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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32407-h.zip b/32407-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..330e02f --- /dev/null +++ b/32407-h.zip diff --git a/32407-h/32407-h.htm b/32407-h/32407-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c38bd2 --- /dev/null +++ b/32407-h/32407-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1520 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Fair and Warmer, by E. G. von Wald</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Fair and Warmer, by E. G. von Wald, +Illustrated by Paul Orban</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Fair and Warmer</p> +<p>Author: E. G. von Wald</p> +<p>Release Date: May 17, 2010 [eBook #32407]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIR AND WARMER***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h4> +<p> </p> +<p>Transcriber's note:<br /> +<br /> +This e-text was produced from <i>If Worlds of Science +Fiction</i>, July, 1954. Extensive research did not uncover +any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication +was renewed.</p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>FAIR and WARMER</h1> + +<h2>By E. G. von Wald</h2> + +<h3>Illustrated by Paul Orban</h3> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Tensor's melancholia threatened to disturb the entire +citizenry, and that was most uncivil! So—if these peculiar aliens +caused him this distress, by provoking his intellectual curiosity, the +remedy was for him to investigate them to his complete satisfaction.... +Thus, in this manner, did Tensor get well—and did he learn a bit +too....</i></div> + + +<p>Tensor gazed helplessly at the fine mist sifting down from a hazy, +violet sky. "I told you I was having these spells."</p> + +<p>"But Great Oxy," the administrator sputtered, "can't you control +yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I can't help it, Ruut," Tensor replied. "I just feel sort of funny +and—and—"</p> + +<p>Ruut's hyperimage was chewing on its illusory lip. "Well, you've got to +stop it. Do you understand? There'll be a lot of lichens and things +growing all over the Prime's beautiful landscapes if this keeps up."</p> + +<p>The administrator's concern amused Tensor and, as his mood lightened, +the drizzle abated and the sky became clear again.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," he apologized sincerely. "But I just seem to be having +trouble lately. Ever since the aliens came."</p> + +<p>"Oh, come now, son," Ruut chortled with assumed heartiness. "That's +elementary somatics. Just get a grip on yourself."</p> + +<p>"Yes sir."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you've been working, or exerting yourself in some other foolish +way. Maybe you're tired and should take something."</p> + +<p>The long, scrawny citizen gazed disconsolately at the beautitful violet +sky, his face relaxed and soleful. He sighed and murmured, "Frankly, +Ruut, I just don't seem to give a damn anymore."</p> + +<p>On the other side of the planet, Ruut gulped convulsively. His eyes +bulged out with thoroughly uncivilized amazement.</p> + +<p>"Get out of consciousness immediately," he ordered hoarsely. "Take a +nego shot, if necessary. Take one anyway. We can't take chances." The +administrator's hyperimage, with calculated angry expression, glared +sternly into Tensor's mind. "Did you understand me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir," Tensor murmured. A vague unpleasantness began stirring in his +stomach as he contemplated Ruut's thought. The administrator was +absolutely right. Civilization simply could not tolerate an unhappy, +uncooperative citizen. The general satisfaction of all was so clearly +the responsibility of each individual, and one careless man could ruin +it for everybody. Very much as he had been doing.</p> + +<p>Obediently he nodded. Concealing his embarrassment at the artificiality +of the act, he permitted the hyperimage to watch while he administered +the chemical.</p> + +<p>"Good." Ruut became calm at once, now that he was certain he could +command the situation. "I'll have the physician examine you before that +wears off." He hesitated and said even more mildly. "I hope this is just +a passing thing, Tensor. You know I'll do everything I can for you, even +teleporting to your focus. But you're a weather sensitive, and that's a +pretty common classification. And you know the Council."</p> + +<p>Tensor indicated lazy assent. As the drug took hold, he slipped +soothingly into unconsciousness, and the hyperimage flickered and +vanished with his powers. His last emotion was one of a vague relief +that he would not have to look at the low caste face of an administrator +for a while.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>He floated in his focus, idly and uninterestedly contemplating the deep +violet far above. A few minutes before, he had been stirred to an +elusive and incomprehensible wistfulness which had been, in some way, +connected with the aliens. While waiting for the physician, he pondered +the brief glimpse he had got of them before the Council clamped down its +screen and privacy orders. Now, under the emotionless +pseudoconsciousness of the nego, it seemed strange that he could have +been interested in those futile and primitive beings. Practically +nothing was known about them, because they could not communicate.</p> + +<p>Tensor studied the question briefly. There was no answer available in +the paucity of information, so he dismissed it without further interest. +Insufficient data. Therefore, insoluble problem. Therefore, forget about +it.</p> + +<p>He continued to stare at the sky, unconsciously and vacantly waiting.</p> + +<p>He felt the itch. It was a slight stimulation of his medulary region, +indicating somebody's desire to communicate with him. That, however, was +impossible at the moment. The only faculties of significance remaining +in his neutral somatic state were those which were absolutely necessary +for civilized life—levitation to avoid being disturbed by gravity, the +focus for personal privacy, the construction of food. Communication was +not one of those, so the itch would just have to remain. Tensor +contemplated an eternity with the medulary itch without the slightest +concern.</p> + +<p>Abruptly the itch stopped and Curl was there, looking exhausted, as was +the polite fashion, since teleporting oneself was commonly regarded as +tiring.</p> + +<p>"You've taken nego," the physician murmured aloud, half accusingly.</p> + +<p>"Yes sir," Tensor replied, using similar sound patterns. "Ruut ordered +me to."</p> + +<p>"What in Oxy for?"</p> + +<p>"He did not like my attitude."</p> + +<p>The physician considered the information, and while he did so, Ruut +popped into existence beside him, a most uncivilized look of worry on +his face.</p> + +<p>"How is he, Curl? What have you found out?"</p> + +<p>"No need for excitement, my dear administrator," the physician replied +evenly, politely avoiding comment on Ruut's crude, low caste self +control. "I just got here. Thanks to your order to the young man to fill +himself up with nego, he was unable to let me project a hyperimage."</p> + +<p>"But the situation was dangerous. Did you examine him? Did he tell you +what he said to me?"</p> + +<p>Curl glanced at him, and then quickly sent probing thoughts at Tensor's +mind and body. After a moment, he gave it up, shaking his head. "The +nego won't let him communicate at all. I'll have to order him to +administer an antidote to himself."</p> + +<p>"No!" Ruut almost shouted. "It's dangerous." He rapidly gave an oral and +somewhat horrified account of his earlier communication with Tensor.</p> + +<p>"All right," the physician grudgingly admitted. "I'll try to do it +superficially. But it's difficult. It's awfully hard to know what's +going on in his body from just looking at it and listening to him talk."</p> + +<p>He turned to Tensor. "How long have you been having these—er, spurious +moods?"</p> + +<p>"About six months."</p> + +<p>"Are you having any other troubles?"</p> + +<p>"No sir. It's just the simple things, like the weather, that seem to be +affected."</p> + +<p>"I see. Melancholia." Curl frowned thoughtfully. "These moods come +unwillingly, is that it? And they don't go away entirely when you shift +your endocrine balance?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure about that endocrine shift, sir," Tensor stated +emotionlessly.</p> + +<p>"You mean—" Curl stopped incredulously. He shook his head as he +comprehended. "Great Iso Oxys!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Ruut asked in a hushed voice.</p> + +<p>"This is deeper than I thought, Ruut. You did very well to put him under +nego. The man can't control his endocrine system properly."</p> + +<p>"Well do something," Ruut demanded. "Don't just float there."</p> + +<p>"All I can do," Curl said, raising his voice exactly one decibel to show +his irritation, "is give advice. Obviously, in his condition, the man +can't follow it."</p> + +<p>Ruut gazed unhappily at his friend. He was in authority over Tensor, and +therefore far inferior in native gifts. Now it seemed that Tensor was +regressing in some obscure way to his own level, a tragic and +uncivilized situation.</p> + +<p>"This has happened before," Curl admitted. "But I can't quite remember +when." He sighed resignedly. "I guess I'll have to teleport again. +Somebody probably remembers."</p> + +<p>He disappeared for a few minutes and returned again, face beaming +despite the fatigue.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," he said cheerfully. "Now I know."</p> + +<p>Tensor stared at him with uninterested eyes.</p> + +<p>"The man is dying," Curl explained with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Dying?" Ruut murmured incredulously. "But that's impossible unless the +Council orders him to destroy himself. Why—why that would make him just +like an animal."</p> + +<p>"That's what it is," Curl insisted.</p> + +<p>Ordinarily, Tensor would have been somewhat interested to know about +this strange process that was taking place within his body, but the nego +kept his mind dull and unconcerned. He did not even question for +reasons.</p> + +<p>Ruut, however, did, and the physician happily explained. "You just have +never been concerned with these rare symptoms, my dear administrator. +You see, actually we are animals in a sense. We don't die like them, but +if we are not in a focus we could be killed through some accidental +injury. The principal difference between us and the small animals that +occasionally cause Prime trouble with his landscaping is control. They +have no control over their endocrine systems. We have."</p> + +<p>"Of course," Ruut said. "I know that."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but perhaps you don't know that our race at one time had no more +control over our endocrine systems than those little animals.</p> + +<p>"There are a lot of ways to account for the change, and it makes very +fascinating discussion because it's absolutely unimportant. However, +under such conditions, a human being would automatically reach a certain +stable level of development. But then, after an incredibly short time, +the essential chaos within its body due to lack of endocrine control +causes it to deteriorate. Eventually it is no longer capable of +sustaining life and it dies."</p> + +<p>The physician moved his hands in an awkward but eloquent gesture. "And +that's all there is to it."</p> + +<p>"Oh," Ruut murmured in an awed tone, not even comprehending the extent +of the disease but trying to accept the staggering idea of natural +death. "Can't you do anything for him?"</p> + +<p>Curl turned his attention casually back to the sick man again. +"Possibly. Dying, of course, is not a disease in itself, but merely a +symptom of one." He shook his head. "I certainly wish I could examine +him directly without getting involved in a major social crisis."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Prime would be furious," Ruut warned.</p> + +<p>"No doubt. Well—he said that this started six months ago. Now what +could have happened six months ago?"</p> + +<p>"The aliens," Ruut said flatly. "That's what caused it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, come now, Ruut," Curl said amusedly. "Don't be superstitious. What +connection could these—these aliens possibly have?"</p> + +<p>"Well, that's when the Council clamped down on them. Something funny +about the way they did that, too."</p> + +<p>"Not at all funny," Curl told him in a superior tone of voice. "It is +simply that the aliens appeared to be of a higher type of animal class +without communication. Surely you wouldn't want to have anything to do +with such contradictory beings."</p> + +<p>"Of course not. But Tensor got sick right after he visited them."</p> + +<p>"He went to visit them?" Curl was pensive a moment, and his eyes lighted +up. "In that case, Ruut, there may be some connection after all."</p> + +<p>Ruut nodded without speaking.</p> + +<p>"Tensor," Curl said thoughtfully, "did you actually go to inspect the +savages?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir."</p> + +<p>"When?"</p> + +<p>"Just before the Council stopped it."</p> + +<p>"Uh huh. Did you have a reaction?"</p> + +<p>Tensor considered. He recalled every detail of the fleeting impressions +that had been his during the few brief moments of his presence near the +peculiar organisms. The impressions were confused and mingled with +sensations of teleport fatigue, but there was a definite and strange +sentiment involved somewhere.</p> + +<p>"Yer, sir," he said woodenly. "There seems to have been a reaction."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" The physician glanced significantly at Ruut. "What kind of a +reaction, Tensor? And how strong was it?"</p> + +<p>"I do not recognize it, sir. But it was stronger than the ordinary +ones."</p> + +<p>Curl floated over close to him, peering intently up into the unconscious +man's eyes. "Tell me the characteristics."</p> + +<p>Tensor thought a moment and replied, "Chaotic in one sense. Specific in +another."</p> + +<p>"Speculative?" Curl's eyes were eager with interest.</p> + +<p>"Yes sir. I believe that would define it best. It was a sort of wild and +ungovernable desire to speculate on the origin of the aliens. A very +singular experience," he added.</p> + +<p>"I knew it!" Curl almost shouted. Then he quickly glanced about and +composed himself stiffly. That was an embarrassing thing to do. In front +of an administrator, too.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he said. "That confirms my diagnosis. I shall report it to +the Council and let them decide what to do."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Ruut asked.</p> + +<p>"A very strange disease. Rare, too. I haven't had a case of it for +centuries." He paused and shook his head. "Too bad. I don't recall a +single recovery from it once it got a good start."</p> + +<p>"It is—contagious?" Ruut asked timidly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, not for you," Curl smiled. "It's called intellectual curiosity, and +it requires somewhat more brain power than you have."</p> + +<p>"Thank Oxy for that," Ruut breathed fervently. His eyes went back to the +recumbent form of the diseased citizen.</p> + +<p>"Yes. The Council will dearly love this." Curl said with satisfaction. +"Most unusual. He'll have to be destroyed, of course."</p> + +<p>"But can't you do anything for it?"</p> + +<p>"Not likely. You see, it's the only appetite of which we are capable +that can't be controlled by shifting endocrine balance. Ordinarily, our +civilized manner of living prevents it from being aroused—that's the +advantage of being civilized. Because, once the appetite shows up, it +simply must be satisfied, or it's apt to do all sorts of poisonous +things to you, as you can see. The trouble is, satisfying curiosity +generally involves at least some work, and what civilized man is going +to get himself involved with anything like that?"</p> + +<p>"Insidious," Ruut whispered.</p> + +<p>Curl turned away, but then hesitated and glanced back. "Still, since it +concerns the aliens—" He frowned pensively. "There is a scheme we've +never tried before that would probably cure him. I remember somebody +mentioned it about eight hundred years ago, and we decided to try it out +on the next case. Never did, though. Nobody was interested. It's sort of +uncivilized, but I'll bring it up and see what the Council thinks."</p> + +<p>He nodded shortly, and evacuated to his own focus.</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy," Ruut said to Tensor. "I'm going to miss you."</p> + +<p>"There is no need to concern yourself over me, sir," Tensor replied +unemotionally. "It does not bother me in the slightest."</p> + +<p>Ruut knew that to be the truth, but it made him feel sad to think of +such a highly civilized man as Tensor falling to a level that was even +below an administrator. Abruptly, he caught himself and readjusted the +endocrine balance in his own body to compensate for the character of his +thought, and the moody spell passed.</p> + +<p>He left, and Tensor continued to stare unconsciously at the brilliant, +deep violet of the sky, noting without appreciation the jewel-like +points of light that were the stars.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The nego had to be recomposed twice in his body before Curl returned, +his long, unkempt, black beard floating gently around his ears.</p> + +<p>"Tensor," he said gravely, "the Council has acted. It has been decided +not to order you to destroy yourself immediately, because I managed to +convince them that it would be interesting to try that old scheme I told +you about. I hope you don't mind."</p> + +<p>Naturally there was no reply from Tensor. In his emotionless state, he +did not care one way or the other. He waited.</p> + +<p>"At any rate," the physician continued, "what they did was order you to +satisfy this curiosity that is causing all your trouble.</p> + +<p>"The reason, of course, isn't that the Council is interested in your +cure. But they do desire some coherent information about the aliens. And +since it is unlikely that anyone will ever volunteer to take the trouble +to investigate them on their own initiative, they felt your illness a +satisfactory excuse for requiring you to make the investigation."</p> + +<p>"Yes sir."</p> + +<p>Curl sighed. It was monotonous, this trying to carry on a conversation +with an unconscious man. However, it was his duty as a physician, and he +had promised the Council. One thing he was sure of, though, and that was +never again to get involved in teleporting himself about the planet like +this on any account. He would send an assistant. Provided he could find +one.</p> + +<p>"The Council would like a report when you get back. Do you think you can +control yourself if you know that you are going to investigate the +aliens whether you like it or not?"</p> + +<p>"I guess so, sir," Tensor replied without interest.</p> + +<p>"Splendid. I'll return to my own focus and give you the privacy for +administering the antidote."</p> + +<p>Tensor waited. When the physician was gone, he constructed the chemical +in the vein of his left wrist, and in less than a minute he felt the +surging pleasure of his re-awakened faculties. He glanced doubtfully at +the sky, but it remained clear.</p> + +<p>Curl's hyperimage began forming in his mind. "Everything all right now?" +the physician inquired genially.</p> + +<p>"Perfect," replied Tensor contentedly. "This won't be so bad, even if it +is useful work. Maybe I'm just a little peculiar."</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha," Curl replied noncommittally.</p> + +<p>"Oh, one thing further. What about the privacy screen set up around the +aliens?"</p> + +<p>"That was dropped months ago," Curl laughed. "Can you imagine the +Council sustaining anything like that for long?"</p> + +<p>"It doesn't require any effort."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but it looks like it ought to, and you know how that affects a +civilized man. You can go any time you like."</p> + +<p>Tensor nodded and withdrew.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Abruptly, he was hovering over the delightful green-and-orange-streaked +sands of the central landscape. This was one of Prime's favorites, and +the network of drainage channels was the most effective on the planet. +Tensor approved. It really was beautiful.</p> + +<p>He gazed around, pleasurably appreciating the esthetic beauty of the +colorful, arid scene.</p> + +<p>Then he saw the aliens. That was astonishing, he thought. The aliens +were known to have grouped on the other side of the planet, and he had +intended to do some sightseeing on the way around. Now two of them were +here. Most unpredictable. They were standing near the horizon, +apparently examining one of the channels.</p> + +<p>Tensor moved toward them slowly, sending futile probes for their minds +and finding, as before, nothing but chaotic splashes. It was really +unfortunate that they could not communicate.</p> + +<p>He moved higher as he approached, for the better view it afforded. The +aliens were animal, all right. A species similar to human beings but +grotesquely primitive. He observed that the creatures had noticed him +and were running madly across the surface toward a small, shiny +structure.</p> + +<p>The structure interested him. It looked very much as if it had been +fabricated. He wondered how the savages could construct without being +able to control, and watched them as they actually entered the thing.</p> + +<p>And then, incredibly, it rose from the ferrous sands and dashed off +toward the east, a faint, disgustingly moist vapor trailing out behind +it.</p> + +<p>Quickly Tensor moved up parallel to it, while he speculated on what it +meant. Apparently the savages were in full control of it. For a moment +he thought it might be an alien focus, but dismissed the idea. If it +were a focus, there would be no purpose in moving it spatially.</p> + +<p>Feeling more curious, he projected himself inside and was immediately +delighted, despite its obvious mechanical character. It was metallic and +smooth and there were numerous incomprehensible devices piled up against +the walls of the tiny, circular room. Seated at a panel, their backs +toward him, the two creatures were busily manipulating little spots of +brilliant color, and one was creating a weird but soft cacophony with +its mouth.</p> + +<p>Tensor was amused as well as interested. He listened, and managed to +decipher a pattern to the speech, even though only confused scatterings +of intelligence came from the chaotic minds. He again observed the +astonishing similarity of appearance between the aliens and human +beings.</p> + +<p>From a small orifice in the panel, a reply issued; cold and rasping in +tonal quality.</p> + +<p>"Control to Scout Three. Roger on the presumed alien. Lieutenant. I knew +that civilian with you would get you into trouble."</p> + +<p>"Well, it wasn't exactly the fault of—"</p> + +<p>"Enough. Bear away from the base until certain you are not being +followed."</p> + +<p>While one of them played with the moving color spots on the panel, the +other twisted a knob, and all segments of the outside became +successively visible in a viewer.</p> + +<p>"Scout Three to Control. Nothing in sight."</p> + +<p>"Very well. The orders are to stay there until dark, after which you may +return."</p> + +<p>"But that's two hundred hours away," the other savage hissed. "We don't +have enough oxygen."</p> + +<p>"You'll just have to work it out somehow," the panel replied coldly. "We +can't endanger the whole military base for one useless civilian +biologist."</p> + +<p>This was a fascinating exchange to Tensor, as he puzzled out the curious +relationships and their purposes. He floated near the ceiling, +listening, face set in civilized impassivity.</p> + +<p>One of the creatures grumbled, leaned back and swung around in its +chair. It jerked erect when it saw the man at the ceiling.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Tensor smiled at the poor, dumb creature and was rewarded by a +disgustingly loud noise from its mouth and a mad rush back to the panel. +The other had seen him, too, and was staring wide-eyed at him. Tensor +moved closer to observe, but the one who had seen him first continued +shouting shrill, ear-splitting noises at its companion, who seemed to be +trying unsuccessfully to obey. Petulantly, Tensor disintegrated the +noisy one and also some ugly cables that led from the panel to the wall. +That improved the esthetic situation immeasurably, he felt.</p> + +<p>There was a quick sucking of breath from the remaining savage as it +looked wildly about for a moment, as if searching for its vanished +companion, and then stared at the place where the cables had been.</p> + +<p>"Well—" It made a hopeless gesture with its shoulders and slumped back +into its chair. "That does it. No pilot. No radio. Damn. Even the Leader +would have trouble with this situation." It looked uneasily at Tensor, +and remained perfectly, cautiously still.</p> + +<p>"What do you call yourselves?" Tensor asked without difficulty, using +sound patterns similar to what they had employed.</p> + +<p>"You speak English!" the creature blurted out in amazement, and Tensor +felt rather irritated by its crude facial expression. He made a small +adjustment, however, bringing his own somatic state into a closer +harmony with that of the creature, and the desired level of contented +appreciation rose.</p> + +<p>"Are—are you a native?" it asked hesitantly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Tensor replied.</p> + +<p>It gazed at him with half closed, calculating eyes, starting at the +head, running slowly to his feet and back again.</p> + +<p>"You look human," it muttered.</p> + +<p>"Naturally," Tensor replied cheerfully. The appreciation was growing +subtly now, and he found that the creature's mouth interested him. It +was a strikingly lovely shade of red—always Tensor's favorite color. +And although there was a heavy and awkward sheath of artificial fabric +about the alien, he observed with a rising fascination that the bulging +of the thoracic sheathing indicated that it was female.</p> + +<p>Tensor became uncomfortably aware that he had better be careful of his +induced somatic sympathy.</p> + +<p>After a moment of speculative silence, he said, "You haven't told me +what you savages consider yourselves."</p> + +<p>"Don't call me a savage, you naked beast," she snapped back.</p> + + +<p>"I beg your pardon," he murmured politely. "Merely a semantic +difficulty. I'm sure. I assume that you consider yourselves human +beings, then. Where do you come from?"</p> + +<p>"Earth—the third planet."</p> + +<p>"I see. And you used mechanical devices such as this little metal egg to +get here. Most curious." Tensor contemplated the thought with great +interest, for obviously they used mechanical skill to compensate for +lack of direct control. An exceedingly poor substitute, of course; but +it explained everything he wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Are there many of you natives?" she asked him cautiously.</p> + +<p>"Not like there used to be," Tensor admitted. "But still quite a +few—though not so many we get on each other's nerves."</p> + +<p>"How many in round numbers?"</p> + +<p>That was a silly question, Tensor thought. Nevertheless he told her, +"Oh, I suppose about thirty or a hundred. We haven't counted for +centuries. Nobody's interested."</p> + +<p>She appeared to be deeply absorbed in thought, gazing at him in an +almost detached fashion. Finally she said. "Your civilization is based +on the mind, isn't it? You do things with an act of will instead of with +your hands."</p> + +<p>"Naturally. That is the essential mark of civilization. At least," he +added politely, "from our point of view."</p> + +<p>"Are you—telepathic?"</p> + +<p>"Only with other telepaths," he said simply.</p> + +<p>"Then how did you learn my language?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, after you talk it a bit. I can see certain relationships. But the +mental pictures are so discontinuous and nonspecific that it takes a +little time before the pattern emerges."</p> + +<p>"That means you don't actually know what I am thinking?"</p> + +<p>"Correct. You have the potential, but you don't have the control +necessary to permit it."</p> + +<p>A small, satisfied smile curved about her lips.</p> + +<p>Tensor found it oddly disconcerting. Despite the ugly sheathing, there +was something about her that was quite pleasant.</p> + +<p>He began to feel that she was even beautiful, and as he disintegrated +the sheath in order to appreciate her better, he realized that it was +undoubtedly the strange endocrine balance he had created in himself that +was responsible for the attitude. Because there was nothing particularly +well-designed about her. She looked unprepossessingly like a civilized +woman, except a good deal fatter in places, which hardly helped matters +from an abstract point of view.</p> + +<p>Tensor could only assume that his point of view was becoming less +abstract.</p> + +<p>He observed that, upon his disintegrating the sheath, the noise was +there again, issuing rapidly from her mouth, and lacking in detailed +semantic significance. It was very curious, he thought, watching the +rapid rise and fall of her pink-tipped breasts. He could not determine +whether the signal indicated terror or fury.</p> + +<p>She solved the problem for him by grasping a small metal object from the +rack beside her and throwing it at him. He deflected it to the floor as +it left her hand.</p> + +<p>"What," he asked politely, "is disturbing you so?" He liked the angry +sparkle of her eyes.</p> + +<p>"You," she snapped. "Keep away from me."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand," he replied, moving closer and reaching out his +hand to obtain a tactile sensation of her lovely hair texture. The woman +compressed her red lips firmly and stood there, uneasily watching him +out of the corner of her eyes as he gently stroked her head.</p> + +<p>"Do all females of your race look nice like you?"</p> + +<p>She nodded cautiously and said, "More or less."</p> + +<p>"Very curious."</p> + +<p>A sly expression came to her eyes then and she smiled radiantly. "Look," +she said, "would you do me a favor?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," Tensor murmured with unaccustomed eagerness. This was a +very interesting experience, even though he was constantly having to +reinforce and add to the chemical shift in his body in order to hold +down the possibility of fatigue. He could not recall ever before +permitting such an unusual somatic state.</p> + +<p>She gestured guilelessly toward the panel. "Would you help me repair my +radio?"</p> + +<p>"Radio?" Tensor echoed vacantly, gazing at the place indicated.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I—er, have to report to my superiors that I may not be able to +return, even tonight." Again she smiled dazzlingly and with devastating +effect on Tensor.</p> + +<p>"I'd be glad to," he said agreeably. "But I don't know anything about +mechanical things. Couldn't you just tell me where your superiors are +and let me teleport there? I'd let them know and come right back."</p> + +<p>"Oh no," she replied quickly. She frowned a little wistfully. "No," she +repeated, "they wouldn't like that. They never like anything easy. And +besides—" again the smile "—I might not be here when you return, you +know!"</p> + +<p>"Oh?" Tensor said, puzzled that she knew that he might be concerned over +her absence. Possibly she had some power of direct communication after +all.</p> + +<p>"It's just those cables that you destroyed over the panel," she told him +in a softly cajoling voice. "I have some spares in the locker, and if +you would help me replace them, it would be fine."</p> + +<p>Tensor floated over and peered into the stumps, examining the +composition and structure. He nodded and reconstructed them instantly.</p> + +<p>She was obviously delighted and said, "I wondered if you could do that. +May I use the radio now?"</p> + +<p>Tensor stared at the whiteness of her teeth contrasting pleasingly with +the redness of her lips. "Go right ahead," he murmured. He decided he +had better leave soon.</p> + +<p>He watched as the brilliant spots of color glowed and shifted. She spoke +and the panel issued its response. "Control to Scout Three. What +happened there a while ago?"</p> + +<p>"This is urgent," she said. "Is the Captain there?"</p> + +<p>After a noisy hesitation, the panel replied. "This is Commander Carson. +What's up out there?"</p> + +<p>"Listen carefully," she said. "I have an alien with me on the ship. He's +already learned English perfectly. He is only slightly telepathic, so +far as I am concerned, but he has great telekinetic powers."</p> + +<p>"We were afraid of that. Is he dangerous?"</p> + +<p>"Well—he killed Lieutenant Anderson. Completely annihilated her with a +simple act of will." She glanced at the bewildered expression on +Tensor's face, and favored him with a quick little smile. "He is +extremely powerful. He would be a very good friend."</p> + +<p>Tensor broke in asking, "What is all this talk now? I do not understand +the purpose of it."</p> + +<p>"Don't you worry," she murmured softly, reaching up and patting him on +the knee. "Just have patience."</p> + +<p>The panel rasped at them. "I see. Do you know if there are many of +them?"</p> + +<p>"He told me it was between thirty and a hundred, but nobody knows for +sure. Presumably they don't have very much communication with each +other."</p> + +<p>"Ah," rasped the panel in a satisfied tone. "Just a minute. I'll get a +directive from the Captain for you."</p> + +<p>Tensor nodded slightly as he said, "Oh, I see. That is your Council you +are talking to."</p> + +<p>"Uh huh," she replied, dodging the hand that sought her hair again. She +smiled coyly. "Now just wait. I want to hear what my superiors say." She +pushed at him playfully, her smile growing strained as she desperately +tried to kill time.</p> + +<p>Tensor was amused. Yes, he decided, it was time to go. He was not at all +sure that he wanted to go, but he felt that it was wise. He had never in +his life engaged in such lengthy and violent exercise and was alarmed at +the thought of the fatigue pains he would have when he restored his +balance to a civilized neutral again.</p> + +<p>The panel rasped noisily at them.</p> + +<p>"Captain Jonas," it said, speaking in a different accent this time. +"There's a war going on and we can't take any chances on how the aliens +will feel about it. We have a fix on you and I'm sending a flight of +homing missiles. Nuclear warheads."</p> + +<p>She stiffened as she heard the sentence, her red lips drawn back from +tightly clenched teeth. In a faint voice, she said, "I—I guess there +isn't much I can do about it, is there?"</p> + +<p>"Can you keep him there and busy so that he won't notice the missiles +coming?"</p> + +<p>She gave a short, brittle laugh. "Yes sir. I feel fairly sure I can keep +him interested for—" she glanced speculatively at Tensor "—a half hour +at least. Probably much longer."</p> + +<p>"It'll only be fifteen minutes," the panel rasped. "We'll deal with the +others as we find them. You will be decorated for this service, even +though you are only a civilian. Posthumously, of course."</p> + +<p>The panel was silent.</p> + +<p>"Oh sure," she said in a deadly quiet voice. "I'm glad to be +appreciated."</p> + +<p>Tensor was puzzled. The conversation did not appear to make a great deal +of sense to him. He hovered over the panel and gazed at it curiously.</p> + +<p>"Just another superior," she told him. "It seems that practically +everybody is my superior or was." She sighed and looked down at herself, +wistfully thinking that it was a shame to have to waste all the +carefully nurtured loveliness that she knew she was.</p> + +<p>She looked up at Tensor, who had lost interest in the panel and was +busily examining the outside in a viewscope.</p> + +<p>"Come here, big boy," she said quickly. When he turned to face her, she +added, "keep your attention over here."</p> + +<p>With an agreeable smile, he floated to her and, in obedience to her +directions, lifted her into his arms. She put her lips to his, her hands +gently caressing his cheek.</p> + +<p>It was a shock. Tensor let out his pent-up breath explosively and ran +his tongue over his lips, tasting the mixture of saliva and lipstick. +What should have been moderately repulsive to him had been transformed +by the chemical sympathy in his veins into something quite overwhelming. +His eyes were bright and eager.</p> + +<p>"It's a dirty trick and I feel like a jerk," she whispered sadly to him. +"But what else can I do?"</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon?" Tensor murmured happily. "I do not understand you."</p> + +<p>"Oh well," she breathed softly, smiling a crooked little smile. "Neither +one of us will ever know when it happens. A pity to spoil it so soon, +though."</p> + +<p>In his unaccustomed confusion, Tensor could not follow her thought, but +he could grasp the immediate situation. He grinned and nuzzled her +affectionately, and decided to stay a while longer.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Curl was floating langorously in his comfortable focus, eyes half closed +and glazed, mouth droolingly limp and hands carelessly askew. He formed +his hyperimage to appear erect and neat—and with a politely interested +expression—while he idly contemplated the telepathic picture being +projected into his own mind.</p> + +<p>"I see you've recovered," he said. "Splendid."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but what an ordeal," Tensor replied. His image took on the +appearance of a relieved smile. "If it ever happens again—I don't +know."</p> + +<p>"It was that bad?" Curl showed suitable lazy civilized sympathy. "I was +afraid. All that teleporting of yourself and things."</p> + +<p>"It took me almost ten minutes to recover from it," Tensor said grimly.</p> + +<p>"Tsk tsk. That's a lot of lactic acid to locate and destroy. But the +Council will appreciate it, even if Prime did complain, poor fellow."</p> + +<p>"Well, I promised to investigate and I'm a man of my thought. Of course, +the curiosity vanished as soon as I got into actual communication with +one of them."</p> + +<p>"They communicate?" Curl permitted his image to appear mildly +astonished, which was the only civilized thing to do. "Tell me about +it."</p> + +<p>"It's crude, but in some things successful," Tensor explained. "The +alien I contacted was a female, for instance. When I adjusted for +relative somatic sympathy so that I could stand the poor, uncivilized +creature, I naturally acquired the full appetites of a male animal and +this female seemed to understand some of my thoughts very well.</p> + +<p>"You simply can't imagine the violent somatic compulsions one encounters +under such a balance."</p> + +<p>"Horrible," agreed Curl. "But I understand, my boy. I once fathered a +child—must have been at least a couple of thousand years ago. Purely +out of scientific interest, of course, and never again." The physician +paused and added, "Matter of fact, it's quite likely that you're that +child. Can't ever tell about these things, you know."</p> + +<p>Tensor nodded in polite agreement and continued with his own story. "It +wasn't at all bad while it was going on, because I was pretty well +anesthetized from body chemicals. But the hangover was terrific."</p> + +<p>"Yes, no doubt." Curl appeared to consider a moment before asking. "What +about this uncivilized hubbub the Prime raised that caused the council +to order him to destroy himself?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that. Well, just as I was about to leave, this primitive I was with +coaxed me into playing an interesting but remarkably violent sport with +her. And about the same time, it appears that her superiors, for some +unknown reason, decided to destroy her. It seems that the aliens' +Council doesn't let them take care of it themselves."</p> + +<p>"Uh, huh. How did they accomplish it?"</p> + +<p>"They used some nuclear breakdown devices, which I imagine serve their +primitive society quite well. The devices have appetites built into them +for a certain kind of target so they will know where to go.</p> + +<p>"But when I agreed to play this game, I naturally set up a privacy +focus, so the ship we were in just didn't exist for the nuclear devices. +They kept on looking, though, and finally found a lot of similar ships +back at the alien's main camp. Made an awful mess out of one of the +Prime's favorite landscapes, I understand."</p> + +<p>"Well," Curl replied engagingly, "Prime should have had better +self-control. I don't blame the Council a bit, and it does fix things up +rather nicely." His image smiled into Tensor's mind and then hesitated +as he saw the concern there. "Doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Uh, yes. All except for the alien female that insists on staying with +me, now, since none of her people is left on the planet. I told her two +or three times to go ahead and destroy herself if she wanted; but she +just rumples up my hair, grins at me and says she already has." He +looked worriedly at Curl.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's just one of those things, I guess," Curl murmured +philosophically. Sensing a local distraction approaching Tensor at that +moment, he politely withdrew from the other man's mind.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIR AND WARMER***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 32407-h.txt or 32407-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/4/0/32407">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/0/32407</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/32407-h/images/cover.jpg b/32407-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f239417 --- /dev/null +++ b/32407-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/32407-h/images/illus1.jpg b/32407-h/images/illus1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7e9623 --- /dev/null +++ b/32407-h/images/illus1.jpg diff --git a/32407.txt b/32407.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3850570 --- /dev/null +++ b/32407.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1319 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Fair and Warmer, by E. G. von Wald, +Illustrated by Paul Orban + + +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: Fair and Warmer + + +Author: E. G. von Wald + + + +Release Date: May 17, 2010 [eBook #32407] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIR AND WARMER*** + + +E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 32407-h.htm or 32407-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32407/32407-h/32407-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32407/32407-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + This e-text was produced from _If Worlds of Science + Fiction_, July, 1954. Extensive research did not uncover + any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication + was renewed. + + + + + +FAIR AND WARMER + +by + +E. G. VON WALD + +Illustrated by Paul Orban + + +[Sidenote: _Tensor's melancholia threatened to disturb the entire +citizenry, and that was most uncivil! So--if these peculiar aliens +caused him this distress, by provoking his intellectual curiosity, the +remedy was for him to investigate them to his complete satisfaction.... +Thus, in this manner, did Tensor get well--and did he learn a bit +too...._] + + +Tensor gazed helplessly at the fine mist sifting down from a hazy, +violet sky. "I told you I was having these spells." + +"But Great Oxy," the administrator sputtered, "can't you control +yourself?" + +"I can't help it, Ruut," Tensor replied. "I just feel sort of funny +and--and--" + +Ruut's hyperimage was chewing on its illusory lip. "Well, you've got to +stop it. Do you understand? There'll be a lot of lichens and things +growing all over the Prime's beautiful landscapes if this keeps up." + +The administrator's concern amused Tensor and, as his mood lightened, +the drizzle abated and the sky became clear again. + +"I'm sorry," he apologized sincerely. "But I just seem to be having +trouble lately. Ever since the aliens came." + +"Oh, come now, son," Ruut chortled with assumed heartiness. "That's +elementary somatics. Just get a grip on yourself." + +"Yes sir." + +"Perhaps you've been working, or exerting yourself in some other foolish +way. Maybe you're tired and should take something." + +The long, scrawny citizen gazed disconsolately at the beautitful violet +sky, his face relaxed and soleful. He sighed and murmured, "Frankly, +Ruut, I just don't seem to give a damn anymore." + +On the other side of the planet, Ruut gulped convulsively. His eyes +bulged out with thoroughly uncivilized amazement. + +"Get out of consciousness immediately," he ordered hoarsely. "Take a +nego shot, if necessary. Take one anyway. We can't take chances." The +administrator's hyperimage, with calculated angry expression, glared +sternly into Tensor's mind. "Did you understand me?" + +"Yes sir," Tensor murmured. A vague unpleasantness began stirring in his +stomach as he contemplated Ruut's thought. The administrator was +absolutely right. Civilization simply could not tolerate an unhappy, +uncooperative citizen. The general satisfaction of all was so clearly +the responsibility of each individual, and one careless man could ruin +it for everybody. Very much as he had been doing. + +Obediently he nodded. Concealing his embarrassment at the artificiality +of the act, he permitted the hyperimage to watch while he administered +the chemical. + +"Good." Ruut became calm at once, now that he was certain he could +command the situation. "I'll have the physician examine you before that +wears off." He hesitated and said even more mildly. "I hope this is just +a passing thing, Tensor. You know I'll do everything I can for you, even +teleporting to your focus. But you're a weather sensitive, and that's a +pretty common classification. And you know the Council." + +Tensor indicated lazy assent. As the drug took hold, he slipped +soothingly into unconsciousness, and the hyperimage flickered and +vanished with his powers. His last emotion was one of a vague relief +that he would not have to look at the low caste face of an administrator +for a while. + + * * * * * + +He floated in his focus, idly and uninterestedly contemplating the deep +violet far above. A few minutes before, he had been stirred to an +elusive and incomprehensible wistfulness which had been, in some way, +connected with the aliens. While waiting for the physician, he pondered +the brief glimpse he had got of them before the Council clamped +down its screen and privacy orders. Now, under the emotionless +pseudoconsciousness of the nego, it seemed strange that he could have +been interested in those futile and primitive beings. Practically +nothing was known about them, because they could not communicate. + +Tensor studied the question briefly. There was no answer available in +the paucity of information, so he dismissed it without further interest. +Insufficient data. Therefore, insoluble problem. Therefore, forget about +it. + +He continued to stare at the sky, unconsciously and vacantly waiting. + +He felt the itch. It was a slight stimulation of his medulary region, +indicating somebody's desire to communicate with him. That, however, was +impossible at the moment. The only faculties of significance remaining +in his neutral somatic state were those which were absolutely necessary +for civilized life--levitation to avoid being disturbed by gravity, the +focus for personal privacy, the construction of food. Communication was +not one of those, so the itch would just have to remain. Tensor +contemplated an eternity with the medulary itch without the slightest +concern. + +Abruptly the itch stopped and Curl was there, looking exhausted, as was +the polite fashion, since teleporting oneself was commonly regarded as +tiring. + +"You've taken nego," the physician murmured aloud, half accusingly. + +"Yes sir," Tensor replied, using similar sound patterns. "Ruut ordered +me to." + +"What in Oxy for?" + +"He did not like my attitude." + +The physician considered the information, and while he did so, Ruut +popped into existence beside him, a most uncivilized look of worry on +his face. + +"How is he, Curl? What have you found out?" + +"No need for excitement, my dear administrator," the physician replied +evenly, politely avoiding comment on Ruut's crude, low caste self +control. "I just got here. Thanks to your order to the young man to fill +himself up with nego, he was unable to let me project a hyperimage." + +"But the situation was dangerous. Did you examine him? Did he tell you +what he said to me?" + +Curl glanced at him, and then quickly sent probing thoughts at Tensor's +mind and body. After a moment, he gave it up, shaking his head. "The +nego won't let him communicate at all. I'll have to order him to +administer an antidote to himself." + +"No!" Ruut almost shouted. "It's dangerous." He rapidly gave an oral and +somewhat horrified account of his earlier communication with Tensor. + +"All right," the physician grudgingly admitted. "I'll try to do it +superficially. But it's difficult. It's awfully hard to know what's +going on in his body from just looking at it and listening to him talk." + +He turned to Tensor. "How long have you been having these--er, spurious +moods?" + +"About six months." + +"Are you having any other troubles?" + +"No sir. It's just the simple things, like the weather, that seem to be +affected." + +"I see. Melancholia." Curl frowned thoughtfully. "These moods come +unwillingly, is that it? And they don't go away entirely when you shift +your endocrine balance?" + +"I'm not so sure about that endocrine shift, sir," Tensor stated +emotionlessly. + +"You mean--" Curl stopped incredulously. He shook his head as he +comprehended. "Great Iso Oxys!" + +"What is it?" Ruut asked in a hushed voice. + +"This is deeper than I thought, Ruut. You did very well to put him under +nego. The man can't control his endocrine system properly." + +"Well do something," Ruut demanded. "Don't just float there." + +"All I can do," Curl said, raising his voice exactly one decibel to show +his irritation, "is give advice. Obviously, in his condition, the man +can't follow it." + +Ruut gazed unhappily at his friend. He was in authority over Tensor, and +therefore far inferior in native gifts. Now it seemed that Tensor was +regressing in some obscure way to his own level, a tragic and +uncivilized situation. + +"This has happened before," Curl admitted. "But I can't quite remember +when." He sighed resignedly. "I guess I'll have to teleport again. +Somebody probably remembers." + +He disappeared for a few minutes and returned again, face beaming +despite the fatigue. + +"Oh yes," he said cheerfully. "Now I know." + +Tensor stared at him with uninterested eyes. + +"The man is dying," Curl explained with satisfaction. + +"Dying?" Ruut murmured incredulously. "But that's impossible unless the +Council orders him to destroy himself. Why--why that would make him just +like an animal." + +"That's what it is," Curl insisted. + +Ordinarily, Tensor would have been somewhat interested to know about +this strange process that was taking place within his body, but the nego +kept his mind dull and unconcerned. He did not even question for +reasons. + +Ruut, however, did, and the physician happily explained. "You just have +never been concerned with these rare symptoms, my dear administrator. +You see, actually we are animals in a sense. We don't die like them, but +if we are not in a focus we could be killed through some accidental +injury. The principal difference between us and the small animals that +occasionally cause Prime trouble with his landscaping is control. They +have no control over their endocrine systems. We have." + +"Of course," Ruut said. "I know that." + +"Ah, but perhaps you don't know that our race at one time had no more +control over our endocrine systems than those little animals. + +"There are a lot of ways to account for the change, and it makes very +fascinating discussion because it's absolutely unimportant. However, +under such conditions, a human being would automatically reach a certain +stable level of development. But then, after an incredibly short time, +the essential chaos within its body due to lack of endocrine control +causes it to deteriorate. Eventually it is no longer capable of +sustaining life and it dies." + +The physician moved his hands in an awkward but eloquent gesture. "And +that's all there is to it." + +"Oh," Ruut murmured in an awed tone, not even comprehending the extent +of the disease but trying to accept the staggering idea of natural +death. "Can't you do anything for him?" + +Curl turned his attention casually back to the sick man again. +"Possibly. Dying, of course, is not a disease in itself, but merely a +symptom of one." He shook his head. "I certainly wish I could examine +him directly without getting involved in a major social crisis." + +"Oh, Prime would be furious," Ruut warned. + +"No doubt. Well--he said that this started six months ago. Now what +could have happened six months ago?" + +"The aliens," Ruut said flatly. "That's what caused it." + +"Oh, come now, Ruut," Curl said amusedly. "Don't be superstitious. What +connection could these--these aliens possibly have?" + +"Well, that's when the Council clamped down on them. Something funny +about the way they did that, too." + +"Not at all funny," Curl told him in a superior tone of voice. "It is +simply that the aliens appeared to be of a higher type of animal class +without communication. Surely you wouldn't want to have anything to do +with such contradictory beings." + +"Of course not. But Tensor got sick right after he visited them." + +"He went to visit them?" Curl was pensive a moment, and his eyes lighted +up. "In that case, Ruut, there may be some connection after all." + +Ruut nodded without speaking. + +"Tensor," Curl said thoughtfully, "did you actually go to inspect the +savages?" + +"Yes sir." + +"When?" + +"Just before the Council stopped it." + +"Uh huh. Did you have a reaction?" + +Tensor considered. He recalled every detail of the fleeting impressions +that had been his during the few brief moments of his presence near the +peculiar organisms. The impressions were confused and mingled with +sensations of teleport fatigue, but there was a definite and strange +sentiment involved somewhere. + +"Yer, sir," he said woodenly. "There seems to have been a reaction." + +"Ha!" The physician glanced significantly at Ruut. "What kind of a +reaction, Tensor? And how strong was it?" + +"I do not recognize it, sir. But it was stronger than the ordinary +ones." + +Curl floated over close to him, peering intently up into the unconscious +man's eyes. "Tell me the characteristics." + +Tensor thought a moment and replied, "Chaotic in one sense. Specific in +another." + +"Speculative?" Curl's eyes were eager with interest. + +"Yes sir. I believe that would define it best. It was a sort of wild and +ungovernable desire to speculate on the origin of the aliens. A very +singular experience," he added. + +"I knew it!" Curl almost shouted. Then he quickly glanced about and +composed himself stiffly. That was an embarrassing thing to do. In front +of an administrator, too. + +"Very well," he said. "That confirms my diagnosis. I shall report it to +the Council and let them decide what to do." + +"What is it?" Ruut asked. + +"A very strange disease. Rare, too. I haven't had a case of it for +centuries." He paused and shook his head. "Too bad. I don't recall a +single recovery from it once it got a good start." + +"It is--contagious?" Ruut asked timidly. + +"Oh, not for you," Curl smiled. "It's called intellectual curiosity, and +it requires somewhat more brain power than you have." + +"Thank Oxy for that," Ruut breathed fervently. His eyes went back to the +recumbent form of the diseased citizen. + +"Yes. The Council will dearly love this." Curl said with satisfaction. +"Most unusual. He'll have to be destroyed, of course." + +"But can't you do anything for it?" + +"Not likely. You see, it's the only appetite of which we are capable +that can't be controlled by shifting endocrine balance. Ordinarily, our +civilized manner of living prevents it from being aroused--that's the +advantage of being civilized. Because, once the appetite shows up, it +simply must be satisfied, or it's apt to do all sorts of poisonous +things to you, as you can see. The trouble is, satisfying curiosity +generally involves at least some work, and what civilized man is going +to get himself involved with anything like that?" + +"Insidious," Ruut whispered. + +Curl turned away, but then hesitated and glanced back. "Still, since it +concerns the aliens--" He frowned pensively. "There is a scheme we've +never tried before that would probably cure him. I remember somebody +mentioned it about eight hundred years ago, and we decided to try it out +on the next case. Never did, though. Nobody was interested. It's sort of +uncivilized, but I'll bring it up and see what the Council thinks." + +He nodded shortly, and evacuated to his own focus. + +"Well, my boy," Ruut said to Tensor. "I'm going to miss you." + +"There is no need to concern yourself over me, sir," Tensor replied +unemotionally. "It does not bother me in the slightest." + +Ruut knew that to be the truth, but it made him feel sad to think of +such a highly civilized man as Tensor falling to a level that was even +below an administrator. Abruptly, he caught himself and readjusted the +endocrine balance in his own body to compensate for the character of his +thought, and the moody spell passed. + +He left, and Tensor continued to stare unconsciously at the brilliant, +deep violet of the sky, noting without appreciation the jewel-like +points of light that were the stars. + + * * * * * + +The nego had to be recomposed twice in his body before Curl returned, +his long, unkempt, black beard floating gently around his ears. + +"Tensor," he said gravely, "the Council has acted. It has been decided +not to order you to destroy yourself immediately, because I managed to +convince them that it would be interesting to try that old scheme I told +you about. I hope you don't mind." + +Naturally there was no reply from Tensor. In his emotionless state, he +did not care one way or the other. He waited. + +"At any rate," the physician continued, "what they did was order you to +satisfy this curiosity that is causing all your trouble. + +"The reason, of course, isn't that the Council is interested in your +cure. But they do desire some coherent information about the aliens. And +since it is unlikely that anyone will ever volunteer to take the trouble +to investigate them on their own initiative, they felt your illness a +satisfactory excuse for requiring you to make the investigation." + +"Yes sir." + +Curl sighed. It was monotonous, this trying to carry on a conversation +with an unconscious man. However, it was his duty as a physician, and he +had promised the Council. One thing he was sure of, though, and that was +never again to get involved in teleporting himself about the planet like +this on any account. He would send an assistant. Provided he could find +one. + +"The Council would like a report when you get back. Do you think you can +control yourself if you know that you are going to investigate the +aliens whether you like it or not?" + +"I guess so, sir," Tensor replied without interest. + +"Splendid. I'll return to my own focus and give you the privacy for +administering the antidote." + +Tensor waited. When the physician was gone, he constructed the chemical +in the vein of his left wrist, and in less than a minute he felt the +surging pleasure of his re-awakened faculties. He glanced doubtfully at +the sky, but it remained clear. + +Curl's hyperimage began forming in his mind. "Everything all right now?" +the physician inquired genially. + +"Perfect," replied Tensor contentedly. "This won't be so bad, even if it +is useful work. Maybe I'm just a little peculiar." + +"Ha, ha," Curl replied noncommittally. + +"Oh, one thing further. What about the privacy screen set up around the +aliens?" + +"That was dropped months ago," Curl laughed. "Can you imagine the +Council sustaining anything like that for long?" + +"It doesn't require any effort." + +"Yes, but it looks like it ought to, and you know how that affects a +civilized man. You can go any time you like." + +Tensor nodded and withdrew. + + * * * * * + +Abruptly, he was hovering over the delightful green-and-orange-streaked +sands of the central landscape. This was one of Prime's favorites, and +the network of drainage channels was the most effective on the planet. +Tensor approved. It really was beautiful. + +He gazed around, pleasurably appreciating the esthetic beauty of the +colorful, arid scene. + +Then he saw the aliens. That was astonishing, he thought. The aliens +were known to have grouped on the other side of the planet, and he had +intended to do some sightseeing on the way around. Now two of them were +here. Most unpredictable. They were standing near the horizon, +apparently examining one of the channels. + +Tensor moved toward them slowly, sending futile probes for their minds +and finding, as before, nothing but chaotic splashes. It was really +unfortunate that they could not communicate. + +He moved higher as he approached, for the better view it afforded. The +aliens were animal, all right. A species similar to human beings but +grotesquely primitive. He observed that the creatures had noticed him +and were running madly across the surface toward a small, shiny +structure. + +The structure interested him. It looked very much as if it had been +fabricated. He wondered how the savages could construct without being +able to control, and watched them as they actually entered the thing. + +And then, incredibly, it rose from the ferrous sands and dashed off +toward the east, a faint, disgustingly moist vapor trailing out behind +it. + +Quickly Tensor moved up parallel to it, while he speculated on what it +meant. Apparently the savages were in full control of it. For a moment +he thought it might be an alien focus, but dismissed the idea. If it +were a focus, there would be no purpose in moving it spatially. + +Feeling more curious, he projected himself inside and was immediately +delighted, despite its obvious mechanical character. It was metallic and +smooth and there were numerous incomprehensible devices piled up against +the walls of the tiny, circular room. Seated at a panel, their backs +toward him, the two creatures were busily manipulating little spots of +brilliant color, and one was creating a weird but soft cacophony with +its mouth. + +Tensor was amused as well as interested. He listened, and managed to +decipher a pattern to the speech, even though only confused scatterings +of intelligence came from the chaotic minds. He again observed the +astonishing similarity of appearance between the aliens and human +beings. + +From a small orifice in the panel, a reply issued; cold and rasping in +tonal quality. + +"Control to Scout Three. Roger on the presumed alien. Lieutenant. I knew +that civilian with you would get you into trouble." + +"Well, it wasn't exactly the fault of--" + +"Enough. Bear away from the base until certain you are not being +followed." + +While one of them played with the moving color spots on the panel, the +other twisted a knob, and all segments of the outside became +successively visible in a viewer. + +"Scout Three to Control. Nothing in sight." + +"Very well. The orders are to stay there until dark, after which you may +return." + +"But that's two hundred hours away," the other savage hissed. "We don't +have enough oxygen." + +"You'll just have to work it out somehow," the panel replied coldly. "We +can't endanger the whole military base for one useless civilian +biologist." + +This was a fascinating exchange to Tensor, as he puzzled out the curious +relationships and their purposes. He floated near the ceiling, +listening, face set in civilized impassivity. + +One of the creatures grumbled, leaned back and swung around in its +chair. It jerked erect when it saw the man at the ceiling. + +[Illustration] + +Tensor smiled at the poor, dumb creature and was rewarded by a +disgustingly loud noise from its mouth and a mad rush back to the panel. +The other had seen him, too, and was staring wide-eyed at him. Tensor +moved closer to observe, but the one who had seen him first continued +shouting shrill, ear-splitting noises at its companion, who seemed to be +trying unsuccessfully to obey. Petulantly, Tensor disintegrated the +noisy one and also some ugly cables that led from the panel to the wall. +That improved the esthetic situation immeasurably, he felt. + +There was a quick sucking of breath from the remaining savage as it +looked wildly about for a moment, as if searching for its vanished +companion, and then stared at the place where the cables had been. + +"Well--" It made a hopeless gesture with its shoulders and slumped back +into its chair. "That does it. No pilot. No radio. Damn. Even the Leader +would have trouble with this situation." It looked uneasily at Tensor, +and remained perfectly, cautiously still. + +"What do you call yourselves?" Tensor asked without difficulty, using +sound patterns similar to what they had employed. + +"You speak English!" the creature blurted out in amazement, and Tensor +felt rather irritated by its crude facial expression. He made a small +adjustment, however, bringing his own somatic state into a closer +harmony with that of the creature, and the desired level of contented +appreciation rose. + +"Are--are you a native?" it asked hesitantly. + +"Yes," Tensor replied. + +It gazed at him with half closed, calculating eyes, starting at the +head, running slowly to his feet and back again. + +"You look human," it muttered. + +"Naturally," Tensor replied cheerfully. The appreciation was growing +subtly now, and he found that the creature's mouth interested him. It +was a strikingly lovely shade of red--always Tensor's favorite color. +And although there was a heavy and awkward sheath of artificial fabric +about the alien, he observed with a rising fascination that the bulging +of the thoracic sheathing indicated that it was female. + +Tensor became uncomfortably aware that he had better be careful of his +induced somatic sympathy. + +After a moment of speculative silence, he said, "You haven't told me +what you savages consider yourselves." + +"Don't call me a savage, you naked beast," she snapped back. + +"I beg your pardon," he murmured politely. "Merely a semantic +difficulty. I'm sure. I assume that you consider yourselves human +beings, then. Where do you come from?" + +"Earth--the third planet." + +"I see. And you used mechanical devices such as this little metal egg to +get here. Most curious." Tensor contemplated the thought with great +interest, for obviously they used mechanical skill to compensate for +lack of direct control. An exceedingly poor substitute, of course; but +it explained everything he wanted to know. + +"Are there many of you natives?" she asked him cautiously. + +"Not like there used to be," Tensor admitted. "But still quite a +few--though not so many we get on each other's nerves." + +"How many in round numbers?" + +That was a silly question, Tensor thought. Nevertheless he told her, +"Oh, I suppose about thirty or a hundred. We haven't counted for +centuries. Nobody's interested." + +She appeared to be deeply absorbed in thought, gazing at him in an +almost detached fashion. Finally she said. "Your civilization is based +on the mind, isn't it? You do things with an act of will instead of with +your hands." + +"Naturally. That is the essential mark of civilization. At least," he +added politely, "from our point of view." + +"Are you--telepathic?" + +"Only with other telepaths," he said simply. + +"Then how did you learn my language?" + +"Oh, after you talk it a bit. I can see certain relationships. But the +mental pictures are so discontinuous and nonspecific that it takes a +little time before the pattern emerges." + +"That means you don't actually know what I am thinking?" + +"Correct. You have the potential, but you don't have the control +necessary to permit it." + +A small, satisfied smile curved about her lips. + +Tensor found it oddly disconcerting. Despite the ugly sheathing, there +was something about her that was quite pleasant. + +He began to feel that she was even beautiful, and as he disintegrated +the sheath in order to appreciate her better, he realized that it was +undoubtedly the strange endocrine balance he had created in himself that +was responsible for the attitude. Because there was nothing particularly +well-designed about her. She looked unprepossessingly like a civilized +woman, except a good deal fatter in places, which hardly helped matters +from an abstract point of view. + +Tensor could only assume that his point of view was becoming less +abstract. + +He observed that, upon his disintegrating the sheath, the noise was +there again, issuing rapidly from her mouth, and lacking in detailed +semantic significance. It was very curious, he thought, watching the +rapid rise and fall of her pink-tipped breasts. He could not determine +whether the signal indicated terror or fury. + +She solved the problem for him by grasping a small metal object from the +rack beside her and throwing it at him. He deflected it to the floor as +it left her hand. + +"What," he asked politely, "is disturbing you so?" He liked the angry +sparkle of her eyes. + +"You," she snapped. "Keep away from me." + +"I don't understand," he replied, moving closer and reaching out his +hand to obtain a tactile sensation of her lovely hair texture. The woman +compressed her red lips firmly and stood there, uneasily watching him +out of the corner of her eyes as he gently stroked her head. + +"Do all females of your race look nice like you?" + +She nodded cautiously and said, "More or less." + +"Very curious." + +A sly expression came to her eyes then and she smiled radiantly. "Look," +she said, "would you do me a favor?" + +"Of course," Tensor murmured with unaccustomed eagerness. This was a +very interesting experience, even though he was constantly having to +reinforce and add to the chemical shift in his body in order to hold +down the possibility of fatigue. He could not recall ever before +permitting such an unusual somatic state. + +She gestured guilelessly toward the panel. "Would you help me repair my +radio?" + +"Radio?" Tensor echoed vacantly, gazing at the place indicated. + +"Yes. I--er, have to report to my superiors that I may not be able to +return, even tonight." Again she smiled dazzlingly and with devastating +effect on Tensor. + +"I'd be glad to," he said agreeably. "But I don't know anything about +mechanical things. Couldn't you just tell me where your superiors are +and let me teleport there? I'd let them know and come right back." + +"Oh no," she replied quickly. She frowned a little wistfully. "No," she +repeated, "they wouldn't like that. They never like anything easy. And +besides--" again the smile "--I might not be here when you return, you +know!" + +"Oh?" Tensor said, puzzled that she knew that he might be concerned over +her absence. Possibly she had some power of direct communication after +all. + +"It's just those cables that you destroyed over the panel," she told him +in a softly cajoling voice. "I have some spares in the locker, and if +you would help me replace them, it would be fine." + +Tensor floated over and peered into the stumps, examining the +composition and structure. He nodded and reconstructed them instantly. + +She was obviously delighted and said, "I wondered if you could do that. +May I use the radio now?" + +Tensor stared at the whiteness of her teeth contrasting pleasingly with +the redness of her lips. "Go right ahead," he murmured. He decided he +had better leave soon. + +He watched as the brilliant spots of color glowed and shifted. She spoke +and the panel issued its response. "Control to Scout Three. What +happened there a while ago?" + +"This is urgent," she said. "Is the Captain there?" + +After a noisy hesitation, the panel replied. "This is Commander Carson. +What's up out there?" + +"Listen carefully," she said. "I have an alien with me on the ship. He's +already learned English perfectly. He is only slightly telepathic, so +far as I am concerned, but he has great telekinetic powers." + +"We were afraid of that. Is he dangerous?" + +"Well--he killed Lieutenant Anderson. Completely annihilated her with a +simple act of will." She glanced at the bewildered expression on +Tensor's face, and favored him with a quick little smile. "He is +extremely powerful. He would be a very good friend." + +Tensor broke in asking, "What is all this talk now? I do not understand +the purpose of it." + +"Don't you worry," she murmured softly, reaching up and patting him on +the knee. "Just have patience." + +The panel rasped at them. "I see. Do you know if there are many of +them?" + +"He told me it was between thirty and a hundred, but nobody knows for +sure. Presumably they don't have very much communication with each +other." + +"Ah," rasped the panel in a satisfied tone. "Just a minute. I'll get a +directive from the Captain for you." + +Tensor nodded slightly as he said, "Oh, I see. That is your Council you +are talking to." + +"Uh huh," she replied, dodging the hand that sought her hair again. She +smiled coyly. "Now just wait. I want to hear what my superiors say." She +pushed at him playfully, her smile growing strained as she desperately +tried to kill time. + +Tensor was amused. Yes, he decided, it was time to go. He was not at all +sure that he wanted to go, but he felt that it was wise. He had never in +his life engaged in such lengthy and violent exercise and was alarmed at +the thought of the fatigue pains he would have when he restored his +balance to a civilized neutral again. + +The panel rasped noisily at them. + +"Captain Jonas," it said, speaking in a different accent this time. +"There's a war going on and we can't take any chances on how the aliens +will feel about it. We have a fix on you and I'm sending a flight of +homing missiles. Nuclear warheads." + +She stiffened as she heard the sentence, her red lips drawn back from +tightly clenched teeth. In a faint voice, she said, "I--I guess there +isn't much I can do about it, is there?" + +"Can you keep him there and busy so that he won't notice the missiles +coming?" + +She gave a short, brittle laugh. "Yes sir. I feel fairly sure I can keep +him interested for--" she glanced speculatively at Tensor "--a half hour +at least. Probably much longer." + +"It'll only be fifteen minutes," the panel rasped. "We'll deal with the +others as we find them. You will be decorated for this service, even +though you are only a civilian. Posthumously, of course." + +The panel was silent. + +"Oh sure," she said in a deadly quiet voice. "I'm glad to be +appreciated." + +Tensor was puzzled. The conversation did not appear to make a great deal +of sense to him. He hovered over the panel and gazed at it curiously. + +"Just another superior," she told him. "It seems that practically +everybody is my superior or was." She sighed and looked down at herself, +wistfully thinking that it was a shame to have to waste all the +carefully nurtured loveliness that she knew she was. + +She looked up at Tensor, who had lost interest in the panel and was +busily examining the outside in a viewscope. + +"Come here, big boy," she said quickly. When he turned to face her, she +added, "keep your attention over here." + +With an agreeable smile, he floated to her and, in obedience to her +directions, lifted her into his arms. She put her lips to his, her hands +gently caressing his cheek. + +It was a shock. Tensor let out his pent-up breath explosively and ran +his tongue over his lips, tasting the mixture of saliva and lipstick. +What should have been moderately repulsive to him had been transformed +by the chemical sympathy in his veins into something quite overwhelming. +His eyes were bright and eager. + +"It's a dirty trick and I feel like a jerk," she whispered sadly to him. +"But what else can I do?" + +"I beg your pardon?" Tensor murmured happily. "I do not understand you." + +"Oh well," she breathed softly, smiling a crooked little smile. "Neither +one of us will ever know when it happens. A pity to spoil it so soon, +though." + +In his unaccustomed confusion, Tensor could not follow her thought, but +he could grasp the immediate situation. He grinned and nuzzled her +affectionately, and decided to stay a while longer. + + * * * * * + +Curl was floating langorously in his comfortable focus, eyes half closed +and glazed, mouth droolingly limp and hands carelessly askew. He formed +his hyperimage to appear erect and neat--and with a politely interested +expression--while he idly contemplated the telepathic picture being +projected into his own mind. + +"I see you've recovered," he said. "Splendid." + +"Yes, but what an ordeal," Tensor replied. His image took on the +appearance of a relieved smile. "If it ever happens again--I don't +know." + +"It was that bad?" Curl showed suitable lazy civilized sympathy. "I was +afraid. All that teleporting of yourself and things." + +"It took me almost ten minutes to recover from it," Tensor said grimly. + +"Tsk tsk. That's a lot of lactic acid to locate and destroy. But the +Council will appreciate it, even if Prime did complain, poor fellow." + +"Well, I promised to investigate and I'm a man of my thought. Of course, +the curiosity vanished as soon as I got into actual communication with +one of them." + +"They communicate?" Curl permitted his image to appear mildly +astonished, which was the only civilized thing to do. "Tell me about +it." + +"It's crude, but in some things successful," Tensor explained. "The +alien I contacted was a female, for instance. When I adjusted for +relative somatic sympathy so that I could stand the poor, uncivilized +creature, I naturally acquired the full appetites of a male animal and +this female seemed to understand some of my thoughts very well. + +"You simply can't imagine the violent somatic compulsions one encounters +under such a balance." + +"Horrible," agreed Curl. "But I understand, my boy. I once fathered a +child--must have been at least a couple of thousand years ago. Purely +out of scientific interest, of course, and never again." The physician +paused and added, "Matter of fact, it's quite likely that you're that +child. Can't ever tell about these things, you know." + +Tensor nodded in polite agreement and continued with his own story. "It +wasn't at all bad while it was going on, because I was pretty well +anesthetized from body chemicals. But the hangover was terrific." + +"Yes, no doubt." Curl appeared to consider a moment before asking. "What +about this uncivilized hubbub the Prime raised that caused the council +to order him to destroy himself?" + +"Oh, that. Well, just as I was about to leave, this primitive I was with +coaxed me into playing an interesting but remarkably violent sport with +her. And about the same time, it appears that her superiors, for some +unknown reason, decided to destroy her. It seems that the aliens' +Council doesn't let them take care of it themselves." + +"Uh, huh. How did they accomplish it?" + +"They used some nuclear breakdown devices, which I imagine serve their +primitive society quite well. The devices have appetites built into them +for a certain kind of target so they will know where to go. + +"But when I agreed to play this game, I naturally set up a privacy +focus, so the ship we were in just didn't exist for the nuclear devices. +They kept on looking, though, and finally found a lot of similar ships +back at the alien's main camp. Made an awful mess out of one of the +Prime's favorite landscapes, I understand." + +"Well," Curl replied engagingly, "Prime should have had better +self-control. I don't blame the Council a bit, and it does fix things up +rather nicely." His image smiled into Tensor's mind and then hesitated +as he saw the concern there. "Doesn't it?" + +"Uh, yes. All except for the alien female that insists on staying with +me, now, since none of her people is left on the planet. I told her two +or three times to go ahead and destroy herself if she wanted; but she +just rumples up my hair, grins at me and says she already has." He +looked worriedly at Curl. + +"Well, that's just one of those things, I guess," Curl murmured +philosophically. Sensing a local distraction approaching Tensor at that +moment, he politely withdrew from the other man's mind. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIR AND WARMER*** + + +******* This file should be named 32407.txt or 32407.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/4/0/32407 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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