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+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Blind Spot, by Bascom Jones, Jr.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+
+    p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;}
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+<body>
+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30454 ***</div>
+
+<div class="bk1"><h1><span class="sp1">BLIND<br />
+<span class="sp2">SPOT</span></span></h1>
+
+<h2>By BASCOM JONES, JR.</h2>
+
+<p><b>Illustrated by KOSSIN</b></p>
+
+<p class="sp3"><big><b><i>Everyone supported the Martian<br />
+program&mdash;until it struck home!</i></b></big></p></div>
+
+<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Johnny Stark</span>, director
+of the department of Interplanetary
+Relations for
+Mars' Settlement One, reread the
+final paragraph of the note which
+he had found on his desk, upon
+returning from lunch earlier in
+the day.</p>
+
+<p>His eye flicked rapidly over
+the moistly smeared Martian
+scrawl, ignoring the bitterness
+directed at him in the first paragraphs.
+He was vaguely troubled
+by the last sentences. But he
+hadn't been able to pin the feeling
+down.</p>
+
+<div class="bq"><p><i>... Our civilization predates
+that of Earth's by millions of
+years. We are an advanced, peaceful
+race. Yet, since Earth's first
+rocket landed here thirteen years
+ago, we have been looked upon as
+freaks and contemptuously called
+'bug-men' behind our backs! This
+is our planet. We gave of our far-advanced
+knowledge and science
+freely, so that Earth would be a
+better place. We asked nothing
+in return, but we were rewarded
+by having forced upon us foreign
+ideas of government, religion,
+and behavior. Our protests have
+been silenced by an armed-police
+and punitive system we've never
+before needed. Someday you will
+awaken to this injustice. On that
+day in your life, you have my
+sympathy and pity!</i></p></div>
+
+<p>Stark knew that the Settlement's
+Investigations Lab could
+readily determine the identity of
+the Martian who had written the
+note. But he hesitated to send it
+over. Under the New System,
+such troublemakers were banished
+to the slave-labor details
+of the precious-earth mines to
+the North.</p>
+
+<p>Crumpling the note in sudden
+decision, Stark dropped it into
+the office incendiary tube. The
+morning visi-report had shown
+that there were more than 17,000
+workers at the mines. Only five
+had been Earthlings. Let the
+armed-police system find the
+Martian through their own channels.
+It wasn't his job.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">A&nbsp;glance</span> at the solar clock
+on the far wall reminded him
+there was still time for one more
+interview before the last bell, so
+he impatiently signaled his secretary
+to send in the waiting
+couple.</p>
+
+<p>Ordinarily, he liked his work
+and time meant little to him. He
+had jumped from interpreter to
+director in the ten years since
+the department had been created.
+But this day was different.</p>
+
+<p>Stark was to announce his engagement
+at the Chief's monthly
+dinner party that evening and
+time had seemed to drag since
+his lunch with Carol.</p>
+
+<p>When the door opened, he rose
+and nodded to the plump, freckle-faced
+girl who entered. The
+girl topped five feet by one or
+two inches, but she was no taller
+than the Martian man who followed
+her at the prescribed four
+feet.</p>
+
+<p>After the girl had seated herself,
+Stark and the Martian sat
+down. Stark opened the folder,
+which his secretary had placed on
+his desk earlier.</p>
+
+<p>"Your names are Ruth and
+Ralph Gilraut? And you want
+permission to move into Housing
+Perimeter D?" It was merely a
+formality, since the information
+was in the folder.</p>
+
+<p>When the girl nodded, Stark
+placed a small check mark in the
+space beside her name. Then he
+turned to the Martian.</p>
+
+<p>The large, single red eye set
+deep in the Martian's smooth,
+green forehead above the two
+brown ones blinked twice before
+he answered.</p>
+
+<p>He spoke deliberately. "As is
+required of all Martians under
+the New System, I have taken
+the name of one of the early
+Earthlings to write and pronounce."
+The large red eye blinked
+again. "My wife would like to
+move into Housing Perimeter D.
+By regulation, I respect her
+wish."</p>
+
+<div class="figr"><img src="images/001.png" width="356" height="500" alt="" title="" /></div>
+
+<p>Stark placed a check mark by
+the Martian's name. He wiped
+the smudge of ink off his hand
+and said, "You both know, of
+course, that Perimeter D is reserved
+for couples who have intermarried
+and are about to have
+offspring?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl and the Martian nodded,
+and the girl passed Stark a
+medical report. Stark looked over
+the report and then made a notation
+on a small pink slip.</p>
+
+<p>He said, "This permit certifies
+that you are eligible to move
+from Perimeter E to Housing Perimeter
+D. It also certifies that
+your husband has no record as a
+troublemaker." Stark looked at
+the girl. "You understand that
+you may visit your friends in Perimeter
+E, but, by law, they will
+not be allowed to enter Perimeter
+D to visit you. And, of course,
+the new law clearly states that
+neither of you may visit Earthlings
+in Housing Perimeter A,
+B or C."</p>
+
+<p>The girl looked down at her
+hands. Her voice was almost inaudible.
+"My husband and I are
+familiar with the advantages and
+disadvantages listed under the
+section pertaining to intermarriage
+in the new law, Mr. Stark.
+Thank you."</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Stark</span> rose as they left. For
+a brief moment, he thought
+he had detected a sense of rebellion
+in their attitude. But that
+was not possible.</p>
+
+<p>The new law provided equality
+for all. And his department had
+been created to iron out relations
+between the two races&mdash;excepting
+complaints originated by troublemakers
+for the purpose of weakening
+the New System. In such
+cases, Investigations had stepped
+in and the Martian or Earthling
+troublemaker had been sent to
+the rare-earth mines.</p>
+
+<p>The reddish light filtering in
+through the quartz and lead wall
+of his office showed that it was
+almost time for the last bell.</p>
+
+<p>On the street below, shoppers
+were streaming out of the stores
+on their way to the various housing
+perimeters.</p>
+
+<p>Earthlings were climbing into
+their speedy little jet cars for the
+short trip to the recently modernized
+inner perimeters. Martians
+were waiting for the slower
+auto buses. The traffic problem
+had been solved, under the New
+System, by restricting the use
+of the Martian-built jet cars to
+persons living in the inner perimeters.</p>
+
+<p>As Stark watched, a black jet
+car impatiently hurtled out of
+the line of traffic, bowled through
+a crowd of Martians waiting for
+an auto bus, and skidded to a
+stop at the curb in front of the
+building.</p>
+
+<p>A tall girl got out. The red
+evening glow reflecting from her
+golden hair, made her breathing
+globe almost amber. Male Martians
+and Earthlings alike turned
+to stare in appreciation as she
+pushed her way through the
+crowd to the building's compressor
+lock. Carol was that kind of
+girl.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Almost</span> at the exact moment
+that Carol opened the door
+into Stark's office, the yellow visi-screen
+of the vocal box upon
+Stark's desk flashed on brilliantly
+and the Chief's booming voice
+filled the office. The light from the
+screen picked up the highlights
+on the furniture and gave a sallow,
+greenish cast to Stark's features.
+Carol stepped back into
+the doorway to stay out of range
+of the two-way unit.</p>
+
+<p>"Stark!" The automatic tuner
+on the box corrected to bring the
+Chief's image in wire-sharp focus.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir?"</p>
+
+<p>"About the dinner tonight. Just
+checking to make sure you're
+planning to be there. We want a
+full turnout. An inspection team
+has come up from Earth and we
+have two visiting dignitaries from
+Venus."</p>
+
+<p>Stark nodded and waited for
+the Chief to say something else,
+but the visi-screen blanked out.</p>
+
+<p>Carol said, "That was Dad,
+wasn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>Stark felt very depressed suddenly.
+"Haven't you told him
+yet?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. He's been tied up with
+those inspectors all afternoon.
+And you know how Dad is,
+Johnny. There's a right and a
+wrong time to tell him things.
+Right now, he's only interested
+in hearing about Earth."</p>
+
+<p>"But we're supposed to announce
+our engagement tonight
+at the dinner." He shook his head.
+"We can't go on forever with just
+a few stolen moments here and
+there, eating an occasional lunch
+or third meal together in little
+out-of-the-way places."</p>
+
+<p>Carol laughed, the youthful
+swell of her breasts against the
+soft, spun-glass material of her
+blouse. "Don't worry so, Johnny!
+I'm a big girl now. This is my
+eighteenth birthday. Dad's bark
+is much worse than his bite. I'll
+tell him about us on the way
+home."</p>
+
+<p>She moved closer to him, until
+he could feel the warmth of her
+body. He could see the warm,
+damp indentation where her
+breathing globe had rested
+against her shoulders and chest.</p>
+
+<p>She asked teasingly, "What did
+you get me for my birthday,
+Johnny? Something real nice?"</p>
+
+<p>"What did you want?" Johnny
+asked her gently.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">And</span> suddenly she wasn't teasing
+any more. She put her
+arms around him. "Dad and my
+brother would say I'm crazy. But
+all I want, Johnny, is you. Just
+you! You know that."</p>
+
+<p>Stark had picked out her birthday
+present, but he wanted it to
+be a surprise for that night. He
+said, "I already saw one of your
+presents. A black jet car!"</p>
+
+<p>"How did you know that?"</p>
+
+<p>"I saw you drive up in it a
+few minutes ago."</p>
+
+<p>Carol giggled. "Dad gave it to
+me. Did you see me plow through
+that crowd waiting for the auto
+bus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Did your brother send you
+anything?"</p>
+
+<p>She nodded. "Three new outfits
+from Earth. They were on the
+same liner that brought the inspection
+team to the Settlement
+this morning. Oh, yes, and the
+captain of the liner brought me
+this."</p>
+
+<p>She showed him the tiny pin
+she wore attached to her collar.
+The pin itself was a carefully
+wrought but cruel caricature of
+an awkward buglike creature. A
+small ruby set in the center of its
+face served as its eye.</p>
+
+<p>Stark frowned. "Carol, you
+shouldn't be wearing that." He
+reached up and unpinned it.
+"That's the sort of thing our department
+is fighting."</p>
+
+<p>"But the captain said it was
+the latest rage back on Earth.
+They're even making toys like it.
+I'm sure they're not designed to
+... to poke fun at anyone."</p>
+
+<p>Stark started to say something,
+but the last bell interrupted him.
+He said, "If you're going to take
+your father home and tell him
+about us before the dinner, you'd
+better hurry. I'll come early."</p>
+
+<p>Carol kissed him and said
+good-by. She left the pin on
+Stark's desk and was smiling at
+him as she closed the door.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">After</span> waiting until the first
+rush of workers had gone and
+the building was quiet, Stark
+caught the elevator down. The
+overhead lights in the compressor
+lock were reflected in the twin
+rows of breathing globes. The
+green-tinted ones had to be used
+by Martians in the building, and
+the clear ones were used by
+Earthmen when they were outside
+in the Martian atmosphere.
+Stark stopped in at a little open
+shop down one of the many side
+streets. The sign said "Closed,"
+but he rang the bell until a little,
+dried-up Martian appeared.</p>
+
+<p>The storekeeper handed him a
+small box. Stark opened it to examine
+the ring&mdash;Carol's birthday
+present. The single, large diamond
+set in the thin precious-metal
+band dated back to an
+all-but-forgotten custom practiced
+on Earth. Stark thought the
+engagement ring would please
+Carol, though.</p>
+
+<p>Standing in the compressor
+lock at the Chief's home later,
+Stark rubbed the diamond against
+the sleeve of his tunic. He fumbled
+with his breathing globe and
+then pushed the button that activated
+the door. The tele-guard
+beyond the opening door scanned
+him rapidly. As he stepped forward,
+a red light above the tele-guard
+flashed on and the door
+began to close again.</p>
+
+<p>Stark threw all his strength
+against the door and squeezed
+through into the house.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout the house, Stark
+could hear the alarm bell. A taped
+voice, activated by the tele-guard,
+said, "Do not enter! Do not enter!"</p>
+
+<p>He found Carol and the Chief
+in the library alone. Nearly purple
+with rage, the Chief drew himself
+up to his full six feet.</p>
+
+<p>The Chief bellowed, "Stark!
+Are you crazy?"</p>
+
+<p>The growing feeling of sickness
+spread through Stark.</p>
+
+<p>"Who do you think you are?"
+the Chief yelled. "Get back to
+your office and consider yourself
+under arrest as a troublemaker.
+Give you people an inch and you
+try to walk away with everything.
+Why, I wouldn't let you touch
+my daughter if you were the last
+living being in the Universe!"</p>
+
+<p>Carol didn't look up. She stood
+through it all, silently, without
+moving. Stark knew now where
+his blind spot had been. He turned
+and left them.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Back</span> at his office, he waited
+for the police. Stark stared
+down at his reflection in the polished
+top of the desk. A yellow,
+moist film of sweat covered his
+face. The red eye set in his forehead
+blinked. But the pain visible
+just behind the surface of that
+eye was not over Carol or himself.</p>
+
+<p>The pain was for what he was
+seeing for the first time ... now.</p>
+
+<p class="rgt"><b>&mdash;BASCOM JONES, JR.</b></p>
+
+<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/002-2.jpg"><img src="images/002-1.jpg" width="150" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div>
+
+<p><big><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></big></p>
+
+<p>This etext was produced from <i>Galaxy Science Fiction</i> February 1955.
+Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
+copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
+typographical errors have been corrected without note.</p></div>
+
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30454 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
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