much trouble, but +some of these things have it tough to handle their own weight on dry +land and you have to look 'em over pretty closely to be sure which is +which. Can't really judge by a projection." + +Barra looked at the man with slightly increased respect. At least, he +knew something about his business. He shifted the viewer to the swamp. + +Of course, he thought, there were draft animals over in the western +sector. But this small herd was convenient. + +"Well," he said, "I've got this little herd over here. They got away +some time ago and lost a lot of weight before I rounded them up again." + +Makun examined the projection with increased interest. + +[Illustration] + +"Yeah," he remarked. "I'd like to get out there in the morning and look +those fellows over. I just might get the five I need right out there. +Might even pick up a spare or two." + + * * * * * + +The swamp was a backwater of the lake, accessible by a narrow channel. +Barra slowed the boat, easing it along through the still water. Here, +the channel was clear, he knew, and it would soon widen. But there were +some gravel bars a little farther along that could be troublesome if one +were careless. And his attention was divided. He glanced at his +companion. + +Makun leaned against the cushions, looking at the thick foliage far +overhead. Then he turned his attention to the banks of the channel. A +long, greenish shape was sliding out of the water. He pointed. + +"Have many of those around here?" + +"Those vermin?" Barra looked at the amphibian. "Not too many, but I +could do with less of them." + +He picked up his distorter from the rack beside him and pointed it ahead +of the boat. The sapphire glowed. + +There was a sudden, violent thrashing in the foliage on the bank. The +slender creature reared into the air, tooth-studded jaws gaping wide. + +It rose above the foliage, emitting a hissing bellow. Then it curled +into a ball and hung suspended in the air for an instant before it +dropped back into the shrubbery with a wet plop. + +Barra put the jewel-tipped rod back in its hanger. + +"I don't like those nuisances," he explained. "They can kill a slave if +he gets careless. And they annoy the stock." He tilted his head forward. + +"There's the herd," he went on, "at the other end of this open water. +I'll run up close and you can look them over if you wish." + +Makun looked around, then shrugged. "Not necessary. I'll go ahead from +here. Won't take me too long." + +He lifted himself into the air and darted toward one of the huge +saurians. Barra watched as he slowed and drifted close to the brute's +head, then hovered. + +A faint impression of satisfaction radiated from his mind as he drifted +along the length of the creature. He went to another, then to another. + +At last, he returned to the boat. + +"Funny thing," he commented. "A couple of my own carriers seem to have +wandered clear through that null and mixed with your herd." He smiled. + +"Stroke of luck. Too bad the rest didn't manage to stay with 'em, but +you can't have everything. I'll pay you trespass fees on those two, of +course, then I'd like to bargain with you for about four more to go with +'em. Got them all picked out and I can cut 'em out and drive them over +to the train soon's we settle the arrangements." + +Barra frowned. + +"Now, wait a minute," he protested. "Of course, I'll bargain with you +for any or all of this herd. But I'm in the breeding and raising +business, remember. I certainly can't give away a couple of perfectly +good beasts on someone's simple say-so. I'd like a little proof that +those two belong to your train before I just hand them over." + +"Well, now, if it comes to that, I could prove ownership. Legally, too. +After all, I've worked those critters quite a while and any competent +psionic could--" Makun looked at Barra thoughtfully. + +"You know, I'm not just sure I like having my word questioned this way. +I'm not sure I like this whole rig-out. Seems to me there's a little +explaining in order about now--and kind of an apology, too. Then maybe +we can go ahead and talk business." + +"I don't see any need for me to explain anything. And I certainly don't +intend to make a apology of any kind. Not to you. I merely made a +reasonable request. After all, these brutes are on my land and in my +herd. I can find no mark of identification on them, of any kind." Barra +shrugged. + +"As a matter of fact, I don't even know yet which two you are trying to +claim. All I ask is indication of which ones you say are yours and some +reasonable proof that they actually came from your train. Certainly, a +mere claim of recognition is ... well, you'll have to admit, it's a +little thin." + + * * * * * + +Makun looked at him angrily. + +"Now, you pay attention to me. And pay attention good. I'm not stupid +and I'm not blind. I can see all those jewels you're loaded down with +and I know why you're wearing them. They tell me a lot about you, you +can be sure of that. Don't think I haven't noticed that patronizing air +of yours, and don't think I've liked it. I haven't and I don't. + +"I know you're scared. I know you're worried to death for fear I'm going +to pull something on you. I spotted that the first time I talked to +you." He paused. + +"Oh, I've been trying to ignore it and be decent, but I've had about +enough. I've been in this caravan business for a long time. I've dealt +square and I'm used to square dealing. Now, you've been putting out a +lot of side thoughts about thievery and I don't appreciate being treated +like some sneak thief. I'm not about to get used to the idea, either. + +"Now, you'd better get the air cleared around here and then we can talk +business. Otherwise, there's going to be a lot of trouble." + +Barra felt a surge of fury rising above his fear. This lacklander clown +actually dared to try to establish domination over a member of the +ruling class? He breathed deeply. + +"I don't have--" + +"All right, listen to me, you termite. You've come way too far out of +your hole. Now, you just better crawl back in there fast, before I turn +on the lights and burn your hide off." + +The surge of mental power blazing at Barra was almost a physical force. +He cringed away from it, his face wrinkling in an agony of fright. Makun +looked at him contemptuously. + +"All right. Now, I'll tell you--" + +Smoothly, Barra's hand went to the haft of his distorter. The jewel +seemed to rise of its own accord as it blazed coldly. + +For an infinitesimal time, Makun's face reflected horrified +comprehension before it melted into shapelessness. + +Barra put the distorter back in its rack, looking disgustedly at the +mess on the cushions. There was nothing for it, he thought. He'd have to +destroy those, too. Cleaning was out of the question. He shook his head. + +Like all these strong types, this Makun had neglected a simple +principle. With fear as his constant companion, Barra had been forced to +learn to live with it. + +Extreme mental pressure was merely another form of fright. It could +paralyze a braver soul--and often did. It merely made Barra miserably +uncomfortable without disturbing his control. And the hatred that was +always in him was unimpaired--even amplified by the pounding terror. + +The more thoroughly Barra was frightened, the more effectively he +attacked. + +He leaned back in his seat, letting the drumming of his heart subside. +Eventually, he would recover enough to guide the boat out of the swamp +and back to the Residence. + +Tomorrow? Well, he would have to inventory the freight the man had +carried. He would have to check those draft beasts. Perhaps he could +discern the hidden identification Makun had mentioned. + +And he would have to make disposition of some twenty slaves. He summoned +up a smile. + +Now that he thought of it, this affair could be turned to profit. After +all, Dar Makun had been diverted from his route and he had lost some of +his train. And caravans had been known to disappear in the vicinity of +turbulent nulls. + +All he had to do was deny knowledge of the fate of Dar Makun's caravan +if there were any inquiry. Oh, certainly, he could tell any inquirer, +Dar Makun had arrived. He had stayed overnight and then taken his +departure, saying something about cutting around the null and back to +his normal, northern swing. + +He was feeling better now. He turned his attention to the control +crystal and the boat swung about, to make its way back toward the lake. + + * * * * * + +It took longer than he had thought it would. It was evening of the day +after the death of Dar Makun when Barra turned in his seat and raised +his hand, then waved it in a wide circle. + +A quickly directed thought halted his mount and he looked about once +more, at the thick forest. + +This clearing was as close to the village of Celdalo as he wanted to +come. The villagers never came into this heavy screen of trees, but +beyond the forest, there might be some who would watch and wonder. He +smiled grimly. + +Of course, it didn't make too much difference what slaves might +think--if they could think at all, but there was no reason to leave +unnecessary traces of the day's work. + +He swung about in his cushions and looked back at the line of draft +beasts. They were swinging out of line now, to form a semicircle, facing +the trees ahead. + +He impressed an order on his mount to stand, then lifted himself out of +the cushioned seat between the armor fins. For a few seconds, he +hovered, looking down at the beast he had been riding. + +Yes, he thought, he would do well to raise a few of these creatures. +They were tractable and comfortable to ride. A good many caravan masters +might be persuaded to get rid of their less comfortable mounts in +exchange for one of these, once they had tried a day's march. + +One by one, the big saurians came to the forest edge and entered the +clearing, then crouched, to let their drivers swing to the ground. Barra +looked at the lead driver. + +"Make your cargo stack over here," he ordered, "at this side of the +clearing. You will wait here for your master." + +The man looked confused. A vague, questioning thought came from him. It +wasn't really a coherent thought, but just an impression of +doubt--uncertainty. Barra frowned impatiently. + +It had been much the same when he had ordered this man to load up back +at Tibara. Perhaps it was no wonder Dar Makun had been forced to learn +vocalization if this was the best slave he could find to develop into +his headman. + +Carefully, he formed a projection. It showed the carriers gathering in +their unloading circles. He made one of the projections turn and drop +its head over another's back. The wide mouth opened and stubby, peg +teeth gripped the handling loop of a cargo sling. Then the long-neck +swiveled back, to repeat the performance. + +Barra watched as the man before him nodded in obedient understanding. He +shot out a sharp, peremptory order. + +"Do it, then! Do it as shown." + +The man made noises, then turned, shouting at the other drivers. + +Barra watched as the stack of cargo grew. At last, the final sling was +positioned and a heavy cloth cover was dropped over the great piles. +Barra looked at the headman. + +"Bring your drivers close," he ordered. "I have something for them to +see." + +Again, there was the moment of confusion, but this time the man had +gathered the main sense of the command. He turned again, shouting. + +The drivers looked at each other questioningly, then moved slowly +forward, to form a tight group before Barra, who watched until they were +in satisfactory position. + +He concentrated on the group for a few seconds, starting the formation +of a projection to his left. + +As the air glowed and started to show form, the eyes of the drivers +swung toward it. Barra smiled tightly and swung his distorter up. The +crystal flamed as he swept it across the group of slaves. + +He kept the power on, sweeping the distorter back and forth until all +that remained was a large pool of slime which thinned, then oozed into +the humus. At last, he tucked the rod back under his arm and examined +the scene. + +There was the pile of goods. There were the carrier beasts. But no man +or pseudoman remained of the caravan. His smile broadened. + +Once he had sorted this cargo and moved it to the Residence and to +various warehouses about the Estates, all traces of Dar Makun and his +train would be gone. + +To be sure, a few villages would find that their herds had increased, +but this was nothing to worry about. He sighed. + +It had been a hard day and it would be a hard night's work. He would +have to forget his dignity for the time and do real labor. But this was +necessity. And there was plenty of profit in it as well. + +So far as the rest of the world might know, Dar Makun and his caravan +had left Kira Barra to cut back to the northern swing. And the turbulent +null had swallowed them without trace. + +He turned away. He would have to bring work boats in to the nearby +beach. Their surrogates were already attuned and ready, and one of them +had been equipped with an auxiliary power crystal. He would need that. + +As the boats arrived at village piers, the various headmen would merely +follow instructions as given by the boat's surrogates. He would be done +with this operation in a few hours. + + * * * * * + +The days went on, became weeks, then hands of weeks. Little by little, +Barra changed his attitude toward caravan masters. Once, he had been +cautious about dealing with them, allowing only a chosen few to do +business within his borders. + +Now, however, he had found a whole, new source of income. And a new +sense of power had come to him. Caravans were more than welcome at Kira +Barra. + +He leaned back on his new chair, enjoying the complete ease with which +it instantly shaped to fit his body. It was precisely like hovering a +short distance above the floor, yet there was no strain of concentration +on some control unit. He allowed himself to relax completely and turned +his attention to the viewer crystal. + +It was new, too. The old one of his father's which he had brought to the +new Residence had seemed quite inadequate when the Residence was redone. +This new viewer had been designed for professional use. It was a full +two feet in diameter and could fill thousands of cubic feet with solid +projection. + +Animals, trees, pseudomen, all could be brought before him as though +physically present in the study. Too, it was simpler than the old one +and much more accurate in its control. He sighed. + +The Estates had prospered. Of course, he had been cautious. Many +caravans had come to Kira Barra and left again, their masters highly +pleased with the fair dealings of the Estates. Several had returned, +time and time again. + +There had been others who had come through during times when the null +was in turbulence and it was from these that he had taken his harvest. +He had been particular in his choices, making careful evaluation before +taking any action. + +By this time, his operation was faultless--a smooth routine which +admitted of no error. He smiled as he remembered his fumbling efforts +with the first caravan and his halting improvements when he had dealt +with the next. What were those fellows' names? + +He shrugged. He could remember that first fellow practically begging him +to take action and he could remember his own frightened evaluation of +the situation after the first step. He had gone over a whole, long line +of alternative choices, rejecting them one by one until the inevitable, +ideal method of operation had come out. He smiled. + +When he had finally settled on his general method, it had been elegantly +simple. But it had been very nearly perfect. Basically, he was still +using the same plan. + +Now, of course, it was smoother and even more simplified. There were two +general routines involved. + +Most caravan masters were treated with the greatest of consideration. +They were allowed to pass through the Estates with only nominal fees and +invited to avail themselves of the courtesy of the Estates at any time +in the future. If trades with the Estates were involved, the fees were +waived, of course. And many of them had returned, bringing goods and +information, as well as taking away the produce of the Estates. + +Then, there were those caravans which came during turbulences in the +null and which seemed worthwhile to the now practiced eyes of Kio Barra. +These were the ones ripe for harvest. Their owners had been offered the +courtesy of the Estates--and more. + +They had been taken for sightseeing tours--perhaps of the lake--perhaps +to see valuable carrier stock which could be had at bargain rates. + +Then, in complete privacy, a distorter beam had made neat disposition of +them. + +Their goods had been distributed through the various warehouses and +later disposed of through the safe channels which Barra had carefully +cultivated. Their slaves, of course, had been eliminated. + +Barra regretted this waste of valuable property, but this way there +could be no leak of information and no inquiry could be successful. + +There had been an inquiry at one time, but that had been in the earlier +days. + +The inquirer had gone away with no suspicion in his mind. He had +examined the null from the hills and had agreed with Kio Barra that it +was indeed a menace. He had listened sympathetically to Barra's rueful +comments about slaves and stock which had drifted into the null, never +to be heard from again. + +Barra activated the view crystal. It was time for another inspection of +the Estates. + + * * * * * + +The projection formed and Barra was suddenly in a wood, looking across a +wide field. Grain waved in the breeze and here and there, the +silhouettes of both long-neck and fin-back could be seen, half hidden by +grass and trees. + +The scanner progressed, crossing the field and continuing to another +forest, operating on the route impressed on it. Barra relaxed as he +watched. As the scan progressed through field, swamp and forest, he +nodded in satisfaction. The Estates were in far better shape than ever +before. + +Suddenly, he halted the scan, looking critically at the scene. He was in +the central clearing of Tibara. And the village didn't match with the +standards he wanted. + +He looked critically at the huts. They were becoming run-down. It had +been too long since the roof thatches had been replaced. Uprights were +bending a little here, a trifle out of plumb there. + +There were broken stones again in the well curb and the pile of stone +brought for repair wasn't neatly stacked. He frowned. + +This was not the first time he'd had to take a firm hand in Tibara. Of +course, he had replaced headmen in other villages--more than once in +some cases. But Tibara was working on its third headman. There was +something really wrong in that village. + +To be sure, Tibara was the village where most caravan slaves were +quartered. A lodge had been built there for that purpose and it was in +frequent use. Naturally, it was maintained by the villagers. But that +was even less excuse for shoddiness. This should be the neatest, best +kept village in all Kira Barra. It wasn't. + +The frown deepened. This time, Tibara was going to be cleaned up, and +he'd keep his attention on it. The village would stay clean if the +villagers had to spend every second of their time on it when they +weren't taking care of their herds, their boats, and their guest lodge. + +And there'd be no slacking in those other areas, either. + +He looked around the clearing. There were, he was forced to admit, no +idlers about at the moment. The only people he could see were women and +children. And the women were busily occupied. + +Again, he studied the scene. The men would be coming in from their +fields and from the lake in another hour. He would examine a few other +villages, then return his attention to Tibara. + + * * * * * + +Wearily, Retonga, headman of Tibara, pulled himself to a sitting +position. He looked over to the other side of the room. Mir was already +on her feet. She smiled at him uncertainly. + +"It's morning," she said. "Rest day, at last." + +"Yes." Retonga closed his eyes for an instant. It had been bad for her, +too, he knew. He'd probably been pretty hard to live with these past few +days. He sighed. + +"Rest day," he mused. "But it means nothing. There's still work. There's +always work these days." He got to his feet. + +"I wish I were just a herd boy--in some other village." He went to the +door and looked out. + +Someone had disturbed the pile of building stones. Children had been +playing in the clearing the night before and the earth was scuffed up. +Bits of wood and cloth lay scattered here and there. + +He looked at the houses. Folshan's roof was sagging a trifle, he +noticed. And there were a couple of dolls lying outside his door. He +shook his head and went out into the clearing. + +Old Tamiso was squatting by the well. Retonga walked over to him. + +"Your stone pile," he said. "A few of the stones are scattered." + +The old man looked over, then shrugged. + +"I just picked this one out," he explained. "When I get it laid, I'll +have to get another. I'll straighten the pile when I finish here." + +Retonga smiled wearily. "And if the master sees your pile now?" + +Tamiso pushed himself to his feet, rubbing his back thoughtfully. + +"Yes," he said. "The master can give great pain, and it seems he is +always watching these days." He walked over to the stones. + +For a moment, Retonga watched as he rearranged his pile, then he turned, +tilting his head back. + +"Awaken," he shouted. "For the sun looks down and shall he find us +asleep?" + +A head poked out of a door. + +"It's a rest day. We'll be at it soon enough, but what's the hurry?" + +Retonga shook his head. "I know it's rest day. You know it's rest day. +But there's one who forgets these things. Remember the other evening?" + +Folshan winced and Retonga pointed. + +"Better get those dolls picked up. And there's that roof of yours. I'll +give you a hand with it." + +Folshan came out of his hut, then looked back. + +"No," he said slowly. "You're headman. Remember how that happened? Let +the master catch you helping with the work and we'll need yet another +headman." He shook his head. + +"This time, it could be me." He bent over to pick up the toys his +daughter had left. + +"Kina," he called, "tell Chama to keep her toys picked up, or she might +be needing a new father." He turned again. + +"I'll get Kesonta to help with that roof. It'll be straight in an hour +or so." + +Retonga looked after him for a moment, then caught the eyes of a couple +of the women. He made a sweeping motion toward the earth of the +clearing, then walked back to his own door. + +[Illustration] + +He turned, inspecting each detail of the village. + +"Let's see. Is there anything else for the master to find wrong?" Again, +he examined each house closely. + +At last, he turned away, walking toward a path. + +"He'll probably be looking at the waterfront, too," he told himself, +"and at the lodge." + +He walked slowly along the path, checking the forest floor as he went. +As he got to the beach, he looked toward the pier, then winced. + +A few hundred yards out in the lake, a high wedge of water was sweeping +toward him. At the apex of the vee, he could see the shape of a boat, +its bow riding high over the water. + +"Oh, no," he groaned to himself. "Trouble again!" He waited. + +As the wave splashed to the pier, he dashed forward to secure the boat. +Kio Barra merely glanced at him. Briefly, he caught the impression of a +wide field. A line of great beasts were crossing it, their long necks +bobbing as they walked. He nodded in understanding. + +A caravan was coming in. That would be trouble, of course, but of minor +nature. He turned, to follow the glittering figure as it floated toward +the path and on, into the village. + + * * * * * + +As the caravan came to a stop, Naran's beast bent its knees and +crouched. He swung himself to the ground. + +[Illustration] + +He was getting the hang of this, he told himself. At first, he had been +forced to fight an almost uncontrollable compulsion to float down +normally, but now it seemed quite sensible to grab the heavy fiber +strands and swing forward till his feet were solidly on the ground. He +spun about. + +"All right," he shouted. "Take your reins. Form your unloading circles +on me. We'll be here for a day or two." + +He watched as the slings were lifted from the brutes' backs, then turned +his attention to the man who was greeting Dar Girdek. + +So this was the Lord of the Mountain Lake. He shook his head. The fellow +glittered almost from head to foot. Naran examined the jewelry +appraisingly. He wore a fourth-order cap. They didn't make them any +heavier than that one. And if there was a device that had been left out, +he had never heard of it. + +In addition, he could identify three heavy-duty shields, a power +levitator, a handful of destructor and paralysis rings, and a projector +medallion capable of forming several hundred cubic feet of solid, +detailed illusion. He shook his head. + +This man must have spent the entire income of his estate for several +years in assembling this array. There was enough there to outfit a +battle group of competent psionics. + +"If this guy needs all that stuff just to get by, he's as near to +psionic zero as you can get," Naran told himself. "Either that, or he's +loaded with a power compulsion that's never been equalled." He frowned. + +"Or both," he added thoughtfully. + +He looked again at the blaze of jewelry. + +Faintly, he could sense the sour feel of fear. It acted as a carrier for +a mixture of hatred, envy, and contemptuous hauteur. Naran whistled +softly. There was more, too. He wished he dared try a probe, but with +all that arsenal of psionic crystalware, it would be unwise. + +"Hit those shields of his and I'd bounce off with a noise like a million +bells," he thought. He turned away. + +He'd have to keep his own mind fully hooded around here. He looked back +again, glancing at the distorter rod Barra carried. His eyes widened a +little. + +"Given adequate drive, that thing would stop a Fifth Planet battleship." +He grinned. + +"Arm a couple of hundred men with those things and they could go out and +take the Fifth apart, bit by bit. Then we wouldn't have to worry about +those people and their mechanical gadgets." + +He dragged his attention back to the business at hand, tapping in on Dar +Girdek's thoughts. + +"... And we can tour the Estates later today," Barra was saying. "I may +be able to show you some worthwhile goods, as well as a few good draft +beasts to carry them." + +Naran risked a light probe, taking advantage of Barra's diverted +attention. + +He had been right, he thought. It was the "or both." He shook his head. +The guy was almost pathetic. Obviously, he wanted to be the greatest man +on the planet. And equally obviously, without his amplifier jewels, he'd +be little stronger psionically than one of Dar Girdek's drivers. + +As Dar Girdek followed his host toward the village, Naran turned his +attention back to his drivers. He would have to make camp and then get +together with that village headman. There'd be plenty of arrangements +they would have to make. + +He was surprised at the arrangements Retonga had already made. There +wasn't much question about it, the entertainment of caravans was +familiar business with this headman. He knew all the problems--and their +answers. + +Of course, Dar Girdek had told him about the hospitality of Kira Barra, +but this had to be seen to be believed. He spent his first really +restful night in weeks. + +The next morning, he walked slowly along the path to the drivers' lodge, +paying little attention to his surroundings. Somehow, in spite of the +reception given the caravan, he was uneasy. + +He recalled his conversation with Retonga the night before. + +The man had asked questions about the conditions of the trail. He had +been curious about the treatment of the drivers by the master of the +train. Then he had shaken his head, looking out over his village. + +"It is far different here. This is an estate of death and terror, and +our master is the very lord of these. I was a child when his father +died, but I think things were different then." He had looked searchingly +at Naran. + +"I've never mentioned these things before," he went on. "But there's +something--" He had looked down at the ground, then up again. + +"Our master became Kio through the death of his brother," he went on, +"and it was through the deaths of other headmen that I was placed in +charge of this village." He had glanced back into the door of his hut. + +"I had no part in causing those deaths. The life of a headman here in +Tibara is short and none but a fool would fight for this position of +mine. It is not a good one. The master's demands are heavy and his hand +is even heavier." + +This didn't match with the reputation of Kio Barra as a considerate +host--a fair man to do business with. It made him wonder. + +Had his brother actually ever left this place? But if not, where were +his drivers? What had happened to his train of draft brutes? How had the +cargo he carried been disposed of? + +Oh, of course, he knew there were caravan masters who would accept +freight and ask a minimum of questions. Goods could be disposed of. And +this was a breeding estate. The slaves? He shook his head. Too simple! + +He brought himself back to the present, looking thoughtfully at the +drivers' lodge ahead of him. Then he probed gently, trying to establish +rapport with Dar Girdek. The man could be in real danger. + +He frowned and probed with more force. There was nothing. The frown +deepened. + +After his talk with Retonga, he had established rapport with the caravan +master, but the older man had attached no importance to his suspicions. + +"No," he had thought back, "you are seeing a robber behind every rock +now. Kio Barra is a tough master, of course. He's got a big estate here, +and he really keeps it up to the mark. He's a good host and a really +good man to deal with--liberal trader. Remember, I know this guy. I've +been here before." There had been the impression of a smile. + +"Besides, this guy's harmless, remember? Sure, he's a businessman. But +if he should try anything violent, I could take care of him without +taking time out to think about it." A final, dismissing thought had +come. + +"Look, forget about it, will you? If you had to suspect someone of dirty +work, pick on some of those northerners. Kio Barra's too well known for +fair dealing. I'll make a deal with him, then we can go up to the +northern swing and really look around to see if we can find any trace of +that caravan of your brother's." + +Naran kicked at the trail. Dar Girdek was a good trader and a successful +caravan master. He knew goods and their value, and he was expert in +handling beasts and drivers. But he had never been too sensitive. And +he'd absolutely refused to wear a probe amplifier. + +"Look," he'd thought disgustedly, "how would you like to do business +with some guy that wore a great, big, yellow headlight to tell you he +wanted to poke around in your mind?" + +Naran put his foot on the lowest rung of the short ladder leading to the +lodge door. + +Unless he was badly mistaken, he knew now where his brother had gone. +And now Dar Girdek had joined him. The details? He shrugged. + +They were unimportant. But what was next? What would be the next step in +Barra's plans? And what could be done about this guy? He climbed the +ladder and went into the lodge. + +Of course, if the Council found out about this, they could deal with the +situation. All they'd need would be a little proof and Kio Barra would +be well and promptly taken care of. But how would someone get word out? + +The estate was loaded with surrogates, he knew that. A caravan--even a +single man--would find it impossible to either enter or leave without +the knowledge and consent of the Master Protector. He smiled. + +He could just visualize Kio Barra letting anyone out with proof of his +activities. The smile faded. + +A distant projection? There were those surrogates again. They were broad +tuned and he knew it. They'd flare like a field of beacons. + +Of course, he could get out a flash appeal and it would be heard. He +grinned. + +Now, there was a nice way to commit suicide. There'd be no time for help +to arrive, he was sure of that. And no shield would stand up under that +heavy-duty distorter, even if Barra could only summon a minimum of power +to operate it. He shook his head, looking around the room. + + * * * * * + +Drivers were beginning to stir and get to their feet. Naran looked at +the flunky. + +"Better get with it, Bintar," he said. "Going to be a bunch of hungry +men around you in a couple of minutes." + +"Yeah." The man started out the door, yawning. "Got to eat, if we don't +do anything else." He climbed down the ladder. + +Naran glanced at the drivers. + +"Soon's we've eaten," he said, "I'd like to check up on the long-necks. +See whether they've wandered during the night. I'd hate to have them get +mixed up with the village herd." + +A driver looked around at him. + +"Aw," he protested, "the master probably pinned 'em down good before he +left. Besides, he can identify 'em anyway. They won't go far--not with +those herd boys running around." + +"Sure," Naran told him. "The master would really like spending half a +day cutting out his long-necks from the village herd. And how about that +Master Protector? What would he think of our caravan?" + +The other looked at him disgustedly. "Aw, who cares about that? Why +worry about what one of them witchmen thinks about another? Long's we +don't get twisted around, what's the difference?" + +Naran growled to himself. He'd blundered on that one. There was no +answer to that argument that he could present. He had learned to +understand--and in some measure sympathize with--the deep-seated +resentment of the non-psi for the psionic. The non-psionics felt they +were just as good men as anyone, yet here were these psionics with their +incomprehensible powers. And there was nothing to be done about it +except obey. + +Of course, they didn't like it--or their masters. + +As far as that went, the caravan herd was unimportant now. The only +trouble was Retonga. If the herds were mixed, he would be in real +trouble. + +"Well," he said aloud, "I'm not about to get the master to spinning. +Long's we keep him happy, we'll all be a lot better off. As I said, +right after breakfast. I want everyone out on the herd." He started to +turn away. + +"Aagh," growled the other. "Why don't you face it? You're just one of +those guys likes to toss orders around and make people jump. It's about +time someone showed you a few things." + +Naran turned back. Rosel had been resentful ever since the caravan had +formed. He had expected to be lead driver on this trip and he'd made no +effort to hide his fury and disappointment at being displaced in favor +of a newcomer. + +For an instant, Naran considered. There was no point in continuing his +masquerade any further. Dar Girdek was gone and he'd have to take the +caravan back anyway--if he could work his way out of here, past Barra. + +If he couldn't get out--if he joined his brother and Dar Girdek--it +would make no difference what the caravan drivers thought. + +He could put this man in his place right now. Then, he could give him +the job of lead driver. + +But there was something else to think of. If he got the train out of +here, he would have to work with this guy. And there would always be an +even greater resentment added to the normal fear and hatred of the +psionic. That could demoralize the whole train. Naran sighed. + +Rosel had put his feelings in the open now and Naran would have to play +out the role he had assumed. + +He crossed the room to confront Rosel. Abruptly, he thrust a hand out. +The other made a grab for it and Naran moved smoothly forward, locking +the grasping hand. + +Quickly he extended a leg and threw Rosel over it. As the man hit the +floor, Naran retained his grip and brought his other hand over, twisting +the man's arm. His foot went out, to smack into the man's face, pinning +him to the floor. Slowly, he put pressure on the prisoned hand. + +"Once more," he said coldly, "I'm going to have everyone out on the herd +right after breakfast. Now, do you want to go out and work with 'em, or +do I keep winding up on this thing and then have 'em load you up with +the rest of the spare gear?" + +"Aw, look." Rosel's voice was muffled. "Didn't mean a thing, I was just +making a crack." + +"Yeah, sure." Naran's voice was scornful. "Just having a little fun +before breakfast. Now you listen to me. So long as I'm lead driver, +you're going to do what I say--when I say it. If you give me any more +trouble, I'll pull your head off and make you carry it under one arm. +Got it?" + +"Ow! Yeah, I got it. You're the lead driver." + +Naran released his pressure and stepped back. + +"All right," he said. "Let's forget it. Now, we'll get breakfast over +with and then we'll take care of the long-necks. You take the drivers +out, Rosel. I'm going to make some arrangements in the village. Be with +you later." He swung away. + + * * * * * + +Barra looked at his reflection with satisfaction. It was too bad, he +thought, that he didn't have some companion to appreciate his wealth and +power. He examined his equipment carefully. + +Everything was clean. Everything was in order. There was no device +lacking. + +Proudly, he looked down at the huge, yellow pendant he was wearing for +the first time. It was funny, he thought, that he had never considered a +probe unit before. Now that he thought of it, this was a most +satisfactory device. Now, he could look into his villagers' minds and +see clearly what lay there. Even, he could get some ideas of the +intentions of visiting caravan masters. + +Fitting the device and becoming familiar with it had been hard work, of +course, but he had mastered it. And today, he could wear the jewel and +use it. It would make the day's work easier. + +He activated his levitator, floated to his boat, and pulled it away from +its shelter, setting the course toward Tibara. + +The hard part of this operation was over, he thought. The rest was +simple routine. + +This caravan master had given him a bit more trouble than some of the +others, but his final reaction had been just like all the others. He +smiled. + +That flash of incredulity, followed by sudden, horrified comprehension, +then blankness, was becoming perfectly familiar. In fact, even this was +simple routine. + +He wondered if he might be able to extend just a little. Perhaps he +could operate on a wider scale. There should be some way he could work +out to take over a neighboring estate and go from there. + +Surely, there must be some outlet for his abilities, beyond mere +increase in the wealth of Kira Barra. And there must be some way to gain +a companion of sorts. He would have to think that over. + +He swung the boat to the pier and floated away, grandly ignoring the +pseudomen who hurried to secure his lines. + +He examined the village with approval as he stood in the center of the +clearing. There had been a great improvement since he had taken that +headman in hand. Perhaps this fellow would be satisfactory--might even +learn to take some pride in the appearance of his village--if, that is, +a pseudoman were capable of pride. + +He looked over toward the headman's hut. + +The fellow had come out, followed by the lead driver of the caravan. +Good, that would save the trouble of hunting the fellow out. + +He concentrated on the caravan slave. + +"Your master has decided to remain at the Residence for a time," he +thought confidently. "You may have your drivers load up and move to a +more permanent location." + +The answering thought was unexpectedly distinct. + +"This location looks as though it were designed for a caravan's stay. +Where's Dar Girdek?" + +Barra looked at the man in surprise. What was this? This fellow didn't +think like any pseudoman. Had Dar Girdek somehow managed to persuade a +halfman to act as his lead driver? But why? + +He drew back a little, tensing. There was something wrong here. + +"Now, look," persisted the man before him. "I'd like to see Dar Girdek. +I'd like to know why I haven't been able to get in touch with him this +morning." + +Barra blinked, then activated the new probe. He would have to find out +what this man knew--how much others might know. Abruptly, he felt a +violent return of the fear sickness which had temporarily subsided with +the death of Dar Girdek. + +The probe was met by an impenetrable barrier. Barra's eyes widened. This +man was no halfman, either. He was one of the great psionics. +Frantically, Barra's thought retraced the past. + +Was this an investigator from the Council? Was he, Kio Barra, suspect? +But how had any leak occurred? The fear grew, till he could almost smell +the sour stench of it. And with it, came a buoying lift of pure fury. + +This man may have unmasked him, to be sure. The Council might even now +be sending men to take him, but this spy would never know the results of +his work. He would profit nothing here. + +He flipped the distorter from under his arm. + + * * * * * + +As the Master Protector started to raise his distorter, Naran felt a +sharp twinge of regret. He had resigned himself to this, and had made +his preparations, but he hated to leave Barra to someone else. Of +course, the man had no chance now. The disturbance he had keyed himself +to make if he were hit with a distorter would be heard by every scholar +in Ganiadur, and by half the Council. But-- + +Suddenly, he felt a sort of pity for the killer before him. The guy +wasn't really altogether to blame. He'd been living for all these years +with everything against him. + +Born into a psionic family, he had been the family skeleton--a thing of +disgrace--to be hidden from the rest of the world and given tolerant +protection. + +And when this barely tolerated being had managed somehow to gain power +and get amplifying devices? Well-- + +The crystal was leveled at him now. He looked at it indifferently, +thinking of the man who held it. + +"Poor, lonesome weakling!" + +Abruptly, the clearing was lit up by a blinding red glare. Naran closed +his eyes against the searing light. Seconds went by and he opened his +eyes again, looking about the village in confusion. + +Had he somehow managed to retain full consciousness of ego, even after +being reduced by a distorter beam? Was there a release into some other +state of being? He had felt no-- + +He looked at Kio Barra. The man stood, slack-faced, still holding his +distorter rod, but gradually allowing it to sag toward the ground. Naran +shook his head. + +"Now, what goes on?" + +He probed at the man's mind. + +There was consciousness. The man could think, but the thoughts were dim +and blurred, with no trace of psionic carrier. The control and amplifier +jewels he wore had lost their inner fire--were merely dull, lifeless +reflectors of the sunlight. This man could do no more toward bringing +life to the jewels than could the village headman--perhaps, even less. + +Naran looked at him in unbelieving confusion, then turned as a sudden, +screaming thought struck his mind. + +"A stinking, high-nosed witchman! And we thought he was one of us! Ate +with him. Argued with him. Even fought with him. I've got to get away. +Got to!" + +There was desperation in the thought. And there were hatred overtones, +which blended, then swelled. + +As the terrorized ululation went on, Naran swung his head, locating the +source. He'd have to do something about that--fast. The fellow would +really demoralize the caravan now--even infect the big saurians--cause a +stampede. + +This guy had some power of projection and his terror was intensifying it +till anyone could receive the disturbing impulses, even though complete +understanding might be lacking. + +Naran lifted himself from the ground, arrowing rapidly toward the +caravan, his mind already forming the thoughts which he hoped would +soothe the frantic fear and--at least to some degree--allay the frenzy +of hatred that swelled and became stronger and stronger. + +Barra could wait. + + * * * * * + +As Barra swung his distorter to bear, he concentrated on the violent +pulse needed to trigger the jewel, his mind closed to all else. He +turned his attention on his target. + +Suddenly, he recognized the curiously tender expression which had formed +on the face of the man before him. + +Frantically, he tried to revise his thoughts--to recall the blaze of +energy he had concentrated to build up. + +It was too late. + +With a sense of despair, he recognized the sudden, lifting, twisting +agony that accompanied the flare of the overloaded power crystal. For an +eternal instant, his universe was a blinding, screaming, red nightmare. + +The flare died and he watched dully as the unharmed man before him +looked about unbelievingly, then looked back to carefully examine him. + +"Oh," he told himself dully. "I suppose they'll take care of me, but +what of it? They'll put me somewhere. I'll lose everything. It'll be +just like the place Boemar thought of sending me, when I--" + +Furiously, he tried to summon some tiny bit of energy to activate the +distorter. + +Nothing happened. + +The man whose pity had destroyed him suddenly frowned, then turned and +darted away. Dully, Barra watched him, then he turned, to look around +the village. His face contorted in new terror. + +Some of the village men were moving toward him, curious expressions on +their faces. He backed away from them and turned. + +A few more had moved to block his path. + +They were grunting and hissing to each other. Barra looked from face to +face, then looked over toward the well. + +There were men over there, too, by the pile of stones. The old man who +worked on the retaining walls of the village had picked up some of his +building material. + +He stood, eying Barra calculatingly, a stone poised in each hand. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Weakling, by Everett B. 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