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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..b6808fe --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63713 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63713) diff --git a/old/63713-0.txt b/old/63713-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6a77330..0000000 --- a/old/63713-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1303 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Land Beyond the Flame, by Evelyn Goldstein - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this ebook. - -Title: Land Beyond the Flame - -Author: Evelyn Goldstein - -Release Date: November 11, 2020 [EBook #63713] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LAND BEYOND THE FLAME *** - - - - - THE LAND BEYOND THE FLAME - - By EVELYN GOLDSTEIN - - _Beyond the Flame Barrier lay knowledge of - the Originals. Long it stretched from horizon - to horizon, a thin stream of living light; a - thin path of peril for Allyn the Numan._ - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories May 1954. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Cautiously Allyn the Numan moved to the edge of the outcropping rocks, -black cloak swirling hip length about his lean seven foot figure. His -close cropped silver hair was bare so that he had to shade his silver -eyes against the shimmering waste ahead. - -At his back, the jagged rocks rose and fused into wild hills. Before -him stretched the Graysand Desert, cruel with heat and treacherous -sands. And, shrill in the fiery air, came the squeals of the rat pack. - -Giant carnivores, shaggy and foul-breathed, their wicked claws could -tear a man fleshless. Fetid poison lay in the bite from their sharp -yellow teeth, and those teeth were bared now in raging anticipation. - -They were on the kill! Hunger in their voices and lust. And their gray -bodies, a pollution on the landscape, surged after a desperate prey. - -What did they pursue? Allyn strained to see. - -_An Olman!_ - -The sun blazed on the sweat of the mighty chest heaving with exertion. -Like all the males of that savage group he was naked, save for a -loincloth, and his bronzed corded arms swung in tempo with his pumping -feet. With each step, he left a bloody trail which spurred the rats to -further frenzy. - -The blood loss told! He fell! But, even as he went down, he spun on -his back, teeth bared, and the burning wind carried his fierce yell of -defiance. - -The rodents went mad with triumph. They leapt for the kill. - -Without thinking Allyn brought his flame gun from its holster. Lances -of bright death seared the gray ranks. Squeals died. The rats swerved -from the fallen man, scattered. Retreat was a panic stampede. And soon -their shrilling faded in the distance. - -The prone man twisted to hands and knees to face his rescuer. Hope was -bright in his eyes. But then he saw Allyn. Elation became horror. - -"_Numan!_" It was a despairing cry. Then he fainted. - -Allyn hastened across the gray sands. Hefting the unconscious man to -his shoulders he staggered toward the rocks. In a crevice, sheltered by -a natural ledge, he deposited his burden, and set about examining the -gashed thigh. The wound was more painful than serious, and he ripped a -strip from the lining of his cloak to bind it tight and stop the blood -flow. He had barely finished when the young savage stirred. - -Allyn tensed, watchful, flame gun ready. He saw the dark eyes open, -not sleepy, but with full awareness, as with a wild beast. The well -conditioned muscles tightened. - -"Don't move!" Allyn aimed the gun. - -The prone man froze. He well knew the power of the weapon. The taut -muscles did not relax, but remained arrested, waiting for one unguarded -instant to spring at the other's throat. - -"Don't be alarmed," the Numan reassured, "I won't hurt you." - -No sign that the other heard. But in the rigid muscles, distrust was -plain. - -"Try getting up--but slowly. You've lost a lot of blood." - -The Olman rose with easy grace. As he did he noticed the dressing on -his leg, and wild hate flamed his face. - -"Why didn't you let the rats finish me! It would have been cleaner than -death in your experimental camps." - -"I didn't save you for the camps. You're free to return to your -kinsmen." - -The youth stared. "I never heard of mercy from a Numan," he said -suspiciously. "A twenty-year-old like me would last a long time in the -hands of the vivisectionists of your people." - -Pain furrowed Allyn's lean face. "They are no longer my people," he -whispered, "I'm an outcast." - -His beautiful silver head drooped wearily. He had rebelled, flaunted -the law of the logicians, even done the supreme crime.... - -"I have struck a logician," he said, filled with the horror of his own -deed. "The Gyro-Gard are hunting me." Apprehensively the two glanced -skyward. But there was no dreaded black craft to be seen. - -The Olman was curious. "Why did you strike your Elder?" - -"For my sister, Aleena." - -The Olman spat a furious epithet. "No Numan has a sister! Do you think -I'm a fool! It is told around our council fires that your women die -at the birth of their first child. You cannot have a sister! You are -lying!" - -Allyn's head lifted proudly. "A Numan does not lie! Aleena and I are -twin--a phenomenon among my people. It was decreed that we would mate -to pass multiple births on through our progeny. But, when the day of -union was set, I refused, knowing that within the year of conception -Aleena would die." - -His head bowed recalling his own heresy. "Metas, our Chief Logician -himself came to syko me. He told me I was a throwback, capable of -emotions like an Olman." He shuddered with distaste that brought an -angry growl from the Olman's throat. Allyn did not notice. "Metas -decreed hypno for me." - -"Hypno?" - -"Control of the mind, so I would have taken Aleena through no volition -of my own." - -The Olman leaned forward eagerly: "Tell us how to storm the Nyloplast -dome that surrounds your city. My kinfolk and I will crush your -Logicians and get back your Aleena." - -Allyn looked at him in horror: "Do you think even if I could I would -betray Numan into the hands of beasts." - -The young savage drew back. His face became hard in bitter lines, and -for a moment his hand flashed to his belt, but his knife was rusting in -the vitals of a rat. - -"Beast?" his mouth twisted in hatred. "I--Keeven--am nothing but a -beast to you." - -Allyn was bewildered by the other's emotion. The silver brows drew -together in perplexity. Numen were dispassionate, and the Olman's -torrent of feeling was totally new to him. - -Whatever he might have said was never uttered. Out of the sky came the -drone of a motor. - -"Gyro-gard!" Keeven exclaimed. He crouched like a cat-thing moving -fluid under the shelter of the rock ledge. Heart hammering, Allyn leapt -down beside him. Dry-throated, cramped, they heard the motor come -closer, then fade away in the distance. - -"That was close," Allyn said as they came out of concealment. "The -closest they've come yet. They're widening the area of search." He -turned to the other. "Leave me quickly. I can only bring you disaster." - -It was Keeven's turn to be perplexed. "I confess I don't understand -you. You are a Numan, but you are different. What do they call you, -Numan?" - -"Allyn." - -"Allyn, you saved my life. For your good turn my people will shelter -you now. When the chase dies down you can leave us." - -Live with the beast-men? Allyn started to decline but Keeven pointed -out, "If you travel without me you will be hunted both by your people -and mine." - -There was logic in his words. "All right," he agreed, "I will go to -your people." - - * * * * * - -Their path lay upward into the somber outjutting hills. Keeven was a -tireless traveler, but Allyn, with the endurance of the Numen, followed -easily. The day paled, and shadows lengthened on the rocks when they -came through a narrow path into the cup of hills where grass grew, and -the land was fertile for crops. - -Several times Keeven stopped, and stood, as though listening. Once -Allyn said impatiently: "I don't hear anything." - -"That's just it." Keeven's face was gray. "We don't hear anything." The -words gave voice to his fear. He began to run. And Allyn ran behind -him. Scrambling over boulders. Leaping over fallen stumps. Down they -raced to the site of the village. - -No sound greeted them. And there was no hint of movement. - -At the first house Keeven braked to a halt. Doors were torn away from -the wood shelters, as were the tanned skins over the mouths of the -caves. All about, the grass was blackened with fire, and no crops would -sprout this year in the deep burned earth. - -In anguish Keeven rushed from door to door, calling the names of people -who had lived there. His voice keened higher with despair at each empty -dwelling. Slowly Allyn followed. His own throat was tightening at the -other's shock and grief. - -There were half prepared meals. In one hut a crude cradle swayed with -the wind of their passing--empty.... - -The breeze flapped the skins, and a rude door creaked where it hung -bound with rawhide to the lintel. - -Slowly the futility of calling struck Keeven. He turned. His hard face -was drawn and bloodless. - -"Gone," he whispered. "Nothing. No one left." - -As though in mockery, a call sounded from the hills. They wheeled -in shock, eyes to the rocks, straining against the dusk. A figure -scrambled toward the blackened clearing. - -It was a girl! - -She ran to Keeven. Threw herself in his arms. "Keeven! Oh, Keeven, I -thought I was the only one left!" - -"Marva!" Into her hair he stammered, "H--How did you escape?" - -"I was in the hills for water when the gyros came." Her voice was -broken with wild sobs, "I heard the commotion and saw the flames. I hid -all this time. Even when the gyros went away. I hid till--till I heard -you calling." - -Allyn watched how Keeven patted the soft bare shoulders, and stroked -the tumble of silken hair that was so black it seemed blue. A stirring -of strange passion went through him. His heart stumbled and raced. He -had the warped mad urge to tear the girl away from the youth, to study -her face, twine that hair round and round his lean long fingers. He -stood like a rock, holding back churning emotions. - -Metas was right! Over and over the bitter thought claimed him. Metas -had known! Beneath the generations of logic that had bred him, lay a -core of savagery. Years it had slumbered. Now it claimed him. - -He must have made a sound. The girl whirled. Her eyes were great and -dark, her skin rose over dusk. But now the rose-color fled, so that her -wide gaze seemed black with terror and loathing. - - * * * * * - -Under that gaze Allyn felt whipped. For the first time he felt -shame--shame for himself and for all Numen. Shame that they had caged -these people, torn them, bled and killed them. All in the name of -science! Experiment was survival! The Logicians had made it holy. The -mirror of the girl's eyes told him what Numen were. Monsters! - -She shivered. Drew back against Keeven. Her slim body, bare armed, bare -legged in the brief skin garment, trembled against the young savage. - -"Don't be afraid," he soothed. "This Numan is a friend." Briefly he -recounted his experiences since leaving camp, till the terror left her -face. Then he said to Allyn: "This is my sister, Marva." - -"Keeven," she tugged at his hand. "We must get away from here. The -Gyro-Gard have been circling all day." - -The Olman's laugh was mirthless: "Go? Where?" - -"Come with me," Allyn said impulsively. "I am going to the Forbidden -Area. I am going to cross the Flame Barrier." - -Even the wind stopped at the fearsome words. They shrank back from him. - -"No one can approach the Flame!" Keeven cried. "It is death; death more -terrible than by your vivisectionists." - -Marva whispered: "It is taboo. It changes you into some monstrous -thing!" - -Allyn's straight mouth set. "Nevertheless I must go. It is told that -beyond the Flame lies the knowledge of the Originals. Perhaps it will -teach how to save our women from death in childbirth. It's my only hope -of saving Aleena." - -Thoughtfully Keeven regarded him. "It has been said around our council -fires that there will be found a weapon to shatter the Nyloplast dome. -Perhaps," he mused, "I will find it in time to save my kinsmen from the -knives." - -He smote a mighty fist into his palm: "We will go with you, Numan. For -hope may lie ahead but--" his glance swept around, "only death lies -here." - -With a keen bladed knife he secured from one of the caves Keeven mapped -in the mud the trail they must take. At night Allyn would lead, for -night and day were one to Numen eyes. - -They traveled close upon each other's heels, holding their leader's -cloak for guidance in the darkness. By dawn they reached a small cave. -There they rested, well hidden from patrolling gyros. When they woke at -noon they were fresh for the next step of their journey. - -Descending the rocky slope they came to the thin line of trees that -marked the beginning of the forest. This time Keeven took the lead with -Marva close beside. Allyn, at the rear, watched the easy grace with -which the girl moved. Her slender brown feet in hide moccasins touched -lightly on the path, and her body was erect and lithe. - -How different she was from the unobtrusive women he knew. Raised in -humility to men, kept in secluded quarters, they were trained only for -the breeding day that would be the culmination of their lives. Aleena -alone stood apart from other Nuwomen. Because theirs had been a sacred -charge from birth they had been permitted to work together in the -hydroponics labs. - -"Aleena." He thought of her now, gentle, with luminous eyes fringed in -long silver lashes. The sheen of her silver hair that hung waist length -was dancing moonlight. Loneliness lay like hunger in him. Withdrawn -from Aleena, hunted by his people, what madness lay in his desire -to feed himself to a flaming radiance forbidden by all. Surely he -should go back, return to his rightful destiny. Leave these unheard of -companions--turn back on emotion that was bitter, hurting.... - -Marva glanced over her shoulder at him. Her smile was sweet -encouragement. Her lips were red and full. Desire was as red as that -mouth! And Allyn knew he would never turn back! - -They moved into the deeper woods, where the heavy lacing trees made a -green roofing to shelter them from seekers of the sky. Keeven caught an -animal emerging from its burrow. The brother and sister worked in quiet -union skinning and cooking dinner. They were skilled in making fires -without smoke. - -Used to dehydrated foods, Allyn was amazed at the savoriness of this -meat. He watched his companions lick the juices from their fingers, and -did likewise. Then wiping his hands on leaves, he sank back with a sigh -on the fragrant pine nettled ground, while they destroyed all evidence -of their repast. - -Nothing untoward happened that first day of their journey. At dusk of -the second they camped at the bank of a rushing brook. Keeven waded -downstream to spear fish. Marva sat on the bank bathing her feet in -the fresh water while Allyn stood close by. She rose, and stepped on -a sharp rock. With a small cry her hands flailed. She almost fell -backwards into the stream. Allyn's arms shot out. He pulled her so that -she fell against him. - -He did not move. Nor she. She was warm, her body like sunheat. There -was a fresh pine fragrance from her hair. She came not as high as his -shoulder. They were short, these Olmen, and she was not quite six foot. -Her mouth was beneath his, full and red and hot as blood. - -He kissed that mouth, tart, delicious as wild strawberries. And her -arms went around him in savage response. - -This was mad! Mad beyond any madness! This was passion beyond legends, -forgotten by Numan, tabooed by Olman. - -Close to his face, hers yearned. Still she drew away slowly, out of the -circle of his arms. "This is forbidden!" she whispered. She touched -her sweet curved breast, "It hammers like the warning drum of the -village: 'Numan and Olman cannot mate. Numen are inhuman. Mating is -impossible.'" Her voice broke. - -Under the agony in her eyes his hands fell to his sides like stones. -He did not stop her when she ran from him into the grove of trees. -He stood there, shaken by desire and by the ingrained lesson of -years--Olmen are beasts. A man does not mate with the beast! - - * * * * * - -They were a quiet trio that took up the journey later. If Keeven -noticed he was always center man, he made no sign. - -The woods were dense and Keeven's mighty arm hacked often with the -sharp blade to clear their path. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the -woods began to change. - -"We approach the Forbidden Area," Keeven's words were tense. - -It was very silent. Insect and bird life seemed to have tabooed these -habits. The landscape became twisted and strange. Seemingly normal -trees sprouted bizarre growths. Giant bushes of a red mold color grew -side by side with stunted trees that barely reached their knees, yet -seemed fantastically aged. - -The trio moved closer together, ears strained for normal sounds that -did not exist there. The suffering ground was bitter, and erupted into -convulsions, as though ejecting the monstrosities it had nurtured. -Their feet ached from the humped and hollowed path. There was no -whisper of wind. Yet Allyn shivered. A cold, ancestral fear laid lean -fingers on his dry throat. - -Light made their faces wan when they came to the edge of the deformed -woods. Ahead was the narrow stretch of barren waste that led to the -rotted wood paling. The paling was only token warning now, encircling -the shunned and dreaded Forbidden Area. - -Movement caught their eyes. Instinctively, they fell to earth, hardly -breathing, watching. - -Into their line of vision paced a Gard, flame gun in hand. Even as they -watched another Gard paced in from the opposite direction. - -Allyn's whisper was sick: "They've thrown a cordon around the Forbidden -Area!" - -Keeven caught a gleam on dark metal. "There's a gyro--to the left. Can -you fly one?" - -Allyn nodded. "It's basic training for all Numen. But what good does it -do us? There are the Gards." - -The Olman's smile was grim. "You have a gun," he reminded. - -Allyn stared. Use his gun? On Numen? Flame his own people! - -The other sensed his thoughts. "Give it to me then. I'll make good use -of it." - -There _had_ to be another way. His restless eyes sought the clearing. - -In that instant Keeven sprang. Muscular arms caught the surprised -Numan, crushing him to the ground. Swift fingers plucked the gun from -his side. Then Keeven was off, crouching, weapon leveled straight for -Allyn's breast. - -There was a shout from the Gard. The three had been discovered. Flames -of warning seared the shrubbery about them and the Gard made a rush -toward their concealment. - -Cursing, Keeven spun, flame gun ready. Allyn lunged at him, and his -lance of fire struck harmlessly into the ground ahead. The gun rolled -from his grasp. He surged up, flung the Numan away, leapt for the -weapon. - -"STAND!" The command froze Allyn. They were surrounded. - -Keeven moved. With swift animal reflexes he caught the nearest Gard in -the belly with his dagger. Another rushed in. Keeven smashed his jaw -with a mighty fist that felled the Gard instantly. By brute strength -alone he might have fought to freedom. But the numbers against him -were too great. They beat him to the ground, using guns like clubs. -Finally he lay still, blood from a dozen wounds irrigating the barren -ground. - -Marva flung herself beside him. Over the prone man her dark glance -caught Allyn's. Her eyes were wet with tears. But accusation blazed -from them. Betrayer! Betrayer! As loud as though she had shrieked it. -Yet, no sound passed her bloodless lips. - -"Marva." He took a step forward. - -A scarlet cloaked Senior Gard moved between. "Come quietly. Metas wants -you unharmed for hypno." - -Two gards moved to either side and grasped Allyn's arms. As in a -nightmare he let them take him. - -They marched down the stretch of waste land to the waiting gyro. One -of the Gard clambered into the cabin, slid into the pilot seat and -adjusted dials on the instrument panel. As Allyn and the Senior came -aboard the motor hummed, warming. - -Keeven was flung unconscious through the door. They had put irons -around his wrists and throat connected by chains that rattled as -he rolled against the wall. Marva, similarly shackled, was thrown -unceremoniously into the cabin. She rose, panther-lithe, and came -to her brother's side. With fettered hands she tried to staunch the -bleeding on his face, and softly cried his name. - -The Senior turned in annoyance. "Stop your noise!" - -Oblivious to all but her brother's need of aid she sobbed, "Keeven! -Keeven, open your eyes!" - -Grimly the Senior advanced upon her, gun-butt raised. He brought it -smashing down. - -Allyn sprang. He caught the Senior's lowering hand, and twisted it -sharply back. The gun dropped while a scream of pain filled the cabin. -Allyn stopped the cry with a chopping fist that felled the Gard. - -The pilot came out of his seat to his superior's assistance. Allyn -caught the movement through the corner of his eyes. Whirling he met the -charge, and they thrashed to the floor. - -The pilot was wiry and gripped Allyn's throat, cutting off air. He -pounded the face above him with clenched fists but, inexorably, the -fingers tightened. Allyn's sight dimmed, and sound became distorted. -The pilot felt him weaken, and shifted for a harder grip. In that -respite Allyn drew his knees up, lashed out with his feet, sending -the other floundering back. Before he could recover Allyn leaped -forward, bringing his hands down in a rabbit punch that knocked the man -unconscious. - -Groggily Allyn rose. His wavering sights caught the red flutter -of a cloak in the open door. He charged, head lowered, across the -intervening space, caught an incoming Gard flush in mid-section, -knocking him into his companions. Catching himself against the door, -Allyn pulled back, snapping it shut. - -Breathing hard he made unsteadily for the pilot seat. His long fingers -moved over the dials of the control panel, and the craft rose smoothly -into the air. He looked out the window, and saw the recovered Gard -raising weapons against them. A spurt of flame missed the motor. The -second was true to its target, but short. They were too high to be -reached now. He saw the scarlet clad figures make for their gyros and -he jabbed the dials for maximum speed and height. - -"Bring the Senior's keys from his pouch," he told Marva over his -shoulder, "and take their guns." - -He heard her chains rattle as she moved, and his lips set. - - * * * * * - -In a moment she was beside him with the keys and guns. He set the dials -to automatic, laid the guns on the co-pilot seat and turned to free her. - -The irons fell from her wrists and throat. Where they had been the -silken skin was angry red. Hard eyed he took the chains and snapped -them on the unconscious Senior. He similarly released Keeven, who was -beginning to stir, and fettered the pilot with his irons. - -Back to the controls he went. From the view-plate he saw the Forbidden -Area black and pock-marked below. Ahead, at the horizon, sky and earth -pulsed gold-orange. The Barrier! - -Nothing living had been so close before. Long it stretched, from -horizon to horizon, a thin stream of living light. - -They winged closer. Allyn felt his hands grow clammy on the controls. -Inherent terror sat leaden in his stomach. The whispered warnings of -the elders, thought lost in childhood, came to weird life in his mind, -making him want to turn, even back to the knives of the medics rather -than face the strange glow ahead. - -He half-turned the ship, and saw, like birds in the distance, the -formations of Gyro-Gard. - -"Allyn," Marva whispered, her voice a plea. - -He turned his head. Her dark eyes begged him, and he moved the -controls--straight ahead--to the light.... - -His communication board glowed. Quickly he answered to see the black -and scarlet robed Junior Gard on the visiscreen. - -"Surrender!" was the cold command, "or you die in the flame!" - -He glanced to the rear view-plate. Their pursuers hung in space, not to -follow, but to bar retreat. There was no turning.... - -He smiled grimly and snapped the switch to cut contact. - -They were close now, close enough for Allyn to see the truth. There -were no fires, as legend told. Perhaps once there had been a holocaust -that pulsed toward the sky and ate of the earth, but now, in the canal, -was only the residue, a radiation that reflected upward like heat -shimmers. - -He felt Marva's hand tremble on his, like a frightened butterfly. He -caught that hand, pressed it convulsively to his lips, and then they -were directly over the radiance. - -The gyro bucked, and plunged. As a moth it fell toward the light. The -shock flung them forward. He sensed Marva's fall, but had no time -for thought, other than an involuntary reaching for the controls. -He strained to right the possessed ship, working against the siren -radiations that pulled it down. - -Brightness was about them. Skins shown golden, eyes were dazzled. - -The gyro resisted Allyn's manual commands. Fingers numb with the -pull, he fought. Slowly the nose eased up, giving them a precious -moment's gain. The gyro shuddered--a doomed thing. He coaxed it -further, but again the nose dipped. And again he brought it up! And -then--abruptly--the pull was gone. The brilliance faded. - -They were past the Barrier! - -Astounded they looked at one another. Bereft of speech or comprehension -they could only stare. Save for the swiftly fading light they were as -before--unchanged, unscathed. And behind them the Barrier pulsed, with -no sign of transgression. - -"Am I different?" Marva whispered. - -He shook his head mutely. - -A hoarse exclamation turned them to the others in the cabin. They too -were fully conscious and aware of the unbelievable thing that had -happened. They too stared at themselves and at each other, and then -they rose, the Numen unsteady in their chains, and scrambled for a look -at what lay below. - -The land was devastated. A twin to the Forbidden Area! Allyn thought he -must be mad. Surely they had gone through! And there at the boundary -mark was a rotted fence to mark off the Area before the waste land -became mutilated forestry. - -Everything was the same! Everything--but the Gyro-Gard were not -there.... - - * * * * * - -Then they saw the forest. It was not the same, not the one they had -left. It was smaller and terminated in the muddy bank of a twisted -river. On the opposite bank were scattered signs of habitation. But -such habitation! The style was squat, the material was red oblong -blocks set in rows upon each other. - -There were grain fields. People working in the fields looked up at -their passing, and evidenced excitement. People working in the open! -Unsheltered by hills or caves! - -Habitations became more frequent, and soon they flew over the square of -a town. A town unprotected by a Nyloplast screen! - -Allyn brought the aircraft lower. People were congregating in the -square, gesticulating. - -Allyn felt a stirring in his mind and, as plain as spoken words: "Come -down. Land." - -Hesitantly his fingers touched the controls. The thoughts in his brain -were gentle, encouraging. He glanced at Marva. Her eyes were on the -scene below, dreamy, lips half parted. Behind her Keeven watched. -There was eagerness in his face. - -"It's safe," he said to Allyn's questioning glance. "I sense it. They -are friendly." - -Allyn felt it too. There was reassurance in the sight of people -gathering, without fear, in an unprotected area. He brought the gyro to -a landing in the cleared space of the square. - -Nevertheless he took gun in hand when he came to the door. Cautiously -he opened it. - -And saw a sight beyond believing. - -These people were an impossibility! Dark haired people with silver -eyes--silver eyed people with vari-colored hair! A cross-breeding of -Olmen and Numen! It was absurd! Inconceivable! - -A path opened in the throng for a man who was obviously the leader. -Like the others, he was an impossibility. He was tallest of all, with -silver eyes and his hair was long and incredibly red. There was a red -growth of hair on his chin where no Numan could grow hair. - -"Welcome, strangers from beyond the Radiation. Welcome to York. I am -Jon, Elder of York." - -A thrill pierced Allyn. He stared at the smiling man, the smiling -people behind him. No word had been spoken. Yet the words had been -clear in his brain. - -Telepaths! - -Marva gasped as she realized this too. "Why they aren't even surprised -to see us." - -Jon's answer was benign. "We know why you are here. You have not -closed your minds to us. We knew that someday the Radiation would be -conquered. It was predicted that generations would become acclimated to -radioactivity and eventually find it no different to their systems than -air or water." - -The thought was startling. But it gave the voyagers new hope. Perhaps -they would here find a weapon to shatter the dome! Perhaps find new -life for Nuwomen! Eagerly they came out of the gyro. - -That was their error. The Senior-Gard hurled to the door, catching -the handle with his chained hands. Keeven turned. Too late! The door -slammed shut. The Olman struck at the door with fists like battering -rams. To no avail. The gyro hummed, lifted straight up, and went -winging back toward the Barrier. - -"They're going for reinforcements!" Agitated Allyn turned to Jon. -"They'll return and attack your town." - -The Elder's eyes twinkled. "There is no fear in York. Come to my -dwelling. You will eat, and perhaps we can help you find what you seek." - -He led the way to one of the strange red colored houses. Inside were -fabric hangings over the windows, and fabric covering the floor and -furniture. Allyn found it colorful, but too barbaric for his own -austere taste. The Elder's mate, a silver haired woman with friendly -blue eyes came to serve them. - -Over the dishes of unfamiliar, but steamingly good food, Jon told of -the ancient records preserved in the archives. The records told of -the Originals of the Earth, a mighty but warlike race. Their terrible -weapons had laced the earth with Bands of Radiation whose rays had -changed the genes of mankind. The Numen were evolved from this. But -many Originals had gone underground, in lead-impregnated shelters, -staying there for countless generations. These were the Olmen, -untouched by the first and strongest radiations. - -In York, when the Olmen came again to the surface, they found the -Numen decreasing as their women died in childbirth. At first there -was antagonism between the groups but, on several occasions younger -and more lustful Numen seized Olwomen, and from that mating it was -discovered that only in cross-breeding was there survival. - -"Our medics," the Elder explained, "have found that pure breeding of -Numen created a negative factor in the blood of the unborn child. -These negative antibodies erupted into the positive bloodstream of -the mother, causing a jaundiced condition that affects the brain, -leading to death in labor. Yet that same X-condition goes through -transformation in the baby's system after the birth eruption so -that, by the age of one year, the child is of positive blood. The -weird X-factor holds true only in pure Numan breeding, seldom in -cross-breeding." - -But Keeven said moodily, "The Numen will not believe this. They will -come with their gyros to destroy York for heresey." He leaned across -the table. "But there are weapons," he told the Elder. "Our legends say -there are weapons to blast the Nyloplast dome. If we are the victors, -Numen will have to listen." - -Jon shook his head. "There are no weapons. They were destroyed by the -Originals when they saw how they had destroyed themselves. But there -is a way." He looked at Allyn. "It is a hard way--and dangerous, but -perhaps you can do it." - -And he told them. - - * * * * * - -Hours later the three went back alone. Back to the lip of the radiant -crater. In quietness they waited. - -Toward dawn, like dark glistening moths out of the radiance, came a -squadron of gyros. The leading craft spotted the figures below, dipped -and came down. The others hovered in space, watchful. When the lead -gyro landed, its door swung open and the red-cloaked Senior sprang out, -flame gun ready. - -The trio raised their arms in surrender. In a moment they were disarmed -and hustled into the gyro. Their craft took the lead, rising high so -the pull above the Barrier would be lessened. Even so it took master -maneuvering to keep the ship steady till they were through. - -Within the hour the Nyloplast dome came shimmering into view. At a -signal over the communication system, the top-right section leading to -the hangars slid open, and the gyros droned through. When they landed, -the captives were prodded out of the hangar into the dazzling morning -light reflected more brilliantly from the Nyloplast screen. - -The hygienic whiteness of the city struck Allyn forcefully, as though -he viewed it for the first time. They were led to a large, gleaming -white building, into a high vaulted audience room. Straight ahead was -the dais of marbleized seats where the Logicians met in Council. They -sat there now, in full knowledge that Allyn would be in judgment before -them. Metas, in skull cap and robes of judgment, sat in the center, -regarding them with cold eyes. - -Allyn lifted a hand in salute of respect. - -The Council was silent. - -Drawing a deep breath Allyn glanced once at Keeven and Marva who were -flanked by watchful Gards. "I bring hope for our people," he began and -quickly recounted his adventures past the Barrier. - -The council listened dispassionately. With sinking heart Allyn realized -his words were in vain. Numan belief in the animalism of Olman was too -deep set. Mate with the beast! He saw the distaste in their expressions. - -"You go beyond the bounds of taste," Metas warned. "There is only one -reason you are still alive, Allyn. You must consent to the mating as -decreed." - -"I cannot. It would mean Aleena's death. Besides, I love Marva of the -Olmen." - -Horror rippled through the Council. - -"Take them to the Syko Room!" Metas thundered. "I will administer Hypno -myself." - -They were dragged to a side door, down a narrow corridor, into the -thick doored syko room. Allyn knew it well--those white walls cunningly -concealing lights and mirrors to stun the mind. The padded tables with -bands of iron. He was pushed to a table, strapped down, flat on his -back. Marva started toward him, but was flung back by a Gard and forced -to stand against the wall beside her brother, while their captors stood -with flame guns ready. - -The stony faced Chief Logician adjusted switches. Lights dimmed. -Mirrors of various colors danced light spots before Allyn's eyes. He -felt his senses swimming. He clenched his fists. Sweat stood out on his -brow. - -Metas leaned over him, soft voiced, soothing. Allyn's mind strained -against the lure. There was something he had to remember--a lesson, -important as life itself. - -Oh, how the lights spun! If he could sleep! Sleep! The voice -lured--sleep! - -"Allyn! RESIST!" Marva's voice! Then a Gard's fist silenced her. - -RESIST! The key. Jon's words: "They can't hypno you unless you already -believe. Don't believe! Resist!" - -Then he fought back. Against the soothing sibilance. Against the -dancing lights. He turned his thoughts inward, to things of his -childhood, to sights he had seen; gray rats chasing a man; an empty -cradle in an empty hut; Marva sweet in his arms, perfume in her -hair.... And his teeth were clenched over his lips. The pain was cruel, -relentless. His nails in his palms. Pain and memory to fight sleep! - -And he won! - -The full white light flashed on. The siren voices died. The promising -lights were defeated. He blinked his tired, weighted eyes. And Metas -stood there. - -"You have not succumbed," the Logician whispered. His face was haggard -with strain. "No one has ever resisted hypno." - -He turned to one of the Gard: "Bring Aleena." Bitter-eyed he said to -Allyn, "Perhaps your consent will come quicker if the medics work on -your sister." - -"Metas," Allyn strained against his bonds, "if you harm her I will -bring the Dome crashing about us." - -The Logician leaned forward: "Ah, then you found the weapons of the -Originals." - -"No, only the power of the York folk...." - -"If they are so mighty, why did they not cross the Barrier?" - -"They need a vessel." Allyn tried to explain: "It is like transmitting -and receiving waves. They will transmit, and through me you will -receive super-sonics that will shatter the dome." - -Metas laughed. - - * * * * * - -It was hopeless. Talk would never convince him. The door opened. They -brought Aleena in. She started at sight of her brother, and her face -went pale. But they pushed her roughly to a table and began to strap -her down. - -Allyn shut his eyes against the room, shut his ears against sound. He -flung open his mind, cancelling all imagery, so the York folk could -come through. - -"Jon! Jon of York!" Out against the miles he hurled his voiceless plea. -Over and over he called. - -Gentle tendrils touched his brain. At first it was like a whisper. -There were no words. But the whisper grew--grew to crescendo. It pulled -at every nerve in his body, used every particle that composed him. He -shook with vibrations. His body was a stringed weapon out of which -poured wares pitched too high for hearing. He was blind and deaf and -mute--an empty vessel from which poured destruction. - -He did not know how long he was gone out of the shell of his body. -Slowly, gradually, his trembling stilled. Identity settled back inside -him. Sound came back. Over and over, the soft sobbing of his name: -"Allyn! Allyn!" - -Hazily the room came to focus. Vague outlines of a face above him. -Featureless, at first. Dark hair, all atumble, dark eyes aglisten with -tears. His cheek was wet with her tears. - -"Marva," his voice came hardly out of him. - -Behind her the Logicians were grouped, white and sick of face. - -"You cracked the dome!" Metas' words were hoarse ill past believing. - -_Cracked the dome!_ - -He could have shouted. Had he been free he might have danced. He sent a -voiceless thanks to the Redbearded Elder. "We've done it." - -His eyes shone. "Now do you believe," he cried aloud, "now will you -admit that York folk who could achieve such power could achieve -survival. Give us a year," he asked, "a year of grace--a chance to -prove they were right." - -The room was still. - -The answer he asked was past all teachings, past ingrained traditions. -Would they consent? - -The whispered amongst themselves. Allyn's eyes went to Marva, to -Keeven, and to the newly freed Aleena. Their glances on him were wide, -troubled and hopeful, anxious and eager. They barely breathed as Metas -came away from his group. - -"Allyn," he said, "you are a throwback so you would be willing to mate -with an Olman. But who amongst us would do likewise?" - -"I will!" - -The answer, proud and unhesitating, came from Aleena. And her eyes were -on Keeven. "I do not find Olmen as bestial as our tales have warned." - -Keeven's breath caught. He leaned forward drinking sight of the filmy -clad beauty as a wanderer at sight of his home. - -Metas made a sign and Allyn smiled. - -They had won. He could sleep now, and be well content. For, within the -year, a twofold experiment would come to fruition. 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Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - diff --git a/old/63713-0.zip b/old/63713-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2dc6a3a..0000000 --- a/old/63713-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63713-h.zip b/old/63713-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 80c467c..0000000 --- a/old/63713-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63713-h/63713-h.htm b/old/63713-h/63713-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 8c8c64f..0000000 --- a/old/63713-h/63713-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1381 +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 The Land Beyond the Flame, by Evelyn Goldstein. - </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;} - -/* 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; -} - - </style> - </head> -<body> -<pre style='margin-bottom:6em;'>The Project Gutenberg EBook of Land Beyond the Flame, by Evelyn Goldstein - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this ebook. - -Title: Land Beyond the Flame - -Author: Evelyn Goldstein - -Release Date: November 11, 2020 [EBook #63713] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LAND BEYOND THE FLAME *** -</pre> -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>THE LAND BEYOND THE FLAME</h1> - -<h2>By EVELYN GOLDSTEIN</h2> - -<p><i>Beyond the Flame Barrier lay knowledge of<br /> -the Originals. Long it stretched from horizon<br /> -to horizon, a thin stream of living light; a<br /> -thin path of peril for Allyn the Numan.</i></p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories May 1954.<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>At his back, the jagged rocks rose and fused into wild hills. Before -him stretched the Graysand Desert, cruel with heat and treacherous -sands. And, shrill in the fiery air, came the squeals of the rat pack.</p> - -<p>Giant carnivores, shaggy and foul-breathed, their wicked claws could -tear a man fleshless. Fetid poison lay in the bite from their sharp -yellow teeth, and those teeth were bared now in raging anticipation.</p> - -<p>They were on the kill! Hunger in their voices and lust. And their gray -bodies, a pollution on the landscape, surged after a desperate prey.</p> - -<p>What did they pursue? Allyn strained to see.</p> - -<p><i>An Olman!</i></p> - -<p>The sun blazed on the sweat of the mighty chest heaving with exertion. -Like all the males of that savage group he was naked, save for a -loincloth, and his bronzed corded arms swung in tempo with his pumping -feet. With each step, he left a bloody trail which spurred the rats to -further frenzy.</p> - -<p>The blood loss told! He fell! But, even as he went down, he spun on -his back, teeth bared, and the burning wind carried his fierce yell of -defiance.</p> - -<p>The rodents went mad with triumph. They leapt for the kill.</p> - -<p>Without thinking Allyn brought his flame gun from its holster. Lances -of bright death seared the gray ranks. Squeals died. The rats swerved -from the fallen man, scattered. Retreat was a panic stampede. And soon -their shrilling faded in the distance.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>The prone man twisted to hands and knees to face his rescuer. Hope was -bright in his eyes. But then he saw Allyn. Elation became horror.</p> - -<p>"<i>Numan!</i>" It was a despairing cry. Then he fainted.</p> - -<p>Allyn hastened across the gray sands. Hefting the unconscious man to -his shoulders he staggered toward the rocks. In a crevice, sheltered by -a natural ledge, he deposited his burden, and set about examining the -gashed thigh. The wound was more painful than serious, and he ripped a -strip from the lining of his cloak to bind it tight and stop the blood -flow. He had barely finished when the young savage stirred.</p> - -<p>Allyn tensed, watchful, flame gun ready. He saw the dark eyes open, -not sleepy, but with full awareness, as with a wild beast. The well -conditioned muscles tightened.</p> - -<p>"Don't move!" Allyn aimed the gun.</p> - -<p>The prone man froze. He well knew the power of the weapon. The taut -muscles did not relax, but remained arrested, waiting for one unguarded -instant to spring at the other's throat.</p> - -<p>"Don't be alarmed," the Numan reassured, "I won't hurt you."</p> - -<p>No sign that the other heard. But in the rigid muscles, distrust was -plain.</p> - -<p>"Try getting up—but slowly. You've lost a lot of blood."</p> - -<p>The Olman rose with easy grace. As he did he noticed the dressing on -his leg, and wild hate flamed his face.</p> - -<p>"Why didn't you let the rats finish me! It would have been cleaner than -death in your experimental camps."</p> - -<p>"I didn't save you for the camps. You're free to return to your -kinsmen."</p> - -<p>The youth stared. "I never heard of mercy from a Numan," he said -suspiciously. "A twenty-year-old like me would last a long time in the -hands of the vivisectionists of your people."</p> - -<p>Pain furrowed Allyn's lean face. "They are no longer my people," he -whispered, "I'm an outcast."</p> - -<p>His beautiful silver head drooped wearily. He had rebelled, flaunted -the law of the logicians, even done the supreme crime....</p> - -<p>"I have struck a logician," he said, filled with the horror of his own -deed. "The Gyro-Gard are hunting me." Apprehensively the two glanced -skyward. But there was no dreaded black craft to be seen.</p> - -<p>The Olman was curious. "Why did you strike your Elder?"</p> - -<p>"For my sister, Aleena."</p> - -<p>The Olman spat a furious epithet. "No Numan has a sister! Do you think -I'm a fool! It is told around our council fires that your women die -at the birth of their first child. You cannot have a sister! You are -lying!"</p> - -<p>Allyn's head lifted proudly. "A Numan does not lie! Aleena and I are -twin—a phenomenon among my people. It was decreed that we would mate -to pass multiple births on through our progeny. But, when the day of -union was set, I refused, knowing that within the year of conception -Aleena would die."</p> - -<p>His head bowed recalling his own heresy. "Metas, our Chief Logician -himself came to syko me. He told me I was a throwback, capable of -emotions like an Olman." He shuddered with distaste that brought an -angry growl from the Olman's throat. Allyn did not notice. "Metas -decreed hypno for me."</p> - -<p>"Hypno?"</p> - -<p>"Control of the mind, so I would have taken Aleena through no volition -of my own."</p> - -<p>The Olman leaned forward eagerly: "Tell us how to storm the Nyloplast -dome that surrounds your city. My kinfolk and I will crush your -Logicians and get back your Aleena."</p> - -<p>Allyn looked at him in horror: "Do you think even if I could I would -betray Numan into the hands of beasts."</p> - -<p>The young savage drew back. His face became hard in bitter lines, and -for a moment his hand flashed to his belt, but his knife was rusting in -the vitals of a rat.</p> - -<p>"Beast?" his mouth twisted in hatred. "I—Keeven—am nothing but a -beast to you."</p> - -<p>Allyn was bewildered by the other's emotion. The silver brows drew -together in perplexity. Numen were dispassionate, and the Olman's -torrent of feeling was totally new to him.</p> - -<p>Whatever he might have said was never uttered. Out of the sky came the -drone of a motor.</p> - -<p>"Gyro-gard!" Keeven exclaimed. He crouched like a cat-thing moving -fluid under the shelter of the rock ledge. Heart hammering, Allyn leapt -down beside him. Dry-throated, cramped, they heard the motor come -closer, then fade away in the distance.</p> - -<p>"That was close," Allyn said as they came out of concealment. "The -closest they've come yet. They're widening the area of search." He -turned to the other. "Leave me quickly. I can only bring you disaster."</p> - -<p>It was Keeven's turn to be perplexed. "I confess I don't understand -you. You are a Numan, but you are different. What do they call you, -Numan?"</p> - -<p>"Allyn."</p> - -<p>"Allyn, you saved my life. For your good turn my people will shelter -you now. When the chase dies down you can leave us."</p> - -<p>Live with the beast-men? Allyn started to decline but Keeven pointed -out, "If you travel without me you will be hunted both by your people -and mine."</p> - -<p>There was logic in his words. "All right," he agreed, "I will go to -your people."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Their path lay upward into the somber outjutting hills. Keeven was a -tireless traveler, but Allyn, with the endurance of the Numen, followed -easily. The day paled, and shadows lengthened on the rocks when they -came through a narrow path into the cup of hills where grass grew, and -the land was fertile for crops.</p> - -<p>Several times Keeven stopped, and stood, as though listening. Once -Allyn said impatiently: "I don't hear anything."</p> - -<p>"That's just it." Keeven's face was gray. "We don't hear anything." The -words gave voice to his fear. He began to run. And Allyn ran behind -him. Scrambling over boulders. Leaping over fallen stumps. Down they -raced to the site of the village.</p> - -<p>No sound greeted them. And there was no hint of movement.</p> - -<p>At the first house Keeven braked to a halt. Doors were torn away from -the wood shelters, as were the tanned skins over the mouths of the -caves. All about, the grass was blackened with fire, and no crops would -sprout this year in the deep burned earth.</p> - -<p>In anguish Keeven rushed from door to door, calling the names of people -who had lived there. His voice keened higher with despair at each empty -dwelling. Slowly Allyn followed. His own throat was tightening at the -other's shock and grief.</p> - -<p>There were half prepared meals. In one hut a crude cradle swayed with -the wind of their passing—empty....</p> - -<p>The breeze flapped the skins, and a rude door creaked where it hung -bound with rawhide to the lintel.</p> - -<p>Slowly the futility of calling struck Keeven. He turned. His hard face -was drawn and bloodless.</p> - -<p>"Gone," he whispered. "Nothing. No one left."</p> - -<p>As though in mockery, a call sounded from the hills. They wheeled -in shock, eyes to the rocks, straining against the dusk. A figure -scrambled toward the blackened clearing.</p> - -<p>It was a girl!</p> - -<p>She ran to Keeven. Threw herself in his arms. "Keeven! Oh, Keeven, I -thought I was the only one left!"</p> - -<p>"Marva!" Into her hair he stammered, "H—How did you escape?"</p> - -<p>"I was in the hills for water when the gyros came." Her voice was -broken with wild sobs, "I heard the commotion and saw the flames. I hid -all this time. Even when the gyros went away. I hid till—till I heard -you calling."</p> - -<p>Allyn watched how Keeven patted the soft bare shoulders, and stroked -the tumble of silken hair that was so black it seemed blue. A stirring -of strange passion went through him. His heart stumbled and raced. He -had the warped mad urge to tear the girl away from the youth, to study -her face, twine that hair round and round his lean long fingers. He -stood like a rock, holding back churning emotions.</p> - -<p>Metas was right! Over and over the bitter thought claimed him. Metas -had known! Beneath the generations of logic that had bred him, lay a -core of savagery. Years it had slumbered. Now it claimed him.</p> - -<p>He must have made a sound. The girl whirled. Her eyes were great and -dark, her skin rose over dusk. But now the rose-color fled, so that her -wide gaze seemed black with terror and loathing.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Under that gaze Allyn felt whipped. For the first time he felt -shame—shame for himself and for all Numen. Shame that they had caged -these people, torn them, bled and killed them. All in the name of -science! Experiment was survival! The Logicians had made it holy. The -mirror of the girl's eyes told him what Numen were. Monsters!</p> - -<p>She shivered. Drew back against Keeven. Her slim body, bare armed, bare -legged in the brief skin garment, trembled against the young savage.</p> - -<p>"Don't be afraid," he soothed. "This Numan is a friend." Briefly he -recounted his experiences since leaving camp, till the terror left her -face. Then he said to Allyn: "This is my sister, Marva."</p> - -<p>"Keeven," she tugged at his hand. "We must get away from here. The -Gyro-Gard have been circling all day."</p> - -<p>The Olman's laugh was mirthless: "Go? Where?"</p> - -<p>"Come with me," Allyn said impulsively. "I am going to the Forbidden -Area. I am going to cross the Flame Barrier."</p> - -<p>Even the wind stopped at the fearsome words. They shrank back from him.</p> - -<p>"No one can approach the Flame!" Keeven cried. "It is death; death more -terrible than by your vivisectionists."</p> - -<p>Marva whispered: "It is taboo. It changes you into some monstrous -thing!"</p> - -<p>Allyn's straight mouth set. "Nevertheless I must go. It is told that -beyond the Flame lies the knowledge of the Originals. Perhaps it will -teach how to save our women from death in childbirth. It's my only hope -of saving Aleena."</p> - -<p>Thoughtfully Keeven regarded him. "It has been said around our council -fires that there will be found a weapon to shatter the Nyloplast dome. -Perhaps," he mused, "I will find it in time to save my kinsmen from the -knives."</p> - -<p>He smote a mighty fist into his palm: "We will go with you, Numan. For -hope may lie ahead but—" his glance swept around, "only death lies -here."</p> - -<p>With a keen bladed knife he secured from one of the caves Keeven mapped -in the mud the trail they must take. At night Allyn would lead, for -night and day were one to Numen eyes.</p> - -<p>They traveled close upon each other's heels, holding their leader's -cloak for guidance in the darkness. By dawn they reached a small cave. -There they rested, well hidden from patrolling gyros. When they woke at -noon they were fresh for the next step of their journey.</p> - -<p>Descending the rocky slope they came to the thin line of trees that -marked the beginning of the forest. This time Keeven took the lead with -Marva close beside. Allyn, at the rear, watched the easy grace with -which the girl moved. Her slender brown feet in hide moccasins touched -lightly on the path, and her body was erect and lithe.</p> - -<p>How different she was from the unobtrusive women he knew. Raised in -humility to men, kept in secluded quarters, they were trained only for -the breeding day that would be the culmination of their lives. Aleena -alone stood apart from other Nuwomen. Because theirs had been a sacred -charge from birth they had been permitted to work together in the -hydroponics labs.</p> - -<p>"Aleena." He thought of her now, gentle, with luminous eyes fringed in -long silver lashes. The sheen of her silver hair that hung waist length -was dancing moonlight. Loneliness lay like hunger in him. Withdrawn -from Aleena, hunted by his people, what madness lay in his desire -to feed himself to a flaming radiance forbidden by all. Surely he -should go back, return to his rightful destiny. Leave these unheard of -companions—turn back on emotion that was bitter, hurting....</p> - -<p>Marva glanced over her shoulder at him. Her smile was sweet -encouragement. Her lips were red and full. Desire was as red as that -mouth! And Allyn knew he would never turn back!</p> - -<p>They moved into the deeper woods, where the heavy lacing trees made a -green roofing to shelter them from seekers of the sky. Keeven caught an -animal emerging from its burrow. The brother and sister worked in quiet -union skinning and cooking dinner. They were skilled in making fires -without smoke.</p> - -<p>Used to dehydrated foods, Allyn was amazed at the savoriness of this -meat. He watched his companions lick the juices from their fingers, and -did likewise. Then wiping his hands on leaves, he sank back with a sigh -on the fragrant pine nettled ground, while they destroyed all evidence -of their repast.</p> - -<p>Nothing untoward happened that first day of their journey. At dusk of -the second they camped at the bank of a rushing brook. Keeven waded -downstream to spear fish. Marva sat on the bank bathing her feet in -the fresh water while Allyn stood close by. She rose, and stepped on -a sharp rock. With a small cry her hands flailed. She almost fell -backwards into the stream. Allyn's arms shot out. He pulled her so that -she fell against him.</p> - -<p>He did not move. Nor she. She was warm, her body like sunheat. There -was a fresh pine fragrance from her hair. She came not as high as his -shoulder. They were short, these Olmen, and she was not quite six foot. -Her mouth was beneath his, full and red and hot as blood.</p> - -<p>He kissed that mouth, tart, delicious as wild strawberries. And her -arms went around him in savage response.</p> - -<p>This was mad! Mad beyond any madness! This was passion beyond legends, -forgotten by Numan, tabooed by Olman.</p> - -<p>Close to his face, hers yearned. Still she drew away slowly, out of the -circle of his arms. "This is forbidden!" she whispered. She touched -her sweet curved breast, "It hammers like the warning drum of the -village: 'Numan and Olman cannot mate. Numen are inhuman. Mating is -impossible.'" Her voice broke.</p> - -<p>Under the agony in her eyes his hands fell to his sides like stones. -He did not stop her when she ran from him into the grove of trees. -He stood there, shaken by desire and by the ingrained lesson of -years—Olmen are beasts. A man does not mate with the beast!</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They were a quiet trio that took up the journey later. If Keeven -noticed he was always center man, he made no sign.</p> - -<p>The woods were dense and Keeven's mighty arm hacked often with the -sharp blade to clear their path. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the -woods began to change.</p> - -<p>"We approach the Forbidden Area," Keeven's words were tense.</p> - -<p>It was very silent. Insect and bird life seemed to have tabooed these -habits. The landscape became twisted and strange. Seemingly normal -trees sprouted bizarre growths. Giant bushes of a red mold color grew -side by side with stunted trees that barely reached their knees, yet -seemed fantastically aged.</p> - -<p>The trio moved closer together, ears strained for normal sounds that -did not exist there. The suffering ground was bitter, and erupted into -convulsions, as though ejecting the monstrosities it had nurtured. -Their feet ached from the humped and hollowed path. There was no -whisper of wind. Yet Allyn shivered. A cold, ancestral fear laid lean -fingers on his dry throat.</p> - -<p>Light made their faces wan when they came to the edge of the deformed -woods. Ahead was the narrow stretch of barren waste that led to the -rotted wood paling. The paling was only token warning now, encircling -the shunned and dreaded Forbidden Area.</p> - -<p>Movement caught their eyes. Instinctively, they fell to earth, hardly -breathing, watching.</p> - -<p>Into their line of vision paced a Gard, flame gun in hand. Even as they -watched another Gard paced in from the opposite direction.</p> - -<p>Allyn's whisper was sick: "They've thrown a cordon around the Forbidden -Area!"</p> - -<p>Keeven caught a gleam on dark metal. "There's a gyro—to the left. Can -you fly one?"</p> - -<p>Allyn nodded. "It's basic training for all Numen. But what good does it -do us? There are the Gards."</p> - -<p>The Olman's smile was grim. "You have a gun," he reminded.</p> - -<p>Allyn stared. Use his gun? On Numen? Flame his own people!</p> - -<p>The other sensed his thoughts. "Give it to me then. I'll make good use -of it."</p> - -<p>There <i>had</i> to be another way. His restless eyes sought the clearing.</p> - -<p>In that instant Keeven sprang. Muscular arms caught the surprised -Numan, crushing him to the ground. Swift fingers plucked the gun from -his side. Then Keeven was off, crouching, weapon leveled straight for -Allyn's breast.</p> - -<p>There was a shout from the Gard. The three had been discovered. Flames -of warning seared the shrubbery about them and the Gard made a rush -toward their concealment.</p> - -<p>Cursing, Keeven spun, flame gun ready. Allyn lunged at him, and his -lance of fire struck harmlessly into the ground ahead. The gun rolled -from his grasp. He surged up, flung the Numan away, leapt for the -weapon.</p> - -<p>"STAND!" The command froze Allyn. They were surrounded.</p> - -<p>Keeven moved. With swift animal reflexes he caught the nearest Gard in -the belly with his dagger. Another rushed in. Keeven smashed his jaw -with a mighty fist that felled the Gard instantly. By brute strength -alone he might have fought to freedom. But the numbers against him -were too great. They beat him to the ground, using guns like clubs. -Finally he lay still, blood from a dozen wounds irrigating the barren -ground.</p> - -<p>Marva flung herself beside him. Over the prone man her dark glance -caught Allyn's. Her eyes were wet with tears. But accusation blazed -from them. Betrayer! Betrayer! As loud as though she had shrieked it. -Yet, no sound passed her bloodless lips.</p> - -<p>"Marva." He took a step forward.</p> - -<p>A scarlet cloaked Senior Gard moved between. "Come quietly. Metas wants -you unharmed for hypno."</p> - -<p>Two gards moved to either side and grasped Allyn's arms. As in a -nightmare he let them take him.</p> - -<p>They marched down the stretch of waste land to the waiting gyro. One -of the Gard clambered into the cabin, slid into the pilot seat and -adjusted dials on the instrument panel. As Allyn and the Senior came -aboard the motor hummed, warming.</p> - -<p>Keeven was flung unconscious through the door. They had put irons -around his wrists and throat connected by chains that rattled as -he rolled against the wall. Marva, similarly shackled, was thrown -unceremoniously into the cabin. She rose, panther-lithe, and came -to her brother's side. With fettered hands she tried to staunch the -bleeding on his face, and softly cried his name.</p> - -<p>The Senior turned in annoyance. "Stop your noise!"</p> - -<p>Oblivious to all but her brother's need of aid she sobbed, "Keeven! -Keeven, open your eyes!"</p> - -<p>Grimly the Senior advanced upon her, gun-butt raised. He brought it -smashing down.</p> - -<p>Allyn sprang. He caught the Senior's lowering hand, and twisted it -sharply back. The gun dropped while a scream of pain filled the cabin. -Allyn stopped the cry with a chopping fist that felled the Gard.</p> - -<p>The pilot came out of his seat to his superior's assistance. Allyn -caught the movement through the corner of his eyes. Whirling he met the -charge, and they thrashed to the floor.</p> - -<p>The pilot was wiry and gripped Allyn's throat, cutting off air. He -pounded the face above him with clenched fists but, inexorably, the -fingers tightened. Allyn's sight dimmed, and sound became distorted. -The pilot felt him weaken, and shifted for a harder grip. In that -respite Allyn drew his knees up, lashed out with his feet, sending -the other floundering back. Before he could recover Allyn leaped -forward, bringing his hands down in a rabbit punch that knocked the man -unconscious.</p> - -<p>Groggily Allyn rose. His wavering sights caught the red flutter -of a cloak in the open door. He charged, head lowered, across the -intervening space, caught an incoming Gard flush in mid-section, -knocking him into his companions. Catching himself against the door, -Allyn pulled back, snapping it shut.</p> - -<p>Breathing hard he made unsteadily for the pilot seat. His long fingers -moved over the dials of the control panel, and the craft rose smoothly -into the air. He looked out the window, and saw the recovered Gard -raising weapons against them. A spurt of flame missed the motor. The -second was true to its target, but short. They were too high to be -reached now. He saw the scarlet clad figures make for their gyros and -he jabbed the dials for maximum speed and height.</p> - -<p>"Bring the Senior's keys from his pouch," he told Marva over his -shoulder, "and take their guns."</p> - -<p>He heard her chains rattle as she moved, and his lips set.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In a moment she was beside him with the keys and guns. He set the dials -to automatic, laid the guns on the co-pilot seat and turned to free her.</p> - -<p>The irons fell from her wrists and throat. Where they had been the -silken skin was angry red. Hard eyed he took the chains and snapped -them on the unconscious Senior. He similarly released Keeven, who was -beginning to stir, and fettered the pilot with his irons.</p> - -<p>Back to the controls he went. From the view-plate he saw the Forbidden -Area black and pock-marked below. Ahead, at the horizon, sky and earth -pulsed gold-orange. The Barrier!</p> - -<p>Nothing living had been so close before. Long it stretched, from -horizon to horizon, a thin stream of living light.</p> - -<p>They winged closer. Allyn felt his hands grow clammy on the controls. -Inherent terror sat leaden in his stomach. The whispered warnings of -the elders, thought lost in childhood, came to weird life in his mind, -making him want to turn, even back to the knives of the medics rather -than face the strange glow ahead.</p> - -<p>He half-turned the ship, and saw, like birds in the distance, the -formations of Gyro-Gard.</p> - -<p>"Allyn," Marva whispered, her voice a plea.</p> - -<p>He turned his head. Her dark eyes begged him, and he moved the -controls—straight ahead—to the light....</p> - -<p>His communication board glowed. Quickly he answered to see the black -and scarlet robed Junior Gard on the visiscreen.</p> - -<p>"Surrender!" was the cold command, "or you die in the flame!"</p> - -<p>He glanced to the rear view-plate. Their pursuers hung in space, not to -follow, but to bar retreat. There was no turning....</p> - -<p>He smiled grimly and snapped the switch to cut contact.</p> - -<p>They were close now, close enough for Allyn to see the truth. There -were no fires, as legend told. Perhaps once there had been a holocaust -that pulsed toward the sky and ate of the earth, but now, in the canal, -was only the residue, a radiation that reflected upward like heat -shimmers.</p> - -<p>He felt Marva's hand tremble on his, like a frightened butterfly. He -caught that hand, pressed it convulsively to his lips, and then they -were directly over the radiance.</p> - -<p>The gyro bucked, and plunged. As a moth it fell toward the light. The -shock flung them forward. He sensed Marva's fall, but had no time -for thought, other than an involuntary reaching for the controls. -He strained to right the possessed ship, working against the siren -radiations that pulled it down.</p> - -<p>Brightness was about them. Skins shown golden, eyes were dazzled.</p> - -<p>The gyro resisted Allyn's manual commands. Fingers numb with the -pull, he fought. Slowly the nose eased up, giving them a precious -moment's gain. The gyro shuddered—a doomed thing. He coaxed it -further, but again the nose dipped. And again he brought it up! And -then—abruptly—the pull was gone. The brilliance faded.</p> - -<p>They were past the Barrier!</p> - -<p>Astounded they looked at one another. Bereft of speech or comprehension -they could only stare. Save for the swiftly fading light they were as -before—unchanged, unscathed. And behind them the Barrier pulsed, with -no sign of transgression.</p> - -<p>"Am I different?" Marva whispered.</p> - -<p>He shook his head mutely.</p> - -<p>A hoarse exclamation turned them to the others in the cabin. They too -were fully conscious and aware of the unbelievable thing that had -happened. They too stared at themselves and at each other, and then -they rose, the Numen unsteady in their chains, and scrambled for a look -at what lay below.</p> - -<p>The land was devastated. A twin to the Forbidden Area! Allyn thought he -must be mad. Surely they had gone through! And there at the boundary -mark was a rotted fence to mark off the Area before the waste land -became mutilated forestry.</p> - -<p>Everything was the same! Everything—but the Gyro-Gard were not -there....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Then they saw the forest. It was not the same, not the one they had -left. It was smaller and terminated in the muddy bank of a twisted -river. On the opposite bank were scattered signs of habitation. But -such habitation! The style was squat, the material was red oblong -blocks set in rows upon each other.</p> - -<p>There were grain fields. People working in the fields looked up at -their passing, and evidenced excitement. People working in the open! -Unsheltered by hills or caves!</p> - -<p>Habitations became more frequent, and soon they flew over the square of -a town. A town unprotected by a Nyloplast screen!</p> - -<p>Allyn brought the aircraft lower. People were congregating in the -square, gesticulating.</p> - -<p>Allyn felt a stirring in his mind and, as plain as spoken words: "Come -down. Land."</p> - -<p>Hesitantly his fingers touched the controls. The thoughts in his brain -were gentle, encouraging. He glanced at Marva. Her eyes were on the -scene below, dreamy, lips half parted. Behind her Keeven watched. -There was eagerness in his face.</p> - -<p>"It's safe," he said to Allyn's questioning glance. "I sense it. They -are friendly."</p> - -<p>Allyn felt it too. There was reassurance in the sight of people -gathering, without fear, in an unprotected area. He brought the gyro to -a landing in the cleared space of the square.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless he took gun in hand when he came to the door. Cautiously -he opened it.</p> - -<p>And saw a sight beyond believing.</p> - -<p>These people were an impossibility! Dark haired people with silver -eyes—silver eyed people with vari-colored hair! A cross-breeding of -Olmen and Numen! It was absurd! Inconceivable!</p> - -<p>A path opened in the throng for a man who was obviously the leader. -Like the others, he was an impossibility. He was tallest of all, with -silver eyes and his hair was long and incredibly red. There was a red -growth of hair on his chin where no Numan could grow hair.</p> - -<p>"Welcome, strangers from beyond the Radiation. Welcome to York. I am -Jon, Elder of York."</p> - -<p>A thrill pierced Allyn. He stared at the smiling man, the smiling -people behind him. No word had been spoken. Yet the words had been -clear in his brain.</p> - -<p>Telepaths!</p> - -<p>Marva gasped as she realized this too. "Why they aren't even surprised -to see us."</p> - -<p>Jon's answer was benign. "We know why you are here. You have not -closed your minds to us. We knew that someday the Radiation would be -conquered. It was predicted that generations would become acclimated to -radioactivity and eventually find it no different to their systems than -air or water."</p> - -<p>The thought was startling. But it gave the voyagers new hope. Perhaps -they would here find a weapon to shatter the dome! Perhaps find new -life for Nuwomen! Eagerly they came out of the gyro.</p> - -<p>That was their error. The Senior-Gard hurled to the door, catching -the handle with his chained hands. Keeven turned. Too late! The door -slammed shut. The Olman struck at the door with fists like battering -rams. To no avail. The gyro hummed, lifted straight up, and went -winging back toward the Barrier.</p> - -<p>"They're going for reinforcements!" Agitated Allyn turned to Jon. -"They'll return and attack your town."</p> - -<p>The Elder's eyes twinkled. "There is no fear in York. Come to my -dwelling. You will eat, and perhaps we can help you find what you seek."</p> - -<p>He led the way to one of the strange red colored houses. Inside were -fabric hangings over the windows, and fabric covering the floor and -furniture. Allyn found it colorful, but too barbaric for his own -austere taste. The Elder's mate, a silver haired woman with friendly -blue eyes came to serve them.</p> - -<p>Over the dishes of unfamiliar, but steamingly good food, Jon told of -the ancient records preserved in the archives. The records told of -the Originals of the Earth, a mighty but warlike race. Their terrible -weapons had laced the earth with Bands of Radiation whose rays had -changed the genes of mankind. The Numen were evolved from this. But -many Originals had gone underground, in lead-impregnated shelters, -staying there for countless generations. These were the Olmen, -untouched by the first and strongest radiations.</p> - -<p>In York, when the Olmen came again to the surface, they found the -Numen decreasing as their women died in childbirth. At first there -was antagonism between the groups but, on several occasions younger -and more lustful Numen seized Olwomen, and from that mating it was -discovered that only in cross-breeding was there survival.</p> - -<p>"Our medics," the Elder explained, "have found that pure breeding of -Numen created a negative factor in the blood of the unborn child. -These negative antibodies erupted into the positive bloodstream of -the mother, causing a jaundiced condition that affects the brain, -leading to death in labor. Yet that same X-condition goes through -transformation in the baby's system after the birth eruption so -that, by the age of one year, the child is of positive blood. The -weird X-factor holds true only in pure Numan breeding, seldom in -cross-breeding."</p> - -<p>But Keeven said moodily, "The Numen will not believe this. They will -come with their gyros to destroy York for heresey." He leaned across -the table. "But there are weapons," he told the Elder. "Our legends say -there are weapons to blast the Nyloplast dome. If we are the victors, -Numen will have to listen."</p> - -<p>Jon shook his head. "There are no weapons. They were destroyed by the -Originals when they saw how they had destroyed themselves. But there -is a way." He looked at Allyn. "It is a hard way—and dangerous, but -perhaps you can do it."</p> - -<p>And he told them.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Hours later the three went back alone. Back to the lip of the radiant -crater. In quietness they waited.</p> - -<p>Toward dawn, like dark glistening moths out of the radiance, came a -squadron of gyros. The leading craft spotted the figures below, dipped -and came down. The others hovered in space, watchful. When the lead -gyro landed, its door swung open and the red-cloaked Senior sprang out, -flame gun ready.</p> - -<p>The trio raised their arms in surrender. In a moment they were disarmed -and hustled into the gyro. Their craft took the lead, rising high so -the pull above the Barrier would be lessened. Even so it took master -maneuvering to keep the ship steady till they were through.</p> - -<p>Within the hour the Nyloplast dome came shimmering into view. At a -signal over the communication system, the top-right section leading to -the hangars slid open, and the gyros droned through. When they landed, -the captives were prodded out of the hangar into the dazzling morning -light reflected more brilliantly from the Nyloplast screen.</p> - -<p>The hygienic whiteness of the city struck Allyn forcefully, as though -he viewed it for the first time. They were led to a large, gleaming -white building, into a high vaulted audience room. Straight ahead was -the dais of marbleized seats where the Logicians met in Council. They -sat there now, in full knowledge that Allyn would be in judgment before -them. Metas, in skull cap and robes of judgment, sat in the center, -regarding them with cold eyes.</p> - -<p>Allyn lifted a hand in salute of respect.</p> - -<p>The Council was silent.</p> - -<p>Drawing a deep breath Allyn glanced once at Keeven and Marva who were -flanked by watchful Gards. "I bring hope for our people," he began and -quickly recounted his adventures past the Barrier.</p> - -<p>The council listened dispassionately. With sinking heart Allyn realized -his words were in vain. Numan belief in the animalism of Olman was too -deep set. Mate with the beast! He saw the distaste in their expressions.</p> - -<p>"You go beyond the bounds of taste," Metas warned. "There is only one -reason you are still alive, Allyn. You must consent to the mating as -decreed."</p> - -<p>"I cannot. It would mean Aleena's death. Besides, I love Marva of the -Olmen."</p> - -<p>Horror rippled through the Council.</p> - -<p>"Take them to the Syko Room!" Metas thundered. "I will administer Hypno -myself."</p> - -<p>They were dragged to a side door, down a narrow corridor, into the -thick doored syko room. Allyn knew it well—those white walls cunningly -concealing lights and mirrors to stun the mind. The padded tables with -bands of iron. He was pushed to a table, strapped down, flat on his -back. Marva started toward him, but was flung back by a Gard and forced -to stand against the wall beside her brother, while their captors stood -with flame guns ready.</p> - -<p>The stony faced Chief Logician adjusted switches. Lights dimmed. -Mirrors of various colors danced light spots before Allyn's eyes. He -felt his senses swimming. He clenched his fists. Sweat stood out on his -brow.</p> - -<p>Metas leaned over him, soft voiced, soothing. Allyn's mind strained -against the lure. There was something he had to remember—a lesson, -important as life itself.</p> - -<p>Oh, how the lights spun! If he could sleep! Sleep! The voice -lured—sleep!</p> - -<p>"Allyn! RESIST!" Marva's voice! Then a Gard's fist silenced her.</p> - -<p>RESIST! The key. Jon's words: "They can't hypno you unless you already -believe. Don't believe! Resist!"</p> - -<p>Then he fought back. Against the soothing sibilance. Against the -dancing lights. He turned his thoughts inward, to things of his -childhood, to sights he had seen; gray rats chasing a man; an empty -cradle in an empty hut; Marva sweet in his arms, perfume in her -hair.... And his teeth were clenched over his lips. The pain was cruel, -relentless. His nails in his palms. Pain and memory to fight sleep!</p> - -<p>And he won!</p> - -<p>The full white light flashed on. The siren voices died. The promising -lights were defeated. He blinked his tired, weighted eyes. And Metas -stood there.</p> - -<p>"You have not succumbed," the Logician whispered. His face was haggard -with strain. "No one has ever resisted hypno."</p> - -<p>He turned to one of the Gard: "Bring Aleena." Bitter-eyed he said to -Allyn, "Perhaps your consent will come quicker if the medics work on -your sister."</p> - -<p>"Metas," Allyn strained against his bonds, "if you harm her I will -bring the Dome crashing about us."</p> - -<p>The Logician leaned forward: "Ah, then you found the weapons of the -Originals."</p> - -<p>"No, only the power of the York folk...."</p> - -<p>"If they are so mighty, why did they not cross the Barrier?"</p> - -<p>"They need a vessel." Allyn tried to explain: "It is like transmitting -and receiving waves. They will transmit, and through me you will -receive super-sonics that will shatter the dome."</p> - -<p>Metas laughed.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It was hopeless. Talk would never convince him. The door opened. They -brought Aleena in. She started at sight of her brother, and her face -went pale. But they pushed her roughly to a table and began to strap -her down.</p> - -<p>Allyn shut his eyes against the room, shut his ears against sound. He -flung open his mind, cancelling all imagery, so the York folk could -come through.</p> - -<p>"Jon! Jon of York!" Out against the miles he hurled his voiceless plea. -Over and over he called.</p> - -<p>Gentle tendrils touched his brain. At first it was like a whisper. -There were no words. But the whisper grew—grew to crescendo. It pulled -at every nerve in his body, used every particle that composed him. He -shook with vibrations. His body was a stringed weapon out of which -poured wares pitched too high for hearing. He was blind and deaf and -mute—an empty vessel from which poured destruction.</p> - -<p>He did not know how long he was gone out of the shell of his body. -Slowly, gradually, his trembling stilled. Identity settled back inside -him. Sound came back. Over and over, the soft sobbing of his name: -"Allyn! Allyn!"</p> - -<p>Hazily the room came to focus. Vague outlines of a face above him. -Featureless, at first. Dark hair, all atumble, dark eyes aglisten with -tears. His cheek was wet with her tears.</p> - -<p>"Marva," his voice came hardly out of him.</p> - -<p>Behind her the Logicians were grouped, white and sick of face.</p> - -<p>"You cracked the dome!" Metas' words were hoarse ill past believing.</p> - -<p><i>Cracked the dome!</i></p> - -<p>He could have shouted. Had he been free he might have danced. He sent a -voiceless thanks to the Redbearded Elder. "We've done it."</p> - -<p>His eyes shone. "Now do you believe," he cried aloud, "now will you -admit that York folk who could achieve such power could achieve -survival. Give us a year," he asked, "a year of grace—a chance to -prove they were right."</p> - -<p>The room was still.</p> - -<p>The answer he asked was past all teachings, past ingrained traditions. -Would they consent?</p> - -<p>The whispered amongst themselves. Allyn's eyes went to Marva, to -Keeven, and to the newly freed Aleena. Their glances on him were wide, -troubled and hopeful, anxious and eager. They barely breathed as Metas -came away from his group.</p> - -<p>"Allyn," he said, "you are a throwback so you would be willing to mate -with an Olman. But who amongst us would do likewise?"</p> - -<p>"I will!"</p> - -<p>The answer, proud and unhesitating, came from Aleena. And her eyes were -on Keeven. "I do not find Olmen as bestial as our tales have warned."</p> - -<p>Keeven's breath caught. He leaned forward drinking sight of the filmy -clad beauty as a wanderer at sight of his home.</p> - -<p>Metas made a sign and Allyn smiled.</p> - -<p>They had won. He could sleep now, and be well content. For, within the -year, a twofold experiment would come to fruition. 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