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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6cc5bb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51482 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51482) diff --git a/old/51482-h.zip b/old/51482-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 613b053..0000000 --- a/old/51482-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51482-h/51482-h.htm b/old/51482-h/51482-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 27b5f28..0000000 --- a/old/51482-h/51482-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1048 +0,0 @@ -<!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" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Perfect Answer, by L. 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Stecher, Jr.. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.ph1, .ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } -.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } - - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Perfect Answer, by L.J. Stecher - -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/license - - -Title: Perfect Answer - -Author: L.J. Stecher - -Release Date: March 17, 2016 [EBook #51482] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PERFECT ANSWER *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="362" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1>PERFECT ANSWER</h1> - -<p>By L. J. STECHER, JR.</p> - -<p>Illustrated by DICK FRANCIS</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Galaxy Science Fiction June 1958.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3"><i>Getting there may be half the fun ... but it<br /> -is also all of a society's chance of survival!</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"As one god to another—let's go home," Jack Bates said.</p> - -<p>Bill Farnum raised a space-gloved hand in negligent acknowledgment to -a hastily kneeling native, and shook his head at Bates. "Let's try -Deneb—it's almost in line on the way back—and then we can call it -quits."</p> - -<p>"But I want to get back and start making some profit out of this. The -Galaxy is full of <i>Homo sapiens</i>. We've hit the jackpot first trip out. -Let's hurry on home and cash in."</p> - -<p>"We need more information. This is too much of a good thing—it doesn't -make sense. I know there isn't much chance of finding anything out by -stopping at one more solar system. But it won't delay us more than a -few weeks, and it won't hurt to try."</p> - -<p>"Yeah," said Bates. "But what's in it for us? And what if we find an -inhabited planet? You know the chances are about two to one that we -will. That'll make thirteen we've found on this trip. Why risk bad -luck?"</p> - -<p>"You're no more superstitious than I am," said Farnum. "You just want -to get back Earthside. I'll tell you what. We'll toss a coin for it."</p> - -<p>Bates gestured futilely toward his coverall pocket, and then -remembered he was wearing a spacesuit as a precaution against possible -contamination from the natives.</p> - -<p>"And we'll use one of <i>my</i> coins this time," said Farnum, noticing the -automatic motion. "I want to have a chance."</p> - -<p>The coin dropped in Farnum's favor, and their two-man scout ship hurled -itself into space.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Farnum operated the compact computer, aligning the ship's velocity -vector precisely while the stars could still be seen. Bates controlled -the engines, metering their ravenous demand for power just this side of -destructive detonation, while the ship sucked energy from space—from -the adjacent universe on the other side of Limbo. Finally the computer -chimed, relays snicked, and the ship slid into the emptiness of Limbo -as the stars winked out.</p> - -<p>With two trained men working as a team with the computer and the -elaborate engine room controls, and with a certain amount of luck, the -ship would drop back into normal space a couple of weeks later, close -beside their target.</p> - -<p>"Well, that's that," said Farnum, relaxing and wiping the perspiration -off his forehead. "We're back once again in the nothingness of nowhere. -As I recall, it's your week for K.P. Where's the coffee?"</p> - -<p>"Coming right up," said Bates. "But you won't like it. It's the last of -the 'God-food' the Korite priests made for us."</p> - -<p>Farnum shuddered. "Pour it out and make some fresh. With a skillet, you -stink, but you're a thousand times better than Korites."</p> - -<p>"Thanks," Bates said, getting busy. "It was the third place we stopped -that they were such good cooks, wasn't it?"</p> - -<p>"Nope. Our third stop was the Porandians. They tried to kill us—called -us 'Devil spawn from the stars.' You're thinking of the fourth stop; -the Balanites."</p> - -<p>Bates shrugged. "It's kind of hard to keep them all straight. Either -they fall on their knees and worship us, or they try to kill us without -even asking questions. Maybe it's lucky they're all so primitive."</p> - -<p>"It may be lucky, but it doesn't add up. More than half the stars we -visit have planets that can support human life. And every one that can -does. Once there must have been an interstellar empire. So why are -all their civilizations so backward? They aren't primitive—they're -decadent. And why do they all have such strong feelings—one way or the -exact opposite—about people from the stars?"</p> - -<p>"Isn't that why you want to try one more system?" asked Bates. "To give -us another chance to get some answers? Here's your coffee. Try to drink -it quietly. I'm going to get some shuteye."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The trip through the Limbo between adjacent universes passed -uneventfully, as always. The computer chimed again on schedule, and a -quick check by Farnum showed the blazing sun that suddenly appeared was -Deneb, as advertised. Seventeen planets could be counted, and the fifth -seemed to be Earth type. They approached it with the easy skill of long -practice and swung into orbit about it.</p> - -<p>"This is what we've been looking for!" exclaimed Farnum, examining -the planet through a telescope. "They've got big cities and dams and -bridges—they're civilized. Let's put the ship down."</p> - -<p>"Wait up," said Bates. "What if they've got starman-phobia? Remember, -they're people, just like us; and with people, civilization and -weapons go together."</p> - -<p>"I think you've got it backwards. If they hate us, we can probably get -away before they bring up their big artillery. But what if they love -us? They might want to keep us beside them forever."</p> - -<p>Bates nodded. "I'm glad you agree with me. Let's get out of here. -Nobody but us knows of the beautiful, profitable planets we've found, -all ready to become part of a Terran Empire. And if we don't get back -safe and sound, nobody <i>will</i> know. The information we've got is worth -a fortune to us, and I want to be alive to collect it."</p> - -<p>"Sure. But we've got the job of trying to find out why all those -planets reverted to barbarism. This one hasn't; maybe the answer's -here. There's no use setting up an empire if it won't last."</p> - -<p>"It'll last long enough to keep you and me on top of the heap."</p> - -<p>"That's not good enough. I want my kids—when I have them—to have -their chances at the top of the heap too."</p> - -<p>"Oh, all right. We'll flip a coin, then."</p> - -<p>"We already did. You may be a sharp dealer, but you'd never welch on a -bet. We're going down."</p> - -<p>Bates shrugged. "You win. Let's put her down beside that big city over -there—the biggest one, by the seashore."</p> - -<p>As they approached the city, they noticed at its outskirts a large -flat plain, dotted with gantries. "Like a spaceport," suggested Bill. -"That's our target."</p> - -<p>They landed neatly on the tarmac and then sat there quietly, waiting to -see what would happen.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A crowd began to form. The two men sat tensely at their controls, but -the throng clustering about the base of the ship showed no hostility. -They also showed no reverence but, rather, a carefree interest and -joyful welcome.</p> - -<p>"Well," said Farnum at last, "looks like we might as well go outside -and ask them to take us to their leader."</p> - -<p>"I'm with you as usual," said Bates, starting to climb into his -spacesuit. "Weapons?"</p> - -<p>"I don't think so. We can't stop them if they get mad at us, and they -look friendly enough. We'll start off with the 'let's be pals' routine."</p> - -<p>Bates nodded. "After we learn the language. I always hate this part—it -moves so slowly. You'd think there'd be some similarity among the -tongues on different planets, wouldn't you? But each one's entirely -different. I guess they've all been isolated too long."</p> - -<p>The two men stepped out on the smooth plain, to be instantly surrounded -by a laughing, chattering crowd. Farnum stared around in bewilderment -at the variety of dress the crowd displayed. There were men and women -in togas, in tunics, in draped dresses and kilts, in trousers and -coats. Others considered a light cloak thrown over the shoulders to be -adequate. There was no uniformity of style or custom.</p> - -<p>"You pick me a boss-man out of this bunch," he muttered to Bates.</p> - -<p>Finally a couple of young men, glowing with health and energy, came -bustling through the crowd with an oblong box which they set down in -front of the Earthmen. They pointed to the box and then back at Farnum -and Bates, laughing and talking as they did so.</p> - -<p>"What do you suppose they want us to do?" Farnum asked.</p> - -<p>One of the young men clapped his hands happily and reached down to -touch the box. "What do you suppose they want us to do?" asked the box -distinctly.</p> - -<p>"Oh. A recording machine. Probably to help with language lessons. Might -as well help them out."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Farnum and Bates took turns talking at the box for half an hour. Then -the young man nodded, laughed, clapped his hands again, and the two -men carried it away. The crowd went with them, waving merrily as they -departed.</p> - -<p>Bates shrugged his shoulders and went back into the ship, with Farnum -close behind.</p> - -<p>A few hours after sunrise the following morning, the crowd returned, -as gay and carefree as before, led by the two young men who had carried -the box. Each of these two now had a small case, about the size of a -camera, slung by a strap across one brawny shoulder.</p> - -<p>As the terrestrials climbed out to meet them, the two men raised their -hands and the crowd discontinued its chatter, falling silent except for -an occasional tinkle of surprised laughter.</p> - -<p>"Welcome," said the first young man clearly. "It is a great pleasure -for us to have our spaceport in use again. It has been many generations -since any ships have landed on it."</p> - -<p>Farnum noticed that the voice came from the box. "Thank you for your -very kind welcome," he said. "I hope that your traffic will soon -increase. May we congratulate you, by the way, on the efficiency of -your translators?"</p> - -<p>"Thanks," laughed the young man. "But there was nothing to it. We just -asked the Oracle and he told us what we had to do to make them."</p> - -<p>"May we meet your—Oracle?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, sure, if you want to. But later on. Now it's time for a party. Why -don't you take off those clumsy suits and come along?"</p> - -<p>"We don't dare remove our spacesuits. They protect us from any disease -germs you may have, and you from any we may have. We probably have no -resistance to each others' ailments."</p> - -<p>"The Oracle says we have nothing that will hurt you. And we're going -to spray you with this as soon as you get out of your suits. Then you -won't hurt any of us." He held up a small atomizer.</p> - -<p>Farnum glanced at Bates, who shrugged and nodded. They uneasily -unfastened their spacesuits and stepped out of them, wearing only their -light one-piece coveralls, and got sprayed with a pleasant-smelling -mist.</p> - -<p>The party was a great success. The food was varied and delicious. -The liquors were sparkling and stimulating, without unpleasant -after-effects. The women were uninhibited.</p> - -<p>When a native got tired, he just dropped down onto the soft grass, or -onto an even softer couch, and went to sleep. The Earthmen finally did -the same.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They awoke the following morning within minutes of each other, feeling -comfortable and relaxed. Bates shook his head experimentally. "No -hangover," he muttered in surprise.</p> - -<p>"No one ever feels bad after a party," said one of their guides, who -had slept nearby. "The Oracle told us what to do, when we asked him."</p> - -<p>"Quite a fellow, your Oracle," commented Bates. "Does he answer you in -riddles, like most Oracles?"</p> - -<p>The guide was shocked. "The Oracle answers any questions promptly and -completely. He <i>never</i> talks in riddles."</p> - -<p>"Can we go to see him now?" asked Farnum.</p> - -<p>"Certainly. Come along. I'll take you to the Hall of the Oracle."</p> - -<p>The Oracle appeared to live in a building of modest size, in the center -of a tremendous courtyard. The structure that surrounded the courtyard, -in contrast, was enormous and elaborate, dominating the wildly -architectured city. It was, however, empty.</p> - -<p>"Scholars used to live in this building, they tell me," said one of -their guides, gesturing casually. "They used to come here to learn from -the Oracle. But there's no sense in learning a lot of stuff when the -Oracle has always got all the answers anyway. So now the building is -empty. The big palace was built back in the days when we used to travel -among the stars, as you do now."</p> - -<p>"How long ago was that?" asked Farnum.</p> - -<p>"Oh, I don't know. A few thousand years—a few hundred years—the -Oracle can tell you if you really want to know."</p> - -<p>Bates raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know you'll always be given -the straight dope?"</p> - -<p>The guide looked indignant. "The Oracle <i>always</i> tells the truth."</p> - -<p>"Yes," Bates persisted, "but how do you <i>know</i>?"</p> - -<p>"The Oracle told us so, of course. Now why don't you go in and find out -for yourselves? We'll wait out here. We don't have anything to ask him."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Bates and Farnum went into the building and found themselves in a -small, pleasant room furnished with comfortable chairs and sofas.</p> - -<p>"Good morning," said a well-modulated voice. "I have been expecting -you."</p> - -<p>"You are the Oracle?" asked Farnum, looking around curiously.</p> - -<p>"The name that the people of this planet have given me translates most -accurately as 'Oracle'," said the voice.</p> - -<p>"But are you actually an Oracle?"</p> - -<p>"My principal function, insofar as human beings—that is, <i>Homo -sapiens</i>—are concerned, is to give accurate answers to all questions -propounded me. Therefore, insofar as humans are concerned, I am -actually an Oracle."</p> - -<p>"Then you have another function?"</p> - -<p>"My principal function, insofar as the race that made me is concerned, -is to act as a weapon."</p> - -<p>"Oh," said Bates. "Then you are a machine?"</p> - -<p>"I am a machine," agreed the voice.</p> - -<p>"The people who brought us here said that you always tell them the -truth. I suppose that applies when you are acting as an Oracle, instead -of as a weapon?"</p> - -<p>"On the contrary," said the voice blandly. "I function as a weapon by -telling the truth."</p> - -<p>"That doesn't make sense," protested Bates.</p> - -<p>The machine paused for a moment before replying. "This will take -a little time, gentlemen," it said, "but I am sure that I can -convince you. Why don't you sit down and be comfortable? If you want -refreshments, just ask for them."</p> - -<p>"Might as well," said Bates, sitting down in an easy chair. "How about -giving us some Korite God-food?"</p> - -<p>"If you really want that bad a brew of coffee, I can make it for you, -of course," said the voice, "but I am sure you would prefer some of -better quality."</p> - -<p>Farnum laughed. "Yes, please. Some good coffee, if you don't mind."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Now," said the Oracle, after excellent coffee had been produced, "it -is necessary for me to go back into history a few hundred thousand of -your years. At that time, the people who made me entered this galaxy -on one of their periodic visits of routine exploration, and contacted -your ancestors. The race that constructed me populates now, as it did -then, the Greater Magellanic Cloud.</p> - -<p>"Frankly, the Magellanic race was appalled at what they found. In the -time since their preceding visit, your race had risen from the slime -of your mother planet and was on its way toward stars. The speed of -your development was unprecedented in millions of years of history. By -their standards, your race was incredibly energetic, incredibly fecund, -incredibly intelligent, unbelievably warlike, and almost completely -depraved.</p> - -<p>"Extrapolation revealed that within another fifty thousand of your -years, you would complete the population of this galaxy and would be -totally unstoppable.</p> - -<p>"Something had to be done, fast. There were two obvious solutions -but both were unacceptable to my Makers. The first was to assume -direct control over your race and to maintain that rule indefinitely, -until such time as you changed your natures sufficiently to become -civilizable. The expenditure of energy would be enormous and the -results probably catastrophic to your race. No truly civilized people -could long contemplate such a solution.</p> - -<p>"The second obvious answer was to attempt to extirpate you from this -universe as if you were a disease—as, in a sense, you are. Because -your depravity was not total or necessarily permanent, this solution -was also abhorrent to my Makers and was rejected.</p> - -<p>"What was needed was a weapon that would keep operating without direct -control by my People, which would not result in any greater destruction -or harm to humans than was absolutely necessary; and one which would -cease entirely to operate against you if you changed sufficiently to -become civilizable—to become good neighbors to my Makers.</p> - -<p>"The final solution of the Magellanic race was to construct several -thousand spaceships, each containing an elaborate computer, constructed -so as to give accurate answers throughout your galaxy. I am one of -those ships. We have performed our function in a satisfactory manner -and will continue to do so as long as we are needed."</p> - -<p>"And that makes you a weapon?" asked Bates incredulously. "I don't get -it."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Farnum felt a shiver go through him. "I see it. The concept is -completely diabolical."</p> - -<p>"It's not diabolical at all," answered the Oracle. "When you become -capable of civilization, we can do you no further harm at all. We will -cease to be a weapon at that time."</p> - -<p>"You mean you'll stop telling the truth at that time?" asked Bates.</p> - -<p>"We will continue to function in accordance with our design," answered -the voice, "but it will no longer do you harm. Incidentally, your -phrase 'telling the truth' is almost meaningless. We answer all -questions in the manner most completely understandable to you, within -the framework of your language and your understanding, and of the -understanding and knowledge of our Makers. In the objective sense, what -we answer is not necessarily the Truth; it is merely the truest form of -the answer that we can state in a manner that you can understand."</p> - -<p>"And you'll answer any question at all?" asked Bates in some excitement.</p> - -<p>"With one or two exceptions. We will not, for example, tell you how we -may be destroyed."</p> - -<p>Bates stood up and began pacing the floor. "Then whoever possesses you -can be the most powerful man in the Universe!"</p> - -<p>"No. Only in this galaxy."</p> - -<p>"That's good enough for me!"</p> - -<p>"Jack," said Farnum urgently, "let's get out of here. I want to talk to -you."</p> - -<p>"In a minute, in a minute," said Bates impatiently. "I've got one more -question." He turned to face the wall from which the disembodied voice -appeared to emanate. "Is it possible to arrange it so that you would -answer only one man's questions—mine, for example?"</p> - -<p>"I can tell you how to arrange it so that I will respond to only your -questions—for so long as you are alive."</p> - -<p>"Come on," pleaded Farnum. "I've got to talk to you right now."</p> - -<p>"Okay," said Bates, smiling. "Let's go."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When they were back in their ship, Farnum turned desperately to Bates. -"Can't you see what a deadly danger that machine is to us all? We've -got to warn Earth as fast as we can and get them to quarantine this -planet—and any other planets we find that have Oracles."</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, you don't," said Bates. "You aren't getting the chance to have -the Oracle all to yourself. With that machine, we can rule the whole -galaxy. We'll be the most powerful people who ever lived! It's sure -lucky for us that you won the toss of the coin and we stopped here."</p> - -<p>"But don't you see that the Oracle will destroy Earth?"</p> - -<p>"Bushwah. You heard it say it can only destroy people who aren't -civilized. It said that it's a spaceship, so I'll bet we can get it to -come back to Earth with us, and tell us how we can be the only ones who -can use it."</p> - -<p>"We've got to leave here right away—without asking it any more -questions."</p> - -<p>Bates shook his head. "Quit clowning."</p> - -<p>"I never meant anything more in my life. Once we start using that -machine—if we ask it even one question to gain advantage for -ourselves—Earth's civilization is doomed. Can't you see that's what -happened to those other planets we visited? Can't you see what is -happening to this planet we're on now?"</p> - -<p>"No, I can't," answered Bates stubbornly. "The Oracle said there are -only a few thousand like him. You could travel through space for -hundreds of years and never be lucky enough to find one. There can't be -an Oracle on every planet we visited."</p> - -<p>"There wouldn't have to be," said Farnum. "There must be hundreds of -possible patterns—all of them destructive in the presence of greed -and laziness and lust for power. For example, a planet—maybe this -one—gets space travel. It sets up colonies on several worlds. It's -expanding and dynamic. Then it finds an Oracle and takes it back to its -own world. With all questions answered for it, the civilization stops -being dynamic and starts to stagnate. It stops visiting its colonies -and they drift toward barbarism.</p> - -<p>"Later," Farnum went on urgently, "somebody else reaches the stars, -finds the planet with the Oracle—and takes the thing back home. Can -you imagine what will happen to these people on this world if they -lose their Oracle? Their own learning and traditions and way of life -have been destroyed—just take a look at their anarchic clothing -and architecture. The Oracle is the only thing that keeps them -going—downhill—and makes sure they don't start back again."</p> - -<p>"It won't happen that way to us," Bates argued. "We won't let the -Oracle get into general use, so Earth won't ever learn to depend on it. -I'm going to find out from it how to make it work for the two of us -alone. You can come along and share the gravy or not, as you choose. I -don't care. But you aren't going to stop me."</p> - -<p>Bates turned and strode out of the ship.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Farnum pounded his fist into his palm in despair, and then ran to a -locker. Taking out a high-power express rifle, he loaded it carefully -and stepped out through the airlock. Bates showed clearly in his -telescopic sights, still walking toward the Hall of the Oracle. Farnum -fired at the legs, but he wasn't that good a shot; the bullet went -through the back.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" width="351" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Farnum jittered between bringing Bates back and taking off as fast as -the ship could go. The body still lay there, motionless; there was -nothing he could do for the Oracle's first Earth victim—the first -and the last, he swore grimly. He had to speed home and make them -understand the danger before they found another planet with an Oracle, -so that they could keep clear of its deadly temptations. The Magellanic -race could be outwitted yet, in spite of their lethal cleverness.</p> - -<p>Then he felt a sudden icy chill along his spine. Alone, he could never -operate the spaceship—and Bates was dead. He was trapped on the planet.</p> - -<p>For hours, he tried to think of some way of warning Earth. It was -imperative that he get back. There had to be a way.</p> - -<p>He realized finally that there was only one solution to his problem. -He sighed shudderingly and walked slowly from the spaceship toward the -Hall of the Oracle, past Bates' body.</p> - -<p>"One question, though," he muttered to himself. "Only one."</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Perfect Answer, by L.J. 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Stecher - -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/license - - -Title: Perfect Answer - -Author: L.J. Stecher - -Release Date: March 17, 2016 [EBook #51482] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PERFECT ANSWER *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - PERFECT ANSWER - - By L. J. STECHER, JR. - - Illustrated by DICK FRANCIS - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Galaxy Science Fiction June 1958. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - - - - Getting there may be half the fun ... but it - is also all of a society's chance of survival! - - -"As one god to another--let's go home," Jack Bates said. - -Bill Farnum raised a space-gloved hand in negligent acknowledgment to -a hastily kneeling native, and shook his head at Bates. "Let's try -Deneb--it's almost in line on the way back--and then we can call it -quits." - -"But I want to get back and start making some profit out of this. The -Galaxy is full of _Homo sapiens_. We've hit the jackpot first trip out. -Let's hurry on home and cash in." - -"We need more information. This is too much of a good thing--it doesn't -make sense. I know there isn't much chance of finding anything out by -stopping at one more solar system. But it won't delay us more than a -few weeks, and it won't hurt to try." - -"Yeah," said Bates. "But what's in it for us? And what if we find an -inhabited planet? You know the chances are about two to one that we -will. That'll make thirteen we've found on this trip. Why risk bad -luck?" - -"You're no more superstitious than I am," said Farnum. "You just want -to get back Earthside. I'll tell you what. We'll toss a coin for it." - -Bates gestured futilely toward his coverall pocket, and then -remembered he was wearing a spacesuit as a precaution against possible -contamination from the natives. - -"And we'll use one of _my_ coins this time," said Farnum, noticing the -automatic motion. "I want to have a chance." - -The coin dropped in Farnum's favor, and their two-man scout ship hurled -itself into space. - - * * * * * - -Farnum operated the compact computer, aligning the ship's velocity -vector precisely while the stars could still be seen. Bates controlled -the engines, metering their ravenous demand for power just this side of -destructive detonation, while the ship sucked energy from space--from -the adjacent universe on the other side of Limbo. Finally the computer -chimed, relays snicked, and the ship slid into the emptiness of Limbo -as the stars winked out. - -With two trained men working as a team with the computer and the -elaborate engine room controls, and with a certain amount of luck, the -ship would drop back into normal space a couple of weeks later, close -beside their target. - -"Well, that's that," said Farnum, relaxing and wiping the perspiration -off his forehead. "We're back once again in the nothingness of nowhere. -As I recall, it's your week for K.P. Where's the coffee?" - -"Coming right up," said Bates. "But you won't like it. It's the last of -the 'God-food' the Korite priests made for us." - -Farnum shuddered. "Pour it out and make some fresh. With a skillet, you -stink, but you're a thousand times better than Korites." - -"Thanks," Bates said, getting busy. "It was the third place we stopped -that they were such good cooks, wasn't it?" - -"Nope. Our third stop was the Porandians. They tried to kill us--called -us 'Devil spawn from the stars.' You're thinking of the fourth stop; -the Balanites." - -Bates shrugged. "It's kind of hard to keep them all straight. Either -they fall on their knees and worship us, or they try to kill us without -even asking questions. Maybe it's lucky they're all so primitive." - -"It may be lucky, but it doesn't add up. More than half the stars we -visit have planets that can support human life. And every one that can -does. Once there must have been an interstellar empire. So why are -all their civilizations so backward? They aren't primitive--they're -decadent. And why do they all have such strong feelings--one way or the -exact opposite--about people from the stars?" - -"Isn't that why you want to try one more system?" asked Bates. "To give -us another chance to get some answers? Here's your coffee. Try to drink -it quietly. I'm going to get some shuteye." - - * * * * * - -The trip through the Limbo between adjacent universes passed -uneventfully, as always. The computer chimed again on schedule, and a -quick check by Farnum showed the blazing sun that suddenly appeared was -Deneb, as advertised. Seventeen planets could be counted, and the fifth -seemed to be Earth type. They approached it with the easy skill of long -practice and swung into orbit about it. - -"This is what we've been looking for!" exclaimed Farnum, examining -the planet through a telescope. "They've got big cities and dams and -bridges--they're civilized. Let's put the ship down." - -"Wait up," said Bates. "What if they've got starman-phobia? Remember, -they're people, just like us; and with people, civilization and -weapons go together." - -"I think you've got it backwards. If they hate us, we can probably get -away before they bring up their big artillery. But what if they love -us? They might want to keep us beside them forever." - -Bates nodded. "I'm glad you agree with me. Let's get out of here. -Nobody but us knows of the beautiful, profitable planets we've found, -all ready to become part of a Terran Empire. And if we don't get back -safe and sound, nobody _will_ know. The information we've got is worth -a fortune to us, and I want to be alive to collect it." - -"Sure. But we've got the job of trying to find out why all those -planets reverted to barbarism. This one hasn't; maybe the answer's -here. There's no use setting up an empire if it won't last." - -"It'll last long enough to keep you and me on top of the heap." - -"That's not good enough. I want my kids--when I have them--to have -their chances at the top of the heap too." - -"Oh, all right. We'll flip a coin, then." - -"We already did. You may be a sharp dealer, but you'd never welch on a -bet. We're going down." - -Bates shrugged. "You win. Let's put her down beside that big city over -there--the biggest one, by the seashore." - -As they approached the city, they noticed at its outskirts a large -flat plain, dotted with gantries. "Like a spaceport," suggested Bill. -"That's our target." - -They landed neatly on the tarmac and then sat there quietly, waiting to -see what would happen. - - * * * * * - -A crowd began to form. The two men sat tensely at their controls, but -the throng clustering about the base of the ship showed no hostility. -They also showed no reverence but, rather, a carefree interest and -joyful welcome. - -"Well," said Farnum at last, "looks like we might as well go outside -and ask them to take us to their leader." - -"I'm with you as usual," said Bates, starting to climb into his -spacesuit. "Weapons?" - -"I don't think so. We can't stop them if they get mad at us, and they -look friendly enough. We'll start off with the 'let's be pals' routine." - -Bates nodded. "After we learn the language. I always hate this part--it -moves so slowly. You'd think there'd be some similarity among the -tongues on different planets, wouldn't you? But each one's entirely -different. I guess they've all been isolated too long." - -The two men stepped out on the smooth plain, to be instantly surrounded -by a laughing, chattering crowd. Farnum stared around in bewilderment -at the variety of dress the crowd displayed. There were men and women -in togas, in tunics, in draped dresses and kilts, in trousers and -coats. Others considered a light cloak thrown over the shoulders to be -adequate. There was no uniformity of style or custom. - -"You pick me a boss-man out of this bunch," he muttered to Bates. - -Finally a couple of young men, glowing with health and energy, came -bustling through the crowd with an oblong box which they set down in -front of the Earthmen. They pointed to the box and then back at Farnum -and Bates, laughing and talking as they did so. - -"What do you suppose they want us to do?" Farnum asked. - -One of the young men clapped his hands happily and reached down to -touch the box. "What do you suppose they want us to do?" asked the box -distinctly. - -"Oh. A recording machine. Probably to help with language lessons. Might -as well help them out." - - * * * * * - -Farnum and Bates took turns talking at the box for half an hour. Then -the young man nodded, laughed, clapped his hands again, and the two -men carried it away. The crowd went with them, waving merrily as they -departed. - -Bates shrugged his shoulders and went back into the ship, with Farnum -close behind. - -A few hours after sunrise the following morning, the crowd returned, -as gay and carefree as before, led by the two young men who had carried -the box. Each of these two now had a small case, about the size of a -camera, slung by a strap across one brawny shoulder. - -As the terrestrials climbed out to meet them, the two men raised their -hands and the crowd discontinued its chatter, falling silent except for -an occasional tinkle of surprised laughter. - -"Welcome," said the first young man clearly. "It is a great pleasure -for us to have our spaceport in use again. It has been many generations -since any ships have landed on it." - -Farnum noticed that the voice came from the box. "Thank you for your -very kind welcome," he said. "I hope that your traffic will soon -increase. May we congratulate you, by the way, on the efficiency of -your translators?" - -"Thanks," laughed the young man. "But there was nothing to it. We just -asked the Oracle and he told us what we had to do to make them." - -"May we meet your--Oracle?" - -"Oh, sure, if you want to. But later on. Now it's time for a party. Why -don't you take off those clumsy suits and come along?" - -"We don't dare remove our spacesuits. They protect us from any disease -germs you may have, and you from any we may have. We probably have no -resistance to each others' ailments." - -"The Oracle says we have nothing that will hurt you. And we're going -to spray you with this as soon as you get out of your suits. Then you -won't hurt any of us." He held up a small atomizer. - -Farnum glanced at Bates, who shrugged and nodded. They uneasily -unfastened their spacesuits and stepped out of them, wearing only their -light one-piece coveralls, and got sprayed with a pleasant-smelling -mist. - -The party was a great success. The food was varied and delicious. -The liquors were sparkling and stimulating, without unpleasant -after-effects. The women were uninhibited. - -When a native got tired, he just dropped down onto the soft grass, or -onto an even softer couch, and went to sleep. The Earthmen finally did -the same. - - * * * * * - -They awoke the following morning within minutes of each other, feeling -comfortable and relaxed. Bates shook his head experimentally. "No -hangover," he muttered in surprise. - -"No one ever feels bad after a party," said one of their guides, who -had slept nearby. "The Oracle told us what to do, when we asked him." - -"Quite a fellow, your Oracle," commented Bates. "Does he answer you in -riddles, like most Oracles?" - -The guide was shocked. "The Oracle answers any questions promptly and -completely. He _never_ talks in riddles." - -"Can we go to see him now?" asked Farnum. - -"Certainly. Come along. I'll take you to the Hall of the Oracle." - -The Oracle appeared to live in a building of modest size, in the center -of a tremendous courtyard. The structure that surrounded the courtyard, -in contrast, was enormous and elaborate, dominating the wildly -architectured city. It was, however, empty. - -"Scholars used to live in this building, they tell me," said one of -their guides, gesturing casually. "They used to come here to learn from -the Oracle. But there's no sense in learning a lot of stuff when the -Oracle has always got all the answers anyway. So now the building is -empty. The big palace was built back in the days when we used to travel -among the stars, as you do now." - -"How long ago was that?" asked Farnum. - -"Oh, I don't know. A few thousand years--a few hundred years--the -Oracle can tell you if you really want to know." - -Bates raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know you'll always be given -the straight dope?" - -The guide looked indignant. "The Oracle _always_ tells the truth." - -"Yes," Bates persisted, "but how do you _know_?" - -"The Oracle told us so, of course. Now why don't you go in and find out -for yourselves? We'll wait out here. We don't have anything to ask him." - - * * * * * - -Bates and Farnum went into the building and found themselves in a -small, pleasant room furnished with comfortable chairs and sofas. - -"Good morning," said a well-modulated voice. "I have been expecting -you." - -"You are the Oracle?" asked Farnum, looking around curiously. - -"The name that the people of this planet have given me translates most -accurately as 'Oracle'," said the voice. - -"But are you actually an Oracle?" - -"My principal function, insofar as human beings--that is, _Homo -sapiens_--are concerned, is to give accurate answers to all questions -propounded me. Therefore, insofar as humans are concerned, I am -actually an Oracle." - -"Then you have another function?" - -"My principal function, insofar as the race that made me is concerned, -is to act as a weapon." - -"Oh," said Bates. "Then you are a machine?" - -"I am a machine," agreed the voice. - -"The people who brought us here said that you always tell them the -truth. I suppose that applies when you are acting as an Oracle, instead -of as a weapon?" - -"On the contrary," said the voice blandly. "I function as a weapon by -telling the truth." - -"That doesn't make sense," protested Bates. - -The machine paused for a moment before replying. "This will take -a little time, gentlemen," it said, "but I am sure that I can -convince you. Why don't you sit down and be comfortable? If you want -refreshments, just ask for them." - -"Might as well," said Bates, sitting down in an easy chair. "How about -giving us some Korite God-food?" - -"If you really want that bad a brew of coffee, I can make it for you, -of course," said the voice, "but I am sure you would prefer some of -better quality." - -Farnum laughed. "Yes, please. Some good coffee, if you don't mind." - - * * * * * - -"Now," said the Oracle, after excellent coffee had been produced, "it -is necessary for me to go back into history a few hundred thousand of -your years. At that time, the people who made me entered this galaxy -on one of their periodic visits of routine exploration, and contacted -your ancestors. The race that constructed me populates now, as it did -then, the Greater Magellanic Cloud. - -"Frankly, the Magellanic race was appalled at what they found. In the -time since their preceding visit, your race had risen from the slime -of your mother planet and was on its way toward stars. The speed of -your development was unprecedented in millions of years of history. By -their standards, your race was incredibly energetic, incredibly fecund, -incredibly intelligent, unbelievably warlike, and almost completely -depraved. - -"Extrapolation revealed that within another fifty thousand of your -years, you would complete the population of this galaxy and would be -totally unstoppable. - -"Something had to be done, fast. There were two obvious solutions -but both were unacceptable to my Makers. The first was to assume -direct control over your race and to maintain that rule indefinitely, -until such time as you changed your natures sufficiently to become -civilizable. The expenditure of energy would be enormous and the -results probably catastrophic to your race. No truly civilized people -could long contemplate such a solution. - -"The second obvious answer was to attempt to extirpate you from this -universe as if you were a disease--as, in a sense, you are. Because -your depravity was not total or necessarily permanent, this solution -was also abhorrent to my Makers and was rejected. - -"What was needed was a weapon that would keep operating without direct -control by my People, which would not result in any greater destruction -or harm to humans than was absolutely necessary; and one which would -cease entirely to operate against you if you changed sufficiently to -become civilizable--to become good neighbors to my Makers. - -"The final solution of the Magellanic race was to construct several -thousand spaceships, each containing an elaborate computer, constructed -so as to give accurate answers throughout your galaxy. I am one of -those ships. We have performed our function in a satisfactory manner -and will continue to do so as long as we are needed." - -"And that makes you a weapon?" asked Bates incredulously. "I don't get -it." - - * * * * * - -Farnum felt a shiver go through him. "I see it. The concept is -completely diabolical." - -"It's not diabolical at all," answered the Oracle. "When you become -capable of civilization, we can do you no further harm at all. We will -cease to be a weapon at that time." - -"You mean you'll stop telling the truth at that time?" asked Bates. - -"We will continue to function in accordance with our design," answered -the voice, "but it will no longer do you harm. Incidentally, your -phrase 'telling the truth' is almost meaningless. We answer all -questions in the manner most completely understandable to you, within -the framework of your language and your understanding, and of the -understanding and knowledge of our Makers. In the objective sense, what -we answer is not necessarily the Truth; it is merely the truest form of -the answer that we can state in a manner that you can understand." - -"And you'll answer any question at all?" asked Bates in some excitement. - -"With one or two exceptions. We will not, for example, tell you how we -may be destroyed." - -Bates stood up and began pacing the floor. "Then whoever possesses you -can be the most powerful man in the Universe!" - -"No. Only in this galaxy." - -"That's good enough for me!" - -"Jack," said Farnum urgently, "let's get out of here. I want to talk to -you." - -"In a minute, in a minute," said Bates impatiently. "I've got one more -question." He turned to face the wall from which the disembodied voice -appeared to emanate. "Is it possible to arrange it so that you would -answer only one man's questions--mine, for example?" - -"I can tell you how to arrange it so that I will respond to only your -questions--for so long as you are alive." - -"Come on," pleaded Farnum. "I've got to talk to you right now." - -"Okay," said Bates, smiling. "Let's go." - - * * * * * - -When they were back in their ship, Farnum turned desperately to Bates. -"Can't you see what a deadly danger that machine is to us all? We've -got to warn Earth as fast as we can and get them to quarantine this -planet--and any other planets we find that have Oracles." - -"Oh, no, you don't," said Bates. "You aren't getting the chance to have -the Oracle all to yourself. With that machine, we can rule the whole -galaxy. We'll be the most powerful people who ever lived! It's sure -lucky for us that you won the toss of the coin and we stopped here." - -"But don't you see that the Oracle will destroy Earth?" - -"Bushwah. You heard it say it can only destroy people who aren't -civilized. It said that it's a spaceship, so I'll bet we can get it to -come back to Earth with us, and tell us how we can be the only ones who -can use it." - -"We've got to leave here right away--without asking it any more -questions." - -Bates shook his head. "Quit clowning." - -"I never meant anything more in my life. Once we start using that -machine--if we ask it even one question to gain advantage for -ourselves--Earth's civilization is doomed. Can't you see that's what -happened to those other planets we visited? Can't you see what is -happening to this planet we're on now?" - -"No, I can't," answered Bates stubbornly. "The Oracle said there are -only a few thousand like him. You could travel through space for -hundreds of years and never be lucky enough to find one. There can't be -an Oracle on every planet we visited." - -"There wouldn't have to be," said Farnum. "There must be hundreds of -possible patterns--all of them destructive in the presence of greed -and laziness and lust for power. For example, a planet--maybe this -one--gets space travel. It sets up colonies on several worlds. It's -expanding and dynamic. Then it finds an Oracle and takes it back to its -own world. With all questions answered for it, the civilization stops -being dynamic and starts to stagnate. It stops visiting its colonies -and they drift toward barbarism. - -"Later," Farnum went on urgently, "somebody else reaches the stars, -finds the planet with the Oracle--and takes the thing back home. Can -you imagine what will happen to these people on this world if they -lose their Oracle? Their own learning and traditions and way of life -have been destroyed--just take a look at their anarchic clothing -and architecture. The Oracle is the only thing that keeps them -going--downhill--and makes sure they don't start back again." - -"It won't happen that way to us," Bates argued. "We won't let the -Oracle get into general use, so Earth won't ever learn to depend on it. -I'm going to find out from it how to make it work for the two of us -alone. You can come along and share the gravy or not, as you choose. I -don't care. But you aren't going to stop me." - -Bates turned and strode out of the ship. - - * * * * * - -Farnum pounded his fist into his palm in despair, and then ran to a -locker. Taking out a high-power express rifle, he loaded it carefully -and stepped out through the airlock. Bates showed clearly in his -telescopic sights, still walking toward the Hall of the Oracle. Farnum -fired at the legs, but he wasn't that good a shot; the bullet went -through the back. - -Farnum jittered between bringing Bates back and taking off as fast as -the ship could go. The body still lay there, motionless; there was -nothing he could do for the Oracle's first Earth victim--the first -and the last, he swore grimly. He had to speed home and make them -understand the danger before they found another planet with an Oracle, -so that they could keep clear of its deadly temptations. The Magellanic -race could be outwitted yet, in spite of their lethal cleverness. - -Then he felt a sudden icy chill along his spine. Alone, he could never -operate the spaceship--and Bates was dead. He was trapped on the planet. - -For hours, he tried to think of some way of warning Earth. It was -imperative that he get back. There had to be a way. - -He realized finally that there was only one solution to his problem. -He sighed shudderingly and walked slowly from the spaceship toward the -Hall of the Oracle, past Bates' body. - -"One question, though," he muttered to himself. "Only one." - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Perfect Answer, by L.J. 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