Farmer, Philip Jose - Inside Outside

7/30/2019 Farmer, Philip Jose - Inside Outside

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Inside-Outside

b y P hi li p J os F ar mer

a .b .e -b oo k v 3. 0 / N ot es a t E OF

B ack C ov er:

Doyou know that there is a tunnel under Hell? That this Universe is a toy? That the hideous

S av io rs r ul e, and h av e r ul ed , s in ce T im e b eg an t hr ee T im e- begi nn in gs b ack? T hat t hey f or med M an andE ar th , b od y d is c a nd s ou l p ri nt , a nd a li en t oo ? A nd t ha t t he y m ad e m is ta ke s?

Oh, they made terrible mistakes! With such teeth. . .

F or G eor ge S cheetz

C op yr ig ht 1 96 4, b y P hi li p J os F ar me r

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Berkley Publishing Corporation

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N ew Y or k, N ew Y or k 1 00 16

SBN 425-04041-0

B ER KL EY M ED AL LI ON B OO KS ar e p ub li s hed b y

Berkley Publishing Corporation

200 Madison Avenue

Ne w Yor k, N . Y. 1001 6

B E RK L EY M E DA L LI O N B O OK T M 7 57 , 37 5

P ri nt ed i n t he U ni ted S tates o f A meri ca

Berkley Edition, MARCH, 1979

Two floated in the twilight void.

Arms around each other, the chin of each resting on the shoulder of the other, they spun around a

c om mo n a xi s a nd t ur ne d o ve r a nd o ve r, h ea ds o ve r h ee ls .

Around them (there was no above or below) was nothing. Only the invisible air pushing them

t owa rd s t he s un i n t he c en te r of t he s ph er e. T he s un w as o bs cu re d by a c lo ud of d us t.



3/85

Jack Cull held Phyllis Nilstrom tightly while he stared past her. Presently, for he had no means of

t el li ng t im e i n a wor ld whe re th e s un ne ve r m ove d, he s aw a s pe ck a pp ea r. H is he ar t b ea t ma ny t ime s.

T he n, t he s pe ck w as m uc h l ar ge r. B ef or e l on g, h e k ne w t ha t t he o bj ec t w as n ot h ea di ng s tr ai gh t f or t he m.

Nor was it, as he had first thought, part of the debris left after the cataclysm; a building or a tree or a

chu nk o f r ip ped- ap ar t m ou nt ai n. I ts s hape w as t hat o f a l iv in g t hi ng , alt ho ug h n ot l ik e any creat ur e h e h ad

e ve r s ee n i n t hi s w or ld .

The thing changed course and swept around in an arc, obviously after having sighted the two

h um an b ei ng s. I t c am e c lo se r, a nd t he n C ul l k ne w t ha t i t m us t b e a m em be r o f t he n ew co me r s pe ci es , t he

t hi rd g ro up t o b ec om e t en an ts o f t hi s w or ld .

He was not unnerved at seeing the monstrous shape. He had gone through too much too

r e ce nt ly t o b e s ha ke n. H e w as no t e ve n g iv ing t he c re at ur e h is f ul l a tt en ti on bu t w as t hi nk in g o f a n E ar th

t ha t he r eme mbe re d bu t ha d n ev er s ee n, ha d h op ed br ie fl y t o s ee , a nd n ow k ne w t ha t he w oul d ne ve r

see.

And he thought of that time, not so long ago as men counted time by sleeps and awakenings,

w he n e ve nt s h ad b ee n d if fe re nt . T he n, n ot k no wi ng t he t ru th , w an ti ng t o k no w t he t ru th , h e h ad h op ed .

D es pi te a ll t he e vi de nc e t o t he c on tr ar y, h e ha d f ou nd i t d if fi cu lt t o b el ie ve t ha t h e c ou ld b e i n He ll . T hi s

w as n o s up er na tu ra l w or ld . I t w as h ar d a s r oc k, d ir ty a s e ar th , s ti nk in g a s g ar ba ge a nd u n wa sh ed

bodies, a physical world obeying physical laws. . . though some things were not easily explainable.

Now, he knew tha t it was not metaphysical, that e verything had an explanation a nd operated by

v al id p ri ncip les. T he s am e cau se and eff ect t hat r ul ed o n E ar th r ul ed h er e.

But, on that day of which he was thinking, he had not been so sure.

* * *

The Deadly Desert was the old Hell with its fires burned out. So said the old-timers. Jack Cull

h ad s tu di ed t he D ea dl y D es er t s o o ft en f ro m h is a pa rt m en t w in do w h ig h u p i n t he t ow er t ha t h e c ou ld

u nd er st an d w hat t hey m eant . W hi le h av in g cof fee ( in st an t ers at z m ad e f ro m cru mb led r ockt ree l eaves) i n

t he mo rni ng ( ?) , he s ta re d ove r t he c it y r oo fs , ov er t he c it y w al ls , a nd out a cr os s t he d es er t.

For as far as he could see (there was no horizon), the sands stretched. Here and there, mountains

abr up tl y r os e f ro m t he f latn es s. T he m ou nt ai ns , l ik e t he d es er t, w er e t reel es s, s hr ub less , g rass les s.

A ro un d t hem w as n ot hi ng b ut s an d and s un sh in e and v ap or s o f p oi so no us g as es f ro m p ot ho les.

Infrequently, a "dragon" or a "cerebus" cranked along like an old bus on its way to the junkheap.

O nce, C ul l s aw a s w ay -b ack ed " cen t aur ."

Even at that distance, it looked hopelessly down at the hooves; grimy and gray and

broken-spirited, as only the long unemployed could be. Every now and then, he had heard, one came

i nt o t he c it y. He c ar ri ed , no t a bo w a nd a rr ow w it h w hi ch t o t or me nt t he da mn ed, b ut a s ton e a lm s- bo wl .

Mixed-up proverb. If horses were beggars. . .



4/85

This morning(?) he was, as usual, lookingup p as t t he d es er t a t t he m ou nt ai ns a nd w on de ri ng i f

w ha t t he y s ai d a bo ut t he m ou nt ai ns c ou ld b e t ru e. T hi s c it y w as a b loo dy f lu x o f r um or s; n ot hi ng , o r ve ry

l it tl e, c ou ld b e b el ie ve d. B ut y ou l ik ed t o h ol d a r um or t o y ou r c he st , c he ri sh i t, w ar m i t, b re at he l if e i nt o i t

w it h y ou r l it tl e h op e. A nd t hi s r um or s ai d t ha t i f a m an c ou ld g et a cr os s t he d es er t t o t he m ou nt ai ns , h e

c ou ld g et a wa y f ro m H el l i ts el f. O th er wi se , i f h e c ou ld n' t, w hy h ad a b ar ri er b ee n p ut b et we en t he c it y

and the mountains?

The main trouble about that rumor, for which he had paid much, was that he could see for himself

t hat t here w as n ot hi ng b ey on d t he d es er t .

No, he'd correct that. He could not see beyond the sands. The sands curved upward and

u pw ar d u nt il t he d es er t b ec am e a b lu r.

No sky. Rather, there was a sky, but it was a continuation of the earth.

This was a world where the sky wasnot b lue , w he re t he re wa s n o s ky, w he re t he s un wa sa lw ay s e xa ct ly o ve rh ea d, w he re t he o nl y s ha do w w as b en ea th a r oo f o r b es id e a l ea ni ng w al l.

Once, a man could fall off the edge of the world. So an old-timer had told him. But, he said,

t hi ng s h av e chang ed . N ot f or t he b et ter. H el l i s a com pr om is e o f t er rest ri al i deas and i nf er nal f acts . A nd ,

h er e, c om pr om is es a lw ay s s ee me d t o w or k o ut f or t he w or st .

Cull muttered, "Take your compromise and stick it!"

No use. He was stuck with it. He returned to his breakfast. And he gazed with revulsion at his

a pa rt me nt : F ou r s ton e w al ls ( wh ic h di d no t a p ri son ma ke ), a s ton e b ed, a s to ne b en ch , a s to ne t ab le ,

m ad e o f g rani te, d io ri te, v ol cani c t uf f, l im es to ne, r es pect iv el y. T he s to ne t ab le w it h g ro ov es i n i t w here" fi en ds " h ad p lant ed chi ti no us elb ow s f or eon s( ?) . T he s to ne b en ch w it h a d ep ress io n i n i ts m id dl e w here

s caly o r h or ny b ut to ck s h ad r ub bed b ack and f or th f or m an y a m il li mi ll en ni a.

His breakfast. A quartz bowl filled with manna soup and with coarse brown fibers, like hairy

n oo dl es , o f r ockt ree l eaves. T hes e con st it ut ed t he o nl y v eg et at io n, and t hat w as o nl y p er mi tt ed , h e

s up po sed, b ecaus e h um an b ei ng s n eeded r ou gh ag e. T hey w er e n ot ect op lasm b ut f les h and b lo od . T hey

breathed and bled, had mouths, teeth, and bowels, and so needed food with bulk. The rocktrees also

e xi st ed b ec au se a g en er at or o f o xy ge n a nd c on su me r o f c ar bo n d io xi de w as n ee de d. T hi s w as a p hy si ca l

u ni vers e, even i f en cl os ed , j us t as p hy si cal as t he E ar th f ro m w hi ch t hey cam e.

After eating the soup and drinking another cup of coffee, he started to shave with a flint razor.

O ne h ad t o k ee p u p a pp ea ra nc es ; p ri de w as n ot d en ie d, e sp ec ia ll y h er e. A nd m ou st ac he s w er e I n.

But, during the second scra pe of his flint razor, another ea rthquake struck. The floor heave d. The

blocks composing the walls parted slightly. He steadied himself against the table and continued scraping

o ff t he w hi sk er s. T he b as ta rd s w er e n ot g oi ng t o u nn er ve h im . L et t he u ni ve rs e e xp an d. H e w as n ot g oi ng

t o a ll ow t he m t o kn ow he wa s b re aki ng. As i f t he y c ar ed.

Result: he gashed his throat. But he was unlucky (was he?) and missed the jugular by a hair.

Swearing, he walked to the window and looked out.

Here it came! All hell breaking loose!



5/85

From far away (remembe r, no horizon) a thin line appea red. It shot toward him, toward t he city,

g re w l ar ge r a s i t c am e c lo se r, e xp an de d a nd r es ol ve d i nt o t wo w al ls f or mi ng a s ha rp c or ne r, l ik e t he

prow of a ship. And, like a ship, it roared over the sands of the desert, pushing up great waves in front of

i t a nd c louds of dus t on e ac h s ide , a s hi p of t he de se rt s ai lin g unde r t he w ind of God' s fu ry. Be hi nd the

prow rose towers of stone like tall masts. Out of the windows and doors of the towers shot flames. A

s ton e v es se l o n f ir e s li di ng o ve r t he s an ds on a c ol li si on c ou rs e w it h t he c it y i n w hi ch he l iv ed .

"Here it comes!" he screamed. It'll smash into us, tons and tons and tons of giant blocks of

g ra ni te r am mi ng a t s ixt y m il es a n h ou r i nt o t he c it y, w hi ch i s a ls o t on s a nd t on s a nd t on s o f s to ne b lo cks .

H e s cr ea me d; h e w ho h ad s ee n s o m uc h h e t ho ug ht h e c ou ld n o l on ge r s cr ea m. H e s cr ea me d. E ve n

t ho ug h h e h ad s ee n t hi s b ef or e a nd k ne w, o r t ho ug ht h e k ne w, t ha t t he c ol li si on w ou ld n ev er h ap pe n.

Nor did it. The great city, seemingly bent on plowing into him and grinding his flesh between and

u nd er t he m as se s o f f al li ng g ra ni te , s ud de nl y s to pp ed. I ts w al ls w er e l es s t ha n a q ua rt er o f a m il e a wa y.

There was a hush as the shouts and yells from the streets below his window ceased, Then, thegr ea t c it y b ui lt l ike a b oa t b eg an t o r ec ede . Ra the r, a s h e kn ew f rom pa st e xp er ie nc e, i tseemed to

r ec ede , j us t a s i t ha d s ee me d t o s ai l t ow ar d t he m. I t wa s a m ir age , a r ef le ct ion of a m et rop ol is on ly Go d

knew how many thousands of miles away. Sometimes, during the earthquakes, strange atmospheric

d is tu rb an ce s o cc ur re d. O nc e, i t h ad b ee n h is o wn c it y t ha t h ad c ha rg ed a cr os s t he s an ds . T ha t w as w he n

h e h ad s een h im self s tari ng h or ri fi ed ly o ut o f h is o wn w in do w i n t he t ow er .

Now, the city with flaming towers was gone. It would never do to allow commerce, intercourse,

amo ng C hr is ti an and B ud dh is t. E ach m us t s uf fer h is o wn H el l. T he A ut ho ri ti es w ou ld s ee t o t hat.

If The Authorities were so smart, he thought, why didn't they make this place big enough in the

f ir st p la ce ? O r d id t he y m ak e t hi s s et up s o t ha t h um an b ei ng s w ou ld b e f ri gh te ne d ( no t t o d ea th ),horror-stricken, never knowing if this time the two Hells might crash?

It was then that he put his hand on his face and felt the wetness. He had cut himself with the flint

a nd h ad f or go tt en a bo ut t he c ut .

He, l ic ked the bl ood off hi s f inge r a nd t hought inte nse ly a bout i ts sl ight s alt ines s, it s r ednes s, a nd

ho w i t wa s hi s b lood , hi s ow n. P le as ur es we re f ew he re , a nd y ou ha d t o d o s tr an ge t hi ngs t o ge t yo ur

k ic ks . H e k ne w a m an w ho c ou ld l ie o n h is b ac k, p ra ct ic al ly b en d h im se lf d ou bl e, a nd t he n c ou ld . . .

w el l, h e ha d be tt er no t go on. I t d id n ot b ea r t hi nk in g a bou t. N ot be ca us e i t wa s i n b ad t as te or vul ga r or

a ga ins t c ur re nt m or es , bu t be ca us e he ha te d t ha t m an f or b ei ng a bl e t o ge t a k ic k t ha t h e c oul d n ot .

The blood kept trickling. Although he was not worried about bleeding to death, Cull did want to

r ep ai r t he d am ag e. T he E xchang e, w here h e w or ked, i ns is ted o n i ts emp lo yees l oo ki ng p res en t ab le.

B es id es , p ro wl ing t he s tr ee ts w er e m en a nd w om en w ho m ig ht b ec om e o ve rl y e xc it ed a t t he s ig ht o f

blood and cause him no end of trouble and even pain.

He telephoned his doctor, who lived in a small room in the lowest sub-basement of the

a pa rt m en t. ( Te le ph on es i n H el l? W hy n ot ? T he y w er e t he w or k o f t ho se w ho h ad b ee n h er e b ef or e

m an , t he " de mo ns ." T he re w as a v as t c om pl ex o f l in es o ve r t he c it y; l in es s tr un g, n ot o n w oo de n p ol es ,

but on the gargoyle faces that jutted in profusion on the front of every building or else on the branches of

the rocktrees.)

The doctor, poor devil, was busy with another case. But, since Cull was a more important



6/85

patient, the doctor arrived within five minutes. Doctor B.O., as he was called, was tired and haggard. He

h ad o nc e b ee n a h an ds om e s pe ci me n, a g ia nt w it h a m ag ni fi ce nt p hy si qu e. B ut h e w as t ir ed i n b od y, a nd

h is s pi ri t, w hi ch w as t he s am e t hi ng a s h is b od y, w as , i f no t c ru she d, c ru mp le d.

He opened his little black bag, slapped something on the wound to close it up, and covered it

w it h a s al ve.

"What caused the earthquake this time?" Cull said.

The doctor replied with chips of weariness dropping off his voice and flakes of sullenness

darting from his manure-brown eyes.

"Another famine in China."

His voic e croaked wit h exhaust ion as he ga ve his Lewisi an e xplanati on. Half a mi llion s oul s,

e n ca se d i n s ol id f le sh , h ad m ov ed i nt o H el l o ve r ni gh t. A nd H el l h ad e xp an de d t o m ak e r oo m f or t he m.

H en ce, t he s tr et ch in g o f t he u nl im it ed y et b ou nd ed u ni vers e. H en ce, t he o ut ward t hr us t o f t he B ud dh is tcit y, t he crevass es i n t he ear th , t he b ui ld in gs r eeli ng and s om et im es t op pl in g. T he o th er cit y w as a m ir ag e?

O h, n o! N ev er !

The doctor knew what this meant for him and his fellows. More work. No sleep. He was so tired

t ha t h e e ve n d ar ed c om pl ai n t o C ul l. O f c ou rs e, h e k ne w h ow l en ie nt C ul l w as a nd t ha t h e w ou ld n ot ,

probably, turn him in. He even suspected him, wrongly, of being a member of the underground

abolitionist society.

"Don't bitch to me," Cull said. "We're all in the same boat."

"Yes," the demon whined as he snapped his little black bag shut and walked toward the phone,kn ow ing i t wo ul d r ing f or hi m i n a f ew s ec ond s.

"Yes. We're in the same boat. But you hold the position of a first-class passenger on a luxury

l ine r. W hi le I , y ou mi gh t s ay, a m on ly a c oa l s hov el er i n t he bl ac k g an g. "

"There was a time when it was the other way around," Cull said.

The phone rang, and Cull answered it. He decided to let Doctor B.O. leave. Why argue? Once,

w he n t hi s w or ld h ad b ee n a s ma ll p la ce , c on st ru ct ed a cc or di ng t o t he P to le ma ic m od el , t he " de vi ls " - - o r

Arganus as t hey cal led t hem selv es - - o ut nu mb er ed m an . T hey r ul ed as any s tr on gl y p reju di ced anda rr og an t m aj or it y a lw ay s d oe s. T he n, w he n t hi s p la ce - - c al l i t H el l - - w as r e fo rm ed t o t he C op er ni ca n

structure, and mankind on Earth began breeding in geometrical progression, though no less passionately

t han b ef or e, t he f iend s w er e s ud denl y i n t he m in or it y.

Topsy-turvy. Even here things changed. They had to because Hell was a reflection, if distorted,

of Earth.

But changes do not have to be for the better. According to the fiends, they were for the worse.

Now, the fiends were only a fraction of the population. Might makes right. The fiends, once masters,

became slaves. Oh, slavery was legal and rightly so, for only human beings should have civil rights. And

t he f ie nd s w er e no t h um an be ing s. E ve n t he y, l ia rs t ha t t he y w er e, w ou ld n ot c la im t ha t. Th ey ha d t he ir

pride. Besides, if it were not for the fiends, would human beings have been in Hell?



7/85

Doctor B.O. put down the phone and ran out of the room. He was a flash of red edged with the

blue of autointoxication.

He had left the receiver off the hook, for which oversight he would pay later. Curiosity had not

s la ck ene d s o mu ch i n C ul l t ha t h e no l on ge r t ook up t he t ens ion w he n he ha d a c ha nc e. H e p ic ke d up t he

phone and listened, hoping to hear something out of the ordinary. Something to give him a kick. There

wa s t he hum of a li ne wa it ing t o be us ed. The n, a voic e w it h a Sla vi c a cc ent, s aying, ". . . some whe red ee p be low . I t h as t o b e be ca us e t ha t' s t he o nl y pl ac e w e' ve n eve r b ee n. L ook i n t he s ew er s. "

There was a click. Cull put the receiver back on the hook, picked up his briefcase, and walked

out.Look in the sewers, h e t ho ug ht . W ha t t he H el l w as b eh in d t ha t r em ar k? L oo k f or w ha t? T he n, a s h e

w en t o ut i nt o t he s tr ee t, h e f or go t a bo ut i t.

The street was blocked by a crowd that had gathered around a corpse half-hidden beneath a

block of granite tumbled by the quake. Death did not awe or attract them. It was what death brought

r un ni ng t hat m ad e t hem s tand aro un d and w ai t w hen t hey p ro babl y h ad u rg en t b us in es s els ew here.

He waited, too. He was late for work as it was, but he was not going to miss out on this even if

he we re f ir ed . He wou ld h ave ha te d di sm is sa l, s in ce b ei ng out of a j ob w as H el l. Bu t he wa nt ed t o s ee

what death would bring.

From far away, he heard the first faint wheeeee of the siren. It was distant, so he knew he had

t im e t o s te p i nt o a s tor e a nd b uy , or t ry t o bu y, a pa cka ge of R ol l- yo ur -ow n. T he o wn er w as no t i n s ig ht .

T he s lave, a h ug e b lack f iend w ho i ns is ted o n b ei ng cal led U ncle T om , w as r ep laci ng v ar io us i tems t hat

h ad b ee n s ha ke n o ff t he s he lv es a nd c ou nt er . S to op in g o ve r, h e l oo ke d u p a t C ul l a nd g ri nn ed , h is

t oo th past e- wh it e f an gs g leam in g again st t he i nk bl ack f ace. H e w as f ar d ar ker t han any N eg ro , f or t he

d ar ke st N eg roe s w er e n ot a c tua ll y b la ck b ut a de ep b ro wn . H is h ai r w as w oo ly a nd c ro pp ed c lo se t o

his hea d, and his l ips were so thi ck as t o be a c ari ca ture of a Congol ese .

"Yassah, Marse Cull," he said. "Whuffo yo comes in heah for, suh, massah, yo lawdship?"

"Uncle Tom," Cull said. "How would you like to be kicked in the ass?"

And he felt angry at himself for saying that, because Uncle Tom had incited him into doing so,

h ad h op ed h e w ou ld .

"Oh, lawdy, Marse Cull, Ah doan mean no offense, nowhow, no suh. Ah's jes a poah ole

d ah ki e, y o l aw ds hi p, t ry in ' t o g et a lo ng w if m ah w hi te b et ta hs . A h' s s o s ah 'y A h h u' t y o f ee li n' s, m as sa h.P le as e d oa n be at m e, M ar se . A h' ll l ic k y o b oo ts a nd k is s yo a ss , m as sa h, j es l ah k u s no -g oo d c ul luh d

f ol ks i s s up po se d t o d o. A h' m j es a p o ol e d ahk ie ."

"For God's sake cut it out," Cull said. He was frustrated. The fiend had found a way to needle

a nd t au nt t he h um an b ei ng s, a nd w he n t he y t ol d h im h e w as n' t h um an a nd w as n' t s up po se d t o t al k l ik e a

Negro, he would remind them that they had always said Negroes weren't human either.

Besides, he was a nigger angel (his own words), and before The Fall he had always talked thus.

B ee n St . M ic ha el 's o wn h ou se boy , he s ai d. T he n, h e w ou ld l au gh - - f an gs f la sh in g i n t he f ra me of t ha t

ge nui ne ly b la ck f ac e - - a nd s ay t ha t The Fa ll h ad be en no c om edo wn f or hi m. I n H ea ve n, he 'd b ee n no

better off. Well, maybe, because St. Michael was real quality-folks, and down here he had to serve white

trash.



8/85

By then, he did get a boot in the rear, which did not hurt him one bit, but usually caused the

k icker t o y el l w it h p ai n. I f ang ry eno ug h, t he k icker w ou ld t hr eaten t o l yn ch h im . T hi s cau sed ano th er

e mb ar ra ss in g s ce ne , w he re U nc le T om w ou ld g et d ow n o n h is k ne es a nd l if t h is h an ds i n p ra ye r t o h is

t hr eatener and g o i nt o a d ramati c s cene, p lead in g and b eg gi ng f or m er cy . A ll t he t im e h e w as enj oy in g

h im self t ho ro ug hl y, and h is t hr eatener k new i t and cou ld d o l it tl e abo ut i t b es id es cur se and t hr eaten s om e

m or e. I f a l yn ch in g w er e o rg an iz ed , i t w ou ld b e b ro ke n u p i n a s ho rt t im e b y T he A ut ho ri ti es , a nd t he

m ob s ev er el y p un is hed. T here w as L aw h er e as els ew here.

On the other hand, Uncle Tom did not dare walk off his job. The Law applied to him, too.

"Whe re' s the owner ?" Cull s aid, knowing that Unc le Tom was laughing i ns ide himse lf at Cul l's r ed

face.

"Lawsy, massah, dat him outside! Undah de block! Po massah, he soon be in de cole dahk

grave!"

Which statement was a lie, and he knew it as well as Cull. No grave for anybody in thiss el f- en cl os ed w or ld . N ot f or l on g any way.

He might be lying about the identity of the body under the stone, too.

"You black devil," Cull said. "You're trying to tempt me to grab a handful of tobacco and run

do wn t he s tr ee t wi th i t, a re n' t y ou? A nd , o f c ou rs e, a s s oo n a s I di d, y ou 'd s ta rt h ol le ri ng, ' St op, t hi ef !' "

Uncle Tom's eyes grew big with pretended innocence. "Oh, no, boss! Not dis poah debbil! Ah

ne bb er s ay no s uc h t 'i ng , ' n yo -a ll kn ow i t! I f y o wa s t o b ri ng di s he ah c as e t o c o' t, ma ss ah, yo 'd g et

t ro wn o ut a c o' t, b eg gi n' y o p ah do n f o s ay in s o, b os s! D is h ea h p o d ah ki e d on e l ea rn ed h is l es so n, s ah ib !

H e a in ' n eb ba h a ga in g oi n' t o t em pt a h um an ! N o, s ah , A h d on e l ea rn ed m y p la ce i n s as si et y! "

Cull was tempted. He sweated, and he looked the store over. Could it be done? Maybe he

c ou ld m ake a d ea l w it h U nc le T om .

No! He'd learned the hard way. The Authorities could locate you any time They wanted you.

"I want some tobacco," he said. "And this is the only place I can get it between here and work.

C an y ou s el l m e s om e? "

Uncle Tom grinned slyly. "Yo know us poah debbils ain' allowed to trade in nothin' wif yo whitef ol ks . W e' s j es de m opp er s ' n de du st er s, de he we rs o' wo od a nd d e d ra we rs o' wa ta h. N o, s ah , Ah

cai n' t s el l y o n ot hi n' .' '

"You mean I got to go without a smoke today?" Cull said, choking with the helplessness and

anger of the situation.

"Dat's up to yo, bwana. Nuffin Ah can do. Ah'm so sah'y." And he grinned and resumed his

picking up of the articles.

By now, the siren had become very loud. Cull said, "Isn't he living with a woman? Maybe I could

m ak e a b ar gain w it h h er ?"

"Oh, Lawdy," Uncle Tom said, and he laughed a high-pitched laugh. "De Massah was a bery



9/85

r el ig io us m an , h e w as . H e s ay d at , s in ce d er e a in ' n o g iv in ' o r t ak in ' i n m ar ri ag e h ea h, j us a s i n H ea ve n, h e

ain ' g on na l ib i n s in w if no w om an !"

"You make me sick," Cull said, and he went out onto the street.

The siren was much louder. In a few seconds, the ambulance came around the corner. The

c ro wd d re w b ac k t o m ake w ay f or i t. Th e a m bu la nc e s to pp ed a f ew f ee t f rom t he bl oc k, a nd t he s ir en 'swa il di ed out . T he d ri ve r a nd a pa ss enge r got down out of t he f ro nt s ea t. Two me n c li mbe d out of t he

r ea r. O ne c ar ri ed a f ol de d- up s tr et ch er ; t he o th er , t wo c ro wb ar s.

Cull was disappointed, as was everybody else in the crowd.

X had not come this time.

If Cull was disappointed, he was also relieved. Twice he had seen X, and both times he was

a we d. Th e h ai r h ad s tood up on t he ba ck o f hi s ne ck; a c hi ll ha d r un o ve r hi s s ki n.

Now, he walked away, for he did not care to spend time idly watching four men(?) lift the block

u p a nd p la ce t he c or ps e i n t he r ea r o f t he a mb ul an ce . H e h ad w it ne ss ed s im il ar s ce ne s t oo m an y t im es .

W it hi n a f ew ho ur s, t he d ea d m an - - no l ong er de ad - - w oul d b e ba ck t end in g h is s to re . D ea th,

n on ex is tence, cal l i t w hat y ou w il l, w as a l ux ur y n ot all ow ed t hem f or l on g i n t hi s p lace.

Where did the ambulance come from? Who made it? Where was it made? What was its method

o f p ro pu ls io n? W ho k new? I t r es em bl ed , s up er fi ci al ly , t he aut om ob il es o f E ar th - - as C ul l d im ly

r em em be re d t he m. I t h ad a b la ck c ha ss is o f m et al o r p la st ic , a w in ds hi el d, f ou r w he el s w it h r ub be r o r

plastic tires, a steering wheel, a hood. But what kind of motor lay under that hood, no one knew. There

w as n o g ri ll , n ot hi ng t o i nd icat e a r ad iato r. A nd t he m ot or w as abs ol ut el y s ou nd less .

Who knew what was going on in this world? Cull did not. He'd been here. . . how long? Two

y ears o r t went y?

The sun hung in the middle of the sky, and the sky was no sky but a continuation of the earth.

Th e e ar th c ur ve d u p a nd a wa y a nd r oun de d upo n i ts el f a nd b ec ame t he he ave n. I f y ou ha d a t el es co pe

powerful enough to pierce the atmosphere, so they said, you could see people walking upside down

o ver y ou r h ead and t ow er s w it h t heir p oi nt s h an gi ng d ow n l ik e s talact it es . I f y ou cou ld w al k aro un d t hi s

w or ld , y ou w ou ld f in d y ou rs el f a t a p oi nt w he re y ou c ou ld l oo k u pw ar d a t t he v er y s po t f ro m w hi ch y ou

h ad t ak en y ou r f ir st s te p o n y ou r j ou rn ey .

If. . . if. . . if. No telescopes, of course, though it was theoretically possible to build them. And no

w al ki ng u p t he h or izon . T hat w as j us t n ot p os si bl e, n ot acr os s t he n o l on ger b ur ni ng b ut s ti ll d eadl y

desert.

It was enough to stare from a tower window and see the city itself curving upward. Enough to

sc are the . . . wha t woul d you ca ll it ?. . . out of you.

Naked, with a briefcase, he walked the streets of the city. Others, naked too, thronged the wide

t ho ro ug hf ar es b et ween t he t ow er in g b ui ld in gs . A ll w er e m en and w om en o f v ar io us ages f ro m t went y o r

u pw ar d. T he re w er e n o i nf an ts , c hi ld re n, o r a do le sc en ts h er e. W he re w er e t he y? I n s om e o th er c it y? O r

elsewhere, outside this ingrown world?

The adults arrived here in the same body, or similar body, as that they had possessed on the



10/85

o th er w or ld o f E ar th . T he y w er e t he s am e a ge t he y h ad b ee n w he n t he y d ie d. C ul l h ad m em or ie s, v ag ue

a s m os t o f h is m em or ie s o f t he p re vi ou s l if e, of h avi ng d ie d i n a n a ut om ob il e a cc id en t. H e h ad b ee n, h e

t ho ug ht , a bo ut t hi rt y y ea rs o ld . H e h ad h ad a w if e, t hr ee c hi ld re n, a ge d e ig ht , s ix , a nd t hr ee . H is w if e w as

blonde, good-looking, and something of a shrew. He could not remember her face accurately, though it

s ee me d t o hi m t ha t s he ha d a n ic e nos e, o ve rf ul l l ips , a r ounde d c hi n, a nd a d impl e on on e of he r c he eks .

His profession? Questioned, he would have replied that he had been an electronic engineer andm ar keti ng s up er vi so r, b ut h e r em em bered v er y l it tl e o f elect ro ni cs . W hen t he f at al accid en t h ap p en ed ,

he w as on hi s w ay upwa rd i n t he gr ea t or ga ni za ti on t o w hi ch he be longe d. The o the r c ar ( it ha d r un a

s to p l ig ht , o r ha d h e? ) c ut o ff h is h op es f or ev er . N ot j us t h is ho pe s o f r is in g h ig h i n t he c om pa ny , of

ge tt ing r ic h and powe rf ul , but a lso hi s hope s of goi ng t o Hea ve n. I f he ha d not be en so f ul l of ha te f or hi s

boss at the moment he was killed, if he had had a chance to cool off, to forgive his boss, to regain the

l ov e h e w as s up p os ed t o f eel f or all h um an it y ( wh ich, u n fo rt un at el y, i nclu ded h is b os s) , and i f h e h ad

n ot a ls o a t t ha t m om en t b ee n h at in g hi s w if e, w hom h e s us pe ct ed o f i nf id el it y, t hou gh he h ad n o p roo f

wh at soe ve r, a nd i f h e h ad not a t t ha t pa rt ic ul ar s ec ond a ls o t ur ne d hi s he ad t o w at ch t he s wa y of hi ps of

a l ong- le gge d br une tt e on t he s ide wa lk, i f. . . i f. . .

It was not fair. He had been a good man; he had led a Christian life, had actively supported the

C hu rch, b een chair man o f s ev er al p hi lant hr op ic and s ocial w el fare com mi tt ees, h e h ad n ev er k il led excep t

w hi le d ef en di ng h is cou nt ry i n w ar ti me, h e h ad n ev er . . .

What use to think about it? He thought, we grow no older. And this is strange, for our physical

s ta te i s m uc h t he s am e a s o n E ar th . W e e at a nd e xc re te , c op ul at e ( wi th ou t c hi ld re n b ei ng p ro du ce d) ,

s uf fe r p ai n a nd f ee l p le as ur e, b le ed , e ve n d ie . S om et hi ng h as b ee n a lt er ed i n u s t o d ef ea t a gi ng a nd t o

sterilize us.

Something but not everything. Just enough. The toothless who had false teeth on Earth had false

t ee th he re . Cu ll s ti ll ha d a gol d br idge be t we en t wo t ee th . I f a m an l ac ke d a f inge r, a ha nd, a n a rm , a l eg,a n e ye , a t es ti cl e on E ar th , he a ls o l ac ke d i t h er e. But t he re wa s s om e l aw of e qui ty , f or a t ot al a mp ut ee

o n E ar th f ou nd t ha t o ne l eg a nd o ne a rm h ad b ee n r es to re d. T he t ot al ly T er re st ri al b li nd h ad o ne e ye ,

invariably the left.

And the i ns ane, the i di ot ic , t he s enil e, t hos e s uf fe ring wi th St . Vi tus ' danc e, par alys is a gi ta ns ,

s cr of ul a, eleph an ti as is , s yp hi li s, m ul ti pl e s cl er os is , and s o o n w er e cur ed . N or d id t hese d is eas es com e

back.

Those who had lost eye or limb complained, of course, that it was not fair. If the diseased and

s en il e cou ld b e w ho ll y r ep ai red, w hy w er e t hey, t he h al t and l am e, d is cr im in at ed again st ? N o ans wer.W ho s ai d any th in g abo ut t hi s s et upwas fair?

Nothing bore thinking about, yet he could not keep from thinking about it.

And so, thinking, he went around the corner and found himself, as every morning(?), before the

Exchange.

This was housed in one of those tremendous and fantastic (until he got used to it) buildings that

a bo un de d i n t hi s c it y. T he b ui ld in g r ea re d a t l ea st t wo t ho us an d f ee t, w hi ch w as n ot a s t al l a s m an y

buildings on Earth. But it was a mile wide and composed of the most colossal stone blocks he -- or

a ny on e e ls e - - h ad e ve r s ee n. E ac h b lo ck , h ew n f ro m g ra ni te , p or ph yr y, d io ri te , b as al t, o r m ar bl e, w as a

f if ty -f oo t c ub e. T he y h ad b ee n p il ed o n t op o f e ac h o th er w it ho ut m or ta r a nd , e ve ry t wo b lo ck s, w er e

s te pp ed b ac k s o t he e nt ir e s tr uc t ur e r es em bl ed a h an gi ng g ar de n o f B ab yl on . O n e ve ry b lo ck w er e



11/85

c ar ve d t ho us an ds o f f ac es a nd l it tl e s ta tu es . N o g ar go yl es , a s y ou w ou ld e xp ec t, b ut h um an f ac es ; f ac es

w it h every s hade o f every emo ti on k no wn t o m an ki nd .

Fi ends ha d c ar ve d t hose f ea ture s. But nei the r ma n nor de vil ha d qua rr ie d t hos e c lif f- high bl oc ks

a nd p il ed t he m o ne o n t he o th er . W ho ? N ob od y k ne w. T he f ie nd s c la im ed t he y h ad f ou nd t he c it y b ui lt

t hus . A nd h ad m ov ed i n. T hi s w as w he n t he c ou nt ry o ut si de t he c it y w al ls b ur ne d w it h w ha t s ee me d a n

etern al f lame, and t he h um an b ei ng s w ho cam e t o l iv e t here r oast ed w it ho ut d yi ng .

On either side of the great building, towering e ven a bove it, were two sta tues. These looked as if

t he y w er e i nt en de d t o r ep re se nt t oa ds h al fw ay i n t he p ro ce ss o f t ur ni ng i nt o m en , o r v ic e v er sa .

Their great mouths gaped open, and into them, or out of them, rushed air. Everywhere through

t he c it y w er e s ta tu es l ik e t he se , a nd t he y p ro vi de d t he b ac kg ro un d n oi se f or t he c it y. R um bl e a nd w ho os h

o f ho t a ir g oi ng i nt o t he m ou th s o f s om e; r um bl e a nd w ho os h o f c ol d a ir ou t o f t he m ou th s o f o the rs .

Over the tremendous arch of the portal of his destination were carved (by human hands and in

H eb re w l et te rs ): D O N OT A BA ND ON H OP E. H e s te pp ed t hr ou gh t he p or ta l a nd i nt o a h al lw ay ah un dr ed f ee t w id e a nd t hr ee h un dr ed f ee t h ig h, h ow ev er , t he c or ri do r w as n o m or e t ha n t hr ee h un dr ed

y ar ds l on g, t hen, t hr ou gh a h un dr ed -f oo t h ig h b ut t en -f oo t w id e ent rance i nt o t he E xchang e i ts el f.

The room was carved out of a single piece of stone, a titanic block hollowed so that the interior

r es em bl ed t he i ns id e o f a b as ke tb al l. T he s ea ts a nd t he a is le s b et we en t he s ea ts s ta rt ed f ro m t he b ot to m

a nd r an up a long t he c ur ve of t he b al l. U p a nd ove r t he c ei li ng s o t ha t s om e of t he f ie nds , who ha d onc e

u se d t hi s r oo m, m us t h av e s at q ui te u ps id e d ow n. O r e ls e t he c ar ve rs h ad c hi se le d o ut t ho se c ei li ng -s ea ts

because of a distorted sense of humor. The human beings had never found out. Any fiend questioned

w ou ld r ep ly t hat h e w as o nl y an i gn or an t d em on and cou ld n' t r em em ber.

However, men and women could sit only to the point at which the walls began to curve inwardne ar t he c eil ings . And i n a lmost e ver y s ea t wa s a huma n be ing who he ld a phone i n one ha nd and i n the

o th er , a g raph it e- an d- pl as ti c p en ci l w it h w hi ch h e w as b us il y w ri ti ng o n a s heet o f p ar ch ment . T he

parchment was tanned human skin from which the hairs had been removed. White or light brown skin, of

cou rs e, b ecau se b lack s ki n m ad e t he g raph it e m ar ks alm os t i nv is i bl e. A nd s ki n, o f cou rs e, b ecau se t here

w as n o p ap er . N o t re es e x ce pt f or t he r oc kt re es , a nd t he r oc kt re e l ea ve s m ad e p oo r p ap er .

The skin was supplied to the Exchange by various agents. The Exchange asked no questions but

paid off with the various and strange commodities the suppliers demanded. Occasionally, The

A ut ho ri ti es cau gh t u p w it h t he s up pl iers . T hen, t here w as a s ho rt ag e o f p ap er f or a w hi le u nt il t he s ki nn er s

cou ld r ecru it and t rain n ew w or kers . T he A ut ho ri ti es cou ld , i t w as s up po sed, b reak u p t he o rg an izat io nf rom t op to bot tom i f The y wa nt ed t o put f or th t he e ff or t. But The y di d not wor k by ma gi c; The y u se d

h um an o r f ie ndi sh ha nd s. A nd t he hu ma n a ge nt s f or Th e A ut ho ri ti es h ad a h ab it o f be in g s to ne d t o d ea th

o n t he s tr ee ts o r c au gh t a nd t or tu re d b ef or e b ei ng t or n a pa rt .

The pe ople before the phone s sc ribbled their notes, then summoned a runner. The runner ra ced

u p t he s te ps o f t he a is le , t ook t he n ot e, a nd r an d ow n t o t he b ot tom o f t he b owl . Th is w as oc c up ie d,

e xc ep t f or a br oa d a is le a ro und t he bo tt om , by a l ar ge p la tf or m o f s to ne . W or ke rs s at a t s to ne t ab le s a t

t he f oo t o f t he p la tf or m a nd a n sw er ed t el ep ho ne s. T he se w er e t he s cr ee ne rs . T he y t oo k m es sa ge s f ro m

t he pe opl e on t he s ea ts a long t he w al l. I f t he y t ho ught a m es sa ge i mp or ta nt , t he y ha nd ed a not e t o a

r un ne r. H e t oo k t he n ot e t o t he C ha ir ma n.

The Chairman sat on a huge polished diorite throne in the center of the platform. The throne was

v er y p la in , v er y m as si ve , y et c ou ld b e r ot at ed b y a g en tl e p us h o f t he o cc up an t' s f oo t. T he re w as n o



12/85

perceptible distance between the chair, which must have weighed two tons, and the platform on which

t he t hr on e r es ted. Y et , t he t hr on e m us t h av e h ad l it tl e f ri ct io n b et ween i ts u nd er s ur face and t he p latf or m,

o r els e m achi nery exi st ed b en eath . E ff or ts t o l if t t he t hr on e h ad f ai led, b ut i t t ur ned eas il y and w ou ld s pi n

swiftly if pushed hard.

On the throne sat the Chairman. He was a big man, claiming to be seventy years old physically

but 1700 chronologically. That is, relative to Cull's time, and exclusive of Hell's own time, which was not im e o r f or ev er . T he C ha ir ma n' s h ea d a nd f ac e w er e c ov er ed w it h l on g w hi te h ai r; h is b ea rd f el l t o h is

s ki nn y a nk le s, h is b ea rd i n w hi ch h e w ra pp ed h im se lf a s i n a r ob e a nd c ov er ed h is ( re pu te dl y) w it he re d

s ex. H e c al le d him se lf Ange lo - - a s tr ange na me f or a deni ze n o f he ll . I t wa s r umor ed t ha t he k new

Da nt e, w ho wa s a ls o s ai d t o be a c it iz en o f t hi s c it y.

But Hell was a bloody flux of rumor and counter-rumor. Who should know better than Cull, who

d ealt i n t hem?

As Cull stepped inside he was greeted by a blast of voices, the ringing of a hundred phones.

S in ce h e w as l at e, a cc or di ng t o t he h ug e h ou rg la ss b y t he d oo rw ay , h e w ou ld h av e h ur ri ed t o h is s ea t.Bu t h e l ooke d up a t t he f ac es i n t he c ha mbe r, a nd he ha lt ed , hor ri fi ed. I t wa s t rue , t hou gh he c oul d no t a t

f ir st b el ie ve i t. E ve ry m an i n t he c ha mb er , e x ce pt t he C ha ir ma n, w as c le an -s ha ve n! T he re w as n ot a

single moustache anywhere!

He f el t humil ia te d, r idi culous , a nd, a bove a ll , be tr ayed. Why had not a ny of hi s s o- ca ll ed f ri ends

t ol d h im t ha t m ou st ac he s w er e O ut ? S om e f ri en ds ! T he y w an te d t o g et h im j us t a s m uc h a s h is e ne mi es .

Now, he was not only conspicuous because he was late; he was being laughed at.

There was nothing he could do. To turn tail and run for home to shave off the out-of-fashion

m ou st ache w ou ld m ak e h im even l at er , and t he C hair man cer tain ly w ou ld n ot l ik e t hat. M or eo ver, t heo th er s w ou ld l au gh at h im j us t t hat m uch m or e.

Head down, cheeks burning, he climbed up the steps between the rows and slid into his own seat

behind his own table. His phone was ringing as if the person on the other end had world-shaking news.

P er ha ps h e d id .

He lifted the phone and said, "Hello? Who is it? Anything good?"

The voice at the other end spoke in pidgin Hebrew and with a Swedish lilt. "Agent Sven Jalmar

speaking. From sector XXB-8N/B."

Cull had memorized the great map in the next room; he knew where Sven was. Or

ap pr ox im at el y, b ecau se t he m ap o f t he cit y w ou ld h av e chang ed s om ew hat s in ce i ts r ecen t ex pans io n.

H e h ad e xp ec te d t he t el eph one l ine s t o b e d own be ca us e of t he q ua ke , b ut t he b re ak m us t h av e b ee n

swiftly repaired.

"Sure, I got something good," said Sven. "How many fallen angels can stand on the point of a

needle?"

"You dumb Scandinavian joker," Cull said. "You know we're busy. Did you call up just to pass

t he t im e w it h y ou r d ul l j es ts ?"

"Time? Here? Now you're the clown. No, Agent Cull, I didn't call just to hear your insults. I've



13/85

g ot s om et hi ng h ot . O r, a t l ea st , I t hi nk i t i s. "

"You think it is?" Cull said. "You'd better have some validation! I'll report you for wasting my

t im e b ef or e I 'l l s ti ck m y n ec k o ut o n a w il d g oo se c ha se !"

"Heavens!" Sven said. "And mixed metaphors, too. How much validation can you get here? I

s ai d I got a hot l ea d, but I c an' t br ing yo u s wor n, s ign ed, a nd w it ne ss ed e vi de nc e. F or a ll I kn ow, t hi s guym ay b e a n ut . T he D ev il k no ws t he re a re p le nt y h er e. "

"Guy?" Cull said. "What guy?"

"He won't give any name but Fyodor. Calls himself God's Idiot Slav. A baldheaded

l on g- be ar de d c oo t. L oo ks l ik e h e h ad g on e t hr ou gh h el l b ef or e h e e ve r l ef t E ar th . H e c an t al k t o y ou

h im s el f. H e r am bl es a b it , b ut h e' s con vi ncin g, con v in ci ng as S at an H im self . W ai t a m in ut e! D on 't

hangup! I'll get him!"

He left before Cull could yell at him not to tie up the line. The Chairman was looking at him,g ivi ng h im t he l oo k t ha t r at tl ed t he b on es i ns id e C ul l. H e kn ew t he n t ha t S ve n w ou ld ha ve t o p ro du ce

s om et hi ng e xt ra or di na ry o r b ot h o f t he m w ou ld b e i n - - p er ha ps l it er al ly - - h ot w at er . T he E xc ha ng e h ad

t er ri bl e and eff ecti ve w ay s o f en fo rcin g d is ci pl in e o r p un is hi ng m is takes. A nd y ou cou ld n ot h id e. W ho

s hou ld k no w b et te r t ha n he , w ho ha d t ra ck ed d ow n s om e o f t ho se wh o ha d d ec ide d t o q ui t wo rk in g f or

t he E xc ha ng e? O nc e y ou h ir ed i n a nd l ea rn ed t he s ec re ts , y ou w er ein. No way out.

Cull drummed his fingers on the stone desk before him and bit his lips until he could taste the

blood. Then, he regretted the taste because it reminded him of a punishment he had seen inflicted on a

m an w ho h ad ang er ed t he C hair man.

He was sweating, too, despite the cool flow of air from the ancient and invisible butever- ef fect iv e air con di ti on in g s ys tem. A ft er w hat s eemed an h ou r ( an d m ay h av e b een) , S ven' s v oi ce

boomed in his ear.

"Sorry to take so long, Cull. Here he is! Fyodor!"

"Fyodor, God's Idiot Slav, here!" said a high-pitched voic e. "I bring you good ne ws, gre at

news!"

Another nut, Cull thought. "Be brief," he said. "You've already tied up the line too long. Just give

m e t he g is t o f y our m es sa ge . I f I t hi nk w ha t y ou h ave t o s ay i s w or th whi le , y ou c an g iv e m e m or e d et ai l. "

Then, he said, "Haven't you called before? You sound vaguely familiar."

"Never," Fyodor said. "You're the first man with the name of Cull that I ever talked to."

"O.K. Shoot."

"Listen," said Fyodor excitedly, "you know the theory of Translation? That is, that birth is a

t rans lati on i nt o o ne t on gu e, l if e, f ro m ano th er t on gu e, l if e? A nd t hat d eath i s s ti ll ano th er t rans l at io n? I nt o

o ne o f t wo p os si bl e s pe ec he s? H ea ve n o r H el l? O r, p os si bl y, t hr ee , f or y ou m us t n ot o ve rl oo k L im bo ?

O r, m ay be, f ou r, s in ce P ur gato ry m us t al so b e con si dered, alt ho ug h t here i s n o evi dence t hat a P ur gato ry

exists.



14/85

"On the other hand, perhaps this worldis P ur ga to ry a nd n ot H el l. I f t hi s i s t ru e, w e h av e h op e.

But , i f t his i s Pu rga tor y, why ha ve n' t w e be en t ol d s o, s o we ma y knowwhy w e' re s uf feri ng and w hat w e

have to do to get out.

"But, the same reasoning holds true if this is Hell. Why haven't we been toldwhy w e' re h er e a nd

where we're going, if anywhere.

"Of course, you can say that the same held true on Earth. There we did not knowwhere we

came from,why we we re t he re , or where we were going. But, if you say that, I say that we did have the

m ea ns o f f in di ng o ut w ha t s o m an y r eg ar de d a s m ys te ri es . T he C hu rc h t ol d u s w ha t w as w ha t, a nd t he

C hu rch d er iv ed i ts k no wl ed ge and con sequ en t aut ho ri ty f r om t he S acr ed B oo ks , w hi ch w er e d ic tated

by God, in a manner of speaking. Oh, the Church could not tell us the details, nor, in many cases, even

t he b ar e ou tl ine s. B ut i t c ou ld t el l us e no ug h t o f ur ni sh a n a nc ho r t o w hi ch w e c oul d t ie o ur f ai th, a p oi nt

f ro m w hi ch o ur f ai th , t hr ow n i nt o t he w in ds o f d ou bt l ik e a s pi der' s exp lo ri ng f il am en t, cou ld . . . "

"Get to the point," Cull said. But he could not resist the inevitable riposte. "Why areyou here?"

"I do not know why -- if this is Hell. For I believed, and I do believe. And I was a miserable

s ne aki ng w re tc h of a si nn er. A s inne r, I t el l y ou! But I be li eve d, a nd I l ove d H im! A nd I l ove d Ma n, t oo.

Or Him in Ma n. And Man in Him."

"Ne ver mi nd your pers onal troubl es," Cull sai d. "Give me s omething wor thwhile."

"And by worthwhile," he continued, "I mean one or both of two things. Two things we want to

k no w. O ne , t he e xa ct l oc at io n a nd i de nt it y o f t he m an o r w om an w ho c ou ld n ot b e h er e i f t hi s w er e H el l.

T wo , t he i de nt it y o f X , t he D ar k M es si ah , t he B as ta rd C hr is t. "

The third, he did not mention.

Fyodor did not resume talking at onc, but Cull could hear his heavy breathing.

"Speak up!" he said, terrified because the Chairman's eyes were a gain upon him. "What's the

matter?"

"Perhaps," said Fyodor, "I can help you. But I must digress a bit. Rather, not digress but build up

t o m y p oi nt . M y p oi nt w ou ld b e q ui te l os t w it ho ut p re lu de , a f ou nd at io n, a s i t w er e. Y ou m us t b e p at ie nt .

Wh y not ? W he n w e ha ve e te rni ty. . ."

"You may. I don't," Cull said, feeling the sweat pouring from his armpits and flowing over his ribs.

"You know for a fact," said Fyodor, "that Christ visited Hell for three days while His body was in

t he t om b. T hr ee d ay s w hi le H e p re ac he d t he T ru e G od a nd s o l ib er at ed a ll t he v ir tu ou s p ag an s a nd

pre-Savior Jews who had been condemned to suffer Hell until He came. And He freed them, His

presence and appearance allowed them to go to Heaven. So, Abraham, Moses, Socrates; Gautama, all

t he se a nd m any m or e w ho ha d s oug ht t he Tr ue Li gh t b ut we re u na bl e t o s ee I t be ca us e H e h ad no t c ome

ye t -- al l t he se be lie ved Him and so were a bl e to pa ss out of t he gate s of Hell. . ."

"I've heard all that," said Cull, "but I've never found a person who could tell of seeing any of these

pre-Christians actually leave Hell. Come to think of it, nobody has ever seen a pre-Christian in The City.

O r, i f h e d id t el l o f s uc h a t hi ng , h is s to ry c ou ld n' t b ea r u p u nd er a ny s ci en ti fi c s cr ut in y. L ia rs a ll . A nd G od

k no ws I 'v e t al ked t o eno ug h, t raveled t ho us an ds o f f oo ts or e m il es , l ocat ed and i nt er vi ewed t ho us an ds o f



15/85

m en a nd wom en who w er e he re whe n t he C hr is t - - o r s ome one c la imi ng t o b e H im - - c ame he re ."

"But did He leave?" cried Fyodor shrilly. "Did He leave?"

"What in Hell are you talking about?"

"Suppose that there was a man who had repented of his sins? But too late? And he had heardf ro m t he f al le n a ng el s t ha t C hr is t w ou ld c om e a nd s ta y f or t hr ee d ay s? A nd s o h e, w it h g oo d

aforethought, cleverly turned his hand to evil, distinguished himself among the professional malevolents --

t he f ie nds ? R em em be r, t hi s w as i n t he d ay s w he n t he f ie nd s o ut nu mb er ed m an . A nd t hi s m an w as

h on or ed - - o r d is ho no red - - b y b ei ng i ni ti at ed i nt o d em on ho od , an event cau si ng g reat r ej oi ci ng i n H el l?

"And so Christ came down and was captured and imprisoned by means we can't guess but

w hi ch w e m ay s ur mi se w er e n ot b ey on d t he p ow er s o f t he d ev il s. O f c ou rs e, t he y c ou ld n ot i m pr is on

H im wi tho ut H is c on se nt . B ut H e t ac it ly ga ve i t f or r ea so ns o f H is ow n.

"And the Evil Man -- this Huma n-Turned-Fiend, was chosen to repres ent the person who wouldm as qu er ade as C hr i st - Retu rn ed -T o- Ear th . B ut , o nce s ur f aced, r eter res tr ial ized, as i t w er e, h e p layed

d ou bl e- cr os se r. P la ye d t ra it or t o H el l, t hi s t im e, a nd r ef us ed t o c ar ry o ut t he i nf er na l p la ns . A nd w as h e,

a s h is r ew ar d f ro m H ea ve n, a ll ow ed t o m ak e t he a ct ua l a sc en si on ? W hi le t he T ru e C hr is t, f or t he s ak e o f

o ne s acred s ou l t ho ug ht l os t f or ev er , g ladl y r em ai ned i n H is p ri so n i n H el l?

"Or, if not in prison, in Hell's boundaries? And became X, the Dark Messiah, the Black Savior?

"And the man who had come out of the tomb in the garden did not let Mary touch him --Noli me

t an ge r e! - - b ec au se h e wa s y et i n a de mon 's s ta te . Ma ry 's h an d w ou ld h av e t ouc he d of f f ro m h is r ob e,

n ot a s tr en gt heni ng d is ch ar ge o f v ir tu e, b ut a s eari ng f lash o f evi l. A nd D ou bt in g T ho mas w as n ot

d es tr oy ed b ec au se t he c el es ti al a ut ho ri ti es - - o r A ut ho ri ty - - h ad b y t he n d ec id ed o n t he d is p os it io n o f t he f al se C hr is t. A nd h ad s wi tched t he t remend ou s p ot en ti al i nv es ti ng h is r ob e and f lesh f ro m evi l t o

g ood . A lt ho ug h, t ha t i s a w ea k p oi nt i n m y h yp ot he si s, be ca us e o nl y t hr ou gh a m an 's f re e w il l c an a m an

chang e f ro m g oo d t o evi l.

"And, of course, all I have told you is only speculation, surmise. Possibly, the false Christ had

ma de a mi st ake w he n he pe rpe tr at ed e vi l i n He ll i n o rde r t o do goo d on Ea rt h a nd i n He ave n. He ma y

ha ve f ound out t ha t the e nd doe s not j ust if y the me ans , tha t doing e vi l in He ll -- e ve n if t o s inne rs who a re

perpetually condemned to suffer in any case -- is yet evil. And he had been allowed to escape briefly

o nl y t o m ak e h is p un is h ment even m or e s ev er e and d es ol at e.

"He was returned to Hell after a taste of Earth. And the Ascension was a pious fraud -- for

C hr is t w as s ti ll h er e, t ha t i s, i n H el l - - d ur ing w hi ch t he a pos tl es t ho ugh t H e w en t up b ut i n w hi ch, i n

r eali ty , h e ( th e escap ee) w en t d ow n. A s or t o f cel es ti al -t er rest ri al -i nf er nal r el at iv it y t heor y, as i t w er e. "

"Oh, my God," Cull thought. "I've wasted all this time with this nut!"

And then he thought, "Wait a minute! What am I thinking of? This is really wonderful!"

W on derf ul , n ot b ecau se o f t wo r easo ns C ul l h ad g iv en F yo do r b ut b ecau se o f t he u nm en ti on ed t hi rd .

"Hold on," he said. "We'll be temporarily disconnected, but the operator will hook us in again.

J us t d on 't h an g u p. "

He clicked off, then pressed a button in the base of the phone. Doing this put him in direct



16/85

con tact w it h S teng ar iu s, o ne o f t he m en s it ti ng at t he t ab le b el ow t he p latf or m. H e s um mari zed F yo do r' s

s to ry f or S teng ar iu s. A ft er h eari ng t hat S teng ar iu s w as i nt er es ted, C ul l g av e i t t o h im i n f ul l d et ai l.

"Think the Chairman'll buy it?" Cull said. "Myself, I see at least four distinct markets -- rich

m ar ke ts - - i n Fy od or 's s tu ff . A nd G od k now s w ha t e ls e c an be s que ez ed o ut of i t. "

"I agree, Cull," said Stengarius. "But, it's up toh i m . "

Stengarius cut Cull off and put in a call to the Chairman. This call had to go through the

C ha ir m an 's S ec re ta ry ; h e s at o n a b as al t c ha ir c ar ve d o ut o f t he s te ps o f t he p la tf or m. C ul l w at ch ed h im

a ns we r S te ng ar iu s, t he n c ut S te ng ar iu s o ff , a nd p ut i n a c al l t o t he C ha ir ma n.

The old man kept the phone hidden under his beard. He reached into the white tangled mass --

l ik e a ne st o f u nc ooke d s pa gh et ti or pa le w or ms - - a nd pul le d o ut t he ph one . For a l ong t ime he l is te ne d

without speaking, or, at least, without moving his lips, while Stengarius talked. Then, suddenly, the long

l on g h ai rs o ve r h is u pp er l ip p ar te d a l it tl e, a nd a b la ck h ol e a pp ea re d b en ea th t he m. H e t ur ne d h is h ea d

t ow ar d C ul l - - t he u ps id e- do wn s ci mi ta r o f a n os e b ri ef ly p ro fi le d - - a nd h is b la ck e ye s s ta re d a t C ul l.Cu ll kn ew a m an' s e ye s di d not s hi ne f rom r ef le ct ed l igh t a s a c at 's , but he c oul d s we ar he s aw t he ol d

m an 's s hi ne. P er haps , i t w as t er ro r r ef lect ed f ro m C ul l, t he b ri gh t n ig ht li gh t o f t er ro r.

The Chairman phoned to Stengarius, and Stengarius looked up at Cull and gestured with the

t hu mb and f or ef in ger m eeti ng t o m ak e an O .

Cull smiled. If this worked out, he might be advanced, might even find himself on a seat on the

bottom row. Maybe, some day, to the Secretaryship. Possibly -- though not probably -- to the

C hair mans hi p. T he C hair man h ad b een o n t he t hr on e f or a l on g l on g t im e.

Fyodor's voice roused Cull from his dream. "Mr. Cull, I haven't finished. Not by a long way."

Suddenly, Cull knew why the voice had seemed familiar. Of course! He had heard that same

vo ic e on ly a s hor t t ime a go i n hi s a pa rt me nt w he n h e h ad s ta rt ed t o r epl ac e t he pho ne a ft er Doc tor B. O.

had left.

"Down in the sewers!" said Cull. Breath sucked in on the other end. A pause. Then, a

s ta mm er in g i n s om e S la vi c t on gu e - - p ro ba bl y R us si an . H e m us t h av e b ee n s ho ck ed t o h av e r ev er te d t o

h is n at iv e s peech. F in al ly , h e s ai d, i n H eb rew, " Wh at d o y ou m ean?"

"There was an accidental connection on the phone earlier today," Cull said. "I heard you. Whichr em in ds m e. Y ou 'r e n ot a m em be r o f t he E xc ha ng e. W ha t w er e y ou d oi ng o n t he p ho ne ?"

Cull did not tell him he had heard only the final part of the conversation and only his voice. Let

panic shake what Cull did not know out of Fyodor. Rotten apples blown down by the wind of guilt. Or

s o h e h op ed .

"Mr. Cull," Fyodor said, "I don't know how much you heard. Or whose side you're on." He said

n ot hi ng o f w hy h e w as u si ng t he p ho ne.

"Man's side," Cull said. "You surely don't think I'm a stinking Judas? I wouldn't work for The

Authorities, damn them!"

"I don't want to say any more over the phone," Fyodor said excitedly. "I never thought of it



17/85

before. But The Authorities could be tapping this line."

"If they are, they've never given any evidence of it yet," Cull said. "The Exchange has been

o perati ng f or a l on g t im e, and T hey' ve n ev er i n terf er ed w it h any th in g. A t l east , T heir i n terf er en ce, i f any ,

was indirect."

Aga in, he be ga n s we at ing. Fr om t ime to t im e, m en di sa ppe ar ed. Pe rha ps , t he Aut hor it ie s, whomnobody had e ver s ee n but who ha d t o e xis t. . .?

"You know where I am," said Fyodor. "I'll wait for you here."

The phone clicked off.

Cull did not try to call Sven back. He decided, instead, to go directly to where Sven and Fyodor

w er e. H e ha d t o a sk pe rm is si on t o l ea ve . B ut , a ft er h e ha d e xpl ai ne d t ha t t hi s Fy od or w as a p os si bl e

t re as ur e h ou se , h e w as t ol d t o g o a he ad . F in d o ut e ve ry th in g.

"If you really dig up something for the good of the Exchange, you'll be a big man in the

organization," said Stengarius. "Bigger, anyway. Only, don't get too big for your britches. You'll get

w hi tt le d d ow n s o f as t y ou w on 't k no w w he re t he k ni ve s c om e f ro m. I 'd t ak e t hi s a ss ig nm en t m ys el f, b ut

I 'm t oo b us y n ow ."

What he meant was that he did not dare to leave for fear of the machinations of his colleagues.

O nc e a m an w or ke d h is w ay u p t o F ir st T el ep ho ne r, h e b ec am e a p ri so ne r. H e c ou ld n ot c ha nc e l ea vi ng

h is p os t . B ut t her e w er e com p en sat io ns .

One of the compensations was Phyllis Nilstrom. She was standing in the lobby, talking to

R ob er t so n, F ir st T el ep ho ner o f t he S econ d S hi ft , w hen C ul l l ef t t he E xchang e F lo or . S he w as a b eaut if ulw om an o f m ed iu m h ei gh t. H er h ai r w as ash -b lo nd e, p ul led b ack t ig ht ly f ro m h er b ro ad f or eh ead and

f as tened i n a l ar ge P sy ch e k no t. S he h ad l on g s li m l eg s, cur vi ng f ir m b ut to ck s, a n ar ro w w ai st , f lat

s to ma ch , a nd b re as ts t ha t w er e f ir m a nd f ul l b ut n ot v ul ga rl y s o. H er v oi ce w as h us ky .

Cull loathed her.

Shortly after he had joined Exchange, he had gone to a party given by Cardinal, Head

T el ep ho ner o f S ecto r X XB -1 A/ A. H e w as i n tr od uced t o P hy ll is b y C ar di nal, w ho i nf or med h im h e

cou ld s hake h an ds w it h h er b ut t hat w as t o b e h is l as t i nt im at e con tact w it h h er . C ul l h ad d ut if ul ly l au gh ed ,

but, during the rest of the party, he could not keep his eyes off her. He wanted her more than he had everw ant ed a ny w oma n. B ut he w as no f oo l; he di d n ot ma ke i t a p pa re nt . E ve ry c ha nc e he got t he re af te r, h e

m an ag ed t o t al k t o h er , i n t he E xchang e l ob by , at p ar ti es , s om et im es , w hen h e con tr iv ed " accid en tal"

m ee ti ng s. T he n, w he n h e h ad w or ke d h is w ay u p t o H ea d T el ep ho ne r f or s ec to r X XB -8 N/ B a nd c ou ld

o ff er h er s om et hi ng t o r an k w it h C ar di nal' s p os it io n, h e h ad n er ved h im self t o t el l h er h e l ov ed h er .

K no wl ed ge o f h er r el at io ns hi p at t hat t im e w it h C ar di nal h ad h el ped h im g ai n cou rage, f or h e k new t hat

t he t wo w er e u nh ap py w it h e ac h o th er .

To his surprise and delight, Phyllis had responded. She had told him that she'd love to move into

h is apart ment . T hat i s, i f s om et hi ng h ap p en ed t hat w ou ld d em ot e C ar di nal. A t p resent , C ar di nal s ti ll h el d

m uc h p ow er . I f s he l ef t h im f or C ul l, s he m ig ht d is ap pe ar , m ur de re d a nd d ro pp ed i nt o t he s ew er s b y

C ar di na l' s a ge nt s. C ul l d id n ot h av e e no ug h p ow er t o p ro te ct h er .

A short time later, Zabbini, Telephoner for one of the smaller sectors, was caught by two of



18/85

C ar d in al 's b od yg uard s i n C ar di nal' s apart ment . T hey k il led h im and t hen s ear ch ed f or t heir b os s. N ot

f in di ng h im i n h is r oo ms , t hou gh t he y k ne w h e h ad n ot l ef t, t he y l oo ke d o ut t he w ind ow . A c row d

g at hered ar ou nd a b od y s ho wed t hem w hat h ad h ap pened. Z ab bi ni h ad d ef en es t rat ed C ar di nal .

Phyll is c ame home a lit tl e la te r a nd expr es se d much surpri se but l itt le gr ief . Af te r the i nques t

con du ct ed b y t he E xchang e F ir st D et ecti ve, P hy ll is w as abs ol ved o f any d ir ect b lame. I t w as r ev ealed

t hat Z ab bi ni h ad b een i n l ov e w it h P hy ll is and t hat h e m us t h av e k il led C ar di nal w it h t he ex pect at io n o f g et ti ng h er as h is m is tr es s.

Cull had been a little shocked at this. He had no doubt that Phyllis had encouraged Zabbini to kill

C ar di na l s o t ha t s he c ou ld g et r id o f h im a nd a ls o b ec om e C ul l' s m is tr es s.

But he forgot about that when he took her to bed. She was the most passionate woman he had

ever known.

Or so he thought until the day she left him for Stengarius, the First Telephoner. Cull had made a

big scene, had called her every name he could think of in Hebrew, English, and demon-speech. Phyllisha d t he n t old him t hat s he w as f ri gi d, t ha t she had to for ce he rs el f t o l et a ny ma n t ouc h he r. But s he

wa nt ed a ll t he good t hi ngs of l if e -- her wor ds - - a nd s he c oul d ge t t he m e as il y by a ll owi ng me n t o get

excit ed o ver h er b eaut y and b y p re tend in g p as s io n.

Cull had threatened to tell Stengarius this fact. She had laughed and said that, if he did, she'd tell

S te ng ar iu s t ha t h e w as l yi ng a nd t ha t h e w as s ch em in g t o g et h er b ac k. H ow l on g w ou ld h e l as t a ft er t ha t?

Now, as he passed her in the lobby, she spoke to him.

Cull said, "How are you?" and went to pass by.

"I'm fine," she replied, and she smiled. She had very white teeth.

"I want to speak to you alone," she said.

Robertson looked st artled. He glanc ed with narr owed eyes at Cull, then said, "Be s eeing you,

Phyl."

"Not for some time," she answered. She reached out and placed her hand on Cull's arm.

"I understand you're taking a long trip," she said. "Way out."

He trembled a little at the touch of her hand, and he became sick with the pain of wanting her. He

l oa th ed he r, bu t he w an te d h er b ac k.

"It's. . . it's. . . a business. . . tr. . . trip," he said, hating himself because his stammer was betraying

him.

She smiled coolly and said, "Don't be nervous. Stengarius knows I'll be talking to you. He won't

t hi nk t he w ron g t hi ng . Y ou h av e n ot hi ng t o w or ry a bo ut . I c on vi nc ed hi m t ha t y ou a nd I a re t hr oug h. "

"I'm not the least bit worried abouth i m , " C ul l s ai d. H e h op ed h is v oi ce d id n ot s ou nd a s h ol lo w

to her as to him.



19/85

"I'm sure you're not," she said, her smile leaving no doubt that she thought him scared out of his

skin.

"Damn it, I'm not!" he said harshly.

"I didn't stop you to discuss your state of terror. So drop it. The facts are these. The Chairman

w ant s m e t o go t o t he s am e s ec tor yo u' re g oi ng t o. Y ou a re t o be m y bod ygu ar d. Or ," s he s mi le d a ga inbut with an unpleasant curl of lip, "my watchdog. Stengarius didn't want me to go, but the Chairman

or de re d i t. So, he ha d t o s wa ll ow t he bi tt er p il l. B ut he 's t ryi ng t o p ut a l it tl e s uga r on i t. Y ou' re t he

sugar."

"What do you mean?"

"I mea n," s he s ai d, suddenly s pe aking in Engl ish, " that he thinks I 'm pe rfe ct ly s afe wi th you. He

k no ws w ha t a n e ag er b ea ve r y ou a re t o a dv an ce y ou rs el f a nd h ow y ou 'd d o n ot hi ng t o j eo pa rd iz e y ou r

c ha nc es . A ls o, t ha t yo u w ou ldn' t h ave t he g ut s t o m ake a pa ss a t me ."

Cull felt the heat climbing up his face. He tried to laugh but failed.

"Pe rha ps," she sa id, "bea ver was the wrong de scri ption of you. Wouldn't ja cka l be the bette r

t er m? A j ackal amo ng t he l io ns , J ack C ul l?"

For a moment, he did not understand her. It had been so long since he had spoken English that

h e h ad a lm os t f or go tt en i ts u se . M or eo ve r, h is m em or y w as d im . W ha t w er e l io ns ? W ha t w as a j ac ka l?

Then, the images of the beasts came. They were blurred but not so much that he did not feel the

s ti ng of t he me taphor. And he kne w why she had us ed Engli sh. Onl y wit h it c oul d she ma ke a pun on hi s

name.

Why, you bitch, you frigid Stengarian whore! he thought. His face was composed though he

k new h is f lu sh exp os ed t he ang er w it hi n.

"Well, Jack Cull, shall we go?" she said. She beckoned to a servant. The fellow picked up her

briefcase, and he and Cull followed her out of the Exchange.

A palanquin sat on the street between its four carrie rs. It was cons tructed on long bones cleverly

f it ted t og et her and cov er ed w it h s ki n. T he f ou r m en , s eein g P hy ll is , l if ted t he p al an qu in o ff t he s tr eet. T he

s er va nt p la ce d h er b ri ef ca se o n o ne e nd . S he c li mb ed i nt o t he p al an qu in a nd s at u p, h er b ac k s up po rt edby a pile of cushions formed of skin and stuffed with rocktree leaves.

Phyllis said, "Let's go." The servant began trotting ahead of the palanquin, and he shouted, "Way

f or t he E xchang e! W ay f or t he l ad y o f t he E xchang e! "

The crowd in the street parted to form an aisle for her passage. To them, sight of the telephone

r ec ei ve r w av ed i n t he s er va nt 's h an d w as e no ug h. T he E xc ha ng e w as n ot t o b e t ri fl ed w it h.

Cull had to take anot her me ans of tra nsportati on. Under othe r c ondi tions, he would have bee n

proud of this. For the first time, he was on a mission important enough for him to be given a ticket on the

Piggyback Express.

But, now, he shone only with reflected luster. To ride on a man's back while she, the deepfreeze



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bitch, was carried on a palanquin was to be struck in the face.

He jumped upon the back of the first pony, a big Negro with long muscular legs. Cull's legs went

a ro un d t he m an 's w ai st a nd b ot h a rm s w en t o ve r h is s ho ul de rs . T he N eg ro h oo ke d h is a rm s u nd er C ul l' s

l egs t o s uppor t hi m, a nd of f he r an a t f ul l s pe ed.

For about half a mile he ran, going fast the first quarter mile, then slowing down at an exponentialr at e t he l as t q ua rt er . B y t he t im e t he y h ad r ea ch ed t he n ex t p on y, h e w as b re at hi ng n oi si ly a s a s te am

e ngi ne. Af ter he had le t Cul l down of f hi s ba ck, he f el l on t he s tone of t he s tr eet . He ha d gi ve n a ll he ha d.

Cull jumped up on the next man, a short but muscular blond, and he, too, ran as fast and as far as

h e c ou ld u nt il h is l eg s a lm os t g av e w ay . A nd h e s to pp ed s ud de nl y a nd d ro pp ed h is a rm s a nd a ll ow ed

C ul l t o s li p o ff h is b ac k. S o i t w er it , m il e a ft er m il e a s p eo pl e s ca tt er ed t o m ak e w ay f or t he m. P ig gy ba ck

after piggyback, while the leaning granite buildings and gargoyle faces spun by.

Long before Cull had reached the end of the line, he had decided that, prestige or no, it was a

h el l o f a w ay t o t ra ve l. T ou gh e no ug h o n t he h um an s te ed s, f or t he y o ft en d ro pp ed i n t he ir t ra ck s a ft er u nl oa di ng h im . B ut t he y w er e i n c on d it io n, w ou ld r ec ov er q ui ck ly , a nd d id no t h av e f ar t o g o. H e w as

n ot i n c on di ti on , a nd h e h ad a l on g d is ta nc e t o t ra ve l. B y t he t im e h e h ad r ea ch ed t he d es ti na ti on , h e

w ou ld b e s o s ti ff a nd s or e h is m us cl es w ou ld c re ak . T he s ki n o n t he i nn er p ar t o f h is t hi gh s, w he re t he y

h ad r ub be d a ga in st t he a rm s o f h is c ar ri er s, w as b ur ni ng . A nd h e w as s ea si ck o r b ou nc es ic k, w ha te ve r

you pl ea se . T hr ee t ime s he ha d t o ha lt h is poni es w hi le he got r id of hi s s oup a nd br ea d. A nd t he s un

s ud d en ly b ec am e w ea k, d im , a s i t d id e ve ry t we lv e h ou rs b y t he h ou rg la ss . I t w as n ot b la ck b ut a f ai nt ly

l it o rb , a s un b ecom e a m oo n. A ll n ig ht h e r od e, h an gi ng o n, l eg s b ur ni ng , s to mach o scil l at in g l ik e a

pendulum. All night, and then the sun suddenly flared up again (no dawn or dusk here). He rode all the

ne xt da y, s to ppi ng on ly onc e t o e at a nd t he n to o t ir ed t o do i t. Li ft ing a s tone s poon t o hi s l ips , he f el l

a sl ee p. H is pon y wo ke hi m a t on ce a nd s ai d t he y h ad t o g o. O rde rs . T he n h e f ou nd o ut t ha t, i f yo u we re

t ir ed eno ug h, y ou cou ld s leep u nd er alm os t any con di ti on s.

But what a sleep! He would mount drowsily on the back of his pony and sink into joggled

u n co ns ci ou sn es s. T he t ro ub le w as t ha t t he s le ep l as te d n o m or e t ha n a f ew m in ut es . W he n h is c ar ri er

r ea ch ed t he e nd o f h is r un , h e w ou ld r el ea se h is h ol d. C ul l w ou ld f al l o ff t he m an 's b ac k, c ra sh i nt o t he

s to ne , a nd w ak e w it h a j ar . B ef or e h e r ec ov er ed f ro m t he s ho ck , h e w ou ld c li mb , w it h a ss is ta nc e, o nt o

t he n ex t b ack. H is s wi ft ly b eati ng h eart and o verd ri ven adr en al in s ys tem w ou ld k eep h im awake f or

perhaps ten or fifteen seconds. Then, he would slide into unconsciousness again, only to be hurled up

o ut o f t he d ee ps b y a no th er p ai nf ul i mp ac t a s h is p ony l oo se d h im .

Nor did complaints help him. The pony would reply that it was not his duty to ease Cull gently tot he gr ound , t o b aby h im s o he w as no t a wa re of b ei ng t ra ns fe rr ed t o a no the r c ar ri er . T he p ony h ad n ot

been so instructed. It became evident that every one of Cull's beasts of burden disliked his job, regarded

i t a s h um il ia ti ng a nd d eg ra di ng . T he o nl y r ea so ns t he y h ad h ir ed o n w er e ( 1) j ob s w er e s o s ca rc e t ha t a ny

job was better than nothing and (2) the job was a means of getting into the organization and possible

promotion in the Exchange.

But Cull was sick and tired, and he did not see why his status was not now high enough to permit

cert ai n p ri vi leges. S o, at o ne s to p, w her e an E x ch an ge t el eph on e w as n earb y, h e p ho ned S teng ar i us . H e

complained bitterly, in a hoarse voice, itemizing the rude abandonments, consequent shocks and skinned

e lb ow s, k ne es , a nd n os e, a nd h is b ur ne d t hi gh s. A m an i n h is p os it io n s ho ul d n ot h av e t o p ut u p w it h s uc h

indignities. By treating Cull so cavalierly, the ponies were expressing their contempt of the Exchange,

and t hi s s ho ul d n ot b e p er mi tt ed .



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Thi s l ast ar gume nt c onvinc ed Ste nga rius. He c al le d t he l oca l s upe rvi sor and told him what he

m us t d o. W it ho ut any b ackt al k, t he s up er vi s or agr eed . A nd h e p ho ned ahead t o v ar io us s up er vi s or s .

A ft er t ha t, t he p on ie s s li d C ul l g en tl y t o t he s tr ee t a nd h oi st ed h im o nt o t he b ac k o f t he f re sh r un ne r. B y

t he n, h e b eg an w on de ri ng w hy h e d id n ot , a s P hy ll is d id , r at e a p al an qu in . H e c ou ld s le ep t hr ou gh t he

w ho le j ou rn ey w hi le s tr et ch ed o ut o n a s of t s ea t.

He phoned again at another s top. Stengarius e xploded. "Who in hell do you think you are? Onlya Fi rs t P hone r r at es a p al an qui n. And y ou' re a l on g wa ys f rom t ha t! G et ba ck i n t he s addl e, Cu ll , a nd r id e

l ik e b lazes! Y ou 'r e w as ti ng t he E x ch an ge's t im e! A nd d on 't t hi nk t hi s o ut -o f- li ne r eq uest w on 't b e h el d

again st y ou at y ou r n ex t m er it r ev iew! "

"Yes, sir," Cull said humbly. He didn't dare to mention that the First Phoner's mistress had a

palanquin. Back to the backs he went. By then, he was so tired he did not wake even during the

t ra ns fe rs . H ow f ar h e w en t i n t ha t c on di ti on , h e d id n' t k no w. T he n, h e w as s ha ke n a wa ke a nd s aw S ve n' s

broad red face with its thick orange moustache hovering over him.

"Rough, ain't it?" he said grinning. "Think it's worth it?"

"It'd better be," Cull said as he rose painfully. "Got any coffee?"

"Fyodor's waiting at the cafe," Sven said. "Come along."

The earthquake struck before they had taken six steps. The stone slab beneath their feet

t re mb le d. A l ow r um bl in g c am e a f ew s ec on ds l at er . T he b ui ld in gs o n b ot h s id es o f t he s tr ee t b eg an

swaying.

Cull threw himself on the stone, digging into it with his fingers. His eyes were closed, and he was

praying that the buildings would not fall. Massive as they were, they had been known to collapse.

He did not know why he prayed to be spared. Death would have been a merciful -- if

t em p or ar y - - e sc ap e. O f c ou rs e, h e w ou ld w ak e u p a ga in , a nd h e w oul d b e w he re he h ad b ee n b ef or e.

W el l, n ot qu it e, f or h e m ig ht , i n t he m ea nt im e, h av e b ee n d is ch ar ge d f ro m d ea th a t a p la ce f ar f ro m he re

a nd wo ul d f in d h im se lf o ut o f a j ob w it h t he Ex cha ng e. B ec au se of t he m ane uv er in g t ha t w en t o n i n t he

o rg an iz at io n, t we nt y- fo ur h ou rs ' a bs en ce c ou ld g et y ou o ut i nt o t he c ol d. T ha t i s, n ot k ic ke d o ut o f i t, j us t

a l os s o f s en io ri ty .

The shaking and growling did not last more than thirty seconds. Afterward, there was silence.

Nobody cared to speak; they were too busy being relieved. Or they might have been afraid that even thev ib ra ti on o f a v oi ce w ou ld t ip o ve r a d el ic at el y b al an ce d b lo ck o f s to ne .

He rose and looked around. Not too much damage. Here and there, in the faces of the buildings,

a bl oc k of gr an it e h ad s hov ed f or wa rd a nd h un g ou t ov er t he s tr ee t. A w om an h ad l ea pe d o ut o f a

w indo w i n he r p ani c a nd wa s a m es s o n t he s tr ee t. Som e s la bs i n t he s tr ee t h ad t hr us t up wa rd, l ooki ng

l ik e h al f- op en ed d oo rs t o t om bs . S om e t el ep ho ne l in es w er e d ow n, h an gi ng f ro m t he g ar go yl es o n t he

building's where they had been strung.

Sven said, softly, "Have you noticed that the quakes have been getting more frequent lately?

P er ha ps w ha t t ha t d em on t ol d m e i s t ru e. "

"What demon?" Cull said.



22/85

"You know what liars they are. But, sometimes, they do tell you the truth, if only to make you

t hi nk i t' s a l ie . A nyw ay, h e s ay s t ha t E ar th i s i n t he t hr oe s of a n a to mi c w ar . T ha t t he i mm igr at io n f ro m

t he re i s s o h ea vy t ha t a lm os t a ll o f t he p op ul at io n m us t b e d yi ng. O r m ay be a ll . T he re 's n o w ay o f

d et er mi ni ng at w hat t im e event s t ak e p lace o n E ar th . T he t er rest ri al and i nf er nal chr on ol og ies are n ot

g ear ed t o get her . N ot i n a o ne- to -o ne r ati o, any way. "

"Yeah," Cull said. "If what I've been told is true, there's a lag. I met an old fellow once who toldm e t ha t h e k no ws f or a f ac t t ha t t ho se w ho d ie d i n t he l as t h al f o f t he s ix te en th c en tur y i m mi gr at ed h er e

before those who died in the first half. How do you figure that?"

"Who in Hell knows!" said Sven, his face becoming even redder. "Things here are just as

o bs cu re, p uzzl in g, and u nans werabl e as t hey w er e o n E ar th . I t hi nk t hat' s p ar t o f o ur p un is hm en t. K eep

u s g ue ss in g, k ee p u s i ns ec ur e. I f o nl y w e k ne w! B ut w e d on 't ! E ve r! "

"Is it better not to have been born and thus never have existed?" Cull said. "Sometimes, many

t im es , I t hi nk s o. B ut , even w it h all t he m is er ies, f ru st rati on s, h um il iati on s, anx ieti es , and p ai ns t hat w e h ad

on Ea rt h a nd ha ve h er e, we s ti ll ge t a c hu ckl e, a go od be ll y- la ug h, a pi ec e of a ss . A nd we 'r e a wa re . N ota n ot hi ng ness , a zer o, f lo at in g i n a v acuu m. "

"You don't believe that," Sven said.

They had to slow down for a moment. A manna cloud had been forming for some time over this

area, and n ow t he f il am en ts h ad b eg un p recip it at in g. T hey f lu tt er ed d ow n, w hi pp in g t hi s w ay and t hat,

w hi le p eo pl e r an b ac k a nd f or th b el ow t he m. O ne s tr uc k n ot t we nt y y ar ds a wa y f ro m t he m, a nd t he y

w at ch ed w hi le a m ob g at hered aro un d i t and t or e away l ar ge chu nk s o f g reyi sh -b ro wn w af fl e- li ke

m at er ia l o r s tr in gs o f s pa gh et ti -s tu ff . A s s oo n a s a ny on e h ad a h and fu l o r a n a rm fu l, h e r an . S om e g ot

a wa y w it h t he ir l oo t; o th er s h ad t o d ro p i t a nd f le e f or t he ir l ive s w he n f ac ed w it h t he l oc al of fi ci al

g at herer s. E very n ei gh bo rh oo d h ad i ts o ff i ci al g at her er s. O th er w is e, t here'd b e abs ol ut e chaos . S om ew ou ld g et m or e t han eno ug h. O th er s w ou ld g o h un gr y u nt il t he n ex t clo ud d ro pp ed i ts n ut ri ti ou s l oad o r

t hey cou ld b ar ter s om et hi ng p reci ou s f or t he m an na.

Cull thought, what a hell of a way to provide food for a world! And he wondered again, for the

t en t ho us an dt h t im e, w hat m ad e t he m an na clo ud s f or m and w hat con st it ut ed t heir chemi cal m ak e up . H e

t hank ed h im self t hat h e w or ked f or t he E x ch an ge and d id n' t h av e t o d ep en d o n h is n ei gh b or ho od

suppliers for manna. You got some very vicious controllers sometimes; they demanded rather peculiar

s er vi ce s f or a n e xt ra s ha re . H e k ne w; h un gr y, h e' d g iv en i n t o s om e o f t he d em an ds b ef or e h e s ma rt en ed

u p and j oi ned t he E xchang e.

By then, they had come to one of the sidewalk cafes found everywhere in The City. The

e ar th q ua ke h ad t um bl ed s om e o f t he s to ne t ab le s, b ut t he se w er e b ei ng s et u p a ga in . T he d em on w ai te r

w as s er vi ng t he c us to me rs r oc kt re e c of fe e. S ev en s to pp ed b y o ne o f t he r ou nd t ab le s ( su pp or te d b y a

s in gl e t hi ck s to ne p ed es ta l) a ro un d w hi ch f iv e m en s at . O ne r os e t o g re et t he m, a nd C ul l k ne w b y h is

v oi ce t ha t h e w as F yo do r.

Fyodor was a thick-bodied short man with a big bald round head and an uncut untrimmed

g re y- sh ot b ea rd t ha t h un g d ow n t o h is w ai st . H is f or eh ea d w as t al l; h is e ye br ow s, b us hy . H e h ad l it tl e

blue eyes above a blob of a nose, high and prominent cheekbones, and thick red lips. His temples were

d ee pl y i nd en te d, a s i f t he y h ad c av ed i n. D ee p b lu e s ha do ws a nd p ou ch es u nd er h is e ye s m ad e h im l oo k

a s i f he s el dom s le pt a nd t ha t un ea si ly .

"Ah, Mr. Cull," he said in a thin high-pitched voice as he shook Cull's hand with a thick stubby



23/85

h an d. " Si t d ow n, h av e a c up o f c of fe e w it

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