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TheLightofLilithbyG.MacDonaldWallis
CHAPTERONE
Masonhadthoughttheatmosphereunusuallydense.His"babybullet"hadwobbledanddancedcrazilyastheydescendedfromthemothershiptothespeckledriotofcolorthatwasthesurfaceoftheplanetLilith.Nowthathestoodhereonwhatshouldbethefamiliargroundofthespaceport,onehandrestinglightlyonthewarmsideofhisentrycapsule,hefeltratherthansawadifferenceabouttheplace—afaintluminescenceinthesunlightthathedidn'tremember;acuriousthicknessintheair.
Well,Masonthought,he'donlyreportedfromheretwicebeforeandwasn'texpectedtoknowallofthelocalphenomena.Satisfiedatthisinnerexplanation,heleanedoverandadjustedthecontrolsofthecapsule,closedthehatchandpattedtheMirandatwiceforluck.Hesteppedbackandwatchedhisbabysoarunerringlyintothesky.Intenminutesshewouldbesafelybackinthebigbellyofhermothership.
ThemomentMasonturnedtowalktowardtheportofficeshehadanimmediate,disquietingsuspicionthatheshouldn'thavesentherback.Hisneckprickleduncomfortablyandhisheartleaptinanunreasonablestaboffear.HewheeledaroundinapanicandlookedfortheMiranda.Toolate.Shewasgone,wellonherwaynowbeyondtheatmosphere.
Idiocy,Masonfairlyshoutedathimself,fightingtoputdownthestrangeterror.Sheeridiocy!Hehadn'tbeenreportinganywherenearlongenoughtoacquirethatconditionknownintheFederationas"spacehysteria."Ifanyofhispresentsensationspersisted,Masonpromisedhimselfhe'dgostraighttoUlinskiwhowasrighthereonLilith.
Lilith.OlderthanEve,thefirstwifeofAdam;theancientfemalespiritofevilsplendor—Lilith!Whatanameforanexperimentalplanet,Masonthought,andunexpectedlyfoundhimselflaughing.Withreliefatfindinghisemotionsnormaloncemore,hestrodepurposefullytowardthelowbuildingsflankingthefield.
Simpkins,TropeandPlummef,Masonrepeatedtohimself,tryingtorememberthenamesandfacesofthestaff.They'dbehere,andpossiblyYeeMon,ifhewerelucky.HehopedthatYee'spresenceattheportmightsavehimatripintotheinterior.ButtheViningsistersweresuretobeoutatthesecondlabandtheFederationwouldinsistheseethem.
Masonsighed,resigninganyhopeofaneasystayattheportandfaintlydreadingtheprospectofthedifficulttripoverthemountainsandintotheinteriorjungles.Wouldtheyevergetaroundtoauthorizingflyersinsteadoflandroversforaplacelikethis!
Now,inwhichlabwouldHerbGregsonbe,hewonderedvaguely.AndLouisaWenger.Shewasonememberofthestaffhewouldn'tmindtrekingmanymileswithoutalandrovertosee.ThinkingofLouisa,Masonsmiledwarmlyandbegantowalkalittlefaster.
Suddenly,withoutanywarning,hewaspickedupoffhisfeetandblownatleastsixfeetintotheair.Hewhirledarounddizzilychokingonmouthfulsofafine,blacksubstancethatspiraledaroundhimandbitfiercelythroughhisclothing,stabbinghimwiththesharpprecisionofshot.Hefelltothegroundgaspingandspitting,nearlyblindedbytheblackstuffthatstillclungtohiseyes,sendingviciousstabsofpainintotheretinas.
Then,assuddenlyasithadcome,itwasgone.Thestuffpracticallydancedawayfromhim,leavingwithaswiftnessthatlookedalmostlikeflight.Masoncautiouslyrubbedhissmartingeyesbuttherewasn'taspeckleft.Hefollowedtheblackcloud,watchingasitspiraledlikeatopoverthebuildingsandthenseemedtodissipatebeforehiseyes.Gone!Therewasnothingleftofitbutthepaininhiseyesandaseverewrenchinhisbackwherehehadfallen.
Curiously,herealizedthathehadn'tbeenafraid.Hewonderedmomentarilyattheinaccuraciesofhisreactions:fearatthewrongtime,andcompletesteadinessinthemiddleofthestorm.No,notstorm—thatridiculoussmall
steadinessinthemiddleofthestorm.No,notstorm—thatridiculoussmalltornado.Butwasitatornado?Wasitanysortofstorm?Masonfrowned,tryingtorecallanimpressionthathadseemedterriblyvividsixfeetupinthespiral.Butallhecouldremembernowwasafaintchildlikedreamofdustandhousesspinning—Oz!Ofcourse,theage-olddreamofajourneytoOz.Buthadthatbeentherealimpression?
Forthefirsttimesincehe'dlanded,Masonbecameuncomfortablyawareoftheabsolutestillnessoftheport.Adeadquietthatpermeatedslowly,makinghimintenselyawareofthebeatingofhisheart.Hismovements,ashepulledhimselfupfromtheground,wereunnaturallyloud.Hecouldhearhisownexhalationandtookadeepbreath,unconsciouslytryingtoholditaslongaspossible.
Helookedaround,noticingtheemptinessofthefield,finallyunderstandingthatalltheordinarysoundsofaspaceportwereunreasonablyandunmistakablyabsent.
ForthesecondtimeathrilloffearcoursedthroughMasonandhebegantorun,loudly,asonlyasolitaryhumaninavastlyemptyspacecanrun.Ashereachedthedoorofthemainbuildingandtoreitopenherealizedhewasyelling.Yellingwithanhystericalviolencesostrangethathearingitbroughthimupsharply.Itcouldn'tbehemakingthosemaniacalsounds.
Heforcedhimselftostandquitestillandtakedeepbreaths.WherewasUlinski?Atthemomentitwasallhecaredtoknow.Somehowithadregisteredonhissensesthatthebuildingsweredeserted,thattheofficeswereanamorphousmassoftumbledpapersandoverturnedchairs.Evenrunningoverthefieldhehadunderstoodthattheusualquotaofparkedlandroversweregone.
ButatthismomentMasonwasquitecertainthatsomethingserioushadaffectedhispsycheandhewanteddesperatelytoseeDr.Ulinskibeforeitwastoolate.Rigid,breathingdeeply,hestoodthereclenchingandunclenchinghisfistsuntilasound,thefirstsoundotherthanhisown,madehimspinaroundinterrifiedswiftnessandsearchthedimcornersoftheroom.
Itwasamoan,thefaintwhimperofsomethinginpain,anditwasunmistakablyahumansound.ThiscertaintybroughtMasonaroundsoabruptlythathealmostcriedwithrelief.Andimmediately(laterhethoughtitquitemiraculous)allofMason'scontrolreturned.Itwaslessthanaminutebeforehis
miraculous)allofMason'scontrolreturned.Itwaslessthanaminutebeforehisfearhadentirelyvanishedandhewasbendingcarefullyoverthebroken,mutilatedbodyofHerbGregson.
"Mason,Istayedtowarnyou,"Gregsonwhispered."Knewyouwerecoming.Othershavegone…"Hisbreathingbecamemoreandmoredifficultuntilthewordsthatfollowedwereonlydisjointedgasps,blurtedoutwithafinaleffortofwill."Otherlab…there.Ourfault,shouldn'ttamper…Becareful…"
"Whathappened?"Masonurgedasgentlyashecould."Whodidthis?"
ButGregson'seyeswereclosedandhecouldonlysay,"No…No,ourfault,"beforehewasgone.
Masonroseslowlyandstoodlookingdownatthepitifulbodyforamoment,astrangenewcompassionstirringwithinhim.AcompassionthathadsomethingtodowithmeetingsoviolentadeathhereonLilith.Hedidn'tbelievethathewouldfeelsodeeplyhaditoccurredonEarthorevenononeoftheothersettledplanets.
Hewalkedovertothewindowandlookedoutatthepanoramaacrossthefield.InthedistancetherainbowrangeofLilith'sstrangecolorsmadethesurroundingvegetationlooklikeanartist'sdreamofaworldgonecrazy.Thefaintlypurplehueofthetallferntreescastlongshadowsacrosstheterrain.
Gregsonshouldhavetobeburiedoutthere,Masonthoughtwithaninstinctiverepugnance.Hewouldhavetolieoutthere,underthemulticoloredearththatwouldshiftaridchange,eventuallyclaimingGregsonasitsown.MasonhadaswiftandnostalgicvisionofthequietbrownloamofEarth,amorefittingrestforaman.Hewas,atthatmoment,bitterlysorrythattheFederationhadeverdiscoveredLilith.
Masonhadbeensixwhenhewaschosen.Barelytheminimumageforpreparation.Atallboyforhisage,withashockofthicksandyhairandseriousdarkeyes,hehadgrownduringtheyearsofhisschoolingintoataller,morematurereplicaofthechildhehadbeen.Therigorsofspacetraininghadgivenhimahard,leanlook.Buthisjobasareporter,withthemanyquiethoursofwritingitrequired,hadallowedhimtoretainthatcontemplativeseriousnesswhichhadbeensocharacteristicofhimasachild.
whichhadbeensocharacteristicofhimasachild.
Hehadbeenhomeonlyoncesincethattimetwentyyearsagowhenheboardedtheschoolshiptoprepareforhislifeinspace.Notuntilthislasttrip,whenhehadbeenassignedagaintoreportonthestationatLilith,hadheeverquestionedthatdecisionmadeonawindyhillonEarthduringasummerevening,whenhelayonhisbacksuckingalongbladeofgrassandstaringupatthestars.Evenatsixhehadrecognizedtheprecariousnessofhischildhoodandunderstoodthatintakingthestarshewouldberelinquishingthemostpreciousyearsofhislife.
Thatmomentoftenreturnedtohim,withtheodorsofthedampground,theslickfeelingofwetgrassagainsthistongueandthephysicalconnectionwiththegroundofEarththathehadfeltsodeeply.Butnoneofthiscouldprevailagainstthatblazingsightintheheavens.Whatchildcouldlooklongattheuniversewithoutanunbearablelonging?
Masonwasacceptedquicklywhenhiswishwasmadeknown.HehadalreadybeentestedinhisfirstEarthschool,andwasoneofonlythreeboysinhistownchosenforlifeinspace.Hisparentsmadetheseparationagainsttheirwill,painfullybutproudly.TheyhadlittlechoicebetweentheFederationtestsandthewishoftheironlychild.
Andonthatfirsttripbackwhenhewasjustsixteen,MasonhadfoundEarthastrangehome.Hewassoaccustomedtootherplanets,tothecompanyoffellowreporters,tohiswork,thattheadjustmentwasalmostimpossible.Hisparentswerechanged.Hismemoryofthemhadbecomedimmedthroughthelongyearsofseparation,andmeetingagainwasastrainedandemotionallychargedencounter.Butsomehowtheimpressionsgatheredduringthattimehadstayedwithhim,andnow,inacornerofhisbeing,wasawishtoknowEarthagainandknowherwell,notasavisitorbutasachildwhohadcomehome.
Lilithonlyintensifiedthisfeeling.WhenMasonhadbeengivenhisorders,hehadfeltareluctancetosetfootagainonthisplanetwhichwassoutterlyunlikeanyother.MostoftheinhabitedorexperimentalplanetswereatleastsimilartoEarthinmanyrespects.Masonhadneverbeentoan"alien"planet.ReportersweresentonlytoMan'sexperimentalstationsortoreportonhumansettlerselsewhere.MasonwasaSpecialistinexperimentalstations,andofthemallheleastlikedLilithwithhereeriespectrumthatconfoundedhissensesandmadehimfeelisolatedintheuniverse.
madehimfeelisolatedintheuniverse.
Hiseyes,ashestaredoutthewindow,werehauntedwithalongingforhome.Theyburneddeeplyinhistanned,craggyface.SomeoneseeingMasonatthatmomentwouldhavebeenstruckbythecontrastbetweenthoseseriouseyesandhisairofyouthfulness.Therewassomethingnaiveandchildlike,somethingunfinishedaboutRussellMason.
Itwasn'tuntilhehadburiedGregsonthatMasonrememberedtheMiranda.Cursinghimselfforthesentimentthathaddisplacedhisowninstinctforsurvival,hedrewoutatinytransmitterfromhispocketandbeganacall.Againhewastoolate.Themothershiphadleftandwouldnowbeonherwaytothenextexperimentalstationtodropoffanotherreporter,notreturningforhimuntil—Masonbegantowonderaboutthatuntil.
Thenherememberedthatofcoursehecouldcontacttheshipanywherefromtheradioroomhereonthestrongerfrequency.Heracedbacktotheoffices,runningthroughthelabyrinthofcorridorsuntilhefoundit.OnelookatthecomplicatedapparatusandMasonrealizedthathedidn'tknowthefirstthingaboutit.Hepulledleversandswitches,pressedbuttons,turneddials,damningthementalitythathadsenthimhereequippedtouseonelittletransmittertohisship,andthatonlywhenshewasdirectlyabove.
Whyhadn'ttheypreparedhimforanemergencylikethis,hethoughtnumblyashesatdownontheTech'schair,knowingthathiseffortswerefutile.Spaceexplorationhadbecometoomundane,heguessed,theseexperimentalstationstooordinary.Well,theywantedareporterandtheyhadone.Hesupposedithadnevercrossedtheirmindsthatanythingcouldhappentothestaff.And,actually,ithadn'tcrossedhiseither.Inawayhehadnorighttoaccuse;heshouldhaveforseenanemergencyhimself.
Soberlyhetookpenandpaperanddrewupalist.Thenhewalkedcarefullythroughthebuildingseekingoutstoreroomsanddeliberatelyfashioningapackforhimself.Survivalkit,hethoughtironically,rememberinghishistory,wheneveryFederationmemberwasobligedtocarryone.Eventuallyhewasequippedwithwhatheconsiderednecessaryandwonderedwhetheranyofitwouldbeoftheleastvalue.
Thestoreroomfortheinteriorwasstackedwithaseeminglyfullinventory.
Thestoreroomfortheinteriorwasstackedwithaseeminglyfullinventory.Headmittedthisgrudgingly,realizingthatiftheentirestaffhadgonetothesecondlab—whichwashisardenthope—theywouldsurelyhavedepletedthesupplies.Still,Gregsonhadmanagedtosay,"Secondlab,"andMasonknewhehadbeenhangingonbyathread.Hewouldnothavesaidanythingthatwasn'tmeaningful.
Iftheothershadfledinsomesortofpanic,whichwashowitlooked,whatweretheyrunningfrom?MasonhadbeenthinkingincessantlyofGregson'slastwords:"Ourfault."HethoughtheknewwhatGregsonhadbeentryingtosay.Itwasn'tastaffmemberwhohadkilledhim;itwassomethingelse.Thattornado?Masondoubtedit.Eventhoughhe'dbeentossedaroundabit,ithardlyhadthenecessaryforce.Andtoo,there'dbeensomethingaboutGregsonthatspokeofsomethingmoreevilthanalocalstorm.
Hearrangedthekitonhisback,tookalastlookaroundandwalkedout.Hesearchedtheentirefieldforalandrover,hatingtogiveuptheideathatinsomenookorcrannyhe'dfindone.Thiswassomethinghereallycouldn'tunderstand.Eveniftheyhadleftinahurry,theywouldsurelyhavehadtheforesighttoleaveoneforhim.Theyknewhewascoming.
Theircomplementofthesturdylittlecarshadbeenasubstantialone.Howmany?Masontriedtorecallhisfiguresfromthelastreport.They'dbeenallotedatleastten.Tenroverstotakeasmallgrouptotheinterior?Itdidn'tmakesense.Grimly,Masonstartedwalking.
Hehadn'tgonemorethanamileuptheroughroadwhenhebecameawarethathisteethwereachingstrangely.Therewasaqueer,metallictasteinhismouthandtheairhadafaintlyleadencastandodorthatirritatedhisnostrilsandstunghiseyes.Washedueforanotherspininoneofthoseblackclouds?Masonfrownedandlookedaround,seeingnothingunusualexceptagraytinttothelandscapethatseemedtobegrowingstrongerashewalkedon.
Itwascertainlydifferentfromtheusualpatchworkriotofcolor,butthatdidn'tworryhimgreatly.Theunusualspectrumandrapidchangesofreflectionbroughtconstantsurprisetotheeye.ItwasLilith'scolor,infact,thathaddeterminedherfateasanexperimentalplanet.
Thetastegrewstrongerandthemetal,ifmetalitwas,causedeverynerveinhismouthtojumppainfully.Masonroundedacurve,comingoutfromthedense
hismouthtojumppainfully.Masonroundedacurve,comingoutfromthedensevegetationthatlinedtheroadtoaclearstretchthatlookedatleastahalfamilelongandwide.
Itwasacirculararea,lookingquitelikeaflatgraymetaldisc.Thecenterwasalmostblackwithconcentricringsofgraycirclingoutfromitandfadinggraduallyastheygrewtowardtheouterrim.AtfirstglanceMasonthoughthehadcomeuponaman-maderinkofsomesort—forwhatpurposehecouldn'timagine.
Thenherealizedthatitwastheearthitself,flattenedandpoundedwithamazingprecision.Whathadtheydonethisfor,hewonderedincredulously,andthenrealizedthatthelabheredidn'tevenhavetheequipmentnecessarytodoajoblikethis.
Withoutthinkingfurther,hehurriedontowardtheblackcenter.Hehadn'ttakenmorethantwostepsintothegraywhenherealizedthatwhereashehadstartedwalking,hewasnowbeingpulled.Magnetic!TheunderstandingcameinaflashandMasontriedtoturnaroundandgobackthewayhehadcome.Atfirsthemadenoheadway—hewastryingtorunandasheliftedhisfeettheywereforcedbackandhewouldfall,findinghimselfbeingdrawnclosertothecenter.
Then,indesperation,hefoundthatifhetooklongslowstrides,hecouldactuallymakeaslowbutcertainmovementtowardtheouterrim.Hisentirebodywasachingandthemetallicairhadinvadedhislungstothepointwherehewonderedifhecouldbreathemuchlonger.
Atlasthemadethefinalstrideandfoundhimselfoutsidethecircle.G&spingforair,heranofftotheside,throughthevegetation,untilhefoundaclearspotwheretheairwasfresher.Hislungsclearagain,heretracedhisstepstothegrayearth.Masonintendedtogoaroundthecircle.Ifhekepttotherim,theairwouldbejustbearableandhewouldn'tlosetheroadcompletely.
Asheapproachedthecircle,Masonsawwithhorrorthatthegraywasslowlycreepingtowardhim.Thesubstanceseemedtoengulftheearthittouched,suckingitinlikequicksandandthenspewingitbacktransformedtotheflatmetal.Itwasahorriblyslow,sickeningmovement.Then,ashewatched,itstopped.Therewasasudden,finalshudderofearthandtherimgrewstill.
Henoticedthattheouteredgewasnowthefaintestgraypossible.Beyondthatdimshadeitwouldfadeagaininto…what?White,Masonimagined,ormaybeblackagain.Atanyrate,thethinghadstopped.Hetriedtofightdowntheimagesthatcameintohismind,tellinghimselfthatthiswasobviouslysomeprojectofthestaff.Buthecouldn'tforgetanotherthingGregsonhadsaid:"Shouldn'ttamper…"
Wasthattheanswer?Weretheyalllyingundergroundthereinthemiddleofthatfantasticblackring?Masonrefusedthethoughtandcontinuedaroundtheedge,notevenglancingatitexcepttomakesureitwasn'tencroachingagain—orgrowing.Heshiveredatthespontaneousparallel.
Itwassheerrelieftocomeintouncontaminatedairagain,reliefeventomeettheglowinghuesofLilith.ThecolorswerequicklygettingstrongerandMasonknewitmustbenearingnoonwhenheretheworldbecamesounnaturallybrightandthechromasostrongthatspecialglasseswerenecessary.Masonhadrememberedtobringmorethanonepairandwasgladofthelenswhenheputthemon.ThroughthisshieldthelandscapetookonalmostEarthlycolorsandMasonfeltasharp,nostalgicpainashethoughtofhome.
AfamiliarsoundcamefromthedistanceandasMasonlookedupthehillthatnowroseinfrontofhim,hesawspeedingoverthecresttheincrediblywelcomeshapeofalandrover!
Masonrantothemiddleoftheroad,jumpingupanddownandwavinghisarmsabovehisheadwiththemostoverwhelmingsensationofreliefhe'deverknown.
CHAPTERTWO
Theroverscreameddowntheroad,madearecklessturninfrontofhimandbouncedtoahalt.ThetopflewbackandLouisaWengerwavedfranticallyathimtogetin.Masonwasalreadyrunningandhejumpedintothecar,pullingthetoppanelclosed.
"Neverbeensogladtoseeanybodyinmylife!"Masonsaid,takingoffhisglassesasLouisareleasedthebrake.
"Ihadtoleavewithoutlettinganybodyknow,"Louisasaidhurriedly."Theydidn'twantmetocomeatall,butIhadafeelingyoumightmakeit."Thecarwaspracticallyflyingnow,ataspeedwellbeyondthesafetylevel.
"Whatarewerunningfrom?"Masonmuttereduneasily,"It'sawfullyfast—"
"Matteroftime.Wehaveto,"Louisaanswered,"Thecircle.Isupposeyouwentaroundit,butitwasspreadingsoquickly—"
"It'sstopped,"Masonsaid.
Louisasloweddownandlookedathim."Stopped?"
"AsIwasgoingaround.Itstoppedquitesuddenly."
"Whatcolorwasit?"Louisainterruptedtensely.
"Lightgray,almostwhite."
Louisabrakedcompletelyandleanedoverthewheel,herwholebodyvisiblylimpwithrelief."ThankGod,"shebreathed."Wedidn'tknow.Well,actuallyweweren'tsureitwouldstopatthathuealthoughwesuspecteditmight.Itwasgrowingsoquicklywhenweleft."Shesatupsuddenlyandturnedtohim,"HowwasGregsonwhenyoufoundhim?"
Masonnoticedhowgauntshewas,hollow-cheekedwithshadowsunderherenormousblueeyes.Heruniformwaswrinkledanddirty,lookingasifshe'dbeensleepinginitfordays,andherusuallyroundfigurehadgivenwaytoanextremeslimnessthatMasonneverthelessstillfoundattractive.Hewas
extremeslimnessthatMasonneverthelessstillfoundattractive.Hewassurprisedattheextentofhisconcernforherandtookherhandgentlyashereplied."GregsondiedminutesafterIarrived.I'mafraidyou'llhavetotellmewhathappened."•Louisasatquitestill,hereyesfixedonthehorizon."It'salongstory,Russ.Howmuchdoyouknowaboutwhatwe'redoinghere?"
"IthoughtIknewexactlywhatyouweredoing,"Masonsaidtersely,"untilIarrivedandfoundadesertedfield,adyingmanandanatmospherethatseemedcrazyforLilith—tosaynothingofthatweirdcircleandablackcloudthattossedmearound."
^Ablackcloud?"
"Yes,andsomethingintheairthathadmeutterlyconvincedIwasgoingoutofmymind.You'dbettertellmeaboutit,becausebythetimewereachtheinteriorImayhaveworkedupahealthyantagonismtowardYeeMonforwhateverhe'sleftunreported."
"It'stoolateforthat,Russ,andactuallyitwasn'thisfault.TherewerecertainthingswewerereportingonlytoEckert."
"Eckert!"Mason*cried,"YoumeanEckert'sstaff,don'tyou?"
"No,ImeanEckerthimself.Wegaveourinformationtohimandwehavenoideawhoelse,ifanyone,inhisdivisionhastheknowledge.Imeanknowledgeofcertainexperiments."
"Eckert,"Masonwhistledsoftly.HaskellEckertwastheHeadofExperimentalScienceDivision,AmericanSectionofWorldStates.EvenMasonhadnevermettheman,althoughhewasaconsiderablywellknownreporter."Okay.Goon."
"Itdoesn'tmatternow,ofcourse,"Louisacontinued."We'recompletelycutoff."
"Whatdoyoumean?"Masoninterrupted."Thetransmitterseemedinperfectorderattheport.Ijustdidn'tknowhowtooperateit."
"Itwouldn'thavematteredifyouhad.Wecan'tgetthroughanyway.There'sanatmosphericinterferencewecan'tpenetrate.Thesunstormshavebeen
anatmosphericinterferencewecan'tpenetrate.Thesunstormshavebeenparticularlybadrecently."
Masonwasremindedoftheothers."Who'swithyou?"
"EverybodyexceptGregsonandMikePlummer.PlummerwaskilledimmediatelyandalthoughGregsonwasashortdistanceawayfromtheexplosion,hewaswoundedsobadlyheknewhe'dnevermakeittothesecondlab.Heinsistedonstayingwiththehopeofseeingyouintime."
"Hedid,"Masonsaid."Intimetowarnmeofsomething,buthenevergottotheexplanation.IdidthebestIcouldforhim,"headded,rememberingtheinadequateburial."Whatcausedtheexplosion,Louisa?"
"Color,"shesaidshortly."Wethinkitwasthecombinationofacertaincolorexperimentdoneatatimewhentherewereviolentsunspots.GregsonandPlummerwerebothworkingatthelittlelabinbackofthefuelstation.Weheardaterrificblast—terrific!Ican'tdescribeit.WerushedouttofindthelabcompletelygoneandGregsonlyingonthegroundinmuchthesameconditionthatyoufoundhim.
"Plummerhadsimplyvanished,likethelab.Fortunately,Gregsonwasabletogiveussomedataontheirexperiment,sowehavesomeknowledgetogoon.Hewantedustocomeouthereimmediatelybutwestayedattheportuntilyesterday.Hetriedtowarnus,too,butwedidn'tlisten,and—well,yousawthecircle.That'swhat'sleftofallthelandroversexceptthisone.Thisistheonewehadleftforyou.Aftertheotherswereallengulfed,wewentbacktogetit."
**Engulfedbywhat?"Masonasked,tryingtomakesenseofit,I'mstillinthedark."
"Ifwehadn'tknownbetterwe'dhavecalleditquicksand.Weweretowingtheextracarsalongforuseatthelab,andbecausewefeltwehadtogetthemawayfromtheport.Simpkinswasdrivingtheleadcarandhepassedoverthecenterspotbeforeanythingbegantohappen.Thenthecarhewastowingsuddenlystoppedandbeganmovingbackwards,takingSimpkins'caralongwithit."
Masontriedtoimaginetheenergythatcouldreverseavehicletravelingatthatspeedandshookhishead."Idon'tbelieveit."
thatspeedandshookhishead."Idon'tbelieveit."
"No,neitherdidwe.ButNeilTropewasfollowingandhesawit.Hestoppedandweallhadtofollowsuit.Simpkinsgotoutofhiscarandfoundthathewasbeingdraggedbacktothecenterspot—whichwasn'tblackthen—and,well,youwentaroundthething,soyouwouldn'tknow."
"Yes,Iwould,"Masoncorrected."IwentaroundonlyafterI'dbeenpulledinquiteaway.WhatwouldhavehappenedifI'dbeendrawntothecenter?"
Louisaregardedhimthoughtfully."Ihavenoidea,butI'mawfullygladyou'llneverfindout.Youoranyofus.Weallmanagedtogetawaybuteverycarwaspulledin.Iimagineitwasgrowingatafasterrateyesterday.Theyprobablyreactquicklyatfirstandthenlosemomentum.It'svaluableinformation,Russ."
Masonfrownedattheimplication."They?"heasked."Istheremorethanone?"
Louisastarteduptheroadagain."We'renotabsolutelysureyet,butwebelievethattheparticledisplacementfromPlummer'sdeathreactedinachainthat'ssteadilygrowing.Wethinkit'stheanswertotheatmosphereyoufelt—weallhadthesamereaction.Unreasonablefear,wasn'tit?"
Masonnoddeddumbly.
"ProbablylikePlummer'sfearthesplit-secondbeforedeath,"Louisawenton."Wecouldn'tworkinsuchconditionsanditbecamemuchworse,sowehadtoleave.Wehadnochoice.Ourmindswereworkingbutouremotionswerecompletelyoutofcontrol."
Masonwatchedherclosely,unwillingtobelieve."Whatyou'resaying,then,isthatPlummerisstill,insomestrangeway,alive?"
"Oh,notthewayyouimply,Russ."Louisasmiled."Notinanoccultwayoranythinglikethat.Withoutgettingtootechnicalaboutit,wethinktheexplanationisthathisenergyhaspermeatedpreviouslyunintelligentmatter.Inotherwords,thattheenergyreleasedatthemomentofdeathremainedintelligentinacertainway,forsomereasonorother."
Masonstared."Areyoukidding?"
"No,I'mnot,"Louisasaidvehemently."Listen,doyouknowwhatwasinthemiddleofthatblackcircle?Simpkinssawitbeforehemanagedtogetawayandbeforeitchanged.ThecenteroftheblackcircleheldtheirriliumfeedbackmechanismfromPlummer'swatch."
"Butthat'snotPlummer'slife,"Masonsaidshortly."Andanywayitdoesn'tmakesense.Howdiditgetthere?Itwastoofarawayfromtheexplosion."
"Hehaditonwhenhedied,"shesaid."That'sdefinite.Itwasn'ttoofarawaytobecarriedbytheforceofthatexplosion."
"Andyouthinkthattheirriliuminthewatchattractedtheirriliumofthelandrovers?"
"Definitely.Butonlywithinacertainarea.Afterall,therewasplentyofirriliuminthelab,too.Theremaybeotherspotsgrowingsimilarly."
Masonthoughtoftheblackcloudandimmediatelyknewwhathisfirstimpressionhadbeen:life;living!Thatwasit.Heshivered.
"…andothersbeginningwithplasticsoranyotherbasicstructure,"Louisawassaying."Whatwedidn'tknowwastherateofgrowthorwhetherthey'deverstop.Thatinformationisgoingtobewelcomed.YeeMonwillprobablythinkwe'reovertheworstofitrightnow."
"Butyoudon'tthinkso?"askedMason.
Louisashookherhead."Ithinktheanswerissomewhereintheatmosphere.Waituntilyouseewhat'sgoingoninthepenwiththeanimals!Idon'tthinkanythingisgoingtostopuntilweleaveLilithandstoptampering."
Tampering.ThewordrangfamiliarlyinMason'sear."Butihowcansimpleresearchoncolorresultinsomethingsofantastic?"
"Simple?"Louisasloweddownandindicatedthesceneryaroundthem."Lookaroundyou,Russ.HaveyoueverseensuchviolenceofcoloronEarthoranyotherplanetthatweknow?We'vefoundaspectrumherewithvisiblecolorsthatwedidn'tknowevenexisted.Imaginetherangebeyondthat,thespectrum
thatwedidn'tknowevenexisted.Imaginetherangebeyondthat,thespectrumthatwe'refindingwithinstruments.
"That'sthepartofourresearchwewerereportingonlytoEckert.Youneverknewaboutit.Thestepswe'vetakengofarbeyondTwentiethCenturyphysics.We'vediscoveredoscillationsthatseemtobeattheheartoftheuniverseitself."
"DeBroglie'sTheory,"murmuredMason,rememberingtheTwentiethCenturyscientistwhohadtheorizedthatifparticlesbehavedlikewaves,wavescouldthereforebehavelikeparticles.
"Oh,muchmorethanthat,"Louisasaid,"becausetheynevercametotherealcenteroflightitself."
"Orthemeaningbehindlight,"Masonsaiduncomfortably.
Louisaglancedovergratefully."Yes,that'sthewholepoint.Ihopeyou'llbeabletopersuadeUlinskiandYeeMontoquitnow.Ifwecanradiooutjustoncewecanbepickedupbeforeit'stoolate.Atsomepointweshouldbeabletogetthroughthisatmosphere."
Thecarturnedatthatmoment,wheretheroadleftitsavenueoftunnel-likegrowthandcameoutonthecrestofahill.Ablindingpanoramastretchedbeforeit.
InthedistancerosethemountainsofLilith,droppingdownsheerlyonthefarsidetoasmallvalleythatharboredthe,secondlab.Between,therestretchedacanvasofcolorsobrilliantlyintensethateventhroughthespeciallytreatedwindow,LouisaandMasonhadtoputontheirglassesagain.Colorsfromastrangeworld,reflectionsfromastrangersun.
Masonhadnodifficultybelievingthatifhecouldseewiththeeyeofthesun,hemightseehere,notcolor,butlight;purepatternsofenergy.Hethoughtaboutthesmall,furryanimallifeofLilithandwonderedattheconstructionthatallowedthemtoliveinaworldthatassailedahuman'ssensessounmercifully.NomancouldlivelonginLilithwithoutmechanicalaid.
Theyhadallmadetheexperiment,evenMason,whohadnorighttodoso.Herememberedhisreportsonthesensation.Theblindingheadaches,strangetensionsandthephenomenaofchangedpersonalities.Theyhadallsuffered
tensionsandthephenomenaofchangedpersonalities.Theyhadallsufferedphysicallyand,intheirattempttoseeifMancouldadapttothenewcolors,severalofthestaffhadundergonedeeppsychologicaldisintegration,followedbytreatmentfromDr.Ulinski.
Foratfirst,Masonhadtoadmit,itwasfascinating.Itwasalittlelikelivinginafairytalemorecolorfulthanthemostroseatedreamsofchildhood,oraworldmorebizarrethanthewildestfancyofimagination—untilthemessagefromtheeyecausedthebodyandbraintoscreaminpainandseekanyrelieffromtheunnaturalenvironment.
Almosteveryonehadlearnedtodispensewiththeirglassesuntilnoon.AmisthungoverLilithatdawn,softeninganddullingthebrilliancelikeaveildriftinginfrontofabrighttapestry,orasoftcloudtemperinghuesthatonemightexpectoftheworld'sfirstdawn.Thefilmclunglikeadrape,slowlydissolvinguntilnoon,whenLilithappearedherselfatlast,inaburstofcolorsointensethatsensesreeled.
Theroad,hackedroughlyoutoftheearth,twistednowinserpentineloopsandcurvesasitwoundaroundtheedgesofthenumeroussmalllakesandpoolsthatlayunderneaththeshadowofthemountains.MasonhadoftenattemptedtogivenamestothecolorofthewatersofLilith,butfounditimpossible.Lilithhadcolorsofherownthatdefiedanyclassification.Theyweren'tknowncolorsorevenhuesofknowncolors.
Downhereamongthemyriadshimmeringlakes,theworldwasinvestedagainwithmagic,andthroughtheirglasseswhichscreenedouttheintensity,MasonandLouisafelttheywereinanenchantedgarden,enclosedinanalmostimmortalradiance.Louisasmiledandinaneasier,nearlyplayfulmood,putthelandroverintoboatgearandsaileditstraightintothemiddleofapond.Shecutthepowerandtheyrockedthere,drifting,feelingacuriousandcomfortablesortofpeace.
"Look."Louisapointedtotheedgeofthepoolwhereaplump,ruffledbirdwasstandingpoisedonaclusterofflowers."It'llonlybeamomentbeforethewholegroupappears."Theywatchedwhilethebirds,theirfeathersruffledwiththewind,poppeduponebyonelikemechanicalsoldiersdrilling,aroundthesideofthepool.
Thebirdscirclingthepoolwerebusybobbingupanddown,rockinginarotationthatlookedlikeastationarydance.Suddenlytheybegantodisappearonebyone,divingintothepoolheadfirst.
Louisanoticeditinstantly,"Look,Russ!Thecloud!"Therewasn'ttimetostartthecar.Theblackspinnercametipfromnowhere,obliteratingonesideofthepool,gatheringupintoitselfthegrowthandflowersandbirdsthatwereleftStanding.Itwhirledfuriouslyupanddowninonespotandthendisgorgedagarbageofmatterthatfelldownheavilyasthecloudformedatighterspinandveeredoffoverthewater,dissolvinginthedistance.
CHAPTERTHREE
Itwasduskwhenthelandrovercrossedthelastsummitandbeganitsslowdescenttowardthevalley.Thelastraysofthesunscorchedthejunglebelow,fingeringtreetopswithdelirious,polychromeillumination.Theworldbeneathglewedfaintlyphosphorescent,whilethecragsandfurrowedspursofthemountainsflushedinaweirdechoofreflection.Itwaslikeadescenttothefinalinferno.Grotesqueshadowsroseandleaptaroundtheminaphantasmagoriaofdistortedshapes,risingandwrithingandslowlydissolvingaway.
Withvisionthusimpaired,drivingwasdifficultandittookthreemorehourstoarriveatthefinalroadtothelab.Whenfinallytheycameuponthebuildingsandparkedthecaratlast,itwaswithafeelingofcompleteexhaustion.Theysatthereforamomentenvelopedindarkness,tootiredtothink.AtlastMasonpushedbackthehoodandtheyleftthecarfortheoddlycomfortingroomsofthebuilding.
Itwasremarkablylikecominghome,Masonthought.Cominghometothesecurityofthehumanfamilythoughtheywerestrangelytransplantedtoalienandominoussoil.
YeeMonalonewasuptogreetthem.Gravelyheunlockedthemaindoorandusheredthemintothelounge,hislongsleevesswayingashemadethegracious,ceremonialgesture.Masonsmiled.Sonothinghadchanged.Eveninthemidstofperil,Yeecouldaffect,ashedideachnight,thegracefulflowinggownofhisremoteancestors.Butsomethinghadchanged.Insteadofteatherewassteaminghotcoffee,potsofit,andsandwichespiledridiculouslyhighonaplatter.MasonnotedthisoutofthecornerofhiseyeasheshookYee'shandgratefully.
"Well,Ibelievewe'vemadeit,afterall.Ididn'thavemuchhopethismorning,butafterseeingyou,I'vechangedmymind."
"You'renotmakingsense,Mason,"Yeesaid."Drinkyourcoffee."
Louisathrewherselfdownonacouchlimply,herheadbackandeyesclosedasshemurmured,"Tellhimaboutthecircle,Russ…"Andthen,suddenly,shewasasleep.
wasasleep.
MasoncoveredherwitharobeandsatdownatthetablewithYee.Asheate,MasontoldYeehisstory.Hehadexpectedsomeelationatthenewsofthecirclestopping,butYeejustnoddedsoberly.
"Yes,"Yeesaid."Wefoundanothercirclehereaboutamileawayfromthelab.Likeyou,wewatcheditasitstopped.Itwasn'tmetalliketheother,butsomeotherredsubstance.Abrilliantdeepmagentainthecenter.Itgrewuntilitreachedtheendofitsownhueandthenstopped."
WhenYeesaid,"Magenta,"Masonunderstoodthathewasdescribing,inEarthterms,thequalityofthetint,nottheactualcolor.
"LouisasaidsomethingaboutallthisbeingcausedbyPlummer'sdeath,"Masonbegan.
"Oh,yes,butthat'sawoman'sway,notthewholestory."
Yeeinterrupted."There'smuchmoretoitthanthat.Shementionedoursecretexperiments?"
Masonnodded.
"Theyhavetodowiththedestructiveeffectsoflight.Isupposeyoudidn'tknowthat?"
Masonwasappalled."Butwe—Imean,theFederationoutlawedsuchexperimentsyearsago."
"That'squiteright.Anditisstillagainstthelaw.WhenIsaydestructive,Idon'tmeanthatthepurposeisadestructiveone.Thedestructiveelementisonlyapreliminarytodiscoveringthecreativeeffects.Andwe'vefoundthatthemostpotentwayofworkingwithlightonLilithisinblendingcolors.Insomeofthosevibrationaleffectswemayhavethekeytotheuniverse."
"Andyouwenttoofar,"Masonsaid."Tampering."
"Ididn't,"correctedYee,holdingonesleevebackashereplenishedMason'scup."Gregsonwenttoofar.HeandPlummerrushedaheadrecklessly,withoutourknowledge."
ourknowledge."
"ButLouisasaidtheatmospherewascongestedbeforetheexplosionevertookplace."
"That'strue,"Yeesaid."ButTropeisinvestigatingthat,andIdon'tbelievethatitisapermanentphenomenonoranimportantone.Merelyanunusualsunstorm.Ifeelquitesureitwilldissipate."
"Andthenwecanleave,"Masonsaid.
"Leave?"Yeeleanedbackinhischair,watchingMasonimpassively."There'snoreasontoleave.We'rejustatthebeginningofthings."
Masonwaspuzzled."Ithoughtyouweresofrantic?WhenImetLouisa—"
Yeechuckled."Awoman'swayagain.Butit'strue,'wewereterriblydisturbed.Thepsychologicalterrorattheport—thecircle—it'strue.Wewerereadytogo.Butthen—"heshrugged"—wefoundthatthethingsstopped.Andeventhiswind,thistinytornadoshapeyoudescribe—I'mnotworried.Ifitcan'taffectusit'snotimportant."
Masonstared."Notimportant!ButthepossibleeffectonLilithitself?"
YeeMonfoldedhisarmsinsidethelongsleevesandlookedatMasonwithshadedeyes.Asthemonthspass,thoughtMason,hebecamemoreandmorestrange.Maybeithadsomethingtodowithlivingonastrangeplanet.Hewasgoingoninthatcalm,impenetrableway…InspiteofthecoffeeMasonhadtomakeanefforttostayawake.
"…andIcertainlydon'twantyoutoseemeastheproverbialdispassionatescientist,ivorytowerandallthat.Butreally,Mason,thereissomethingtobesaidforthesesmallexperimentalstations.Wewillnevercolonizethissystem.It'slight-yearsawayfromhumanhabitation,andwhatgoesonherecanhardlyaffectourrace.We'renoteventampering,asyouputit,withanyintelligencehere.BiologicallifeonLilithshowsnosignofevolvingfurther."
"Can'tbesure,"mumbledMason,hiseyesclosing.
"…andwe'reonthevergeofLifeitself.Lilithcanandwillplaygenesisto
"…andwe'reonthevergeofLifeitself.Lilithcanandwillplaygenesistothefinalanswer.It'stoobadabout,Gregson.Goodman,butevenhe…"
Masonhadavagueimpressionofalongcigaretteholderwavingintheair,dragonsdancing,YeeMon'ssleeveagain,ashedronedonandon,untilMasonfellasleep.
Blue.Deep,midnightblue,ultramarineandroyalblue,tintsandshadesofcobalt,cornflower,EmpireandFrenchblue,lapisandaquamarine.Masonopenedhiseyestoalmostafullthirdofthewheelofcolor—Earthcolors—andrealizedatoncethathewasbeinggiventhefulltreatment.Nevertheless,theeffectwassoothingandhelazilyshiftedhisposition,pullinguptheblanket—blueblanket,bluesheets.
"Ah!Feelingbetter?"Ulinskiwassittingbythebed.
MasonsatuphurriedlyasUlinski,grinningunderhisbristlygraybeard,tossedhimarobe.Masonputitonandgrimaced."Youdon'treallythinkI'minsuchbadshape,doyou?"'■
UlinskilaughedasheswitchedonaprojectorandbathedMasoninthespotlight."Itwon'thurt,youknow.Youhadquiteafewshocksyesterday.Justliethereforawhile."Hewalkedtothedoor,callingoverhisshoulder,"Andifyougettoolethargic,I'llputyouintheredroomtonight!"
Masongaveupandlayback.Ulinskiwasright.Heneededthespecialvibrationaleffectsofthecolorrightnow.Hecouldfeelhistensionslowlydisappearing.Howlonghadittakenmedicinetounderstandthetherapyofcolor,hewondered.They'dignoreditrightthroughtheTwentiethCentury,thatwascertain.Then,yearslater,theBogenFoundationhadunearthedtheancientscienceandappliedmoderntheory.
Thatwasthebeginning.There'dbeenalotofquackeryatfirst,Masonremembered,untilsomeresultsbecametooobvioustoignore.Thensciencehadsteppedinwithmodernmethodsofvibrationaltherapy,realizingatlastthatcolorcouldbeusednotonlyforpsychologicaleffectbutforactualhealingaswell.Strangethatithadtakensolong,Masonmused,butthenthesearchwasstillgoingon.Lightwasstillamysteryunlesspossiblythefinalanswerweretobefoundhere,onLilith.
Masondozedoffagainanddidn'twakeuntiljustbeforenoon,whenUlinskicameinandshookhim.
"Hurryup,Russ.You'llwanttoseethis.Simpkinshasfoundsomething."
Sorelaxedthatanymovementwasactuallyaneffort,Masonmanagedtogetdressed.Hefeltasifhe'dbeensleepingformonths,butassoonashewasoutoftheroomhismusclestightenedandafeelingofwell-beingsurgedthroughhim.Hewasreadyforanything.Louisalookedathimapprovinglyasshejoinedtheminthehall.
Ulinskiledthemoutofthebuildingandalongapaththatcircledthepenforanimals."I'mtakingyoutoseethatredcirclewefoundyesterday.Simpkinshasbeenwatchingitallnightanditseemstobedying—watchthethorns,Louisa,they'revicious."
Theyleftthepathandstartedthroughthejungleoveratrailthathadbeenhastilyandroughlycleared.Ulinskiledtheway,partingtheheavyfernsandbranchesbeforethem."Simpkinswasn'tpositive,buthethoughtthehuewasfadingandthismorninghesawhewasright.Weknewthecirclehadstoppedgrowing,butnowweshallseethenextstage.Wearequitecertainnowthattheseisolatedspotswerefeedingonsomething,andthatthisonehadnosustenance.Ah,hereweare!"
Masongaspedwhenhesawthecircle.Althoughsmaller,andofadifferenthue,itwasalmostexactlyliketheoneontheroad.Thecircumferencehowever,wassteadilycontracting,andthecolorfadingtoadull,dustypink,becominggrayerateachmoment.Therestofthestaffmemberswerestandingaroundtheedge,gazingcuriouslyatthedyingring.
SuddenlySimpkins,standingonthefarside,cried,"Look!Lookatthemiddle."
Attheexactcenter,inthedeepesthue,theysawsomethingpulsating;adeepthrobbingthatseemedtostartunderthegroundandswelllikeabubble.Astherestofthecirclefaded—veryquicklynow—thecolorinthecentergrewdarker.Thetintthathadspreadtotheouteredgeswasslowlyswallowedbythethrobbingbeatinthecenterwhichpulsatedmoreandmorerapidlyasitdarkened.
darkened.
"It'slikeaheart,"Louisawhisperedalarmingly.
ButMasondidn'thear.Hewasseizedsuddenlywithacompletelyirrationalurgethatcausedhimtodartswiftlytothecenter,exclaimingasheran,"Weshouldtrytosee—"
"Don'ttouchit!"Ulinski'scommandwastoolate.Masonwasalreadybendingoverthespot.Astheywatchedhimleanover,therewasablindingilluminationandMason'sentirebodyglowedforaninstantincandescently.Theycouldseetheframeworkofhisskeletonbehindthelight.
Atthatmomentthespotdisappearedandthegroundbeneathwastransformedagainintothebare,multicoloredpatchworkofLilith.
Masoncouldneverhavesaidwhyhedidit.Theimpulsecertainlydidn'tstartinhishead,wherecertainprocessesweregoingontellinghimquiteasfirmlyasUlinskitonottouchit.Buthisbodywasanothermatter.Itpulledhimalonginspiteofhimself,hislegsdrawinghimlikeamagnettothatfatalattraction.
Ashebentover,stillnotknowingwhy,Masonreceivedashockunlikeanythathehadeverfeltorheardabout.Itwasexcruciatinglypainful;aswiftsharpnessthatpenetratedtothemarrow,makinghisbonessingoutwithanalmostunbearablevibration.Atthesametimehefeltextremelylight,asifallhisweightandsubstancehadvanished.
Andthenhefeltasensationofgreatspace.Hethoughtforamomentthathewasfloatinginadarkvoid.Thedarknessaroundhimwasthedeep,velvetdarknessofeternity,withoutformormovement,untilgraduallyhisvisionbegantoclear.
Thefirstthinghenoticedwasacloudofsilver,afaintsprinklingofdustswirlingaroundinthedistance.Graduallyitbecamebrighter.Pinpointsofluminescencestabbedmercilesslyintohiseyes.Thesensationoffloatingmergedintoafeelingofsuspension.Masonthoughthewashangingsomewhere,andasthespiralsandwheelsoflighttookformhesawbeneathhimagreatflamingcartwheel,withgasesandvaporsflaringoutintoimmensedistances,lickingattheedgeofcreation.Heseemedtodescendthroughit,passingthroughthatfieryheartasifhewere,himself,aflame,lighterthanlight.
thatfieryheartasifhewere,himself,aflame,lighterthanlight.
Aroundhimitseemedasifagreatdanceweretakingplace,anintricaterevolutionofbodiesturningandpassingandcrossingeachother.Andthedance,atfirstweightless,becameaslow,ponderousmovementofhugemassesmovingheavilyaroundthegreat,flaminghub.
Hedescendedthroughtheheat,meltingandmergingintheinferno,andpassingthrough,sawbelowhimthegreatroundgreenglobeofEarth,hercontinentsatfirstahazyswirl,mergingtogetherasshespun.Thentheoutlinesbecamesharperashefelldown,passingthroughgasesandcloudsofdustlikeameteorracingthroughspace.Hefeltthebreathofatmospherearoundhim,andtheblueoftheskywasapalpablething,amaterialsubstancehecouldfeelandtouchandsmell.
Cloudswereawhite,hotmass,andhecaughthisbreathpainfullyastheawfulheatstabbedathim.Andthen,ashefellyetfaster,theheatincreased,andbelowhesawapinnacle.Ajaggedspurofmoss-coveredrockthatthrustuplikeaspearfromthemountainsbelow.Itwashigh,higherthananythingoughttobe,higherthananythingherememberedonEarth.Higherandhotter.Blazingly,agonizinglyhot
Intheroomattheobservatoryontopofthemountain,twomenweresittingatatable.Onewasdark,ebonydark,withsoftlymouldedfeaturesandskinsmoothasmarble.Notadotofmoistureappearedonthatquietblackcountenance.
Theotherwasanoldman.Veryold,andpale,withasicklypallorunderhiswhitebeardandaquickbreaththatcausedbeadsofperspirationtocoursedownhisfurrowedcheeks.Hewaswipinghisfacewithaclothandpantingslightlyashespoke.
"No,Deayban^thereisnofurtherhope.Wearetrulydesertedandourperilisbeyondrepair.Youhadbestgiveupanyhopeofsalvation.Theraceisdoomedandyourdesperatehopeonlycausesdifficulty.Weneednottohope,buttoprepare.Letusseekmeaninginourend,andinfindingthatmeaning,findtruehope."Theoldmantookacupofwaterandsippedslowlyashiscompanionroseandwenttothegreatwindowoverlookingtherangeofmountains.
"Charka,"theblackmanmurmured,hisvoiceadeepbellvibratinginthe
"Charka,"theblackmanmurmured,hisvoiceadeepbellvibratinginthecornersoftheroom."Charkasays—"
"Charka!"theoldmaninterruptedsharply."Charkasaysthatwhichcameinancientprophecies.HespeaksnotwiththenewtonguebutwiththetongueofancientancestorsbeforethedawnofTime.HispropheciesforesaidtheendofhislastRuler,butsincethen,whichforesayinghasprovedtrue?Eh?Youtellmethat,Deayban!"
Theblackmanatthewindowwassilent.
Masonstoodbesidehim,notknowinghow,knowingonlythathewasthereandinsomestrangewayunseen,knowingthathesawwithDeayban'seyesastheybothlookedoverthemountainsandbeyondthesun.
TheSun.
Hadanyoneeverseenasunlikethis?Couldanymanlookatitforlong?Mason—andDeayban—felttheirheartsshrinkingastheygazedatit.Huge,red,redderthanred,amonstrousswollenglobeofincandescentgashangingoverthehorizon,itsflaringoutlinescastinganorangeshadowoverhalftheEarth,liketheshadowofaflamingshroud.
Masonnolongerfeltanything,nordidhethinkofanything.HewasincapableofthoughtorfeelingexceptasitoccurredtoDeayban.Hethoughtandfeltnothingofhimselfsavehispresence,soitneveroccurredtohimtowonderhowhecouldbethereandyetnotbethere;feelhimselfthereandyetremaininvisible,asitwere.
Withoutanymentalprocess,Masonsimplyunderstoodhispresenceandunderstoodthathewasasmuchapartofeverythinghesawashewasapartofthetwomenorhimself.AsDeayban'sthoughtstookform,Masonheardthem,orfeltthem.Heunderstoodthem.AndinbackofDeayban'sthoughts,MasonwasawareofthatotherdeeplayerofrecordedinformationthatwasDeayban'swholelifeandknowledge.Masongraspedthatinstantly,sothathewasawareofthetwoprocessessimultaneously:Deayban'spresentassociationsandthebackgroundforthem.
Butinsteadofthinkingallthislittlebylittle,Masonsawit,likeavast,unwindingpanoramainhismind'seye.Charka—andthejaggedrangeof
unwindingpanoramainhismind'seye.Charka—andthejaggedrangeofmountains,andbelow,thesilentreachesoftheHimalayas.For,Masonknew,theseweretheoldHimalayas,changedandformedanew.Andinbackofthat,ineonspast,theslowunfoldingofEarth'shistory.
CHAPTERFOUR
All,thiswasinDeayban'smind.
Agesago,intheDawnofTime,Earthmenhadcreatedtheirfirstcrudeships—cumbersomevesselsofheavymetalsthatcruisedslowlyandpainfullyawayfromtheglobe—outintotheroughanddangerousoceansofspace.Manyshipshadbeenlostandinnumerablemenhadgiventheirlivesintheancientquestofexploration.,Andthen,asthesearchexpanded,andtheirknowledgeofbuildingandnavigationimproved,Earthmenhadmadethegreatvoyageawayfromtheirownsunandmetothercultures,otherintelligencesinthegreatCreation..
ButTimewasstillyoungandtheevolutionofManstillinitsinfancy.SoMan,intheearlydays,hadusedarchaicmeansofmeetinghisdestiny.Stillboundbyancienttraditionandearlyculture,stillconfinedtooldprocessesofthoughtandnotreadytounderstandhismeaning;likeachildtransitingtoadolescence,ManhadformedaUnionofCulturesandbounditinheavylawsandcalledittheFederation.Alldiscoveredworldswereunderitslaws.Allintelligencessubjecttoits"justice."Rulesandpenaltiesfordisobeyingruleswereputintocourts,andallbeingswererequiredtoliveunderthiscanopyoflaw.
Menthoughtitaverygoodthing,andindeed,forthem,andforatime,itwas.ForbeforetheDawnofTimegreatwarshadbeenfoughtbetweentheBrotherhoodofMan,andatlast,withtheFederation,Manhadknownfreedomfromwar.ButhehadneverunderstoodthataFederationofLaw,sousefulforhisownpurposesonEarth,mightnotbeequallyefficaciousintheGreatBrotherhoodofIntelligenceamongthestars.
Manhadalsorefusedtoconceivealimitationtoscience.Hehadnotknownhow,where,orwhentostop.Plungingrecklesslyaheadinhiscompulsiontosecurealltheanswers,whenhefoundunusualsubstanceorstrangeformationsinhishuntamongthestars,hehadclaimedthemtooundertheLawand"calledthem"experimentalplanets."
HecaredlittlethathismeddlingruinedorreversedentirelythenaturaldesignoftheGreatEvolution.Hesawnoevilintheblightedplanetsandoftendegeneratingearths.Hecarelesslyformedpocketsofwasteintheuniverse.
degeneratingearths.Hecarelesslyformedpocketsofwasteintheuniverse.
ButsomeintelligencesintheFederationwereofadifferentnaturethanMan.ContrarytoMan'sinsistenceofhisknowledgeoftheGreatPlan,andhissuperiority,allbeingsdidnotdevelopthesameway.Some,startinglaterthanMan,arrivedearlieratthepeakoftheirdevelopment.Some,dependingontheirplaceinthevastuniverseofstars,skippedentirelyanintermediatestageofevolution.TheyoutstrippedManrapidly,andtheirintelligenceandnatureswereasdifferentfromMan's,asManwastoagnat.
Butstillachild,stillnotreadytoaccepthisplace,Mancouldnotacceptthecounselofthosewhoofferedtobehisteachers.And,likeachild,Manstubbornlyrefusedtogiveuphisplaythings—hisexperimentalplanetsandhislaws.AndsinceherefusedtolistentothosewhonowunderstoodthemeaningofBrotherhoodratherthanFederation,hewastreatedlikeachildandconfinedtohisroom.Fromtheimmensereachesofinfinity,Manwassenthome,infleetsofsilvershipsthattracedcometpathsbetweenthesuns.GreatarmadassailedfromtheendsoftheuniversetobringManhome.
Hewasallowedthefreedomofhisownsolarsystem,butbeyondthatboundaryhedarenotgo.
Andnow—Masonfeltasearingagonyasheunderstood—ManwasbeingscorchedoffthefaceoftheEarth,andburnedlikeapestilenceofftheotherneighboringplanets.
Fornowwasthetimeoftheendofhissun.
Andknowingthat,foraninstantMasonknewalsohowfarhehadtraveled.Notsomethousandsoflight-yearsthroughspace,throughswirlinggalaxiesandsuns,that,yes,butnotonlythat.Hehadalsotraveledintotime,sometenthousandmillionyearsintothefuturetowitnesstheendoftheworld.Hewouldnotseethedeathofhissun—thatwasevenyetinthefarfuture,inafewhundredmillionyears.
Buthesaw,withDeayban'seyes,theendoflifeonourworldastheSun'stemperatureroseandenergywasliberatedfasterandfasterfromthegreatflaringarmsoffire.Thestockofhydrogenwasrunningout,andheliumincreasing,andinafewhundredmillionyearstheSunwouldshrivel,assomethingtiredandold,wearyuntodeathoflife-giving.Thedeathwouldbefinal,thelastagony
old,wearyuntodeathoflife-giving.Thedeathwouldbefinal,thelastagonyalonewithnolifetofeelit,aslongbeforethenManwouldhavebeenscorchedfjomthefaceofEarth.
Andtherewouldbenorescue.MasonunderstoodthatasDeaybanunderstooditandsighed,andturnedawayfromthewindow.
ForManhadaskedforhelptoolate.Adultenoughatlasttounderstandhisplaceintheuniverse,willingnowtoaccepthisrole,itwasstilltoolate.Afewhundredyearsagosomethingmighthavebeenpossible,hadManaskedforhelp.Nowtherewasnottimenormeansforevacuation.TheuniversehungheavyasotherworldsrecognizedEarth'sendandmournedforManwhohadmaturedtoolate.
Notalltheresourcesoftheheavens,racingfasterthanthespeedoflight,couldsavetheenormouspopulationfromitsfate.Afewcouldgo;certainlysomecouldbesavednowthattheuniversewasopentothem.Butwhowouldnowleavehisbrothertodiealone?WhatManwouldleavehisbirthplacenowwiththeknowledgethattherestofMankindwasdoomed?InalltheworldscirclingthedyingSuntherewasnotonewhowishedpersonalsalvationattheexpenseofhisneighbor.ThisSunhadgivenManlife,andunderthisSunhewoulddie,tryingonlytoseekmeaninginhisend.
Theblackmansatdownagainatthetable.Hisheartwasheavyandheheldhisheadinhishands.Hewouldbeoneofthelasttogo.Hisraceenduredtheshimmeringwavesofheatbetterthanmost.Thelastpeopletocomeoutoftheearthandwintheirplaceamongmen,thelasttofindtheirplaceinthesun,andnowthelasttodieunderthatsun.
Deaybanwasuneasy.Masonfeltthenaggingquestioninbackofhissorrow.Hadallroadsbeenexplored?Deayban'sthoughtskeptreturningtoCharka,andsuddenlyMasonsawhim.
Hewassittingverystillinacaveonthesideofamountain.Veryquietly,hislegscrossed,handsplacedlooselyinhislap.MasonsawDeaybanenterthecave,stoopinglow,andunderstoodthatDeaybanwasrememberingthescene.
Ithadbeenseveralweeksagowhentheblackmanhadfirstheardoftheoldhermitonthehill.Charkawaspossessedofsecretinformation,mensaid,ancient
hermitonthehill.Charkawaspossessedofsecretinformation,mensaid,ancientknowledgefrombehindtheDawnofTime.Andinspiteofoppositionfromtheoldmanwiththewhitebeard,Deaybanwenttofindhim.HeleftthelonelyobservatoryonthemountainspurandwentinsearchofCharka.
Thecavewasn'tfar.CharkahadchosenthehighestspotonEarth.FortheseweretheoldHimalayas,oncesunkenbeneathmanywatersandnowrisenagain,higherthantheheightoldstoriestoldofthem.ThepeopleoftheHimalayas—whatlegendswerewovenaroundtheirname.Howonce,eonsago,theycouldtakepilgrimsthroughtheValleyofthe
Deadandleadthembackunharmedbutwiser.
Theirprophetsforetoldgreatthings,andtheancientrecordswerekeptinsymbolswhichnomancouldread.TherewerelegendswhichsaidthatsomeneverjoinedtheBrotherhoodofMan,butremainedaparttostudytheirancientknowledgeandseektheirdestinyalone.AndCharka,itwassaid,wasoneofthelastofthesepeople.
Therewasnothinginthecaveotherthanasmallskinofwaterandabowlofgreens.Thegroundwasparchedanddryandtheroofhunglow,hotasanoven.EvenDeaybanbegantoperspireashesatdowninfrontoftheoldman,butCharkawasdryandimmobile.Hisfacewasparchmentlinedwiththousandsoftinywrinklescrisscrossedinawebofage.Hewasold;sooldthatitseemedasifhemusthavepassedthesummitofold-ageandcometohisyouthagain.Hiseyeswereclearandshining,withafarvisionstandinginthem.
"Look,"Charkasaid,pointingoutoftheopening."Look,"wasallhesaid,andDeaybansaw,framedinthearchofthecave,thesamesplendid,farvision.
Itwasnight,butthesunstillglowedadullred,investingthemountainrangewithahumidglow,outliningthefarpeakswithstreaksoforange.Beyond,farinspace,othersunsglowedinreflection.ButshiningupfromEarth,likemillionsuponmillionsofstreakingcomets,thereroseatrailoflight,sleekandsilver,liketracesofquicksilveragainstthesky.
Higherandhighertheyrose,fleetuponfleet,astheyplungedeverupwardtothestars.AndDeaybansaw,too,thesamesilverstreakshurtlingheavenwardfromtheothersettledplanets,untiltheskywasablazeoflightanditwasimpossibletotellwhichwerestarsandwhichwerestreaksandwhichwere
impossibletotellwhichwerestarsandwhichwerestreaksandwhichwereswirlingtrailsofgalaxies.
Manwasleavinghishomeforanotherplaceamongthestars,but—Masonsensedthequality—itwasnotasadpartaking,norareluctantleaving,noragivingup.Itwasratheratremendoussurgeofaffirmation.InhisManhood,Manwasleavinginadazzlingblazeofglory,nolongerconfinedlikeachildtothelife-givingparent.Manwasnowreadytobehimself,tomeetwhateverdemand,wherevertheuniversewouldholdhim…thetable,Deaybandrewinhisbreathsharply,andMasontoofeltthesamebittersweettearsthatsprangtohiseyes.Forthatwashowitshouldbe.InCharka'svisionwastheringoftruth.Manwasreadynow.WashenevertoknowtheresultofhisBecoming?
Later,Charkahadspoken.MasongraspedthatfromDeayban'sthoughtsCharkahadtoldtheoldprophecy,ofwhichtheyhadbothseenthevision:ThatonedayMan,indreadfulperil,wouldalmostperish.ButbecausethetimeofhisBecomingwouldbepast,andbecausehewouldthenbepreparedtopartakeoftheGreatPlan,Manwouldnotbeannihilated.
Testedandscourged,withmanydeepwoundsfromhisstruggle,yes.ButManwouldfindthehelpof"angels."Charkahadusedthatword.Deaybantookthatallegorically,butstill,itmovedhim,forifnotoftheliteralstuffofangels,whatotherwordcouldbeusedfortheblazingradianceofthatvisionofdeparture?
Whowerethey?Andwhatwerethey,theseangels?Fromwheredidtheycome?WhatbeingscouldpossiblyhavetheresourceandspeedtosuddenlyappearandrescueManfromextinctionwhentherestoftheuniversewasunabletohelp?
Deaybanpattedtheoldmanontheshoulderasherosefromthetable,hismemoryfinished,andwenttothegreattelescopethatlookedfarintothedepthofinfinity."Youprepare,oldman,"Deaybansaid,"Youtrytofindmeaningandpreparefortheend."Hefocusedthelensonaclusterofstarsmillionsoflight-yearsaway.
"Butwhileyouprepare,Iwillwatch."Deaybanputhiseyetothetelescope,andMason,seeingwithhimthefarnebula,feltsuddenlywrenchedaway,asifhewerebeingpulledwiththeeyeofthetelescope,fartherandfartheralongthepathitfollowedinthesky.
pathitfollowedinthesky.
Andthentherewasnothing;nothingbuttheblacknessoflostconsciousness.Heknewnothingmore—untilhestoodupright,thevibrationofshocklingeringinhisbodyashesteppedoutofthecircle,Ulinski'scry,"Don'ttouchit!"stillringinginhisears.
Masonsteppedoutofthecircleandahigh,shrillsingingsuddenlyenvelopedhim.Hewasalmostblindedforamomentbytheshockofcolorsthatmethiseyes.
Dr.Ulinskistartedrunningtowardhim,andMasonputuphishandstoshieldhiseyesfromthemovement.InbackofthecolorsandtheearthandUlinski,hesaweverythingmoving,intinystarsanddotsandparticlesspeedinginintricatecirclesandstreaks,crossingandcollidingwithfantasticspeed.Thenslowlytheunbearablevibrationceasedandthingsoncemorelookedordinary.Masonputhishandsdown,lookingatUlinskiwhostoodafewfeetaway.
"Russ—"Ulinski'svoicewasrough"—Areyouallright?No,don'tmoveforamoment.Makesure."
Itwasamomentbeforehespoke,andthen,hearinghisownvoice,Masonthoughthowinfinitelyweakandordinarythewordswere,howsmallagainsttheexperience."IthinkI'mallright,"Masonsaid,andknewrightawaythatnothingmorecouldbesaid.
Heunderstoodinstantlythatcommunicationofhisexperiencewasimpossible.Morethanthat,hefeltitwouldbewrong.Hehadsteppedintothatcircleandbeengone—howlong?Tohimitseemedasifhehadpassedhalfhislifeonthatjourney,buttotheothersstandingaroundthatclearinginthejungle,Masonhadsteppedintothecircle,receivedashockandnowwassteppingoutagain.
ThegroundbeneathhisfeetwastheoldgroundofLilith.Thespotofpulsatingredhadvanishedandtheearthwasitsold,firm,multicoloredhue,changingasthelongshadowsshiftedbeneaththesun.
Thegroupwasstandingaroundinasemicircle,staringathim.Ulinskinear,andinthebackgroundLouisa.BesideherstoodThomasSimpkins,alean,
andinthebackgroundLouisa.BesideherstoodThomasSimpkins,alean,stringylittleman,hisbrowcreasedoverpuzzledandapprehensiveeyes.SomedistanceawayNeilTropeandMarinaandNadiaViningweregroupedlikemarblestatuesinthesun,NeilwithhisarmsfoldedintightprotectionandtheViningsistersleaningslightlyforwardontheirtoes,asifreadytospringawayinsuddenflight.
HehadnotseenYeeMon,whowasinbackofhim.NowheheardamovementandturnedasYeecameupbesideUlinski.
Theybothregardedhimseriously.YeelookedatUlinskiand,asifinagreement,theybothsteppedbackafewpaces.Masonunderstood.Theyallhadthesamethoughtofpossibleradiationeffects.
"Let'sgoback,"Yeesaidquietly."Pleasefollowatadistance,Russ.Youunderstand."
Masondidn'tprotest.Hefeltquitesurethathehadn'tbeenharmedandwouldnothimselfbeharmfulradioactively,butheunderstoodtheirconcern.Louisagesturedtowardhimhelplesslyandsaidonly,"Russ,"andhenoddedbackreassuringly.
Theystartedback,athoughtfulsinglefile,withMasonfollowingintherear.Hewasgladofthesilence.Wordswouldhavebeendifficultrightnowand,hefelt,inawayevendangerous.Masonwantedtothink,andatthemomenthefelthecouldthinkinadifferentandbetterthanordinaryway.Hefeltchargedwithenergyandvitalityandhadtosubdueanimpulsetorunwildlyandexuberantlythroughthewoods.
Hefeltentirelydifferent.Hecouldn'tremembereverhavingfeltthiswaybefore.Everythinglookeddifferent,andparticularlythepeoplehewasfollowingthroughthewoods.Masonwonderedatthenewwayinwhichhe'dseentheminthatsnapshotbythecircle.Forthefirsttimehesawthemnotaspeoplewhomightknowmoreorlessthanhedid,notaspersonalitiesandmannerisms,buthehadseenthem,orthroughthem,totheirverynatures.
HehadneverlikedSimpkinsbecauseofthatconstantseriousattitude,whichMasonhadalwayssuspectedwasapose.Butnowhehadseenwhatthatposecovered,thedeepinsecurityandfear.
AndtheViningsisters.Masonhadalwaysthoughtthemquitebrilliantandeven,asaman,beenirritatedattheirsuccess.ThebeautifulViningsisterswhohadreceivedhonorafterhonorfortheirworkinphysicsandbiochemistry,andwiththeirfantasticearningspurchasedanactualhalfofadiscardedexperimentalplanet.
StoriesvergingonfantasyhadbeentoldabouttheViningsistersandthatsmallplanet.AndforaninstantMasonhadseenthemoutofcontext,farremovedfromthatassociation.
Hehadseenthemsimplyasbodies.Bodiesbeingusedbymindsnotreallybrilliantbutbysomequirkofhereditypossessingapeculiaraptitudeformemoryandrecall.Andinbackofthattherehadbeennothing.Nospark,nohumanity,littleemotion.
AndNeilTrope:notasshallow,butohhowyoung.Untouchedbyanyrealexperiences,hemusthavecometohisthirtiesinthesamewayhehadenteredhistwenties.Hewasblindedbyexternals,believedeverything,passedfromoneassociationtoanotherandtookitallasfinal.Masonhadlikedhimverymuch.Hefeltsomewhatstrangenow,realizinghowmuchhehadenjoyedNeil'scompany.
Mason'sexuberancesuddenlylefthim.Hefeltashamedthathehadn'tbeguntoknowhimselforhisownlack.Hehadtakenastartlingjourneythroughtimeandspaceandseen—avision?Thetruth?Andhehadreturnedalittledifferent,butstillMason,stillunexplored.
Hebegantofeelheavy,asiftheenergywerepouringoutofhiminagreatwideningflood,andhisdoubtsbegantorise.Visionortruth?Andcouldn'tithavehappenedtoanyoftheothersaswell?Washespecialordifferentinanyway?Whathadcausedhimtoruntowardthatcircle?Anyoneofthemmighthavedonethesame.
Butashethoughtthis,Masonfeltbetterbecauseheknew,orthoughtbeknew,thattherewasapurposebehindit.Ithadnothingtodowithhimashewas,butcouldithavesomethingtodowithwhathemightbecome?Hetriedtounderstandit.
Thecirclehadpulsated.Hehad,forsomeunknownreason,runtowardit.Hemightneverknowwhy.Allright.•Butwhatwasthatcircle?Ithadstoppedwhenhesteppedin.Orhaditdied,asUlinskisuggested?Ithadtakenhimsomewhere.Orhadit?Wasitonlyadreamcausedbyshock?Andwhatofthoseotherisolatedspots—thecloudandtheblackcircleontheroad.Whatwastheconnection?
Theothershadpassedfromsight,andMasonbegantopushbacktheheavyfernsthatblockedhispath.Itturnedhere,justbeforetheclearingfortheanimalpen.Masonstoppedforamoment.Somethingwasoccurringtohimandhestoodquitestillandclosedhiseyestoseeitbetter.Hemusthavetheanswer.
Andallatonce,heknew.Hehadknownitbefore,henowrealized.Hehadknownittheminutehesteppedoutofthatredcircle,buttheknowledgehadbeensoswiftthatithaddisappearedbeforethespectacleofthestaffthatmethiseyes.
Nowitreturned,swiftaslightning,instantaneousknowledgethatneedednolonginvolvedreasoningtoknowitstruth.
Plummer'sdeathhadresultedinliberatedenergy.Ithadremainedintelligent,justastheyhadsuspected.Intelligentwithitsownparticularpropertiesofintelligence.AndeachsmallparticleofPlummerhadattracteditslike,inaterrificefforttoliveandgrow.Theexperimentitselfhadcausedthat,andtheexplosioncombiningwiththeatmosphereofLilithatthetimehadresultedinthisfreakofnature.Eventhenonlivingmatterofthelaboratoryhadthesamefate:toattractitslikeandtrytogrow.
Butnowitwasover.
ThatwaswhatMasonknew.Themetallicspotontheroadwouldremainforawhile,ablotonthelandscape,andthengraduallydisappear.Itwashardierthantheotherstructureswhichhadalreadydied.Therewerenomoreblackclouds,andtheotherspotsandcircleshadalreadydiedandvanished.Lilithhadtransformedthem,aftertheirshortnewlife,intoherownatmosphereandearth.Theyweregonebecausethesun'sdisturbancewasdecreasing.
Well,heknewallthis,butwouldtheothersrealizeittoo?Hecouldn'ttrytoexplaintothemhowheknew.Allhecoulddotohelpalleviatetheirfearwasto
explaintothemhowheknew.Allhecoulddotohelpalleviatetheirfearwastosuggestthatitmightbeso.Theywouldhavetofindouttherestforthemselves.
Hestartedwalkingagain,towardtheroominthelabwhereheknewtheywouldexaminehim.Hefeltunfinished,withonlyhalfthepuzzlesolved.Thatthepreviousdangerwaspast,heknew.Buttherewassomuchmissing.
Hadthatjourneybeentrue?
Andiftruth,whyhadhebeenallowedtoseetheworld'send—orMan'sbeginning?Whyhadhebeenplacedinthecen-teroftwosuchdistinctlydifferentfutures?Masonwonderedhowamanwouldfeel,knowingthathisracewasdoomedtoeitherextinctionorsalvation.
CHAPTERFIVE
OnethingthathadalwaysconcernedMasonwastime.
Themomentsoftimestretchingalongthepathofhisexistenceseemedtohimthethinnestofpointsinaline,vanishingbeforeheeverrealizedthem.Therewasthefutureandthepast,butMasonhadalwaysfeltacuriouslackofthepresent.Hewishedthatamancouldfindawaytoholdoneofthosemoments—stretchitoutatwill—muchlikemomentsofheightenedperceptionoftenappearedlongerthanordinarymoments.
Yearsagomenhadconceivedoftimeasthefourthdimensionandpostulatedatheoryofapossiblefifthdimensioninwhichtimewouldbeseenasasolidity,nolongeramoving,vanishingthing,butall-together,assomethingmateriallythereinwhichmancouldmoveaboutatwill.Nowthattheorywasregardedasafairytale.Manhadneverfoundthisso-calledfifthdimensionandeventheoldstoriesoftimetravelweretreatedasnothingmorethanfantasies.
Mason,however,hadnevergottenoverthefeelingthattherewasmoretotimethanwhatwaspresentlyknow.Andnowhehadactuallyexperiencedsomethinginthatdirection.Hewishedhecouldtrustitabsolutely,butitwaspreciselyhisconcernwithtimethatpreventedhimfromacceptingitasreal.
Theshockofvibrationthathadreachedhiminthecirclecouldhaveunlockedsomethingdeepinsidehimthatwishedfortheexperience.Itcouldhavebeenofnomoresubstancethanhisnightlydreams.
Theonepartheneverquestionedwashisknowledgeofthedisappearanceofthevariousspotsandcircles.ThiswasconfirmedbythereportsofNeilTropeandSimpkins.MomentsafterhisexaminationTropehadrushedinwiththenewsofachangeintheatmosphere.
.Simpkinshad-beendispatchedtocheckonthecircleneartheportandreturnedtoreportthatitwasslowlybutquitesteadilyfading.Lilithwasitselfagainatlast,andDr.UlinskihadfoundnotraceofradioactivityinMason.Heattributedthistoatmosphericinfluences,although,heconceded,itwaspuzzling.
Laterthatnight,asMasonwaswonderingwhatkindofareporttoprepare,
Laterthatnight,asMasonwaswonderingwhatkindofareporttoprepare,Ulinskicalledthestafftotheloungeforaconference.
"Wehaveaproblem,"hebegan,seatinghimselfatthelargeroundtableinthecenteroftheroom."InjustashorttimeI'msurewe'llbeabletoradioout,andMasonhereisgoingtohavetosendareportonLilith.They'resuretoknowthatsomethinghashappened.Theyhaveundoubtedlytriedtocontactusandbeenunsuccessfulinpenetratingtheatmosphere.Now—"helookedthoughtfullyatthegroupseatedaroundtheroom"—wemustdecidewhatweshalltellthem."
"Eckertisanothermatter,"headded,pullingabsentlyathisbeard."YeeMonwillcontacthimprivatelyassoonashecan.Withhim,ofcourse,wewillbetruthful.Butthereportingshipmustnothaveallthefacts.Masonknowsenoughnow;therewouldbenopointindisguisinganythingforhisbenefithere.Youcanspeakfreely.Infact,Ithinkitwouldbewisetocleareverythingupforhimsincehe'sbeenmoreorlessdirectlyconnectedwithourexperiments."
MarinaViningleanedforwardonherchair,herblondehairmakingahaloaroundhersmall,evenfeatures."Whydowehavetomakeupanystory?"sheasked,claspingherhandstogether."Theywillknowabouttheatmosphericinterference.That'snothingunusual,evenonEarth.Isn'tthattheanswertothewholethingasfarasthey'reconcerned?"
"No,"YeeMonansweredcurtly."Itcan'tbetheanswertohowGregsondied,orwhywedon'thaveatraceleftofMikePlummer'sbody.Therewillbeaquestionofburial,Marina."
Masonstarted.Hehadn'trememberedthat.Ofcourse,theritualofspaceburial.Asattheolddaysatsea,whensailorswereburiedintheverywatersthathadtakenthem,sotheFederationburiedtheirvictimsintheblacknightofspace.
"Oh,yes,Isee,"murmuredMarina.
"Well,then,wehavetosaytherewasanexplosion."Nad-ia'svoicewassharperthanhersister's,inkeepingwithherappearance.
"Yes,andifwedo,thenwehavetosaywhy."Ulinskiwasgrave."Anexplosionfromordinarycausesisalmostoutofthequestioninthesestations.
explosionfromordinarycausesisalmostoutofthequestioninthesestations.Theywillknowthat,andthey'llaskfordetails,andthenitwillbeobviousthatthiswascausedbyanexperiment."
Simpkinsturnedverypaleandhisvoicetrembledashespoke,"Andiftheyknowthat,willthehighcourtaskforahearing?"Helookedaroundtheroom,andgettingnoanswer,rushedon,trippingoverhiswordsnervously."Whycan'tEckerttakecareofitforus?Eh?Comeon,Ulinski,whycan'thedothat?Whyshouldwehavetoappearinhighcourt?ThisisallamatterforEckert."
Masonwasfascinated.Itwasquiteobviousthathewashearingsomethingnoreporterhadheardbefore.TheinnerworkingsoftheFederationandexperimentalstationsandhighcourtwereamysterythatwasslowlyunfoldingashelistened.Hewasn'tsurehelikedwhatheheard.
YeeMonsaid,withatraceofimpatience,"Oh,Tom,youunderstoodtheconditionswhenyouacceptedthiswork.Whattheuniverseknowsaboutexperimentalplanetsisonething;whatEckertknowsisanother.Butheisaloneinthework,don'tyouunderstand?Therearepossiblyonlyoneortwomenabovehim."
"Whoarethey?"interruptedSimpkins.
YeeMonshrugged."Whoknows?Wedon'tknow,maybeEckertdoesn'tevenknow.Heissworntosecrecyjustasweare."Thenhelaughedalittle."Secrecy!Youknowit'smorethanthat.ThewholestructurewouldcometumblingdownandtakeEckertwithitifthetruthwereknown."
Louisafrowned,lookinganxiouslyatMason.Hecaughtherglanceandwassuddenlyuneasy.Thetruth:thatwasareporter'sjob.Whyweretheytrustinghimwiththisconfidentialdiscussion?
Ulinskiseemedtosensehisthought,forheturnedtoMasonandsmiled."It'squitesimple,Russ.YouknowsomuchalreadyWecan'tkeepanythingfromyou.Infactitwouldbeimpossible.AndwhenYeeMonsaysthewholestructurewouldcomedown,heisincludingnotonlytheexperimentalplanetsandEckert,butMankind.Allofusaswell.
"EventheFederationwouldbeingravedanger.Idon'tknowhowthehighcourtwouldexplainitaway,oriftheywouldeventry.Therearesomesittingin
courtwouldexplainitaway,oriftheywouldeventry.Therearesomesittinginthehighcourtwhoalreadyobjecttomanyofourlaws.Thiswouldgivethemanexcusetheymightwelcome."
Masonhadbeensilent,tryingtopiecelooseendstogether,butnowhethoughthehadaroughpicture."ThefactthatwehaveexperimentalplanetsiswellknownthroughouttheFederation,"hebegan.
"Ah,yes,"Tropeinterruptedwithasarcasticgrin."Theentireuniverseknowsofourhumanitarianendeavorsandthegreatbenefitstoallbeingswithourpureresearch—"
"Hush,"Ulinskistoppedhim."LetRusscontinue."
"WhenIfirstarrived,"Masonwenton,"LouisatoldmethatsomeinformationwasbeingreleasedonlytoEckert.Thatwasmyfirstclue.ThenYeeMonsaidsomethingaboutworkingwiththedestructiveeffectsoflight.Iknewsuchexperimentshadlongagobeenoutlawed.Infact,thepenaltyissoseverethatIhaddifficultybelievingitwastrue.ButthenYeesaidthattheseexperimentswereonlyapreliminary,andthatledmetobelievethatyouwerekeepingthemasecretonlybecauseitwasnecessaryforfurtherpureresearch."
NeilguffawedandagainUlinskisilencedhim.Louisawaslookingseriouslyandintentlyasifshecouldn'tbeartolookatMason.
"SoIthoughtthattheexplosionwassimplyahorribleaccident.Somethingthatwould,ofcourse,beinvestigatedlateron,butnothingforwhichyouwouldbetoblame."
Ulinskinodded."Ofcourse,itwasanaccident,Russ.Butanyinvestigationwouldshowthattheexperimentthatcauseditwasoutsidethelaw.Wewereworkingoutsideofnature,andyouknowweareonlyallowedtoworkwithinnature'sframework.Aninvestigationisoutofthequestion.Wecan'thaveone."
Louisasuddenlylookedup."Can'tthewholethingstillbeattributedtotheatmosphere,justasMarinasaid?"
"No,"Ulinskianswered."Anythingthatresultsinadeathmustbeinvestigated,andanyinvestigationwouldshowwhatweweredoing.Thesame
phenomenonwouldnothaveresultedwithoutthesunstorms,that?strue.Butwewerenotsupposedtobeworkingthewaywewereunderanycircumstances."
"Canyoutellmeexactlywhathappened?"Masonasked,"IknowI'mnotmuchofanexpertonlight,but…"
"Youdon'thavetobe,"Ulinskisaid."It'squitesimple.Wewereblendingcolorsfromoppositeendsofthespectrum.GregsonandPlummerhadhitonit.TheyfoundthatlightonLilithhasapeculiarproperty.Foronething,thevisiblespectrumismuchwiderthanthatofEarth.SohereweactuallyseeraysthatonEarthareinvisible.Andnotonlythat,butthesameprocessofreflectionfromtheseraysresultsincolorswhichonEarthwouldbeoutofthequestion."
Masonnoddedtoshowthatheunderstood.
"AndGregsonfoundthatbycombiningthesecolorshegotaverystrangeresult.Asyouknow,onEarthyoucanmatchanycolorinthespectrumbyacombinationofthreeothercarefullychosencolors.Well,hereonLilithacertaincombinationofcolorsfromtheleastvisiblerays,onthelongandshortendoftheband,resultedinacolornotincludedinthespectrumofLilith!
"Andnotofthewavelengthorquantumofanyraywe'vebeenabletoisolatehere.Itseemedtohavepropertiesofbothlongandshortrays,butinadditionithaditsownproperties,whichwewereunabletoanalyzebecauseitkeptshifting.Thecolorseemedtohavealifeofitsown,ifyoucanimaginethat."
"Yes,Ican,"Masonsaid,"ifitwasanythingliketheilluminationfromthatcircleIsteppedinto."
"Thatwassofastthatwecouldn'thaveseencolorinitevenifcolorhadbeenthere,"YeeMonobserved."ButIwouldn'tbesurprisedifitwerethesamething."
"Atanyrate,"Ulinskicontinued,"notbeingabletoputatagonthisparticularrateofvibration,wedecidedtothrowitonsomeoftheanimalsandseewhathappened.Wehadafewattheportlab,andsinceitwasGregson'sandPlummer'sdiscovery,theymadetheexperiment."HepausedforamomentandlookedatMason."Youknowwhathappened?Absolutelynothingatfirst.Then,twodayslater,theanimalsshowedachangeofcolorthemselvesandthenthey
twodayslater,theanimalsshowedachangeofcolorthemselvesandthentheyalldied."
Masonfrowned."Withadiscoverylikethat,Imeananewcolor,itseemstomeyoudidnothingwrong.Ihateanimalexperimentsmyself,thatisn'tagainstthelaw,isit?"
TheroomwasstiffwithsilenceandMasonlookedfromonetotheother,puzzled."Thatisn'tagainstthelaw,isit?"herepeated.
Ulinskilookeddownatthefloorandthenangrilyhitthepalmofhishandwithhisotherfist.Hismouthwastight."No,thatwasnotagainstthelaw,asyouputit.ButwereportedittoEckertandreceivedfurtherorders."Heraisedhislargeshaggyheadandlookedvacantlyatonewall.
"OurordersfromEckertweretopursuethismatterofanewcolorthatcouldkill,topursueituntilwehadsomethingweweresureof.Anewweaponthatcouldn'tmakeamistake."
"Aweapon!"Masonchokedontheword.
"That'sright,Russ."YeeMonsmiledathimremotely."Ididn'ttellyouthenightyouarrived.Weweren'tsurethenitwouldbenecessary.Notaweapontobeused,though,"headded,"justabalance-of-powerweapon."
"Butit'sagainstthelaw!"Masoncried,aghast.
"Sowascontinuingourexperiment.Youwererightwhenyousaidthefirsttimewasnotwrong,"Yeecontinued."Butthatwaswherethelawsaysweshouldstop.Anythingthathasaharmfuleffectonlifeisconsideredworkingoutsidenature.Regardlessofthefactthatnatureproducedthecolor."
Buthadnatureproducedit,Masonwondered.Manhadinterferedandproducedit,hadn'the?Evenifthecolorwasinherentlythere…
NoticingMason'sexpression,Tropelaughedandpouredadrink.HehandedittoMason."Buckup.You'reabouttolearnthefactsoflife.WhichI'msuretheydon'tteachyouinreportingschool."
MasonsetthedrinkdownwithouttastingitandstaredatNeil."Butyoucan't
MasonsetthedrinkdownwithouttastingitandstaredatNeil."Butyoucan'ttakethissolightly!Thatbalanceofpowerbusinessisancienthistory."
"Verymodernhistory,"Ulinskicorrectedhimdryly."It'sbeengoingonunderyournoseallthetime.Onlyyouyoungreportersneverknewit.You'rethemosteffectivescreenthey'vebeenabletodreamup."
"Doyoumeanthatthisisgoingononotherplanets?"Masondemanded."Oneveryexperimentalplanetyouvisit,"Ulinskisaid."Atleast,that'smyguess."
"Butwho'sresponsible?What'sitfor?"
"Weapons?"Troperaisedhiseyebrows."Whythat'stokeepManinhisplaceofprominenceamongthestars.Haven'tyounoticedyetthatsomeofthebeingswhositinthehighcourtareslightlymoreintelligentthanMan?"HeregardedMasoncynicallyandshookhishead."Theyreallykeepyouconfinedtothoseships,don'tthey?"
"I—Ihaven'thadmuchcontactwithothercultures,"Masonadmittedslowly,seeingthetruthinwhatNeilsaid."Butifsomeofthemaremoreintelligent,"headdedsuddenly,"whydon'ttheyknowwhatwe'redoing?Ordotheyknow?"
"Idoubtitverymuch,"Louisasaid,finallylookingup."Theirintelligenceissodifferentfromours.Theythinkinadifferentway.Idon'tbelievesuchapossibilitywouldoccur,tothem.Andifitdid—"hervoicerose"—I'msuretheywouldthinkweweremad.Warpedandutterlycrazy.Andthey'dberight!"
AfterasilenceUlinskislowlysaid,"AndwouldyoubehappywiththeknowledgethatManwasnolongeratthecenterofcreation?CouldyougiveupyourideaofManasthefinalandbestimageofevolution?CouldyousubmittoalesserroleintheFederation?"Heheldherwithhiseyes,waitingforheranswer."Wouldn'tyouseizeyoursuperioritywithforce,ifnecessary?"
AllofasuddenMasonwastransportedbacktohisvisionoftheobservatoryontopofthemountainandherememberedDeayban'smemoryofMansailinghomeacrossthestars,comingbackcaptivebecausehewasanoutcastintheuniverse.Thememorywasashockhereinthesilenceoftheroomwhereforcesleadingtothatprisonseemedtobeatwork.Wasthistherealbeginningofthatfailure?Againthepeopleintheroomappeareddifferentlytohim.Hesawthemasstrangersactingoutapreordainedrole;puppetsdestinedtobepulledthisway
asstrangersactingoutapreordainedrole;puppetsdestinedtobepulledthiswayandthat.
Louisabrokethesilence."Ifitweremeanttobe,"shesaidsoftly,"theanswerisyes.IthinkIcould."
Theotherslookedawayfromthesimplicityofheranswer.Masoncouldfeelwhatwasatstakehere.ForMantoacceptasmallrolewastoaskagreatdeal.Eachpersonsensedthemagnitudeofthequestion.
"Well,"Ulinskisighed,"I'mafraidyou'requitealoneinthat,Louisa.You'llfindfewmenwhoarecapableofsuchhumility."Hesmiledathergently."Ievenwonderifyouwouldbe,puttoarealtest."ThenheturnedtoMason,"Nowyousee,Russ,whyknowledgeoftheseactivitiesisoutofthequestion."
Masonslowlynodded.Ofcoursehesaw.Therewasnothinghecoulddoaboutit.AnyreportontherealfactswouldsplitasunderthewholestructurethatManhadsocarefullybuilt.Hecouldn'tdothat.Itwouldbeabetrayalofhisrace.But,liewonderedsilently,couldhehelpchangethedirectionbySeeingEckert?Hedidn'tformulateitanymorethanthat;itwassimplyaswiftthought.
Asif,hehadreadMason'smind,YeeMonsaidtoUlinski,"IthinkweshouldgetRussintouchwithEckert.HewillWantafirsthandreportaboutthatcircleandMasonwasdirectlyinvolved.Can'twesendhimtoEckertfirstandholdofftheregularreport?Eckertmayhavesomethingtosuggest."
"Icouldexplainthatmyreportsaren'tcompletedyet,andnotmentionanythingatallaboutGregsonandPlummertomyship,"Masonsaid,anxiousforUlinskitoagreewithYeeMon.Ulinskiwasthoughtful."Yes,perhapsthat'sbestforthepresent.We'llleaveitatthatuntilwehearfromEckert."
CHAPTERSIX
Soontheothersleft,leavingMasonalonewithLouisa.Hehadaterrificurgetotellherwhathadhappenedinthatcircle,andonlyrestrainedhimselfwithdifficulty.Itwasn'ttime.Maybesomeday,butnotnow.Theytalkedquietlyforawhile,deliberatelyavoidingarepetitionofthediscussion.Louisawasdeeplydisturbed,Masonsensed,andhesteeredtheconversationawayfromseriousthoughtstospeaklightlyofpeopleandhome.
"Howlonghasitbeenforyou?"Masonasked.
"SinceI'vebeenhome?Oh,Ihaven'tseenEarthsinceIwasachild,"sheanswered."MyworkwaschosenwhenIwasjustten,andthatwasjustinthenickoftime,soIwassentofftoschoolimmediately."Shepausedforamomentandthenadded,"Itwashard."
Masontookherhandandheldit,realizingthatshewasthinkingofherparentswhomshecouldn'thaveseennowsincethatdaylongagowhensheboardedtheshipschool,toprepareforherlifeinspace.
"Iknow,"hesaid."Ihaven'tseenmyfamilysinceIwassixteen."
Louisalookedathimintently."Doyouthinkit'sright,Russ?Iknowweallwantedthislife,butIwonderifchildrenarereallycapableofchoosing?"
Theyweresilent,thinkingofthemanyyearsspentinspace,growingupinthehugeshipschoolswhichcarriedthemfartherandfartheroutamongthestars.Asyoungadultsthegreaterpartoftheirliveshadbeenspentinspaceandonstrangeplanets.AlthoughEarth,inaway,wasevenstrangerforthem.Dimmemoriesfromtheirchildhoodonthemotherplanetrecurredhauntingly,asifEarthwereadream.
"Whatdoyouremember,Louisa?"Masonasked.
Hereyeslightedasshereplied."IrememberthePacific.MorethananythingIremembertheseaandthesandandrunningwildonthebeachandthehugewaves.Iwasbornononeofthoseislands,Russ,andchildrengrewupveryfreelythere.MorefreelythananywhereelseonEarth,Iimagine."
Herfaceglowedasshespoke,"Andmyparentsgavemesomuchpersonalfreedom,too.IthinktheyrealizedImightbechosenforspace,andtheywantedmetosoakinnatureandchildhoodasmuchasIcouldbeforeIleft."
Shegrinnedathimsomewhatmischievously."AndIalmostdidn'tgo!Itookthetests,andwhentheysaidI'dbeenchosenifIwishedit,Ialmostsaidno.Thecalloftheislandswasverystrong!Butthennatureworkedalittleinreverse,andIbegantothinkthatifnaturewassowonderfulhere,whatwoulditbelikeoutinthestars?"
"Yes,"Masonsaidinalowvoice,"that'sthewaytheyreachus.Achild'simaginationcan'tresistsuchanopportunity."
Suddenlyseriousagain,Louisainsisted,"Doyouthinkit'sright?Afterall,it'sneverwhatwethinkit'sgoingto.be.It'snotdancingamongthestarsatall.It'salifeconfinedtoboardingschool.Andit'shardwork.Thehardeststudyintheworld."
"Theytoldyouallthat;youwerewarned."
"Iknow,butIshruggeditoff.Ihadvisionsofthestars."
"Asdidweall."Masonpressedherhandsympathetically."Butitwon'tbelongnow,andwhenwedogetbackwe'llhavehadanexperiencethatcan'tbematchedbythosewhostayedathome."
"Whenwereyouduetogohome?"Louisaasked.
"Oh,inafewmoretrips,Ithink."
"DoyouthinkEckertwillletyougonow?"
Masonstaredather."Whywouldn'the?"
Shewassilentforamoment,andthen,withoutlookingathim:"Wewereallcarefullyorientedtothisworklongbeforewearrived.ButIthinkthepreparationofthereportersisdifferent,isn'tit?"
Masonfrownedattheimplication.Ofcourse,shewasright.Itwasentirelydifferent.Reportersweretrainedtotellthetruthatwhatevercost.Theytookan
different.Reportersweretrainedtotellthetruthatwhatevercost.Theytookanoathbindingthemtothesearchforfacts.Itwasaseriousbusiness,thisthingoftruth.Masonhadlivedwiththeideaalmostallhislife.Truth,honesty,courage,morality.
Hegroanedasthewholethingbecamesuddenlyandterriblyclear.Howveryclevertheywere!Sendanhonestyoungmantotheexperimentalplanetstoreportonthetruth,andthattruthwouldbeasmuchoraslittleasthestaffscaredtogivehim.Nowondertheirtraininghadneverincludedanyofthesciencesonwhichtheywerereporting.
Theyweregivenaslightknowledgeofterms.Enoughwithwhichtowriteacorrectreport,butnotenoughtoreachtheirownconclusions.Neverenoughtoreallyunderstandwhatwastakingplace.Theywereutterlydependentontheexplanationsthestaffsgavethem.
AgainMasonfeltanurgetotellLouisaaboutthatvisioninthecircle,andagainsomethingstoppedhim.Hefeltthathecouldtrusther,thatthiswholebusinesswasasdistastefultoherastohim.ButtheknowledgeofdeceitwasanewthingtoMason,andasitpenetrated,hefeltheshouldhavetogocautiously.
Hemustlearntobeclever,too,cleverenoughtokeepsomethingstohimself.Itwasastrangeawakeningforayoungmanwhohadspenthisentirelifeconvincedoftherealityofjustice.Hewouldhavetobeextremelycircumspect,Masonthought,andwatchhimselfclosely.Hisbackgroundmadehimsospeciallyvulnerable.
WhatwasthismanEckert,Masonwondered?AndwhowasabovehiminthehierarchydedicatedtosustainingMan'ssupremacy?Hewouldhavetofindthatout.Also,hewouldhavetobecomeconvincedofthetruthofwhathehadseenofMan'sfuture.Whathehadlearnedsofarbroughthimclosertothatconviction,buthewantedfurtherproof.
Masonalsorealizedthattherewasatremendousgapinhisknowledge.Thoseotherintelligenceswhosatinthehighcourt,thoseotherbeingswhommanhadfoundinhisexploration—Masonhadneverseenthem.Hehadrarelyheardofthem.
Hadanyreportereverseenone,hereflected?Hehadneverheardofit.Why
weretheexperimentalplanetssostrangelydevoidofalienintelligence?HehadbeentaughtthattheFederationfrownedonexperimentsinvolvinglifeonanyplanets.Buttheexperimentshereweredirectlyconcernedwithlife.
Didthehighcourtknowanyofthis?
Deepinside,Masonknewtheanswertothat.Itwasaresoundingno!Ofcoursethehighcourthadnoknowledgeofit.Theyreceivedreportssentinbymenlikehimselfwhowerecarefullyscreenedandwhoseknowledgewasfiltered.InallthereportsMasonhadsentin,notonehadmentionedthepresenceoflife.Becausetheinformationhewasgivensedulouslyavoidedallmentionofthesubject.
Masonwonderedaboutthoseotherbeings.Heknewthathehadbeengivenonlyhazyinformation.Whenhewasstillachild,likeallchildren,hehadbeenfascinatedbythepossibilityofotherlife.AndhisteachershadtriedtodescribetheintelligencestheFederationhadfound.Describedthemalwaysamorphously,hintingratherthantelling,andthengivinglecturesonthealien'shistorywhichalwaysprovedsolongandboringthatgraduallythechildrenlostinterest.
Whowerethey?Whatwerethey?
Suddenly,forthefirsttimesincehischildhood,Mason'simaginationwasfiredagain.Butthistimeitwasnotonlyemptycuriosity.ItwasadeepdesiretoknowmoreaboutthepeculiarworkingsoftheFederation,andanevendeeperinterestinknowingonceandforallMan'splaceinthisvastuniverse.
Perhapshewasstrange,Masonpuzzled,perhapshewasdifferent.ButevenifManwerenotthesupremecreation,howinheaven'snamecouldheresisttheimpulsetoknow?Masoncertainlycouldn't.Hefeltheadyandcourageousaboutit.Itmightwellbethecourageofignorance,'headmitted,butatanyrate,itwouldcarryhimthrough.
HegrinnedsuddenlyatLouisa,comingoutofhisreverie,"Don'tworryaboutme.I'llbeallright."
ThenextmorningEckert'svoicecrackledthroughthetransmitteronthespecialwavelength.Ulinskiclosedthedoorandspoketohimalone.Outside,Masonwaited,hopingforananswerbeforethemothershipradioedtohim.That
Masonwaited,hopingforananswerbeforethemothershipradioedtohim.Thatwouldbesoon,heknew.TheyhadbeenduetopickhimupthefollowingdayandwouldcheckonhisprogressfromsomewhereontheirroutebeforestoppingaboveLilith.Ifhisreportsweren'tcompletedtheywouldgoontothenextstationandpickhimuplater.Masonwasnervouswaiting.
AtlastUlinskicameoutandstoodlookingathimwithatraceofangerinhisface.Hespokeroughly."Eckertdoesn'twanttoseeyouyet.Hesaidtoputthemothershipoffandtellthemtopickyouuplater.Inthemeantime,saynothingexceptthatiftheyhavetriedtocontactyoutheywerepreventedbecauseofatmosphericinterference.Andkeepanyotherreporterfromcomingdownherel"
ThislastsoundedlikeawarningtoMasonwhofoundhimselfirritatedatUlinski'stoneofvoice.Ontheotherhandhewassousedtotakingordersfromhissuperiorsthathefounditdifficulttoargue."Ican'tverywellstopanotherreporterfromarriving,"hesaidimpatiently."That'sprobablyexactlywhatthywillsuggest."
"Idon'tcarewhatyousay,"Ulinskisnapped."Justmakesurewedon'tgetanothermandownhere.ThoseareEckert'sorders/'
Ulinskiappearedatriflesorryashelookedathim.HeStopped,stoodstillforamomentasiftryingtodecidesomething,andthenwalkedovertoMason.
"Eckertwantsustocontinuetheexperiments,Russ.That'swhyit'ssonecessary."Hefrowned,lookingasifhewantedtosaymore,andthenturnedabruptlyonhisheelandleftthehall.
AslowangerbegantogrowinMason.AftermurderingtwomenandcausingunknowndamagetoLilith,Eckertwantedthemtocontinuetheexperiments!Continuethemhow?
MasonranafterUlinski,outofthebuildingsandaroundthepathtothepen."Wait!"hecalled."Look,Ulinski,you'renotthinkingofworkingontheanimalsagain,areyou?"
Theystoodonthepathtogether,eyessquintingfromthesun,ablazeofcolorsurroundingthemandmakingthemthetwograyestimagesonthelandscape.Dullblotsonabrilliantcanvas.
"Whatotherexperimentswouldyousuggest?"Ulinskiaskedsavagely.
Masoncouldn'tunderstandwhyUlinskiwassoupset.Ulinskihadworkedbeforeontheseexperimentsandseemedtobereasonablycontent.Mason'sangervanishedinfrontofthisnewcuriosity."What'sthematter,Vladimir?"
Hehadn'tusedUlinski'sfirstnamebeforeandthesoundcausedasharpreactionintheman.Ulinskicaughthisbreathandturnedtowardthepen,almostrunninginhishastetogetaway.Masonlookedafterhim,perplexed.
Tryingtothinkinthefaceofthiswasalmostimpossible,butstillMasonmanagedtowonderwhyheshouldfeelsuchremorse.Hehadn'tdoneathing.Notathing,excepttobeapawninthegameofManbeingplayedatvariouspointsintheuniverse.Thatwaswhathehaddone:nothing.Hehadn'tquestioned,hadn'tsought,hadn'texamined.Hesharedacollectiveguiltandfeltitindividually.
SlowlythefeelingpassedandMasonwalkedbacktohisroom.ThecleanemotionsheexperiencedonLilithwereanothercauseforwonder.Therewasnothingmixedabouthisfeelingshere.Whenhefeltsomethinghefeltitinitsentirety.Hefeltitpurely,andthatwaswhytheemotionspenetratedsodeeply.Hewonderedifthat,too,hadsomethingtodowiththecolorortheatmosphere.
HeopenedhisdoorandfoundLouisainhisroomsittingatthedesk.
"Whatareyougoingtodo,Russ?"Shespokequickly,assoonashehadclosedthedoor,herfaceanxiousasshelookedupathim."Theexperimentsarebeginningagaintoday."Masonsatonhisbed."Yes,Ulinskitoldme."
"Butcan'tyoudosomething?"shepleaded."Can'tyoumakethemstop?Look,Russ,Ithoughtwewereallfinishedhere,that'swhyIdidn'texplaineverythingtoyoubefore.Butwecan'tgoonlikethis!HerbGregsonwasaverybrilliantman.Hewouldneverhavesaidtostoptamperingunlesstherewereagoodreason."
Masonwonderedifshewastellingthetruth.Hehatedtobesuspicious,butwasn'titjustpossiblethatshewasdrawinghimout,toseewherehestood?Wasthisaplannedvisit?
HesaidnothingandLouisagotupandwalkedtothewindow."Iknowyoudon'ttrustme,Russ,"shesaid."AndIcan'tblameyou.IsthereanywayIcanconvinceyouthatI'masopposedtothisasyouare?"
Sheturnedsuddenlyandfacedhim,hereyesblazing."Russ,howwouldyouliketoseetheexperiment?Iknowhowit'sdone.IwaswithGregsononcewhentheydidit.Ifyoucouldjustseethis,Ithinkyou'dunderstand.Please,Russ,letmeshowyou!"
InspiteofhimselfMasonwasintrigued.Hehadneverwitnessedanexperimentofthismagnitudeinhislife.Noneofthereportershad.Ifhehadthatinformation,wouldn'titgivehimanevensharperweaponthanhehadnow?
"Tonight."Shewasexcited."Late,aftereveryone'sasleep.Noonebotherstocheckonusthen—"TherewasasoundoutsidethedoorandLouisabrokeoff."I'llcometonight.Orbetterstill,youmeetmeatthelab."Shefinishedinawhisperandslippedoutoftheroom.
Masondecidedtogoalong.Therewasnothingtolose,anyway.Althoughnobodyhadbotheredtoexplainittohim,herealizedthathewasvirtuallyaprisonerhere.Ifnotaprisonerofthestaff,certainlyEckertwasheadjailkeeper.Hewasjustbeginningtounderstandthathe'dbeeninjailallhislife.Hehadtotakeariskortwoifheeverhopedtobefree.
CHAPTERSEVEN
AftekmidnightMasonquietlyslippedoutofhisroomandfelthiswayalongthepathtothelab.Hewasn'tsurewhichdoorwastheentrancebutahandgraspedhiminthedarknessanddrewhimalong.Louisatookakeyfromthepocketofheroverallsandunlockedthedoor.
TheysteppedinsideandawaveofodorassailedMason'snostrils.Itwasamixtureofsmellsthatwereunnaturallypenetrating.Acloyingsweetnessthatalmostmadehimsick.Louisaledhimthroughthepitchblacktoanotherdoor,openedit,andonceinsideturnedonthelight.
TheylookedateachotherandLouisasmilednervously."Yousee,I'venotledyouintoalion'sden."
No,therewasnotrap,atleastnotsofarforMason.Itwasonlytheanimalswhoweretrapped,hundredsofthemincagesthatlinedthewallsoftheroom.Masonhalfexpectedtohearanoutburstofsoundastheyweresuddenlyexposedtothelight,butinsteadtheyjustblinkedtheireyesandcameforwardintheircages,lookingoutcuriouslyandpathetically,Masonthought,attheirvisitors.
Thereweretwovarietiesoflifecagedhereonoppositesidesoftheroom.Onewasapiglikecreature,aboutthesizeofalargedog,withasnoutandpale-violetreptilianskin.MasonhadnotseenthistypeofanimalbeforeonLilithandwassurprisedatthelackoffeathersorfurwhichwassocharacteristicoflifehere.
"Wheredidyougetthese?"heasked,goinguptooneofthecages.Theanimalcameforward,puttingitssnoutoutofthebars,sniffedathishandandthenturneddisinterestedlyaway.
"Intheswampsbeyondthelab.Theybreedthereinlargenumbers.Andthey'renotverybright.Itwassoeasytocatchthem.Wewereveryinterestedinthechemicalcompositionoftheirskin.Don'tletthecolorfoolyou;wecallthemgilasbecauseofthatresemblancetotheEarthcreature,buttheseanimalsabsorbalmostallthelightthatreachesthem.
"OnEarththey'dhavetobeblacktodothat.It'sanotherofLilith's
"OnEarththey'dhavetobeblacktodothat.It'sanotherofLilith'smysteries."Louisagentlypattedoneoftheanimalsonthehead."They'renotveryattractive,arethey?ButIcan'thelpfeelingsorryforthem."
"Andthese?"Masonasked,goingtotheoppositewallwherethecagesrosefromfloortoceiling,mostofthemempty.Inonlyafewwerethelittle,golden-furredanimals,astinyaskittens,withbright,somehowsweetlittlefacesthatpeeredoutcuriouslyathim.Oneoftheanimalscameupandsatonitsbacklegs,cockingitsheadononesideandregardingMasonintently.Itsfrontpawswavedathim,asifaskinghimtoplay.Masonlaughed."Whydoyouhavesofewofthese?Whatarethey,Louisa?"
"They'requiterare,asfarasweknow,andverydifficulttocapture.Wecallthemmelansbecausetheircolorremindedusofthepigmentmelanin.Ofcourseitisn'treallythesamething,wediscovered,butthenamestuck."
"Andthey'rerare?"
"Gettingevenrarer,"Louisacommentedunhappily."Atonetimewehadquiteafew,buttheseexperimentsarefastexterminatingthem."
Masonputhisfingerthroughthebarandthelittleanimalgrabbeditwithhispaws,examiningthenailcuriously."Theyhavefourdigits!"heexclaimed."Howdoyouknowtheseanimalshaven'tfarthertogo?YeeMonsaidthatlifeherehasreachedtheendofit'sdevelopment.Buthowcanyoubesosure?"
"I'mnotsureatall,"Louisasaid."Marinaisabsolutelyconvincedthatthegilashaveevolvedcompletelyandwilleitherstaythatwayorbewipedout.Shehasn'tsaidmuchaboutthemelans,butthey'resoscarcethatIguesssheimaginesthey'reontheirwayoutalready."
"Butfourdigits!"Masonfrowned."That'sveryrare,isn'tit?Whatdotheyeat?"
"Foliage.Wehaven'tfoundananimalyetonLiliththatiscarnivorous.They'reallherbivorous.Comeon,Russ,Iwanttoshowyousomething."Sheledhimbacktothedoor,openingitjustslightlysothatthelightshonethroughacrack.
AgainthepowerfulsweetsmellmadeMasoncatchhisbreath."Seethe
AgainthepowerfulsweetsmellmadeMasoncatchhisbreath."Seethemelansinthosecages?"Louisawhispered."They'veallbeenexposedtothecolorexperiment.Lookquickly,becausewhentheyseeanylightatallnowtheysetupaterrifichueandcry."Hervoicewastight."Lookatthem!"
Masonlookedandhadthatawfulsinkingsensationthatcoursedthroughhisbodywheneverhesawanimalsinpain.Heheldhisbreath,asmuchfromthesightofthewrithinganimalsasfromtheodor.
Louisashutthedoorontheroomandlookedathiminanguish."Theynevertellyouaboutthis,dothey?Nowdoyouseewhyit'sgottostop,Russ?It'sbarbaric!"Shewasneartears,andMasonhekThergentlyforamoment.
Thiswasnodeception.HehadnodoubtnowthatLouisawasonhisside,availabletohelpinwhateverwayshecould.Andhewouldneedthathelp,Masonknew,anduseit.Louisabrokeaway,andledhimthroughtheroomofcagestothelab.
Shelefthimthereanddisappeared.Infrontofhimwasalargewindowlookingintotheexperimentalroom.WhenLouisacamebackshepulledaswitchonthewallandMasonsawthatshehadplacedoneofthemelansinacagethattilteditfromthepenintotheexperimentalroom.Shepulledanotherswitch.Thewindowactedasamagnifier.Theysawthelittleanimalinalargeclose-up.
ShethenhandedMasonapairofglasses."Youmayneedthese,evenwiththewindow.Thelightisterrificallyintense,"shesaidgrimly."Ihopeyoumemorizeeverystepofthisprocess,Russ.Iwishitweren'tnecessary,butitcouldalwaysbesaidthattheanimalsinpainoutthereweresufferingfromnaturalcauses.Thiswillgiveyoutheproofthatyouneed.AndI'mnotgoingtoletthisonesuffer,"sheaddedquietly.
Masonlookedathercuriously.
"Itisn'tnecessary,"sheexplained."Thoseanimalsouttherearestillalivebecausetheyweren'tgivenfullexposure.Manydifferentcombinationshavebeentriedonthem.I'mgoingtoshowyouwhatGregsondid.Itwillkillthemelan,butwiththeatmosphereasitisnow,itwon'thavethesameexplosiveeffect."
"Waitaminute,"Masonprotested."We'veforgottensomething.Couldtheyknowinthehousewhatwe'redoingouthere?"x
"Oh,no."Sheshookherhead."There'sneverbeenaneedtosetupcontrolslikethatandthevibrationisconfinedtooneroom.Nowwatch."SheturnedtothebankofdialsonthewallandMasonwassointentonrememberingthecombinationsthatheforgottoputontheglasses.
Whenheturnedbacktowardthewindow,Louisacried,"Now!"andtheroominfrontofhimwasilluminedforamomentwithaflashofunbelievablecolor.Thelittlemelaninthecagestooduponitshindlegsandstretcheditssmallbodytothelimit,pawswavingandseemingtograbatthelight.Foraninstanthewastransparentandglowedalloverwiththesamelightandcolor.Magnified,hiseyeswerehugewithwonderandfright.AndfromacrosstheroomandthroughthewindowthoseeyesseemedtoborestraightintoMason.
Hefeltashocklikethathehadexperiencedinthecircle,andsatthereholdinghisbreathasthemelanlookedathim.ThepupilsgrewwiderandwiderandheldMasonintheirshock.Heseemedtoseethroughthem,asthemelanwasseeing.
Butwhathesaw!Likethelasttimeitwasagreatandgrowingpanoramaofhistory,butunlikeDeayban'smind,itheldnotthepast,buttheentirefutureofthemelanandofLilith.Anditlived,notinitsbrain,butineverycellofitstinybody.
Therewasahungerthere,anunformed,unthoughtgnaw>-ingofdesire.AwishsostrongthatalreadyNaturereeledinfrontofitandwouldhavetoacquiesce.Themelanalreadyhadfourfingers,andinthosestraining,determinedcells,therealreadygrewthebeginningofthenextstep,theformationofathumb.Inbackofthosecuriouseyestherelurkedanalertcunning,anabilitytoadapt,tochange,andtoadaptagain.
TheenormityofitsdesirestunnedMason.CouldManeverhavewishedsocompletelyandsopurely?Thetiniest,thehumblest,theweakestofLilith'screatures,thislittlemelanwasinsistingonitsdestiny.Itwouldtakeanyrisk,faceanyobstacle,toquenchthatburningthirstforbeing.
AndMasonsawhowitwouldslowlyevolve,becomingtaller,strongerand
AndMasonsawhowitwouldslowlyevolve,becomingtaller,strongerandmorecleverthroughtheyears.FirstthephysicalsenseswouldacquireaperfectionunknowntoMan,andthengraduallythewonderofintelligencewouldunfold,andinbackofthat,always,theinsatiablehunger.Untilthemelan,stillunsatisfied,woulddemandeternityandevenimmortalityasitsgoal.
Masonsawthetransformationfromfleshtointelligence,fromcellstolight.Themelanwouldevolvetowardlight,forthatwasthedestinyLilithheldforit.Andsoitsfoodwouldchangefromheaviertoeverlightermatter,untilatlastittookitsnourishmentdirectlyinenergyfromthesun.
Andinreturn?
Masonwasstaggeredbytheunderstandingalreadypresentinthetinybodybeforehim,forthemelanalreadyknewthatpaymentwouldbedemandedfromhim.Howcouldit,now,haveaconceptofthereciprocaldemandsoftheuniverse,ofcreation?Butitknew;ineverycellofthatsmallbodytherewasawillingnesstopay.AndMasonsawthatfinalactofsurrender,carriedoutinthefreedomofhumility.Forthemelanwouldsurrendertoanevenhigherforce,acceptingallcreationasone,andwiththathumilitywouldracetorescueanotherpartofthatcreationfromextinction.
Fasterthanlight,witharesourceofenergythatstunnedtheimagination,themelan,nowtrulysomethingakintoangels,wouldrescueManfromthetombofhisdyingsun.ItwasthemelanwhoswoopeddownonEarthinthatfinal,desperatemoment,andtookthechildrenofMantotheStars.Itwastheirbeing,theirintelligence,theirverylife,thatwasMan'shope.
MorethanthatMasoncouldnotsee.
Whenatlastthebodyofthemelanlaystillandtwistedbeforehim,theeyeslifelessandhollow,Masonsatshaken.
Noticinghisexpression,Louisawasstartled."Whatisit?"shecried,andthenseeingthatheworenoglasses,sighedinrelief."Oh,it'sonlytheshockofthecolor.Iknowitdoesstrangethings."Shelookedatthestillbodyoftheanimalandadded,"Atleasthedidn'tsuffer.Ifthisonecansavetherest,itwillhavebeenworthit."
"Theymustallbesaved."MasonrosetohisfeetandtookLouisabyher
"Theymustallbesaved."MasonrosetohisfeetandtookLouisabyhershoulders,holdingherwhilehelookedintenselyintohereyes."Ican'texplainallthisnow,butthernelansmustallbesetfree.Whatwouldhappenifweopenedallthecagesandletthemgo?"
Louisawasalmostfrightenedbyhisface."They'dbecaughtagain,"shestammered,"andprobablythere'dbeanevenlargerhuntforthem.Morewouldbedestroyedintheprocess."
"Allright."Masonwasthinkingquicklyandreadytoletthatgoforthemoment.Thatwasn'ttheway.Hemustfindanother."Howcanyouhelptogetmeoutofhere?"heaskedbluntly."I'vegottogetaway."
"Awaywhere?"
"Backtomyship.Look,Louisa,I'vegotanidea.They'llbecallingmetomorrow.UlinskisaidIwastotellthemmyreportwasn'tfinished.Thedangerinthatisthattheymightsenddownanotherreportertohelpmecompleteit.I'munderordersnowfromEckertpersonallytostopanotherreporterfromcoming.Theyleftthemethoduptome."
Hepacedupanddownthetinyroomandthenwheeledaroundsuddenly."SupposeIlefttonight,tookthelandrover.YoucouldtellthemI'ddecidedthebestwaytoplayitsafewastoreporttothemothershipfromtheport.They'llbeaboveit,anyway,whentheyradiome.Istillhavemyowntransmitter.IcouldsendfortheMirandaandleavewithoutanyoneknowing."
"They'dknow,Russ.They'dbelisteninginonthatcall."♦
"Butwhatcouldtheydoaboutit?"Masonexulted."Theycan'tholdmehereifI'minadifferentplace.I'dhavetheonlylandroverwithme.AndIdon'tthinkthey'ddaretotelltheshipnottotakeme.Itwouldlooktooodd.No,that'sit.I'vegottoleaveherenowandbebackattheportbyearlytomorrow."
"Andthenwhat?"Louisaquestionedseriously."Whatwillyoudowhenyouarebackontheship?Idon'treallyseewhatyoucandothere."
**IcanforceEckerttoseeme,"Masonsaidgrimly."AndifIcan'tgetanywherewithhim,Icangotothehighcourt!"
Louisa'seyeswidened."Youcan'tletthemknowaboutthis,"shewhisperedanxiously.
Masonwonderedifheshouldnowtellhereverythingheknew.Shewouldcertainlyunderstandthen,why,ifnecessary,hemustgotothehighcourt.Butcarryingthatknowledgewithhercouldbedangerous.Theothersmightfindawaytoinducehertotalk.NoonewouldbelievehisstoryandevenLouisamightdecidehewasactingonimaginationandweirdvisions.Itwouldbebetterifshecontinuedtothinkthathewasconcernedsimplyinahumanewaywiththeseexperiments.
Masonhadnofurtherdoubtnowaboutthevalidityofwhathehadseen.Hetrusteditcompletely.Theremightevenbeascientificexplanationofthesestrangechangesintime,ifonecoulddelvedeeplyenoughintothepropertiesofthatmysteriousbeamoflight;thesamelightthathadkilledGregsonandPlummerandtakenMasontwicethroughtime.
-PerhapsIwon'thavetogotothehighcourt,"hesaidgently."Chancesareitwon'tbenecessary.ThemainthingistogettoEckert.Now,willyouhelpme,Louisa?"
"Whatdoyouwantmetodo?"sheaskedsimply,inagreement.
"We'llhavetomovethecarsilentlyuntilit'sfarenoughfromthebuildingssoIcanstartitwithoutbeingheard.Eventheslightesthummightbedetectedifanyone'sawake.Iwantyoutoopentheshedandhelpmemoveitout.I'llmeetyouthereinalittlewhile,assoonasIgetsomethingsfrommyroom.Butquietly,Louisa,"hecautioned."Andbecareful.Remember,ifanythinghappens,thatyouhadnothingtodowiththis."
TheyleftthelabandMasonmanagedtoreachhisroomundetected.Hebegantogatheruphisthings,makingreadythesurvivalkitwhichhehadneverused.Hehadasuspicionthatthistimeitmightbeneeded.Hewasjustclosingthekitwhentherewasa^knockonhisdoor.HesworeunderhisbreathasheheardYeeMoncallsoftly,"Russ…"
Hethrewthekitunderhisbedandwenttothedoor,al-mostforgettingforamomentthathewaswearingajacket."Justaminute,"hesaid,hastilyremovingthejacketandtossingitintoacloset.HeopenedthedoorandYeeMonlooked
thejacketandtossingitintoacloset.HeopenedthedoorandYeeMonlookedathiminsurprise.
"Notasleep?"heasked.
"No."Masonsmiled,hopinghelookednatural."Toomanythingsgoingon,Isuppose.I'vebeenlyingherethinking.GuessIlosttrackoftime.Whattimeisit?"Hemanagedtoyawnalittle.
"Late,"YeeMonsaidshortly."ButI'mgladyou'reup.Iwantedtotalktoyou."HecameinandsatdownonthechairbyMason'sdesk,drumminghisfingersonthetop."I'mworried,"hestatedcarefully."Ihaveafeelingyoudon'treallyunderstandyetwhatthisisallabout.Youdon'tdoyou?^
"IthinkIdo."Masonwascautiousnow,wonderingwhereallthiswasleading.
"Well,Idisagree."YeeMontookoutacigaretteandlitit."You'vebeengivenaquickreportofthesurfacebutIdoubtifyouhaveanideaofthedepthofthisproject.That'swhatIwanttotalktoyouabout.
"Youhavetodreamupsomesortofstoryfortomorrow,"headded,somewhatirrelevantly,Masonthought."Haveyoudecidedwhatyou'regoingtosay?"
Masongroanedinwardly.ThismightgoonallnightandLouisawouldbewaitingoutthere."Yes,Ihaveanidea.Iwasplanningtosleeponitandseehowitlookedinthemorning."
He'dhavetoinventsomethingfast,hethought,andsomehowgetYeeoutofhere."IthoughtImightsaythatthereportissointricatethatanothermanonthejobwouldonlycomplycateitfurther.MaybeIcouldsaythatthejobwouldbecompletedfasterifIcontinuealone.Soundallright?"Heyawnedagainandstretchedoutonthebed,puttinghisarmsunderhishead.
YeeMoninhaleddeeplyandslowlyletoutthesmokeinalongdriftingcurl.Hedidn'tanswer.
"Ifthere'saflaw,I'llprobablyseeitinthemorning.ButbasicallyIthinkit'ssound,don'tyou?"Masonsaid.
sound,don'tyou?"Masonsaid.
"Perhaps,"YeeMonsaid,watchingthesmoke.
Wouldheneverleave?"Ifyoudon'tmind,IthinkI'llturninnow.Asyousay,it'slate."Masongotupandbegantomakemotionstowardundressing.Yeedidn'tmoveandsuddenlyMasonwasirritated."I'dliketogetsomesleep,"hesaidsharply.
"Notabadidea,"Yeeagreed."Louisaneededsleep,too.Ibelieveshe'ssleepingquitesoundlynow."Hislidsflickeredimperceptibly.
Masonstoodstockstillforaninstantandthenwentonundressing.WhateverreactionYeewanted,hewasn'tgoingtogiveittohim.
"It'sakindofunwrittenlawaroundhere,"Yeesaid,"thatwedonotgooutafterdark.UnfortunatelyMissWengerseemedtohavesomeideaofanightjourney.Perhapsjustalittlespinaround,butallthesamewedidn'tagreewithherthatitwassuchagoodidea."
Masontookadeepbreath,thankfulthathisfacewasturnedaway.Hehadneverbeenmuchofanactor,buthewouldhavetoimprovisequicklyandconvincingly.Hebeganlaughing,"Ithinkit'samarvelousidea.Wishshe'daskedmetogoalong."
"Stopit,Russ!"Yee'svoicewassharp."Weknowexactlywhatyouwereplanning."HestoodupandMasonfacedhim."No,"heansweredtheunaskedquestion,"MissWengerwasnotgoingtosayanything.However,wehadtohavethatinformationandittakesexactlysixtysecondsforashotofmeslintotakeeffect.I'msosorryyoudon'ttrustus,Mason.Allthisisreallyquiteunnecessary.Now,ifyou'llsitdowncalmly,I'msurewecancometosomeunderstanding."
Masonwasviolentlyangry.Hewasevenmoreofaprisonerthanhehadimagined.Obviouslysomeonehadbeensenttokeepaclosecheckonthecar.They'dmadeLouisatalkunderthedrug.Whatwasthenextmove,hewondered?
Hisangersurgedtobreakingpointandsuddenlyhedidn'tcareanymore.AllthelongyearsofcarefultrainingagainstviolencevanishedinaninstantaneouseruptionandhefelthisfistexplodeintoYeeMon'sbland,smilingface.Yee
eruptionandhefelthisfistexplodeintoYeeMon'sbland,smilingface.Yeestumbledandfellbackagainstthedesk,thesmilefrozeninshock.HeputuphishandstowardMasonoff,toosurprisedtocryout,andMasonhithimagain.Hefelltothefloor,crackinghisheadagainstthedesk,hiscigarettebouncingacrossthefloor.
Masonstubbedoutthecigaretteinafury,grabbedhisjacketandputiton,tookuphisemergencykitandputhisearagainstthedoor.Therewerefootstepscomingdownthehall.Hastily,heshutoffthelight,lockedthedoorandwenttothewindow.Helistenedandheardnothingmorethanthewindwhiningintheferntrees.Heopenedthewindowandjumpeddownjustassomeonebeganknockingonhisdoor.
Hestartedtoturntowardtheshedandthensawadimlightcomingfromtheentrance.Someonewasstillthere.Thatmeantthathewouldhavetoforgetaboutthelandrover.Theknockswerelouderinbackofhim.Allrightthen,he'dhavetomakeitonfoot.Glancingsharplyaround,hedartedacrossthepatharoundthebuildingandranswiftlytowardtheforestofferns.
Hepausedonceinhisflighttolookbackandsawthebuildingilluminatedasallthelightswereswitchedon.VoicescarriedacrossthepathbutMasondidn'twaittohearwhattheyweresaying.Pantingfromangeranddetermination,heranwildlythroughtheforest,stumblingoverrootsandfightingfuriouslyatthetendrilsthatcutacrosshisface.Severaltimeshefellacrossthegnarledrootsthatcutunderhisfeet,fallingintowetmossthatclungtenaciouslytohisclothesandhair.
Itwasimpossibletocontinuerunninglikethisinthedark.Masonsloweddownandbegantowalkcautiously,feelinghiswayamongthefernsandbrush.Theredidn'tseemtobeanysignofpursuit.Buthowcouldtheyfollowhiminthenightlikethis?Ofcourse,theywouldn'teventry.
Masonsatdownforamoment,breathingdeeply,exhaustedfromhisheadlongflight.Theywouldtakethelandrover,probably,andtrytointercepthimontheroadbacktotheport,figuringthathewouldgothatway.Orwouldtheysimplywaitforhimthere?Inanycase,hehadlittlehopeofinterceptingtheMirandaattheport.ForawhileMasonconsideredthepossibilityofgoingbackandtalkingitoverwithYeeMonorUlinski.
Butherealizedtherewasn'ttheslightestchanceofpersuasion.Eckert
Butherealizedtherewasn'ttheslightestchanceofpersuasion.EckertobviouslymeanttokeephimhereonLilith.But—Masonfeltastirringofhope—therewasstillachance.Eckertalsodidn'twanttheshiptoknowanythingwasamiss.WhatstorycouldhepossiblyinventifMasonfailedtoanswertheship'scall?Hesmiledwiththeknowledgethathewas,inaway,valuableproperty.
Hewasn'tworriedaboutLouisa.Theywoulddonothingmorethanquestionherfurtheronhisplans.Thankheavenhehadn'ttoldhereverything.Heshouldhaveanticipatedthepossibilityofthetruthdrug,buthehadneverthoughtsuchmeasuresmightbeused.No,shewouldbeallrightnowthattheinformationhadbeenforcedfromher.Hefacedtheproblemnowofinterceptinghisshipsomewhereorgivingupentirely.Andgivingupnowwasoutofthequestion.
Masonlayback,restinghisheadagainstatreetrunk.Hemightaswellgetafewhourssleep.Therewasn'tmuchhecoulddountildawn.Suddenlyhesatup,tensewiththerealizationthathe'dbeenallwrongaboutseeingEckert.Naively,hehadthoughtof-explainingthewholemattertohim,persuadinghimthattheexperimentsmustbestopped.ButwoulditbepossibletotalktoamanwhotooksuchmeasuresasMasonhadjustwitnessed?
Masoncursedhimselfforhisinnocence.Likeachildhehadthoughtnofurtherthangoingtotheboss,withachild'sassurancethatthebosswouldmakeeverythingright.PlainlyEckertwasnottheonetosee.AndMasonhadnowayofknowingwhowasabovehim.Thatleftonlyoneareaofpossiblehelp.Hewouldhavetogothehighcourt.He'wouldhavetoappealtoanotherIntelligence.InstinctivelyMasonshivered,knowingthatheplannedtoattemptwhatfewmenhadevertried.
Andwasn'titridiculous,hethought,thatlyinghereinthemiddleofajungleonLilith,withreallyverylittlehopeofescapeandallthingspointingtowardhisfailure,hehadnottheslightestdoubtthathewouldcompletehismission.Hesmiledagain,refusingtothinkhemightbedeludinghimself,andwenttosleep.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Onearththerehadbeenanoldexpression:Breakofdawn.Perhaps,insomedistanttime,someManhadwitnessedthemorningandthoughtthatnighthadgentlycrackedtoletthroughthesun.ButhereonLilithdawndidn'tbreak.Itflooded,withaslow,relentlessswellthatenvelopedtheworldinbreathtakingfilmsoflightandcolor.
MasonawokeandstretchedandopenedhiseyestotheskyofLilith,framedthroughthemistandfernfrondsthatwavedingreatsweepsfarabovehishead.Helaythereforawhileentranced.Atlast,reluctantly,hearoseandatesparinglyfromthefoodhehadbrought.Sometimeduringthenight,perhapsinadream,hehadunderstoodtheonlythinghecoulddo.Therewasn'ttheslightestpossibilityofgettingtotheporttoday.Evenifhedid,theywouldbethere,waitingforhim.
Hisplanwastogoinastraightanddifficultlineawayfromtheroadanduptothemountains,hopingtocontacttheshipfromthere.Eveniftheyguessedhisroute,theywouldn'tfollow.Areportwouldbesenttotheshipthismorningthathewasillorhadanaccident.Theywouldexpecttheshiptoleavebeforenightfallwithouthim.
Butthatwaswherehefelthopeful.Ashipneverleftwithoutwaitingtwenty-fourhours.Andthenitwasunlikely,toleavewithoutsendingdownanotherman.YeeMonorEckertwouldhaveahardtimetryingtodreamupananswertothatone,Masonthought,ashebeganwalkingthroughtheforest.
Itwasgoingtobeadifficulthike,andhehadnoillusionsaboutthat.Hetriedtorelaxeachmuscleashemovedandsaveasmuchenergyaspossible.Still,thedaywaswarmandsoonhehadtotakeoff-hisjacket,anextraburdentocarrybutnecessaryforwhatmightfacehimtonightinthemountains.
AsthedayworeonMasonbegantoperspireandthinklonginglyofthevalleyofpools.acrossthemountainrange.Sofarhehadn'tseenastreamorpoolandhewasbeingextremelycarefulabouthissupplyofwater.Atnoonhestoppedinagladeamongthegiantfernstorest.Thesunwasdirectlyoverheadandtheclearingshonebrightlyinarainbowofcolor.
ThebrillianceseemedtopourintoMasonashelaythere,andhefanciedhe
ThebrillianceseemedtopourintoMasonashelaythere,andhefanciedhecouldseetheactualraysofthesunshininginglancinglinesofitsspectrum.Hisownbodyseemedfilledwithlightandcolorandlookingup,thesunappearedtohimatthatmomentlikeanancientdrawing,withthejaggedtonguesoffirelickingoutalongtherim,andlinesoflightstreaminginraysdownacrosstheheavenstotheearth.Liketheoldastrologicalsunofthezodiac.
Allatoncehestoodupwithashout.Hewasn'twearinghisglassesandhewaslookingdirectlyatthesun!Masonlookedaroundwildly,asifthefernsorgrowthcouldgivehimananswer.AllaroundhimweretheviolentcolorsofLilith,shockingintheirintensitybutnolongerdangeroustoMason.Thecolorsgaveoffaspecialauraorilluminationoftheirown,andhecouldfeeltheenergyheldineachone.
Heranaroundtheclearing,weavinginandoutofthewavesoflight,feelingeachcolor.Thenhesatdowninfrontofabedofflowers,wonderingwhathadhappenedtohiseyes.Hecouldalmosttastethecoloroftheflowers.Hewasverythirsty,andashelookedatthemhisthirstgrewstronger,asitusuallydoesjustbeforeonedrinks.Hetookoneoftheflowers,pulledoffthepetalsandexaminedthestem.Justashehadsensed,therewaswaterinthethickbulbhalfwayinthemiddleofthestem.Hedrankitimmediatelywithoutworryingabouttheeffect.
Althoughhehadbeentrainedtonevertasteotherplanetaryfood,hehadnodoubtaboutthis.Hedrankfromoneflowerandthenanotheruntilthegroundwasstrewnwithpetals.Thenhereplenishedhiswatersupplyandbeganwalkingagain.Hefeltextremelylightandconfidentandhissurpriseatbeingabletoseewithoutglasseswasmodifiedbythewonderofwhathesaw.Hewasnolongerstunnedbytheimpactofcolor,ratherhewasrefreshedandexhilaratedandcouldn'tgetenoughofthemarvelouslightthatmethiseyes.
Sothiswaswhatthemelansaw,hethought.Ortheymightseeevenmore,seebeyondthecolor.Andtheotherlife—thosebirdssostartinglyplummaged,dartinglikebrightrainbowsacrossthesky—wasthiswhattheysaw,too?AndwhatwouldothermenthinkiftheycouldseeLilithpurely,asMasondidnow,insteadofhidingbehindalensthatfilteredandobscured?
Hecouldn'timagineeverhavingdislikedLilith.ThiswastrulyanEden,amagicalspotincreation,anearththatglowedasitwaitedfortheintelligencethatwouldevolvetocompleteit.
thatwouldevolvetocompleteit.
Masonknewthathisexposuretothetwoilluminations,firstinthecircleandtheninthelaboratorywhenhehadforgottentowearglasses,mustberesponsibleforthechangeinhisvision.Somehowhehadbeenaffectedinawaythatenabledhimnowtoseewhatnoothermancouldbeartolookat.Itwassolovely,somuchlovelierthananythinghehadeverdreamed,thathewalkedalonginatrance,nearlyforgettinghispurpose.
Fortherestofthedayhewalkedlikethat,pausingnowandthentoeatordrink,restingwheneverhefelttired.Bylateafternoonhewasamazedtofindthatinthisrelaxedstatehehadcoveredtwicetheamountofgroundhehadhopedtocover.Bysunsethehadcometothefoothillsofthemountainsandhestartedupwithoutpausingagain,feelingasfullofenergyaswhenhehadbegun.
Atduskhefinallystoppedtorestonarockyledgethatoverhungthevalleywherehehadjustbeen.Hewouldhavetohurrynowtoreachthetopbeforethelastraysofthesundiedaway,buthewantedthismomenttolookback.
Amisthungoverthevalley,sweepingoverthetipsofthefernforest,anditseemedtoMasonthatspiresbegantoriseabovethatmoistcloud.Hestrainedtosee,andthenbeforehiseyesavisionofacityarose.
Tallspiresandturretstouchedwithgold,glowingwiththefadingraysofthesun.Amongthespires,floatinglikewraithsinamistycity,Masonsawaprocessionofcoloredforms,lightandtransparentasair.ItwasthepeopleofLilith,Masonknew—themelansnow,andbeforehimatafurtherpointintheirdevelopment.Thespiresofthecitydarkenedandsuddenlythevisionwasgone.
Itwasdarkernowandhemusthurry.Climbingup,notstoppingnowforaninstant,Masonwonderedaboutwhathehadseen.TherehadbeensceneslikethatonEarth,heremembered,miragescausedbyrefraction.Whenlightwasbentinacertainwayitsometimescausedashiftintheappearanceofthelocationofthings.Astrongairlenslikethatwasn'tevendisturbedbyanythingmovingthroughit.
Thiswasstillamysterytoscientists;thestrange,strongforcethatmaintainsit.Andsometimesamazingthingshadbeensighted.Wholecitiesappearedhundredsofmilesfromwheretheyactuallyexisted.Peoplehadbeenseen
hundredsofmilesfromwheretheyactuallyexisted.Peoplehadbeenseen"walkingthroughair,"evenlandscapeshadbeentransportedacrossoceanstobevisibletopeopleonothercontinents.
Wasitpossibleforamiragetocrosstime?
Thatthought,withallitincludedforMason,wasenoughtokeephimoccupieduntilatlasthestoodonthehighsummitofthemountainrange,darknessblackingoutthevalleysbelowhim.Farawayinthedistanceadimlightofthelabflickered.Lookingintheotherdirection,towardtheport,Masonsawnothingtoindicateanyonewasthere.But,hereasoned,theywouldn'tshowalightunderanycircumstancesiftheyexpectedtointercepthim.Hewasquitesurenoonewouldexpecthimtobeinhispresentsituation,highinthemountains,shiveringnowwiththechangeintemperature.
Hescannedthesky,hopingtoseethelightsofthemothership,butcouldn'tdistinguishheramongthemyriadblazingstarsthatlitthenight.Hehadhadjustenoughtimebeforehereachedthesummittoseethathewasstandingonahighplateau,largeandbroadenoughtoreceivetheMirandaif—heprayedsilently—hecouldreachherbeforeanyoneonthestaffinterceptedhiscall.
Hetookouthistransmitterandbegantosend.Almostimmediatelyhesawthelightsinthespaceportilluminatethewholearea,andSimpkins'voicebrokeinashetriedtotalkwiththeradioroom.
MasonwasrelievedtohearRoyWilsononduty.Hewasaclever,intelligentboy,andmightrealizethatsomethingwaswrong.Masonhopedferventlythathewouldn'twaitforordersbutwouldsendhisshipdownimmediately.Withoutmoreexplanationthanthenoteofurgencyinhisvoice,MasontoldRoytogetafixonhispositionandsenddowntheMiranda.HeonlyhopedRoywouldunderstandwhathewassaying.
"Justsendherdown,Roy,"Masonbarkedintothetransmitter,"That'sanorder!"
AtthesametimeSimpkinswassaying,"EckerthasgivenordersthatMr.Masonistoremainhere.Hemaynotrealizethis,sowillyoupleaseinformyourcommandingofficerandrelayourmessage.It'sevidentthatMr.Masonisnotawareofourconversation.Extremelyurgent,toyourcommandingofficer."
AndMasonwenton,"Iheareveryword,Roy.Justsendherdownandquickly.NevermindcontactingCotter—justgetherdownhere."
Wilsonwasinabadposition,Masonrealized,sohewasn'tsurprisedwhenRoyrespondedwithevasiveanswers."Yes,inamomentMr.Simpkins.Iunderstandyourdifficulty."ThenMason'searsprickedupasRoywenton,"We'rehavingtrouble-hearingyou.Theremustbesomethingwrong.Now,wouldyoumindrepeatingthat,Mr.Simpkins,and■we'lltrytogetyourmessage.No,sorry,nothingisclearuphere.We'rehavingdifficultyreceivingMason,too.Sorry.Pleasetryagain."
WilsonkeptitupfortenminuteswhileMason,shiveringinhislightjacket,keptyellingintothetransmitter,strainingtogethismessageacross.Whathadgonewrong?Hechafedatthelongdelay.
Suddenly,outofthecornerofhiseye,hesawaslimshapehurtleacrossthesky,makingasweepingcurveasithomed-inalmostdirectlyabovehishead.Henearlyshoutedwithrelief,butWilsonwasstillgoingon:"Sorry,Mr.Simpkins,we'restillnotclear.Holdon."
Masoncouldhavehuggedhim.Goodboy!HewaskeepingSimpkinsbusywhileMasonhadachancetogetaway.TheMirandamadeabeautifullandingjusttenfeetawayandMasonranovertoher,hopingitwouldbeasilenttakeoff.Heduckedintothecapsule,closedthehatch,setthecontrols,andlayback.
TheMirandawouldglidequietlyupintothenight,backtotheship,andifhewerelucky,Simpkinsandtheotherswouldn'tevenknow.Masoncaughthisbreathastheyleftthegroundsuddenlywithaleapthatpressedhimbackagainsttheside.
Tenminuteslaterheunlockedthehatch,jumpedoutinthehugegarageinthebellyofthemothership,and,ignoringthereporterswhopressedaroundingreeting,ranuptherampandthroughthecorridorstotheradioroom.Hestoppedatthedoor,grinningatWilsonwhowassittingthere,hisfeetuponatable,staringattheceilingashewearilykeptuptheroutine.
"Canyouhearmenow,Mr.Simpkins?"heasked."Sorrysir,missedthatlastpart.No,wehaven'tbeenabletocontactMasoneither."Heheldthereceiver
awayfromhisearasSimpkinsblusteredloudandhoarsely.
Masonwalkedovertohimandliftedhishandsinthevictorysign.WilsongrinnedbackandbrokeinonSimpkins."Mr.Simpkins,sir.Sir—"HeshruggedhisshouldershelplesslyatMasonasSimpkinsdoggedlykepttalking.
"Mr.Simpkins,sir!"Royinterruptedloudly•andfinallytherewassilenceontheotherend."Wecan'thearyou.I'mclosingforthemoment,sir.We'llcallbackassoonasourtransmitterisfixed.Goingoffnow,sir.Pleasebepatient."Hecutoffthecallandstoodup,lookingatMasonwithagleamofamusementinhiseyes.
"Inreturnforthisbitofskulduggery,Idemandacompleteaccounting!HeavenhelpyouifwelandinCotter'sbadgraces!"ThenheshookhandswarmlywithMasonwhoclappedhimenthusiasticallyontheback.
"DidyoutellCotter?"Masonaskedurgently.
"No!"Roylaughed."Ihaven'thadachance.Whatwentondownthere,anyway?Troublewiththelocalladies?"
"No,"Masonsmiled,"nottroublewiththelocalladies.Look,Roy,you'vereallygottenmeoutofahole.It'ssoseriousIdon'thavetimetoexplainrightnow,butIpromiseyou'llhearitalloneday.NowIthinkI'dbetterseeCotterrightaway."Herantothedoor,callingback,"Youdon'tknowwhatyou'vedoneforme,Roy.Iwon'tforgetit."
"IjusthopeCotterforgetsit,"wasthemumbledreplyasMasonclosedthedoorandranforwardtoCotter'sstateroominthefrontoftheship.
Hedidn'tallowhimselftimetothink.Hewouldhavetoplayitasitcame.WithoutfurtherpreparationheknockedontheCaptain'sdoor.
StuartCotterworeanairofauthoritythatmatchedhisappearance.Hewasalong,leanmanwithgrizzlygrayhairanddarker-rimmedeyesthathadseenalifetimeofserviceinthereportingships.He'dbeenMason'sofficerforsevenyearsandtheirrelationshipwasmorethanthatofreportertoCaptain.So,inspiteofaratherforbiddingpresencethatcausedapprehensioninmenwhoknewhimonlyslightly,toMasonheappearedatthedoorlikeanoldanddearfriend,andMasonwasgladtomeetthatstrength.Ifanyonewouldunderstand,he
andMasonwasgladtomeetthatstrength.Ifanyonewouldunderstand,hesuddenlyrealized,itwouldbeCotter.
"Mason!"TheCaptainsmiledwarmlyanddrewhimintothecabin."Wedidn'texpectyouuntiltomorrow.Iwasalittleworried,"hesaid,frowningslightly."Itisn'tlikeyoutomissapickup."HelookedatMasonwithanunmistakable-demandbehindthoseinquiringeyesandMasonknewrightawaythathewouldtellCottereverything.
Itwasalongtalk,lastingfarintothenight.CotterbrokeinseveraltimeswithstrongquestionsandshowedaparticularinterestinMason'saccountofthe"visions."Masonwasparticularlyreluctantaboutrecountingthese,andpacedupanddown,saying,"Iknowitseemsincredible.Iknowit'sfantastic,but—"AndCottersatsilently,listeningcarefullytoeverywordwhileMasontrieddesperatelytoconveyhissincerity.
Atlasttheysaw,outoftheporthole,anotherdawncometoLilith,andalthoughcloudsobscuredmuchoftheplanet,thecolorbreakingthroughhereandtherewasstillbreathtaking.Cotterwenttotheportholeandlookedoutattheplanethangingtherebelowthem.
"Ifwhatyousayistrue,Russ—"HebrokeoffandMasonheldhisbreathforwhatwouldcomenext.Cotterwheeledaroundand,callingthroughtheintercom,gaveorderstoleaveLilith.Masonwatchedhimtensely.Thenhecalledagain,thistimeforbreakfast.Itarrivedastheypulledaway,leavingLilithbehind,adwindlingballinthedistance.
"Russ,Idon'tknowwhattosaytoallthis,"Cotterbegan."Itsoundslikeadream,butI'veknownyouforagoodmanyyearsandIknowyoudon'tdream.OrdinarilyI'dbeinclinedtoforgetthewholething.Butinthiscasetherearetwothingsthatputmeoff.Oneisthefactthatyouaretellingthestory.TheotheriswhatyousayaboutManintheFederation."
Hedrankhiscoffeesilentlyandsatbackinhischair,lookingoffatsomethingMasoncouldn'tsee."I'vebeguntowondermoreandmore,recently,aboutmyownorders."Hebithislipandwassilentagain.Then,frowning:"Iwantyoutogotothehighcourt,Russ!That'swhatyouwant,isn'tit?"
Masonnoddedanxiously,notdaringtobreathe.Hehadn'tknownhowhe
Masonnoddedanxiously,notdaringtobreathe.Hehadn'tknownhowhewouldgettothehighcourt,andhere,perhaps,washishelp!'
"Itrustyouenough,"Cotterwenton,"torealizethatyouaresincereinwhatyousay.AndthatregardlessofwhatIdo,you'llfindawaytogetthere."
Masonsmiledthankfullyatthecompliment."Ican'tpreventyou,"Cottercontinued,"andIcan'tbemuchhelpsinceitwouldbemuchbetterforeveryoneconcernedifIknownothingaboutthis.ButIwilldowhatIcan.Andit'sgottobefast,beforewe'regivenotherordersfromEckert.ThatwillhappenassoonasthestaffonLilithknowsyou'vegone.Now,here'swhatwe'lldo…"
PlanningMason'striptooktherestoftheday.Hewastotakealifeboatandmakethelaststagesofthejourneytothehighcourthimself.Itwasjustsheerluckthatthenextportofcallfortheshipwasnottoofarfromthatsystem.Masoncouldbedroppedoffnotmorethantwodaysawayfromtheplanet.Inthisway,itcouldbesaidthatMasonhadgonehimself;there'dbenowayofprovingthatCotterhadhelpedhim.
MasonwonderedfrequentlyaboutCotter'swords,whenhehadsaidhe'dbeconcernedabouthisownorders.WhiletherewasmuchinMason'sstoryhehadquestioned,hehadshownakeeninterestinwhatthestaffonLilithhadsaidaboutbalanceofpower.HehadevenconfessedtoMasonthathewouldbehelpinghimbymakingthistrip—ifitdidn'tturnouttobefruitless.
Truetotheirguess,ordersfromEckertarrivedafewhourslater.MasonwastobebroughtimmediatelytohimandtheCaptainhadtoexplain—hediditconvincingly,Masonthought—thatMasonhadalreadyescapedinalifeboat.AtthatnewsEckertseemedtobesetslightlyoffbalance.HeproceededtotellCottermorethanhehadintended.WhathesaidworriedMasonevenmoreanditcausedCottertobecomeevenmoreconvincedofthetruthinMason'sstory.
Eckerthintedthatthecontinuingexperimentswerenotgoingaccordingtoplan,andthereseemedtobesometrouble.Therefore,saidEckert,itwasnecessarytofindMasoniftheyhadtosendthewholefleetintodoit.HedemandedtoknowMason'splansandMasoncouldsenseCotter'sreluctancetolie.HewasplacedinanalmostuntenablepositionfortheCaptainofareportingship,andMasonhalfexpectedhimtogiveawaythewholeshowthenandthere.Instead,Cottermaintainedhispositionofignorance,andMasonrealizedtheremustbealotbehindhiswishtoseeMasonsafely.offtothehighcourt.
mustbealotbehindhiswishtoseeMasonsafely.offtothehighcourt.
ImmediatelyafterthetalkwithEckert,MasonwasledtothelifeboatandequippedwitheverythinghewouldneedforthejourneytoLegus.HowCotterwasgoingtomanagetosealthetonguesofthereporterswho,ofnecessity,hadtohelp,wassomethingMasonworriedover.ButtheCaptain,shakinghishand,sternlytoldhimtothinkonlyabouthismission.
"Leavetheresttome,Russ,anddon'tworry.Yourbig-gestproblemwillbeleavingLegus,andI'mnotsureIcanhelpyouthere.Youmayevenbepickedupbeforeyouarrive.Idon'tknowwhatEckertintends.It'seasyenoughformetosayI'munabletolocateyou,butifheputssomeothershipsonyourtrail,Ican'tanswerforthem."
"Iunderstand,"Masonsaidsolemnly.
Theysaidgood-byequietlyinthehugeunderbellyoftheship,thelittlelifeboatlookinglikeafrailmidgetintheenormousspace.Therewasatenseundercurrentintheatmosphere,andMasonwasawareofCotter'sreliefwhentheboatwassealedandtheairlockclosedbehindit.Masonwatchedoutthenosewindowasthegreatdoorinfrontofhimopenedandhewassuddenlyhurtledoutintotheblacknightofspace.
CHAPTERNINE
Nowthekewasnothingtodofortwodaysbuteat,sleepandthink.ScenesracedthroughMason'smindashestaredaheadatthecrowdeduniverse.Here,nearthecenterofthegalaxy,starswerecloseandspacewasfarfromempty.
Masonwentovereverystepofhisexperiencessofarandfoundthatmoreandmorehecamebacktotheideathathadstruckhimsoforciblybackthereonthemountain:Amirageintime.Itseemedsuchareasonableanswertohisvisions,andyethecouldn'tridhimselfoftheideathathehad,himself,traveledonthatlongjourneytoEarth.Perhaps,though,onethingdidn'texcludetheother.
Astheseconddayperioddrewtoaclose,therehadbeennosignofpursuit,andMasonfelteasier.HewouldmakeittoLegus.Butwhatwouldhefindthere?Understandingorcontempt?Thatwaswhatconfrontedhimnowashesleptioithelasttimeinthecrampedspaceinthetinylifeboat.
Timehadnorealmeaningouthere.MasononlyknewitwasmorningonLegusbyhiswatch,astheshipdovethroughtheatmosphereandhelookedforaplacetoland.Hedidnotknowthisplanetandwantedtoarriveasobscurelyaspossible.TheshipsweptoverthecontinentsandMasonslowedandflewstilllower,lookingforthegreatCapitalofLawwherehewouldfindthebuildingsofthehighcourt.
Finallyhesawit;asweepofwhitedomedbuildingsspreadingoverthecenterofagreatplainlikefrosting.Therewasnosignofaregularspaceport.Leguswasrarelyvisited,soheimaginedwhenshipsdidarrivetheymustlandjustoutsidethecity.Hefoundaclearareanotfarawayandtookthelifeboatdown.Itwaswarmwhenhesteppedoutandhechangedtheclotheshe'dwornintheship.Thenhestartedwalkingtowardthecity.
Ashestartedupthegreatcenterwalkthatledtothebuildings,hepausedforamomentapprehensivelyatthelackoflife.Therewasn'tasoularound.WasthistobearepetitionofhislandingonLilith?Hekeptwalkingaheadtotheround,domedbuildingthatcoveredacres.Itmusthousethehighcourt.
Hewalkeduptheendlessflightsofstepssurroundingthebuildingonall
Hewalkeduptheendlessflightsofstepssurroundingthebuildingonallsidesandenteredthechamber.Itwasonehuge,circularroom,vaulted,theceilingfarhigherinsidethanithadappearedfromthewalk.Hewasonabalconythatranaroundinsidethebuildinglookingdownatthechamberbelow.
Masonpeeredoverandstoppedstill,suddenlyfindingitdifficulttobreathe.Rowuponrowtheysat,farbelowhim,forhalfthebuildingwasunderground.Circlesofrowsspreadfromthecircumferencetothecenter,where,onaraiseddias,sattheChiefJustice.Theremustbethousandsofbeingsdownthere—somanymorethanhehaddreamedsatinthehighcourt.Nowonderthecityseemedinterested.Theywereallhere.
Therewasnoplacetositorhearonthebalcony.Hewouldhavetofindtheentrance.Hewentaroundthebalcony■untilhefoundarampthatdescendedtothechamberbelow.Hestillheardnothingandwentslowlydown,halfexpectingsomeonetocomeoutandstophimonhisway.
Buttherewasnothing.Downanddown,turningseveraltimesinagreatcircleuntilhefinallyreachedthelowestlevel.There,infrontofhim,wereseveraldoors,spacedregularly,allundoubtedlyopeningintothechamber.
NowMasonbegantobenervous.Hehadn'tthoughtfartherthanthis.Whatshouldhedo?Washepreparedtomeetthatvastassemblyorshouldhewaitandtrytoseeoneofthemalone?Therewouldbemeninthere,too,hesuddenlyrealized,andwonderedifhecouldtrustthem.
Allatonceaswellofsoundreachedhissears.Sincetheywerenotallhumanvoicesthenoisewasindescribable.Masonlookedaroundinstinctivelyforaplacetohideandtherewasnone.Thefloorwasasemptyasthebalconyhadbeen.Theymustbelieveinausterity,hethought,alittlehysterically,asthevoicesgrewlouderandheknewthatoneofthedoorswasabouttoopen.Whatwouldhesee?Amanwhohadneverseenanalienshouldn'tbeallowedhere,hethought.Hewasn'tprepared!
ThedooropenedandsheerinstinctsavedMasonfromahorribleblunder.Therewasfirst,beforeanything,self-preservation.Anditwasthisforcethatnowmovedhim.Herantothewallasthedoorsbegantoopen,andstoodsothathewouldbeattheirrear.Theybegantocomeout,andforcinghislegstopullhimalong,Masonjoinedthethrongandwalkedslowlyandcarefullyamong
himalong,Masonjoinedthethrongandwalkedslowlyandcarefullyamongthem.
Hedidn'tlook;hecouldn't.Hestaredstraightaheadhopingthattheymightmistakehimforoneofthemensittingincourt.Thereweresomanybeings,howcouldtheyknowthedifference?Hecouldn'thelpcatching,outofthecornerofhiseye,animpressionoffur,color,oddshapes,tendrilsescapingfromcloaks.
Justashenoticedinaswiftpanicthateveryonewaswearingthesameoutergarment,ahugepurplecloak,anarmmovedabouthiswaistandhefelttheedgeofacloakflungoverhisshoulder.Helookedsidewaysandsawakind,un-humanface—thankGoditwasaface—thatsmiledgentlyathimandthennudgedhimtotheoppositewallwhere,asifbymagic,adoorsuddenlyopened.Insidetherewassomesortofacloakroom,andtheperson—Masonalreadythoughtofhimasaperson—stoodwithhisbackagainstthedoorandtossedthecloaktoMasonwhoquicklyputiton.
ThedooropenedagainandMasonwasledthroughthestfeamofbeingswhodidn'tseemtolookhiswayatall.Theyweremovingveryquicklyandapathseemedtoopeninfrontofthemastheysurgeduptherampandoutofthebuilding.Hewasledacrossthegroundinfrontofthecourt,acrossthecenterwalktoalowbuilding.Hewastakeninside,andasthedoorclosedbehindhim,hefinallyturnedandfacedhisstrangebenefactor.
"Thatwasfoolish,"thepersonsaidinEnglish,inadeep,roughvoicethatwassomehowquitesoothing.HewasslightlytallerthanMason,almosthumaninappearance,andhadlimbslikemen.Buthewasentirelyelongatedandtherewasjustthefaintestimpressionofasoft,furlikedownthatcoveredhimandcametoitsfullestonhishead.
Hisfacewasbushy.Masoncouldthinkofnootherwaytodescribeit.Theeyebrowswerefullandreachedalmostacrosshisforehead.Underneath,hiseyeswerestartlinglylargeandclear,framedinheavylonglashes.Thenosewaslongandhismouthwasoddlywide,curlingslightlyupwardsatthecorners.Itwasthat,Masondecided,thatgavehimsuchagentleexpression.Hishands,too,wereverylongandexpressive,andcoveredmorethanhisfacewiththesoft,goldendown.Hehad,andMasonfoundhimselfnotatallshockedtoseeit,sixfingers—orrather,twothumbs.
Noticingthisandrelievedatthewayhehadtakenit,Masonsuddenly
Noticingthisandrelievedatthewayhehadtakenit,Masonsuddenlylaughedandthepersonsmiledunderstandingly."Yes,ofcoursethiswouldn'tbotheryou—"heindicatedhishands"—buttherearesomesightsthattakeslightlymorepreparationtobear.Youwereveryfoolishbutverybrave.We'vebeenexpectingyou."
Thereitwas,Masonthought,thatexpressionthatonlyappearedinbooks.UnlessEckerthadwarnedthemofhispossiblearrival.
"No,"thestrangerdeniedthisunspokenthought,"noonetoldusthatyouwerecoming.Now,"hegesturedtowardachairthatlookedreassuringlylikeanyotherchairMasonhadeverseen."Pleasesitdownandletuslearneachother'snames.IamcalledOden."
"RussellMason."Hewasalittleuncomfortableundertheobviouscontrolthestrangerhadofthesituation.
Thealiensmiled."Mr.Mason,itisnevereasytomeetanotherintelligence,andyouareatadisadvantagehere.IhavehadmuchcontactwithothermenandIknowyourracewell."HeregardedMasonquizzically."Iwonderhowwellyouwillbearit?"
"Meetingyou,youmean?Andotherbeings?"Masonasked."That'swhyI'mhere.Idon'tknowwhyyourescuedmebackthereatthecourt,butIwanttosaynowthatI'mgrateful."
"Thankyou."Odengavehimashort,almostceremonialbow,andMasonfeltevenmoreuncomfortable.Odenwasthankinghimforhisgratitude.Odd,Masonthought.
"Now,"Odencontinuedgraciously,"Iwilltellyouquicklywhyweknewyouwerecoming,andwhoweare.Iamspeakingofmyownrace,theSumdac.Wearemildlytelepathic.BythatImeanthatwecanreceiveratherlargeimpressionsofthingswhenverymuchisatstake.Butwecannotreadthoughtsasmanybelieve.Also,wearesofartheonlybeingswithanytelepathicpowersatall.Theremaybemoreonplanetsnotyetdiscovered,butsofarwearealone.
"Sowedonotknowwhyyouarehere.Weknewthatsomethinggravewasintheair—manyofusfeltadanger—andthenwereceivedtheknowledgethatsomeoneorsomethingwasonitswayhere.Wehavebeenwatching.WhenI
someoneorsomethingwasonitswayhere.Wehavebeenwatching.WhenIsawyoutoday,outsidethegreathall,Iknewyoumustbetheone.
"Frankly,"Odenpausedandlookedcuriouslyattheyoungmanbeforehim"—Ididn'tthinkitwouldbeyou;Ididn'tbelieveitwouldbeaMan."
Masonwasataloss.Herewasthisalien,asuperiorbeing,hesensedinstinctively,alreadyhintingatmanyofthethingsMasonwishedtolearnabout,andtosay.YetsuddenlyMasonfeltarepugnance,awishtobeanywherebuthere;alongingforthecomfortofotherhumanbeingsonhisownscale.Hehadawildimpulsetotellajoke,anythingtoreachanordinarylevelagain.Andjustashewasabouttosaythewholethinghadbeenamistake,herememberedUlinski'swordstoLouisaonthatawfulnightwhenhehadlearnedabouttheFederation:
"Couldyougiveupyourideaofmanasthefinalandbestimageofevolution?CouldyousubmittoalesserroleintheFederation?"Ulinskihadsaid,andMasonknewnowwhatUlinskihadmeant.Manwasn'tusedtosecondplace.Hewoulddoanythingtoavoidit.Hisentirehistoryhadbeenademandforsuperiority.Firstindividuals,thennations,andnowtheentirerace.
AndMasonfeltit,too.Thiswasgoingtobehard;harderthananythinghe'deverdone.Whathemustconstantlykeepinfrontofhim,Masondecided,wasthatpictureofMan'sdeath.Theendofhissun,andtheendofMan,unlessMasoncouldhelpnowtosavehim.Thatvisionwashisonlyhope.
"Youarereallyverybrave,"Odensaid,andMasonwonderedhowhecouldbearsuchsympathy."Braverthanmostmen.Weadmirecourage,youknow.Itis,ofallMan'squalities,oneofthemostadmirable.And,"hesmiledencouragingly,"weallhavesomethingtooffer.Eachoneofus.Weareeachunique.Youmustneverlosesightofthat.Now—"hesawthatMasonwasallrightagain"—tellmeyourstoryandperhapsIcanhelp."
MasonbeganwithhisarrivalonLilithanddescribedtheeventsthathadledhimheretothehighcourt.HeexpectedOdentobeshockedathisaccountofthedeceptionpracticedontheexperimentalplanets.But,Masonnowrealized,thesebeings,theSumdacs,weretoointelligenttobeshockedbyanything.Odenwasnotshocked;hewasdeeplyangry.
Hehadperfectcontrol,however,andsatquietlyuntilfinallyhesaidtoMason,withasmile,"Youseehoweasilywearedeceivedbyourwishes.WewishedManwell.Knowingthestrangearrangementofhisbeing,wewereevenpreparedtogoalongwithhisideaoflaw,althoughtherearefewintelligencesinthisuniversewhoneedthatsortofcourt.
"ThiswasagesturetoMan.Agrandwelcoming.Withinthisframeworkandbecause%ofhisneed,wethoughtManwouldeventuallycometohismaturity.WelikedMan,wewishedallthisforhim.Thereforeitisourfault.ItisnotMan'serror."HelookedseverelyatMason."NeverblameManforthis,Mr.Mason.Blameourwishforhim,ifyouhavetocastblameatall."
"Yes,butsomemenaren'ttoblame,"Masonsaid,thinkingofCotterandLouisa."Alargepartaren't.Thereareonlyafewmenwhoareresponsibleforthis.Itisn'ttheraceitself."
"Isn'tit?"saidOdenmildly."Ifoneofyourlimbswerebe-•ingeatenawaywithdisease,wouldyouexpecttherestofyourbodytoremainunaffected?Itisexactlythesamewithalargebodyofpeople,witharace.Aslongasthereisonewarpedmemberitmeansthatthegroupisnotyetperfected.Theyhavealittlewaytogoyet.Doyouunderstandthat?"
Masonnoddedreluctantly.
"Well,then,untilaraceisfinished,or,inotherwords,completelyevolved,theyareusuallyconfinedbynaturalcausestotheirownworlds.OnlyManhadatechnologyinadvanceofhisevolution.
"Allofus,"hesmiled,"yes,theSumdac.Doyouthinkweneverfoughtamongourselvesorgavegreatpaintoeachother?Oh,yes,thatwaslongago,andittookmanymillionsofyearstoreachourpresentstate.Butweevolvedathome!"Hestressedtheword."WewerenotoutamongthestarswherewecoulddountolddamagetotheplanetsthemselvesandtoLife.Thisisaveryseriouschargeyoubringagainstyourownrace,Mr.Mason.YoumustloveManverymuchtodoit."
HisunderstandingbroughtalumptoMason'sthroat.Odenknewwhyhewashere.Howmanymenwouldunderstand?
"AndIthinkyouareindanger,"Odenadded."Youmuststayherewithme,outofthesightofothermenuntilthisaffairissettled.FirstIwillcontactHaskellEckertandthreatenhimwithexposureunlesshecallsofftheexperimentsonLilithimmediately.ThenwewillinsistthatyougobacktoLilithtoseethatthisiscarriedout.Youwillbeinnodangerthen;Eckertwillhavetheforceofmyknowledgebehindanythinghemightattempt,andyouwillbewellprotected.
"Afterthatitbecomesourbusiness.WhatthehighcourtwilldecidetodowithMan,Idonotknow.Butwewillnotbehasty.YoumustgotoLilithwiththatassurance.Iwouldnothaveyouthinkinanyotherway.Oneotherthing,Mr.Mason.Haveyouthoughtaboutwhethertheseeffortsofyourswillbesuccessful?"
"Doyoumeanstoppingtheexperiments?"Masonasked,slightlyconfused.
"No,Iamsurethatcanbedone,withorwithoutyou.ImeanthesalvationofMankind."
MasonstaredathimwhileOdenbluntlycontinued."Youhavetoldmeoftwoseparatevisions,asyoucallthem.Tometheyhavetheringoftruth.Iwouldnotchoosetocallthemvisions.WeknowthatEarth'ssunwillonedaydie.Thatisnotafantasy.Andwhocantellwhatresultwillcomefromtheinformationyouhavebroughtme?
"IfMancannotunderstandhimselfandhisplaceamongthestars,itmayverywellbethathispunishmentwillbeexactlyasyouhavesaid:tobebanishedtohisownsolarsystemuntilhehasbecomeperfect.Itmakessense;itdoesn'tsoundlikefiction.
"Yourraceisnotconvincedoftherealityofsomeformsofperception.Wetakesuchthingsforgrantedanddonotsaythatthereareonlysomanysenses.Weknowthattherearemanylevelsineachindividual.ManylevelsinTime.Youhavecrossedsomeofthem,andIthinkyouarerightwhenyousaythatthelightfromtheexperimentswasthecause.
"Buthaveyouthoughtofwhatelsewasnecessaryforthatexperience?Whatisthereinyouthatallowedthelighttotakeyouonajourney?Didyouever
thinkthatanothermanmightsimplyhavebeenkilled,likethosetwounfortunatescientists?"
Mason'sheartbegantobeatwildly.Hehadwonderedaboutit.Buttherewasnothingdifferentabouthim,hewassure.Hisvoiceshookalittle:"'No,there'snothingdifferentaboutme.Itwouldhavehappenedtoanyonewhosteppedintothatcircle."
Odensmiled."Maybe.Ifinditinteresting,however,thatyoualsosawtheevolutionoflifeonLilith.Onevisionwithouttheotherwouldhavelednowhere.Butyousawboth.Andyounotonlysaw;youunderstoodslightly.Itledtoaction,itbroughtyouhere.Doyourealizehowdifficultitistogethere?Whywereyounotstopped?Whatisitthatallowedyoutocomesofar?Don'tyousee,Mr.Mason,howeverythingconnects?Itisallrelated."
Masonfeltslightlynumbassomethingbeyondhisordinarylevelofunderstandingbegantopenetrate.
"Yes,youmustwonderaboutallthesethings.Don'ttakeeverythingsoeasily.Andnowwemustmakearrangements.IthinkyoushouldgetbacktoLilithassoonaspossible.I'msureyouareneededthere.WewillcontactMr.Eckerttonightsothatyoumaygothereimmediately."
"WillIseeyouagain?"Masonaskedalmostshyly,andnotashamedofitnow.HehadjustbeguntounderstandhowmuchhecouldlearnfromthiscreatureOden.HefeltintheroleofpupiltoteacherandforamomentwonderedhowManwouldfareifhecouldacceptthatrole.Itwouldbeawonderfulexperience,hethought,asheunderstoodforthefirsttimethestrengthofhumility.Therewasnothinginittofear.Insteadtherewasawholenewworldreadytoopen,andMasonwishedhecouldstepintoit.
"Ofcourse,"Odenrepliedaffectionately."Iwillarrangeitsothatwemaykeepintouch.Incaseofdifficultyyouwillbeabletoreachme.Ithinkyouwillhavetodomostofthisalone,sinceifManistobesaved,itwillhavetocomefromManhimself,andyouarepartofthatpotentiallygreatrace.ButIdon'twantyoutothinkyouarecompletelyaloneorwithoutresource.Afterall,weareallbrothersinthisgreatuniverse.Andwehavemuchtothankyoufor.Wearegrateful."
Masonsleptmorepeacefullythathehadforweeks.TherewasaninfluenceofcalmaboutthebuildinginwhichOdenlived.Theatmospherewasentirelydifferentfromanythinghehadeverknown.InthemorningOdentoldhimthatCaptainCotterhadbeeninstructedtopickhimup.HewouldtakethelifeboatbacktotheshipwhichwasnowonitswaytoLegus.Oneunforeseencircumstancehaddeveloped.EckertwouldalsobeonLilithandthatwassomethingMasonwouldhavetoface.Eckerthadalmostpanickedatthethreatofexposureandinsistedonbeingatthescene.Hewantedtomakesure,himself,thattheexperimentswerestopped.
"Don'tworryaboutthat,"Odensaid."Heissincere.Outoffearandselfishness,itistrue.ButhespeakshonestlyaboutthewishtoseewithhisowneyestheendoftheexperimentsandtheresumptionofnaturallifeonLilith.Hemaydespiseyou—Iamsurehedoes—buthewillnotdoanythingtoharmyou.Heknowswhatwouldhappenifhetried."
Odenwascorrect.WhenMasonarrivedbackonLilith,therewasanentirelydifferentatmosphereaboutthespaceport.Themothershiphadbeeninstructedtowaitoverhead.ShewouldorbituntilitwastimeforthestafftoleaveLilith.CotterwasavailableifMasonneededhim,andhehadsentRoyWilsondowntoobservetheproceedings.
Cotter'sworstsuspicionshadbeenconfirmed.HeconfessedtoMasonthathisworryhadbeenbasedonacertaininsistencefromtheFederationthatallmentionoflifeonexperimentalplanetsbeavoidedinthereports.ThishadledtothemanydoubtswhichpromptedhimtohelpMasonreachLegus.HewasunderEckert'swrath,too.But,likeMason,hewasinapositionwhereEckertcoulddonothingtoharmhim.
Eckertwaslikeawolfatbay,fightingtosavehisownskin.IfhecouldcarryitouthemightsavehisplaceintheFederation.Masonwonderedwhatwasplannedfortheotherplapetswhereexperimentswerebeingconducted.Butthatwasforanothertime.Lilithwastheimmediateproblem.
Theportwasahubofactivity.Extrascientistshadbeenassignedtothetaskandhad.toworkwithoutbeinggivencompleteinformation.Theyweretoldof"accidents."ThiswasnecessarytoprotecttheFederation.OnlyMason,Eckert,Cotterandtheoriginalstaffknewexactlywhatthesituationwas.Masonwasanxioustoknowabouttheexperimentsthathadtakenplaceafterheleft.
anxioustoknowabouttheexperimentsthathadtakenplaceafterheleft.
Eckertwastheretomeetthemwhentheylanded.MasonwalkedwithRoyacrosstheporttotheshort,stockyfigurethatstrodeaggressivelyacrossthefield.Theystoodlookingateachother,MasonwithundisguisedcuriosityandEckertwitheyesfullofimpotentrage.WithWilsonpresenttheycouldnotspeakopenly.
"Mr.Mason,"Eckertgreetedhimstiffly,squintinginthesun.
"Say,thesecolorsarefantasticI"Royobserved,takingnonoticeofthescenebeingplayedbeforehim.
"You'llbegivenglasses,"Eckertsaidcurtly."Noneedforthembeforenoon."
"WhathashappenedsinceIleft?"Masondemanded.
"You'llhavetospeaktoDr.UlinskiorYeeMonaboutthat,"Eckertansweredtartly.
Masonobservedhimoutofthecornerofhiseyeastheywalkedacrossthefieldtotheflyer.Eckerthadfinallyauthorizedthem,soforoncetheywouldn'thavetospendhoursonthejourneytothesecondlab.
SothiswasthegreatHaskellEckertwhomMasonhadheretoforeregardedassomeonealmostsacrosanctintheFederation;amanwhohadformerlystoodasanimageofhumanitarianresearch,asymbolofallthatwasbestinMan.
Masonsawaround,fleshyfacewithaslightgraycasttotheskin,altogethernondescriptexceptfortheforeheadwhichwashighandslantedwiththinninggrayhairstartingfarback.Withoutthatsilver-grayhair,Masonthought,hewouldhavelookedquiteordinary.Hedidn'tlikeEckert'seyeswhichweresmallandcunningandmovedtoomuch,inafurtiveway.
Theygotintotheflyer,MasonnexttoEckertatthecontrolsandRoysittingintherear,unabletosayenoughaboutthemarvelsofLilith.OtherthanRoy'sfrequentejaculationsofwonderatthecolorandscenery,itwasasilenttrip.Eck-ertchewedhislipnervously,hiseyesdartingconstantlyoverthesurfaceofthegroundbelow.MasonwonderedifEckerthadmetOden,butrefrainedfrom
groundbelow.MasonwonderedifEckerthadmetOden,butrefrainedfromasking—thesituationwastenseenough.
Theysetdowninfrontofthelabandasthehumoftheenginestopped,Ulinskicamerunningtothemfromtheanimalpen.HeliterallyhuggedMasonashesteppedoutoftheflyer,takingnonoticeofEckert.
"Russ,I'msogladtoseeyouback!Soglad!Now,come,Iwanttotalktoyourightaway."
"HaveyoumetMr.Eckert?"Masonrestrainedhimforamoment."AndthisisRoyWilson,anotherreporterfrommyship."
"Mr.Eckert,"Ulinskisaidgravely,notdisguisinganoteofdistaste.TheyshookhandsandUlinskicalledforLouisatotakeEckerttohisroom."Wewilltalklater,"Ulinskisaid."RightnowIhavesomethingtodiscusswithMr.Mason.Youwillexcuseus?"
EckertnoddedimpatientlyandfollowedLouisa.ShelookedbackatMasonastheyleftandsmiledherreliefatseeinghimsafelyback.
"SoEckerthasn'tbeenoutherebefore?"Masonasked,surprised.
"No,he'sbeenattheportwaitingforyou.We'vebeenintouchbyradio.Now,come."Ulinskistartedtowardtheanimalpen."We'reintrouble.ButbeforeIshowyou,Russ,Iwishtothankyouforwhatyou'vedone.Therewereafewofusherewhodespisedwhatweweredoing.Nowwecanfaceourselvesanddoanhonesttask."Hestoppedand•beamedatMason,"Thankstoyou!IknowyoumusthavewonderedwhyIactedsostrangely.Nowyouknow.Weareallrelieved."
"All?"Masonaskedskeptically.
Ulinskishrugged,"Almostall.PerhapsYeeMonstillseesthingsdifferently,butNeilandLouisaandIareallelatedatthisnewdevelopment.But,"hebecamesuddenlyserious,"wehaveagreatdealtocorrecthereandit'sgoingtobeveryhard.Ievenwonderwhetherwe'llsucceed.You'llsee.
WehavealteredalifeformtothepointwhereIwonderifitwillbepossibletochange."
tochange."
"Whathappened?Whatotherexperimentsdidyoudo?"
"WetriedsomethingnewontheGilas.Anewcombinationofcolors,andithadastrongmutationeffect.Theybegantobreedmorerapidly,andtheworst—Here,lookforyourself."
Ulinskiopenedthedoortotheroomofcagesandanewandpowerfulodorsweptoverthemlikeacloud,envelopingtheroom.Butthistimeitwasnotsweet.Itwasanacridstenchofoverwhelmingintensity.
"Look!"Ulinskipointedtothecages.
Masongasped.TheGilaswerelargerthantheyhadbeenandtheircolorhadchanged.Butthegreatestshockwastoseethemfeedingonflesh.Theyhadbecomecarnivorous.And—Masoncriedoutwhenhesawit—theywerefeedingonthemelans!
CHAPTERTEN
"Stopthem!Stopthem!"Masonheardsomeonescreamingthefollowingmorning.He'dhadabadnight,tossingrestlesslyalmostuntildawn.Atfirsthethoughtitwasanightmare,butasthesoundpenetrated,herealizeditwasLouisa'svoice.Heranoutsidequicklyandfoundanominoussighttoconfronthim.TheGilas,hundredsofthem,wererunningoverthegroundsandescapingintotheforest.Manyofthemhadtakenamelanandwereholdingthemintheirmouthsastheyran.
Thesizeofthecreatureswasfrighteninginitself.Andtheywerealmostapurplecolornow—Lilith'spurple.Theymadearaspingsoundandtheairwasfilledwithnoise.
EverywhereMasonlookedhesawamassofmovingskinglintingviciouslyinthemorningsun.
Louisawastryingtoheadthembacktothepen,buttheyeitherrushedon,orturnedonherferociously.ShekeptonscreaminguntilnotonlyMasonbuttherestofthestaffandevenEckertcameoutandtriedtoheadthecreaturesback.Butitwasnouse.Everylastoneescapedintothesurroundingforest.
Louisa'shandswerebleedingandUlinskitookherinsidetobandagethem.Masonwenttothepentoseewhathadhappened.Afewofthemelanswereleftintheircages,nervousandfrightened.SomewerecoweringbackinthecornersandotherscameforwardwhenMasonentered,pressinganxiousfacesupagainstthebars.
Hesawinstantlywhathadgonewrong.TheGilashadbeenabletobreakthroughthebarswiththeforceoftheirincreasedweight.Theyhadbrokenthroughanumberofthemelans'cages,too,inordertofeed.OthershadbeencarriedoffbytheGilasintheirflight.Therewerenotmanymelansleft.
Masonsatdownonthefloorofthepen,sickatwhathehadseen.TheGilaswerenowinapositiontofeedonalltheremainingmelansinthearea.Andiftheygrewanymore,whichseemedlikely,theendofthemelanswasnotfaroff.Howcouldheconvincethepeoplehereoftheimportanceofsavingtheselittlecreatures?Theymustbeprotectedfromthemenace.How?Therewasonlyone
creatures?Theymustbeprotectedfromthemenace.How?Therewasonlyoneanswer:theGilasmustbedestroyedifevolutiononLilithweretotakeitsnaturalcourse.
ThenandtherehetookoutthecuriouslittlegadgetOdenhadgivenhimincaseofneed,andcalledhim.Howsomethinglikethiscouldworkacrossthevastoceansofspacewithoutbeinginterceptedbymonitoringstations,Masondidn'tknow.Allhecaredabout,actually,wasthatitdidwork.InamomentheheardOden'sthoughts,notinhisear,butsomewhereinhischest.ThenMasonknewthiswasn'tatransmitter.Itwassomethingentirelydifferent,designedfordirectthoughtcommunication,andprobablywouldn'tworkwithanyoneotherthanoneoftheSumdacs.
"No,youcannottelltheotherswhatyousawinthatvision."ThethoughtwasasclearasifOdenhadbeenintheroomhimself.Masonfoundthathedidn'thavetotalktosendhismessage,butsimplyframedthewordsinhishead.
Odenreplied:"Theywouldnothavetheunderstanding.Youarerighttocallme.Onthismatteryouwillneedmyhelp.IwillsendamessagetoEckerttofollowyourinstructionsabsolutely.Butthatmeansyoumusthaveaplan.Gotoworkonthatnow.Timeisshort."
ThemessagestoppedandMasonwasleftalonewiththeknowledgethatitwasnowuptohim.Howcouldhestopthiscarnage?Whatcouldhedotosavethemelans?OfcoursenoonewouldunderstandthattheywereMan'slasthope.Toanyoneelseitwouldbealaughableidea.Hewouldhavetoworkalonewiththatknowledge.Atthemomenthesawonlyonepossibility.
EckerthadalreadyreceivedthemessagefromOdenwhenMasonwentbacktothemainbuilding."Whatdoyouintendtodo?"Eckertaskedfretfully,obviouslyindignantathavingtotakeordersfromwhatheconsideredaninferior.
"We'llhavetosendoutsearchingparties,"Masonreplied,"andcatchasmanymelansaswecan.InthemeantimeIwantapenbuiltherethat'sstrongandsecureenoughtoprotectthem.Oncewe'veaccomplishedthat,IseenoalternativetodestroyingtheGilas.Perhapsthisworkondestructionmayhaveasalutaryeffectafterall,"heconcludedcryptically.
Someoftheothershadgatheredtolisten.
"Howdoyouthinkwecaneliminatethem?"askedMarina."They'vealreadybeenexposedtothemostdestructivecolorblendwehave,andthey'vebeenimpervious.Theyabsorbcolorandmutate."
"That'suptoyou,"Masonsaiddecisively."Youmustfindsomething.You'reallresponsibleforthis.Nowyou'llhavetorectifyit."Helookedaroundthelounge."Whilethemenareoutsearchingyou'llhavetoworkonthat.Ithinkyou'dbettergetstartednow."
YeeMon'scheekwasstillbruisedwhereMasonhadhithim.Herubbeditpointedlyashesaid,"I'dhatetoseeyougetdrunkwithpower,Russ.Wecandoonlysomuch.Personally,Iwouldn'tguaranteeanything.Youhavenoconceptionofthecomplicationsinourwork."
Masonrestrainedanimpulsetohithimagain.Oddthatthisman,whomhehadonceliked,hadchangedsoalarmingly.Hewonderedatthecause."YouheardwhatIsaid,Yee,"hestatedquietly."Doyourbest.Youalsohavenoconceptionoftheimportanceofthisjob.You'llhavetosearchforamiracleifnecessary."
"Butwhoareyoutotellus—"Nadiastarted,whenEck-ertsuddenlyhushedher."That'senough,"hebarked,"You'reunderMr.Mason'sdirectionnow.Youhaveyourorders."
EckertobviouslystillcarriedtheweightofauthorityfromtheFederation.Masonrealizedthathispresencewasactuallygoingtobeahelp.
Theworkwentaheadatbreakneckspeed.Eckertworkedwithfanaticalconcentration,requisitioningallthematerialsneeded,andgettingthemfast.Penswerebuiltattheportandthesecondlab.TherewasnowayofknowinghowfasttheGilaswerebreedingorhowfartheytraveledintheirquestfornewfood.Teamsweresentintothejungles,necessarilyonfoot,tocaptureallthemelanstheycouldfind.
Itwasaslow,difficultprocessuntilastrangethingbegantobenoted.Themelans,ratherthanrunningawayfromtheircaptors,begantorushtowardthemassoonasthevoicesandfootstepsofmenwereheard.Theymadenoprotest.Rather,theyseemedtoactivelyseekthiscapture.Atnightmanywouldcomefromthesurroundingforestsandwaitoutsidetheenclosureatthelabuntilthe
fromthesurroundingforestsandwaitoutsidetheenclosureatthelabuntilthegateswereopenedandtheywereletin.Itshowedanamazingintelligenceandinstinctforsurvival,andMasonhadnodifficultypersuadingtheteamsthattheselittlecreatureswereworthyofbeingsaved.
Menlikedthem,andmanyhadtheideaofmakingthempets.Butthemelansweretooindependentforthat.Theyacceptedhelpbutnotfamiliarity.Itwasasiftheircellshadalreadytheknowledgeoftheirevolutionandwhiletheyweregrateful,theycouldnot,evenatthisstage,acceptManasahigherbeing.
NoonewasawareofthissaveMason.Healoneregardedthemelansasmorethanintelligentanimals.AndhealonehadtocontrolasickeningfurywhenhesawtheremainsofamelanbreedinggroundthathadbeeninvadedbytheGilas.Itwasheartbreaking,backbreakingwork.Therewaslittletimeforrestorevenregularmeals.
ThestaffwasnotmakingmuchprogressinfindingawaytodestroytheGilasorreversethedamagecausedbytheexperiment.Masondislikedtheideaofdestroyinganylifeformatall,buttheViningsistershadassuredhimthattheGilaswerebeyondhope.Inanycasetheycouldn'thaveevolvedfurtherthantheirstageofdevelopmentbeforetheexperiments.
Itwaseasytoaccept,fortheyremindedeveryoneofsomelostcausesonEarthlikethedinosaurandotherformsthathadnecessarilybecomeextinct.Nowtherewasalsogeneralagreementthatthelittlemelansdidhaveafurtherevolution.Strange,Masonthought,thatithadn'tbeennoticedbefore.Strangeandratherhorrible.
Dayslateroneofthesearchingpartiesreturnedtothelabwithdisturbingnews.TheyhadcomeacrossthestrongestconcentrationoftheGilasyetdiscovered.Agiganticneststretchingformilesandspawningthousandsofthemonsterswho,theysaid,werelargerandmoredangerousthanthosewhohadescapedfromthepen.
MasongrabbedUlinskiawayfromthelabandtooktheflyer.HewantedtoseethisforhimselfanditseemedpossiblethatUlinski,observingthemutation,mighthaveanideaortwo.Theyfollowedthedirectionthesearchingpartyhadindicated,aboutfortymilestothenorthofthelab.
ItwasanunexploredareaandstrangetoMasonwhohadvisualizedallof
ItwasanunexploredareaandstrangetoMasonwhohadvisualizedallofLilithasbeinganextensionofwhathehadalreadyseen.Thiswasahauntedplaceofbogsandmire,steamingwithgasesthatemergedfromthegroundandbubblingpoolsofliquidthatremindedhimoflava.
Ulinskigrabbedhisarmastheycircledabove,"Lower,Russ,"hewhispered."Look!"
Masonbroughttheflyerdownandpeeredthroughthevaporthatroseinburstsofsteamaroundthem"Oh,no!"hebreathedastheysawbelowthefantasticsight.Therewerethousandsofthem—ithadn'tbeenanexaggeration.Thegroundandpoolswerecoveredwiththeanimalswhoweremuchlargerthananytheyhadseenbefore.Theirraspingvoiceswerenowascream,andatthenoiseofthemotorabovethemtheyroseandlookedup,likealivingmassofferocioushorror.
Theywerelowenoughtoseethattheanimalshadbeengorgingonacatchofmelans.Theareawascoveredwithremnantsofthelittleanimals.Shreddedfleshandfurandbloodstreakedacrossthegapingjawsofthemonsters—fortheywerenowindeedmonsters.Therewasnootherwordforthem.
"Bombthem,"Masonsaid,notinquestionbutstatement.
"No."Ulinskishookhishead."Howcouldwedare?Theremaybeotherlifeformsthere,too.We'dbekillingmorethantheGilasandtheradioactivitycouldcauseuntoldharm."
"Don'twehaveanythingthatisn'tradioactive?"Masonasked.
"No,andactuallywedon'tevenhavethat.Itwouldtakeweeksormonthstogetnuclearweaponsevenifwecould.Andbesides,Russ,killingonthisonebreedinggroundwon'tdoit.There'dstillbeotherGilas.Wehavetofindawaytowipeoutthestrainaltogether.Let'sgoback.Iwanttotrysomething.Isthisflyerstrongenoughtocarryextraequipment?"
"Some,yes,"Masonreplied,wonderingwhatUlinskihadinmind.
"Iwanttoputafocusingbeaminitandtrythesameexperimentwedidbefore."
"Butthat'swhatcausedthemutation!"Masonprotested.
"Yes,butithaskilledeverythingelse.I'mwonderingwhethernowtheyhavechangedtoapointwherethecolorwouldhaveadestructiveeffect.Itmight,now."
"Whatifitonlycausesstillfurthermutation?"
"Thenwe'vefailedandmaybeinworsetroublethanbefore.Butwehavenothingelse!"ItwasapleaandMasonrecognizedUlinski'sdesperatewishtorectifyhiserror."We'vetriedeveryothercolorcombination."
"Whydoesithavetobecolor?"Masonwantedtoknow."Whycan'tyoutrysomethingelse?"
"Thereisnothingelse,"Ulinskiexclaimedemphatically."It'sacaseofreversingwhatwe'vealreadydoneordestroyingthemaltogether.Anditjustmightbeaccomplishedbythesamethingthatcausedthis.Itmightwork."
Masoncouldseenootheralternative.And,hereasoned,howcoulditpossiblygetworse?TheGilaswereobviouslystillmutating;theirbreedinghadreachedfantasticproportionsandifsomethingweren'tdonesoon,theywouldliterallyoverruntheplanet."Allright,"hesaid.
Ulinskisighed.Itwasbothasighofreliefandofprayer.Heknew,asMasonknew,thatifthisfailedtherewaslittlehope.
MasonwonderedthatUlinskifeltsostronglyevenwithouttheknowledgeofthemelan'spossiblefuture."Ilikethosesmallcreatures,"Ulinskisaid."There'ssomethingaboutthem."
Masonsmiledgrimly.Therewasindeedsomethingaboutthem.Howmuch,Ulinskimightneverknow.
Theytrieditatnight.Theflyerwasriggedwithequipmenttofloodtheswampareawiththebeamofcolor.Itwasanintricate,complicatedjobtoremovethemechanismfromthelabandputitintheconfinedspaceoftheflyer.Whenitwascompletedtherewasroomforonlytwomen.YeeMonwasacompetentpilot,sohewentwithUlmski.MasontookLouisa,SimpkinsandNeilTropeinanotherflyer.Eckertaskedtobeexcused.Hewasn'tinterestedin
Tropeinanotherflyer.Eckertaskedtobeexcused.Hewasn'tinterestedinwatchingtheexperiment;hewasinterestedintheresults.
Theyleftinatensesilence,feelingthateverythingwasatstakeinthisonelastgamble.MasoncircledovertheswampwaitingforUlinski'ssignal.HeswitchedhisnightflyinglightstothebeamthatwouldilluminatetheareawhileUlinskidirectedhisraybelow.
Atlastthesignalcameandthistimetheyallworeglassestoshieldthemselvesfromtheshock.Masonkeptwellinbackoftheotherflyer,hoveringintheairwhileYeeMontookhisflyerintoplace.Bynighttheareabelow,splotchedwiththecoloroftheGilas,lookedlikesomethingoutofaninferno.Thewrithingmassoffeedinganimals,skinglintinginthelightfromtheflyers,thewispsofsteamcurlingupfromtheground.TheywereallheldinaghostlysilenceasYeeMonblinkedhislightsinthesignalandthenturnedthemoff.
"Now,Masonsaidnervously.Suddenlythebeamofcolorstabbedthroughthenight,flashingonthemonsterswhobeganscreaminginfrightandpain.Theshockcausedeveryonetoclosetheireyesandtheflyersquiveredforamomentintheairbeforesteadyingagain.Ulinskimovedhislightaroundthearea,shootingitagainandagainuntiltheentireswamphadbeensprayed.
Theneverythingbelowwasquiet.Themonsterslayinheapsandmounds,shudderingastheycoweredfromtheblastoflight.
"Aretheydead?"Louisawhisperedshakily.
"Idon'tknow,"Masonsaid,andhisvoicesoundedstrangetohimashespoke."Let'swatch."
TheyhoveredoverthearealikeeeriesentinelswhileUlinskiandYeeMontooktheirflyerback.Withtheirextraequipmentitwasn'tsafetostayaloftforlong.Thevigillasteduntildawn—Lilith'sbeautifuldawnthatgavebirthtoahorriblesceneintheswampbelow.
AsthesuncameuptheGilasbegantomove,theirghastlyscreamsfillingthesky.Heavilytheylumberedupandbegantomoveaway,likeamonstrousexodus,intotheforest.Masonfollowedthemaslongashecould,untilthetreetopshidthemfromsight.
"Oh,Russ,"Louisabegantocry,guessingwhatwastakingplaceunderthegiantfronds.
"It'sgoingtobeworsethanitwasbefore,"Neilspokeslowly,measuringhiswords."Youwatchandsee.Thesemonstersaregoingtomutateuntiltheybecomeamenacenotonlytothemelansbuttous.They'llbeafterusnext,youwaitandsee."
"I'dliketoleave,"Simpkinssaidalittlehysterically."I
don'tseewhywehavetostay.Ihadnothingtodowiththis.Iwasonlyfollowingorders.Isayweshouldallleaveandleavethisplanettothem.They'regoingtotakeitoveranyway."
"Theyarenotgoingtotakeitover!"Masonexclaimedangrily,withmoreforcethanhefelt."Andyou'renotgoingtoleave.Nooneis.You'regoingbacktothatlabandworkoutsomething."
"I'mnotgoingtoworkanythingout,"Neilsaidviolently.I'mleaving.Idon'tseeanypointinthiswholethinganyway.Simpkinsisright.TheFederationsentusheretodoonething,andnowwe'redoinganother.Why?Nobodyhasexplainedthat.
"Eckertdoesn'tseemveryhappy,either.SometimesIwonderwhyhe'shereandwhethertheFederationevenknowshe'shere!"HelookedarounddefiantlyandMasonwassuddenlyworried.Neilhadputhisfingerontheonepossibilitythatmightbloweverythingwideopen.IfhewentoverEckert'shead…
"SofartheFederationhasneveraskedamantodeliberatelyputhislifeindanger,"Neilwentondefensively."We'vebeenprettywellprotected.Iintendtocontinuebeingprotected,andthatmeansgettingoutofthewayofthosemonsters.Nothingisgoingtostopthem,Russ,absolutelynothing!"
TheylandedatthelabandfoundthatUlinskialreadyknewtheoutcomeoftheexperiment.Itwasreallyseriousnow.Amanononeofthesearchingpartieshadbeenbadlymangledbyoneofthemonstersleavingtheswamp.Neilhadbeenright.
Masonknewhewouldhavetofindasolutionandfinditfast.Oden?He
Masonknewhewouldhavetofindasolutionandfinditfast.Oden?Hewonderedifheshouldcontacthim.ButwhatcouldOdendo?HehadlefttheprocessuptoMason.
Hewenttohisroomandclosedthedoor.Heneededaquietplacetothink.Hehadbeensocaughtupintherecentdevelopments,sobusydoingandrunning,thathehadalmostforgottenwhy.Somewherehehadlostthesenseofhisexperiences,hehadlostthefeelingofbeingonLilith.
HemightaswellhavebeenonanyotherplanetintheFederationinthelastfewweeks.
Masonstoodinthemiddleoftheroomandthenslowlylaydownonhisbed.Somethingwaswrong.Hewasgoingaboutthisthewrongway.WhatwasitthatOdenhadsaid?"Don'ttakethingssoeasily?"AndhehadmentionedtheconnectionbetweeneverythingthathadhappenedtoMason—thestrangerelationshipsbetweenhisvisionsandtime.Hehadseenthefuturetwicebecauseofthatlight.ThatsamelightthathadhadsuchhorribleeffectsontheGilas.
Masonsatupwithastart.Thatwashisanswer.Ifhehadseenthefuturetwice,whycouldn'ttherebeathirdtime?Theanswerlayinthefuture!Ifthatmirageintimeonthemountainhadbeentrue,whythemelansmusthaveevolved!ThemenaceoftheGilaswasgone.Theymusthavebeenexterminated.
Ifhecouldonlyseeintothefutureagain,hemightseehowithadbeendone.Tohaveavisionofthatparticularmomentintimewasalottoask,butOdenhadpointedouttherelationshipbetweeneverythinghehadseen.Thatmightbejustthemomentintimehewouldsee,ifeverythingwasreallyconnected.
Ifhecouldseethefuture,orifhe,bybeinginthefuture,couldseethepast,hewouldhavehisanswer.Howcouldhecontactthatmomentintime?Therewasapparentlyapurposebehindeverythinghehadseen.Whatpurpose?Whosepurpose?Nomatter,thepointwasingettingtheanswertohowtheGilashadbeendestroyedandthemelanshadbeensaved.Howcouldhedoit,otherthanthelightagain?
HewouldaskLouisatodotheexperimentonhim.
Thesimplicityofthethought,andthehorrorofitstaggeredhim.Itwashisanswer,ofcourse.Heknewthat.Heknewhewoulddoit.Itwasalmostasifhe
answer,ofcourse.Heknewthat.Heknewhewoulddoit.Itwasalmostasifhehadalreadydoneit.Buthewasbreathlesswiththemagnitudeofit.
Howcouldhedare?Hecouldn'tpossibly.Hefeltatremorofshockrunthroughhisbodylikeacurrentofelectricityandheknewhecouldn'tdare.Buthewould.Hisheartwasracingandhecouldfeelthedifferenceinhisheartbeatandhisbreath.Hismindwasracingwithassociations,leapingfromonethingtoanother.Silly,smallthings.
Hefeltthesolesofhisfeetonthefloor.Theytingledandfeltverywarm.Thecolorandshapesofthingsintheroomsuddenlyleapedforwardathim.Hethoughthecouldseeinbackofthingstotheirotherside.Stillhismindracedonandstillhisthoughtwasactuallyinanotherplace—orratherhisknowledge,hisabsolutecertaintythathewasgoingtodothisthinginspiteofhisentirebodyandbrainandnervoussystemandheartandlungsthatsaiddifferently.
HegotupandwalkedtothedoorandwentouttofindLouisa.
MasonstoodinthesameplacethatthelittlemelanhadbeenthatnightwhenLouisahadfirstshownhimtheexperiment.Facinghim,inbackofthewindow,Louisawasnervouslyadjustingthecontrols.NowthatthemomenthadcomeMasonwasnolongerafraid,orifhewas,itwasanumbpanicburiedsodeeplythathehardlyfeltit.
HeputhishandonthesmallobjectinhispocketthroughwhichhehadjustbeenintouchwithOden.Thesensationofthemetalgavehimsomeassurance.Odenhadnotprotested.Odenacceptedtheideacalmly.Masonhadevenfeltapprovalinthethoughtsthatcamefromfaracrossthestars.ItwasthatassuranceandapprovalthathadmadeitpossibleforhimtopersuadeLouisatotrythis.
Shedidn'tknowthesource,butsheknewasshespokewithMasonthatthechoicewasoutofherhands.Shewasaninstrument,nothingmore.Hewasawareofheranxietyandsmiledreassuringlythroughthewindow.Sheknewthathecouldseenow,onLilith,withouttheprotectiveglasses,andthatfactimplementedhercourage.Itwasasmallmeasureofhope,butitallowedhertofeelthatMasonhadsomepossibilityofcomingthroughthisalive.
Slowly,shedonnedherglassesand,onehandontheleverthatwouldfocusthebeam,shelookedathim.Masonsawherdoubtinthislastsecond.Itwasthe
thebeam,shelookedathim.Masonsawherdoubtinthislastsecond.Itwasthehardestmomentandshemusn'tfalternow.Withalltheenergyhecouldmusterheraisedhisownhand,hopingthattheintensityofhisforcewouldtakethedecisionoutofhermindandcauseherhandtoreactmechanically.Hebroughthishanddownsharply.Inbackoftheglass,sodidLouisa,pullingthelever.
Masonexpectedanotheragonizingprotestfromhisbodyastherayhithim,butthistimeitdidnotoccur.Insteadhefeltagentlepeace,filledwithlight,andforamomenthewonderedvaguelyifheweredying.Thelightseemedatfirsttobeinsidehim,thenitswelledslowly,envelopinghimasifhewereencasedinabubble.
Likethetimehehadsteppedintotheredcircle,Masonfeltsuspended,buthehadnosensationoftravelingormovingorfallingashehaddonetowardEarth.Anotherpeculiaritywasthathecarriedamemoryofthoseothertimes.
Itwasallthere—EarthandthedyingsunandDeaybanandtheOldMan—andCharka—andthentheevolutionofthemelans.Before,whenhehadcontactedthislightindirectly,therehadn'tbeenroomforanythingmorethantheimmediatevision.Now,itwasallstoredandhewasabletointerpretwhathenowsawinviewofwhathehadseenpreviously.
WhathesawwasLilith.
Hesawtheplanetasawhole,asabrilliantglobespinningaroundhersun,heldbyapowerfulmagneticforce.ThenthecolorsbecamemorevividandMasonfeltthathewaspassingthroughthismomentintime—passingthroughtoafartherpoint.Hesawaviolentdisturbanceintheatmosphere,asiftheairwereatwarwiththeearth.
Forsuddenlythereweregreatfloodsastheskybrokeopenandwaterbeganfillingtheland.Thevalleyofpoolsbecameaseaofturbulent,movingwaterofthestrangestcolorsintheuniverse.Streakedandstabbedwithcolor,thewaterrosetomeetthedownpourstreamingfromtheclouds.
Buttheatmosphericdisturbancedidmorethanthat.HesawtheGilasriseandrun,somecarriedawaybytheforceofthecurrent,butothersreachinghigherground,andsuddenlywrithingundersomeunknownimpactand,assuddenly,lyingquitestiRastheydied.
Andthelittlemelansrodethecrestofthewavesmadebythisrushingflood.HesawthemcarriedsafelyawayonthewaterwhiletheGilasdiedingreatnumbersaroundthem,tobetossedandbrokenastheywerethrownagainsttreesandrocks.
Andthenhesawtheforestnearthelaboratoryasthewavesrushedtowardit,fillingthevalleysbetweenthemountainsandfloodingthroughtodrenchthisground.Masonlookedforthebuildingsandsaw—asheseemedtobecarriedhimselfbythatrisingflood—thedimshapesofsomethingforeigntothenaturalterrain.Thebuildingsofthelab?
Hestrainedtoknowthatanswerbutitwastoolate.Thewaterrosestillhigherandhefeltthathewassweptawayinamightystreamthathadnobeginningandnoend;thathewouldbecarriedinthisfloodofincrediblecoloruntiltheendoftime…
CHAPTERELEVEN
HeawokelyingontheflooroftheroomwithLouisabendinganxiouslyoverhim.Hesatupasifhehadjustbeencaughtinthemiddleofadeepdream,saying,"Butwhen?When?"
Louisakneltdownandtookhishand,rubbingitgently.Helookedatherasifshecouldgivehimtheanswer."It'sallthere,Louisa.Isawit.It'soutofourhands.They11bedestroyednaturallybysomethingintheatmosphereandtheflood—Butwhen?Yousee,ifwe'restillherewhenthathappens—"Hebrokeoffandstoodupquickly,drawinghertoherfeet."GoandgetNeilTrope,quickly,please."
"Isitallright?"shepersisted,notreadytoleavehim.yet."Whathappened,Russ?YoufelldownonthefloorandIrushedin—"
Andthatwasallthetimeittook,thoughtMason!Onesecondtoseethetruth—andthefuture—buttherewasn'ttimetoconsiderallthisnow.
"Please,Louisa,"heurgedheroutthedoor."I'llwaithere."
Hepacedupanddowntheroomwhilehewaited.Allthat.Hehadseenallthatexceptthelargestanswer:when?Thefloodcouldcomeatanytime.TheGilaswouldbeexterminated—thatwasfantasticinitselfl
ThatwhichManhadcreatedwouldbedestroyedbynature,asifpurposefully.Masonwasledtosomeconsiderationsandthoughtsthatweretoomuchtocontemplaterightnow.
Themelanswouldbesaved.AndwiththemManmightbesavedonedaywhenhissunwasdying—far,farawayfromhere;aneternityawayfromLilith.
Butwhatofthemenherenow?Howmuchtimedidtheyhave?Masonhadbeenresponsibleforbringingafarlargergroupthanthefirstsmallstaff.Hefelttheirpresencekeenlyandfeltresponsiblefortheirverylives.Hedidn'tconcernhimselfmuchnowwithhisownlife,forithadbecomesostrangetohimthathefeltitwasoutofhishands.Thingsweresimplyhappeningtohim.Hecouldn'tpossiblycontrolit.
LouisareturnedwithNeil,whostillworetheairofsuspicionhehadshownintheflyer.ApityithadtobeNeilthatMasonmustquestion.Buthehadnochoice.
"Iwantyoutodetermineascloselyasyoucanthetimespanbetweenthelasttwosunstormshere,"Masonsaid."Andgivemethedateofthenextone.Wehavetoknowwhenthatwillbe."
Neilstaredathimasifhewerecrazy."Impossible,"hestatedshortly."There'sonlybeenonestormsincewe'vebeenhere.Ihavenothingtogoon."
"Makeaguess,"Masonsaiddesperately.
"Ican't,"Neilprotested."It'simpossible.IttookyearsofresearchonEarthtodeterminesunspotcycles.IhavetodetermineaprobabilityJiere.We'dhavetowatchthissunforyearsmaybe."
"Youmeanthere'snopossiblewayofguessing?"Masonurged."It'ssourgent,Neil.Can'tyouthinkofanything?"
"Yes."ItwasLouisawhospoke,excitedly."Yes,theremaybeaway.Neil,don'tyourememberthatjustbeforethedisturbance,beforewelefttheport,therewerecolorchanges?"
"No,Idon'tremember."
"Buttherewere!Wenoticeditoutside,inthetrees.Theychangedslightly,andrightafterthatwehadtheexplosion."
"Thatmighthavenothingtodowithsunstorms."
"Thenwhywasn'titnoticedagain?"LouisaappealedtoMason."Itwasadefinitechange,Russ.InterestingenoughthatNadiastartedtoinvestigateit."
"Andwhatdidshefind?"Neilaskeddisinterestedly."Wedidn'tstaytherelongenough—"
"Let'sfindher."Masondidn'twanttowastetimearguingthepoint."Shemayknowsomething.It'sworthatry."
NadiawasinanotherroomatthelabworkingonaclassificationsystemwithYeeMon.TheywerehandingtheirreportstoUlinskiwhowasplanninganumberofnewexperimentsinhopeoffindingsomethingthatwouldhavethedesiredeffectontheGilas.Masoncouldn'ttellanyofthemjustyetthatthiswasnolongernecessary.Hecouldvisualizetheensuingpanicifhedivulgedtheirtruedanger,whichmightbeweeksormonthsaway.
"Russwantsyourreportsonthecolorchangesprecedingthelastsunstorm,"LouisatoldNadia,whoglancedaroundinsurprise.
"Sorry,they'rebackattheport.Afterapreliminarystartitseemedawasteoftime.Ididn'tcometoanyconclusion."
"Didyoufindanything?"Masonpersisted."Canyousayforsurethatthestormsareprecededbycolorchange?"
"No."Nadialookedpuzzled."Ofcoursenot.Therewasnoproof.Duringthetimeofthechangewehadnoideathatasunstormwasabouttotakeplace."
"Doyouthinkthecolorchangedoessignifyanapproachingdisturbance?"
"Well,Idon'tknow,"Nadiasaid,alittleannoyednow.
"Havetherebeenanycolorchangesrecentlythatyou'venoticed?"Masonwasrelentless."Aroundhere,forexample?"
"No,Ihaven'tbeenlookingforcolorchanges."Nadiawasexasperated."I'vebeenworkingontheexperiments,asyouknow."
"Howlongbeforethelaststormandtheexplosiondidyounoticethetreeschanging?"
"Oneday,"Nadiasighedimpatiently."ButforallIknowthestormmightalreadyhavestarted.Wedon'tknowhowlongittakeshereforsunspotstoactuallycauseadifferenceintheatmosphere."
Masonfrowned.Thatwassomethinghehadn'texpectedtohearanddidn'twanttohear.Thesunstormsmightbetakingplaceevennow,andtheywouldn'trealizeituntilthefloodsactuallystarted.HeletNadiagoandranoutofthelab,backtothemainbuildingtofindHaskellEckert.Therewasonlyonethingtodo
backtothemainbuildingtofindHaskellEckert.Therewasonlyonethingtodonow,andthatwastoevacuateLilithimmediately.
Eckertwasintheloungereading.Masonsawtheheavyredsealsplashedacrossthefaceofthedocumentandwonderedwhatitwas.Mostthingswerecommunicatedbyradioortapes,soitwasunusualtoseeanactual.bookofplasticorpages.EckertputitdownabruptlyatMason'sentrance,butMasonsawtheheading:TheConstitutionandGeneralLawsoftheFederation.
WhatcouldEckertbelookingforinthatlong,complicatedmanual,Masonwondered?OrwashefinallytakingthewordsmoreseriouslyandbeginningtounderstandwhatMan'splaceinthisvastnetworkoflifemightbe?Therewasn'ttimetoinquire,andanywayhedoubtedifEckertwouldanswer.Heplungedrightintotheessenceofhismessage.
"Wehavetoevacuateimmediately,"hesaid,watchingEckert'sexpressionwhichchangedfromtheimmediatedistastethatalwaysregisteredwhenMasonwasnear,tooneofshockandrelief.
Thenhebecamesuspicious."Whatoftheexperiments?Wehaven'tsolvedthatproblemyet."Withasuddenhope,
Eckertasked,"HaveyoubeenintouchwithOden?Aretheyhisorders?"
MasonhatedthelookofvictorywhenEckertsaidthis.ItwassoobviousthathisonlyconsiderationwassavinghisownplaceinthehierarchyoftheFederation."No,"Masonrepliedshortly,"they'remyorders.Wemustleaveasquicklyaspossible.Immediately,infact."
Eckertlaughed,"That'salargeorderfromoneyoungreporterwhohashadnoexperienceintheevacuationofplanets.Letmetellyousomething,Mr.Mason.Theseareplannedevents.Ittakesweeks.Thesalvagingofequipmentisanimmensejob.Weworkinteamsandbyrelays.Therearespecialstorageshipsthatcometocarryheavyequipment."
"Thereisn'ttimeforthatnow,"Masonsaidsoftly."Wewon'tbeabletosalvageanythingbutourselves.Ifwe'relucky.Ineedyourcooperationinorderingoutallthemenattheportandgettingeveryextraflyeroutheretotakeoff-"
Hebrokeoffashewatchedtheolderman.Hehadn'twantedtomentionthedangerthestaffwasin,butnowhesawtherewasnootherway.Nothinglessthanthethreatofpersonalextinctionwouldmovethiscynicalmanbeforehim.
"Weareabouttohaveaviolentsunstormhere,"Masonsaidcarefully."Asyouknowthelastcyclecausedtheexplosionattheportlab.Itdoesverystrangethingstotheatmospherehere.Thisstormisgoingtocauseatremendousfloodwhichwillbesofastthatwewon'thaveachanceofescaping.
"There'sonegoodthingaboutit.TheGilaswillallbedestroyed.Notonlybytheflood,butbytheatmosphere.Andtheoneswe'rehopingtosave,themelans,willbeallright.They'regoingtosurvivebecausethey'resmallandflexibleandwillfloatuntiltheycometorest.Butifwe'renotoutofherewhenthatfloodhits,Iwouldn'twanttoanswerforanyone'slife."
Eckertwentwhite."Whoseprognostication?Ulinski's?"
Masonpaused."No…"Hedidn'twanttoexplainhisvision.
"Tropefounditinhisobservations!"Eckertguessedwildly."Buthowdoyouknowabouttheflood?Areyousure?"
MasonwasabouttoagreeandletitgoatthatwhenunfortunatelyNeilcameintotheroomandEckertgrabbedhim,almostshouting."WhenMr.Trope?Whenisthisfloodgoingtohappen?"
NeilwasconfusedandMasontriedtosilencehim,butEckertwaspersistent."Butwedon'tknowthatthereisgoingtobeasunstorml"NeilregardedMasonasifhewerecrazy."AtmosphericdisturbanceonEarthoftenproducesheavierrainfallduringasunspotcycle,butthere'snoevidenceofanythinglikethathere."
"Whatdoyouknow?"Eckertdemanded.
"We'veonlyinvestigatedcolorhere,Mr.Eckert.",
"Nevertheless,"Masoninsisted,"wemustplantoleaveimmediately."
"Look,Mason,"Eckertbrokein."I'vegonealongsofar,butIcannot,inanyrealconscience,leaveLilithwithoutreturningFederationproperty!Thereisa
realconscience,leaveLilithwithoutreturningFederationproperty!Thereisalaw—"
"Allright,"Masonsaidimpatiently,"forgetthatfornow.I'llhaveOdengivetheorderreleasingyoufromthatdemand."Hestopped,notwishingNeiltohearanymore.Tropehadalreadylookedsuddenlycuriousatthementionofastrangename.
"Thismaybepremature,"headmitted."Ihavenowayofknowingexactlywhenthisfloodwillbreak,butlivesareatstakeandcan'tbegambledonthechancethatitmaycomeweeksfromnow."
"Wheredoyougetyourinformation?"Neilaskedsuspiciously,butMasonsilencedhimwithaglanceandledhimoutoftheroom.
TellingNeiltoreturntohiswork,MasonwenttohisownroomandcontactedOden.ItwouldbeonlymomentsnowbeforetheorderswouldcomethroughtoEckert.Untilthentherewasnothinghecoulddo.Masonstaredoutofhiswindowatthejungleenclosureandnoticedthatthetopsoftheferntreeswerebeginningtoglistenwithatinthehadneverseenbefore.
Secondslatereverythinghappenedatonce.OrderscamethroughforEckerttoproceedwiththeevacuationimmediately.HerushedtoMason'sroomintimetolookoutthewindowandseethattherainhadbeguntofall.Thetwomenstoodtheresilentlyasitbeganwithasoftandsteadydripthatchangedwithinmomentstoaheavydownpour.Thestaffworkingatthelabcamerunningbacktothemainhousewithsearchingpartiesfromthejunglesfollowingontheirheels.
"Howarewegoingtogetout?"Eckertshouted.
ButMasonwasalreadyoutofthebuilding,runningbacktotheanimalpens.Thefirstthingwastoreleaseallthemelanstheyhadcaught.Theymusthavethechancethemselvestoridethisflood.Heopenedthegates,noticingvaguelythatpeoplewererunningoutofthehouseandtowardthelandroversandthetwoflyers.
Heopenedthelastgateandletthelittleanimalssurgethrough.Theysniffedattheairandranoffinadirectionawayfromthemountains,theoppositewayfromtheroadbacktotheport.Alandroverwasalreadypullingoutofthe
fromtheroadbacktotheport.Alandroverwasalreadypullingoutofthedriveway.
Masonranbacktothehouse,yelling*"Notthatway!Wewon'tbeabletomakeit!Wehavetogothroughtheswamps,can'ttakethecars—"
FromthegeneralexcitementitwasobviousthatEckerthadtoldthemaboutthefloodandtheneedtoevacuateatonce.SimpkinswasrunningtowardoneoftheflyersandMasonranafterhim.
"Wait,Simpkins!Thewomenshouldbetakenoffinthat."HegrabbedhimbythearmbutSimpkinsturnedonhimwithawildlookandsuddenlyswungout,hittingMasonablindingblowinthehead.BeforeMasonrecoveredSimpkinswasintheflyerandtakingoffabovehishead.
Masonbegantoshoutandthenrealizeditwasnouse.Simpkinswasawayandhecouldseethattheflyerwasbeingbuffetedaboutinawilddancebytheforceofthedeluge.Masondoubtedifhecouldstayaloftforlong,andgaveuptheideaofusingtheotherflyer.Helookedbackinthedirectionofthemountains.Hedidn'tseeyetthatroaringsweepofwaterthatheexpectedtocomerunningdownthevalley.
Heranbacktotheothers.TheViningsisterswerecryinghystericallyandNeilTropestoodquitestill,aglazedlookinhiseyes.Ulinskiwasclenchingandunclenchinghisfists.Masonknewimmediatelywhathadhappened:theatmosphericdisturbanceagain.
Thatwild,unreasonablefear.Ithaddriventhemallclosetoinsanityonce,backattheport,andnowhereitwasagainaffectingeveryonebuthiminthesamemanner.Howcouldheorganizepeoplewhoweremomentarilystunnedandemotionallydisabledbythisstrangeforceintheair?Howcouldhereachthem?
YeeMonlookedallright,Masonsuddenlynoticed.Heseemedquitecollected."Yee,goinsideandcontacttheport.Tellthemtogetawayatonceandsendhelpfromtheshiptous.Quick!"
Yeenoddedwithagentlesmileandbegantowalkveryslowlyandmethodicallytowardthehouse.No,hewasn'tallright,Masonsaw.Hewasjustaffecteddifferently.Shovinghimaside,Masonwenttotheradioroomhimself
affecteddifferently.Shovinghimaside,Masonwenttotheradioroomhimselfandtriedtocall.Nothing.Healmostscreamed.Hestilldidn'tknowhowtooperateit.AllatonceWilsonwalkedintotheroomlookingquitesleepy.Masonstaredathimclosely.
"Roy,"hewhispered,"doyouknowhowtocontacttheport?"
"Sure,"Wilsonyawned,"what'sthemessage?"HesatdowninfrontofthedialsandlookedupatMason.
He'dbeenasleep,Masonrealized!Perhapshehadn'tfeltanythingyet.Buthowlongwouldittakefortheatmospheretoreachhim,too?Masongrabbedhisshoulder,almosttryingtofeedhimhisownsanitywhilehecalled."Tellthemwe'regoingtotrytooutrunit.Wellgonorth.Idon'tknowwherethey'llfindus,butiftheysendalifeboattheycanpickusupsomewhere."
Royblinkedathimasiftryingtogetitstraight."Call!"Masonurgeddesperately,andasifinadream,Royslowlycontactedtheport.Masongrabbedthetransmitterandgavethemessagehimself,hopingtheywereallrightontheotherend.WilsonwasalreadyactingqueerlyandbeforeMasonhadfinishedhebegantolaughinhystericalstartsandstops.Masonpulledhimoutofthehousetojointhegroupoutside.
"Wholeftinoneofthelandrovers?"heasked.
"It—itwassomeoftheextramen,"Louisamanagedtosay.Shewasgaspingandseemedtobehavingterribledifficultygettingherbreath.ButMasonwaselated.Louisawasmakingastruggle!Somehowsheretainedamemoryofthatothertime,andbysheerforceofwill,wasfightingagainstheremotions.
"Comeon,"hebeckonedtotheothers."We'llgothisway.HestartedoffwithLouisabesidehimbuttherewasnomotionfromanyoftheothers.Fromthewildhysteriathathadgrippedthemwhentherainfirstbegantofall,theywerenowheldinaparalyzingfear.
SomehowLouisamanagedtogobackandgetoneofthesisters,takingherhandandleadingherlikeachild.MasontriedtomoveUlinski,feelinghewasonewhomightbeabletosummonastruggleinhimself.ButUlinskicouldn'ttakeastep.Masonlookedatthemountainsagain.Hecouldbarelyseethe
takeastep.Masonlookedatthemountainsagain.Hecouldbarelyseetheoutlinesnow.Theworldwasaseethingmistofrain.Theyweredrenchedtotheskin.Itraninrivuletsdowntheirfaces.Dimly,Masonperceivedthefarshapeofthemountainsandthenheheardthatmightyroarbreaklikeawaveandbeginrushingtowardthem.Howlongwouldittake?Theothersstillstoodvacantly.Ifhecouldarousethatoldhysteria,perhaps—Masonpointedandyelledwithalltheviolencehecouldmuster,"Look!"Theyturnedslightlyandlookedovertheirshoulders,andthenitmusthavenudgedtheirconsciousness.Atleasttheyallsuddenlyheardtheominousrushofwater.
"Run!"Masonscreamed,leadingtheway."Runthisway!"Andnowtheydidrun,fortheirverylives.Theyraninhysteriabutatleasttheirbodieswerefunctioningagain.
Alreadypoolsofwaterwereformingbeneaththeirfeet.Masoncouldn'tseenow,fortherainwasasheetinfrontofhisface.Hehadtofightagainstit,asonewouldagainstablizzard.Butinsteadofwavesandrivuletsofclearwater,thiswasribbonsofcolorandlight.Itwaslikefightingthroughbannersandcoloredstreamersofimpossibletints.Andtheothersweren'twearingtheirglasses.Masonwonderedhowlongtheycouldbearit,untilhesawthattheywereallrunningblindlywitheyesclosedmostofthetime.
Therushofwaterraceduponthem,beatingitseemed,attheirheels.Soontheroarfilledtheworldandtherewasnothingelse.Nothingbutwaferuponthemandabovethemandinbackofthem.TheywereclosetotheswampsnowandMasonsawsomeGilasscreamingandbellowingfromfright.Theybegantoruntowardthepeoplebutatthesoundofthefloodtheyturnedandbeganrunningtheotherway.
Masonlookedforaspotofhigherground.Theycouldn'trunmuchlonger.Theswampswerefillingandthewaterwasabovetheircalves.Soonitbegantoreachtheirkneesandtheycouldonlymakeaslow,agonizingmovementahead.Masonlookedabove.Howcouldalifeboatspotthemathislevel?
Thenhesaw,inthedistance,averyhighhummock,almostasmallhill.Thewaterwaslappingaroundtheedgesbutitstillrosefairlyhighabovethat.Louisa,inbackofhimnow,wasgaspingandcrying.Hestoppeduntilshecaughtuptohim.
"There,"hepanted."Upthere."Shenodded,tooweaktospeak,andthey
"There,"hepanted."Upthere."Shenodded,tooweaktospeak,andtheywenton.Slowly,withatremendouseffort,theyreacheditandstartedtoclimbup.Theothersfollowed,crawlingupthesides,somesimplygivingupandlyingdownbeforetheyreachedthetop.MasonreachedbackandpulleduptheViningsisters.HeheavedUlinski'sdeadweighttothetop.
Theotherswerestillclimbing,almostfaintingwiththeeffort.Masontookouthistransmitterandbegantosend.Heprayedthatthelifeboathadbeencruisingtopickupasignal.
Suddenlytherainstoppedandamistrosefromthewholeearth,reachinghighintothesky,steaminginfantasticbrilliance.Everythingwasterriblyquietforamoment.Thesilencelastedforasplit-secondandthen,likeasuddenclapofthunderinthedeadquiet,theyheardit.AndsawitAmightywave,higherthanallthetrees,higherthanahill—amountainofwatermovingdownonthemwithterrifyingfinality.
Atthatmomentthelifeboatappeared,miraculously,seekingthemoutunerringlyastheyhuddledtogetherontopofthehummock.Ithoveredjustaboveandthedooropened.Masonshovedeveryoneinside,Louisahelping.TheterrorovercameYeeMonagainandhebeganfighting.MasongrabbedLouisaandliterallythrewherinside.ThenhetriedtomoveYeeMon,butitwastoolate.Thewaterwasuponthem.
SomehowMasonmanagedtoclosethedoorandknewthattheboatwasgone,soaringupintothesky.Hefelthimselfbeingswallowedbythatmountainofwater.Hislungsfilledwithit.Hebegantosinkandthenwassuddenlytossedhigh,ridingthecrestofthewaveashegaspedforair.Hesankagain,knowingitwasuselesstofight.Hewouldbesorrynottoknowtheend,nottoknowaboutLilith.
Thecurrentflunghimaroundandhebegantospininanundercurrent.Hewantedtothinkofhislifebuthewastootired.Hiseyesclosed.
CHAPTERTWELVE
[asonwokeupandthoughtforamomentthathewasinHeaven.Thenheimagineditwasadreamortheechoofadreamandheclosedhiseyes,notwantingtoletitgo.Helayonamoss-coveredmoundinalittlevalleybetweentwohighcliffsofrock.
Thejaggedcragsrosearoundhim,thereflectionofthesuncausingeachgranuleofrocktoglitterlikeatreasureofsreciousjewels.Themosswasdeepandsoftandluxurious.
Afewfeetawaythegrounddroppedprecipitouslyfromthehighcliff.Theopeningoftherocksdisclosed,likeapictureinaframe,theoceanbelow.
Masongotupandwalkedtowardit.Hismusclesachedterribly,butthevie.wwasworthmorethanthat.Awayinfrontofhimstretchedtheocean.NottheblueoceanofEarth,butaniridescent,almostphosphorescentcolorlikeblueandvioletandgreenandsilveralltogetherr.Thewavesbubbledalongtheshore,fillingthehollowsonthebeachwiththeirowneffervescentcolor.
Andtheshorewasnotsand.Itlooked,fromwhereheStood,likethesamesoftspringymossonwhichhehadlain.Helookedforawaytogetdown.Thecliffsseemedtoenclosehimcompletely,butthenhesawasmallcleftinonerockandmanagedtosqueezethrough.
Hewasinahighcavernofrocknow,andtheoceanwasclosedfromview.Buthesawwhatlookedlikeadownwardslopeandwentthroughthat.Itledhiminatwistingpaththroughtherocksuntilatlasthecameoutagainatthesea.
Thisclosetothewater,henoticedthattheodorwastellinghimsomethingdifferentthantheseasofEarth.Hedidn'tsmellsalt,andherusheddowntotheocean,tastingitandfindingthatitwasnotasaltwaterseaatall.Hedrankhisfillandsatdown.
Whatnow?HesupposedYeeMonwasdead,andassuredlySimpkinswas.Didhestillhavehistransmitter?Hurriedlyhewentthroughhispocketsandfound,nottheshipsignal—hemusthavelostthatonthehummock—butthecontactforOden.Hesmiled.Allwaswell,then.Butbeforehecalledforhelp,he
contactforOden.Hesmiled.Allwaswell,then.Butbeforehecalledforhelp,hewouldswim.Noonecouldlookatthatoceanforlongwithoutanirresistableurgetoplungein.
Masonlaughed,thinkinghowdistastefultheideawouldhavebeenthenightbefore.Hetookoffhisclothes,vaguelyawarethattheyhaddriedwithstrangerapidity,andlaidthemonarock.Then,ashestoodthereanticipatingthefirststepintothewater,hesuddenlysawhimself,asaspectatormighthaveseenhim,likeanotherAdam:theonlymanonthisplanet;theonlyhumansoulonthisvastroundglobespinningintheuniverse.
Itwasabreathtakingthought,butalthoughitshockedhim,hefeltnoneofthelonelinessonemightexpectofsuchasituation.Insteadhefeltmorealive,moreakintotheairthathebreathedandthegroundunderhisfeetthanhehadeverfeltwiththeknowledgeofothermen'spresence.Hewasabsolutelyalone.
Howwouldhefeelifhewerewithoutresourcehere,hewondered?Whatwouldbehisemotionsifheknewhecouldn'tcontactOden?Itwaspuzzling,butatthismomentMasondidn'tbelieveitwouldbotherhimmuch.Itwasn'tathoughtfornow,anyway.Hedoveintothewaterandfounditsurprisinglybuoyantforaseathatwasn'tsaltwater.Somethingmovingalongtheshorecaughthiseyeandasheswambackhesawagroupofmelanscuriouslyregardinghim.
Onlynow,herealized,itwasdifficulttothinkofthemasmelans.Itfeltwrongtousethenamemenhadgiventhem.HethoughtofthemasCreaturesofLight,forhesaw,always,theirultimatedestiny.Masonsteppedoutofthewaterandputouthishandtothem,buttheyonlycockedtheirheadstoonesideandthenmovedaway.Perhapstheywerenotofthosewhohadbeenatthepenandweremoreusedtohumans.
Theencountersoberedhim.Itwasareminderthathehadnofurtherbusinesshere.Heshouldleavethesechildrentotheirevolutionandtheirearth.NowthethoughtofleavingLilithcausedanemotionofregretthathewouldn'thavethoughtpossibleafewweeksago.HefeltapartofLilithnow,feltrelatedtotheplanet.
Nevertheless,hesatdownonthebeach,andcalledOden.
Whatastrangethingtosithereonthisshoreandspeaktosomeonelight-
Whatastrangethingtosithereonthisshoreandspeaktosomeonelight-yearsaway.MasonfeltveryquietinsideasheheardOden'sthought.
"Youhavedoneagoodwork,"thealiensaid,andMasonfeltagaintheforceofthathumilitywhichOdenalwaysevokedinhim.
"Ithinkwehavelostsomeofourmen,however,"Masonreplied."YeeMondidnotgetintothelifeboatlastnight,andI'mafraidhe'sdead.Simpkins'flyermusthavecrashed,andthereweresomemeninalandrover.Idon'tknowhowIcanverifyit,though."
"Perhapsitwillbeverifiedforyou,"Odensaid."Andtheothersaresafe.Youneedn'tworry."
"Wherearethey?"Masonasked.
"InLegus.They'reherenow."
ForamomentMasoncouldn'tthinkclearly."But,therewasn'ttime—"Hefaltered."Thefloodwasjustlast—"
"Thefloodwasoveraweekago."Oden'sthoughtwascalm."I'mafraidtheothersassumedyouweredead."
"Aweek!ButhowhaveI—Imean,Ijustwokeup!"
"Iknow.Irealizedyouwereallrightbytheabsenceofanysensethatsomethingwaswrongwithyou.Youhavebeensleepingallthetime?"
"Iguessso,"Masonwonderedaloud."Buthowcanamansleepforaweek?"
"Andwhatdoyouseenow?"Odenasked."Howdoyoufeel?"
"Ifeel—"AndMasoncouldn'tsayanymore.HeknewwhatOdenwastryingtotellhim,whathehadsensedacrossmillionsofmiles.
Masonhadgonetosleepasayouthandwakenedasaman.Heknewthatnowwitheveryfibreofhisbeing.Hemusthaveknownitwhenhewokeup,buthadn'tformulatedituntilnow.Yearshadnothingtodowithit.Hecouldhavecontinuedasayouthuntilhisoldage.ButsomethingonLilithhadchangedhim.Hewasdifferent,andhefeltaswiftthrillasheknewhimselfallatonceasa
Hewasdifferent,andhefeltaswiftthrillasheknewhimselfallatonceasaman.
"Youhaveachoicenow,Mason,"Odensaid,andhisthoughtshadadifferentqualityaboutthem,asifheweredemandingaresponsefromMasonasanequal."Wecansendyoubacktooneofyourownshipstocontinueasareporter,butIcanalsoofferyousomethingquitedifferentwithushereonLegus.Youmaycomehere,ifyouwish,tocontinuewhatyouhavealreadystartedonLilith.YoumaybeinthehighcourttowatchoverMan'sdestinyifyouchoose."
Masonstaredoutattheendlessseafoamingbeforehimasthewordsbeatinhischest.Hehadnoimmediateanswer.
Odenwenton."Youarestillveryyoungandadecisionlikethisisdifficultforyou,Iknow.Butyouwillhavetimetothink.Iamsendingashipnowanditwillbeseveraldaysbeforeyouseeit.Thinkduringthattimeandgivemeyouranswerlater.Ithinkyoushouldnotcontactmeagainuntilyourdecisionismade.Doyouunderstand?"
"Yes,"Masonnoddedinvoluntarily,asifOdenwereherebeforehim.Heknewthatthealienwasdemandingmoreofhimnow.HewasaskingMasontocometoapersonaldecisionwithallhisbestintelligence,andtocometothatdecisionasaMan,notleaningonanother'swisdom.
"Thereisonlyonemorething,"Odenadded."Sinceyouwillberequiredtotestifyhereinhighcourt,achoiceonyourparttoremainonLeguswillbetakenbadlybymanymenofyourrace,particularlyafterthedisclosuresabouttheexperimentalplanetsaremade.
"Youmaytestifysimplyasareporterandreturntoyourworkwithnomanthinkingyouacoward.Ifyoutestifyinanotherway,however,youmaywellberegardedasatraitortoyourraceandtoEarth."
OdenclosedhismessagewiththatandMasonknewhewouldhearnomorefromhimuntilhearrivedonLegus.Hesankback,pillowinghisheadonthesoftmossashegazedatthesky.ThecloudsofLilithwererisingandswelling,changingintostrange,elongatedshapesanddriftingthinlyaway.
Thesoundofthewavesontheshorewasarhythmicriseandfall,likea
Thesoundofthewavesontheshorewasarhythmicriseandfall,likeabreathbeinginhaledandexhaled.Masonhadasuddenimpressionoftheplanetasbeingtotallyalive.Hefeltthathewasrestingonalivingbody,warmandpulsating.
Hefellasleepforatimeandwhenheawokehewasterriblyhungry.Hedressedandclimbedbackupthepaththroughtherocks.Hesupposedhecouldhaveriggedupsomethingtocatchfish,orwhateveritwasthatmustliveinthefreshseas.Buthecouldn'tforageforfoodamongthelivingcreaturesofLilith,nomatterhowlowtheirlifeform.
Downthere,deepintheocean,theremightbeotherintelligencesslowlyevolving.No,hewouldhavetoseekanotherkindoffood.Rememberingtheflowersthathadheldtheliquid,hesurmisedtheremustbeotherfruitsorvegetables.Hehadnofearofeatinghere.HewassurethatinsomewayhewasnowapartofLilithandthechemistryoftheplanetwouldbeadaptabletohisownbody.
Hefoundanotherwayoutofthecliffsandcameoutfromtherockstoahighplateauthatstretchedformiles.Farinthedistancehesawthebeginninglineofaforestandguessedthatbacktheresomewherewasthelandheknewoffernsandpoolsandmountains.
Hisattentionwascaughtbyafiguremovinginthedistance.Hestrainedtosee.Itwasonlyadot,faraway,andappearedtobemovinginastrange,jerkingfashion.Helostitforamomentandthenitreappeared,staggeringacrosstheground.Hebegantowalktowardit.Therewaslittletoseekhereinthewayoffood,anyway.
Theplateauwascoveredwithfrondsofhighmossthatwavedlikegrassinthefaintwind.Heshouldhavetoentertheforestforfoodunlesshefoundsomethingalongtheway.CouldthatmovementbeaGilaslowlydying?Ifso,hehadnothingtofear.Itwouldbeinitslastdeaththroes.
Thefigureroseagainandfell.Maspngaspedandbegantorun.Itwasaman,maybeoneofthesurvivorsfromthelandrover.Heranfasterandslowlythefigurebegantotakeonshape.Itfellagainandlaystill.Masonfinallyreachedthespot.
ItwasYeeMon,lyingfacedown,hisclothingtorn,terriblerentsscratchedacrosshisback.Masonturnedhimoverandsawthathewasunconscious.Helookedaroundforaplacetotakehimintheshade,andsawthattohisright,notnearenoughtosuithim,thereseemedtobeasmalloasisofferntrees.
Hewalkedforhalfanhour,carryingYeeMonacrosshisshoulders,puttheunconsciousmandownontheground.Thenhesawwhathe'dbeensearchingfor.AstreambrokeouthereunderoneofthetreesandgrowingclosetoitwasafruitorvegetablethatlookedmuchlikethemelonsonEarth.Hepluckedonefromitsthickstemandpeeledofftheouterskin.Itwassomewhatmealyinside,notsweet,butveryfilling.Aftereatingonehefeltquitesatisfied.
HebathedYeeMonwiththecoldwaterandwashedhiscutsasbesthecould.Momentarilythemanawokeandstaredblanklyathim,mumblingsomethingsoindistinctlythatMasondidn'tunderstandthewords.Thenhefellasleep.Perhapshere,intheshade,Masonthought,inafewdaystime,hiswoundsmightheal.
FortwodaystheystayedthereandstillYeeMondidnotcompletelyregainconsciousness.Hebegantoturnviolentlyinthenightandcryout,stillinthesameindistinctmanner.Masonguessedthathehadbeensubjectedtoaterribleshock.CouldoneoftheGilashavemolestedhimduringtheflood?Thatcouldbetheanswertothoseawfulscarsonhisback.
OnthethirdnightMasonlaybackagainstthetreetrunkandtriedtofigureouthowmuchlongeritwouldbeuntiltheshipcame.Theywouldfindthemhere,heknew,fortheplanetwouldbecircleduntilMasonsaworheardtheshipandthenusedthecontactsignalOdenhadgivenhim.HewasanxiousaboutYeeMon'scondition,too.Hedidn'tseemtobeshowinganyimprovement,andMasonwishedhewereunderadoctor'scarenow.
Masonalsohadtomakethatdecision.Hehadn'twishedtoactuallythinkofit.Hehadhopedthatbynotthinking,somethingwouldoccurtohiminstinctivelythatwouldgivehimhisanswer.CouldhegiveuphisassociationwithMan?AndifhechoseLegus,wouldn'titmeanjustthat?Thathewouldhavetobepreparedtocuthimselfofffromthehumanrace?
HowmanymenwerethereonLegus,inthehighcourt?Andwhowerethey?Wouldn'tthey,too,regardhimasatraitor?Evenmore,hethought,thanthe
Wouldn'tthey,too,regardhimasatraitor?Evenmore,hethought,thantheothers.AtleastonEarth,orasareporter,hemightfindsomemenwhowouldunderstand.Cotter,forexample,andLouisa.WouldhehavetogiveupLouisa,too?
Andwhatwouldhedothere?Odenhadn'tgoneintothataspectofitatall.Hehadsaid,"…towatchoverMan'sdestiny."Whowashe,RussellMason,towatchoverMan'sdestiny,whateverthatmightmean?
Hesuddenlyfeltverytiredandfellasleepquickly.
Masonwokechokingfromthehandsaroundhisnecktryingtostranglehim.Hegrabbedthearmsandtriedtounlocktheviselikegrip.YeeMonhadamaniacalstrengthandMasongaspedforair,heavingandclawingatthefigurethatwastryingtokillhim.
Hegothiskneesupandgrippingontothehandswithallhismight,hemanagedtoshove.YeeMon'sgripbrokeandinstantlyMasonlungedathimandpinnedhimdownontheground.
"You'rewrong.Youdon'tunderstand!"Yee'svoicewasshrillandhystericalandMasonkepthisshouldersdown,kneelingontopofhimwhileYeethrashedaround.
"Yes,it'sMason.You'vebeenhurt.I'mtakingcareofyou.It'sallrightnow."Masontriedtosoothehim,thinkingthiswaspartofanightmareandareactionfromshock.ButYeesuddenlywentlimpandlaybacksmilingatMason.
"Allright,"hemumbleddistantly,"youhavewonfornow.Butnotforever.Thereareotherplaces.Youcanneverfindthemall."Hiseyeswereglazedandhesuddenlyclosedthem,hisbreathcomingslower.Masonfelthispulseandfoundthathewasstillalive.Heseemedtobenotunconsciousnow,butinadeeptrance.
Adarkshadowmovedswiftlyacrossthefield.Masonroseandranoutintotheopenawayfromthetrees.Vanishingoverthehorizon,hesawthedimoutlinesoftheship.HedrewoutOden'scontactandheldit,waiting.Minutes'latertheshipreappearedandMasonwasjustable,inthedark,tomakeouttheshapeofalifeboatemergingfromit.
Itdescendedquicklyandmadealandingonlyyardsaway.MasonranbackandpickedupYeeMon,carryinghimtotheship.Heplacedhiminacornerandstrappedhimincarefullyfortakeoff.HetookalastlookatthenightofLilith—strangetobeleavinginthedark—andthengotinandclosedthedoor.Hesetthecontrolsforre-entryandlayback.TheascentpinnedhimtightlyagainstthewalloftheshipandthentheywereaboveLilith.Alittlelaterthehugedoorsopenedandthelifeboatenteredtheship.YeeMonhadnotopenedhiseyes.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Yeewasputintothehospitalroom.ThiswasanalienshiprunbytheSumdacsandtherewerenoothermenaboard.TheCaptainhadgreetedhimcordiallyandgivenhimaroomthatalmostembarrassedMason.Thespaceupfront,closetothecontrolroomandCaptain'squarters,wereusuallyreservedforotherSpaceCaptains,Seconds-in-Command,oratleastforveryhighfunctionariesintheFederation.
NowMasonstoodinfrontoftheportholeastheshipcircledLilith,makingtheorbitthatwouldleadthemoutintodeepspaceandbacktoLegus.Theywerestillnearenoughtoseetheriotofcolorbelow.Theatmosphereonlyintensifiedthebrillianceofthespectrum.Masoncaughthisbreathatthatmagnificence.TheyturnedtowardthesunandagainMasonsawthelongstreamersoflight;raysthatseemedtopenetrateevenhere,beyondtheheavycasingoftheship'swalls.
Ashelookedatthatsunforthelasttime,beforethefinalsweepthatwouldtakethemaway,Masonthoughthesawthatlightagain,thatvibrationthatwasacombinationofallthespectrumtogether.Andwiththatheseemedtoexperiencethetotalityofallhisvisions.Hesawthesunasalivingbeing;afather,asLilithwasmother,tothelifehehadhelpedtosave.
TheCaptainsentamessagethatYeeMonwasnowconsciousandwishedtoseehim.Masonlefttheportholeandenteredthehospitalroom.Yeelookeddreadfullyweak,hisskinanawfulpallor,almostwhite.Hiseyesweredimbuthisvoicewasstrongagain.
"Mason,Iwishtothankyouformylife,"hebegan,andMasonnodded,wishingthattheinterviewwereover."Ithinkmybreakdownwascausedbytheatmosphere,andthenIwasattackedduringtheflood.Idimlyrememberfightingwithyou.I'msorry.Butthat'sover.WhatIwantedtosaywasthis."
Hesatupinhisbunkwithaneffort,leaningononeelbowandspeakingwithdifficulty."Youhavebeeninstrumentalinopeningupaphaseofouroperationsonexperimentalplanetsthatisgoingtocausegreatharmtoman.Idon'thavemuchtimeleft,youknow—"
MasonstartedtospeakbutYeeimpatientlysilencedhim."No,IwishtosaythatIdonotblameyoupersonallyforthis,butyouhavecommittedagraveerror.Manwillnowbesetbackforperhapshundredsofyears,afterthehearing…"
Hisvoicebecameweakerandhelaybackagain."Eck-erthadnochoice.HehopedtoavoidcompleteexposurebystoppingtheexperimentsonLilithalone.Wethoughtthatwouldbeenough.Butnowthishearingwillopenupotherphases.Ihadwishedtoavoidthat.IwaspersonallyonLilithbecauseIsuspectedtherewasunlimitedpowerthere—andtherewas."
HiseyesclosedandMasonhadtoleanoverthebunktohear."Mason,youdon'twantaworldwithManasanunderling.Youcan'twantthat.Wehavetheuniverseopentousnow.Itwouldtakeonlyalittlewhileandwecouldbemasters.Doyouunderstand?MasterslThereareplaces,otherplaceswehavediscovered…"
Heopenedhiseyesagain."Think,Mason,beforeyoutestify.IfyousaytoomuchIcan'tanswerfortheconsequences.Wealreadyhaveenoughatourdisposaltostartawar.Thegreatestwareverknown.AndManmaydoit—now—ifhefeelshisplaceisthreatened…"
ThevoicefadedawayandMasoncouldhardlyhearthelastwords.Herantosummonadoctor.Yeewasstillalivebutitwouldn'tbelongnow.Masonwentbacktohisroom,dimlyunderstandingwhathe'djustheard.Hehadguessed,duringthoselastdaysonLilith,thatYeeMonwasdirectlyconnectedwiththissearchforweaponry.NowherealizedthatYeehadbeenEckert'ssuperiorinthismadscheme.
AndYeehadadmittedthattherewereotherplanets—perhapsunknownexcepttoafewmen—whereotherexperimentsofthismagnitudewerebeingconducted.Wouldtheyactuallystartawarifthehearinginhighcourtbecameknown?OrwasYeemakingemptythreats,tryingtofrightenMasonintoadifferenttestimony?
Whenhewenttobedatlast,allhecouldseewasthatpictureengravedinhismemory,ofManfacinghisdyingsun.Hadhebeenbanishedtohissolarsystemafteraterriblewar?Wasitpossiblethatthispunishmentwouldbetheresultof
Mason'stestimony?*Or,evenworse,wouldMasonberesponsibleforbringingthewarabout?Wouldhecausethatinhisignorance?Beresponsibleforthatmonstrousendeavor,insteadofbeingresponsiblefortheevolutionofthepeopleofLilith?
Hecouldn'tsleep.Halfawake,hisdreamswerefilledwiththephantasmagoriaofnightmares.Hegotupdrenchedwithperspirationandwenttotakeashower.Washinghisfacefirst,hecaughtaglimpseofhimselfinthemirror.Ithadbeensolongsincehehadlookedathimselfthatitwasashock.Thesefeaturesstaringbackathimwerenotthesamehehadknownweeksormonthsago.Itwasadifferentfaceentirely.
Masonliterallydidn'trecognizehimself.Hischeekswereleanandtherewasthebeginningofstronglinesbesidehisnose.Hisjawwasfirmerandrubbinghishandagainsthisforehead,hesawthatitwascreasedwithsmalllines.Helaughedsuddenly,combingbackhishairwhichhadgrownsomuchlightersincehe'dbeenonLilith.Oncealightbrown,itwasnowblond,almostwhite.
Thenhedroppedhiscombandleanedforwardinamazement.Hiseyes!Hadn'ttheybeenbrown?Hestaredattheeyesbeforehimandsuddenlyfeltweak.Theywerenolongerbrown.TheywerenotevenanEarthcolor.
Hiseyesweretheclear,penetratinghueofthelightofLilith!
Ashelookedatthemhesawtheentirespectrum—andheputuphishands,unabletolookfurther.
Hewentbacktositonhisbunk,wondering,puzzlingoverthefantasticchange.Itmusthavehappenedwhentheexperimenthadbeenconductedonhim.Hadanyonenoticed?No,ofcoursenot.Hehadwornhisglassesmuchofthetimetoavoidsuspicion.
ThespectrumofLilith!
SuddenlyMasonroseandwentbacktotheshowerroom.HehadseenthefuturebeforebythelightofLilith.Couldheseethefuturenow,inhisowneyes?Couldheevokethatchange,thatparticularcombinationthatwouldleadtotheshock?Heforcedhimselftostandquitestillandlookintohiseyesasifhewerelookingatacolorwheel.
lookingatacolorwheel.
Masonstoodthereforalong,longtime.
TheyburiedYeeMonintheoceansofspace.Masonwatchedthebodyslipintothevoidandfeltatpeace,asifYeeMonhadreturnednotonlytothewombofalllife,buthadalsoreturnedtohisownindividuality.TheindividualitythatMasonhadonceknownandliked.
TheylandedsecretlyatLegusinthemiddleofthenight.TherewasnoonetomeetthemandtheCaptaintookMasondirectlytoOden'shome.Theyspokefarintothenightandthemorning,andatnoonthefollowingdayMasondonnedthepurplecloakofthehighcourtandwalkedwithOdentowardthegreathall.
Theydescendedtheramp,andthistimeMasonwasnotunnoticed,nordidheavoidnoticing.Hisfearofthealienswaspast.Helookedclearlyanddirectlyateveryonehesawandfeltinreturnanacknowledgmentthatwasgratifying.
ThedoorsinthelowerlevelwereopenedandMasonwalkedinbesideOden,lookingstraightaheadtothecenterofthegreatcircles.There,raisedonthedais,sattheChiefJustice.AndinhispresencetherewassomethingthatevokedinMasonafasterbeatingofhisheartandadifferentkindofhumilitythanhefeltevenwithOden.
Odenledhimtothecircleimmediatelysurroundingthedais.There,directlyinfrontoftheChiefJustice,theysat.Masoncouldn'tseewhatwasunderthepurplerobethatwrappedandhoodedthefigure.Allhecouldseewastheface,andhecouldn'tlookaway.
Heknewtherewasnootherbeinginthegreathallquiteliketheonefromthisrace.Heknewitinstinctively,andtheshockfromthatfacegrewuntilitfilledMason'swholepresence,andthenitsubsidedleavinghimweak,yetwithadeepinnercalm.
ThefacebelongedtoaMan.
NotaManasMasonknewmen,butanotherbeing,adistantrelative,asremotefromManasMasonwasfromanape.Andyetrelated,connected.IfMasonhadfeltlikeastudentbeforeOden,totheChiefJusticeMasonfeltlikeachildtoitsfatheroraninfanttoitsGod.InthatinstantMasonknewthathe
childtoitsfatheroraninfanttoitsGod.InthatinstantMasonknewthathewishedtositbeforethisbeingfortherestofhislife.Hewouldpayanypriceforthat.Hewishednevertoleavethatface.
Andthenhewonderedabouttheothersofhisownracehere.HowcouldtheyignorethisManwhosepresencebespoketheirownfuturepossibility?Howcouldtheythinkofsuperiorityinfrontofthisfigure?Howcouldtheideaofexperimentalplanetseverhavebegun?Nomanwhohadeverseenthatfacecouldhavethoughtofit.
Atlasthewasabletodrawawayhiseyesandlookaroundthehall.Themembersofthestaffweresittingtohisrightinthenextrow.SomewerelookingattheChiefJusticewithnothingatallintheirexpression.Otherswerecuriouslystaringattheassembly.OnlyLouisasatquietlywithheaddowncastasthoughshefeltsomethingbutwasunabletoseeit.
MasonlookedatOdenwhosmiledathimthoughtfully."Tryusingyourneweyes,"Odensuggested,barelyaboveawhisper."Ithinkyouhaveusedthemonlyonewayyet.Trytoseefromanotherview.TrytoseewhatIsee."-MasongazedathimforamomentandthenlookedbackattheChiefJustice.Hedrewinhisbreathsharply.NowtheChiefJusticewasnotaMan;hewasaSumdac.Onlya
SumdacfaraboveOdeninhisevolutionandintelligence.AndMasonsensedthatOdenwasfilledwiththesameemotionthatheldMason,thesamerelationshipofsontofather.
HetriedtoseewhattheViningsisterssaw,anddiscoveredthattheChiefJusticetothemwasareplicaofoneofthestrangerformsinthehall.NeilTropesawsomethingthatwasn'tevenintheroom,andUlinskiseemedpuzzled.Masonrealizedthatshapeswerecontinuallychangingandshiftinginfrontofhim.
HaskellEckertsawnothingatall.Underthatpurplehoodablanknessstaredathim,andEckertthoughttheChiefJusticewaswearingamask.
Louisastillrefusedtolook,andnowMasonsawwhy.She,too,sawavaguemanlikeform,butinaguiseunbearabletofaceforlong.ShesawhimasMasonmighthaveseenhimsometimeago.
HeleanedovertoOden."Whoishe?"
HeleanedovertoOden."Whoishe?"
"HeisakintoaMan,"Odensaid."Youareright.Isensewhatyouhavethoughtandseen.Butyouaretheonlyonewhohaseverseenhimashereallyis.Icannot.Tomeheappearslikemyselformyfather—andtoothersinlikemanner.Andthemenofyourraceseehimverydifferently,eachone.NeverasaMan.Theycouldn'taccepthim.Heisnotoneofyou,youknow."
"Iknow,"Masonsaid."Butweareoneofhim.Somedaywemaybelikehim."
Sohehadseenwhatnobeinghadeverseenbefore.Masondidn'tquestionit.HeknewithadsomethingtodowiththelightofLilith,butmoreimportantly,withwhathehimselfwishednow,andhadwishedbefore,forMan.Hiseyeshadchanged.Orhadhiswayoflookingchanged?Herecognizedthedemandthismade.
Hedidn'twonderwherethisManwasfrom,orhowhisraceofManwasdistantlyrelated,orwhythisbeing,Man,satinthecenterofthatgreatcircle.Heonlyknewthatithadessentialimportanceforhim;thathiswishhadbeentrue;thattherewaspurpose,afterall,inrescuingManfromhisdeath.IfthiswaswhatManmightbecome…
TheChiefJusticespoke.Hespokeinonetongueandyeteveryoneunderstood.HesaidthattheymustdiscussthestateofManandre-examineMan'splaceintheFederation.Nomore.Hemadenomentionofanythingthathadhappenedintheexperimentalstations.Then,withalookthatitwasdifficulttofathom,hecalleduponMason.
Masonstoodupandturnedtofacetheassembly.Heunderstoodnowthatnotonlydidhehavetheopportunityofspeakinglikeasimplereporterwhohadcomeacrosscertainexperimentsunaware.Hehadalsotheopportunitytosaynothing.Hecouldstandhereandpretendthatnothinghadhappened.TheChiefJusticehadleftitalluptohim.
Hefeltinthatmomentthathewasinthecenteroftheuniverse,forhereweregatheredbeingsfromthefarcornersoftime.Andyetheknewthatbeyondtherestretchedmoreandmorecreation,lifeformingandevolving.Forwhatpurpose?TogatherhereandmakerulesandregulationsformulatedbyMan,whoknewhowtodothatmuchbutlittlemore?
whoknewhowtodothatmuchbutlittlemore?
OutofsympathyandfaiththesebeingsallowedManhispresenceinthisgreathall,andnowMasonstoodbeforethem,aninfinitesimalspeckinthegreatcreation,holdingthepowerwithinhimtoalienatehisownracefromtherestoftheuniverse.
Herememberedwhathehadseeninhisowneyesinthemirrorontheshipandknewthattherewouldnotbewarnow.Already,fromwhathehadseen,fleetsofshipswereontheirwaytoalltheexperimentalplanetstostopthepreparations.No,therewouldnotbewar.ButafteraninterludeManwouldbegintoprepareforwaragain.Anditwouldbemanymillionsofyearsbeforehereachedmaturity.
Masonhadnowtochoosehisloyalty.WoulditbetoMan?TosaveMan'splacehere?Toallowhimtocontinueasamemberofthisvastbody?Orwouldhisloyaltybetotheuniverse,ofwhichhewassuchasmallpart?
Hehadmadehisdecisionlongago.
HisloyaltywastoMan.
HisloyaltyhadbeentoManeversincethebeginning,eversincehehadfacedthethreatofMan'sextinction.
HisloyaltywastoManandthereforetoMan'sevolution,whichcouldcomeonlyfromthetruthabouthimself.Evenifthattruthmeantbanishment.Masonknewhewouldstayheretoseekthattruth.
AndheknewthesearchmustbeginnowwiththefactsofMan'sterribleerror.Thefactsoftheexperimentalstations.Thefactsofpreparationsforwar.ThefactsofMan'smeddling.
Masonnolongercaredwhatothermenmightthinkofhim.Hisloyaltywastoostrongforthat,hishopeforMan'spotentialtoograveanddeep.Hecouldn'tconsiderhimselfinthatway.Notnow,Nothere.
Helookeduponcemoretothatfaceonthedaisbeforehebegantospeak.