EDITORIAL

OUR years ago we discovered

F another of the many wr.ters
we
can claim as our own
discoveries in the twenty-two years
of our editorial experience. He had
never written a word when we asked
him to write a story. He did one
called “Murder In a Macaroni. Fac-
tory”. It certainly was a stinker.
EDITOR But we asked him to do another.
We asked him to do a novel. Then
Raymond A. Palmer we began advertising it in Amazing
• Stories. We even had three-color
back plates made, heralding it as •

MANAGING EDITOR one of the greatest novels of science

Beatrice Mahaffey fiction history. We bet, in on
fact,
a blind pig. We won. That story
• was “So Shall Ye Reap” by Rog
Phillips.
ART DIRECTOR
Today, Rog Phillips is recognized
Malcolm Smith as one of America’s top science fic-
tion writers.
•
But, we are going to let you in on
Published every six weeks by
a little secret. Up to now, we have
considered that Mr. Phillips was a
CLARK PUBLISHING COMPANY novice, an amateur, a beginner. We
1144 Ashland Avenue have been waiting for him to become
Evanston, Illinois
a professional. We have been wait-
ing for him to become fully devel-
oped. Last year we decided that one
Entered as second-class matter at the more novel would do it. We took
Post Office at Evanston, Illinois. Addi- him to coffee and talked for more
tional entry at Sandusky, Ohio. Printed than two hours. We gave him, in our
in U.S.A. by the Stephens Printing Corp- estimation, the toughest assignment
oration of Sandusky, Ohio. Distributed by
we have ever handed out to any
American News Company, Inc. of New
science fiction writer. We once more
York. No responsibility is undertaken for
unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or gav him a title, the outline of a plot
-1

artwork. Return envelopes and sufficient
return postage is required. Basic rates
for accepted material, lc per word. Ad-
vertising rates at request. Subscriptions:
12 issues. $3.00; 24 issues $6.00.
ISSUE NO. 15
DECEMBER
January issue on sale November 23
and a free hand in its development,
except that it must cover the subject
we had in mind and do it completely
and intelligently.
For more than a year Rog has
been struggling with that novel.
Once he had it finished, then tore up
the last 21,000 words and did them
1951 over. His other writing almost com-
pletely stopped during this period.
He himself said he was almost on
 THE EDITORIAL 3
the verge of complete defeat. This was
a job a really great literary figure
might find a mind-shattering task.
But we’re glad to announce that he
did it. We have just finished read-
CONTENTS
ing the last word
of this 76,000 word
novel. It is called “These Are My STORIES
Children” and it takes in a plot
concept never before seen in sci-
ence fiction. Further, it is a master- Richard Ashby 6
piece of literary construction, of Act of God (19,000 words —Pt. 1)

perfect plotting, of genuine charac-

terization, and of plausible and un- Richard S. Shaver 46
equivocal development. Its ending Yelisen (11,000 words)
is a terrific smash, and one that will
leave the reader with his own mind George Q. Neuman 71
at a peak of interest, and on the Quandry (400 words)
road to a world of thoughtful con-
jecture, and of wonder, and even
Robert Bloch 72
of awe.
where some of you The Tchen Lam’s Vengeance
Right here is
(7000 words)
who know us will say “Ray Palmer
:

is blowing horns again!” Yes, Ray

William Bailey 88
Palmer is known for the way he
blows horns. He’s used and abused The Big Dealer (11,000 words)

every adjective in the dictionary,

and it’s characteristic of him to Ray Palmer 113
“sound off” at every opportunity. I Flew In A Flying Saucer
But once in awhile he gets serious (13,500 words End) —
about something and the steam he
blows off is white hot.
SPECIAL FEATURES SECTION
We’re white hot about “THESE
ARE MY CHILDREN” in capital
letters. And we want you to get Cartoon 143
an indelible pencil and write it on Book Reviews 144
the end of your nose so your news-
dealer can see it: “I want a copy of Personals 146
OTHER WORLDS reserved for me
Fun With Science 148
from now on —
because Rog Phillips
151
has finally written the ‘great novel’ Letters
of his career!”
News Of The Month 1S8
Remember what we said about
giving you really good stories, even Other Worlds Book Shop 160
if they ran into impossible wordage?
Meet The Staff 163
Well, this one’s 76,000 words, and it
will necessarily appear in two parts.
Why not make sure you get it all
by subscribing right now? You can Cover
get OTHER WORLDS
for 25c per
Malcolm Smith
issue that way and save $1.20 on a
4 OTHER WORLDS
twelve-issue subscription.
Speaking of serials, we have in
mind, rather toyfully at the moment,
novel of 250,000 words. Yes, a quar-
ter of a million words! We realize
fully that it would take a full
year’s issues to run it serially, but
even at that, we wouldn’t be estab-
lishing a precedent; remember (if
you’re old enough) the "Lerourian
Documents”? In the old Amazing
Stories. Actually, they were pre-
sented in the same manner, with each
installment complete in itself, but ac-
tually it is one unit, one story. How
—
about it, readers could you stand
the gaff of a year’s suspense? Ac-
tually, though, along with our policy
of giving you the best we can get,
it’s a must that we give you this
one. We’ll think about it deeply . . .
And now, to get down to editorial-
—
izing we’ve done some work at
streamlining OTHER WORLDS.
With this issue, and following is-
sues, you’ll find some innovations. A ries had a “preaching” atmosphere,
revamped makeup, new appearance
and some new features. Elimination
of run-backs, more cartoons, and a
lot of things to come. All this is
in line with the new stature of sci-
ence fiction, which is invading the
film industry, television, and gen-
eral magazines to an amazing de-
gree. In short, science fiction has
finally reached its crest, general pop-
ularity. From now on it will be a
flood-tide, and the beginning of spe-
cialization. OTHER WORLDS in-
tends to continue to pioneer in the
field,and to present something just
ahead of the tide. In short, if you
read OTHER WORLDS, you’ll be
on a surf board riding the crest of
the wave.
Along that line, the story in this
issue by Richard Ashby called “Act
of God” is such an advance. We
think Ashby has one of the most
difficult subjects in the world, and
given us a thriller that would do
credit to Cecil B. DeMille. You’ll
recognize the tremendous stature of
the “props” in this story, but you’ll
find that they do not overshadow
a terrific idea, and a splendid de-
velopment of that idea. This is an
ejxample of unhampered thinking
and even more unhampered writing.
It will prove there are no taboos in
OTHER WORLDS, if that taboo
means rejection of a good story.
Just what does “story-telling” im-
ply, in addition to simple entertain-
ment? In ancient times, it was a
method of teaching; today we seem
to resent being “taught” so subtly,
so “against our wills.” Also, and
not as ancient, it was a matter of
“moralizing”. Every story had to
have a moral. But today, we seem
to gag at the idea that somebody
must take underhand pokes at our
conduct, and try to reform us by
sly propaganda. More lately, sto-
and ethics were instilled into the
reader by author-to-reader soap-
boxing. Naturally, we “moderns”
don’t like to be preached at. But
what has happened even more late-
ly? We’ve come to a story-telling
that is pure propaganda. In short,
we are being “indoctrinated” with
isms and politics, and even with
herd behavior. We are being led
around by the nose. And like fools,
we are playing directly into the
hands of the propaganda (much of
which is unwitting, because, the
writers are merely imitating a cur-
rent trend, or a popular fad). The
fad today is lies. In the press, in
politics, in such things as “iron cur-
tains”. Just what is an “iron cur-
tain"? It is, briefly, a curtain of
lies to conceal what lies behind. We
are playing up to such “curtains”
by trying to reject anything which
seems to ask us to think!
 THE EDITORIAL 5

We call it “playing politics”. We “Keep your nose clean.” Let’s not

say we don’t like a story because it say: “Don’t butt in on what doesn’t
“plays politics”. Because it makes concern you.” There isn’t anything
a controversial statement. Qecause in a cooperative world that doesn’t
it challenges a status q'uo. We have concern all of us. As believers in
come to a regrettable condition our future, let’s not, in our turn,
where our authors must carefully reject the instrument called propa-
avoid subjects because the reader ganda in a day when its use is so
may : 1) say we are trying to in- universal that the truth of any
fluence his thinking; 2) accuse us of statement cannot be absolutely de-
moralizing, implying that his mor- termined.
als are okay as they are; 3) propa- In short, let’s drop this idea right
gandizing; 4) preaching; 5) “plug- now that we can’t project the pres-
ging” a doctrine or an ism. ent fact into future fiction without
For instance, a story which pro- risking “concentration camp criti-
jects into the future a policy of our cism”. Let’s not be so shy of the
government (or a fictionalized gov- water that we back right into it!
ernment, but with the inference ob- We’ve noticed a furore of editor-
vious) such as preparing for atomic ial argument as to which science
warfare (see Rog Phillips’ "So fiction magazine is the “leader”.
Shall Ye Reap”) and by taking the Claims are made in three ways: 1)
opposite tack from the current prop- sales; 2)quality of stories; 3) sub-
aganda (all communications dissem- —
scriptions and perhaps 4) make- —
inating policy are propaganda) up. Let’s quote facts, not hot air.
seems to “criticize” that prepara- Top in sales: Amazing Stories
tion is immediately the object of (highest sale, 185,000 and present-
loud abuse and the author is warned ly about 110,000. Top in subscrip-
to “keep away” from such subjects. tions: Galaxy says it is, but avail-
Since when can’t we humans stand able figures show AS with about
up and debate? Since when is de- 1800 and OTHER WORLDS with
bate (taking the negative as well as 1000. Top in quality: personally we
the positive) an infringement on our like OW fan groups name Astound-
;

free rights as thinkers? Since when ing Science Fiction, Galaxy, The
isn’t debate thinking? Magazine of Fantasy and Science
Or ARE we sheep? Fiction and OTHER WORLDS
in va-
No, let’s not limit the concepts ried orders with ASF having the
. . .

our authors may use in the develop- best over-the-years record. The top
ment of their fiction, because it chal- magazine in makeup is Galaxy (cov-
lenges a factual status quo. If a er paper) : OTHER WORLDS
(cov-
fact cannot stand a challenge, it is ers and readability and editorial or-
not a fact! If a “way of life” of iginality) ;
Astounding (overall for-
today cannot stand an alternative, mat, proofreading) Amazing Stories ;

then what is there in a “future”? and Fantastic Adventures (art di-

And what is science fiction, if it is recting, balance, readability, typog-
not “things to come”? raphy) and a tie between Astound-
;

Let’s not write letters to this ing, Amazing and OTHER WORLDS
magazine, or to others, flaying an for illustrations. But in the really
author because he dares to express important category, satisfied read-
a variant opinion. Let’s not say, as ers, OTHER WORLDS takes a back
an army colonel once said to us: seat to nobody. Rap
 Illustration by Bill Terry

ACT of GOD
Kick ard JU,ly

ATHER Marek felt kindly to- her tears and sorrow, and had begged

F ward the girl, for never in his

parish career had such an ex-
that he
last
come administer the
comfort to her dying
rites of
mother.
perience come about; however it was And he had paused only long enough
something he’d felt might have hap- on a coat against the bitter
to fling
pened to any good priest. She had 1980 April of Los Angeles, and to
rushed into his warm and gentle stu- collect the items specified by the
dy, reddened and unpleasant with church for last rites. Now, outside,

6
 a

One day people

were known for one thing;
the next they had completely reversed
all opinions. Had their minds been stolen . . . ?

he opened the door of the cab and with a sly, confident, somehow shock-
assisted the girl in. She was fourteen ingly older face. And when the car’s
or sixteen, he supposed, and judging windows began to turn opaque . . .

by her dress, one of a poor and large and when he discovered that the dri-
family. Father Marek slammed the ver refused to open the glass parti-
door and settled himself. tion, Father Marek knew the first

“Ten Larchmont,” he
thirty-five icy gusts of the horror which was to

and the cab shot

called to the driver, come.
* * *
out into the Wilshire traffic. But it
kept heading the wrong way, and General Peters excused himself
the girl was no longer crying. She bluntly and left the party through
snuggled into the upholstry at the the tables to the back, past a serv-
far end of the seat and regarded him ing bar, and into the men’s room.

7
8 OTHER WORLDS
Four men in tuxedos were waiting “If you’re through window-shop-
for him. One moved to block the ping, Buster, you can close the door.”
entrance behind him, the other three ‘Buster’ licked his lips nervously.
closed in. For a man of sixty, he put “Your agent told me to give you
up a pretty good defense, but against this, Miss Harris.”

three he had hardly a chance. A rab- “Ricky?” Ginny frowned and held
bit punch from behind sent him reel- out her hand. The man scratched
ing, and as he slumped two of his her palm with a broken vial, then
attackers caught him and the third jumped in beside the cursing woman.
broke a tiny vial and scratched the As he swung the controls over to his
general’s neck with it. The man at side, she slumped against him, and
the door stepped out, looked both her utterly unprintable whispering
ways, then nodded. The three lugged trailed off into silence. To make it

the unconscious man out the back, look good he put her arm about his
boosted him into a waiting car, shoulders, slammed shut the door,
brushed themselves off and reentered and threw the blades into gear. A
the night spot. After seeing the car second later the coptor bounded off
off the one who had acted as lookout the C.B.S. parking roof and swung
followed after his companions. In- into the west-bound traffic above Wil-
side, smiling and apologetic, he slip- shire.
ped through the gay chattering crowd * * *
and into a phone booth. When he And sixty miles away a man nam-
reached his number he said but two ed Simon Letona considered these
words: “Hello, Grandmother.” events as he strolled unhurriedly
* if. * along an unpaved mountain road.
She supposed that the man who
so politely opened the door of the npHE path from Lake Arrowhead
flier and assisted her in was a park- led up a hill, and as he walked
ing attendant, but she rather thought over the rise of the top Andrew Smith
he shouldn’t stare so ... so carni- came out into a flood of brilliance
vorously. Not that Ginny Harris from a huge orange moon. It was
wasn’t worth staring at: Flaming a much bigger moon, thought the
hair cascading down her back, wide exhausted man, than the one which
humorous month, her superb body in last night had so pitilessly given him
a shoulderless gown which sheathed away, which had watched his des-
her as revealingly as if it had been perate flight from wall to tree to
sprayed on. Stretching out a silken boulder.
leg beneath the dash, she touched The lodge will feel good, he
the starter. As the motor purred into thought. There will be a fire in the
life, she flashed a smile at the fel- stone hearth, there will be soft talk
low. and laughter in the lounge, there
 ACT OF GOD 9
will be a bath and skilled gentle Not until his change came did he
hands to dress the wound in his side. allow his eyes to roam along the fac-
And then to bed. Bed! He thought ing mirror, studying each reflected
the word several times, mentally tast- face, each group, and at last to come
ing the delicious ease of surrender- idly to the two men and a girl at
ing to the cool sheets, the soft pil- He had
the table near the fireplace.
low . . . never seen them before, but he
A rock rolled beneath his foot, and would know them again. Anywhere,
he stumbled, fell to one knee. Curs- at any time. He sipped at the water
ing softly, he pushed himself up from and committed their features indel-
the rutted path and went on through ibly.
the silent pines and moonlight. “Leaving so soon?” said Louie as
When an hour later, he
at last, Andrew got down from the stool.
reached the lodge, he paused before “Yup. Had a hard day.” That was
entering to comb his hair and to no lie, he thought. A hard day and
brush the worst of the mud from his a much harder, much longer night
trousers. Then smiling a smile he before that. He gave the trio of
didn’t feel, he entered, holding his strangers one last glance as he walk-
lanky aching frame an easy amble in ed toward the wide steps that led
as he made for the bar. One or two to the lobby. They seemed all right
people nodded his way from the — casually amused, heads together,
booths and tables, another waved. interested only in themselves. But
Thankfully, Andrew guessed that one never knew . . .

they all belonged.

At the desk he got his key and
He took a stool at the far end of
went to his room. The bed looked
the bar near the murmuring radio
like Elysium itself, but it would
and Louie, the little Mexican bar- must come the
have to wait. First
tender, whisked up to him, a grin
report ... the grim and bitter story
on his shrewd brown face. “Hi. Wat-
of his failure.
cha know, keed?”
When he had double-locked the
“Not a thing, not a thing. Bring door he walked to the center of the
me a big glass of water.” floor where anyone outside could see
When it came it had a straw pro- him, and yawned elaborately. Then
truding from the shave of floating he pulled down the shades, smoked
ice and a lemon hanging over
slice of a cigarette, turned out the lights. He
the side. Andrew understood some- — entered the closet, pushed his way
one here who didn’t belong. through the hanging confusion of
“Fifty cents,” said Louie. As he suits and shirts, and groped in the
reached for the bill on the counter blackness for the tiny stud high on
he added quietly, and without mov- the moulding. As he found it and
ing his lips, “Three. In the corner.” pressed, the wall slid to the right.
10 OTHER WORLDS
Before him was a dimly lighted cub- have listened to it, but no too —
by which he stepped, then slid
into smart, too professional, too sure of
shut the closet “wall.” The blank myself. So Carla is dead. And I’ve
metal face slid up before his eyes, been seen. Printed and photographed,
changed to wooden studding and no doubt. I’m not going to be of
lath, thence to concrete. Finally much use to The Group from now
light cracked at his feet and grew on. Oh sure, I can work in the lab,
into a long high hallway from which I guess. Empty garbage and wash

came the muted throttling of a gas? beakers and . . , I’m sorry, Martha.
oline engine — an auxiliary power That’s pretty childish of me, isn’t

generator purchased ostensibly for it? But it’s a fact that Andrew Smith
emergency winter use, but actually is finished as an outside man. Even
running year around to supply power the like to have me.
police would
for the lab. Yeah, Wait until I’m
that’s right.
Andrew walked down the hall, too Martha, and you’ll
finished talking,
weary even to bother looking into understand how the law figures in.
the open workrooms he passed. He Let’s see Carla didn’t come. . .

stopped before the door at the far back when she should have, and
end and said his name into the grill. what did we know? We knew that
Faintly from within someone cried she had been to Lee Chemicals in
out, repeating it. Martha North. And Los Angeles. Bought a microtome
she sounded glad, Andrew thought. there. Found out that much by phon-
Too bad. ing. Then by flashing a set of phony
The door opened and a smiling private eye credentials, I got the
woman walked toward him. The desk clerk at the Ambassador to talk.
smile faded as she read his haggard He said she checked in Monday at
face. “Andy,” she said, her grey eyes five which must have been just
. . .

grave with concern. “Come in. Are aftershe’d been to Lee Chemicals.
you all right?” But she hadn’t checked out, and he
He nodded, avoiding her gaze, and wouldn’t let me in without checking
took a chair by the desk. my badge with police, so I blew. A
He felt her hand on his shoulder. maid did admit me, though. But
“As bad as that, Andy?” nothing much to be learned there.
“Yeah.” And he began telling her Her overnight case, the "Daily
of the last three days; bitterly, not News,” and two movie magazines
sparing himself. . fine for a Ph. D. in botany,
. .

huh? But beyond that, nothing. I’d

* * * checked her up to the time after
she’d eaten at the hotel . . . seven-
T HAD that wrong feeling (he said) thirty, Tuesday night. But nothing
-*•
right from the beginning. I should after. No note, no taunt from Grand-
 ACT OF GOD ii

mother Ganley, even. No Carla. So guys came in for me. They were big,
there wasn’t much I could figure to and they carried big guns. They
do but go through the motions she’d asked me to come along with them.
made on the chance that they’d be Very politely. Professionals. I went.
interested in anyone who made in- One of them in front, and the other
quiries and who also visited Lee three spaced out behind me. We went
Chemicals. down a long hall of poured concrete,
And I was right, I learned later. well lighted and clean, past two
They have their plants at all the other doors like the one on my cell.
good hotels in town, as well as in I’d give a lot to know how many of
the lab supply houses. We’ll have our people have been behind those
to buy what we want in Frisco from doors, or are still there. Edgars, Mike
now on if we can’t steal it. But Ganley, Manny, Ruth Clark . . .

here’s what went. The people at Lee I’ll hurry it along, Martha. Got

showed me their line of microtome to get back upstairs. Hungry.

cutters and I made noncomittal So I was taken out of the base-
sounds. I don’t know a damn about ment. The walls were set too high
them, of course. Said I’d be back the along the hallway for me to see out,
next day to pick one up. Went out- but I caught country odors: Oak and
side, caught a cab, and just as we Eucalyptus leaves burning, fresh air,
left the ground the driver pinked me no smog, and no surface traffic nois-
with a sliver of glass. I was out be- es. They led me into a nicely furn-
fore I could draw on him. ished office. A was
doctor’s office. I
Sometime that night I came to in invited to down, again very po-
sit

an empty room; stone walls, no win- litely. I sat. of the gorillas went
One
dows, iron door. And not a sound through a door marked private and
except for pipes gurgling somewhere came out a minute later with a dried
in the walls. The room was eighteen up little guy in a smock. He wanted
by thirty feet, and about eighteen my name. I told him I was Her-
feet high. I know, because I paced bert Hoover. He didn’t smile. No-
it out for the next couple of hours. body did but me.
They’d taken my gun, naturally, but
the small knife in the heel and sole T TC7'ELL, old raisin-face got out a
of my shoe was still there. I didn’t ’ *hypo from a cabinet and filled
dare take it out, though, because I it. “We’re going to drug you, Mr.
might have been watched all the Hoover,” he said. “And it is not a
time. I just located it while sitting simple truth serum. This is some-
crosslegged in one corner, and let thing a little more drastic. Occa-
it go at that. sionally it injures the heart. I hopel
Like I said, about two hours after your heart is sound.” I told him
I woke, the door slid open and four what he could do with himself . . .
12 OTHER WORLDS
brave as hell, see, because you’d ing guard. “Can I go make a drink?”
made me load up on anti-serum be- Raisin Face told him to go ahead.
fore leaving. And by the way, the As soon as I heard liquid gurgling
stuff made me sick just twenty min- I yanked out the knife. You should
utes out of here. have seen the little guy’s face. Ter-
He gave me a final chance to talk, rible fear. Fear that even had an

so I tried telling him I was who it odor. And before the lad at the lit-

said I was on the detective creden- tle bar could get his gun going I had
tials. shook his head. Told me
He my man by his skinny neck, hold-
they’d tried the number, checked the ing him before me with the knife
address. Vacant lot, of course. I pricking him above the kidneys. Real
didn’t have anything else to say, so hero stuff, Martha. Just like on
I went into the next room when told Teevy.
to and got up on the table. The four I told the doc he’d better make
with the guns hadn’t taken their his gun boy behave or I’d operate.
eyes off me. There hadn’t been a He did. The other dropped his gun
chance yet for me to try anything to the floor and sat in the corner.
rough. And I didn’t dare reach for And I pushed my quaking rabbit
the knife. I got up on the table, and over to the gun, shoved him away,
Raisin Face shot the junk into my and picked it up. A new issue Army
arm. It burnt like hell. “You might Colt. High velocity, soft nose spe-
as well relax and take it,” the doc cial. Nasty.
said. I knew that, so I closed my I knew I wouldn’t get anything
eyes. And it did make me a little out of the big boy in the corner. He
sleepy,but that anti stuff our lab was that kind. Dumb and tough and
cooked up last year sure worked. I loyal. He’d croak before talking. But
got sleepy, but that’s all. But I start- the doctor was another matter. All
ed in with my act. Someone slapped I had to do was aim at him and his

my face, hard. I rolled with it, mum- mouth got to going. He told me that
bled, and lay still again. The little he was Dr. Arnold Haistings. That
man was going
told the others that I this was a sanitarium in the hills
to be all right. Three of them were near Malibu. And that Carla had
told to leave and did, and I knew jerked the wheel of the car that had
it was going to be now or never. I snatched her . . . just before they
thrashed about a little, just a little, pinked her hand. They ended up in
then drew my knees up to my chest a stone gully beneath a cliff near
and hugged them. Doc snickered. Santa Monica; Carlo and two of
“Foetal position, by God,” he said. them dead.
“Never saw do that before.” Then
it Bless her.
he slapped me
again. I didn’t budge. Then the doc clutched at his chest
“He’s under. Ok,” said the remain- and started croaking about his heart.
 ACT OF GOD 13

And like a damn fool I went for his And why so much police activity?
act. The moment I let him at his I’m coming to that.
desk, he began flopping his foot The coast highway would be pret-
around underneath it. A bell went ty well patrolled, I knew, but I had
off somewhere ... I just could hear
to have food and drink. I had to
it. His little rabbit face really went
chance it. From what I’d seen of
nasty with triumph and general that inland country I might wander
meanness. So I shot him. around for a week without getting
The window was the only way out, anywhere. The next night I found
and after locking the door I started a trail and followed it ... a few
out. The big fellow in the corner feet to one side. I came across a
hadn’t moved yet, but he sure must tethered horse, but it looked too
have made time after I dropped. Just good. Mined, for all I know. I let
as I slid down into a hedge he was it go, made a wide detour around

leaning out the window, spraying the the place. It was mighty slow go-
night with slugs. I found a stone and ing; didn’t make the coast highway
threw it out from beneath my bush. tilldawn. Got a ride in a truck head-
It clanked into something and drew ing North. Ate in Ventura, did dish-
his fire, and it gave me a chance to es for my breakfast. I wanted to
put two into his hand and arm. And phone in, to tell what I’d learned,
then I started running. but ... no money, and I couldn’t
risk the number here on a reverse
T GUESS, Martha, that I’ve been call. Too many records kept,
-* running for the past three days. I’ve never seen so many cops.
That night I made the mistake of Maybe there’s always that many
going down a blind canyon, some- around, but I sure noticed them. The
where up in the Santa Monica hills. old gaffer at the cafe wouldn’t think
They were after me with guys on of loaning me the phone money, and
horses, and I had to get into rough he didn’t want me around after I’d
country to shake them. But then done my chores. So I lit out. I fol-
they sent out a few coptors with lowed some old railroad tracks into
lights, and I was stopped. Someone a Mexican district and stole a bike
was lucky once; got a good nick into there. A bike is usually a pretty
me . here. No, no
. . just a . . . good disguise, Martha. Pretty good
graze. It’s Ok. Dried over, now. I’ll on a residential street, maybe, but
have it looked at soon. But first, not so hot on an eight lane highway.
I’ve got to tell you the rest. I did- I was stopped by a state patrolman
n’t dare move
one day. Just holed all in a coptor just a few miles south
up under some rocks at the end of of town. He was green, though, and
that blind draw, watching the police his chin was glass. Pure glass.
coptors buzz slowly back and forth. Well, I’ll sum it up. I made him
14 OTHER WORLDS
cosy behind some bushes by the The sanitarium, he said, is run by
highway, took his gun and pants “The Disciples.” And suppose you
and flew his cute little coptor all guess who’s running “The Disciples.”
the way to Pasadena. His radio kept Grandmal
squawking, wanting him to answer. Yeah.
I was tempted to tell them I was Thea Ganley and her people.
at Redondo or some unlikely place,
but they might not fall for my voice. * * $
They might even be wanting a fix
on the radio. So just outside of A NDREW took a cigarette from
Pasadena I set the thing down in the desk and lighted it.In the
the hills and went on walking. I silence that followed his shocking
knew I was plenty hot by then; too announcement he could hear the
hot to risk getting near a phone, so whine of some high-frequency gad-
I kept on. There’s a Foothill Boule- get from the lab, the murmuring of
vard I never knew about. Not the voices, and over it all the muted
big one near the hills, but one right thrumming of the power generator.
in them. Small, but just what I The work was going on as it had
wanted. I hid out till night, then for over a hundred years, but the
started walking. What with dodging tempo was faster now, the pressure
cars and dogs and neckers I didn’t higher, and the dangers vastly more.
make very good time, so I stuck up He understood well what his news
some kid an old ’64 Ford and got
irt would mean to Martha North; as
as far as San Bernardino before leav- the head of security the weight of
ing it. I know it was risky to lead their despair would be hers, as well
but there’s a decent chance
this far, as the grim burden of new decisions.
they wouldn’t connect the kid’s car He watched as she passed a slim
with the coptor and with me. A hand over her eyes, then made a
chance that I’d take, even if it were white steeple of her fingers. And
smaller, though, because I had to let heavy as was his mass of grief he
the Group know what I’ve learned. knew he would not exchange it for
I won’t bore you with getting from the new load of awful responsibility
San Berdoo to here; walking mostly, which she must now assume.
getting a couple short rides. Martha closed her eyes and spoke.
Well . . . Carla’s dead. The doc- “All right, Andrew. I’ll ring Mrs.

tor didn’t lie about that. Had every Edgars, She’ll see to your hurt. The
reason notto. Carla’s dead. But she doctor’s not feeling well, but Lilly
cost them plenty, Martha. I’ll tell can probably handle it.”

you why I was the center of so much He rose, snubbed out the ciga-
fuss . . . too much fuss for merely rette in the clean tray, glad to be
executing an insignificant doctor. through with the bitter business of
 ACT OF GOD IS

his report. “What’s the matter with he winced.

Doc?” At last she was through, turned
“He experimented.” A flicker of away as he slipped into his muddy
annoyance tugged at the dark wings trousers. “Carla?”
of her brows. “Wanted to know for “She was very expensive, Mrs. Ed-
himself just how sick one gets on gars.”
anti-serum.” The woman nodded once, march-
Andrew was sorry he had com- ed into her lonely bedroom and
plained earlier. But he was suddenly closed the door quietly.
very proud of belonging to The Back in his own room he changed
Group . . . and more determined into the luxury of clean clothes, se-
than ever that he would be at least lected a gun, and after a few mo-
as costly to the opposition as had ments thought, took a small affair of
Carla. plastic and wire from a locked strong-
He walked stiffly to the door, op- box. Then he went back down to
ened it. the lounge.
Silly, sweet, and infinitely brave The trio of strangers was still
little Carla. there, he saw as he took a stool at
“Andrew.” the bar. He watched them for a
“Yes?” Over his shoulder he saw while in the mirror, searching their
Martha’s grave face soften into a manner and the rhythm of their ac-
smile.He marveled that she could tions, and finding the little things
smile. he was trained to find: The small
“I think you’ve done very well. man, a Greek, perhaps, had a bulge
I’m proud of you.” beneath his left arm which not even
the expensive tailoring of his taste-
T ILLY Edgars, brusque and cold ful brown pinstripe would hide. The
^ but with the most ten-
herself, woman, pert and blond, seemed to
see everyone else in the bar but
der old hands, went about her work
with no questions. Andrew under- Andrew. And the other man chose
stood the woman’s coldness, her si- to regard Andrew, rather than any

lence. Somehow he even warmed to of the attractive women in the place

it, for he felt that momentarily he . . . and he wasn’t that type.

had become her husband: Marvin Andrew tossed down the last of
Edgars had not returned one evening. the drink. “Be seeing you, Louie.”
His obituary had been a short note “Off so soon, keed?”
of taunt in the Los Angeles’ “Mir- He was passing the stranger’s
ror’s” personal column. Agony col- table. “Yeah. Going to see what’s
umn, he thought. The old name fit- doin’ at the a while.”
village for
ted better. He pushed through the heavy ent-
Disinfectant bit down to him and rance door and stepped out into the
i6 OTHER WORLDS
chilly night, conscious that the three climbed and swung out toward the
strangers were taking it all in. glow of Lake Arrowhead.
There was no one about, so he They were coming.
sprinted down the graveled lane to Drawing his gun he flattened him-
the parking lot. The two attendants self against the dark hulk of the
there eyed his coming darkly until craft and waited. If they hurried
recognizing him. now he would be almost certain. It
“Yeah, Smith?” seemed too soon for a picture of
Andrew ducked behind the at- himself to have been given wide
tendant’s shanty, out of view of the circulation, but a description .
. .

lodge. “Two men and a blond. another matter. If they hurried it

Where’d they park?” would mean they wanted to take
One indicated a fast new two- him in the village, away from those
bladed Plymouth. whom they might suspect of being
“Ok. Now you ...”
he jabbed a his friends and members of The
finger at the younger one, “you kill Group. And they would want to
those lights. Bulbs gone, or a short. phone their knowledge or their sus-
Understand? And you, as soon as you picions into headquarters, wherever
see any or all of those three coming, that was. Probably the main temple
you take a ship out of here as if of the Disciples, he decided. He bet
you were me. Got that?” himself they would be quite angry
They nodded, hurried away. at having discovered that the lodge
When the field lights blinked out, phone was “out of order.” It always
Andrew raced to the Plymouth and was to strangers.
climbed in. His hands roamed be- He heard them coming. Running.
neath the dash, learning the setup He was almost certain. But not
there, finding the phone. He re- sufficiently so to send them to their

moved a yanked loose a couple

tube, deaths. He would have to chance an
of wires good measure, then
for ultimate proof.
jumped out. Swinging open the en-
gine panel, he inserted his hands and
f
T ENSELY, Andrew
,
waited for the
studied the motor setup. Standard three to arrive, wondering how
G.M.C. But the small plastic case he had been traced. seemed almost It

he wired into the distributor was impossible for them to have known
definitely not standard. It was, in he would come here; to have known
fact, an incorporation known only to it so well that they had been wait-

the graduates of certain tough ing for him. But recalling, a moment
schools where the playing was for later, the extent of their organiza-
keeps.As he closed the hood on his tion . . . their ability to use men so
work he heard a starter whine and extravagantly, he decided that just
the beating of a noisy takeoff. Lights as easily could they scatter their peo-
 ACT OF GOD 17

pie all over the general area of San “Yeah. Cop.” Andrews stepped out
Bernardino, Riverside, and the moun- into the flood of moonlight and ap-
tain resorts. peared to regard the trio speculative-
Suddenly they were there, walking ly. “I could be mistaken, of course,
now because of the watchful park- but I’ll have to check. You two guys
ing attendant, but walking swiftly, wait right here for your friend. She
purposely. He let them get within and I are going inside for a few
a few feet before speaking. minutes. There’s another cop in there
“No fast moves, please. Stand who can check on her. So if you two
where you are.” are clean, you’ll wait. I’ve got this
They were agreeable to this. ship’s number, you know, and you’ll
“Did you think you could walk be making a real pot of stew for
in here and then out? Just like yourself if you leave while we’re
that?” gone.” He signalled the girl with his
The woman spoke, her thin voice gun. “Let’s go, lady.”
petulant and puzzled. “What in the For one moment he wasn’t cer-
world are you talking about? Is this tain. Maybe they’d eyed him be-
a holdup?” cause of the mud on his trousers.
“Maybe. Haven’t I seen you be- Perhaps he’d acted so weary and so
fore? In Los Angeles?” He hadn’t, strangely that anyone would have
but it was part of his plan to say it. looked hard ... or not looked, ac-
“At a meeting of the Disciples, was- cording to the degree of his breed-
n’t it? Or was it at old Thea Gan- ing. He’d know soon, though. “By
iev’s place? Grandma’s?” the way, friend, you take the gun
The blond made an indignant out with your left hand and drop it
snort. “This joker is nuts, Tom. Are on the ground. Real slow. Then you
you going to let him rave on like kick it toward me. And unbutton
this?” your coat with your left hand. That’s
“Tom” was evidently content to it. Got a license, of course? Carry
let the raving continue. He seemed large sums of money, I suppose?”
made of stone. Andrew made his next “That’s right.” The little man did
move. “I don’t know about these as he was ordered. Cautiously, as if
guys, honey, don’t have any busi- afraid the gun would burn him, he
ness with them. Where’d you pick eased it awkwardly from its holster
them up?” and let it drop to the hard-packed
“I . . . Pick them up?” mountain dirt. His foot nudged it
The small dark one willingly sup- across to Andrew who pocketed it,

plied the answer. “Look Mac, she fully as cautiously, groping for it

met us down at the village. Three, with his eyes on the three.

four hours ago. Tom

and I never “Thanks. Nowbe going. You
let’s

saw her before. What are you? Cop?” wait right here, boys. We’ll be back
i8 OTHER WORLDS
in ten minutes. It’s the girl we’re They were almost to the lodge
curious about, not you two.” It was —
when it came the sound of the Ply-
not too good a story, but he thought mouth whirring into life and jumping
it might do, considering what he’d into the air. Andrew nodded to him-
given them. If they were on the oth- self and marched the girl in through
er side, they would risk anything now a side door. He stopped then in the
to get going with their knowledge hall, stole a look at the sweep-second
that was the headquarters of
this hand on his watch, and waited about
The Group. But if they were not, forty seconds.
they would stick tight, steering clear When the flat, echoing crack of
of the stupid trouble a hick moun- the exploding coptor reached them
tain constable could make. He he flinched involuntarily.
thought of one other test, The petite blond jerked around,
“Let’s have your ignition key, Jack. her mouth a dark little 0 of under-
Just in case.” standing. She began to cry.
The big lad dug out a
slowly Andrew put away his gun, put
leather key container and tossed it. an arm around her. A filthy business,
Deftly, and with his left hand, An- he thought. Was even near-immor-
drew caught it and motioned again tality worth it?
to the blond. “Let’s go.” Only a * * *
sharp professional would have extra
ignition keys handy. T'HE tube ride from Riverside Air
/

He couldn’t help but admire her A Base to downtown Los Ange-

as she carried on with her act. "You les lasted twenty minutes, hardly
two guys are witness to this, see? long enough for the middle-aged Cap-
You’re going to help me make plenty tain to read his paper. He surrend-
of trouble for this jerk cop.” ered his battered bags to a porter
Andrew smiled patiently and indi- and rode with him up the wide pri-

cated the path back to
“Let’s go.” They went, he with
ready eye for the big boy to draw,
and also on the lookout that the
woman before him didn’t
denly into her purse or coat pocket.
When they rounded the bend and
put pine trees between themselves
and the parking lot, Andrew took
her purse and extracted a small auto-
matic of Belgian make. Silently he
handed her back the purse.
speak? They both knew the score.
the lodge. vate escalator that led to the Bilt-
a more Hotel. A bellboy snatched the
bags from the porter and trotted to
the desk.
dip sud- “I’m Leslie North,” he said when
the clerk deigned to look up. “I’ve
a reservation.”
“Yes, Captain. Just a moment.”
The clerk consulted his books rap-
idly.“Of course, sir. Would you sign,
please?” He pushed the leather-
Why backed pad to Les who put down
his name.
 ACT OF GOD i9

“You aren’t using your rank, sir? he’d done lately. He didn’t
often
You’re out?” know quite why. Might find some-
“Just this morning.” thing.
“Congratulations, sir.” It was something to do, though.
“What?” That was it, he decided. Something
“I said congratulations.” , to do. He was utterly bored. There
The waiting bellboy took the key, was nothing he wanted to do. Not
scooped up the bags again, and head- eat, sleep, drink, talk, make love,
ed to the elevator. nothing.
“Thanks.” Les said the word flatly No —one thing he should do: Buy
to the clerk and left to ride the four civilian clothes. He and the Air
flights up to his room. Corps were utterly through with each
It was a good room, but it was, other. The sooner he climbed out of

nevertheless, just another hotel room. their uniform the happier they would

Like rooms in London, Madrid, Cai- both be.

ro, New York, and all the other leave Going to the window again, he
towns on his tour of duty. He tipped gazed down, trying to remember
the boy, locked the door behind him, where the nearest mens’ clothier
and went to the window. The bright would be. But there’d hardly be time
streets below were choked with inch- left for that today. Tomorrow was

ing cars and the offices were dis- soon enough. He had plenty of time.
gorging their people. Across the Too much.
way the loafers and orators of Persh- Les sat on the bed and stared
ing square milled about in seeming at the bathroom door. So until then
imitation of the rushing office work- he could hash things over for the
ers. They would settle back into thousandth time. He could relive
their routine in a while, Les sup- his arrest in San Francisco four
posed. When the streets quieted they months ago, and his stunned amaze-
would again stand about frantically ment at the incredible charges that
doing nothing, saying nothing that had been lodged against him. He
mattered. He hoped never be
he’d could recall the various young faces
down there, one of them, with com- of the enlisted M.P.s, all of them
fortable people in comfortable rooms different in feature, each alike with
looking down at himself. guardhouse disgust or hatred.
There was a good chance of that And the court martial ... the
happening, however. long tedious affair of charge, evi-

Les North tossed his cap to the dence, and — after a fashion —defense.
bed and hung his blue Air Corps
decided he might like a drink
blouse in the closet. Idly he pulled
open the dresser drawer, inspected L ES
after all. He got out a fifth of
their emptiness. It was something White Horse from his bag, filled a
20 OTHER WORLDS
tumbler half and topped it with
full “And why were you framed, Dad-
ice-water from the beaded faucet dy?”
above the sink. That would be some- He came from the imaginary dia-
thing to think about for a long, long logue with the non-existant (thank
time . . . the two majors who thought God! ) children and said aloud: “I’ll
they had seen him sneak out from a be damned if I know.”
restricted high-tension lab. The grim Getting up, he prowled about the
armament salesman who tes-
civilian room, then stopped at the table of
tifiedhe had been approached By reading matter provided by the man-
North, who said North attempted to agement: A technical digest devoted
dicker for the sale of plans of high- to cafeteria management, Vu, the
ly secret ray cannon. Post, Colliers, of two weeks back,
And the verdict itself: “Not guilty, Ridleys, Life, two girlie magazines,
by reason of insufficient evidence.” and a Gideon bible. At random he op-
But with a stinger riding along that ened the bible. “If there arise among
“recommended” North be discharged you a a dreamer of
prophet or
for the good of the service. Not a dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a
dishonorable discharge, but not an wonder, and the sign or the wonder
honorable one. A “Blue” it was unto the words ...”
called. And so it was. It reposed Deuteronomy 13.
right now in the bottom' of his Deuteronomy* Sounded like a sci-
smaller bag; a sickly azure parch- ence, he thought. The science of Deu-
ment with old-fashioned lettering tering.
which proclaimed that Captain Les- Les put the Gideon back, looked
lie Richardson North, U.S.A.C. was briefly at the girliemag.
legally out of the service. His name “Hullo,” he said the photochrome
typed, several anonymous initials af- of a hefty nude reclining in shallow
fixed, and a scrawled, illegible signa- white and blue surf.
ture of some clerk lieutenant. It was exactly six-thirty.
Something to show his kids when
they said, “Daddy, what did you do QEVEN thirty-eight found him
in the phony war of Nineteen-seven- wanting beneath the ancient
tv-something?” palms of the Santa Monica palisades,
“Me? Why I went around the bathed and shaved and melancholy.
world as a commissioned civilian ex- He sank onto a bench near the edge
pert. I oversaw the installation of of the cliff and sat overlooking the
rays on our fighters. And then I was yacht harbor, seeming to watch the
framed out of the service.” evening breakers smash themselves
Any questions? Hmmm, kids? against the jetty, half-hearing the
Les drained the glass and set it cries of gulls and the whishing roar
carefully on the floor. of nearby surface traffic. Once a
 ACT OF GOD 21

heavy thundering overhead pulled The man laughed, came around

him from his dim and troubled rev- the bench and sat. “Good Lord, no.
—
erie the Hawaii rocket, arching up But I’m pro-enjoyment. Pro-leisure,
through the stratosphere, seconds pro-quiet, and completely against
away from its sooty concrete cradle such frustrations as that rocket.
in the San Fernando Valley. A lousy Les lighted another cigarette, his
way Les thought, remem-
to travel, fifth in forty minutes. “I don’t quite
bering the uncomfortable physical follow you, I’m afraid. How are rock-
sensations of pressure and weight- ets a frustration?” Somehow he did-
lessness and sub-audible keening at- n’t resent this fellow’s intrusion,
tendant to such transportation. though he did have to stretch him-
The sound trailed up through the self to respond. He hoped it wasn’t
red-grey overcast and was gone. all a buildup to some mawkish “holy-

Behind him a voice remarked, joe” proselyting.

“You’d rather bicycle, I take it.” It “Rocket!” The cowled man made
was an even baritone, the enuncia- scorn of the word. “Those people up
tion cultured and rather clipped. Les there, they’ll be checked into the
looked around. A tall figure stood Royal Hawaiian within minutes. To-
silhouetted against the neon glow of morrow, Saturday, they’ll rest up
Santa Monica, a man in a religious from their ordeal of de-accelleration.
habit, his face half hidden beneath Sunday, they’ll loll on the expensive
his black cowl. beaches, sweating out the previous
“Forgive me,” he continued, “but night’s alcohol, and that afternoon
I couldn’t help noticing your attitude they’ll begin steeling themselves,
of utter disapproval when the rocket each in his various way, against the
went over. That, set against the fact shot back to here. You call that an
that you are in Air Corps dress, made enjoyable weekend?” The stranger
for paradox. Have you a match?” tossed back his cowl with a prac-
Smiling mechanically, Les dug out ticed shake, revealing a nobly built
his lighter and handed it to the man. head, a contradiction in that such a
“We don’t all fly.” skull should have been surmounted
“I have a theory,” said the other by a mane. Instead, the man wore
as he puffed his cigarette alight. The his blackand grey hair crew-cut.
tiny flame glowed briefly on a strong Les made himself more comfort-
sensitive face ... an amiable satyr able, adjusting unconsciously to the
done by Rosetti, Les decided. other’s ease and loquacity. “There
“My theory is that the invention may be business men aboard, you
of the lever and the wheel was the know. And brass. Think of the sav-
greatest catastrophe to befall man- ing in time over the old slow jets
kind since the discovery of sex.” that take several hours to Hawaii.”
“You’re anti-science?” “And what do they do with their
 —
22 OTHER WORLDS
saved time?” from the recently discovered ruins
That was unanswerable, of course. of Lemuria. They were at once a
Les conceded that the world was gay and social order, a retreat for
moving too fast. But he wanted to practicing mystics,and a growing
know something else.“Why did you power in the government of Western
say that the discovery of sex was U.S.A. He envied the man his . . .

a catastrophe?” belonging, his ease of security, even

“I spoke too hurriedly; fault of the anonymity of his simple and com-
mine. My tongue is the beast, and I fortable habit. He said, “I’m afraid
the impatient rider. It is not copul- I’m not much up on your church.
ation, either as a duty nor even as I’ve been away for almost three
a hobby that is disastrous. It is nam- years. Haven’t read much but tech-
ing it and worrying about that name and ‘Stars & Stripes’,”
nical digests
and weaving absurd Mother Hub- “That’s Ok. No one need know
bards of theory about the matter. of us to speak to us. We don’t re-
As Korzybski said, ‘The Map is not cruit, nor do we stand on silly cere-

the Territory,’ and we have become monies nor medieval courtesies. But
a world of map-makers.” you’d be amazed how firmly ingrain-
Les frowned mentally. It was ed is the respect accorded to our
strange and perplexing talk from a gabardine. Or is it fear? I some-
man of the cloth. “Sorry, but . . . times wonder. I can even get a seat
uh, of what order are you? Not on the Inyo to L.A. tube.”
Catholic, I take it?” They laughed at that. The pro-
“No. They would index you for fessional jesters of Teevy had made
saying that. Although we owe much the crowded ride from Los Angeles
to their Society of Jesuits. I am a to the Inyo-Kern rocket base a re-
Thane, a priest, one might term me, flex-trigger to humor. The route was
of the Disciples.” now synomous in the English-speak-
A bit ill at ease, Les nodded. He ing world with snafu and sardine-
had heard a little about this new like confusion.
religion. It had up about
sprung “Tell you what, Captain. It’s get-

three years ago, just as the cold war ting a little chilly out here, and I’ve
with India threatened to thaw and got a mild thirst on. Would you care
ignite. It had sprung up, grown with to join me at a fine and rather pri-
monstrous rapidity, and for the pub- vate bar I know of? The drinks are
lic flowered into rumor and fancy free there for us . . . for you. It’s
and half-truth. Only a little did he just across the street and down half
know for certain: The Disciples were a block. I feel extremely disquisitious,
loathed by members of the orthodox and you have the stamp of the aim-
varieties of religion; they traced their less and the mark of the listener.
origin to a Revelation — to tablets What about it?”
 ACT OF GOD 23

Leslie hesitated. He knew

North pain of his inglorious dismissal from
that Thane referred to one of
the the Air Corps, forgetting even to hate
the Disciples own lounges . . . those unknown ones who had woven
they had many, he’d heard, but he a net of lies and deception into his
didn’t relish the picture of himself frameup.
lifting the cup in the society of
TTOURS
garbed clerics, in surroundings which
might be studded with God-knew-.
what religious symbology and effigy.
^
night
later, many
Thane bid North good-
the
and crossed town in a cab.
drinks later,

But the paradox, as he considered it, Near the highland community of

was tempting.
“Of course, if I’ve been too for-
ward ... I didn’t mean to thrust
myself upon you ...” The stranger
pushed his hood back on. “I’m very
sorry.”
Sunland the coptor swung down to
a huge estate that dominated the
top of a sharp peak. For a moment
ithovered, then when lights sprang
on below defining a grassy parking
area,it dipped to a landing. Bren-

North stood. “Do you have any ner Hunt stepped out, dismissed the
good Scotch?” machine, then hurried through the
They did. dewy grass beneath a lane of euca-
lyptus. He tapped the proper signal
'T'HEY had a dipsomaniac’s heav- into a door button, entered, and
en of bottles, brews from every went brisky down the dim hall, his

corner of the world, and they had heels echoing sharply against the

easy music and decent oaken furnish- tiled mosaic Three times on
floor.

ings,and gentle leather couches. And his route deeper and deeper within
they also had a clientele which would fastness of the building he was scrut-
have been welcome at any exclusive inized by respectful but sharp-eyed

club in the Americas; women with guardswho waved him on upon rec-
the aura of refinement and riches, ognizing him. BrennerHunt was well
gowned and bejewled and gracious known here within the home temple
and beautiful. And men in religious of the Disciples.

habit, tuxedo, and business drape, When he arrived at Mrs. Ganley’s

who conducted themselves in a man- suite,he was thankful to find the old
ner befitting their obvious positions lady awake, “I think I’ve done it,”
of wealth and power and taste. Les he said when they had been seated
was the only one in uniform. in the luxurious library.
He was quite impressed. He said Thea Ganley’s obsidian eyes glint-
so to the Thane, whose name, he ed as she swung her seamed face up
learned, was Hunt. Brenner Hunt. from the coffee service. “How?”
And for the first time in four The Thane allowed himself a dra-
months he relaxed, forgetting the matic moment of triumph. He smiled
24 OTHER WORLDS
thinly, eyeing the obese crone op- the Disciples. I told him our setup
posite him. “I offered him security.” — that we exist to bring joy and
“And his sister?” Mrs. Ganley knowledge to all et cetera. I even
tugged impatiently at her cerise tent hinted at some of the lab work we’re
of a robe. doing on Hindu phenomena almost —
“I didn’t think it wise to get into believed it myself.”
that subject. There’s time enough.” The old woman cut the air in an
The other’s eyes flickered down to angry gesture. “I’m tired, Brenner.
her veined hands. “For you, perhaps. Get to the point.”
What is he like?” “Certainly, Mrs. Ganley. North
Brenner Hunt shrugged. “Bitter, agreed to let me bring him here to-
naturally. Intelligent. I heard the morrow. And after the show I’ll put
story of his discharge. It was inter- on for him we’ll have a new
. . .

esting to get it from his side. We Thane with us.”

did a good job on the frame — he “So! ” For a few moments the old
suspects some sort of intra-service woman drummed thoughtfully on the
squabble, if anyone.” The Thane surface of the mahogany coffee table.
sipped at his coffee in the classical “And you’re certain you learned ab-
wooden manner of all ecclesiastics. solutely nothing about his sister?”
“Very bitter and discouraged and “Not yet. Soon, though.”
without any prospects of work. I Thea Ganley laboriously pushed
first made him curious about the herself erect.“I’m very tired. That’ll
Disciples, told him what I was earn- be all now. We’ll talk more of this
ing, and that I was not obliged to tomorrow.”
take any sort of vows whatsoever. “Of course.” The Thane appeared
Then we left it for a while, talked a bit piqued. “Shall I call your maid
over the Indian situation and de- to help you to bed?”
cided there would never be war with “No. Just get out.”
them. He came back around to the “Goodnight.”
subject finally. Wanted to know . . .

very tactfully what my duties

. . .
T> RENNER Hunt went to his room
were.” and got into bed. He had just
“Murder, blackmail, and theft,” pulled the covers about himself when
murmured Thea Ganley. the door opened and two guards got
“When he learned that I, too, was him up. Naked and protesting ob-
an electrophysist, he insisted we have scenely, he was dragged to a lab.
a drink on that. Then we talked shop The drugs he was given there made
a bit . . . the man has some fasci- him more than willing to talk. Proud-
nating ideas about practical applica- ly he admitted to the doctor and to
tion of the Lohring-Maher Field The- Thea Ganley what he had learned.
ory . . . and finally circled back to It wasn’t much . . . just a scrap of
 ACT OF GOD 25
information, but he’d intended that for a man who had just thrown away
such a valuable item should receive a chance at several thousand years
a commensurate award. A promotion, of life he was behaving quite philoso-
surely, toRed Thane; perhaps even phically.
his name enrolled in the ranks of “You are not going to die yet,
those who were to receive Ageless- Thane Hunt,” said the old woman.
ness . when that time came.
. . “But your life will depend upon two
Instead, he drooled idiotically and things. First, you will see to it that
babbled: “ . . . his sister Martha Leslie North becomes a Disciple.
North all during his service time he Then you will locate his sister. You
heard from her and all of her letters will accomplish all this in two
were from a San Bernardino post weeks.” Her eyes captured his, held
office box but he didn’t know what them in a steady fierce gaze. “And
she had been doing but San Bern- also you will be hypno-conditioned
ardino was where they were from against any further treachery. It’s
and I know and I not the Disciples what you’ve earned. Perhaps later
and I know where his letters came it can be removed. Goodnight again,

from but since his frame he hasn’t Thane.”

written to her and he doesn’t want Brenner Hunt watched her wad-
to so we’ll have to change that and dle from the bright room. A muscle
in his arm began jumping uncon-
“Shut him up.” Thea Ganley trollably.
spoke calmly enough, but deeply
within her ugly hulk of a body she /^INNY Harris woke from trou-
was hurt. She had always admired bled dreams into the even more
the clever Thane, liked him even. troubling reality of an unfamiliar
And she had planned that as soon room with a locked door and no win-
as It happened and she’d made her- dows. She wondered what time it
self twenty-five again . . . was . what day, even.
. . Dark
But was no one to be trusted, smudges beneath her famous green
save for another Ganley? eyes told of her rebellious hunger-
Must all others betray her? She strike, hinted at the fear she kept
pressed a bell summoning the guards hidden beneath her feline fury and
into the room. disgust. A tray of food on a swing-
The doctor nodded to his great ing shelf caught her glance. She
aunt and brought the Thane around. wondered if she’d be able to resist.
For a moment, Brenner Hunt look- Better spill it all now before I find

ed wildly about, then remembered. out, she decided. She climbed shak-
Smiling sardonically, he waited for ily from the modest bed and was
the gloating and the anger and the on her way to the food when the
sentencing to come. He fancied that door opened. Two men in white
26 OTHER WORLDS
smocks entered, the same two who more time what you think of the
had unsuccessfully coaxed and arg- Disciples.”
ued with her last “night” ... or “Wonderful, wonderful.” The cler-
whenever it was. ic beamed at the blackness on the
“Whatever you’re peddling you other side of the room. “They rep-
can go to hell,” she shouted. She resent the nearest approach yet to
spun around, intending to grab the the perfect religion. They are ser-
meal tray and pitch it in their faces. vice, joy, and humility in one.”
One of them held her from behind. “And how have you come to learn
“You’re not acting logically. Don’t this?”
you see we can do with you as we “Through talking with members
please? Now the less you resist the of my flock who became Disciples.
better off you’re going to feel.” Through months and months of de-
His companion confronted her. “If bate with myself.”
we turn you loose will you cooper- The men in the darkness whisper-
ate?” One more ques-
ed that he would do.
“Sure,” Ginny told them. They let “And what are
tion they put to him.

go and she managed to dump coffee you going to do next Sunday?”

on one of them before she was stiff- “Pardon?”
marched from the room. “Next Sunday at your services . . .

what will you ...”

ATHER Marek smiled The Priest interrupted, eager to
F “What was that?”
politely.
please. “I shall renounce Catholicism

The man in the darkness said, “I and urge each member of my flock

asked you where you have been.” to become a Disciple.”

“Oh.” The priest settled back “All right, Father. Go to sleep.”

against the comfortable leather sofa. Obediently he leaned back and

“I was called out of town. To Vic- dozed.

torville. An old miner was hurt. A “Fly him to town, outskirts of

friend of mine. I heard his confes- Pasadena will do, and turn him
sion. It took me two days to go and loose.” Someone snickered, said,

to return. “What I wouldn’t give to watch the

“Very good, Father.” The man in L.A. Bishop when he hears about
the darkness whispered to someone. this.”
“I don’t like his eyes — glassy. Like
he’sbeen on a bender. Think they’ll
pass?”
Someone whispered back that no
^ENERAL Homer Peters brushed
passed the M.P.s at the gate
and flagged down a tram. He swung
one would be suspecting anything. off at the base headquarters and
Why shouldn’t they pass? marched inside. A colonel glanced
“And now, Father, tell us one up, astonished.
 ACT OF GOD 27

“Where the hell did you vanish Hill Drive, Washington, D.C. Dear
to, sir? We turned the town inside Ted: Long time no write, but neith-
out looking for you.” He took the er do you. Here’s what I want you
General’s kit and opened the inner to do and for God’s sake do it
. . .

door for him. “God, but you had us
worried. “What happened?”
At his desk, the General halted,
then wheeled to confront the startled
subordinate. “You
you?”
ligence into this, did
“No, but I sure was going to. If
you hadn’t came back by twenty-
three hundred I was going to. What
happened to your face?”
quick. Get as much support as you
can and bloc thru a resolution allow-
ing ALL and ANY religious groups
the privilege of establishing and main-
didn’t drag Intel- taining chapels, temples, or whatever,
on all military installations. These
chapels are to be staffed in the reg-
ular manner by commissioned mem-
bers of the respective clergy. I know
this is something you can do, as you

“Got in a fight. Out in back of have the entire Northern State bloc
that bar. There was a woman in- in your hand and I feel this is
. , .

volved, and I didn’t want to . . . something you ought to do, consider-

uh ...” He stopped, shook his ing what we both know of the role
head. Then, almost as if reciting he you played in the Tidal Hills busi-
added, “You be a good fellow, Jen- ness. I realize I am pushing you,
sen, and make up something for the hard and in a mean way, but it’s
staff. Fact of the matter is I got something you must do. And it is
looped and spent the night and the in the interest of National security,
next day with . . . with Priscilla.” if you like. Your old friend and
The jaw dropped, then
colonel’s schoolmate, Homer Peters.”
he snapped his mouth and
shut He read over what he had writ-
whistled softly. be damned. You
“I’ll ten, then satisfied, went from his
old dog, you. I’ll be god damned. office into the code room. There he
Who’s Priscilla?” dismissed the nomcom in chargeand
“Never mind. Now go on out. I’ve after scrambling the note, sent it

got work to do.” himself to Becking Hill. That done,

With a sloppy salute, born of long he went to the latrine and was very
association with the General, the sick. There was unsatisfactory . . .

junior officer retired from the office. something ... in his thoughts. Some-

When he was gone the General rum- thing grey and angry and confusing.
maged in his desk, got out an order He washed his face in icy water.

E-744 . . . regarded it for a mo-

LD
ment, then discarded
stationery bearing only his name.
it in favor of
O David Ganley
lodge porch in the fine spring
sat on the

He took a pen and began to write: sunlight and dreamed as the clouds
“Senator Harry T. Hawes, Becking chased across the bright mountain
28 OTHER WORLDS
sky. Half-awake, he dreamed he was Sure. He could have met her. Could
again twenty, back in eighteen-sixty have won her in an astonishingly
six, and was meeting the woman who short time. And then? David Ganley
was to become his first wife. But her looked at the framed picture of him-
face was hard to recall. He could self on the dresser. Then he would
bring back her hair, her manner again begin another long trip to the
(soft and languid and curved and moment when the difference between
smiling) but her face blended with his youthfulness and her normal ag-
all the other women he’d loved since ing would cause superstitious talk
that time. All eight of them. Seven and sniggling and heartbreak . . .

of them? No, eight; he’d almost for- and he’d be forced to write the good-
gotten Alice. by note and run.
He hummed to himself . . . “Have The mirror showed him a different
you forgotten sweet Alice Ben Bolt? face than the one in the picture.
She da, da, da dum something.” . . . That man had long grey hair, and
He had forgotten. The tune wasn’t wore a moustache, but his reflection
right, neither was the memory of showed him to be clean-shaven now,
Alice’s face. with black hair, cropped. Yes, it

A cloud crossed the sun and Da- was even necessary to take occasional
vid Ganley sighed. leave of “oneself” and to create a
A band of vacationers passed be- new facade for one’s aging acquaint-
neath the lodge porch. One of them, ances and fading shopkeepers to ac-
a pert little girljftf eighteen or twenty, cept as “cousin” or “nephew.”
looked up at the bronzed and hand- He sighed. That had been Mrs.
some man who reclined in the late Edgar’s mother’s idea, back in 1924
April sunset and grinned. A pixie or 25. Almost yesterday, it seemed.
grin of challenge and springtime and And now her daughter was old and
the-world-is-mine. Ganley looked tired and widowed.
abruptly away; something twisted He ran his eyes about the room
within his heart and guts, and the that had for decades been his, not-
evening . . . the long, long evening ing little in his reverie, not seeing
began. the litter of mementos he had brought
He
got up and went inside the with him from various lives: An
lodge, for the wind was rising and early issue Colt he had won at cards
ithad turned cold for him. It would while homesteading in the west. A
have been so simple to make her bowler he had once thought quite
acquaintance and charm her, he ritzy. Beside it a paper hat, torn and
knew. A man learned a lot in a fading, with a banner about the rim
hundred and thirty-some years . . . that read “Kiss me again, I’m still
even about women. conscious.” A woman’s elbow-length
He entered his room. glove of brocaded velvet. A yellowed
 ACT OF GOD 29

edition of the San Bernardino ‘Sun,’ looked back.“Why don’t you drop in
with scare headlines proclaiming a on me in a couple of hours. We’ll
disaster of a ship named ‘Titanic.’ have tea together.”
An autographed photo of Clara Bow. “That would be fine, thanks. I
And more. Much more. will.”
Precious trash. “And David, why not drop down
Switching on the lights, David and talk to the girl we took the
Ganley went to the bookcase, and other night. She’s not used to being
eyed the titles. This would be a good alone, poor thing. Would you do
evening to begin studying chemistry that?”
— Martha would be so pleased. He He nodded, turned and walked in
pulled down a volume of high-
recent the direction of the “cell block.”
school level work, thumbed through
it But the simple equa-
speculatively. OO there’s been another captured,
tions discouraged him all those — ^ he mused. He
shook his head,
numbers and letters and symbols. He entered the long low corridor. A no
would have to master algebra first, good business, all this, with people
he supposed . . . and, so far, that killing and tunneling around under-
subject had defied him. He put back ground and drugging each other.
.

the book. And all over himself, David Ganley.

“Old dog and new tricks,” he It was still hard to realize that
mused. fact . . . that he was the focus of so
Someone to talk to . . . That was much attention, so much hurting. If
what he wanted. Going to the clos- only, began the old old thought, if

et, he slipped between the hanging only I hadn’t fished that Cheyenne
clothes and into the waiting eleva- out of the river . . .

tor. ... a bend of the Arkansas River.

Martha North met him as he He’d become separated from the oth-
emerged fifty feet below. ers of the party, cut off when the
“Good evening, David. I’m going buffalo herd divided and flew across
into the lab for a conference. How the plains. One group had gone North
about coming along?” She waited, toward Pawnee Fork, another South-
her friendly smile warming him. east. Ganley had ridden after the
“Uh, no. I don’t guess so, Martha.” first part of the herd, his duty be-
Embarassed, he searched around for ing to locate them and report back
an excuse, decided to tell the truth. main body of the hunters.
later to the
“All that there technical talk, well, That evening, after ascertaining
it doesn’t make much sense to me. that the herd was still for the night,
I’m just wandering around.” and seeing they would go no farther
“All right. I’ll let you know what’s because of the swollen river, he had
said.” She turned to go, paused, packed the long green plains grass
30 OTHER WORLDS
into a comfortable mattressand had ed Ganley.
bedded down beneath a tree. Sleep And it had certainly preserved
came quickly as he listened to his him.
foolish love-lorn horse whinny at the A swig a year had kept him an
fragrant scents that drifted up from apparent thirty-two since that mo-
the nearby herd. He didn’t worry ment.
much about Indians, for this was He halted before the thick plastic
1874, quite a while before the fierce window that fronted the lighted cell.

plains warfare broke out. Within, apparently asleep on the

A splash and a cry awakened him, modest but comfortable bed, he saw
and gun in hand, he stood near the the girl whom Andrew Smith had

crumbling lip of the riverbank, star- brought in. As he was debating

ing at the dark head that bobbed in whether or not to disturb her, a quiet
the swift moonlit current. And seiz- voice sounded behind him. “Her
ed by some heroic impulse which he name is Becky, David.”
had never he hurled him-
felt before, A slender brown-haired man in

self into the water and managed to soiled workclothes advanced from
drag out the Indian a scout like . : .
the shadows. “I’m Simon Letona,”
himself who had made the mistake said the stranger.

of sleeping too close to the eroding A neto laborer, David thought.

bank . . .
“Hello.” He nodded his introduc-
.... Ganley turned at another tion at the other. “Becky, huh?”
bend in the corridor, his mind skip- “Yes. She was frightened and
ping over the intervening years . . .
lonely, so I came to be with her.
. . . years later, 1878 or ’79, he She asked for me and I hap-
. . .

was again in this territory, a mem- pened to be passing nearby.”

ber of sheriff Masterson’s posse, “I see.” David Ganley studied the
riding hard and happy after a feeble other’s friendly face, noted especial-

band of rebel Reds. In a stupid en- ly the deepset intelligent brown eyes.

gagement, Murray’s in-

supporting He had a strange feeling that he
fantry, he’d been wounded, left to knew this man, but know him or not,
die, and had awakened to find a it had been long since he’d been
bloody Cheyenne regarding him ex- made socheerful and somehow
. . .

pressionlessly. By sign the Indian secure by another. “What do you

told him he was the same one Ganley suppose will happen to her,” he
had fished from the river, years be- asked.
fore, and he indicated the canteen. Simon Letona looked past him in-
“It will heal and preserve you,” was to the cell. He smiled again. “Becky
the gist of the warrior’s gesturing, is going to be all right. She’ll be free
and he had died . . . and happy soon.” He looked back at
The bitter liquid had indeed heal- Ganley. “And so will you.”
 ACT OF GOD 3i

TT7"HEN the dash speaker spoke over a good number of the ‘blah’
* of the ugly weather that words.” The Thane broke_off, con-
had descended upon the mountains, centrating on passing a lumbering
Brenner Hunt put the coptor down truck. “Metaphysics,” he went on
on the grounds of the San Bernar- when they were around, “meta ta
dino temple and he and Les North, physika — those things relating to ex-
for the first time in his new cassock, ternal nature. It was once a decent
continued on their way in a luxur- word, but thanks to Kant, it slid

ious Disciple-owned convertible. Ac- off into the realm of poor Conan
customed as he was after his years — Doyle’s fairy photographs. So in-
as a Captain —
to the courtesy ex- stead, we give our followers what
tended Brass, he could not help but they want —be it bread or cultural
be impressed by the rich and smooth expressions or proofs of the greater
efficiency of the Disciples. They realities.”
must be immensely wealthy. “That last,” said North. “I don’t
The car swept up into the foot- quite follow.”
hills and he spoke to the Thane “The larger picture of ourselves
about this. and the universe. That formerly
“Wealthy enough,” said Brenner termed the supernatural. After all,
Hunt, “but not so' much as one my dear fellow, we are a religion. It’s
might imagine. You see, we do' not just that instead of braying non-
believe that money should be idle. sense about Heaven and Hell and
Therefore almost every dollar that . . . uh . . . Immortality, we are di-
comes to us is quickly converted in- recting our energies to enlarging those
to things to use; temples, coptors, talents and senses man now poses-
cars, recreational equipment, labs, li- ses.”He stole a side glance at the
braries. Even to economic aid to frowning North. “Were not your few
members. Money is to be spent. hours in the temple the other day
Idle money is evil . . . although I far more convincing than a year
dislike the metaphysical connotations spent listening to the right Reverend
of the word ‘evil’.” Fiddle, D.D.?”
tried to conceal his smile, but
Les North had to agree. He thought
the man
beside him noticed. So he back over the demonstrations that
said,“I’m still having difficulty ac- had been presented before an eve-
customing myself to being a working ning meeting of new Disciple mem-
member of a religion which balks bers: Incontrovertible proof of the
at talking metaphysics.” existence of the human aura, and a
“Hasn’t the average person always brief lecture showing how an aura-
backed off from that word? One of screen could be used to diagnose
the reasons for the rapid growth of physical ills; half a dozen tricks to
the Disciples is that we have thrown make for individual physical efficien-
32 OTHER WORLDS
cy, cribbedno doubt from Hatha Yo- continuing on. North agreed.
ga, but neatened and made more ac-
ceptable to Western thinking; and fpHEY parked, ran up the top as
the ultimate clincher —the period at the sky had become dark and
the conclusion of the meeting, term- threatening, and climbed out. North
ed by the presiding Red Thane, the felt rather self-conscious in his som-
“communion,” during which the au- ber robes, walking amongst the
dience was ordered to reach down brightly-dressed vacationers, but still

into that unused portion of their more perturbing was the frequent nod
minds and then reach out mentally to of respect and greeting he received.
each other. Feeling a bit silly, but Nothing in the Air Corps had pre-
determined to play the game, North pared him for such consideration, for
tried, and was amazed and a bit there the salute was prescribed, and
frightened at the ensuing experience: the courtesy mechanical.
He had become aware of a vast silent He held open the door of a cafe
murmuring — there seemed no other for Hunt, then froze in astonishment
way to put it —and his entire ner- as the man passed, in. Not five feet
vous system had undergone a sort of away, her face expressing equal sur-
tingling. prise,stood his sister, Martha.
Could be. He grinned, opened his mouth to
As Brenner said, it was more con- speak, but halted when Martha put
vincing than oratory. a finger to her lips and shook her
The car shot past the mile-high head. Then she indicated the cafe
turnoff to Crestline and continued up with a nod and deftly pantomimed
the wide express highway toward Ar- holding a phone. She turned and was
rowhead. North was on his first as- gone.
—
signment to direct the installation Slowly, North followed after Hunt.
of power equipment at a campground Evidently the encounter had escaped
just purchased by the Disciples. It the Thane, for he was already taking
was a rather primer task for an his place at a table. “It’s a bar and
electro-phycisist, one not too suited grill,” he said when Les joined him.

to his abilities, but the Council had “Martinis while we wait.”

apologetically explained that his Martha ... her strange silence
duties would be purely executive, and and actions.
that he would at least have a chance What the devil could it mean?
to observe their methods of conduct- In a lounge around the corner,
ing a huge open meeting. Martha was in a booth dialing the
The grounds were some distance lodge. She kept her eyes on the ent-
from the Lake, so when the car rance as she waited for her number.
swung into the Village, Hunt sug- Andrew Smith answered.
gested they stop for a bite before “Andy—Martha. I’m in ‘Chico’s’
 ACT OF GOD 33

in the Village. I just saw Les, my Brenner looked up from his drink.
brother. He’s wearing the garb of a “Me?”
Disciple priest. You know what that “Well, no. She said she wanted to
means!” talk to the one with the broad shoul-
There was a short silence while ders.” He grinned knowingly.
Andrew thought quickly. “They’re “Goodness, North. Your first con-
after us, through him.” vert. You’re obligated to talk to her,
“There were two of them. They’re of course.”
around the corner in a cafe. I sig- “Why? You talk to her.”
naled Les not to speak to me, nor “She doesn’t like my type, ob-
about me. I don’t think he will, viously. Anyway, it’s our policy. We
Andy and I’m going to call him
. . . speak to anyone. No snoot. Who
from here. But just in case he’s been knows . . . maybe she’s rich.”
. .changed, I may be needing your
. Leslie North pulled a wry face
help. Get here in a hurry, and bring and slid from behind the table.
my black raincoat over your arm. “Where’s the phone?”
And some glasses and a gun. I’ll “You can take it in the booth, if

change here and go out the back you’d rather. I’ll switch it on.”
with you. Any suggestions?”
“Nope.” He hung up. T ES strode toward the booth at
Martha looked up the number of ^ the far end of the busy cafe,
the cafe, dialed it. a little angry at his sister for her
“Hello,” she said to the proprietor. outlandish prankishness, yet puzzled
“Me and my girl friend, we want that such a calm and undramatic one
to speak to one of them preachers as she would for any reason resort to
that just went into your place.” such melodrama. He picked up the
“Huh? Well, uh . . .
” The man receiver, eyed the proprietor till that
snickered. “Which one do you man replaced the other phone.
want?” “Hello?”
“Oh, I dunno. Just a sec.” Martha “Is there anyone with you that
partially muffled the mouthpiece and can listen . . .anyone on an exten-
pretended a short dialogue. “Hello?” sion?”
I guess I’ll take the tanned one. The “No. I’m in a booth. Martha, what
one with the brown hair and big the hell is the idea? Are you in some
shoulders. Please put him on, honey. kind of trouble?”
Hmmmm?” “That’s one way of putting it,

The manager put down the phone Les. But so are you. Look, we don’t
and walked over to the Thane’s table, dare take much time with this, so
snickering to himself and reflecting tell your friend:
here’s the setup to
on matters lewd. “There’s a lady on There’s two of us, trying to pick
the phone wants to talk to you.” you both up. You excused yourself
34 OTHER WORLDS
because you have other things to do. up now, darling, and go back to your
Got that?” friend. Put on a big foolish grin.”
”
“Yes, but . . . “That’ll be no act.”
“Les, have I ever played phony “Tomorrow evening, then, and
with you? For God’s sake, believe make sure you’re alone. Goodby.”
me.” Martha hung up, then made her
“All right, dear. Go ahead.” way slowly from the phone to a
“I want to get in touch with you table. Had she done right, she won-
later. How long are you going to be dered. Had she? But what else could
in Arrowhead?” be done?
“Just overnight. We’ll be going She ordered a beer, lit a cigarette,
back down in the morning.” and with an eye on the clock, set-
“And you’re really a member of tled back to wait for Andy Smith’s
that cult?” arrival.
“You can call it that. Yes, I am.” It took him eleven minutes to cov-
“We’ll go into it later. Look, Les- er the five miles from the lodge . . .

lie, this is utterly life and death, and not bad time, considering he had
I’m not exaggerating in the slight- taken time to bring along three oth-
est. If you don’t believe me, just ers; two guards —men, and a lab
tell your friend that you’ve been technician named Sal. They took the
talking to your sister, and that she booth just ahead of hers,and no
can be found in the bar around the one made her any sign of recogni-
corner from ‘Chico’s.” My life would- tion.
n’t be worth a dime from that mo- By the time she had finished her
ment. There’s a big, big game go- cigarette, Andy had made his play.
ing on, and I’ve got to let you know He and one of the guards went to
the score. When can I see you alone the corridor that led to the rest
in Los Angeles?” rooms. Martha followed in a mo-
Les stole a glance at Brenner. ment.
The Thane raised his glass in a sar- “Couldn’t find your black rain-
donic toast. He looked at the pro- coat,” Smith said, “but this’ll do.”
prietor, saw that man reading a pa- He produced a package from his
per. “Tomorrow evening, I guess pocket, opened it and removed a
Where?” glistening vinylite slicker. “And
“One of the piano rooms at the here’ssome glasses. Horn rims. Make
public library. They’re soundproof. you look like a social worker. Yeah
Seven. All right?” . . . that’s fine. Now let’s get going.”
“Sure, kid, but . . . Are you posi- He helped Martha adjust the collar
tive all this . . . this undercover of her coat, gave her a small automa-
business is necessary?” tic, then spoke to the man who wait-
“I swear to you it is, Les. Hang ed. “You leave now, out the front,
 ACT OF GOD
and take a cab. When Martha and if something goes wrong during the
I are in the air, follow us just long analysis ... if several unlucky things

enough to see that we aren’t tailed. happen which could, according to

Then come back and pick up the the lab, then the show’s over. There’s
others. And we are being
if followed, going to be a vote on it tonight.”
well . . . you know what to do to So it’s finally come, thought Mar-
them.” tha.
The guard nodded, went back to She stared through the faint re-
the lounge without speaking, and flection of herself in the window,
the two made their way out into the stared past the pouring sky, looked
drizzle of the dirty alley. into the backward-reaching vista of
over a hundred years of research
A MINUTE later, Andy, his hands that had sought to discover the sec-
fighting the gust-buffeted con- ret of the precious liquid. Men and
had Martha explain more fully
trols, women had died in that quest, killed
what had happened. When she told by those who would take the balm
him of her arrangement to contact for themselves, not knowing or car-
Leslie, he frowned, whistled thought- ing for the psychological hemlock
fully. “You’re going to need some that, for the average person, lurked
cover on that, I think. I’ll go along.” in each drop. And other men and
“Hah! You took a big enough women killed just as dead by ex-
chance showing your face here in periments made upon themselves.
the village. But if you’re seen in And the end was in sight . . .

L.A. it’s really the end.” “Andy, how long will it take to
He didn’t press the matter, and run the analysis?”
they flew the next few miles without “A week, more or less.” He pushed
conversation, skimming along be- at the controls, throttled back.
tween the heavy black sky and the “We’re home,”
top of the tossing forest. When they
neared the lodge he spoke. “Seems 'fc/f'ATTHEWS, the group’s top bi-
there’s a lot taking place at once. ochemist, took his place at the
Your running onto your brother, like head of the huge table and cleared
you did, and the lab making that his throat. “If the group is assem-
announcement a couple of hours ago.” bled ?” Eyebrows raised, he
. . .

“What?” peered across the bright underground

“Yeah. It’s a gamble, they said, meeting room at Andy Smith.
but they’re pretty sure they’ve found “Thirty eight are present, Dr.
a way to analyze the X-factor in the Matthews. There are three guards up
elixir. The gamble is —
this the test- in the lodge. Louis Estranda is at
ing is going to take every drop that’s the bar. The new workman, Letona
left. And if they’re mistaken . . . . . . Simon Letona is outside work-
36 OTHER WORLDS
ing on a coptor, and David Ganley . . . down to the last electron of
is in his room. They said to say either organic or inorganic substanc-
they’d go with the majority.” es. But when it fails it is horribly
“Ganley, too . . .
” Matthew ran wrong.
his hand through his unruly iron- “As you can see, however, the
grey hair. “Very well.” For a few chances of our new analysis explain-
long moments he was silent, staring ing the final mystery of the elixir are
abstractedly at the dark polished top very good. Ordinarily we would pro-
of the table. “I don’t know quite how cede, either to run a test, or to
to begin. When I was asked to con- take the next two years in eliminat-
duct this, session I first thought it ing that six, point two percentage of
would be a simple matter of asking failure. Two factors have come up,
you to vote whether or not we should however. The analysis can be con-
risk the remaining elixir as most of — ducted only upon a crystalline resi-
—
you term it in a definitive analysis. due of the unknown substance. And
But some of you, most of you, I if any life form is present in that
suppose, have not been close to the substance, it is naturally killed by
technical side of the work. You who the conversion into crystalline form.
cook and serve, the maintenance men, Nor can most substances which con-
guards, maids, mechanics ... al- tain organic matter before being con-
though you are all important mem- verted be changed back into any
bers of the team, so to speak, doing decent semblance of their original
jobs the remainder of us could not form. So if the test is not accurate,
do, you are not sufficiently familiar if what the lab synthesizes after get-
with the scientific end of things to ting an analysis does not work . . .

vote dispassionately. I’m afraid you in our case, become the elixir . . .

all have either too much or too lit- one must begin again. Unfortunate-
tle trust in' us so-called men of sci- ly we cannot begin again, this time.
ence.” We have barely sufficient fluid left to
A ripple of soft amusement eased convert into the proper residue-form.
the tension in the room. Matthews There are but five ounces remaining
made his quick grimace of a smile. of the elixir, and those five will make
“So I’m afraid it ^ my duty to at- a mass so small as to infinitely com-
tempt a sort of lecture before we plicate our —
how shall I put it our —
decide our lab procedure. Briefly, decoding after the analysis. The
here is the situation. Within the week, answer, you see, is obtained in the
we happened onto an utterly new form of a wave, on an equation. And
method of analysis. It has proved it- the smaller the amount tested, the
self to be ninety-three, point eight longer our task of breaking down the
workable. By this, I mean, that when math into chemical symbol and
it does work, it is entirely accurate atomic structure.”
 ACT OF GOD 37
ATATTHEWS frowned though t- become unduly alarmed; there’s no
fully and adjusted his glasses, immediate danger yet. But ten days
“Normally there would be but one . . . two weeks if we’re lucky.”
sensible course for the researcher. Attention in the quiet room grad-
As I have he would spend the
said, ually returned to Matthews. “Are
necessary months or years in im- there are any questions or comments
proving either his method of analysis, before we put the matter to a vote?”
or in learning how to convert resi- No one spoke.
due back into their original forms. “The test will take six days, I es-
But something has transpired which timate.” He waited. “Perhaps even
renders that impossible.” The wiry a little longer.”
littleman peered about the room. The quiet grew almost audible.
“Miss North? As chief of security I “And we might be ruining the
think you should be the one to tell work of over a hundred years. Please
what that something is.” think of that.” So businesslike was
Martha spoke carefully from her Matthews, now, so brisk and pro-
seat next to Andrew. “We haven’t fessional, one might have thought

much time left, I’m afraid. The Dis- him back in the U.S.. classroom from
ciples —Thea Ganley and her crowd, which he had “vanished” eight years
of course—are opening a camp not before.

ten miles from here. They’re doing “Then if there is anyone opposed
it for one reason; apparently they’ve to submitting the remaining elixir

narrowed the circle down to this par- to the analysis would he now speak.”
ticular area in the San Bernardino The quiet continued for an etern-
mountains. As soon as their camp ity of sixty seconds.

meeting is in full swing, old Thea “The analysis shall begin immed-
Ganley will have the word given and iately,” said Dr. Matthews. He
the entire congregation will become turned from the table and left the
a horde of fanatical beaters. They room.
will all be armed, no doubt, and
possibly carrying detector units. We A T five the next day, Martha held
can’t move away ... we have too Andrew Smith’s hand in a brief
much heavy lab equipment, and we goodby, then walked out into the
simply can’t abandon everything to bright spring afternoon to her coptor.
start over again in some safer spot. By five-forty, —
Smith now with
We’re about out of funds. If you blue eyes instead of brown, with
want my guess, I’d say we have blond hair instead of brown, and
about ten days more of relative wearing glasses and a moustache,
safety here in the lodge.” She shot his coptor into the air and head-
glanced about, her grave gray eyes ed Los Angeles. All California
for
large and troubled. “We shouldn’t seemed to be in the sky that day,
 —
38 OTHER WORLDS
and a dozen times he risked broken cent movement that enabled one to
blades up in the crowded high speed sneak a look backward.
level before cutting down close over Whom had she spotted . . . him-
the ground and skimming at better self, or one of the opposition?
than three hundred, risking now the He turned, walked toward her.
upbound traffic out of the spiral of She wasn’t taken in by his disguise,
suburbs, but making better time than for as he passed she spoke softly,
before. By avoiding the legal pat- busy now with rummaging through
terns into Los Angeles, Andy ar- her purse. “Damn you, Smith! All
rived over Civic Center in time to right, get in there and wait for me.”
spot Martha’s coptor parking on a Andy grinned, trotted up the wide
roof below. It had been neat timing, steps.
he congratulated himself.
while below the foreshortened figure
of the womanclimbed out and enter-
ed the elevator, musing that perhaps
he traded this piece of luck for that
He hovered

W
floor,
ITHIN
guide
the library there were
lines painted
leading one to the department
one wished. He located the strip lab-
on the

which had caught him up last time led “Music,” a vile green, and trail-
in Los Angeles. But he’d never quite ed up with it to the second floor,
made up his mind whether luck down a hall, and into a room lined
good or bad —
ran in cycles, or with glassed-in cubicles, each con-
whether it simply alternated. taining either a playback or a piano.
He swung down to a neat park- He paused before a music rack, stu-
ing between Martha’s Ford and a died it thoughtfully a few moments,
stately old three-bladed Hiller, climb- then took down the heavy orchestral
ed out, and began buzzing for the score of Brahms’ “E Minor Sym-
elevator. phony.” As he turned the pages, hier-
Once in the streets it was not too oglyphic-covered for him, Martha
difficult a matter to find her again, sailed past and entered one of the
for her bright red hat signalled to piano rooms. He began to feel bet-
him from a block away. He was but ter; so so good. They were
far,
fifty feetbehind her when she paus- twenty minutes early, and it was
ed before the Library steps, seem- doubtful if anyone would have es-
ingly concerned with brushing some- tablished a watch in the library as
thing from her left shoulder. yet.
Andy stopped before a store win- Taking the score to a table that
dow, regarded the display of books faced Martha’s cell, he looked about
arranged within. He was too old a at the others in the place. Everyone
hand to be taken in by that shoulder- appeared to be authentically schol-
brushing routine. He’d used it too arly or musical, certainly more than
many times himself: It was an inno- he felt himself to be. Everyone, that
 ACT OF GOD 39
is, save for one long-haired old cod- gan playing a soft and easy Gersh-
ger in the corner with the flute case win tune from long ago. “That’s
on the table before him. He was a right. Your first leave. Two and a
bit too authentic. But that was an- half years back. How long have you
other matter Andrew had never fully been out? Why didn’t you write?”
decided to his satisfaction: Was one North’s eyes wandered from hers.
less wearing a bright red
suspect “I was discharged a couple of weeks
coat and a button labled “Spy,” or ago. Not honorably, not dishonor-
so drab and vague as to be typical? ably. You may not believe this, but
After determining the room’s oth- I was framed out. By whom, or for
er exits he settled down to peruse why, I don’t know. I don’t much
the boring score. care any more.”
Fifteen minutes until. He told her briefly of his dis-
At eight minutes to seven, Martha missal, adding that being asked to
saw her brother enter the room. He join the Disciples was the first thing
was wearing a sombre grey tweed that had presented itself.

suit, and his expression was one of “But you were wearing the robe
mild annoyance. Martha got up from of a Thane, Les. I’d have thought
the little piano and beckoned to Les- one had to first be an apprentice
lie. or be trained or something.”
“You’re early,” she said closing “Yeah.” Les scowled, chewed his
the glass door. Andy, she glimpsed, lip. “That sort of puzzled me, too,
was staring at the ceiling over her but they explained that my techni-
head, apparently lost in Brahms-in- cal knowledge was what they wanted.
spired raptures. Despite her nerv- They’re quite an organization, kid.
ousness, she chuckled, for she knew They’re doing big things in the bord-
the man be not only musically il-
to between mys-
erline sciences, the stuff
literate, but quite tone deaf. ticism and electronics. Fascinating.
“What’s funny, kid?” asked Les- But suppose you pitch in, now, and
lie. He took the chair behind the explain why you cut up so last
spinet and rested one arm on top of night.” The annoyance returned to
the cabinet. his face as he regarded her.
Martha resumed her bench before “Did you mention meeting me to
the keyboard. “One of the patrons anyone?”
out there ... the blond fellow be- North was indignant. “Hell no.
ing simply sent by a thick score.” You scared me into thinking that
North didn’t bother to look. In- you were in trouble or something.
stead, he surveyed his sister. “You I told you I wouldn’t say anything.”
seem fit. How long has it been now? “Good.” For a few moments, Mar-
Over two years, hasn’t it?” tha gentled the keys, marshalling the
She touched the keys lightly, be- words to the story she had to tell
40 OTHER WORLDS
her brother. back in the middle eighteen-hundreds
or there-abouts. For a while he bum-
'T'HE Disciples say (she told him) med up and down the Mississippi,
^ that they began as a social club, then he struck out West. Be patient,
endowed by some rich industrialist Les, please. Now there’s something
when he died. Later, they claim one I want you to remember about Dav-
of theirmembers, an explorer, found id Ganley — he’d never been to
some tablets in the Lemurian dredg- school, he could barely read or write
ings that the National Geographic his name. He wasn’t too bright even,
Society expedition had missed. The which isn’t remarkable when one
tablets turned out to be the mystical considers his genetical background;
revelations around which this so- a lout of a tavern keeper and a Ca-
called social club metamorphosed in- jun waitress. He grew up in bicker-
to a religion —the Disciples. No, ing and poverty and trouble and
wait please, Leslie, I’m just quoting sordidness. Ok. He struck out West,
what everyone has been told about as I said, and after a few years of
the group. Please let me say it all trapping and clearing land and bum-
before we start arguing . . . although ming, he managed to become a buf-
I hope to God that won’t be neces- falo hunter. In that, Les, it seems
sary. So the social club turned to he finally found himself. He was a
philosophical pursuits, learned to do successful man . . . made lots of
near-miracles, accepted members, money, helped slaughter literally
provided on almost
entertainment thousands and thousands of animals.
any level. It became a paying bus- I guess that’ll do for David Ganley

iness, as well as —
so you say a sci- — for a few minutes. Now I’ll tell you
entific upon mysticism.
attack It something about me. Please, darling,
grew amazingly fast and it’s be-
. . . stop glowering and drumming your
coming a power politically. Is that fingers. The stories manage to tie up
agreed, Leslie? Good. Now strip ... all three of them; the Disciples,
away your peeve with me, your en- David Ganley, and your sister. Here,
thusiasm for the Disciples —although I’ll play you that old Carmichael
I can hardly blame you for having tune you always liked. What’s its
either —and pay open-minded atten- name? Something about stars. Star-
tion to a story I’m going to tell you. dust? Well ... I took graduate work
It’s about a young fellow named at U.S.C., remember? I was going to
Ganley. David Ganley, the tenth son be a big-shot lady, a botanist, no
of a family of thirteen children. He Well, as you know, I got out
less.

was born in Louisiana, and left there of it. The Revolution in Europe
when he was thirteen to make his seemed such a bigger, more import-
fortune fighting Indians or finding ant thing than than pondering
. . .

treasure or whatever appealed to kids the sex-life of wild strawberries. So

 ACT OF GOD 4i

I got Dad to give me money for a we fenced with each other for almost
trip to Argentina, and I used it to two hours before I got up nerve to
go to Africa. And, as you know, I ask him about the disappearance, and
got involved in the back-stage of the if he was the Ralph Matthews, or
war over there. A real spy lady. Gun his brother or something. He waited
and cloak and truth-juice and every- quite a while before replying, then
thing. And when I came home . . . instead of answering my questions,
Well, that’s where what you and the he began questioning me. Wanted to
family thought happened, and what know what I was doing now that I
really happened, part company. You was back from the European Revolt.
think I got married and went to Mex- Asked me what I had done over
ico. I didn’t. There never was a Ralph there . whether or not I had any
. .

Mendoza . he’s an imaginary

. . responsibilities, any plans. I told him
character. had to make him up,
I of mom’s and dad’s death, and how
though; had to have Mexican pic- you were taking post grad work, and
tures of us faked and letters sent that I was ready for anything inter-
from down there. I’ll tell you why. - esting. So he invited me to go with
Three years before you enlisted — him and meet someone. And on the
June of nineteen-seventy four, I was way he told me a story. It was about
wandering around up in the Lake a young fellow who had run away
Arrowhead region when I came across from his mean father and his filthy
one of my old professors from U.S.C. mother and his twelve brothers and
days. Dr. Ralph Matthews. He sisters You’ve got it. He told
. . .

seemed surprised to see me why, I — me about David Ganley.

couldn’t see, for I thought that
teachers must forever be running on- A NYTHING you’d like me to play
to their former students. And then for you? I’m a little at a loss
I remembered. Right in mid sentence how to take the next Ok. plunge.
of asking him about his work I re- Well, I met David Ganley that eve-
membered: Dr. Ralph Matthews had ning. And he wasn’t a hundred and
been headline news for a few days. some years old at least not apparent-
;

He’d disappeared a year before. Van- ly.He was a rakish looking fellow of
ished. And here I was talking with about my own age. But, Les, he was
him. But when I looked more care- the same man. I met others that
fully, I began wondering. This man, evening, too. People who had given
this person who apparently recog- up everything else to search for the
nized me, and who was talking about secret of Ganley’s refusal to age.
my days in college was a bit differ- Some of them, like Dr. Matthews,
ent —he had a moustache, different had chosen to disappear from their
hair-line ... I couldn’t be sure. former worlds. Others, like myself,
Well, Leslie, the outcome was that. invented and maintained fake ad-
42 OTHER WORLDS
dresses and equally phony lives. I n’t keep his mouth shut. He men-
knew I couldn’t simply disappear tioned something of what he was
. . . you’re the snoopy kind . . . doing to his relatives, most of them
you wouldn’t have rested till you Ganleys, and in a very short time
found me, bless you, so I palmed he was murdered by someone at-
off that insipid Latin on you through tempting to steal the remaining liq-

the mails. I knew you’d hate the de- uid. The was the founder of
killer
scription of him so that you’d never a long list wonder
of other killers. I
dare to attempt to visit. And by the if the name Thea Ganley means any-

way, thanks for the “wedding pres- thing to you. I see not. Well, if you
ent.” It’s still keeping excellent time. were a good eager Thane long enough
Anyway, Les, became a mem-
I it would. Ok, sorry Les. So there
ber of the organization that was try- sprang up two camps one dedicat- —
ing to analyze the stuff that kept ed to deciphering the weird ingred-
Ganley from aging. It had been given ients that constitute the stuff, and
him, generations ago, when he was the other composed chiefly of weal-

wounded, and he’d so noticed the thy Ganley descendants who had
effects of his first sip that he kept banded together to swipe the re-
the rest and used it whenever he maining mix. Through the years it
felt sick or slowed up. Almost thir- seemed that the calibre of men who
teen years passed before the man were actively engaged in quiet re-
noticed he wasn’t getting any older, search became so head and shoulder
and before he found that a really big above the rival Ganley faction that
gulp of the liquid would actually an almost moral aspect entered the
take years away. He settled on an The former
struggle. —
we, Leslie,
apparent thirty-two or so, and took want the secret for humanity. That

one tiny swallow a year to keep him- sounds horribly priggish and high-
self there. Then he became fright- sounding, I know. But it’s true. We
ened. What would happen when it want to turn the formula over to
was all gone? He tried to locate the some powerful branch of the U.N.
source, but that didn’t work. He which will see to it that it’s used to
tried having it analyzed . . .it only help the world. It can keep scientists
managed to cause a mild flurry alive long enough to see them through

amongst the chemists who were baf- their concepts. It can keep compos-

fled. So 'finally, he located a distant ers going, philosophers. But not the

relation of his a Ganley whom

. . .
—
Ganleys and not you and me. Why?
he met in California while panning I’ll you: Old David Ganley is a
tell

for gold. Together, they set out to living example of what happens when
break down the elixir —-we call it a poorly integrated and poorly ad-
that, Leslie. But the small-town doc- justed person is afflicted with immor-
tor that was this other Ganley could- tality. The good and the bad, the
 ACT OF GOD 43
chaotic and the ordered, the selfish down a certain kind of mold that
and the unselfish, the brave and the attacks Oh, never mind about
. . .

cowardly ... the entire plus and that. We’ve supported ourselves with
minus aspects of the person grow the side pickings. The Ganleys, faced
apace and separate and make contin- with the same problem, melded their
ual warfare. How David Ganley has fortunes and when those ran low,
kept his sanity this long I don’t started the Disciples. It was quite a
know, unless it’s because he was move ... it is making them plenty
never too bright. The person of av- of money, to buy their way into
erage intelligence would become eith- chemical supply houses to watch for
er a saint or a devil, actually. And our orders, and to hire thugs to try
I fear there is more of hell in all of to root us out. These conversions
us than heaven. you read about recently, such as
So, Leslie, can’t you see why we Father Marek’s startling recantation
couldn’t come out open with in the of Catholicism . . . they’re done with
our research? And certainly, you drugs. Mostly, the simple Mindzenty
understand why we had to keep the shots, but on others they use hvno-

elixir from the Ganleys. We know serums of their own devising. Two
what they’d do with it if they could gets you one that the disappearance
synthesize it . . . gulp it themselves, of Ginny Harris could be explained
then settle down to peddling the by those high in Disciple circles. I’ll
brew. And the price would go
up for bet you she’ll emerge in a few days
the eighth or tenth dose, you may or weeks, an ardent fan or even mem-
be sure. They could get a hold on ber of your cult.
the world. Oh, Leslie, Leslie didn’t you . . .

wonder why it was so sim-

in the least
’"pHE Disciples? They formed their ple for you to enter the Disciples?
“social club” with the Disciples Didn’t you ask yourself why you
in mind. They had to have power could be picked up off a bench in
and funds to fight us. We obtained Santa Monica and put into Thane
our funds from the incidental discov- robes overnight? They’re after me,
eries made which happened to have Les ... me through you. They
commercial or scientific value. The framed you out of the Air Corps
Holtz tube, for instance: Ephram for that reason. Can’t you see it?
Rabinowitz happened onto that cir- I’m in charge of security for our
cuit back in Nineteen fifty-four, and people. Call it what you will, coun-
it was peddled outright to the Holtz ter murder or what, I was chosen
Laboratories. And “gonazone” . . . because of my experience in Europe
that was a sideline discovery that and the name I made for myself
was accidental. Dick Ganley was there. I don’t care for my job, either,
looking method of breaking do because do care for
for a but I’ll it I
 \
44 OTHER WORLDS
what I’m helping bring about —hun- made their way through the sound
dreds of years of life for those who and color of the crowds.
deserve and can handle it, and
it At the street entrance to the park-
eventual immortality for anyone — ing lot elevator he waited while
everyone. And they know if they North took the woman’s hand and
can take me they might eventually spoke to her a moment. Then she
break me down and locate our head- stepped inside. Both men watched
quarters. They’re wrong, of course, the indicator needle sweep around
because I’d kill myself first. This is to the top, then both took in each
a much more honest cause to me other.
than any war or revolt or border- North came up, paused at his side
squabble that’s happened in my life- while lighting a cigarette. Through a
time. This is man, himself, Les, and shield of cupped hands he said,
I’m all for mankind. Just as I’m “Thanks, Smith. Take care of her,
against that aspect of mankind the huh?” Throwing the smoking match
Ganley-Disciple crowd represents. I away he exhaled a narrow fan of
... I don’t know what else to say. smoke, nodded to Andy, then merg-
Leslie North watched as the tears ed away into the crowd.
gathered and trembled in his sister’s Yeah, I’ll watch her, thought
eyes.She put her elbow on the music Smith. But who’s going to be taking
rack of the spinnet and covered her care of you?
eyes .with her hands. He reached the roof in time to
He got out two cigarettes, lit them, see Martha’s coptor rise into the
gave her one. bright night sky and take its place
It was all he could think of to do. in the stream of Eastbound traffic.
Then he started getting angry! In a few moments he was at her alti-

W ITH grim approval, Andrew

Smith noted the drawn ex-
pression of anger and of determina-
tion on Leslie Nortfh’s lean face as
tude and jockeying around and even
over other vehicles in order to keep
the picture of her ship on his screen.
But the traffic was unusually heavy,
and although he kept receiving her
he emerged from the cubicle with his code signal automatically, showing a
sister. They left the music room, distance of but a quarter of a mile,
Martha with a tiny nod to Andy in the scope on the dash kept wowing as
passing, so he put away the Brahms the mass of other craft intercepted
score and followed them from the his beams . . . which was all right for
library. The steel and concrete tow- simply keeping a distance contact,
ers outside were giving up their day’s but not good enough if they were
accumulated heat and the evening air being tailed.
was warm. Leisurely, Smith kept his Reaching out he thumbed the stud
distance behind the couple as they that dialed the present number of her
 ACT OF GOD 45
ship. “Hi, Red hat. Smith. Listen, with us, I think. Could be wrong,
there’s too much window-flicker on but suppose you swing back into the
radar, so how about dropping out lane. I’ll stay down here and watch
of this lane. I can’t keep a decent for a minute.”
weave going. Ok?” Obediently, Martha’s ship climbed
The image of the ship detached back up and swung left toward the
itself from his level and diminished busy transcontinental level.
in size as it lagged behind the center On the screen and visually, Smith
bead on the screen. Through the saw the other craft swing along with
plastic floor he saw her lights; she it as if attached.
had put a green blinker going on the This was it.

whirling outer tip of the blades, and “Martha ...”

spinning on-off disc of light was “He’s still with me?”
easy to follow. “Keep it at that alti- “Yes. I’m going to make ’em go
tude for a moment, Martha, and away, kid. You beat it back on home.
swing south a little. I suppose we’re Don’t fly all the way ditch year . . .

clear, but ...” ship in Berdoo and if there’s any

He saw it first on radar. other tail, well you know how . . .

to shake it.” He found rough amuse-

ANOTHER ship had separated ment in what he’d said. “And I’ll
•^*from the stream and was lagging bet you could, too, if you’d just let
behind, diminishing in size as it go once. So long, darling.”
changed course to follow Martha. He switched off, pushed the con-
Cursing, he switched the radar from trols forward and bore down on the

“general” to “spot” and maneuvered throttle. Darling . . darling . . The

the narrow search beam till his scope word had come unbidden; he’d never
showed up the tail a fast custom — meant for her to know. Darling . . .

job with pulse-ram rotors. Larger grew the fast arc of the
And through the clear floor, al- flame-tipped blades, and bright the
most dead center between his feet, he glow of the oncoming cabin. Larger
next saw it unaided; the dull plat- and brighter and larger till he could
ter of blades burning clear against make out the four men in the other

the blackness down below. ship. Three of them had hoods over
Smith was puzzled. Not only was their heads.

the craft a ram job, but it was show- Smith put a cigarette into his

ing its riding lights. Maybe he was mouth and bit down on it fiercely.

mistaken . . . maybe he was a little And the world vanished in a

snoop-happy. Could anyone be stu- frightful racket and rending as the

pid enought to use a ram coptor for coptor blades met and chewed in an
a tailing? insane dueling.
“Hey, Martha, there’s someone (To be concluded next issue)
YELISEN
IdicLJ s. Si aver

The worlds of the Horn had been free from

exploration — until the beauty of an age-
less woman threatened their age-old peace.

O LD Reuel clenched a thin fist,

his eyes
the sky.
on the dark shape in
tiny flickering eyes, reflected flashes
of the flaming lances of rays from the
battling ships about the asteroid.
The boy, Vard, clenched a small Reuel could remember the day
fist too, and set himself as if it were when the Earthmen stepped from
his own body about to take the their shining star-craft out upon the

shock, out there in the storm of soil of Num Tarem. From that day,

death. Evard had been chosen as home by

On came the dark disk, pierced by the men from the stars, and had re-

46
 They faced the spy’s jeday weapon
with horror and revulsion — and fear.

Illustration by Bill Terry

47
48 OTHER WORLDS
mained inviolate. some man of thirty-five, working ov-
Yard looked up into old Reuel’s er sheaves of official-looking papers.
eyes. To both of them it seemed im- His face was bronzed, and scarred
possible that the Hai-han "Sons of — across the cheek with the cicatrice of
—
Death” could be so foolhardy as a needle-ray. He looked out of place
to attack Evard, the chosen of the at a desk. His big hands, scarred and
men from the stars. Cayr, where the calloused and rough, handled the pa-
Hans came from, lay just across a pers with a distinct slowness, look-
range of mountains and beyond a sea ing twice at everything —
brooding
of glistening green crystals, strange over the paper skeleton of a tremen-
result ofsome peculiar long-past vol- dous organization.
canic outpoor. Earthmen had always Paul Daniels was putting the af-
left Cayr severely alone. The race of Masson Trading Corpor-
fairs of the
Han were warlike, and Earthmen ation in order after the death of his
never looked for trouble except to friend and boss, Henry Masson. Mas-
stop it. The Han had been awed by son had hired Daniels years ago, after
the sky-ships for nearly thirty years, he had been fired for being too hon-
had ignored the Earthmen in turn. est to work for a snide outfit called
But now a new space craft was mov- "Space Homes, Inc.” whose specialty
ing in the skies. The “Sons of had been selling colonizers land that
Death,” the Han secret organization, no one could live on permanently.
had been building copies of Earth To Daniels, Masson had been that
ships in secret. rarest of humans, an honest idealist,
In the gardens under the window and he had given him fifteen years
where the old man and the boy of devotion and hard work.
_
watched, the spy was a gliding sha- Now his loyalty was ~to KTasson’s
dow. Evard is the capital of the widow. He had to get things in order,
Earth colony, and considering the keep Masson Trading going, or the
battle going on overhead in the dis- sharks of a dozen planets would be
tant skies, that shadow should have there to devour the corpse and de-
been noticed. But it was very good prive the widow of her immense pos-
shadow cloth and the spy very ex- sessions.The worlds of the Horn had
perienced in its use. Removing the been a plum Masson had pulled out
glass from the wail of the herbarium of the hands of the pirates who “had
gave out only the tiniest tinkle of made a wreck of Earth’s coloniza-
sound. In an instant the gliding sha- tion, by acquiring exclusive rights to
dow had disappeared among the in- trade in the whole Horn area. Keep-
terior shadows. ing that exclusive right now that
Masson was dead was Daniels’ prob-
AT an ornate desk in the center lem.
of the big room sat a hand- “They’ll never check this asteroid,
 YELISEN 49
it’s too big,” the boy cried, leaning tured veins, damaged organs, leaking
out as if from the window
to leap hearts and agonizing aches in every
when the walls crushed down under muscle.
the dread weight. Daniels felt those agonies. He him-
Paul Daniels got up from the selfhad been through war in space,
desk, to watch over the old man’s but never in the Horn. The old man
shoulder. This was the third night had wanted to keep war out of the
of fear for Evard. The Hai-han had Horn. If only those Han leaders un-
to be taught a lesson soon! derstood what Henry Masson had
He hated to order general bombing been trying to do all these years
of the Han cities. Cayr was very an- keeping back the crooked traders and
cient and very beautiful. Some of the sharpers of the colonizing schemes
the others were as fine, and he liked while he built a strong armor of un-
the common people of the Han na- shakable decency about the name of
tions.But these Hai-han, these “Sons the Masson Trading Corporation.
of were something else
death,” Only the best and the straightest got
again. Just how to stop them with- through to the Horn, the rest were
out destroying everything the old turned back by a dozen agents in
man had built up here over fifty their employ. The old man hadn’t
years? The men of Earth were liked, wanted to see the Horn go as Mars
respected, trusted — everywhere in had gone in the beginning of space
the Horn. Would it be the same after exploitation. As, later, the other col-
they had blasted the life out of the onizing schemes had gone. He had
Han? wanted the Horn to grow its own

The shape of the falling asteroid culture, its own highly developed in-
blotted out the Dragon, spread wider, terplanetary commerce, with only a
engulfed Bootes, swallowed up Lib- littlepeace-making and trading by
ra. Then, something unseen tugged themselves to finance the necessary
at it.The collossal mass jerked as police work.
the hammer blows of repelling im- Maybe Masson was an idealist,
pulses from the ships jarred and but he was a practical man, too. Ev-
jarred again. en the Central Authority on Earth
Slowly, so very slowly, the vast thought of the Horn as “backwater”
weight of the thing began to veer and steered away a lot of unpleasant
from the center-line of sure destruc- pressure to open it up. The Horn was
tion. Old Reuel let out his held not going to “open up” to ungov-
breath explosively. —
erned exploitation not if Paul Dan-
Daniels sighed, knowing the Hell iels could find a way to carry on the
of effort going on in those ships, old man’s ideas.
operating at velocities that would And now to have the Hai-han
leave their bodies racked with rup- strike at them, after protecting them
SO OTHER WORLDS
from Earth for fifty years! It was the vast rocks the Hai-han had towed
ironic .Those Earth men out
. . into collision orbits.
there battling the shiny new Han Daniels cursed would-
silently. He
ships in their aging commercial craft n’thave a clean ship left. Every hull
had been the Han’s best friends, if would be bent, twisted, half wrecked
they only knew it. — let alone the holes the Hans must
be shooting into them.
TT had all started when Masson He saw Mrs. Masson standing in
* had presented each of the most the doorway, watching the three of
prominent of the rulers of adjacent them, and the awe the Evra woman
planets with a pleasure yacht. Mas- always aroused in him swept him in a
son’s idea had been to show them tingling wave.
he had no objection to space travel His heart always rose to this wom-
for the many races of the Horn. In an as a ship rises to a swell in the
fact, he wanted them to develop a —
ocean a mysterious ocean of un-
natural intercourse between the known surprise. Daniels turned, let-
worlds, wanted them to begin to ting his eyes rest on her, letting his
build craft of all kinds and to en- mind drink in the gentle lines of her
gage in trade. He wanted them, in utterly graceful body, the delicate
time, to become so self sufficient hands slowly twisting each the oth-
there would be no room for another er, the glowing brilliance of her eyes,
outfit from Earth to take over his tear-dimmed now with loving the
work and corrupt the natural good- hard men in the space battle. Loving
ness of these worlds. their courage and knowing it was

But he had reckoned without the all really for her, because they want-

Hai-han, the left hand of the Han ed her to be the head of Masson,
rulers. It had been that for centur- rather than some stranger, or some
ies. The Hai-han did the dirty work alien like Franel of the Hai-han.

while the rulers “deplored” the state The Evra were long-lived, like

of affairs. most of the Horn peoples, having a

The Hai-han had straightway life-span almost four times that of
started building a fleet of war-craft, the Earthmen. They were a quiet
using the gift ship as a model. Mas- race, studious, enamoured of music
son had not learned of these secret and conversation and long ceremon-
ships. ious feasts. They were an emotional
Now, after Masson’s death, the people, intensely loyal, hard to anger
Earthmen found themselves in bat- but relentless once wrought up
tlewith the Hai-han, equipped with to it.

new ships. Not only that, but they Daniels understood exactly why
had simultaneously to battle the at- Masson had married her. She was
tackers and divert from their course perhaps the most beautiful creature
 YELISEN 5i

he had ever seen. them so far. The Han are not fond
Yelisen came in quietly, and stood of labor.”
peering up at the thing in the sky. Yelisen frowned. “The ruler of
Slowly it veered and passed on at the brawling Hai-Han is not my
last,beyond the dark horizon. friend, Paul! Just because he court-
Her eyes were moist with think- ed me in the days when Earth was
ing of the heroic men above in their but an unknown star to us, does not
careening shells of metal, with know- mean that I hold affection for him!
ing that many of them said their I do not. I did not then.”
prayers with her name mingled in “Just sarcasm, Yelisen. He should
the words somewhere, right beside be a friend to us, but he is too ig-
their God’s. She had heard the tapes, norant of our work to understand
taken during the battle, heard the we are a valuable protection to him
strainingmen cry out as they shot and to his people. You know it is
down a Hai-han ship: you he is after, perhaps more than
“That’s for Yelisen, you dirty S. the Masson grants, don’t you?”
0. B.’s” Yelisen smiled, and waved a long
Yelisen had asked Daniels what hand in delightful pantomime of turn-
S.O.B. meant, and he had explained ing down a suitor. “Franel is not el-

it was a religious expression. igible, Paul.”

Yelisen didn’t realize that if she Daniels did not smile, only stared
hadn’t refused to see the Hai-han intently into the deep yellow-green
leader Franel this whole thing might eyes. These Evra people, who lived
not have happened. The Earthmen so muchlonger, had always a great-
had not explained to her. er fund of experience, a more intric-
The yoice was low in Daniel’s ear. ate subtlety in their thinking. It was
“Who would have thought of this hard to be quite sure of their inten-
tactic of throwing rocks.” She laugh- tions. Hard to be sure they did not
ed a little. “It is just like Franel. read more into one’s words than was
When he was a little boy, visiting meant to be there. Paul spoke slow-
with his father at my father’s house, ly, in Evra, giving every word the
he would throw stones and get whip- exact nuance, an error in which could
ped for it. change the meaning so much if not
Old Reuel gave a start at her exactly correct.
knowing she was just be-
voice, not “No, Yelisen, you are not to mar-
hind him. Daniels answered her, ry this Prince Franel, this would-be
wishing she understood the serious- warlord, whatever else of that kind
ness of the situation. you may do later. You must not mar-
“Your friend Franel did not think ry the wrong man as long as the
we could them, or he would
turn Masson grants are in your name.
not have wasted the labor of towing Central Authority on Earth would
 52 OTHER WORLDS
immediately cancel the grants, label him. He went on, his voice both
them invalid after passing into the angry and pleading, both patient and
hands of a person of questionable tense. “A stranger would come and
loyalty to the World Government. order you out of your own home.
Then they would issue new grants to Then you could watch the peaceful
some lobbyist, who would sell them worlds of the Horn crushed one by
to the highest bidder. We’d be dis- one into a mold of harsh discipline,
possessed, and the worlds of the of total production. People would die
Horn would become the battleground in hopeless wars, trying to resist. The
for a hundred struggling piratical exploiters would come from the ends
groups eager to get rich and go back of space, eager to get in on a good
home.” thing. The beauty and the peace,
the rights of the common man to his
ELISEN eyed him doubtfully, land and his work —
would perish.
all

her hands toying with the em- We have worked hard under your
erald and gold belt about her smooth husband to build the strength to
waist, tightly drawn over the brown resist corruption, Yelisen. You can’t
silk, accenting her breasts, the curve throw away our work!”
of her hips.Her voice was honey- Yelisen composed her lovely mouth
sweet and mocking him a little. into an expression of complete ser-
“Paul, that might be a good thing. iousness, but her eyes twinkled on
One could go away, then, forget Paul’s with an inner amusement that
about work and worry and entertain- he should think her so dense. She
ing visiting dignitaries. One could folded her hands, sat up straight and
visit the other worlds, perhaps even with complete dignity which some-
go to Earth. It might be an oppor- how denied all dignity —her voice
tunity!” meek obedience which yet told Paul
Daniels seized her hands, dragged she had never obeyed anyone except
her to a chair, made her sit. “Now it pleased her.
listen, Mrs. Masson: yes, it would “Yes, Paul. Swamped we would be,
be fun! That is granted! Do you corruption would run over us on
wish to desert your people, turn them ugly iron feet,bad people come in
over to an organization that would clouds of warships, terrible things
loot their homes of everything avail- happen. Yes, I see!”
able, turn them off their land and “Rank, selfish commercialism, this

sell it, put every man to work for far from the laws of Earth, Yelisen,
token wages? Do you want to do can be a terrible thing. Never be-^
that?” lieve that all Earth people are like
Yelisen shook her head slightly, those you have known. Your husband
her eyes mocking him. Paul did
still never allowed the other kind to learn
not realize she was way ahead of about the Horn.”
 YELISEN 53

Yelisen leaned toward him, took We have been to endless pains to

his hands in hers,looked into his keep them so. We need you for titu-
eyes with all mockery banished from lar head to keep things as they are.
her face. “Would it be so bad, really, You must allow nothing to stop our
Paul? I would like to be free of this work here. You are our only protec-
responsibility, but if I cannot be tion from the evil side of Earth life;
free, then I cannot. Must I be your ours —
and all the many people of
boss?” the worlds of the Horn suns.”
Paul turned his head away, un- Yelisen’s artful mouth dropped
able to bear her eyes own upon his open in pretended stupefaction as
for reasons he couldn’t fathom. “You she considered the magnitude of
can ask? Didn’t Masson ever ex- Paul’s all-inclusive statement. It is-

plain his work, Yelisen? If the wrong n’t possible for one woman to be
people grab for the Horn, bid good- that important, Paul!”
bye to freedom forever. You have “Not one woman, Yelisen. But the
never seen regimentation. I have seen name of Masson that you bear, the
it, your husband had experienced it. grants issued fifty years ago. Back
It isn’t good, to force the many into there, they don’t know yet that the
slavery to the few. It becomes hell people of the Horn worlds live four
for everyone.” and five lifetimes to their one. They
Yelisen patted his hand, stood up. must never learn that, for it means

Her voice was full of subtle laughter these worlds are far more healthful
again, as she said: than Immigration
Earth. would
“I am legal owner, you are my swamp us. The work we have done
manager. You will just say to them, in screening incoming personnel, the
no! No, you may not do this!” work we have done proving the
Paul sighed, and twisted on the grants, enforcing discipline here so
tines of her tormenting. Of course that no whisper of the true value
she understood all this; she just of theHorn gets back would be —
wanted to make him explain, wanted lost. You must understand!”

to test and probe him. But he had Yelisen frowned. Her hands went
to make sure she understood. to her face as if horrified. “To keep
“Yes, you are in legal
Yelisen, your own race away, when they too
possession of theHorn trading rights could live longer? It seems a cosmic
widow Henry Masson. But ”
as the of crime!
legality would mean nothing if cer- Paul Daniels almost gave up. But
tain people knew the value of this doggedly he went on in the face
area. The grants were given Masson of her complete refusal to agree with
in complete ignorance of the true him. It just wasn’t possible the old
value of the Horn cluster. Central man had never discussed these things
Authority has been kept in ignorance. with her. But he had to be sure she
54 OTHER WORLDS
knew her role, or the whole scheme going to bed, if you will promise to

would blow up in their faces. Her awaken me when anything important

voice went on, lovely, cadenced as happens?"
music, containing every emotional Yelisen turned, kissed him gently,
nuance calculated to goad him into stroked his fine brown hair. As he
still greater effort to tell her what left she called, “I will not let you

she must understand. The Evra loved miss anything, Vard, you know
Earthmen, but they loved to probe that I”
them with their sharper, older wits, Yelisen’s father, old Reuel, cried
to watch the good grain of their out in sudden exulting tones,
character betray itself and Yeli- . . . “They’re moving on out, Paul! The
sen was mistress of the art. Her ex- fleet is moving out: they’ve got the
pression was one of absolute disgust Hai-han on the run!”
with his unhumanity to his own His face was wrinkled with a
race . . . thousand lines of old man’s glee as
“Earthmen have been looked up- Yelisen cried after him, “I can see
on as Gods by the Evra! They came the jets of fire all trailing the same.
here from far away, with their ter- See, Paul, like a great rake of fire,
rible weapons, frightening us into the teeth all point this way!”
despair. Then they showed everyone Daniels sprang to the filagree of
the utmost kindness, were good to bronze in the lower half of the big
everyone —
they have kept Evard in- round window. The man, in
old
violate ever since.They have loved his third century by Earth time, had
us,married our women, settled here sharp eyes still. The fleetwas mov-
among us, are a part of Evard. Why ing out. The fiery comet tails of
should you deny that right to other flight were parallel, making an in-
men of Earth?” finitely fine grid of gold lace in the
Daniels’ jaw was grim. Watching sky between Cepheus and the Dra-
her act, he was beginning to see her gon. In spite of himself Daniels
complete pleasure in his strong re- gave a cry of exulting relief. His arm
actions. But he had to thrash it over went around Yelisen and crushed her
with her, in spite of her refusal to to his shoulder ;
the other hand swat-
admit any knowledge of affairs. Her ted the ancient’s back.
fair head was outlined against the Reuel coughed, took hold of the
dark night sky, against the distant grill to steady himself. “Take it
moving lines of fire in that night. easy, wildling! It is but a maneu-
ver! Franel has just gone to get
ATASSON’S son, young Vard, more rocks. The Hai-han will not
came up to Yelisen, pressed give up till their life-blood is pro-
his bright face into her sweet-scent- perly spilled, or ours. I know them.
ed hair, whispered: “Mother, I am Through two centuries of war, in
 YELISEN SS

my youth, I fought against the Hai- false report, tokeep out the vultures.
tian. Fear will not make them quit. Masson must have known from
They must be blooded out!” the first the day would come when
Daniels sobered, released Mrs. some of these numerous people
Masson, gave her an embarrassed would make a bid for power over the
glance. He hadn’t known how tense whole cluster. Paul wondered if he
he had been until the sight of pos- had foreseen that his widow would
sible victory shining from that grid have to face the greed of Franel so
of moving light in the night had soon after his death, if he had not
brought relief. planned for someone to take over,
Yelisen gave him a grave kiss, instead of dropping the whole loose-
quick and sweet as a mother’s to a ly held empire of trade in her lap

child, to celebrate. It had exactly overnight. Masson’s death had hit

the same lack of sensual meaning, her hard. Paul knew his death was
too. Paul turned back to the center the work the Hai-han
of it was —
of the office-like chamber, opened the too pat. They had been secretly
cigarette box of gray lizard skin building copies of the Earth ships
worked over with the Evard wolf in for twenty years to get ready for

gold. He puffed nervously, then forc- this day. It was so obvious! If

ed himself to relax, settled down in Franel could force Yelisen to marry

the wide chair with the golden eagle’s
spread wings making the back.
switched on the teleplex, of Evra
manufacture, which they had learn-
ed to make and use since Earthmen
him the whole thing would be leg-
He ally his! Or so he thought. He
might be right. To the authorities
on Earth the place was a backwater,
valueless.

came. But he could not bring his Paul laughed, thinking of Franel’s
mind to the task of translating the face the day he had come calling, in
swift Evra syllables into meaning. all his decorations, his uniform re-
He knew they were retailing the splendent, wearing two swords ... a
news of the Hai-han attack and re- blaze of Han sartorial perfection.
pulse. And Yelisen had utterly refused to
Sitting mind went
there, Paul’s speak with him, saying she was “too
back to the days when Henry Mas- busy.” No wonder he was throwing
son had been a young adventurer, rocks!
staking his fortune on the chance Daniels got up to close the shut-
the Horn area was He had
of value. ters.They were armor-plate steel,
won; the star cluster proved to be installedby Masson when the place
a little universe, rich in natural was reconstructed from an abandon-
wealth, rich in civilized and peace- ed Evra stronghold. They could all
ful people, ready to welcome the be dropped by pressing one button
sky ships. Masson had sent back a in the floor on the other side of the
56 OTHER WORLDS
teleplex cabinet. have taken him for one of them. “But
The spy must have been standing the prize of battle is here, outlander!
there a long time, making sure of Here in this room.”
them. He moved out of the shadows, “And what is that prize?” asked
where the plants of the herbarium Daniels, knowing the answer, hating
breathed in the darkness. The jeday the man for knowing it too.
hand threw reflected light in a
in his The spy switched to bad English,
venomous play all along the barrel. showing off his accomplishment. “Ah
wan one theeng only, Meester Boss.
T"\ANIELS saw him first, but the If you wan to be more in life, keep
switch was too far away to drop hands still.” He switched back to
the shutters and prison him. The Evra, his voice respectful again.
thought had come too late. Daniels “Come, Lady Yelisen, honor awaits
stood quietly, gathering his strength, you in the court of the Prince, our
steeling his nerves, until Yelisen leader. You go with me now to the
turned and put her hand to her mouth Lord Franel.”
with a cry of surprise. Old Reuel Daniels raged inwardly. He could
heard whirled around,
her, swore not move without bringing possible
lustily indark Evra syllables oaths — injury to the old man and the wom-
that swore away that spy’s soul to a an. These Han warriors were a very
thousand damnations. It was the differentanimal from an Evra; Dan-
sight of the Han’s favorite torture iels knew their penchant for blood-
weapon in the man’s hand that in- letting. Han meant “son” in Evra
furiated the old man. and in Han. A han is a “son of
“Bastard of Han, how did you earth” and a Hai-han a “son of
get in here?” death.” The word for earth, “lan”
The smooth pink face of the bar- had been dropped from the race
barian smiled, the blond mustache name. A Hai-han is a man dedicated
parting. His spread mouth showed to death as a priest to his god. On
red and moist as a girl’s. Only the the spy’s face Daniels’ racing mind
eyes were hard, blue-white diamonds imagined he could read the thought
glittering, glancing here, there and of recent events —
that the Earthmen
everywhere over the room as he had held the Hai-han back from war
made sure there were but the three too long. That was over now, the
of them. Hai-han had built ships, too! Those
Daniels’ voice sounded nasty as a new ships had filled the Hai-han with
saw hitting a nail: “What do you pride.
want here, Han? The battle’s out Yelisen moved forward to stand
”
there in space! by Paul’s side in the disk of light
The Han’s speech had hardly any thrown off by the humming teleplex
accent. Speaking Evra, Daniels would screen. She swayed slightly, the long
 YELISEN 57

intoxicating line of thigh and leg out- slowly around to look at Daniels’
lined under the sheer bright sheen face. He didn’t like what he saw
of the red-brown silk. The spy’s eyes there. The old man saw the button
moved to her face, remained there forwhich Paul’s foot kept reaching,
in fascination. Yelisen spoke slowly, and stepped on it for him.
to make sure of no misunderstanding. The spy, whose gun had followed
“If it is gold that will buy you, I the old man with a quivering irri-
have it for you. If it is immunity tation, to drop him the instant he
from the Hai-han vengeance, I can showed threat, relaxed a little. The
obtain it for you. If pleasure will gleaming barrel of the jeday drop-
bribe you, I can have that too ar- ped a hair. There were three doors
ranged for you. Only leave this in the big room, and one great win-
house and these friends intact. I dow in the wall. Down over each
promise, by the word of a Reuel!” opening plunged the heavy armor
The man’s slightly mocking grin plate with a sudden harsh danging.
widened. “If I trusted you, and I The spy whirled in complete confu-
do, I would still have to refuse. I sion at the delayed reaction to the
have so much more fear of your old man’s movement. The opening
enemies than of you, Yelisen. So I through which the spy entered was
choose to deliver you to your ene- now sheeted over with armor plate.
mies, for they would kill me if I
sold myself to you.” T'\ANIELS laughed, and sat down,
Daniels felt the weakness of de- looking at the spy.
spair. He knew what it would mean “Now whatdo you think will hap-
if this fool completed his errand. It pen, Han? None of us can get out
was somewhat like a nomad inviting till that opened from the outside.
is

the heiress to his yurt or like an — It won’t do you any good to threaten
ant courting a peacock. To Yelisen, us, we can’t open it if we wanted
the barbarian prince’s harem must to. You’re caught.”
be the least desirable of fates. But, The ugly death in that cruel wea-
with her in his power, Franel could pon centered on Paul, the soft pink
rule the Horn. Earth would send face hardened and paled. He seemed
ships, supplies, arms, to Yelisen’s about to press the trigger, when
signed order — for awhile. Until some- Yelisen, her eyes grave and quiet
body got wise, or until some of them and wholly controlled, moved her
got back to Earth and spilled the sleek body smoothly into the line of
beans. Without her, it was probable fire. She knew what that terrible
that “Lord” Franel would not even weapon did to a human. She bad
rule his own people for long. Not now, seen the space legion casualties, the
after attacking the Earthmen. dreadful quivering rigidity of agony,
Old Reuel, Yelisen’s father, walked the slow death creeping inward from
58 OTHER WORLDS
the paralysis, the final convulsive jerking in agony, who had for many
spasm of agony that broke the bones years protected the Hai-han from
of the back with the last terrible themselves and from Earth.
movements of unbearable pain.
The spy’s eyes glittered on Yeli- T^OR Yelisen, lying motionless,
sen’s. He pressed the jeday against staring out of the little cabin
the swell of her breast, the weapon flyer, there were only the bright,
whirred, faint as a hissing snake. close orbs of the nine suns and their
Yelisen froze into that rigid con- satellites, strung out into the long
vulsion of utter agony, known so shape of the antelope’s spiraling horn.
well by the nurses who tried, al- The warm necklace of jewels strung
ways without success, to ease the against the black, made worse the
hours of pain as a jeday casualty stoic cold of the face of the Hai-
died. The spy caught body Yelisen’s han.
as she toppled toward him. He swung Finding the painful paralysis did
the weapon on the two men. not prevent her speech, Yelisen spoke
“That was but a slight charge, from her silence suddenly, addressing
she will live if I am allowed to get the spy, where he sat at the controls
her to Cayr. Nowhere else does the just in front of her.
knowledge can counteract
exist that “Did you know, Han, how much
the effect of the jeday. Now open more rapidly the Earthmen live than
the shutters quickly, before your do we of the Horn worlds?”
guard comes and I am forced to kill
The spy had not expected her to
you. speakto him. He knew the pride of
Old Reuel, without a glance at the Evra, and that, of the proud and
Daniels, touched the rosette on the the high, this woman was foremost.
wall plaque and the steel shutters But he managed to make answer. “I
rose again out of sight. Even as they have heard whispers the leader Mas-
clicked into place, the jeday swung son was younger than you at the
on Daniels. He felt the sudden grasp time of your marriage. Yet when he
of absolute agony, felt a winding died, he was far older in appear-
sheet of flame wrap him, saw old ance, as old as our own oldest. This
Reuel topple to the. floor. strange thing was remarked by many.
In the herbarium, the spy placed But I do not know, nor does any,
a dull gray shadow cape over his the exact amount of the difference,
burden and himself. As he stepped there being no tables or data to go
through the gap where he had re- on. One knows the men of Earth are
moved a six-foot panel of glass, he able to do more work in a day than
became invisible, melting into the an Evra or a Han. Even the powerful
darkness of the garden. On the floor Ranig of the mountain clans cannot
beside Daniels’ desk lay two men, move about so rapidly and so busily
 YELISEN 59

all day long, without rest or cease. The spy looked straight ahead. “It
Aye, my lady, they live more rapidly. is the master’s thought that if you
Is is natural to assume they die more are once married to him, all these
frequently, too.” possessions left you by your hus-
Yelisen pursued her point: “Did band, as well as the support of the
you know, spy, that Earth will come men of Earth, will be his.”
with war-fleets if I am not soon re- gave a bitter laugh. “I
Yelisen
turned to Evard? It is not wise of know his thought, but does he know
your master to invoke the wrath of mine? That is the point.”
a people who have been so kindly The spy resumed his wet, girlish
and so prudent in the use of their smile. “I will be interested to learn,
power over us.” when he finds out, what the result
“Ah, you are so right, my lady. will be. Very interested 1”
But Franel will not think you are Yelisen went on: “The women of
right. And in Franel’s hands are the the Han are taught to obey the men.
strings to which my life must dance.” Of the Evra, we are taught to have
Yelisen smiled through her pain. an opinion, to be equal in all things
“You have seen how easily they turn with men.”
aside the mighty blows that mis- “Ah, my women have always
lady,
guided Lord of yours has struck at too many opinions. They run a man
our home? They- have not tried to by the nose as it is. Do not tell me
send great rocks crashing upon the the Evra have even worse troubles
home of your people —
your wives with woman’s will?”
and children are safe from them.” Yelisen laughed again. This time
The spy did not smile at Yelisen. her voice was not amused, however.
He only shook his head foreboding- “This leader of yours may learn
ly. “I have two wives and several much about women, yet.”
children. If I did not obey, the Hai- The spy could not sit still. He
tian would take vengeance upon them. turned to see her face, and then he
You did not know that?” exulted in spite of his iron control.
“Better to lose a few than to lose “It will be happy day for me when
all, spy. If the Earthmen are pushed a woman twists that one’s nose and
too far, they have a weapon that can makes him like it. That day, my
wipe the lives of mankind from the lady, I will take service under Yeli-
whole face of a world. I have seen sen.”
the pictures. My
husband has tried “That day will come, spy, and that
very hard to keep such things away day I will send you on an errand to
from our worlds, and now Franel, Earth itself, to see the world where

who is too stupid to know, is spilling women work and study and are equal
the milk of kindness into the Earth- with men. Side by side they live the
men’s face.” —
same almost. And too, on Earth you
6o OTHER WORLDS
will learn why it is not wise for the ard.
Hai-han to provoke the Earthmen of The trail led to the dead planet
the Horn. For there is evil on Earth, called Hai-lan. Hai-lan, “land of
they tell me, which our Earthmen death,” so named because it was
have shielded away from us. covered with the ruined cities and
“Talk, talk, women do but talk underground passages and tunnels of
of things they know notl” a vanished race. The planet was
“Now again you are a Han, in- ringed with a belt of rubble, as well
stead of a human being. Fah, I will as a ring of pearly fluid. To Daniels’
not speak with you again.” eye the rings told of the event that
They both lapsed into silence for had turned the world into the “land
the rest of the voyage. of death.” Some large body, a great
meteor, must have approached very
* * *
closely, been attracted into an orbit
r T''HE Han spy, whether by merciful around the planet, and from the
A intent or by accident, had given stress had broken up. Evidently the

Daniels and the old man the same water of the world had been pulled
light paralysis charge from the jeday. up into space by the attraction of
The spy had lied about the need to the meteor, as well as most of th«
go to Cayr for treatment, for both air, and had trailed after the satel-

men were fully recovered in four lite as it took up a permanent orbit

days. Daniels set out at the head of about Hai-lan. As the meteor broke
a flight of six space fighters to find up into fragments, the whole had
the camp of the Han leader. He had formed a belt of water, rubble and
two main goals, to release Yelisen if the large rocks that Franel had been
possible, and to destroy the moti- towing free and starting off on their
vation of their attack at any cost. voyage to Evard.
The future of the people of the Horn No one knew just what lay be-
worlds depended upon keeping peace, neath the forgotten structures. Dan-
giving no excuse for intervention by iels could guess the Hai-han had
the larger interests. been finding out in recent years.
The camp was not hard to find. Daniels knew very little about the
The Han, in their work of pushing place, except that the air was breath-
the asteroids into a course for Evard, able, if light, and that it was a dry,
had left a trail in space as broad almost waterless planet. The catas-
as a highway. A trail of pebbles, lit- trophe which had formed the rings
terand jet gases remained where the had calcined the surfaces here and
heavy Han craft had ganged up on there into vast flat plains that glist-
the great rocks, clamped fast with ened with a sheen like glass. Be-
magnetic grapples, and towed and tween these glistening plains were
pushed them in the direction of Ev- the chaotic fragments of mountains,
 YELISEN 61

jumbled blocks of granite, and here
and there a hill upon which stood
the mighty ruins of the work of in-
telligent beings long dead.
planet might have been
alive,no one now living could say.
It was in these ruins somewhere, or
under them, the Han chief had made
his headquarters, his base of opera-
tions.
Looking over the river of rocks
and debris circling the planet in a
vast ring, like the rings of Saturn
made up of concentric colors due to
the centrifugal forces separating
terials of different mass
observed the great milk-silver inner
ring, mused aloud into the intercom.
“I think the boys below could do
with a drink of that, Mark.”
His aide grunted. “Wouldn’t be
much of a trick, Paul. The instru-
ments say it’s heavily charged with
negative ions. Set up a positive
below, and it will rain right
The rate of fall could be controlled
by varying the strength of the field,
and the direction of fall
the field. We could furnish a deluge
Paul recognized here and there the
great openings of underground struc-
tures. In one of those the Hai-han
What the had their hangars, their shops there —
when it was must be a wealth of machinery left
in those warrens by the vanished
race. It was pretty evident the Han
had had access to machine shops as
good as anything on Earth. Their
construction of a fleet of ships in
the short years it had taken them
was a prodigious accomplishment for
the race the Evra called “barbarian.”
They had solved the enigma of
ma- Earth’s machinery far more rapidly
— Daniels than men Earth would have done
of
if the position had been reversed.
Here was the secret, in those cities
under the calcined rocks below.
Daniels spotted a suspiciously reg-
ular outline along the edges of a
gleaming surface of stone. He led his
flight of five across the space at two
field hundred feet. Yes, there were ships
down. lined up in the shadows of the vast
upheaved boulders, and there were
a row of openings under the boulders
by moving leading downward. They circled the
improvised landing field.

on any spot we preferred.” The Hai-han had a lot to learn

Daniels made his decision. “Peel about modern war. They had camou-
off,Mark, and go tend to it. The flaged the ships crudely. Gray tarps
base on Oaldak is only an hour away. had been them, and
thrown over
They ought have everything you’d
to the openings underground
to the
need. I’ll undertake to keep Mr. Fra- were covered nets. But it was a job
nel and his boys on the ground. It that would have fooled no one. Paul
would seem a better idea than get- triggered a burst of rockets into the
ting shot up.” row of ships, watched the explosions,
looped up and over to see what
PLANING low over the desolate came of it. Were they going to sit

face of the dead, desert land, there and let him knock off the whole
62 OTHER WORLDS
field? three of their enemy, sent five oth-
From the north end of the field ers limping off with damages. One
a rocket projector began to fire er- after another the three pierced hulls
ratically, the air laced itself with exploded. Flames shot out of the
smoke trails, rockets burst about ports as the Han warriors threw
the five craft. They broke up for- them open to dive to their deaths.
mation, peeled off right and left. Two It was that or burn to death.

of them dived headlong upon the “No chutes,” Paul shouted into
rocket rifle. It fell silent. Nothing to the intercom. “This warlord of theirs
worry about so far, mused Paul, has a lot of care for his boys!”
pulling up for another pass. Three passes over and under the
Scurrying forms could be seen in now fleeing attackers, and they were
increasing numbers, racing out of the finished. Paul and his four comrades
cavern mouths, boarding the silently were left alone in the sky, and down
waiting ships. The five Earth ships on the chaotic desert of the dead
screamed low over the swarming planet twenty smoking wrecks mark-
men at the ship’s locks, rapid-fire ed the Han attempt to drive them
explosive shells turning the whole off.

area about the hangared craft into

an inferno of flame and flying frag- /
T'HE Earthmen circled the Han
ments. * flying field again, watching for
As they pulled up over the south an attempt to get the remaining craft
end of the field, assembling into a into the air, strafing at every slight-
loose V preparatory to making an- est movement. For two hours they
other pass, Steve Carey, who had patroled the field, circling wearily,
been trailing the five as rear guard, waiting word from Mark that
for
sighted a group of twenty or more the water was completed.
project
ships coming in for a landing or — Then Steve spotted more Han ships,
for an attack on themselves. a big group of tiny specks on the
“Let’s take them,” shouted Dan- horizon, and Paul, counting, wished
iels into the intercom, and headed heartily the rest of his men were
toward the incoming ships. The five present.
Earth craft swung with him, zoomed He had left the bulk of his forces
up and up, pivoted dizzily above busily repairing damages suffered in
.

the Han flight, dived into them. The the Evard attacks. They were also
flight parted right and left clumsily, hauling out ships long discarded,
and Steve turned the dive into a unused some of them the
for years,
swoop up under the bellies of the first Masson had come
ships in which
right half of the formation. Ten to the Horn. When these were all
rocket projectors poured flame in ready for flight, Earth forces would
steady gouts as the flight hulled have nearly a hundred makeshift
 YELISEN 63

battle craft —not good against a well into the dangerous flow of speeding
equipped opponent, but good enough rocks that made up the outer circle
against the copied ships the Hai-han of concentric belts of ring material.
had built. Meanwhile, these five ships This was the place their Lord
and Mark’s absent fighter were all Franel had acquired his rocks to tow
he had to fight with. The bulk of toward Evard. Some of these pilots
the trading ships were slow freighters, must be experienced with the con-
good only for hauling supplies, not ditions here. Paul meant to find out
for actual battle. how good they were. He dodged in
The approaching flight proved to and out, leading them into narrow
be a group of over forty Han jets, escape from collision with a vast
of three different types, and Paul rock fragment again and again and —
took his time, sizing them up, before hard on their tails came the now con-
he suggested any action
taking fident Han pilots, doing a lot better
against them. A dozen of them were than he expected.
copies of the Masson trading ship, Paul saw that these boys were not
a heavy cargo hull with too light a the green pilots he had bested before,
jet assembly for battle. Paul decided but men capable of nearly equal skill
these were either full of supplies or to his own, completely undaunted
were convoying warriors'. A half- by the deadly proximity of the ring
dozen of the lighter craft proved to be rocks. Far ahead Paul made out the
copies of the life-skiffs used by space bulk of a vast freight hull, and as
liners, too lightly motored for ma- he drew closer a sight of relief came
neuvers in battle. There were but a from his lips. Mark had gotten into
score of them fitted out as fighting position with thework ship, and be-
hulls,Daniels saw, and decided to neath the huge hull hung the cop-
engage them. But before he could per cables of which he was forming
give an order, theenemy separated the necessary field projector.
into three groups, the fighter craft Paul shouted into his intercom:
dived on the waiting Earth ships. “Mark, can you hear me?”.
Paul decided on flight, and shout- “Go ahead, soldier, Pm listening,”
ed into the intercom: “Let’s play fol- came Mark Vasso’s voice. Paul could
low the leader, Steve, and see what hear the clank of wrenches as he
these boys can do!” worked. “What gives?”
They turned tail, leading the Hai- “I’m bringing a bunch of Han
han this way, that way, up down ships under you, Mark. If you can
and across the sky in apparent fright- shoot some juice into that fishline, we
ened attempts to escape. might do them some good. But don’t
Still keeping a tight formation, turn her on till we get past, you
Paul headed up and past the inner- know why!”
most of the planet’s rings, headlong As Paul’s flight came close, he
 —
64 OTHER WORLDS
could see a half-dozen space suited stantaneous and complete than any
figures scrambling into the big air- of them bargained for. The stored
locks of the old freighter, slamming negative charge on the ocean of circ-
them shut. It looked as if they were ling water was vast beyond compre-
almost ready to generate the pow- hension, and as the copper surged
erful positive ionizing field which with power from the old generators,
would bring the inner rings of circ- up from the ring leaped the most
ling water down upon the planet immense bolt of lightning ever wit-
if Mark was right in his position nessed by man. The breakers flew
and the field was strong enough. out over the whole ship, sparks
Paul led his own flight just above leaped, crackling deafeningly. Mark
the vast stretch of gleaming copper staggered away from the controls
cable, hoping that something would half blinded and deafened as down
not go wrong with the plan. It was through the center of his field coil,

screwy to expect it to work but — the great circle of cable, leaped a

still, it was worth trying. He had flame like the sword of a warring
seen crazier stunts succeed. god. Due to Mark’s timing, or to
As Paul’s flight flashed past just the metal of the Han ships, the vast
above the cable, he yelled: “Let her sword of flame slashed at the Han
go, we’re on our way!” flight of fighters like the stroke of

But his plan nearly failed. The a bolt from Zeus’ own hand.
Hai-han pilots scented a trick in his Space was filled with the explosion
proximity to the great bulk of the resulting from the sudden disinteg-
battered old work tub, veteran #f ration of the Han ships, and with
nearly a century of space travel, the following flood of water, released
used now only in an empty space from its age of circling by the at-
where gravity wouldn’t pull the old traction of Mark Vasso’s ring of
plates apart. The Han flight dived charged cable.
hard, down and down, to pass far The water spouted downward in
beneath the suspicious ring of gleam- the path of the lightning bolt, wash-
ing cable, hanging so artfully spread ing space clean of the charred frag-
out in front of the old ship. ments of the Hai-han warriors, then
But Mark saw the maneuver, had poured down and down in a great
been ready for it as he watched the twisted worm of titantic force upon
dodging flight among the ring frag- the planet far below.
ments. He plugged in the last con- Paul’s flight of five circled the ti-

nection, drove home the huge knife tantic phenomenon warily, filled with
switch with a blow of the heel of awe at the fate of the Han pilots.

his hand, and leaped to the controls Paul called over his intercom, “I’ll

of the old ship. go down and observe the point of

The response was a lot more in- impact, Mark. I think she’s going
 YELISEN 65

to hit too far north, so when I give completely their already overburd-
the word, move her south till I tell ened nerves. They had been fools to
you to stop. I want that right on challenge the supremacy of the
the Han camp. That ought to teach Earthmen, each of them privately
them!” decided.
“Some spout, A, man?” his phone Then, like the finger of an angry
shouted back at him. Mark’s voice God, twisting down upon them came
was elated and a little relieved to the great tube of water, a snake a
find himself still in one piece, it half-mile across, a pouring, roaring
sounded. “It’s a good thing the torrent of falling force — twisting
breakers cut the juice in time or down and down in a vast spiral, the
that bolt would have incinerated oceans of the dead planet returning
yours truly instead of those Hai-han again to their beds after so long ex-
babies. You know, that was what I ile. It was all too much. The bar-
call a nice quick death, no pain, no barian minds, so proud of their mast-
worries —
just blam, it’s all over and ery of the Earth machines and build-
no pieces.” ing techniques, suddenly reverted.
“Just keep that old tea-pot spout- They fell upon their knees and shout-

ing, Mark. I’ll give you the dope ed aloud to their gods to save them.
down below ...” Like an avenging Djinn, the whirl-
Paid let his ship drop in free fall. ing core of pure water descended,
The other four fighters remained in hit the planet about a mile north of
position about the work ship, to re- the main camp of the Han. The
pel possible attack. But all of them flood spread out, began to flow in
felt that if that bolt and this water- torrents southward, a river of tor-
spout didn’t overawe the Hai-han mented angry water reaching fur-
forces, nothing would. iously for the Han base.
Paul, circling above the Han field,
* * # gave directional instructions to the
ship above, and Mark joggled the
'T'O the Hai-han, the battle in the force ring half a mile southward.
skies seemed magic of a high The descending waterspout moved
order. The huge bulk of the freighter, obediently to take up a permanent
its ancient vintage of a mysterious position in the north end of the
shape and design, the immense pow- great bowl of calcined rock. The
er crackling in man-made lightning, field began to fill. What had seemed
the vast lightning bolt that had her- level ground, dry and bare for an
alded proceedings like the crack of age, now became the channeled bed
doom itself, the strands of gleaming of a river as the flood sought a path
copper floating under the rings of toward the lowest ground.
Hai-han all combined to stupefy Han warriors began to pour from
66 OTHER WORLDS
the mouths of the underground op- tation of the ancient bazooka, and
enings, without order, in blind panic, packed an enormous wallop for short
racing away upward, anywhere to range work. In the holster at his
get away from the avenging torrents. side he carried the standard needle
No matter where they turned they gun, firing the hollow needles of con-
found water barring their path. The centrated metrosol which knocked
jumbled boulders and vast rock frag- out a victim without killing him.
ments walling in the field became The magazine was one thousand full,

covered with vainly scrambling fig- knockout punches oh tap if needed.

ures. The warrior he had spoken to
Daniels signaled to Mark to shut stood in front of him, his mouth
off the flood, and set his ship down open still with that astonishment
in the water. He up to the
taxied from the enormity of the Earthmen’s
entrance from which the Hai-han attack. He was soaking wet and full
still struggled out, neck deep now in of awed respect. Not waiting for his
the violent flood pouring into the answer, Paul vaulted from his air

opening. Daniels sat, idly waiting un- lock into the receding water, splashed
til the flood had abated, subsided to past him and into the opening where
a slow, waist-deep flow. he had glimpsed the leader’s face.
Somewhere in those warrens, per- He meant to find that man, and
haps, was Yelisen and Franel, if she extract from him two things; Yelisen,
had been brought here. If the leader and a binding pledge to peace. He
had not yet reached the opening, would never forgive himself if their
they might at any moment come out little stunt of bringing the exiled
right into his hands. One of the wad- oceans of a dead planet back to roost
ing Han warriors came slowly up .to had cost him Yelisen.
him, and Daniels called in Evra, Far in the shadows he made out
which many Han understood: the movement he knew must be
“Where is your leader?” Franel, plunging on into the depths,
Even as he asked, Daniels saw a and Paul sloshed after him, only to
familiar face peer at him from the lose sight of his quarry. He had
dark shadow of the opening, then turned one of the several low
off into

move back out of sight. He recog- arched openings but which? The —
nized the Han leader from the photo waist deep water swirled about him
of him in the company files. Paul as he stood there in indecision. A
saw that he would have to go after slight figure, wading noisily, came
him or flood him out, and he could- out of the shadows, stopped in sur-
n’t take the chance in case Yelisen prise at sight of Paul. His hand went
was in there. He slipped a small to the hilt of the ever-present jeday.
rocket pistol into the holster under At his side swung the inevitable Han
his arm. It was a hand weapon adap- short sword, relic of their ancestral
 YELISEN 67
”
cavalry traditions. He was of the ners!
same fresh pink skin and red-lipped Behind him came a silky, suave
youthfulness as the spy. The Hai- voice, in polished Evra phrases as
tian were not so heavy-boned as perfect as Yelisen’s. “You wish to
Earthmen, but were slender and see me, man of work?”
quick and graceful, inheritors of a
war-like tradition which looked down T)AUL whirled. The Han leader had
on hand labor as menial. Paul knew moved up behind him, carried
that the real genius of the Han na- the deadly jeday in his hand and
tion was not in this warrior class, could drop him if he wished. Paul
but in the heavier and harder-mus- did not move his hands. He spoke
cled workers and mechanics and as calmly as he could, but his voice
farmers. Paul felt that this class, shook with anger still.

if they retained leadership, would “Get Yelisen, Franel! Never mind

eventually lead the Han race to de- bargaining. You are going with me
struction. to Evard. Once there, I’ve a few
The man half pulled the jeday things to show you, then you’ll sign
from his belt, and Paul whipped his a little agreement I mean to pre-
needle gun to a level with the man’s pare. Now get going; bring Yelisen
eyes before the jeday cleared his out of this. This place will be un-
belt. The warrior shoved the weapon der water in a very short time.”
back into place, smiled slightly, The man laughed, a mocking
mockingly. sound that raised Daniels’ blood
Paul’s voice was angry: “Take me pressure another notch. “Now that
to your leader, youngster!” Paul’s is comical, that request. Why should
eyes were weary and bloodshot with I? You are in here, the water has
recent strain, the gun in his hand ceased to fall — it will not fall until
waving slightly back and forth. we go out again. You are a very
The man’s voice was girlish, mock- stupid workman.”
on Paul’s
ing, irritating as turpentine Paul knew he was being insulted
raw nerves. every time Franel called him a work-
“You cannot enter the presence man, for these Han warriors con-
armed, intruder! First abandon sidered anyone who worked beneath
arms.” them. He boiled over, the trigger
Paul laughed, and bellowed in com- finger of his gun hand twitched and
pleteoverwhelming anger. “Take me the Han dropped into the
soldier
to I’ll blow you to bits.
Franel, or water, gurgling in the ugly spasms
I’ve had about enough from you of the metrosol charge. His other
Han! Sons of death, is it? It’ll be hand swept in a sudden arc, driving
mermaids I’ll make of the lot of a spray of water into Franel’s smooth
you if you don’t show some man- smiling face. Franel fired his wea-
68 OTHER WORLDS
pon. The power spray of the jedray opened the door, dropped the sag-
spurted into the water where Paul ging form of the Han leader as he
had stood as he dived sideways, lifted Yelisen into his arms.
shoved himself in a great splashing Yelisen, her eyes wet with tears,
leap upon the Han leader. They both sobbed a little, laughed, managed
went down, completely under the to say: “Paul, I had given up, it is

muddy water, and when they like new life to see you! I didn’t ex-
emerged Paul’s hands were locked pect anything but death when the
around the Han’s throat, their wea- water came in.”
pons were lost in the water. Paul A gurgle and a splash about their
drove a knee into the Han’s stomach knees reminded Paul of the Prince.
and the fight went out of him. Paul He reached down with one hand and
shook him like a terrier with a rag retrieved the drowning man from un-
doll, roaring mad. der the water.
“Where is Yelisen, you louse?
You’ve nearly ruined the Horn’s * * *
chances, and hers too! Now where
is she, before I knock your pump- nnHEY came out into the awe-in-
kin head off?” spiring sunlight, the rings of wa-
The Han leader pointed weakly ter above Hai-lan forming an im-
with one lax hand. Paul lunged off mense rainbow of beauty. Paul set
through the water, dragging the half the Han leader upon his feet, prop-
unconscious man afloat behind J»im. ped him against the ship while he
Yelisen was still locked within one helped Yelisen into it. As he pulled
of the ancient chambers. The door Franel roughly in, he shouted into his
was a grill of metal, open to the intercom: “Let her go, Mark. We’re
water. At sight of her, standing there in the clear ...”
with her hands twined about the The great spout came twisting
metal bars, her eyes huge and fright- down again, spiraling, beautiful in
ened, her gown drenched and her hair the sunlight as blown glass, smash-
awry, Paul swore. ing at last to a first impact only a
“You you were
lily-livered lizard, The Han warriors,
half-mile away.
so anxious to get away from the wa- who had lowered themselves from
ter you couldn’t spare time to un- their perches on the wilderness of
lock the woman
you’re supposed to rocks and boulders, again began a
love! Now
unlock that door, or by mad scramble for higher positions,
the bright eyes of Beelzebub, one and the ludicrous sight caused Yeli-
by one I’ll break your bones until sen to laugh until she suddenly rea-
you do!” lized that they would really drown.
Daniels tore the weakly proffered Then she turned her eyes on Paul.
keys from the Prince’s wet grasp, “You can’t drown them, Paul, it
 YELISEN 69

just isn’t your way! You can’t drown pilots against seasoned veterans. You
them, that’s impossible! I’ll never be- could send them to their death. Why
lieve it even if I see it!” should I not?”
“Don’t fret,” Paul said in English, The Lord Franel’s voice was very
which only himself and Yelisen un- low, very sorrowful and full of self-
derstood. “I just want to make sure pity, as he said: “Salusen!” The
they get plenty experienced in the Evra equivalent of “parole.” It
horrors of warfare, modern style. meant literally: “defeat,” or “I con-
Some will drown, but it’s necessary sent to defeat.”
to keep them mindful that future As he gave the word, Paul spoke
warlike inclinations are unwise. into the intercom:“Shut her off till
They’ve got a lesson to learn.” Then the Han boys are out of danger,
he winked at Yelisen, and added in Mark. Keep her in position, then
careful Evra, making sure the droop- we’ll finish the job later. I think
ing Leader still sprawled on the floor this’ll be quite a planet when she
at their feet would hear: has her water back.”
“I’ll drown every man-jack of Mark bellowed a cheerful “Okay
them if this leader of their doesn’t boss, see you in Evard.” The twist-
give his parole to me.” ing serpent of falling fluid was cut
The figure on the floor raised his off at the top, narrowed, became a
head, then stood up suddenly as he fine thread of diminishing brilliance
saw the mighty spout of water spir- in the sunshine, and finally disap-
aling down and heard the thunder of peared. Yelisen sighed, placed her
its fall so close. He stood for a sec- hand upon Paul’s arm as he set the
ond watching his men scramble and heater to ready the tubes for flight.

claw as they tried to climb higher “What are you going to do now,
on the sheer sides of the tumbled Paul? You frighten me, you are so
”
rocks, saw the bobbing heads of angry. I don’t know what to expect!
swimmers here and there trying to “I’m going to take this would-be
reach yet higher rocks, saw the vast general home and show him the news
flood of water rising, rising. His flashes of Earth’s atom war. If that
voice was shrill. doesn’t cure him, I am going to wring
“Man from you cannot
t’he stars, his neck with my bare hands. Why?”
do this thing. It is murder!” “Oh.” Yelisen settled back in her
Paul laughed, slapped his palm on seat, smiled softly. Her voice was a
his leg. faint whisper, barely audible. “And
“You could murder the people of then, Paul? What then?”
the Evra, who had raised no hand “As you didn’t know, Yelisen.
if

to you in war. You could send your Do I have to show you?”

men to their deaths in craft just Yelisen was very grave, her hand
built, untried, green inexperienced on his arm trembled a little. “Yes,
70 OTHER WORLDS
Paul, show me. I am a woman lack- said: “Seriously, Yelisen, we ought
ing in imagination.” to be married. The boy needs a fath-
Paul sighed, but glanced at the er, needs a husband, not
this place
Han leader, biting his lips out the a hired hand. I love you as much
side port. your acceleration
“Into as anyone could. Why not become
chair, Han! We’re taking off!” he my wife?”
bellowed, as if he had not heard She took his hand, pressed it to
Yelisen’s soft voice offering him the her cheek, and actually looked sor-
ecstasy of her lips. rowful. “Because, dense one, I love
A second later the fighter jet shot you too much. It must have been
into the sunlit skies, headed off un- very painful to Henry that he should
der the rainbow rings toward distant grow old while I remained young.
Evard. Do you want to go through that,
* * too? It is not fair to you!” Daniels
*
bent and took a small red backed
rT''HE next day, Daniels sat at his book from the desk drawer. He op-
desk in the house of Masson, ened it to a certain passage he had
going over reports. The teleplex
marked. He handed it to her, indi-
warbled softly an ancient Evra mel- cating with his finger the place he

ody, curiously plaintive fingers of wanted her to read.

song that twisted into the heart. The “That is your husband’s diary,
flowers in the herbarium filled the and I know the passage by heart. Do
room with the scent of spring. Out- you think I would go into it blind?
side the Earthmen came and went Read it.”

busily, ships lifted
ing field on shafts of flame,
goes going to earth and other
places in touch with the great
son trade routes.
from the far land- She took the book. The English
new car- scriptwas hard for her to read; she
far spoke each syllable slowly, separated
Mas- —
wrongly but she read it, her hesi-
tant voice thrilling him with its liq-

Yelisen came in, long and sleek uid tones.

and wholly lovely. She bent over the “Today I am sixty-five, an old
chair and kissed Daniels on the ear. man. But it does not seem possible.
He stood up, made to take her in With Yelisen as young as ever she
his arms. But she whirled away from was, I do not ever realize I am old
him, laughing. if I avoid the mirrors. Never before

“Oh no, Paul Daniels, I will not was a man so fortunate as to have
let you make love to Yelisen. I am an unaging wife ...”
an old widow woman, and you are “I just won’t look into any mir-
so young!” rors,” Paul said. “I think it’ll be
Daniels stood waiting, and after a worth it.”

second she came back to him. He THE END

 QUANDARY
&
feorpe o. neumann
RICE stepped back, surveying trator in the business and someday
B the
He
painting in mild disgust.
turned to his wife, his mo-
your paintings
tional Museum
will land in the
of Art.”
Na-

del, and said dispiritedly, “It’s fin- He smiled and squeezed her hand.
ished, Elna. You can relax now.” Elna seemed to be the only tonic
She drew her flowing robe closer that worked for his tired nerves. If
to her body and walked to the easel. other critics were as easily pleased,
“Why it’s quite good,” she exclaim- he would be famous by now.
ed, “the lavender skin tone really —
“Yes darling the National Mu-
does something to it.” seum. But now your husband is a
“Yes, I suppose it’ll do. They’ll busy man. I’ve got to clean those
buy it at any rate. But I’m so tired brushes and begin some sketches for
of doing imaginary ilustrations of that story on Venus.”
people from other planets. Once — The wall phone rang. He answered
just once I’d like to see what they it, listened to the excited voice on
really look like!” the other end and hung up quickly.
His wife surveyed the painting of “Elna! Elna! Ian just called.
the tall, lavender-skinned girl with There’s a strange ship heading this
long orange tresses stepping out of way through space and he thinks it
the space ship. It was the best that might land somewhere nearby. Get
Brice had ever done, she thought. your hat and let’s go!”
When it was published he was sure to They stood near the edge of the
receive bids from the other science open plain and watched the strange
fiction magazines. ship circle.
Brice sat down on one of the The huge ship braked, its turbine
couches and moodily stared at his jets were cut off and it glided in for
latest work. Elna immediately went a landing. A port hatch slowly open-
to his side and put her arm around ed and a figure appeared. Brice
him. watched, fascinated and then mur-
“Don’t fret darling,” she said mured, “So that’s what an Earth-
soothingly. “You’re the best illus- man looks like!”

THE END
7i
The TCHEN-LAM’S

72
 —

VENGEANCE
S, &U BLk
There in the Gobi the miracle of transference
of bodies took place; but the real horror came
when it happened in an American beauty parlor.

N
lects
EVER
sa. I

ing my
mind how
did a lot more than shav-
I

head, learning six dia-

and studying up on Tantric
got to Lhas- Now
ert
safety.
It
I must pass through the des-

and reach the coast if I valued

I drove the camels on.
wasn’t so bad the first week.
Buddhism as formulated by Pad- Exultation buoyed me up, triumph
masam Ghava. I spent three years in was a cloak to shield me from the
planning, and before I reached the scorching sun. But then loneliness
city of pantheonshad passed as a
I came, and thirst, and exhaustion. I
Buriat, a round-hatted Chakhar, a wandered through the eternal dust
Khalka, and a half-dozen incarna- of a demon’s graveyard.
tions of disguise. I drank thick tea I began imagining things.

in a hundred yurts before I got into The mountains were all around me,
the particular temple I had my eye and they grinned against the hori-
on. The lamas are wise and cruel and zon, their jagged edges like the teeth
relentless, and they have spies every- in the mouth of a mad dog. At dusk
where. a wind would bay from the black
But finally I succeeded, and then throat of the night, and I could feel
turned my three camels into the __
those teeth yawning for me.
desert on the endless trek through But it was worse by day, when I

the Gobi. The most evil city in the
world lay behind me, and the malign
sands stretched before
ert, staring up like
face.
But it was worth it.
had stolen the Lotus of Lhassa.
I sometimes the dust was a yellow
The Supreme Emerald, the sacred
stone of Gautama, rested in my belt.
trudged through a sea of ochre flame
that was the desert, and the sun
me —the des- blazed down like a finger-ring stone
a great yellow on the hand of an angry god.
Sometimes the rocks were black
dwarfs that danced around me;
dragon that coiled across my path.
I slept under boulders white as

It was worth a quarter of a million the sun-bleached bones of giants,

and my life. and I huddled in the Cyclopean ruins

73
74 OTHER WORLDS
of cities dead five thousand years. ror. I had the Lotus. I’d make it.
After a while there were no more desert was a vast, lonely room
The
cities nor boulders nor mountains, I had
to cross —
a single great room
and nothing was left which I could a million miles long. I was all alone
compare to humanity. The buzzards in that room, and I kept plodding.
had stopped following me, and the
beetles were gone. I walked under a 'TpHEN one day I sensed the pres-
burning sun that filled the sky and ence of another in the room. It
hissed down in molten rays upon the was somebody comes
just like that. If
empty, endless sand. Then I got that into a room you know it, even if the
terrible feeling of aloneness. There room a million miles long. An-
is

was nothing in the world but torture other had come in. Perhaps he was
of sun and sand, with me between. a hundred thousand miles away, but
The sand burned my feet" and the I felt him.
sun burned my head, and then little And I knew fear. From that mo-
rays of fire lanced through my body, ment on I didn’t mind sun or fever
and walked on and on and on.
I or the cancer of weariness which
My body was covered with hor- gnawed at my heart. I had a greater
rible sores, and my blood was black dread.
as it ran from my nose and mouth. The tchen-lam. The t often -lam are
My feet were swollen into shapeless the Guardians of the Lotus. They are
blobs of agony. The skin rolled from the spies of the temples of Lhassa,
my face like mummy-flesh exposed and they are the most evil men in

to the outer air. My head was an the world. They are the Hunters,
iron bowl filled with the venomous and at the twilight Hour of Mutil-
stewing juice of fever. ation they set forth on missions of
But I still had the Lotus . . .
vengeance.
I didn’t rave or curse or mum- All Tibet fears the tchen-lam, the
ble or sing. It was worse than that. magic ones. They know the Black
I didn’t think about water, or food, and the Red and the White Secret,
or sleep. The expression on my face and they control winds and water
never altered. I just tottered on, like and desert sand. Offenders against
some ghastly marionette. When the the faith are marked for doom in the
camels blackened and died, I left secret temples, and then the tchen-
them where they fell, without taking lam go forth to bring that doom.
up the knapsack or water-skins. If my theft had been discovered,
When I thought I was going to die and they were on my trail, I could
I dropped in my tracks, but I al- never escape. This I knew, and that
ways got up again. is why I was afraid.
This was it. This was what I had The tchen-lam are cruel.
expected. And it was worth the hor- Khalka Mongols will hang you up
 The TCHEN-LAM’S VENGEANCE 75

by the nose on iron hooks, and tie yellow face.

weights to your legs. Chakhars are I blinked. There was nothing else
slightly more imaginative. They will to do. The fate bent closer. Thin
stake you out under the desert sun, lips nibbled at my ear and a voice
cut off your eyelids, and set beetles rustled.
on you. The Torgots flay you alive “You are the American?”
and thrust you into a sack filled I tried to nod.
with wild dogs. The subtle Soyots “I have been seeking you.”
may amputate your arms and legs, I blinked again.
and then place you in a pit with “I have heard much of you and
the rats. you are the man I want.”
But the tchen-lam are worse. I couldn’t move. The face smiled,
I heard of a man who was cap- and then the whispering came again.
tured for blasphemous profanation of “You must not die, you know.”
a temple. There are over a hundred There was enough left in me for
bones in the human body, and the irony. “Why not?” I gasped.
tchen-lam broke every one, slowly, “Because you and I are going back
and kept him alive. Then he was to America to start a beauty par-
skinned, and his bones were removed, lor.”
one by one. He lived until he had Because you and I are going back
nothing left but two ribs, a pelvis, to America to start a beauty parlor.
and a spine. It took months. Never in fact, fiction, or fancy
This was only one of their pun- were words as mad as these.
ishments. I had stolen the Lotus of Lhassa,
And the tchen-lam crept behind I was pursued over a desert hell by
me as I fled. the crudest beings in the world, I
At one day fell, like a molten
last lay dying of exhaustion, in the mid-
tear-drop from the eyes of agony. dle of the Gobi —and a yellow face
I had crouched in the sand all night, bends over me and whispers, “You
burrowed deep, and when I tried to and I are going back to America to
rise with the coming of the sun I start abeauty parlor.”
could not stir. I sensed the presence Of course I must be mad. I had
of the other close behind me, but to be. I began to laugh and laugh
I could not stir. Could not stir, even and laugh.
with the ghastly inspiration of ap-
proaching doom. ^p'HE yellow-faced man thrust a
I lay there shuddering, and the jug of water into my mouth and
presence stole closer, and then I stopped my laughter, and he stroked
felt it upon me hours later. the papyrus of my forehead and he
A shadow stained the searing sand. propped me up in his arms. I became
I rolled over and looked up into a sufficiently revived to gaze up into
 ” ”

76 OTHER WORLDS
his skeletal visage. His head was “It will be for the best. The tchen-
like a rotten, wrinkled apricot, and lam cannot be avoided. He will seek
only his eyes were alive. The man you to the ends of the earth. We
was further gone than myself, and might as well face him here and
I sensed that indomitable will alone strike a bargain.”
kept him on his feet. Those eyes “A bargain? But he’ll kill me, I’ll

blazed at me more forcefully than lose the jewel —

the sun, and they filled me with a “The Lotus of Lhassa cannot be
peculiar power. I stood up. profaned,” Dagur answered. “It
“Who are you?” I whispered. “A must not be taken by force, the
tchen-lam?” priests believe. Therefore he will not
He shook his head slowly. “No. I kill you for it. It would be sacri-
am called Dagur. I come from the lege. You must give it to him out-

Deccan, and my mission in Lhassa right.”

can be spoken of later. I heard of “It’s worth a quarter-million,” I
you there and followed you through protested. “I spent three years plan-
the desert.” ning this, and I’ve gone through hell

“Heard of me?” I gasped. “Then here on the desert. Why should I

it was known — give it to him?”

Again he shook his rotten, wrin- “Because a quarter-million is noth-
kled head. “I gain my wisdom in ing. Because it is a mite compared
stranger ways,” he said. “But I know to the fortune you and I will make
you are the man I am seeking — together — if we live. And because
international adventurer, grave-rob- you’ll die here on the desert with
ber, treasure-thief. I want to take the jewel unless we bargain.”
you with me when we go to Ameri- “What kind of bargain will you
ca and start a beauty parlor.” strike?”
I was getting used to this by now, “Listen. You are weak, dying. So
and didn’t reel at the weird state- am I. But the tchen-lam will be a
ment. But I was still afraid. strong man, with a body trained to
“The tchen-lam,” I muttered. “Did withstand the rigors of the desert.
you see them?” So I will bargain with him in this
“One follows us now,” answered wise — I shall take his body in ex-
Dagur, calmly. “He wants the Lotus change for the jewel and give him
of Lhassa, which you stole.” my body in return. Then we shall
I sank to the ground again. “What have strength enough, between us,
shall we do?” I whispered. to reach the coast.”
“Wait for him, of course,” ans- “You’re mad,” I mumbled, but I
wered Dagur. “And when he comes thought I was. “You cannot ex-
we will give him the Lotus.” change bodies with another.”
“What?” “I am Dagur. I have studied in
 The TCHEN-LAM’S VENGEANCE 77

the secret places, and I have a magic. expected the Tibetan to strike
I

By concentration my astral can in- Dagur dead. His expression didn’t

vade the body of another, and I can alter, but there was a heightening
place men in new bodies at will, if intensity in his stare.
they be submissive. Extended hyno- “Think,” argued Dagur. “You
sis, your science calls it. So if the could follow him until he dies on the
emissary from Lhassa agrees, so be desert, this is true, and then take the
it.” jewel. But this way it is easier, sim-

“You can change bodies,” I re- pler. You take the jewel, give your
peated. body, and use my weak form to re-

“Of course. That is how we will turn to Lhassa. Time counts; every
make our fortune,” insisted Dagur. moment the Lotus of Lhassa is away
I lay back for good. I knew I was from its shrine is an affront in the

delirious. There was no Dagur, no eyes of the gods. Give your body and
mad scheme. I was dying alone. No take the jewel.”
reality. There couldn’t be anything “Thieves must be punished,” said
so fantastic. And yet — the tchen-lam. He said it softly, but
Far down the shimmering way I I thought of my bones being broken
saw the figure approaching. It plod- and tom out, and trembled.
ded leadenly, like a wound-up doll. “Natural death is no punishment,”
I recognized the tall yellow hat, the insistedDagur. “Perhaps there is an-
great otter collar, the huge skirt. It other way.”
was a tchem-lam! “Yes, another way!” The Tibet-
an’s voice trembled with exultation.
'T'HE figure headed straight for us, “I shall accept, yes, I shall accept
unerring and relentless. I made your offer. My brothers in Lhassa
out the features; the ivory mask of will think it a capital jest, a capital
cruelty in which emerald eyes were jest.”

set. Dagur looked puzzled, and so did

But Dagur did not flinch. The I. But my new friend persisted.
man approached, never hastening. “Very well, then. It is done. You
Dagur raised a hand in greeting. must submit your will to mine. Then
“We will bargain,” he said. our spirits will mingle, and each seek
The tchen-lam turned his basilisk- the other’s flesh. We will use the
gaze toward me and nodded. “It is veritable Lotus of Lhassa for our fo-
the one,” he said, in clipped Eng- cal point. Give it to me.”
lish. “And you speak for him?” I gave him the jewel. The spark-
“I do,” Dagur replied. ling drop of emerald brilliance shone
“So. Your bargain?” in the sunlight. The grotesque Hindu
“He will give you the Lotus of knelt, and the yellow monk knelt
Lhassa in exchange for your body.” facing him. The jewel lay on the
78 OTHER WORLDS
sand between. Both bowed their The wrinkled face reared up and
heads and stared. I got a shock as I saw the tchen-
And I lay there, racked with fever, lam’s blazing eyes. “It is my will,
dying in the desert as I watched two not my body, which shall take me,”
magicians, or two madmen, sealing he announced. “But now, the bar-
an unholy bargain which was to de- gain.Give me the jewel. No you —
cide my fate. hand it to me.” And he pointed at
“Submit,” whispered Dagur. “Your me.
friend, and you must
will is strong, I picked up the jewel dumbly and
submit to aid me.” The tchen-lam held it out to him. A claw grasped it.

nodded. Suddenly both men became “A bargain is a bargain,” said the

motionless. Rigid as puppets, eyes tchen-lam, gravely. “But I have also
closed, they knelt in the sand. The sworn to my brothers that you shall
jewel flamed. Then both bodies shud- know our vengeance. No one, from
dered. the dawn of time, be he beggar or
This was horror from High Asia, Khan, has ever escaped us once he
I knew. I was either dying or crazy. ismarked for doom.”
But I stared as the men fell and “You cannot harm him,” Dagur
writhed on the ground; stared as reminded. “Your promise.”
they opened their eyes and blinked, “I know. But my personal ven-
sat up. geance shall overtake him just the
“Done!” The high-pitched voice same, though I shall never raise a
of the tchen-lam came from Dagur’s hand to strike him. He shall suffer

withered throat. at my hands nonetheless, as was

“Yes, done,” whispered Dagur sworn. That is why I consented to
from the body of the tchen-lam. It the bargain, because I know I can
was unbelievable, but unmistakable. make him suffer in spite of it. I am
I was too weak, too sick, to rea- a tchen-lam, and the tchen-lam are
lize the full import of what I had the greatest wizards in all Asia.” He
just seen; the substantiation of the held up the jewel, and his eyes
East’s oldest myth. Transference of blazed through its fire, mingled with
souls, the original and most ancient it in an emerald haze. I stared, and
of all beliefs, just accomplished be- cold crept up my spine. “The great-
fore my fevered eyes. est wizards in all Asia,” muttered
“Now I am strong enough to reach the tchen-lam.
the coast with my friend,” announc- “The greatest fools in all Asia,”
ed Dagur, rising and shaking him- hissed Dagur. I never even saw the
self —
for all the world like a poodle knife flash down, but suddenly the
emerging from water. “And you, is Tibetan crumpled to the ground and
your withered body capable of drag- lay still. Dagur rose,- wiped the
ging itself back to Lhassa?” blade, and pocketed the jewel.
 ”

The TCHEN-LAM’S VENGEANCE 79

“I am the greatest wizard,” he to America and start a beauty par-

laughed. “I have cheated him, gained lor.”

life, and the Lotus of Lhassa is still I was sick of mystery.

ours.” “Let’s have it straight,” I began,

“But you told me you couldn’t

— sitting up. “Who are you, and where
I began. did you hear of me?”
“I did not dare say otherwise, or Dagur smiled. Or rather Dagur
when our souls met and mingled he smiled with the face of the tchen-
would have known the thought,” latn.

Dagur replied. “But now we are free, “I am Dagur, as I told you. I was
and you shall have no curse on you. born in India. My father was Raj-
He is dead, though I still have his put, exiled by the British Raj. He
body. And we go to the coast, to studied ceremonial magics in the
make our fortunes in a beauty par- temples. I grew up with priests. I

lor.” learned many things — levitation,

hypnotism, things Western science
A T that moment I myself crum- still calls magic. Sakhyati, the tree
pled. It had all been too much. of teachings from which Yogi springs
Desert nightmare, ending in incred- as the merest branch, I have mast-

ible horror. I went out, and stayed ered. One of the powers I gained is

out. He must have carried me. I that of transferring bodies.”

don’t know. How he fed us, kept me Now I’ve met fakirs before, and
alive, went on —these things I can- fanatics, and charlatans doing rope
not say. I awoke weeks later in a tricks.But I could not scoff at Da-
Canton hospital. Dagur was beside gur, of what I’d seen in
because
me, and he thrust a fortune into my the desert. Because of what I saw
hands. He’d sold the jewel, of course. now —Dagur’s eyes in the hatefully
We were rich, and I was going to yellow face of the tchen-lam. He was
get well. It was all over. Dagur was a wizard.
in the yellow body of a Tibetan “I went to Lhassa on your errand,”
monk, and I nearly went out again Dagur continued. “I too meant to
when I saw that horrid reminder of have the Lotus for my own. I must
reality I longed to forget. But I was have followed your trail, because
well, and rich. when I camped I heard stories of a
Dagur smiled. lone Khalka pilgrim, a Buriat wan-
“Up in a week,” he said. “Then derer, and a Chakhar. Each place
we book passage to America. My saw only one man, never all three.
entrance is all arranged, thanks to Therefore I reasoned that someone
the money. We shall make fortunes.” was travelling in disguise. At first
“How? What?” I meant to overtake you and kill
“Why, as I told you. We shall go you. Then, my friend, as time went
8o OTHER WORLDS
on began to marvel at your clever-
I “Well — no. I suppose not. But
ness. When my idea came, I saw they still go, still pay.”
that you would make a living ally “Exactly. And
you thinkdon’t
instead of a dead rival. So I allowed more of them would go, and pay
you to steal the Lotus and followed greater sums if they did succeed,
you into the desert. The rest you turning their ugly bodies into young,
know.” attractive forms once more?”
“You saved my life,” I mumbled. “Yes.”
“Nothing.” Dagur raised a yellow “That is where we come in, my
claw of deprecation. friend. Oh, I could start out as a
“But this mumbling about a beau- fortune-teller, a swatni, a cult-leader.
ty parlor?” My knowledge would be of service
“Simple. In India I am a holy there. But there isn’t enough in it.
man, yes. I can perform small magics, I want riches, quickly. And I shall

I can steal. But I want my heritage. have them, making old women young
My father, the Rajput, once lived again.”
in palaces.want those riches. I
I “But how? By giving them some
can never earn them by petty thiev- of yngi treatment or exercise? Have
ery. I cannot become wealthy ex- you got a philtre, or a rejuvenating
ercising my powers for fools. But in secret?”
America, with your aid —ah!” Dagur smiled, and again that yel-
“Beauty parlor?” I persisted. low face was creased.
“I have studied your Western “No. Simpler than- that. You saw
culture, as you call it —a culture of my secret on the desert. If the sub-
decadence, a woman’s civilization, jects be willing, I can hypnotize
founded on outward deception and them and change bodies.”
falsehood. The beauty parlor is a I sat bolt upright in bed.
symbol of occidental deceit; a mask “Yes, change bodies. Instead of
of loveliness over rotten decay.” pounding some foolish old woman
“The devil with your sophomore into a tight corset and charging her
philosophy,” I countered. “Facts.” exorbitant fees, I shall give her the
“Here they are, then. Every year real —
boon she craves a young, fresh
American women spend billions, yes, body of her own.”
billions of dollars on beauty cul- “How? With whom shall these old
ture. They go to be massaged and women exchange their worn-out
marcelled and manicured, to be frames? Where do the young women
kneaded and sweated and pounded come from?”
into youthfulness. Thousands of Dagur’s creased smile grew evilly
wealthy women spend fortunes en- insinuating.
deavoring to recapture their lost “Come now, my friend; I picked
charms. Do they succeed?” you because you are cleverer than
 The TCHEN-LAM’S VENGEANCE 81

that. You are something of a rogue lor.Curious women would come.

yourself, have reason to believe.
I Then, after procuring the girl?, the
And surely the answer to the ques- first experiment. If it succeeded, the
tion is easy.” news would spread like wildfire. We
I almost sickened. “You mean we could charge ten, twenty, fifty thous-
abduct young girls and force them and dollars for a genuine rejuvena-
into such an unholy exchange?” I tion.
asked. Of course, there would be difficul-

“Force? No —
I have told you I
- ties. An old friend of mine, never
cannot force anyone into hypnotic mind name, would handle the
his
surrender without their mental con- girl angle for me. That was no prob-

sent. But in beauty salons, there are lem. But the difficulties lay in mak-
machines, surely? For fixing the ing the sudden change plausible.
ladies’ hair, perhaps? Metal clamps Dagur and I worked out our
on the head, I believe.” scheme quite carefully.
“Yes.” Dagur was to be a Hindu. Of
“And in western scientific class- course his skin was yellow, but that
rooms there are machines on which wouldn’t matter. All Orientals with
a subject gazes at lights or colored “new” discoveries are Hindus as far
objects until his will surrenders.” as Americans are concerned. Dagur
“I guess so.” was to be a Hindu with a new
“We merely combine the two. Ad- “thought rejuvenation” process, sup-
just the clamps on the two women. plemented by the use of “secret oils
The young girl surrenders her will and formulas known to the devi-dasi
after a time; so does the unbeau- of Hindu temples.” The old come-on
tiful lady. They fall asleep quite — stuff. We’d get the women, give them
sound asleep. Then I concentrate. a few preliminary treatments in the
Their astrals are pliant. The ex- old style, make them think that oils

change is made, and it is done. Sim- and perfumes and exercises were aid-
ple?” ing their rejuvenescence. Then we’d
“Fantastic!” I muttered. “We’ll work up to the big moment; put
never get away with it!” them under a machine and go to
But we did. work.
That’s where the subtle part came
npHE last week in bed I spent in. It might be difficult for an old
•*-
in planning. We figured it all battle-axe tofall asleep under a dry-

out. We had money enough to splurge er and wake up an hour later in an

at the start. Rent an exclusive salon. entirely new body. If she was a bru-
Advertise discreetly. Build up an at- nette and woke up with blonde hair
mosphere of scented refinement like it might be doubly hard to convince

an ordinary beauty and health par- her. I had a secret hunch most of
82 OTHER WORLDS
the old girls weren’t so confident in years a day. Naturally, they can’t
their treatments anyway; just want- see themselves. A little dope might
ed to be flattered and pampered. Act- do wonders, too. Lead them up to
ual changes in their unlovely figures the final phase, effect the transfer,
might shock rather than please them and there they are. Fully convinced.
— unless it was worked properly. Young, beautiful, and satisfied. Why,
Well, I figured out a way to work it’s a humanitarian business, Dagurl

it properly.To begin with, we would- We’ll really be doing a great good!”

n’t exchange bodies with just any Dagur smiled, and I didn’t care
young and fairly pretty girl we might for his wolfish leer. I knew that he
get hold of. During the preliminary was thinking of the young girls for
treatments we’d study our case. Try whom we would not be doing good;
to visualize what the middle-aged kidnapping them, forcing them into
dowager looked like twenty years old, withered bodies, and then dis-
ago. Was her hair brown, or black, posing of them once and for all.
or red, or a certain shade of blond- But why quibble? Thousands of
ness? Was it straight or curly? How girls disappear every year, and suffer
tallwas she? What was her weight? worse fates. Perhaps. And at any
The color of her eyes? Yes, and what rate, why bother? There was millions
kind of a voice did she have? Get in this idea, millions.
all the actual details. There was. We sailed, made New
And then, go out and find the York, established connections. It
right young woman to fill the bill. was all easy —and I could use ease
Perhaps we couldn’t always get an after my gruelling experience in the
exact duplicate. But we could come land of nightmares.
close. Then we might do a little ad- No more tc ken-lam to fear. No
justment work; on
plastic surgery more desert. Sitting in a penthouse
the nose, for example. Removing a and calling up this party about the
mole, or adding one as the case girls; renting an elegant suite of
might be. Then our plan might well offices, arranging with soft-voiced sec-
be foolproof. retaries about advertising and rates.
“I’ve got it —
the final touch!” I It was a picnic.
yelled, the last day. “We keep the Dagur wore a turban, and a sat-
old dames on the premises during isfied smile. We were ready to open.
their entire course of treatments and I was surprised at the roguery ramp-
never show them a mirror for a week. ant in fine professions; we hired
Keep at them every day during the some broken-down quacks who could
fake preliminary treatments, kidding spout about “hormone injections”
them along that they’re getting and the “rejuvenatory function of
younger gradually. Psychological sug- glands” who lent excellent pseudo-
gestion, that they are losing five scientific atmosphere.
 The TCHEN-LAM’S VENGEANCE 83
There was no hitch of any kind. spected the apparatus he used, but it
Our first client was quite a wealthy was only a matter of moments after
—
woman I shall not mention names, he snapped the switch before her eyes
for she is still prominent. At this closed.
time, she was prominent only about Dagur turned out the lights and
the hips. A distinct matron type, on only a flame behind the mirrors
the verge of matriachry, blazed up. His yellow eyes closed.
He rocked back and forth. I sat qui-
'C'OR the first time we put our etly.The sleeping old face and the
scheme into operation. It click- sleepingyoung face contorted in ag-
ed. We had no trouble getting data ony as though both women suffered
on her appearance in 1923. We de- nightmares.
cided that a reduction to the age of I felt the silence, felt what stole
28 would be spectacular enough through the silence. Waves beat
without bringing too much suspicion down in darkness. I stared at Dagur’s
and incredulity into play. We got face, thought of the tchen-lam, his
our data, and I arranged for the curse on me which would never be
right girl. fulfilled. I shuddered. Perhaps we’d

My party brought the girl over, fail; that was the curse the monk
and we kept her locked up in the had meant. I began to. perspire. And
specialrooms downstairs. We did- still the three silent figures sat in
n’t treat her badly; just held her. darkness. Then the lights clicked up,
Meanwhile, the staff went to work Dagur opened his eyes wearil}'’, clap-
on our client, planted the build-up. ped his hands. The two women stir-
Finally the afternoon arrived and it red. I got the old one out of there,
was all up to Dagur. Sink or swim, into the lockedroom adjoining. Then
success or failure —Dagur must make we went back. The young brunette
good his boast or we were lost. was stretching herself lazily.
We brought the bewildered, half- This was the moment. Suppose
drugged old woman into the room of nothing had happened? Suppose it

mirrors we’d chosen. Dagur made a was the same girl, after all?
—
very impressive speech it was truly She spoke.
a masterpiece. I know, because I Then I knew. Even before Dagur
wrote it for him. She was credulous. handed her the mirror and she gasp-
She was more than willing to submit ed in incredulous joy, I knew we
to a trance. had done it.
Dagur had her out in the chair in I went into the room where the

five minutes. Then we brought in the trembling, half-crazed old woman

girl. She was hysterical, a little, but lay; the kidnapped young woman
Dagur injected morphine and then who awoke bewildered in a strange
got her under the dryer. I hadn’t in- body. I felt a certain pity for her,
84 OTHER WORLDS
but then she was obviously suffering other things bothering me — more
this way; so I did what had to be subtle disturbances.
done. They say the desert does some-
Afterward I came out in time to thing to you. Perhaps that was it.

hear our newly rejuvenated patient I’d been three years in the East on
raving with joy. I saw her hand over my mission. gone to the most
I’d
the check. Fifteen thousand. fearful city in the world and beard-
Right there I got clever on my ed the demons in their lair. I’d near-
own hook. I told Dagur about the ly died in the worst inferno on the
restrictions on banking laws which face of the globe. It might have done
applied to aliens. I deposited the mo- something queer to my mind.
ney under my own name. All money Because in the middle of the night
would hereafter be deposited. I’d wake up and think about the
There was plenty of money. The tchen-lam’s curse. Foolish? Of
woman went out. She told her story course; the man was dead.
to her friends —
but her new body But then again, he wasn’t dead.
fairly shrieked the news for her. We Dagur’s body was dead, and the
had a flood of clients. tchen-lam’s spirit. Still, the body of
We didn’t take them all. It was the tchen-lam lived, and I saw it ev-
too great a risk. A few each week, ery day, with Dagur’s eyes peering
ones we could duplicate easily with out at me.
young girls. Our fees rose and rose. The modern beauty salon, the coo-
In six months we cleared three hund- ing women attendants, all served as
red thousand, profit exclusively. a pitiful mask for secret sorcery;
There was never a hitch, never a bit for the mysteries High Asia. I
of
of trouble. walked in the Twentieth Century at-
So it was. Success at last, success mosphere of high-geared business,
with the maddest scheme of all. I but I looked into the face of a Mon-
should have been the happiest man gol priest who had cursed me. I be-
in the world —
but I wasn’t held the most incredible of all mag-
No, my conscience didn’t bother ics —the transference of souls. And
me. I’ve never had one, I suppose. I it got me.
got qualms, occasionally, when I had more and more about Ti-
I’d think
to dispose of old bodies; but then it bet; dream of the lame, goitred
came to be a routine thing. Like women in their brocaded shirts, of
changing a window display in a de- the green-coated Torgots, of the dis-
partment store, and throwing out the eased beggars in the streets of Lhas-
old dummies, sa. That was it. I ran a beauty par-
I didn’t have compunctions about lor, but I dreamed of filth, squalor,
how we got the girls, I’m
either. disease, vermin. The Tibetans are a
no sentimentalist. But there were filthy race, and I’d remember their
 The TCHEN -LAM’S VENGEANCE 85

pitted faces, their scrofulous bald Maybe I could get rid of it. Da-
heads. Looking into the yellow face gur was clever, I knew that. He was
of Dagur I saw horrid markings. an evil man, and a wise one. He’d
defied the masters of Asia. But in
/r'\NE day me
^
antique
I read a squib in the
paper. About the death of an
merchant in Canton. I
picking
wittingly
his equal if
for a partner he’d un-
acknowledged that
not his peer.
I was

thought of the Lotus of Lhassa, and I was his peer. The money was
shuddered. Had the tchen-lam taken all in my name.
it back? If so, why didn’t they learn I thought about this a lot lately.
where I had gone? Why hadn’t they I could get the money and get rid
followed me to exact the vengeance of the tchen-lam ’ s face with one quick
the priest had sworn on me? stroke —a stroke to Dagur’s heart.
Perhaps they had followed me. Perhaps my friends who brought the
Perhaps they were coming now. I got women could arrange it. Perhaps I

to sneaking into my apartment at could do it myself.

night, peering behind me on the No. Dagur was famous now, be-
street, eyeing everyone who came in- cause of the business. His sudden dis-
to our reception room at the beauty appearance would stir up trouble.
salon. —
But if the business fell . . .

But there was no one. There was Four hundred thousand dollars was
only Dagur, with his hateful yellow enough for me. Dagur wasn’t needed
face — the face of the man who cursed any more.
me; the man who was a member of I could wreck the business, per-
the cruelest sect in the world. haps, and expose Dagur. He’d take
When my about the tchen-
fears the rap. As a mere partner, not im-
lam coming after me abated, I began plicated in the actual transference,
to center my hatred on Dagur and I’d be safe. And the money was mine.
his face. I didn’t like it, or him. Then I wouldn’t see the tchen-
We never quarreled openly; too busy lam’ face, or worry about a ridicu-
making money, bnt I fancy he dis- lous curse. Why did that savage’s
liked me as much as I did him. silly threat haunt me? He couldn’t
Now we rarely met save at the sa- hurt me, dead, even though his body
lon, when there was work to be lived. He couldn’t . . .

done or planned. I couldn’t stand But he made me sweat at night in

that yellow face, reminding me of my dreams. And I had to stop that.
ancient guilt and my prophesied Dagur stopped it for me. I guess
doom. If it weren’t for that I would I under-rated the wisdom of the East,
have been able to forget; to think which is indeed the wisdom of age-
of myself merely as a successful bus- less serpents. He must have planned,
iness man. But the face haunted me. too, and his mind was subtle. I nev-

86 OTHER WORLDS
er suspected the trap.
One day he called me into con-
ference.
TT7E met in the room where the
* ’ soul-transference was effected.
It was private there, and quiet. We
sat down. Dagur began to talk to
me about quitting the business.
“Oho,” I thought. “He wants mo-
ney.”
But Dagur never mentioned mo-
ney. He just talked on and on about
how he was sick of the racket, and
now that we were both wealthy we
might retire. He talked like a friend,
like a brother. He talked until it grew
dark and the room became dim.
He snapped on the lights behind
the mirrors and I saw his yellow
face; the tchen-lam’s face that I had
grown to hate and fear. It unnerved
me, that grim reminder of unbe-
lievable days, but I could not help
staring at it. Staring at Dagur’s eyes
in that yellow face; staring as he
talked on and on in a gentle drone
and his eyes got bigger, and I saw
that face loom up. It came to me
across a burning desert, that face
stalked me over the Gobi once more.
But I didn’t resist. I was caught in
the mirror lightand the voice-drone
and the staring eyes. I was lost in
Dagur’s eyes.
The face was big as the desert
now. I was lost in the face. I was
lost. The tchen-lam was all about
me, and I couldn’t resist. I felt my-
self sinking.
Myself. What was myself? A dark
—
blur, a liquid blur that could flow.
Flow out of my body, into that face.
Flow out, because all my being was
concentrated on that face. Flow out
into mirror-gleam and voice-drone
and yellow face. I was ooze in dark-
ness, I was flowing, flowing . . .
Then the chuckling laughter woke
me, shook me into sanity. I opened
my eyes, shocked to realize they had
been closed. Dagur was laughing at
me. He snapped up the lights and he
was laughing. Dagur was laughing.
—
No / was laughing!
But how could I be? I was sitting
here, and the laughter came from my
face across the room.
Then I knew. Dagur had tricked
me. Like he tricked the old women.
He’d put me into a receptive state,
—
subtly hypnotized me and changed
bodies. Changed bodies. The body he
stole from the tchen-lam he now gave
to me, and stole my own.
Dagur laughed. I could only trem-
ble as he mocked.
“I know your mind, my friend. I
know what you were planning for
me. But I beat you to the draw, as
you would say. The money is all in
—
your name well it is in my name,
now. I am you. It was written from
the first that this must happen, and
you didn’t know, of course.”
I stood up. Or my body did. The
tchen-lam’s body. I couldn’t think,
or hear, or feel. I staggered to a mir-
ror. I stared down at the lean, emac-
iated form. I stared into the hateful
yellow face I feared and dreaded
the face that was now my own for
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 The TCHEN-LAM’S VENGEANCE 87
all time. he has. Yes, you are going to suffer
I began to laugh, uncontrollably. at his hands.”
Within a week, staring at the face, Dagur left. I was standing in the
I should go completely mad. Was this
twilight, brain reding. It was too
the tchen-lam’s vengeance?
sudden, too mad; the climax of a
“I shall leave you now,” Dagur nightmare.
was saying. “Of course, there is
But the real climax was yet to
nothing you can do. I am glad of
come. “You will suffer at his hands,”
your assistance. I thank you for the
money, and for ridding me of a body
Dagur said. Filthy Tibetans? Glad
I was beginning to dislike for certain
to get rid of the tchen-lam’s body?
obvious reasons. The Tibetans are so
How could that body harm me when
I was in- it?
filthy, you know?”
What did he mean? Then I glanced down at the
“Yes.” Dagur was opening the strange yellow claws that were now
door. “It is all in the stars, my my own and I understood everything,
friend. In giving you the body I am quite completely and quite horribly.
unwittingly carrying out the curse I was going to suffer at the tchen-

of the tchen-lam, I suppose. He is lam’s hands, truly so. For I stared

dead, but remember what he said at those hands, and knew the truth,

about making you suffer by his own knew the dead man’s vengeance.
hands? It seemed impossible for him I was in the body of the tchen-lam.
to fulfill that threat, but I fancy And the tchen-lam had leprosy 1

THE END

Look for MERIT BOOK'S Next Science Fiction Hit

WORLD OF By Rog Phillips

IF
An outstanding story by one of the leaders in
the science fiction field. Author of TIME
TRAP, WORLD’S WITHIN and many other
science fiction classics

35c - AT ALL NEWSDEALERS NOV. 5 - 35c

If your newsdealer cannot supply you write to
CENTURY PUBLICATIONS, 139 N. Clark St., Chicago 2 ,
III.
Illustration by Joe Tillotson

88
 THE BIG DEALER
t3, William C. Bait",

Could this crass commercialist be allowed

to migrate to a planet where money did not
exist? What could he do to damage "utopia?"

D ANSY’S

tecture,
office, in spite of the
foreignness of Medlarian archi-
gave Trent a feeling
gested, sitting down. Seeley lowered
his bulk into the adjoining chair.
“Well?” Dansy asked irritat-

of relief. Bureaucrats on three plan- ingly, stylus poised over a paper.

ets, he surrounded
reflected, all “Come, come! What’s this all

themselves with the same outward about?”

trappings of office. There was not Seeley’s florid features paled.
the slightest doubt in his mind that “What’s the meaning of this reptil-
Dansy represented Government, ian deception?” he gritted.
whatever form it took on Medlar. A
buzzer sounded softly. “One mo-
His office was spacious and pleasant- ment,” Dansy said, leaning over to
ly cool. Light, springlike air moved flick a switch, A small telescreen
the filmy drapes that shielded them cleared and colored. Dansy exchang-
from the sun. ed a few words in a tongue foreign
Medlarian government was prob- to Trent’s experience, and switched

ably democratic at that, he decided. it off with obvious irritation.

Certainly Seeley didn’t seem to be in The bureaucrat turned back to
awe of it. He led with his right the Seeley, one eyebrow raised in super-
moment they reached Dansy’s lit- cilious question. “What was it,

tered desk. again?” he asked, reverting once

“You know this man, don’t you again to Interstellar, the lingua fran-
Dansy?” he demanded. ca of the Galaxy.
“Of course,” Dansy said curtly. “You told the Council that Trent
“And what are you doing here, was from Bel’pris,” Seeley burst out.
Trent?” His lean, controlled face “A deliberate deception!”
told nothing. Dansy heaved a sigh. “Oh
The Terrestrial grinned. Things snakes,” he said wearily. “Please,
seemed mixed up enough without any Seeley, we’ve asked you
do a job.
to
help from him. He jerked his head Orient this man, won’t you? And
toward Seeley. “Ask him,” he sug- keep out of things that don’t con-

89
90 OTHER WORLDS
cern you. Over here, please,” he know why Bel’pris wanted to get rid
called to the clerk who had half- of this man?”
entered the room, and then started to “No.”
retreat as he saw that Dansy was “Well, go back a little. You recall
engaged. the decision of the Galactic Union
The bureaucrats took the papers in the case of Terra. Even though
from him, and busily scratched his the Terrestrials had not conquered
signature to one after another, bare- space, the Union revealed itself in
ly bothering to read them. He gave time to rescue the population from
the impression the interview was the oncoming nova. But do you re-
over. call the bizarre culturethe Union
Seeley’s rounded
reddened jowls found on Terra?” He turned his icy
with the implied insult. “See here, smile back to Trent. “Haven’t you
Dansy,” he growled. “You’re not told him about it, Trent?” he asked.

going to fob me oft' this way. Liz- The Terrestrial sank farther back
”
ards! This man is not from Bel’pris! into his seat. He might as well have
“Well?” Dansy asked coldly, been on Bel’-
in the Proctor’s office
without looking up from his letters. pris, he reflected. Once again his ec-
“He’s a Terrestrial!” Seeley cried, onomic motivations were being prob-
“A barbarian! And will prove noth- ed and dissected clinically, and be-
ing!” His heavy fist banged Dansy’s ing exhibited as an unbelievable an-
desk in emphasis. achronism.
Dansy’s unexpected smile cut “He never asked me,” Trent said
with the numbing surprise of a care- sullenly. They waited him out. “Oh,
lessly handled razor. “He doesn’t all right,” he said. “We called it an
look like a barbarian,” he said ju- enterprise economy. It was a deal
diciously. “Do you feel like one, where each guy did his best to get
Trent?” control of some of the instruments
The Terrestrial laughed. “To tell of production, and to cut off a slice
the truth,” he said. “I feel very for himself. We called it profit. Ev-
much at home right this minute.” erybody made his living that way, or
It was the bureaucrat’s turn to by getting payments for services from
pale. His tanned, leathery face grew somebody who was making his living
sallow. “Don’t overestimate your po- that way.”
sition,” Dansy snapped, throwing his Seeley was startled. “But how
stylus down on top of the heap of could you?” he demanded. “I thought
papers. He called out loudly in his that Terra was considered civilized,
own tongue, and the clerk whisked in a sense. You can’t possibly mean
in and out with the signed sheets. that a sort of economic warfare ex-
He turned back to Seeley. “Your isted between all persons?”
attitude is perfectly silly. Don’t you Trent waved his hand wearily.
 THE BIG DEALER 9i

“They didn't understand it on BeP- savage just enough information to

pris, either,” he said sourly, as Dan- keep him from starving to death
sy accepted another call on the visi- while he is here! Orient him your-
phone. “But that’s the way it was.” self!”
“Seeley! Lizards! Seeley, come
rT' HROUGH with his call, Dansy
t
back here! ” Dansy roared. “Snakes! ”
A was chuckling softly, his razor- he said to Trent. “You’ve ruined my
sharp smile slicing Seeley apart. “A whole morning. Sit still, will you,
deception, eh?” he laughed. “Don’t I’ve got to shufflemy appointments.”
you think Trent’s economic back- For the first time in his few cons-
ground is divergent enough to give cious hours on Medlar, Trent was
us the acid test? Snakes! He’ll be alone. It wasn’t much different from
the perfect demonstration that di- BePpris, he told himself bitterly.
vergent economic mores will not make Once again he was seated in the of-
immigrants dangerous to Medlar.” fice of “authority.” Once more he

Seeley heaved to his feet. “You was the nub of a dispute. He wrig-
demagogue!” he snapped. His face gled and stretched to dispel the stiff-
quivered with ire. “You offend my ness of deep sleep. Funny, he
his
intelligence. This unlettered savage, reflected, he had never thought that
this barbaric neophyte, could not Proctor would dare to deport him
possibly test or prove anything. He from BePpris. Illegal as all hell, he
will be completely lost, so amazed, knew. They had stuck the needle in
so unable to understand what he sees him without warning, right in the
on this planet that he might as well middle of one of those wild scraps
be blind, deaf and dumb!” over his conduct. Medlar could hard-
“Reptile,” Dansy taunted him. ly be any worse than BePpris. Its

“He was thrown off BePpris,” he climate, if one day was any test,

continued with acid relish. “Because was the sweetly odiferous balminess
he raised hob with their economic of June. Good thing, too, because the

system. Oh, no, my isolationist clothes they had given him would
friend, Trent is the perfect case. He barely have made the last veil in

will prove the point.” the Dance of the Seven Veils.

“Don’t you think it’s time,” Trent Dansy strode nervously back in-

demanded “that somebody gave me to the office and resumed his seat
the pitch around here? What the hell at his desk. He sat for some time
is this all about?” regarding Trent with a distinct ex-
Seeley turned and stamped ang- pression of distaste.
rily from the office. “You sha’n’t “This was Seeley’s job,” he final-

compromise my position, Dansy,” he ly told Trent. “After all, he’s a psy-

called over his shoulder. “By having chologist, and supposed to know how
me present when you feed this poor to handle these things. Well, here’s
92 OTHER WORLDS
the picture. sy told him. “Skilled in all mechan-

“You know you are in Medlar. ical things. Long ago we mastered
You know why Bel-pris was so hap- the problem of scarcity by an organ-
py to offer you as our first immi- ization of our planet’s production
grant when I got in touch with the on so thorough and scientific basis
Union on the subject.” that all things which can be manu-
“First immigrant?” Trent inter- factured or grown are present in suf-
rupted. ficient quantity to make them free
Dansy replied, with an
“Yes,” goods. Just imagine, if you can, and
oddly smug smile. “You haven’t seen you’ll soon get achance to see it all,
Medlar yet. You will be astounded a world consisting almost solely of
Trent, when you do. This planet is engineers, operating the most fan-
a veritable Utopia. We have an ab- tastically automatic production ma-
solute unique economic set-up. Our chinery in the known Universe.
forefathers felt that if we permitted Imagine a world where every article
immigration, we’d be swamped. They of food, clothing, social care, com-
were afraid different economic back- munication, transportation and basic
grounds would tend to break down accommodation is free for the ask-
our carefully balanced productive ing. Any citizen can have as much
culture. In the lasthundred years or of all of them as he wishes.
so, a good many have felt that
of us “Imagine a world where the pro-
was short-sighted, and that carefully ductive segment of the population is
limited immigration couldn’t actual- less than ten percent, where thirty

ly do any harm. The Council recently years of training is needed to take

agreed to give it a trial. You’re the the simplest factory job, where ten
result.” years of work as an engineer is a full
“What’s so queer about your ec- career, where the average citizen ex-
onomic set-up?” Trent asked. pects to live the next hundred years
“It’s not queer,” Dansy said test- in graceful retirement.

ily. “The proper perspective is to “You notice our clothing, and how
say that we reached economic ma- suited it is to this day. Thanks to
turity long ago, before any planet our control over climate, each day
of which there is any record.” is the same. Our whole planet is a
“Just words,” Trent sneered sour- gloriously landscaped park, bathed
ly. “You’re hiding the pea.” in perpetual Springtime!” He stop-
Dansy compressed his lips for a ped, rapt with the vision he had
moment, as if repressing a sharp re- conjured for himself.
tort. His eyebrows flickered, the fa-
miliar sign of resignation to Trent’s 'T'URNING back to Trent, he was
Terrestrial peculiarities. all business again. “We have
“We are an ancient culture,” Dan- given you a full citizen’s rights, ex-
 THE BIG DEALER 93

actly as if you had served your pro- No means no economic sys-

trade
ductive stint, and had retired. You tem. No
economic system means that
can requisition all free goods. You you can’t disrupt our economic sys-
will find our laws much like those tem, because there simply isn’t any.”
of Bel’pris. In general, you’ll stay There was a little more of it, to
out of trouble if you don’t do any- the same effect. added up to
It all

thing that will harm others.” He the fact that Trent was stuck. He
stopped and waited tensely for was considered Work was
retired.
Trent’s comment. It was not the out of the question. Worst of all,
wonderment he had expected. Dansy refused to discuss the chance
“Are you ever full of crap,” Trent of going back to Bel’pris. “I
his
said irritably. “No system could ever know dump, Dansy,”
the place was a
satisfy everybody’s wants.” Trent protested pathetically. “But at
Dansy stifled his anger. “Pay at- least it had something in common
tention!” he snapped at last. “I with Earth, bless her vaporized soul.”
didn’t say that. Only those things “I can’t understand you,” Dansy
which can be reproduced are avail- said, plainly puzzled. “What more
able in free supply. Naturally any- could anyone want than Medlar? But
thing limited by its nature, such as as for going back to Bel’pris, your
works of art, real estate, antiques so-called ‘deals’ there have made you
and so on, is not a free good.” most unwelcome. We can’t discuss
“What the hell,” Trent insisted. it.”

“Then your economical system re- Dansy was clearly becoming im-
volves around them.” patient to get rid of him. “Tell the
Dansy sniffed. “I suppose your un- guard at the gate you want an air-
lettered mind would think so,” he car,” he told Trent. “Tell him you
admitted loftily. “But it doesn’t hap- want to go to Dapreen. He’ll dial it.”
pen here. Our culture is what you “Dapreen?”
would call non-pecuniary. We don’t “Yes. A little University town near
have the medium you and other plan- here. I think you’ll get along better
ets call ‘money.’ Instead each citi- with young people. And they may
zen gets a fixed amount of consum- get something out of observing you,
ing power for scarce goods at regu- for that matter. If you want any-
lar intervals. His consuming power thing, call Central Depository on
is not transferable to other citizens. your visiphone,”
It’s merely a bookkeeping idea, act- “Suppose I don’t get it.”

ually. He can only transfer his utils “But you will. Snakes! Everybody
to the State. Thus, in spite of the does.”
fact that some things are in scarce Trent shook his head angrily. “I
supply, because we do not have ‘mo- mean, supposing it’s a scarce item?”
ney,’ there is no ‘trade’ in them. “Oh. I should have told you. You’ll
94 OTHER WORLDS
get a thousand utils each yan, the rived at the time of year when most
way all do. Your thumb-
citizens students were spending a couple yan
print will let you draw on your util in travel in connection with their
credit at central. And your assets on studies.
Bel’pris have been converted into As a location, it had some bene-
utils at an arbitrary rate. You have Trent quickly found a professor
fits.

some consuming power to your cre- of languages and pressed forward his
dit.” study of Medlarian speech. There
“How arbitrary was that rate?” was, he soon discovered, little or
Trent asked, getting to his feet. nothing else for him to do. His quar-
“Thirty credits to the util. Toads! ters left nothing to be desired. He
Now will you go? I’m busy!” could cook his meals there, or he
could have them sent in ready-cook-
'T'RENT went. The aircar sum- ed, or, if he preferred, could eat in

moned for him was completely the nearby inn. It made no difference
automatic and Once the
pilotless. which way he got his food. It cost
guard had dialed his desired destina- him nothing. He just asked for what
tion, it sealed itself and fled with a .he wanted, and he got it. Because
silent, enormous surge of power to there was none other to be had, he
the southeast. At cruising altitude retained Medlarian dress in spite of
Trent could clearly see that the coun- its briefness, and found that he could

tryside rolled away evenly to every have as much of any article of at-
horizon. Its clean greenness was cut tire as he wanted to carry away with

up by homes or estates scattered him. It was all meaningless, of course.

rather uniformly, many of them near He could have a warehouse full of
water. Twice they passed over what it and been no richer.

he took to be industrial installations, Worst of all, there seemed almost

but of such enormous extent and per- no games or amusements in which
fection of planning that it took his he could participate. The sports Med-
breath away. larians enjoyed lefthim cold. Their
Trent got one quick look at Da- books were too foreign to be enjoy-
preen, his new home, as they rip- able, for the struggle of translating
pled back through the sonic barrier the written word made reading a
to the accompaniment of a renewed chore. The theatre on Medlar, he
and diminishing wail of slipstream. found, was something to participate
The University buildings were the in, not to observe. But in some ways
main feature of the place. He guess- the unkindest cut of all was the
ed that his commodious apartment fishing.
was actually located in one of the Trent first noticed the fish while
dormitories. It was almost deserted, leaning idly on a bridge and looking
for he discovered that he had ar- moodily into the limpid water of a
 THE BIG DEALER 95
stream near his quarters. He had guage difficulty. But that was just
wandered away from his
dispiritedly the start of the disappointment. It
seemingly pointless studies of Med- seemed fishing for sport was all but
larian speech. His walk appeared to unknown on Medlar. Yes, it had been
get him nowhere. From one perfectly done, it wasn’t completely foreign to
tended lawn, to a neatly kept spin- them, but the equipment was not
ney of trees, to a quiet pool in the in free supply. It seemed that you
willows, to the next lawn, it was all had to employ an artisan to make
the same. There was no one about. it for you.
The soft, balmy breeze and occa- Acouple more calls established
sional twittering of birds were his was
that the nearest qualified artisan
only companions. “Like Sunday some hundreds of miles to the East.
morning in the country,” Trent re- Even that wasn’t so bad. An aircar
membered. “Everybody in church. responded quickly to Trent’s sum-
The world at standstill.” Nostalgia mons, and spanned the distance at
for an Earth that was no more welled ultrasonic speed. That’s where the
up within him. He rested his elbows truth came out.
unthinkingly on the cool polish of
r
the marble railing of a bridge. ‘
T''HE artisan was located in a lit-

For a while his unthinking eyes ^ tie shop that had, for all its

told him he was looking at a sunken functional architecture, a curiously

log. Then its smooth undulations dis- Eighteenth Century look about it.

pelled the thought. Trent was not allowed in to see the

“A big, lazy carp,” he growled, artisan himself. His time, it develop-

but his voice broke into a shout as ed, was too valuable for mere talk.

the finny creature exploded from the An aproned apprentice, frighteningly

water in a dazzling leap to snare a impressed with the seriousness of it

large, birdlike insect common on all, took his order in the front of
Medlar. the shop.

“You’re a game cookie!” Trent “Yes, I see what it is that you

cried, running along the railing to want,” he said. “And I’m quite sure
1

catch another glimpse of the fish. He that Fenner can make it. I suppose
had instant thoughts of playing it that we should use noble alloys, to
on light “Baby, you weigh
tackle. prevent corrosion.”
ten pounds, or I’m a Digger Indian,” “Yeah,” Trent agreed, leaning on
Trent mused. He retreated quickly we used
the counter. “Stainless steel,
to his apartment and dialed Central to use. Bronze is okay for the bush-
Depository on the visiphone. ings, but there ought to be jewelled
It wasn’t very happy. He finally end plates.” He sketched what he
got across to the operator what a could remember of the workings of
fishing reel was, in spite of the lan- the brake on his casting reel. The
96 OTHER WORLDS
apprentice twisted his neck as he long will it take to make it?”
tried to follow Trent’s inexpert “Oh, just a couple days, when
draughtmanship. “And a gimmick we get to it,” was the answer. “That
like that to prevent backlash,” he can’t be until next yan, however.”
concluded. “How many days?” Trent said
“All very clear,” the other said, suspiciously, still not familiar with
picking up the sketch and turning Medlarian calendar practices.
it so he could examine it right side “About forty,” the other said.
up. “Wait a few moments. I will “And I have a preliminary estimate

speak to the estimator.” on cost. We can’t guarantee it with-

It took a little while. Eventually in less than ten per cent, however.”
the apprentice came back, several “Oh, close enough,” Trent said
sheets of paper in his hand. amiably. “How much do you figure
“Sit down,” he invited, taking off it will be?”
his apron and walking out around “About fifteen thousand utils,”
the counter. said the apprentice, consulting his
Trent frowned, but decided to papers. “A little higher than I
make as much fuss over the matter thought at first.”

as the apprentice wanted. Trent sat statue-still for a moment.

“We can give you rough sketches “How much?” he demanded.
in about ten days,” he told Trent. The apprentice raised his eyes.
“In the meantime we can order in “Fifteen thousand,” he repeated.
some of the special materials re- “Are you kidding?” Trent asked
quired. Fenner thinks the alloys you incredulously. “Why, that’s a year’s
mention are not used here, but he income. Fifteen yan to a year, aren’t
feels sure one of our magnesium-ir- there?”
idium materials will meet your re- “Yes. But, snakes, man. It’ll take
quirements. If not, the beryllium- two, perhaps three days to make it.

platinum alloys will be suitable.” An artisan’s full time, do you under-

“Platinum,” Trent grinned, re- stand?”
membering that he was living in an It took a little while to make it

economy of plenty. “Sounds nice.” sink in. After a space Trent could
He chuckled. “Diamonds for the end begin to see it. In an economy where
plates, I suppose?” machines did everything, the output
“Of course. Carbonado -black dia- — per worker was so immense that a
monds,” the apprentice said absently. man’s time was almost infinitely val-
“I think we’ll use that for bushing uable in any other occupation.
materials as well. We are not fa- That ended the fishing expedition.
miliar with the bearing metal you Trent was so disgusted he revolted
spoke of.” at the idea of fishing with a hand
“Okay, fine,” Trent grinned. “How line. “The hell with it,” he told him-
 THE BIG DEALER 97
self as his aircar fled through the mope around the way you’ve been,
pufly cumulus of perpetual spring- you’re quite right. You’ll rot before
time toward Dapreen. you ever get back.”
“Snakes, yourself,” Trent snarled.
rT''HE visiphone in his apartment “If you’re so damned sure I can go
A recorded that a call had come back, how come you waited so long
in during his absence. It was the to call me?”
first time in his several yan on the Seeley’s fat lips sneered at him.
planet that anyone had seemed to “I overrated your intelligence. It
care whether he lived or died.With hardly seemed to me that anyone
some excitement he dialed the num- with your economic background
ber on the call slip. The glowing would need any coaching. But as
whiteness of the screen colored soft- long as you stay a tame little sav-
ly and cleared to display the ruddy age, and don’t make Dansy any trou-
jowls of Seeley, the psychologist, in' ble, of course he’ll keep you here.

its frame. The background was a You’re playing right into his hand.”
little out of focus, but Trent de- “And what the hell would you do,
cided his caller was at home. if you’re so smart?” Trent yelled at
“Hello, citizen Trent,” Seeley said him. “I’m hamstrung at every turn-
sharply. ing!”
The greeting seemed a little odd Seeley shook his head pityingly.
to Trent. “Hi,” he replied, still ting- “If you haven’t got the sense to see
ling with anticipation. He hoped for that your only chance to get back
almost anything to break the bore- lies inupsetting Dansy’s predictions
dom of his existence. of your ability to harm us, I can’t
“Well, citizen,” Seeley went on see how you ever fared very well
wth a heavy insistence not clear to in the economic society you told us
Trent. “How do you find life in you were born to. Or have you no
your new home?” understanding of politics whatso-
“I don’t have to find it,” Trent ever?”
said sourly. “They cram it down The screen went blank.
my throat.” But not Trent. He lit up like a
Seeley didn’t find that funny. “I spectacular fireworks display. “Of
thought you would be on your way course,” he told himself, leaping to
back to BePpris by this time,” he his feet. “What a jackass!” He
declared, wagging his head decis- strode rapidly back and forth in his
ively. apartment, letting the full impact of
“Back!” Trent exclaimed. “Dan- Seeley’s idea penetrate. He knew
sy wouldn’t even talk about that. what was in the back of the other’s
Swell chance I’ve got.” mind. Medlarians were conditioned
“Snakes!” Seeley swore. "If you by their long environment against
98 OTHER WORLDS
silly use of the productive machin- when it rang the next time.
ery.But he wasn’t! “Just how silly “Your order for diamonds,” she
can you get?” he wondered. He began.
made a brave try at it. “Oh, swell,” Trent gushed. “Are
The operator at Central Depository they ready?”
didn’t get it straight at first. “Hardly,” the chief operator snif-
“Yeah, I really mean it,” Trent fed. “Am I correct that I am speak-
said,shoving the grin from his face. ing to Trent, the Terrestrial immi-
“Big thing back home on Earth, dia- grant?”
monds. I’ve always wanted to have “Sure thing, kid,” Trent grinned.
my fill of them, and now’s the time, “I see. Will you please get in touch
I guess.” with Dansy at Administration?”
“Would you please repeat your “Why, all right, if you say so,”
order,” the operator said, frowning. Trent agreed. “But let’s not get off
“Sure,” said Trent, all willingness. the subject. How about those rocks?
“I want some blue-white diamonds. I’m sitting over here pining my lit-
Nice big ones, say about forty or tle heart out for them. Can they get
fifty grams apiece.” He grinned wry- here tomorrow?”
ly, remembering that there were five “Dansy can help you,” she said,
carats to the gram. He was merely ending the conversation.
asking for stones of 200 to 250 carats
each. 'T'RENT waited until the next
“Now I’d like those brilliant cut,”
A morning, and went to Admini-
Trent went on, as if he were order- stration himself, thinking that he
ing pork chops. “And as close to would rather take on Dansy’s cool
identical as possible.” shrewdness face to face than over
There was a little trouble over how the visiphone.
much a gram was, which Trent The bureaucrat broke away from
straightened out by reference to the a meeting to speak to him in the
weight of a known volume of water. foyer outside his office. Balmy air
That part was all right. sighed through the open windows,
“Now, how many did you say you rippling their filmy garments.
wanted?” the operator went on. “What is it, Trent,” he asked im-
“Oh, I guess a metric ton would patiently.
do for a starter,” Trent told her “I’m having a little trouble get-
breezily. “That would be twenty ting delivery of free goods,” Trent
thousand stones. How soon can you told him reproachfully, hooking his
send them over?” haunch on the corner of a desk. “The
She would have to call him back chief operator at Dapreen told me
on that. It took quite a while. The to see you about it,”
chief operator was on the screen “Toad!” he snapped. “She told
 THE BIG DEALER 99

you to cell me. Can’t you see I’m “I was afraid of that. Well, you
busy?” shall have them.”
“Still, you’re a public servant,” It was Trent’s turn to feel sick.
Trent reminded him. “Let’s step in- “What?” he said weakly.
to your office for a couple minutes Dansy began to grin thinly. “Oh,
and hash this out. I seem to be get- I said you shall have them. Can’t
ting off on the wrong foot. I don’t you get it through your head that
want to make any trouble for you our plenty is to all intents and pur-
people.” poses infinite? I can’t honestly think
Dansy’s narrow eyes popped open you decided on this silliness yourself,
at that. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he or you would have gotten around to
said a little shrilly. “You can’t make it a good deal quicker. Still, you

any trouble for us. Oh, all right,” shall have them.”
he gave up. “Come on in. Snakes!” Trent winced at the accuracy of
Trent stood up winked at Dansy’s the lean bureaucrat’s guess, but did
clerk and followed the Medlarian in- his best not to give Seeley away.
to his office. Friends were too few on Medlar!
His desk was still piled high with He tried to put a good face on it.
the paraphernalia of bureaucracy. “Swell, Dansy,” he said, as hap-
Trent eased himself into a chair be- pily as he could. “It’d be nice to
side the desk. “I ordered some dia- get them tomorrow.”
monds” he began. “Yes, wouldn’t it?” Dansy agreed.
“I heard” Dansy said wearily. “Unfortunately, we have never found
“Lizards! Do they have to bother a way to speed the methane bomb
me with every little decision?” He process.I understand it will take
buried his narrow forehead in his about two years to grow crystals of
hand for a moment. that size. We’ll set up the gem cut-
“Trent” he said at last. He sound- ting machinery in the meantime, so
ed sick, that cutting will only take a few
“Yes?” hours. Please make arrangements to
“About those diamonds.” store the gems when you get them,
“What about them?” eh, Trent?” He raised his tired eyes
“You have a real use for them, of again.
course?” The Terrestrial sat perfectly still.

“Does matter?”
it “Two years,” he finally said.
He looked up. He was beginning “About.”
to look sick, too, Trent decided with “Um, Say, Dansy, I’ve had a
an inward grin. “No, I guess not. change of heart,” Trent told him
You want them”
still rising dispiritedly to his feet. “Just
“Dansy, of course I do. I pant skip the whole thing.”
for them!” “Oh, no,” Dansy insisted. “Not at
100 OTHER WORLDS
all. no trouble.”
Please. It’s But see here, Trent, in other times
“Never mind,” Trent said bitter- the sport was practiced. I feel sure
ly, dragging his feet toward the door. you will be able to find the neces-
“You damned politician!” he snarled. sary equipment.”
Dansy laughed hollowly behind his “Central Depository couldn’t help
back. me,” Trent reminded him.
Riding back to Dapreen Trent “I was thinking of that,” Seeley
thought of a few choice things to replied. “Why not insert an an-
tell Seeley about his hot idea. He nouncement in the visicast? Indicate
dialed his number the moment he you are willing to trade something
was back in his apartment. The of value for a reel.”
psychologist answered promptly. There was a long moment of si-
“Hello, dad,” Trent greeted him lence. Trent could feel a knot of
sourly as soon as his solid features tension bind within him. “I guess
swam pinkly out of the milkiness of I don’t understand, Seeley,” he said
the screen. cautiously, half fearful that what he
“Well?” Seeley demanded. hoped was not really true. “What
“You struck out,” Trent told him would I say?”
acridly, relating what had happened “Why, something like this: ‘I wish
in Dansy’s office. to exchange with someone for a fish-
Seeley raked out the names of a ing reel and would appreciate hear-
few more reptiles in the Medlarian ing what any present owners con-
version of profanity. “Toads!” he sider would be a fair exchange.’ You
consoled savagely. “What are you might draw a little sketch, so that
going to do?” the viewers will have no doubt what
“Listen to my hair grow, I guess. you have in mind.”
For Pete’s sake, I can’t even go Trent kept his face stiff. “I didn’t
fishing.” know this sort of thing went on,”
“I don’t understand
your refer- he said.
ence,” Seeley replied, squashing his “Oh, it’s not frequent,” Seeley
eyebrows down in a heavy frown. agreed. “Almost anything can be se-
“What is ‘fishing’?” cured from Central, but antiquarians
Trent described the sport. “But, and collectors sometimes resort to
as I live and breathe, some joker these exchanges. Is it clear now?”
named Fenner tells me it’ll cost me “Yes, I guess so,” Trent assured
fifteen thousand utils to have a reel him. “I’ll try it.”
made. Did you ever hear anything “I hope you are successful,” See-
like that? Fifteen thousand utils!” ley told him, with the show of
first

“Ah, Fenner,” Seeley replied friendly emotion Trent had seen on

thoughtfully. “A highly skilled arti- Medlar. “You certainly can’t have
san. Yes, it would cost that much. much of an existence the way things
 THE BIG DEALER IQI

are now. It would be pleasant if you equipment needed “to sport for
could enjoy a sport with which you fish.”
are familiar.” Less than ten minutes after his
“It sure would,” Trent said soft- announcement had been broadcast all
ly, and switched off the ’phone. “It over the planet, Trent was electrified
sure would, Seeley,” he went on to by the soft signal of his visiphone.
the blank screen. “But I’ll bet you’d He jumped to touch the “accept”
never guess the sport I have in mind. stud. The full color screen lit milk-
Oh, baby!” ily, colored and discolored a Med-
larian apparently seated in his study
T^OR many minutes Trent sat in or den, and who held in his hand
A rapt concentration. The revela- what was unmistakably a casting
tion that simple barter occasionally reel.
took place on Medlar completely “Bingo!” Trent hollored.
changed things. Barter, exchange, the “I beg your pardon?” the image
buying and selling of the market said.
place, that was something he knew “That’s it,” Trent told him.
the way he knew the roof of his “That’s what I’m after. What do you
mouth. After hadn’t he been a
all, want for it?”
stock-broker before the threat of old “A ticket to the quarter-finals at
Sol’s explosion had forced Earth’s Loom.”
population to flee in the ships of “Sold!” Trent cried excitedly, his
the Galactic Union? speculative instincts rushing to the
It made a big difference. It might fore. He remembered to jot down
even make the difference of a trip the call number of the other’s ’phone
back to BePpris. Seeley hadn’t been before the image faded from the
wrong about one thing, he knew. The screen. He dialed Seeley in a frenzy
only way he would ever get back of excitement.
there would be by making so much The psychologist marked his rec-
trouble that Dansy would have to ognition of the caller by a heavy,
agree that immigration was a mis- pouting frown. “So,” he said to
take, and send him back. That would Trent. “It’s the fisherman.”
take some doing. “Hey, Pop,” Trent crowed hap-
He decided he might as well start pily. “I’ve bought myself into a
the ball rolling with the fishing reel. jam. What are the quarter-finals at
If worked with
it that, it would Loom?”
work with anything. “That’s what he wanted?”
Planet-wide coverage on the visi- “Yeah. What is it?”
cast required only a call to Central. Seeley waved a me&ty hand. “Our
The half-minute announcement was traditional sport. The
eight ranking
illustrated by a drawing of the teams meet in an elimination contest
102 OTHER WORLDS
at Loom
each year. The ancient stad- At his request both the holder of
ium holds but 60,000. Apparently the ticket and the owner of the reel
the owner of the fishing equipment had sent theirwares to him by air-
wants an extra ticket.” cab, rather than by post. Holding
“Well,” Trent insisted. “How do the reel in his hands, Trent began to
I scrape one up?” realize that in fact he was looking at
“You mean you don’t have one?" a ticket to Bel’pris. With the cost of
“Of course not,” Trent snapped advertising nil, and with transporta-
impatiently. “How ...” tion and communication free, he saw
“But how could you accept his that he could conduct a planet-wide
offer?” Seeley demanded gruffly. operation in bartering at little or no
“That was a deception, Trent. You cost to himself. Medlarians, he knew
must call him back at once.” instinctively,were the world’s worst
“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” Trent pro- traders, having little or no contact
tested. “I told him I’d get him a with the idea of bargaining and hag-
ticket, and I will. I’ll take my chanc- gling over chattels. He knew he could
es on what it me.”
costs make a killing.
“I don’t understand your atti- He was so certain that his trading
tude,” Seeley said severely. would quickly mushroom to the point
“Does
it matter?” Trent groaned. where Dansy would have to put a
“How do you ordinarily get a tick- stop to it, that he made no effort
et?” he insisted. to put the thing on a formal basis.
“Surrender utils to Central Depos- For a while he specialized in old chi-
itory.” na, then tapestries seemed to have a
“Why doesn’t this guy do that?” good currency. But that had its vogue
“The games are sold out. They and he switched to old books, docu-
have been for six yan.” ments and autographs. The collector
“Oh,” said Trent, deflated for a instinct was, to his surprise, not as
minute. “Okay, dad, I got it.” He well developed as he would have
broke the connection. thought in a world where so few
That meant a second “advertise- things were scarce. Even so, by ju-
ment.” He got a number of responses dicious swaps, he had accumulated
from people willing to exchange a within a few yan scarce goods worth,
ticket to the games at Loom for at Central Depository rates, at least
scarce antiques. The best deal he 100,000 utils. His apartment at Da-
could make, in terms of utils, was preen was completely jammed with
with a woman who wanted an addi- casesand cartons, and it became as
tion to her collection of china. The much a problem to keep track of
piece she wanted was available at what he owned, and to dig it out of
Central and cost Trent 70 utils. With the pile, as anything else.
the ticket, he swapped for the reel. But then Trent realized that his
 THE BIG DEALER 103

hoard really could be considered was nursing a fat, vindictive smile.

“capital,” and that he could use some There was no doubt harsh words had
of his stock of scarce goods as in- been exchanged before Trent got
ducement to other citizens to assist there. He flashed Trent a glance of
him. The first free good to become recognition, and immediately return-
pressed for supply because of his ac- ed his gaze to feast on Dansy’s dis-
tivitieswas visicast time. But addi- comfiture.
tional wave lengths were assigned “You!” Dansy barked in Interstel-
and the volume of business continued lar. “Sit down! Squirming snakes!
to grow. Central gave him more floor And you get out! ” he bawled in Med-
space when at last he had completely larian to his clerk, who had just
outgrown his quarters. At such a come back into the room. All three
pace the whole planet could not help watched the minion scuttle out. “And
but be aware of his activities. Trent stay out!” Dansy yelled at the clos-
had definitely become a significant ed door.
factor in Medlarian life. The visiphone buzzed insistently.
Dansy could not long delay a call “And no more calls!” Dansy bellow-

under such circumstances. Trent ed at the top of his lungs, not both-
looked forward to that meeting with ering with the communicator to his

relish. H» had the knife in deep al- outer office. The buzzing stopped
ready. Now he had but to twist it, abruptly. It was all music to Trent’s

and back to Bel’pris he’d go! ears. He could feel his belly warm
Dansy’s message w'as curt. It was with anticipation. It was going to be

an out-and-out order to come to his one red hot session!

office. “Now, in the name of seven creak-
ing turtles,” Dansy demanded. “Let’s

HpHINGS were really hopping at get this thing straightened out. What
office. His desk
the bureaucrat’s about it, Seeley?”

was an apparently hopeless jumble “What about it?” the psychologist

of papers, half of which looked as echoed indignantly. “See here, Dan-

though they had been thrown down sy, you called this meeting.”

in anger. Dansy was on the visi- “Only in the sense that somebody
phone when Trent was ushered in, had to put a stop to your wild bel-
facing a purpling image in the screen. lowings,” the bureaucrat snapped
Dansy shouted a savage final phrase, sharply. “Well, tell Trent, and let’s
full of reptiles, at the screen, and get it over! What a bore you people
broke the connection with a smash are! ” He propped his forehead wear-
of his hand. He turned back to Trent, ily with his hand. Trent felt a mo-

glowering darkly. mentary misgiving. Dansy seemed to

It wasn’t until then that the Ter- be shielding a grin. It didn’t fit.
restrial saw Seeley. The psychologist Seeley bridled a moment. “Very
104 OTHER WORLDS
well,” he said stiffly. “It’s this ridic- “Certainly,” Dansy grinned. “Any-
ulous hawking of wares that you are thing at all. Fine. Glad to help you.
dinning in all our ears. ‘Trent and As a matter of fact, we’ve been con-
Company will exchange this for that!’ sidering asking you to join the Ad-
Snakes! We’ve all had enough of ministration. Your operation would
it! You’re disrupting our whole be a real adjunct to Central’s clumsy
life!” methods.”
“Tell him the rest,” Dansy urged,
his face half-hidden behind his hand. ^ 'RENT saw his whole world col-
“You know, the despicable barterer A lapsing about him.
|
He only
part.” vaguely heard the rest of it, but he
Seeley flashed him an angry glare. knew he had refused Dansy’s sug-
“Yes,” he said. “You are that. A gestion that he join the Administra-
haggler!”' tion. Dansy’s reply had merely been
Dansy broke into hearty laughter. to tell the both of them to get out
“Seeley,” he told the other. “As a of his office, and a reptile-laden re-
psychologist, you are a fraud. Can’t quest to Seeley to stop making a
you see those are not terms of re- fuss over every little thing.
proach to specimen?” He turned
this He
found his way out to a waiting
to Trent. “Allow me to make up for aircab with feet that seemed to wend
those wretched epithets,” he said their own defeated way. He saw it
with mock courtesy. “You fair trader. now. Dansy could not admit his mis-
You maker of good bargains.” He take without prejudicing the Admin-
laughed again. istration. As long as the thing was
“You
are surprised?” he demand- not clearly insupportable, he’d let it

ed. “No, don’t bother to answer. See go on. After all, Trent’s activities
here, Seeley, we’re more than satis- were a drop in the bucket in the
fied that all who trade with Trent whole scene on Medlar. New, yes,
feel they get the better of the bar- but not overly significant.
gain. After all, the exchanges were Before he had entered the cab, See-
voluntary, weren’t they?” ley stamped out of the building and
“Lizards!” Seeley fairly screech- strode heavily across the flower-bord-
ed. “What has that got todowithit?” ered greensward toward him. They
Trent felt the situation was get- exchanged bitter glances of defeat.
ting out of hand. It was high time “May I ride back with you?”
to stir thepot once more. “Say, I’m Seeley asked.
glad to hear you think so,” he told “To Dapreen?”
Dansy. “We’re running out of space “Yes. Do you mind?”
down there again. I’ll need your help “Oh, no. Come along.”
to take over the rest of my build- Seeley heaved himself into the cab.
ing.” Trent dialed their destination and
 THE BIG DEALER 105

they surged smoothly into the air, ac- a way to get yourself deported!”
celerating powerfully. The tortured He was obviously in earnest, and
shriek of slipstream vanished abrupt- his remarks so plainly not motivated
ly as they passed through the sonic by any dislike of Trent, that the
barrier with an uneasy shudder. The Terrestrial was forced to laugh. “Do
acceleration persisted for perhaps an- I really affect you that way, Seeley?”
other thirty seconds, until they reach- he chuckled.
ed cruising speed. Something like fif- “Snakes, yes!” he exclaimed. “I’m
teen hundred miles an hour, Earth sure you know there is nothing per-
style, Trent knew. sonal about my feeling, Trent. In
In the quiet of trans-sonic speed, spite your behavior, I honestly
of
Seeley broke his silence. like you. Even Dansy, I am con-
“That was a perfect turtle of a vinced, is repelled by your haggling
trick Dansy played on us,” he said, antics.” He glanced in wry amuse-
more thoughtful than bitter. ment at the Terrestrial. “But even
“I forgot,” Trent admitted. the ultimate haggler is powerless in
“Forgot what?” a community devoid of economic mo-
“Forgot that the absence of an tives.”
economic system doesn’t have a “Don’t be silly,” Trent said ab-
damned thing to do with whether you sently.
can have a political system. You “What do you mean?”
guys act just like the rest of the “There isn’t any such. You guys
Galaxy when it gets to politics.” all have economic motives. It’s just
“You mean we should have ex- that the mechanics aren’t there. No
pected this from Dansy?” money.”
“Sure. He’s got too many chips “No, no,” Seeley told him didacti-
riding on me. He can’t quit now. cally. “You’re wrong. We really have
Every time he seems to lose, he just no economic motives.” He seemed
doubles the stakes and lets it ride.” proud of it. “How can we?” he en-
Seeley swore a couple reptiles. “It larged. “In this perfectly organized
galls me to admit Dansy was right,” world of plenty, where every nor-
he said. mal desire is immediately capable of
Trent flashed him a glance of in- satisfaction? Trent, don’t you rec-
quiry. “About what?” ognize Utopia when you see it?

“That you could not actually up- There can be no economic motives
set us economically. And I know in Utopia!”
you’ve tried. I honestly can’t imagine Trent regarded him for a moment
a creature with more obnoxious mot- of silence. “Tell me something, See-
ivations than yours. I doubt one ley,” he asked. “You have a thous-
could exist. Really, there are so and utilscoming to your credit next
many of us who wish you could find yan, right?”
io6 OTHER WORLDS
“Of course. Everyone does.” ium you call money. Nor enough
“Would you mind if I had Dansy that its inhabitants are not govern-
arrange for you to get that credit a ed by the drives that it is your cus-
year from now, ratlier than next tom to employ in your activities. No
yan? In other words, do you have Much worse. The political situation,
any objection to waiting a year for with Dansy and the Administration
next yan’s credit?” committed to the stand that your
“Certainly I do,” Seeley replied. activities can not be harmful, makes
“Why?” it hopeless for you to try any farther.
“Why?” Come, my Terrestrial friend, admit
“Yeah. Why do you care whether it.There is everything that is beau-
you get the credit next yan or a tiful and peaceful here. I realize we
year from now?” have all wronged you in thinking
Seeley was flustered. “Don’t be that you were no more than a bar-
silly,” he sputtered. “Why should I barian. Surely your hoard of scarce
want to wait a year?” goods will permit you to acquire a
“That isn’t the question,” Trent country home. Settle near me. Join
pursued. “Why should you care if our relaxing social life. You are but-
you have to?” ting your head against a stone wall.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” Seeley “Thanks, Seeley,” Trent said in all
said pompously. The rapid decelera- sincerity. “You are very kind. But
tion of the cab, and prompt reap- me,
this place is just plain prison to
pearance of the scream of slipstream no matter what it is to you. Sure,
as they reentered the sonic range I could go fishing for the next fifty
stopped further conversation. years, but I’ve got an idea your fish
Trent got out when they touched are so well trained that they would-
down at Dapreen. Seeley leaned for- n’t put up any fight. Nothing is any

ward fatly in his seat to bid his fight around here, except bucking
adieu. “I may be going back to Bel’- Dansy and trying to get back to
pris after all,” he told the psycholo- Bel'pris. I’m going to make a ca-
gist.“You’ve just convinced me it reer of it. One more try, anyway.
can be done. I’ve been asleep at the This time, I think I’ll get that crafty
switch.” snake.”
“I sincerely hope you do get de- “I wish you well,” Seeley said.
ported,” Seeley said without animosi- Trent stepped back, watched the
ty. “But this last set-to with Dansy cab seal itself, rise in a quick, neck-
has persuaded me you never shall. creaking spiral and hurtle at an in-
Trent, think what you’re, up against. human pace to the West.
It is not enough that you are trap-
ped on a world devoid of an econ- QLOWLY he walked across the Un-
omic system, without even the med- ^ iversity common, past wildly
 THE BIG DEALER 107

blooming beds of iris and tulips, past ening.

meticulously landscaped pools, “Good,” Trent said briskly. “Iil
wreathed in dwarf willows. The soft order what I need today. If I have
breeze sighed sadly through their pli- any trouble getting immediate ship-
ant osiers. Carefully he ran the ment, I’ll refer Central to you. All
scheme over once again in his mind. right?”
It was the tickets to the games at Dansy wiped his palms on his brief
Loom that would do the trick. tunic. He considered his reply care-
The games which he had temp-
for fully. “Perhaps we should make our
orarily held a ticket had already arrangements a little more formal
been played. But in a few days Cen- before you expand,” he said at last.
tral Depository would put on sale “What arrangements?” Trent
tickets for the next year’s games. wanted to know.
Four quarter-finals, two semi-finals “About your joining the Admini-
and the finals, Trent remembered. stration. We’d expect to have con-
Sixty thousand tickets. That should trol over your operations, of course.”
do it, he decided. “Oh, I wasn’t thinking of that,”
Walking slowly back to his clut- said Trent. “I’d like to continue on
tered apartment, he resolved to call my own. I was just anxious about
Dansy that afternoon. He got the the equipment. But if it’s available,
bureaucrat with little delay. of course, I wouldn’t like to have
“You made a suggestion today,” any trouble getting it.”

Trent reminded him. “Snakes!” Dansy snapped. “Now,

“Yes?” see here. I replied as I did with the

“Something about my joining the thought in mind you’d be joining

Administration.” us.”
“You are interested after all?” “What difference does that make?”
Dansy inquired, a tiny frown of dis- Trent asked blandly. “It’s available.
pleasure forming on his dark fea- Make damned sure I get it, Dansy.
tures. Seeley would give you a hard time
“Perhaps. I was only thinking, if if he thought you were putting obsta-
I were to do that, I’d need quite a cles in my way.”
littleequipment. Say forty or fifty He broke the connection to save
visiphones, and a batch of that elec- himself Dansy’s wrath.
tronic filing equipment I saw in your Trent and Company were back in

outer office. And some more space.” business. In their new quarters Trent
“Probably,” Dansy conceded cau- had up fifty visiphones, each
set
tiously. manned by a citizen willing to give
“I take it we could get it if we some of his spare time in exchange
needed it?” for some part of Trent’s hoard of
“Certainly.” The frown was deep- scarce goods. The electronic files oc-
io8 OTHER WORLDS
cupied the upper floor, and were va- stricted his own activities to careful
cant except for entries reflecting his control of the “prices” that Trent
remaining inventory of scarce goods. and Company bid and asked for
The first advertisement had the scarce goods. For their internal book-
character of all the others. Trent and keeping purposes, they were ex-
Company offered to exchange scarce pressed in utils, but Trent was care-
articles for tickets to the games at ful to avoid engaging in actual com-
Loom. The Terrestrial knew that his petition with Central Depository by
every action was closely followed by enforcing the rule that all exchanges
Dansy. The first sign was the initial were goods for tickets or tickets for
offering price for the tickets by Cen- goods. His fifty “employees,” intel-
tral Depository. Realizing that ligent Medlarians as they were, with
Trent’s offer would increase the de- careful bargaining rules to follow,
mand, Central’s price was fifty per- were able to handle the actual de-
cent higher than the preceding year. tail of trading.
Quarter-finals sold for thirty utils,

the semi-finals for sixty and finals npHE first tip-off that the explo-
for ninety. .
sion point had been reached
In spite of the higher price, they came when Seeley himself called by
were taken up all over the planet as visiphone and insisted on talking to
quickly as in other years. Of the Trent personally about a trade. The
420,000 ticket holders, Trent and Terrestrial broke his rule of never
Company, had soon received inquir- handling a transaction himself.
ies from nearly half. Then it was “Sorry to bother you,” Seeley said
time, Trent knew, to get out the from the screen. “But I felt that I
second advertisement. Visicasts car- knew you well enough to ask for
ried several times each day the re- your personal attention.”
verse announcement that Trent and “Sure, sure,” Trent told him. See-
Company were offering tickets to ley did not seem particularly excit-
the games at Loom in exchange for ed. Perhaps amused was the word.
scarce commodities. His thick lips twitched in the be-
With the electronic files to keep ginning of a smile.
the work running smoothly, the op- “I have an unusual problem,” he
erationwas a dream. The office act- confessed. “I own a Tolset crystal
ed more as a clearing house than goblet. Properly, I should have a
anything else. Only a small part of pair of them. I’m thinking of ex-
the goods traded for tickets, one changing for an additional one, or
way or the other, were actually getting rid of the one I have. It
brought to Dapreen. The files kept will depend on what I can get in
track of their location, and deliver- exchange, or what I will have tQ give
ies were made by aircab. Trent re- up for another.” He smiled happily.
 THE BIG DEALER 109

“By fortunate coincidence,” he went Trent told him.

on. “I have a ticket to the finals at “That’s a reptile of a thing to do,
Loom. Now, I wonder, what can you Trent,” Seeley said.
do for me?” “Cute, isn’t it?” Trent replied.
“You old son of a gun,” Trent “Any law against it?”
grinned. “Just like that, eh?” “There soon will be,” Seeley pro-
Seeley’s smile was innocuous. “I mised. “If Dansy has any sense.
beg your pardon?” he said. My apologies, my mercantile friend
”
!

“Sure. Skip it,” Trent replied. The image faded.

“Well, Seeley, no use beating about They didn’t give Trent long to
the bush with you. Wait a minute think about it. Dansy’s summons was
till I get the quotations.” He dialed peremptory. Get to his office, and get
the proper code on the electronic there fast!
file. He glanced at the little visi- Trent was late, by design. His
plate and saw the buying and selling wager that Seeley would be there
prices quoted on the goblet. had been shrewdly made. The Med-
“Central has that goblet. They larians had been together just long
want 104 for it.” enough to get purple-faced with rage,
“Yes?” but not long enough to come to
“Well, to be frank, we’re offering blows, Trent decided on first glance.
101 for that goblet. That is to say, Dansy’s office was in a ferment.
scarce goods including a ticket to The visiphone buzzed every few sec-
the games valued at not more than onds, and his staff were scurrying in
101 by Central.” and out for brief whispered confer-
“That’s three per cent less than ences.
Central’s price,” Seeley figured. “Hi, kids,” Trent greeted the oth-
“Yes. Now, the other way. We down without in-
ers breezily, sitting
have a Tolset goblet, too. You can vitation. “Been chewing the fat? Or
have it for scarce goods including a each other’s ears?”
ticket to the games valued at not Both Medlarians exploded with
less than 107 by Central. Or, figur- rage.
ing on your ticket, which Central “Something ...” Trent tried to
values at 90, we’ll give you scarce begin.
goods valued by Central at not more “Shut up! Both of you!” Dansy
than 87.3 for it.” ordered. He swung back angrily to
“Urn.” Seeley figured. “You want the psychologist. “We will not let

three per cent more than Central’s you capitalize on this thing!” Trent
price for another goblet. And you could see a difference in Dansy. This
offer three per cent less than Cen- was no pretense of rage and annoy-
tral’s price for a ticket, is that it?” ance, as had been the previous ses-
“You can figure it that way,” sion. Dansy was mad clear through.
no OTHER WORLDS
And worried, too, Trent guessed. The “Well, this time it has to stop,” he
visiphone buzzed. told Dansy. “Unless you’re foolish
“What now?” Dansy snapped at enough to let him continue until
the image in the screen. the games are played.”
“Is he there yet?” Trent heard Trent didn’t bother to answer.
the speaker say. Dansy had looked that far ahead.
“Yesl And for snake’s sake, let “Don’t be an utter salamander!”
me handle him!” He swung back to the latter said. “He’ll start all over
Seeley, and Trent realized with a with tickets for the following games! ”
sickening drop in his stomach that “Silly boy!” Trent taunted him.
Dansy had referred to Seeley, not “What?” The two Medlarians
to Trent, as the one who had to be were looking at him in obvious puz-
handled. It was starting off all wrong zlement.
again! “I can expand right now. Surely
“If you think you can make pub- Central will take orders for tickets.
licyour conversation with Trent,” I’ll deal in futures!”
Dansy stormed at Seeley. “No,” Dansy said finally. “This
“You’ve been eavesdropping!” time you are joining the Administra-
Trent interrupted reproachfully. tion.”
“Of course!” Dansy snapped at “But I don’t want to,” Trent pro-
him. “A conspiracy ...” tested.
“Libel!” Seeley bellowed. “And you don’t have to.” Seeley
“Suffering lizards,” Dansy groan- told him. “This is intimidation^ Dan-
ed wearily. “Do you think we need- sy. You can’-t bottle this man up to
ed that, Seeley? Our auditors have protect your insane policy of immi-
gone all over his records.” gation. Trent is proving my point
“My records?” Trent demanded to the hilt. Do you think he is
incredulously. “How could you? The unique? Or that there are no other
staff is on duty around the clock.” economic problems that other classes
“Your files are electronic,” Dansy of economic mores won’t introduce?
said, as if that explained everything.' Either he keeps his freedom to act
“So?” or we rule out immigration. That’s
”
“We tapped your circuits and read my position !

them,” he said testily. “Reptiles!” Dansy snapped. “Who

“And you discovered?” Seeley cares about your position? It’s what
asked. Trent wants that counts.”
Trent laughed. “They discovered “I’ve already told you what I
my personal holdings of scarce goods want,” the Terrestrial protested.
have increased three million utils in “But did you think ahead?” Dan-
four yan.” sy demanded. “You can’t overlook
“So fast?” Seeley murmured. the fact that your eventual return
 THE BIG DEALER hi
to Bel’prisdepends on your success- hoped, he was back on Bel’pris. His
ful economic orientation here. You stabilizing vision recognized the
know your Proctor wouldn’t want Proctor’s stern frown across the ta-
you within ten light years of Bel’pris ble. Better yet, Dansy was seated
if he thought your stay in this money- beside him, still dressed in his brief
less world hadn’t changed your out- Medlarian attire. The darkness un-
look.” der his eyes told that he had not
Trent laughed at him. “If that’s been long out of his deep sleep,
your ace, Dansy,” he chuckled. “You either.
played it too damned late in the He wriggled erect.
game.” He gave way to laughter “Well,” Dansy said bitterly.
again. “You’re back, Trent.”
“What do you mean?” the bureau- Trent cleared his throat, hoarse
crat demanded, ridges of doubt fur- from disuse during the deep sleep
rowing his brow. of the interstellar voyage. “I’m not
“You wouldn’t even discuss my re- on Medlar, anyway,” he observed.
turn to BePpris before. I decided to “But I’m not so sure I’m back on
settle down here. I like it. Why Bel’pris. Eh, Proctor?” he asked the
should I want to go back? I never Bel’prisian official.

had it so good. And anyway, in a The Proctor growled deep in his

few more yan I’ll be holding so heavy chest.
you could never arrange transfer of “Why do you say that?” Dansy
my assets to Bel’pris.” asked cautiously.
“Primordial reptiles! ” Dansy gasp- “You wouldn’t be here if it were-
ed softly. “Trent! I never thought n’t to make a deal for Bel’pris to
of that! All right. Trent, you go take me back. And the Proctor is
back today!” scared silly I’ll make a shambles
“No!” Trent shouted. “I insist on here again.”
”
my rights! I’m a citizen! I . . . Their silence was confirmation of
He never saw the minion who his guess.
plunged the deep sleep needle into “It’s okay,” he told the Proctor.
his shoulder. He had a momentary “I’m going to retire anyway. No
feeling of triumph as he felt the more big deals to drive you crazy.”
rigor steal over him. “Nice if you’d do it,” the Proctor
growled. “But why should I think
npRENT was conscious of no per- you will?”
ceptible time gap as he awoke. “Oh, simple. Dansy’s going to buy
He squinted his eyes against the me out on Medlar and transfer my
first dazzling moment, and centered assets here. How does that sound
his spinning senses on his last recol- to you, Dansy?”
lectable thoughts. Yes, as he had “Salamanders!” he swore. “You
1 12 OTHER WORLDS
have a price, of course?” and get rid of me. What’s it worth?”
“Why, yes,” Trent smiled. “I was “Name a price,” Danny said.
thinking that ...” “Well, say ten million utils.”
“Forget it!” Dansy snapped, lean- “What?”
ing tensely across the table. “What the hell,” Trent said magni-
“What?” maniously. “Ten million with what
“I said to forget it. We’ll talk I’ve got. I’ll surrender the scarce
about nothing until you tell me how goods owned by Trent and -Company
you did it.” and retire, all for ten million.”
“Did what?” Trent asked. “But ten million!” Dansy gasped.
“Oh, all right,” Dansy said im- “You have barely three million.”
patiently. “We know what you were “Don’t be dense,” Trent snap-
doing. But why did it work? How ped. “After all, you have to buy my
could Trent and Company charge future profits, too.”
one hundred and three per cent of “Snakes!”
original util cost for what it sold and “Cheap at the price,” Trent urged.
yet only bid ninety-seven percent of “Ten million utils,“ the Proctor
that price for the same article when mused. “Let’s see, we transferred
it was buying? How could it get your credits to Medlar at thirty to
takers both ways? What was unique the util. That would give you three
about tickets to the games?” hundred million credits, eh?”
“Nothing at all,” Trent told him. “Urn,” Trent gloated, basking like
“It would have worked with anything a cat in the thought of it.

of a fungible nature. You guys were “Well,” agreed the Proctor. “That
just getting a good quantitative look ought to keep you out of trouble.
at the relative value of liquidity, of We’ll take you back on that deal.”
being able to convert your assets into “Lizards, man,” Dansy protested.
liquid form. Your economic motives “We’ll have the reptile of a time ar-
were enough like the rest of the Gal- ranging that kind of transfer.”
axy to make you prefer present to Trent stood up. You kids rassle
future consumption. In case -you’re that out,” he said agreeably. “I take
interested,we poor unlettered Terres- it I’m free to go my own sweet
trials used to call it the short term wealthy way?” he asked the Proctor,.
rate of interest.” “I guess you are,” he admitted, a
Dansy thought for a while. “I see little gloomily.
it now,” he admitted. “Sweet, suff- Trent laughed again. “Cheer up,
ering lizards! Then there’s no end pop,” he advised the Proctor. “I
to it. You could go right back and won’t make you any trouble from
start all over, regardless what price now on.One really big deal in a
Central put on tickets to the games.” lifetime is enough even for a Ter-
”
“Sure. So you’d better buy me out restrial!
I FLEW
IN A FLYING SAUCER ( Conclusion )

B, Cae Jl.V.Q.i.

The giant space ship engulfed the Project Saucer

investigator, and bore him on the strangest flight
of his career — to a moon that was invisible !

(Summary of Part i)

(Author’s Note'. This story is part T HAD just landed my plane when
fiction. Jt is to be regarded as noth- the emergency flare announced a
ing else. However, the factual por- pilot in distress. But it was not a
tions are a combination of personal flare; it was a brilliant blue -white
experience by the author, and of the disk, highabove the clouds, at least
personal experiences of others who 40,000 feet up. Barney, the tower
have viewed flying saucers. These operator, was getting strange static
factual portions of the story are dis- on his radio. The disk above was gi-
guised only in the names of the per- gantic, rivaling the moon in appar-
sons involved, including myself. The ent size, directly above the city sky-
actual incorporation of these facts line to the west. It was traveling at
into a fiction story has been done least 800 miles per hour. All at once
by Ray Palmer, whose on flying
file it turned on edge and shot up into
saucers is not exceeded anywhere in the stratosphere, disappearing many
the world, except perhaps, by the miles up.
files of Project Saucer at Wright The radio was screaming at us;
Field in Ohio, and the files in the lieutenant Archibald was coming in
Pentagon. Let the reader judge for for a dead-stick landing. As he came
himself what his attitude toward this in,he told us how he’d also seen the
story should be. It is presented giant disk; but now, he said, a
purely in an effort to entertain, but tiny one, not more than 30 inches in
by its very foundation, much of it diameter, was chasing him. Suddenly
should prove thought-provoking .
it went straight up into space.
A.V.G.) Archie crashed his plane, washing

13
Illustration by Bill Terry
114
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER US
out the landing gear, but was unhurt. in a bloody pulp.
The next morning Major Raiden- Then he told me how his motor
jurst, my commander, got me out of “froze” and even his prop had stop-
bed to be questioned by two men ped revolving. Like it had been high-
from Project Saucer — Riley, ly magnetized. And he’d felt a
who was a captain, and Wellington, strange electric prickling. He said the
a lieutenant. They proceeded to try big disk was 250 feet in diameter.
to convince me what I’d seen was Both of us bought cameras, de-
either meteoric phenomena, halluci- termined to be able to prove our
nations, or just a plain upset stomach. stories if we ever saw a flying saucer
But strangely, they questioned me again.
about whether or not my plane had Two weeks later Archie got his
acted up before I’d seen the “reflec- pictures. But Major Raidenfurst in-
tion of my dash lights in the win- formed him that they would be con-
dows.” fiscated, and must be developed by

They yawned and asked me to Intelligence. Archie insisted on be-

make out a detailed written report. ing shown the films afterward, and
Then, still looking bored, they left. the Major agreed he saw no reason
I looked up Archie, in the coffee why not.

shop, and told him Major Raiden- But the pictures came back “over
furst had informed me both our exposed” with no flying saucers on
planes had been dismantled and the them. All there was on the whole
motors shipped to Washington; and film was a pair of photos of Archie’s
that they’d gone over the ships with girl friends, standing beside his plane.
a Geiger-cmnter comment was that they
Intelligence’ s
They hid given Archie the same were nice dishes, but hardly flying
routine about hallucination, and he saucers.
was mid about it. He wanted to Archie really was mad; he’d been
know why he wasn’t grounded if he literally “captured” for several min-
was seeing things, as, if that was utes by two huge saucers who had
true, he was unfit to fly an army frozen his plane in mid-air and held
plane. He told me about Charles it motionless while they apparently
Fort and how flying saucers have inspected him from a distance. There
been seen for centuries. He swore had been portholes, but nothing vis-
they weren’t Russian or American. ible in them. Inside was a glow like
He was going to buy a
also said he neon lights. They they had turned
good camera and get a picture of transparent, and vanished!
one, if it killed him. He pointed out Archie showed us how the camera
that whoever was in that disk could was still set as he’d left it, and since
take maneuvers that would plaster a Intelligence had said he’d used time
human against the side of the ship exposure, the idea of over-exposure
n6 OTHER WORLDS
was not on that ground. device." It was. But whose? There
To our surprise, Major Raiden- was no answer.
furst suggested Archie use color film. The object suddenly took off, and
Apparently he believed more than he I followed. It headed straight for
would admit . . . me, as if to crash me. I lost my
The next day Archie disappeared, nerve and veered off. It came again.
after a frantic radio thatwas cut off This time 1 decided to crash it. But
in the middle of a sentence. He’d it made the evasion this time, and
sighted what he said was a space ship. hurtled up into space and disap-
And he’d tried to get a picture. His peared.
last words: “Barney they’re going to — The students confirmed me — the
ram . . . object had been there, visible at the

This was the same day a National last.

Guard flyer got killed chasing “Ve- I called Wright Field. They seem-
nus.” Only it wasn’t Venus. ed to be surprised at my informa-
It was a week before we found tion that I’d heard a flying disk
Barney’s plane, or what was left of “talk.” But they said I was prob-
it. Only the motor and one wing. ably hypnotized by my dash-lights.
Where the rest went was a mystery. Only I’d had my dash-lights out.
We didn’t find Archie. I got per- The next morning Riley and Wel-
mission from Major Raidenfurst to lington arrived. They came to the
continue the search; Archie might point immediately . Would I join Pro-
have bailed out, and was now lost ject Saucer as an investigator? “What
in the mountains. Even finding his for, chasing butterflies?” I asked.
body would be better than this un- They showed me a picture of a
certainty. flying saucer. They admitted flying
Two months went by, and I gave saucers were real. That they knew
up the search. Then, flying with a nothing about them. They said it
bunch of rookies, Barney came over was a dangerous job they were of-
my radio to tell me there was a ra- fering. I thought of Archie . . .

dar indication of an “ object ” on my “I’ll take it,” I said.

tail. I sent the students back toward I took off for Wright Field in the
the field, and tried to close in on it. morning. But I didn’t get there. Two
There was nothing. Then, all at once, hours in the air, I saw a giant golden
I went paralyzed and I saw the — globe coming in from space. It seem-
same sort of small disk Archie had ed a mile in diameter. I began tak-
told me followed him. ing pictures.
It seemed studying me. I heard a was a brilliant orange-gold col-
It
voice in my mind saying not to be or and suddenly it struck me that
afraid, and answering my mental it was hot. Incandescently hot. But

question about it being a “spying not from friction from its airspeed,
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER 117

certainly. The thing seemed to radi- ing appearance, it wasn’t hot. My

ate heat of its own. I could not fed plane hung motionless in the air, its

it, but the impression was tremen- motor dead. A flickering covered the
dous and terrifying. area of the great globe nearest me,
Although it was going slowly now, and the golden color darkened. It
I became painfully aware of the fact wasn’t as though an entrance bay op-
that 1 had waited too long, that I ened, as the limits of it weren’t that
couldn’t get out of the way. This definite. There was a curious flicker-
thing was going to crash into me — ing, rolling, frosting-like appearance
if it didn’t burn me to a crisp before of the edges.
contact. Then I was inside.
1 dropped the camera and nosed The world was gone. I might as
my plane down into a steep slant, well have been on a strange planet
putting on all thepower. If there for all the Earth me. AH
meant to
was any way to get clear, I intended around me was that brilliant golden
to do it. blaze, and for many seconds my eyes
But right then came that strange
, refused to give me correct informa-
numbing paralysis, that sense of sta- tion as to what I was seeing. My
tic energies coursing through my mind found it difficult to interpret
plane and my body, and in my mind the signals my optic nerves were car-
a voice: “Don’t be afraid. You will rying. But finally I orientated to the
not be harmed. We are friends.” point where I realized I was on the
inside of a brilliant photosphere of
3fC
golden light, which blazed and flick-

ered like the energy screen it ap-

PART 2 parently must be. When I realized
this, I turned slowly in my plane,
Conclusion fighting the paralysis that made mo-
tion difficult, to try to see what was
T QUIT thinking. In the face of at the center of that golden sphere.
-* this unprecedented phenomenon Obviously my plane still floated in
there was no rationalization possible. the air. It seemed to be the same
I was faced with the unknown, with sort of air as that outside the sphere;
the thing that had “never happened I could breathe normally.
before.” I had nothing to go on. I When my head had turned enough
was like an ape out of the Earth’s to see what was at the center, my
dim past thrust into New York city befuddled brain lost all ability to
in a twinkling. I was a fish out of interpret correctly. It was like a
water. dream which is constantly shifting,
The bulk of the giant object loom- and assumes no definite shape that
ed upon me, but in spite of the flam- can be recognized, but keeps the
 —
n8 OTHER WORLDS
dreamer in continual bafflement. tantly as being the control rooms.
There, floating before me, at the Here were men —
and women —
center of the golden screen was a dressed in what obviously were uni-
huge— forms. Brilliant, beautiful, matchless-
Could I call it a ship? ly faultless uniforms of unimaginable
Or would I say it was a plane- materials.
toid? Others of the people on the ship
Was it a “structure” or not? wore simple white garments, like to-
It seemed to be a giant crystal. gas, or colored garments ranging from
But then I saw that it was only full capes to mere skirts and breast
had defi-
crystalline in formation. It bands.
nite geometrical form, and its com- My plane had floated now to the
plexity was amazing. It was hard to side .of a sparkling crystal wall. It
fix on any one line or plane surface opened inward and admitted my
and thereby gain any concept of what ship, which settled to the floor while
portion of the whole it was. I studied the wall closed behind it. My paraly-
it for long minutes and came
finally sis lifted. I found myself able to

to the concept that it was a geo- clamber out of the plane to stand
metrical figure, roughly egg-shaped in swaying on the crystal floor of the
form, composed of thousands of int- giant room in which I found myself.
erlocking shapes that grew more and The brilliant light of the photo-
more definite as I began to geomet- sphere outside made me squint, and
rize them into their proper places. the extreme brightness kept me from
All at once I knew what it was staring too long with my eyes wide
a giant ship made of many-colored enough to see much.
crystal.There was regularity in it,
rows compartments, plane sur-
of T)UT I did see the man who stood
faces that resolved into walks and ” before me, dressed in a brilliant
ways and rooms, and machines and red and yellow uniform. He was smil-
mechanisms that seemed to flash ing, and he was extending a hand.
with moving lights instead of mov- Feeling like an utter fool that I

ing parts. was unable to understand all this, I

And there were people. reached out and shook hands with
Hundreds of people. him. The contact suddenly made the
They were regarding me from the whole thing real, and I came down
They
giant crystal ship with interest. out of the tumbling clouds of my
thronged the walk-ways and peered mental confusion. I was standing on
from within the transparent walls of a crystal floor in a space ship of
individual compartments. Up on giant dimensions, shaking hands with
“top” of the ship was a series of a man like myself. And he . was
compartments that struck me ins- speaking English.
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER
“Do I seem to be an illusion to mean me,” said Archie, gripping my
you?” he asked. hand and pumping it up and down
All at once I laughed. He had vigorously. “Boy, it’s good to see
broken the spell completely. “You you! Welcome to the good ship Star
sound like Army Intelligence,” I of Indus.”
said. “I just had a couple of
wish I “Archie — ” I said falteringly.
those birds here with me. Nothing There were tears in my eyes, sud-
can be more annoying than to be denly. “Archie, you —darned fool!
told you have been seeing things We thought you were dead! When
when you know you have every evi- I.saw what was left of your plane,
dence of reliable senses to back you ”
I was almost sure of it ...
up.” “But you kept on looking.” Archie
“I wouldn’t appreciate having any looked at me with a peculiar gleam
of ‘those birds’ with you,” he said, in his eye. “I appreciate that, A. G.
“We’re interested only in keeping You and the Major are a couple of
too much attention from being di- regular guys. That’s recom- why I
rected our way. It is part of our mended that Raharana invite you on
plan that you Earth people should a tour, and explain things to you.”
see us, .but not discover what we are, The tall man in the uniform grin-
or where we come from.” ned. “We investigated you first, to
I thought that one over heavily. make sure you’d be all right.”
“That puts me in a peculiar posi- I looked at him. “That little white
tion,” I said. ‘eye’ that gave me the going over
“Not at all,” he said. “You will the other night?”
be permitted to return when you “Yes. And your description of it

like.” as an eye is quite apt. It’s exactly

He’d known what I was thinking that. Television wouldn’t be the word
— But it had been obvious at that. for It operates on a wavelength
it.

“Not consistent with your desire to far different. But it can relay both
keep too much attention from being sight and sound, and mental waves
directed your way,” I said. as well as a hundred other things
“We -would be inclined to think you wouldn’t even suspect existed.
there was little danger from you tell- However, you nearly ruined the in-
ing anything we wouldn’t want told.” vestigation when you tried to crash
“Why do you think that?” I asked into the ‘eye.’ Actual contact with
bluntly. you might have made it too heavy
“A friend of yours says so.” to control, and might have given you
“A friend
— ” I stopped. “You a bad case of anemia.”
“You don’t mean — ?” “The thing’s like a sponge,” ex-
A
hand clapped me on the shoul- plained Archie. “He means it might
der and swung me around. “He does have ‘soaked up’ some of your .body
120 OTHER WORLDS
elements if it had made contact. As want, presto, you get it. Kinda nice,
a matter of fact, that’s why the eh?” «.

thing became visible to you, when it But what I can’t under-

“Nice!
wasn’t at first. These things, when stand is where they get all this stuff,
in theatmosphere for a time, take in just to set up quarters for you. Cer-
hydrogen and oxygen and other at- tainly they don’t ” I paused and
—
mospheric elements, which make examined a painting on the wall, an
them more tangible and visible. oil. It was framed magnificently in

What you call radioactivity makes intricately carved mahogany. “Ar-

the neon in the assimilated elements chie,” I said, a strange feeling at the
glow, which accounts for the light pit of my stomach, “if this isn’t an
generally seen in connection with the original Titian, I’ve never seen a
”
so-called flying saucers.” Titian!
Raharana spoke up. “If you two “Say!” approved Archie, “you
don’t mind, you might retire to your know your art! You’re right, it is a

private compartment and talk things Titian.”

over. I’ve got some things to do, “Look,” I said, grabbing him by
and we’ve got to get under way both arms and facing him squarely.
again. There’s an army plane coming “If that’s really a Titian, there’s no
up fast and he’ll be in dangerous record anywhere on Earth of such
range soon. We don’t want any more a painting having been executed by
accidental fatalities ...” him. I know that damn well.”
Archie grinned. I could see he was
\ RCHIE looked alarmed and he enjoying himself now. immensely
^ grabbed my arm. “Come on, “Right again,” he said.
“Then where did it come from?”
A. G., we’ll go to my little cubby-
hole.” He led me from the crystal I challenged.

chamber where my plane sat. We “Titian painted it — or its equiva-

went down a glistening corridor the lent.”
floor of which was suddenly moving, “It’s equivalent?” I asked blank-
and came almost at once to a door- ly. “What does that, mean? Titian
way. The floor stopped moving and painted it, or the equivalent of paint-
we stepped off. I found myself in an ing it? You’re not making sense.”
apartment that was the last word in “Sit down in this easy chair,” said
bachelor’s quarters. I gasped. Archie. “This will take some time to
“Archie, this is magnficent. How on explain. And if you’re going to un-
Earth ”
derstand, I’ll have to begin at the
“Not on Earth,” he laughed. “But beginning.”
this ismy idea of what Earth living I sat down in a chair that I’ll

quarters should be; and when the swear came right out of King Tut’s
‘Captain’ gets the idea of what you tomb, only it was brand new. I stared
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER 12 I

around the apartment, rapidly becom- I am. The way they explain it, there
ing more and more confused. There can be more than one of a thing,
wasn’t an item in it that any museum and each of them can still be the
on Earth wouldn’t have given a for- original.”
tune to own. Standing in one corner I waited.
was a mummy case, the gold leaf on
it shining as though were brand it T_T E stared at me a moment. “I
new. It was magnificent. Beside it, AA didn’t expect you to believe
King Tut’s case was a crude box. me,” he said, slightly exasperated.
“The case of Menes I,” said “But take that painting for instance.
Archie. When Titian was alive, he conceived
I looked at him. “Start explain- many paintings in his mind. Many
ing,” I said.“There are some things of them he did not live to put on
you can’t just pop at a guy and ex- actual canvas. But these people, with
pect him to swallow. That’s one of their marvelous science, are appreci-
them. Menes I is only a legend, so ative of art, and they keep close con-
far as actual information about him tact with genius. With a mental re-
is concerned. He was the founder of cording apparatus, they keep each
the first Egyptian civilization, which concept of an artist, or musician, or
was destroyed in some mysterious sculptor among the actual objects he
catastrophe, to be followed by a thou- creates. By some process I don’t un-
sand years of no record at all, dur- derstand, these mental conceptions
ing which Egypt might have been are given reality. In the case of ob-
an uninhabited desert for all we jects already executed, they use a
know. Besides, this thing looks new. very similar process to ‘duplicate’ it.

It can’t be the original Menes I The mental basis, they explain, is

case.” the first real thing to go into any

Archie sat down opposite me on a creation. A thought is a real thing,
magnificent rug. I stared at it while composed of electrical energy, which
he was answering me. It was a is a quality of matter. This electronic
twelve-foot sabre-tooth skin. The form is the basis for the object. Think
head was mounted complete, with of a chair, for instance, and that
gleaming ivory sabres holding it up chair needs only to be clothed in
so that its eyes seemed to stare di- wood and glue and nails to become
rectly into my own. a real chair. If you use the same
“These people have been around thought matrix to make another
for a long time,” Archie was saying. chair, you have two identical chairs,
“They have collected things like this each an original. In the basic analy-
for more ages than I can even rea- sis,there is only one real chair, the
lize. As for it being new, there you thought chair, and the others are the
are probably no more puzzled than same chair, or rather, extensions of
 ”

122 OTHER WORLDS

the same chair. Am I being clear?” Archie looked at me peculiarly.
“Youare not!” “But I said flatly. “You are here by invitation,” he
go on. I see you sitting on the skin said.
of a sabre-tooth tiger. I won’t ques- “Aren’t you?”
tion it any more than I’ll question “No. I barged in. The result was
what you say. I gather, however, —more than I expected.”
that Titian thought of this painting, I sighed. “Must you keep talking
but never got around to painting it. in riddles? So Raharana was ‘picked
And these people, using one of their up’ — just as —
you were and conse-
‘eyes,’ recorded the thought, and by quently is not dead after eleven
an electronic process, produced the thousand years.”
painting you now have on your wall.” “That’s it,” Archie blurted out.
.

Archie looked at me, his eyes “That’s part of the science of these
alight. “A. G., you’re terrific! That’s people; they know how to make you
exactly what I mean. I knew you’d live forever, to all intents and pur-
get it! You’ve explained it far bet- poses.”
ter than I did. But then Raharana found it hard to ask the next
I
said you could do it.” question. “Are you going to live for-
frowned. “This Raharana seems
I ever?”
to have some quite decided opinions He nodded. He didn’t say any-
about me.” thing. And suddenly I knew he was-
“He likes you,” said Archie sim- n’t telling me everything because he
ply- felt sure I wouldn’t believe it. I

I thought about it. “I like him, settled back in my chair. “Archie,

too,” I said, reflectively. “He struck I’m going to sit here and listen, and
me as a man the minute I saw him.” I’m not going to say another word
Archie caught what I meant. “Oh, until you’re finished.; but I want
he’s a man, all right. An Indian, to to know everything about this whole
be correct. He came from India, or- setup. Apparently, because I wasn’t
iginally, About the time of the first ‘picked up’ I’m not going to live for-
Indian civilization, eleven thousand ever, I don’t understand the differ-
years ago
— ence between you and me. So begin
“He doesn’t look that old,” I said, talking.”
slightly sarcastic. “He doesn’t even
look dead.” I could see the humor \ RCHIE got up, did something to
was wasted. one wall, and suddenly it be-
“No. He was picked up, like I came transparent. I stiffened in my
was.” chair; because outside there was no
“Like you were? What’s the mat- sign of the brilliant photosphere
ter with me? Wasn’t I picked up which had previously surrounded this
too?” staggering crystal ship. Instead, I
 ”

I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER 123

could see, far off, the tremendous no one on Earth today even suspects
sphere of the Earth. I was out in existed. I’ve talked to a woman who
space I lived in an ancient continent in the
“We’re on our way to the Moon,” South Pacific, which is now beneath
said Archie. “I might as well begin the ocean. She says she is twenty-one
by giving you the basic facts about thousand years old. But when you
what’s going on right now. First, see her, you’ll find she looks as young
this ship is under the command of as a girl of twenty-two.
Raharana, who is eleven thousand “Well, the current traffic between
years old, and who was born in what the Moon and Earth began some
today is called India, but in those three hundred years ago. All those
days was called Indus. This ship references in Charles Fort’s books
gets its name from the old nation. are references to sightings of the var-
The word ‘star’ in Star oj Indies liter- ious craft of the Moon People, and
ally means because the ship,
that, the various gadgets they use in con-
when Earth people on its
visible to tacting the Earth, such as the tele-
trips near the planet, appears like a visor eyes, the flying saucers, the
star, just as you first saw it. blue lights, the atomic rockets and
“The ship is part of an expedi- the golden spheres such as this one.
tion engaged in setting up a plan of “It isn’t very flattering to we
action on Earth that I do not under- Earth people to realize that all the
stand. All I know is that they are scientific progress of the last three
mapping and charting a plan to do hundred years is due to telepathic
something to the Earth’s atmosphere suggestion, effected by mechanical
that will change it in some way, not means such as the ‘eye’ that ‘spoke’
harmful. to you in your plane
—
“Raharana lives on the Moon. He “How did you know it spoke to
has lived there since he left
ever me!” I burst out.

Earth, he tells me, with the excep- Archie grinned at me. “I knew you
tion of several trips into interstellar couldn’t keep quiet!”
space, one of which lasted two thous- I subsided.
and years. He went on a ship like “The answer is ‘the eye’,” he said.
this one, except that it was larger “I was watching you through that
than the Earth, being nearly ten same ‘eye.’ It was done at my re-
thousand miles in diameter. quest, so you could be checked for
“Everyone on this ship originally a Your concern for me was re-
visit.
livedon Earth. As a matter of fact, ported to me, and I felt that I
everyone on the Moon originally couldn’t let you go on making a
lived on Earth. There are persons fruitless search that might only get
who lived in civilizations whose ex- you killed. So I asked that you be
istence is so remote in Time that invited to have a look-see at the fly-
124 OTHER WORLDS
ing saucers. I felt that you’d keep were.
anything you saw to yourself, inso- “I was right, and coming around
far as Raharana thinks wise. a shoulder of the mountain, I inter-
“When I made up my mind to cepted them. I must have astonished
find out what the flying saucers them as much as they did me. In a
really were, I didn’t know that I had moment I was right in the middle of
any special faculties to aid me in the formation. All at once therewas
searching them out, but it seems I a tremendous blue flash; the whole
had. It had something to do with sky seemed to light up with it. The
a peculiar structure of my eyes that saucers flipped on edge and zipped
enabled me to see wavelengths ordi- up out of sight. When I followed
narily invisible to human beings. them with my eyes, I saw the orange
Cats,by the way, have much the ball you are now riding in. It was
same ability, and some dogs. about forty miles up, hovering mo-
“That’s why those photographs I tionlessly. I didn’t know -that then,
took of the flying saucers didn’t turn the distance, I mean, but they told
out. All the camera got was a flood me later.
of infra-red that completely fogged “Just about then things began to
the film.My eyes should have seen go black, and I passed out. When
no more, but they registered wave- I came to, I was aboard this ship.
lengths that you might call heat They told me they had picked me
waves only because they were in the up ‘just in time,’ that only a swift
infra-red spectrum. emergency operation had saved my
It seems they had been laying
life.

CtnpHAT day when I was picked down a sea of gas preparatory to

up I’d just sighted a flying exploding it in the atmosphere. I

object very high over the mountains. had blundered into it, setting it off

I’d been attracted by a bright flash, prematurely. They said it had blown
then had seen a chain of shiny disks, my plane to bits.

nine in number, pursuing a weaving, “As I remembered the flash before

dipping path over the mountains at everything went black, it wasn’t any-
a speed I estimated at better than thing in the nature of an explosion
eighteen hundred miles per hour. as I understood and I didn’t pass
it,

They were flying a peculiar course, out for at least a minute after the
and I got the crazy idea that they so-called blast. There was no sound
were laying out a geometric figure to the explosion, no violence in the
of some kind. I acted on that wild air, light. But they
only that bright
hunch, and instead of chasing the insisted was an explosion, and a
it

disks, turned toward where I thought terrific one, more tremendous than

they’d wind up if they were describ- a dozen atom bombs.”

ing the maneuver I thought they “What are they doing setting off
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER 125

explosions like that?” I asked. who were ‘picked up’ and given the
Archie looked at me. “One of the permanent life treatment. If you’re
things I can’t tell you. But if I’m familiar with your Bible, you’ll re-
not wrong, Raharana will tell you member how Elijah was taken to
later himself.So let’s let that part Tieaven’ in a flaming chariot? Well
?>
of it go for now.”
I nodded. “Okay. But you haven’t I sat up straight. This skip!”
explained much yet, except what “Or one like it,” Archie corrected.
happened to you. As for that ex- “Flying saucers aren’t new, as I told
plosion, I’m inclined to believewhat you once before. Even in biblical
they told you. If you’d seen what times, people were seeing them. Ez-
was left of your plane, you’d believe ekiel, for instance. Religious writings
it. There were only two pieces ever and folklore are full of stories of peo-
found, and they were really blasted. ple who never died, but were taken
I don’t see how you could have lived to heaven on some vehicle »r other.
through whatever happened to that Well, they didn’t die, true, and they
plane, but you did, and that’s that.” went to theMoon, not to heaven.”
—
“Did they Military Intelligence “Just a minute,” I said slowly,
—examine the wreckage for radio- “are you going to tell me you’ve
activity?” asked Archie. seen Elijah?”
“They did. And they didn’t find
any. I couldn’t find out what their A RCHIE burst out laughing. “A
reason was for suspecting there might -** G., I’d never have expected
be.” you to ask a question like that. But
“They are telling the truth!” ex- before you wind up seeing ghosts,
claimed Archie. I’ll tell you that I haven’t seen him.
“Huh? Who’s telling the truth? I asked Raharana the same question,
Army Intelligence?” and he asked me when Elijah had
“No, The Moon People. If they been ‘picked up.’ When I told him
weren’t, that plane would have been the approximate date, he said he
highly radioactive!” wouldn’t know about that, as it was
“I’m sure I understand,” I mut- too recent an occurence, if it hap-
tered. pened. The Moon People have kept
“I’m sure you don’t,” Archie grin- strictly from making further pickups
ned. “But to get on, I went through for at least seven thousand years.
what you might call a concentrated Picking me up was an accident; it
course of education, during which I was necessary to save my life and —
got a quick once-over of who these as for you, you’re here only on a
people are, and what they are doing visit. There seems to be some rule
in then, flying saucers. Briefly, they against it.”
are people who once lived on Earth, “Whose rule?”
126 OTHER WORLDS
Archie admitted he didn’t know. you getting at?”
“The only reference they ever make “I’ve already got at it. Don’t you
is to the Council of Planners. Even see what I mean?”
the location of this Council is vague. “Yes — I do. But I don’t believe
All I know is that it is very far away you’re right.”
—and far, to these people, really “What if I am?”
means distance. I’d say it wasn’t Archie looked troubled. “But you
even in the Solar System.” aren’t.”

I sat thinking deeply for a mo- I sat back in my chair and looked
ment. “Then what you’re saying is at him. “Archie, do you remember
that the Moon is not a dead world, the propaganda campaign that Hit-
but is inhabited by people who have ler and Herr Goebbels put on, that
been recruited from the ranks of nearly wrecked the world?”
Earth people by some special pro- “Sure—”
cess of ‘pickingthem up’ and made “This yarn you’ve been spinning
virtually immortal by some scien- sounds like the same line,” I said
tificmeans. These inhabitants of the bluntly. “In short, it stinks.”
Moon take a great interest in af- “If I remember correctly,” said
fairs on Earth, and actually govern Archie, “the Goebbels line was the
its progress to a great extent by superman line, which the master
in
serving as the ‘inspiration’ for all race, the Germans, were the only
civilized developments on Earth. I race fitted to rule the world. And
gather that they are, for instance, there, the thing that struck me hard
the legendary ‘muses’ that musicians was the gospel of force. It was the
and composers hear, inspiring great iron fist. I don’t see how you can link
musical compositions; and the source those tactics with these?”
of inventive genius, such as the pe- There was a challenge in Archie’s
culiar way in which Nikola Tesla, voice that I liked. I rose to it. “I’m
as a case in point, invented many of not saying it’s that crude,” I said.
his gadgets which revolutionized the “I am one of the most
riding in
world, such as the alternating cur- miraculous gadgets any man has ever
rent motor he saw ‘floating’ in the air imagined. I’m here. It’s real. And it’s
before him, but which was invisible so far advanced scientifically over
to his companion. Also, that they ex- anything Earth has to offer, that it’s
ercise some sort of control over absolutely certain that their propa-
Earth people to see that they do not ganda would be equally superior to
go too far along the road of pro- ours. However, there is one weak-
gress —
far enough for instance, to ness in it that seems very apparent
learn also how to live forever, or to to me, if it is propaganda at all;
travel to the Moon?” that is the extremely distasteful one,
Archie stared at me. “What are of the concept that nothing we on
 ”

I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER 127

Earth do is done of our own effort you’d be some needle in a haystack

and will. I’m not a puppet on a to find back behind us somewhere.”
string, hearing voices that tell me He turned to me. “You, too, are
what to do, and by God, you aren’t right. But if you’ll think back, it
either!” was your own idea that we were forc-
ing our pattern of progress on the
\ RCHIE looked at me a long mo- people of Earth. I’ll admit we are
ment. “I knew I wouldn’t be responsible for inspiration, but even
much good at explaining things,” he Nikola Tesla never claimed that the
said. “All right, A. G., you’ve got a strange externalization of a motor he
good point. A right point. If it were viewed suspended in the air before
true. But it isn’t. I know you won’t him was anything other than his own
believe it just because I tell you, thought made visible to him by his
so — imagination. Each and every human
Archie stopped speaking and star- being who has ever been ‘struck with
ed at me peculiarly. I stared back, an idea’ has not doubted that it was
and in a few seconds, I began to his own idea. Further, he can, and
peer him with narrowed lids.
at often does, reject it after further de-
Something was happening to Archie. liberation.However, you are right in
He was becoming blurred before my your suspicions, because this scientif-
eyes. I blinked rapidly a few times, ic ability to influence Earth people

but my vision was still normal. has often been misused. Not by us,
Other objects in the room were sharp but by others. Such misuse is going
and clear. Then, as I stared, Archie on extensively at the present time.
faded out, vanished! During the past ten years, for ins-
Almost at once his voice sounded tance, Earth people have devised sci-
from behind me. I turned, utterly ences that are far beyond the scope of
flabbergasted. He was standing there, their social capabilities to cope with
looking at me, that same peculiar and control successfully. It is not a
look on his face. “I did that myself ,” particularly malicious thing; the bad
he said. “I did it with my own will. results are caused by ignorance.
I don’t think Raharana even suspects When the first atom bomb was ex-
I can do it. Now what does that do ploded, Earth scientists who made it
to your theory?” were ignorant of what it would act-
I didn’t have time to answer, be- ually do. They had to test it to find
cause Raharana stood in the door- out. It did things they observed and
way. “Very good, Archie,” he said. recorded for future use. It also did
“You’re right. I didn’t know you things they are unaware of, even to-
could do that. But don’t do it again day. They are unaware, for instance,
while this ship is moving. I don’t of the effect of atomic radiation
know if I could pick you up again — on Earth’s weather —although they
128 OTHER WORLDS
do have some slight suspicions now. I looked at Archie. “Just a few
They are unaware, also, of the effect minutes ago, Raharana told us we
on us and our civilization of the ex- were landing on the Moon. I will
plosion of atomic bombs. It is more eat every pound of this thing we are
true that in spite of all we can do , landing on, if it is the Moon; be-
in the way of ‘inspiration’ we can- cause if that isn’t old Luna out there
not control the activities of Earth in space, just as she always is, I’m
people to an extent that is safe for the victim of one of Army Intelli-

us, much less for them. gence’s ‘hallucinations’!”

“But come, we are landing now on “The Air Force would call it an
the Moon. I’m sure you’ll want to illusion,” said Archie, grinning.

see that. And later, we must return “Which?” I said patiently.

t* Earth, where I will demonstrate “The Moon.”
both the truth of your suspicions, “I said which!” I repeated, not so
and their error in regard to us.” patiently.
“Oh, that one out there. That’s the

TO AHARANA conducted us to the illusion.”

top of the giant ship, where “It is?”

he placed us in positions of obser- “Yes. It’s only a reflection. An un-
vation.We were dropping swiftly now polarized reflection. If you can lo-
toward a giant city that lay on a flat cate this particular crater in the re-
plain beneath us. The plain was rim- flection, you’ll find one of the seas
med by a gigantic circular crater wall which represent the shields that hide
that must have been a hundred miles these cities from prying eyes. That
in diameter. The city below covered moon out there that Earth people
more than half the area enclosed by have been looking at for ages isn’t
the crater. Its size struck me at once the real Moon at all, but a reflection
with its incongruity. Such a city from the inner surface of the outer
could not jail to be observed jrom limits of the Earth’s atmosphere,
Earth even with the smallest tele- some 240,000 miles out. Just like a
scope. Something was decidedly fish looking up at its reflection in
wrong here. I glanced upward, to- the water surface above.”
ward the Earth. It was a gigantic Raharana came over now and
globedown over the horizon of the spoke. “Does it surprise you that the
Moon, taking up three-quarters of Moon is actually very close to the
the sky. It could not have been over Earth, and transparent to ordinary
thirty thousand miles away. I search- light?”
ed the rest of the sky, and almost “No,” I said. “It seems very nat-
instantly saw it, twice as large as ural to me.”
I had ever seen it on Earth, but fa- Raharana burst out laughing. “You
miliar none the less. It was the Moon. know, I said the same thing eleven
 ”

I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER 129

thousand years ago! Your sense of npHE giant golden ship was set-
humor is very like mine. But, think- tling now, and the center of
ing back, I can realize how confused the city revealed itself as a concave
you must be, and I hope you will resting place for the ship. In a few
forgive me for not having given you minutes we settled into the hollow
a sufficient explanation. Actually, it without a jar, and the ship became
will be quite difficult to explain, and an integral part of the city.
it will take time. The Moon is not “You see, they’ve solved the park-
unique in being invisible to Earth ing problem,” said Archie.
people —space is full of worlds your I grinned. “Beautifully,” I agreed.
astronomers don’t even suspect, many For a few minutes we watched the
of them quite close to the Earth. thousands of people disembark from
The sun has a family of planets the ship by uncounted exits, with no
numbering many times more than confusion, while Raharana gave a
was such a
the visible ones. Venus few directions to the officers. There
many thousand years
planet not so was no more fuss about the opera-
ago, but through a near collision with tion than might be evident were this
Earth, it became visible to a degree. a giant hotel and a group of guests
It is still invisible, as this ship is, were casually entering its gardens
except for the secondary photosphere for a stroll. And indeed, about the

it has which is why it

acquired; ship, now the central building in a
seems cloud-wrapped and lacks sur- fabulously beautiful city, were gard-
face detail.” ens beyond belief. I had never seen
“The same principle that made such a riot of flowers and exotic
the tiny ‘eye’ disk visible to me in plants, nor such a profusion of
my plane?” fruits of every imaginable shape and
“Exactly. That was a time we color.

‘interfered’in the affairs of Earth “This is incredible!” I exclaimed

people —
Earth might have been
or softly to myself, in awe. “It’s . . .

destroyed, and the Moon along with heaven!

it. It took all of our scientific know- Raharana turned to me, smiling.
ledge.” “You make me feel very pleased. I
He clapped me on the shoulder. also delight in this place. It is my
“Perhaps while you are on the Moon, home, and my people have fashioned
we’ll give you a chance to see some it for me according to my personal
of Earth’s past history. It should concepts of beauty. They are very
prove very interesting to you, and good to me, my people. It is a joy

very enlightening. I’m afraid you to serve them — as it will be a joy

would find little evidence to support to serve you, and your fellow-men,
your theory of our violation of your in the mission I have now been as-
free will.” signed.”
 —
130 OTHER WORLDS
“Does no one work here?” I asked. ed when he saw her. “This is the
“This place seems like a paradise.” woman I was telling you about. She’s

“Oh no,” he corrected, apparently more than 21,000 years old, and is
taking my last words as the first to official historian of her age, and
answer, “Paradise is much different. also keeper of the archives of this
It’s located much closer to Earth invisible world.”
than we are, and is a much more “Hello Archie,” she greeted. “May
extensive and verdant garden. There I be introduced to your friend?”
is much less of the mechanical there, “You may! Lee-La, this
certainly
while herewe have a vast science to is my fellow-flyer back on Earth,”

do our work for us. Underneath all and he told her my name. She nodded
these gardens are productive ma- her head graciously and repeated it
chines which would amaze you. How- with liquid tones that made it seem
ever, we all work, and work almost suddenly like a new name.
continuously; for these machines are “I am very glad to know you, and
controlled mentally. Thus, even since I’ve been delegated to show
though you seem to observe my peo- you our city, I’m sure we will get
ple in a moment of leisure, they are to know each other quite well before
actually not relaxing. To tell the the day is over.”
truth, furious activity is going on, I glanced at the sky. “Aren’t the
and every member of the community days two weeks long here?” I asked.
is working at an almost feverish pace She laughed. “Yes. But the sun
to complete the work that is neces- is low, and it will be dark in an-

sary.” He smiled at me. “We are other twelve hours of your time. I
manufacturing a substance Archie am merely using your time system
here has already encountered.” to adapt events to your thinking.”

Archie looked at me peculiarly. “How unfortunate,” I said.

“For more explosions,” he said. “It’s “How gallant,” she said.

a kind of gas, which they are re- Archie frowned at me. “Captain,
leasing into the atmosphere of Earth this is a new side of your char-
and exploding. Raharana will explain acter ...”
later why it is being done.” Lee-La laughed. “Oh, no! That is

Raharana nodded, then indicated far from the truth. The Captain is

the exit. "Let’s leave the ship now. quite a man with the ladies. And so,
I’ve a council meeting to attend, perhaps I had better warn him that I
and you and Archie can tour the can see into his mind quite easily
city, taking in the sights until I as well as into his memory.”
finish my work.” I turned beet red, suddenly, and
she added a note of glee to her laugh.
A S we left the ship, a young wom- Quite abruptly she took my hand
-**• an approached. Archie exclaim- and swung about with the vivacity
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER 131

of a young girl. "What would you circling the central amphitheatre,

like to see first?” she asked. and a marble floor of such colors
In confusion, I pointed to a mag- and intricacy of design as to be al-
nificent building in the distance. All most unbelievable. I became especial-
at once I felt a wave of vertigo, and ly awed when I saw that the floor
the scene about me seemed to fade, was one piece of marble, without a
to be replaced by another.
I gasped seam anywhere.
and looked about. Archie gasped too. Above my head, suspended in mid-
We were standing directly before air, was a great crystal sphere that

the arched entrance to the building I seemed to float, unsupported. At its

had pointed out. center was a brilliant spot of light
"Don’t be so surprised, Archie,” that glowed like an illuminated dia-
she said. “You know how it is done mond, forming the only source of
—you did it yourself only a few light in the whole building, which
hours ago, and surprised Raharana. was without windows.
It’s really quite an advanced thing, “That is a memoglobe,” Lee-La
though, and you weren’t supposed to explained. “We have no such things
be able to do it.” as books here. All our history is re-
Archie looked at her wryly. “I’m corded mentally on that globe, and
sure I couldn’t do it like this, though, cannot be erased, nor changed in
and certainly I couldn’t include any- any way. The globe is so constituted
one else.” He turned to me. “You that nothing false can be recorded
know, A. G., you pointed out the on it either, as insincerity of re-
Archive Building. Lee-La is its man- cording thought would contain a dis-
ager, you remember I told you.” harmonic which would be rejected.
“The natural place to start on our Even if a deliberate attempt to mis-
tour, then,” I said. “And frankly, inform the globe was made, the true
I’m more interested in the how of thought would be dug out of the
this place than in the what of it.” subconscious of the recorder and
“Then let’s go inside —walking this would be registered truly on the
time,” she said. “If it’s history you globe.”
want, I’m sure we can supply it.” “But how do you read it?” I
asked.
TNSIDE, I gazed about in surprise. “The light. Look at the light,” she
I’d expected to find a sort of said. “Fix your attention on it
library with millions of books. In- and put yourself in a receptive frame
stead I what might have
stood in of mind. Curiosity concerning any
been a temple with the pulpit and particular event or period will auto-
seats removed. The whole was a great matically bring out the desired in-
ar ched ceiling, ornately carved walls formation.”
w >th gigantic statues entirely en- “Bring it out? How?” I glanced
 r 32
OTHER WORLDS
about for loudspeakers, telescreens, age when I got my first mitt, you’re
or some such system of dissemina-
a little fellow ...”
tion.
“I’m gonna be a catcher,” I said
She smiled. “Look at the light, and doggedly.
you will see,” “Sure you are,” he said. “You’ll
“The entire history of Earth, and grow faster than I did from now on.
of the Moon is recorded in that
That’s one reason I want you out
globe” said Archie. “Just think of on that field.”
the particular thing you want to re-
“How about burning a few in to
view.” me ?” I asked eagerly. “Right
. . .

I stared at him, then up at the now, out yard ...” in the

globe. “The entire history ?” “If
. . .
what you want,” he
that’s
f said slowly. I
thought suddenly of said, “that’s
what you get. But don’t
my tenth birthday.
Certainly that blame me if you can’t handle your
would not be recorded . . , knife and fork for supper!”
I turned and raced for
the back
* * *
door, shoving my small hand into
the mitt . . .

T TORE at the strings enclosing

the package rather eagerly. It felt * * *
like something soft inside, and I was
almost certain what it was. As the
last piece of paper fell aside, my
suspicion was confirmed. I blinked, looked away from the
“A catcher’s mitt!” I yelled. “Boy, hypnotic light in the globe, and the
a real catcher’s mitt! Now I can join transition from boyhood to man-
the team.”
hood almost staggered me. I looked
“You certainly can,” said my fath- at her in suspicion. “I was living
er with a pleased grin at my reac- r that!”
tion to. the birthday gift. “But I
“Re-living it,” she corrected.
warn you, the catcher’s position is- “Is . . . everything recorded on
n’t an easy one. Some of these balls
that and can anybody read
thing,
come in mighty fast.” it?” A slow burn was coming up my
“You were a catcher in the Big neck and flooding over my face even
Leagues,” I reminded him. “You before she answered.
used to catch some of the fastest “Is there anything there you
pitchers ever!” wouldn’t want read?” she teased.
He grinned reminiscently. “And I I stared at her. I looked so long
used to have trouble getting my swol- that her own face began to turn a
len hand out of the mitt after a delicate shade of pink. Then I grin-
game,” he said. “I was big for my ned.
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER 133

“No ... I guess not,” I said. “Be- ing Empress would be easy, for he
sides, all there is on that thing is would stand behind me, advising,
about thirty-two years, and I can guiding . . .

imagine what would be on, for ins- The door was flung open, and I
tance, your record. Didn’t Archie say turned, expecting to see Nu-Lan
you were 21,000 years old?” come to ceremony
fetch me to the
“Do I look it?” she asked, return- in the great temple of the Sun. But
ing my stare. my welcoming smile faded, and in-
“Two hundred and ten centuries stead, a wave of sudden terror swept
haven’t changed the woman in you over me. This was not Nu-Lan, but
a bit,” I said. “You still won’t give his minister, Ag-Ghan. I had always
a direct answer when a man asks hated him, and always distrusted
your age! No, Lee-La, you don’t him. Many times I had spoken of it
look it!” to Nu-Lan, but he had dismissed it
“Would you like to look at my as the imaginings of a child. “Ag-
record?” Ghan is most trustworthy,” he had
“Why not?” I asked. I turned to said. “I would place the Empire in

the globe and looked up at the light. his care, if emergency arose, with

“Let’s take your eighteenth birth- perfect confidence.”

day ” But now, my terror grew, for I
. . .

* * * knew under no circumstances

that
would have been Ag-Ghan who
it

T PATTED the flame-flower gently came to me in my chambers, rather

into place in my long hair, and than Nu-Lan on this important oc-
looked at myself in the burnished casion, unless . . .

copper mirror on the stone wall. My “Nu-Lan . . .

!” I gasped.

slim, but delicately curved body “Is dead,” Ag-Ghan said shortly.
molded the sheer white gown in a “As for yourself, you will remain
way that met my full approval. here, and you will make no attempt
Surely Nu-Lan would be proud of to leave this room. There will be no
me today at the coronation. Young coronation today.”
though I was, much too young to At the cruel look in his eye, I

be queen of all Pan, I felt that I suddenly felt faint, and a wave of
could rule the vast tri-continent Em- blackness rushed overme and I
pire as well as had my father before seemed to fall into a bottomless
his assassination. pit . . .

Nu-Lan was Vice-Emperor, and * * *

had ruled for the three years until
I was of legal age, and he’d looked ttTTVEN condensing the history,”
forward fondly to this day. Dow said Lee-La, taking my
often he had assured me that be- hand and turning me from the globe,
134 OTHER WORLDS
“it would take thousands of years to who had caused Nu-Lan to be slain
re-view the history of the Earth and himself took over the reins of
since that black day. Let me take government.
you on a tour of the city in an air- “There was revolt in Semu-Pan,
car while I tell you of it myself, the easternmost continent, where ex-
very briefly. You will not need to isted the true birthplace of Man on
know much to understand what you this planet ;
it is there that the leg-
wish to understand. With you, Time endary “garden of Eden’ existed,
is a vastly different thing than with only it wasn’t a garden, it was al-

us, and you have not the mental de- most the entire continent below the
velopment to check into recorded his- mountains that now make up the
tory in this manner without loss of Hawaiian Chain.
time, or, as I should say, without “For many years the fighting went
duration.” on, and the people became more sav-
We left the building and an air- age and less moral until I was
car was waiting at the entrance. We ashamed of them. Then I was res-
climbed into it and seated ourselves cued by the Semu-Pans, and because
in the small, saucer-shaped craft there seemed to be some hope of
which immediately took off, although reestablishment of the Empire in
Lee-La seemed to operate no con- peace, I made the mistake of taking
trols, even had there been any visi- up arms to that end. War is war,
ble. We soared slowly over the city, and its end is death. I paid with my
and in between remarks concerning Earth-life, at least, for that act.
the points of interest below, she told “I was recaptured by Ag-Ghan,
me the story of her life in very brief and was to be sacrificed on the fiery
summations; altar of Mu-Ghan, who had become
“That day you saw, my eighteenth the idol-god of Mu-Pan, the western
birthday, Iwas to have been made continent, when the miracle of my
Empress of Pan, which was a group life occured. I was snatched from
of three continents very close to- the very Altar by a mysterious fly-
gether in the South Pacific where ing globe whose brilliance blinded all
now rolls only ocean and nothing re- who saw. they must have
Indeed,
mains of my ancient home but a few thought was their Sun-god, Mu-
it

small islands. Japan was a part of Ghan, who had come for me in per-
the northernmost continent, and re- son.
mains to this day, but the Japanese “But it was not; it was a flying
are not true descendants of my race, ship of the Earth’s second moon,
being a mixture of Asiatics and Zha- which had been disturbed in its or-
Pans. Zha was the name of the north- bit by an atomic explosion when a
ern continent. But, as you saw, I rocket bomb had gone astray in
was made a prisoner of Ag-Ghan, space and been carried into its grav-
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER I3S

itational field. The scientists of Zha- in the ensuing eruption and

Pan had miscalculated, not know- earthquake, the entire Empire of Pan
ing the real nature of space, nor the sank into the sea, miles deep, and in
actual distance of the second moon. one night my sixty-five million sub-
“I was among many picked up for jects perished in flame and water.
information by the Second Moon in- “As a result I, the Empress, the
habitants, who knew their world was mistaken, inexperienced girl who had
doomed to crash to Earth because sought to fight for what she thought
of the displacement in its orbitic bal- was became the greatest murd-
right,
ance. They could not save their own erer of all time. For it had been in
world, but they could lessen the my power to cause the fighting to
shock to Earth, which they did. That cease, and the atomic rocket would
is, they guided the Second Moon so never have been launched.”
that it crashed where I prayed it
should crash. I told them of the T EE-LA’s voice ceased for a rao-
wickedness of the Panic Empire and — ' ment, and I glanced at her to
its three continents, and of the see that her face was white with
peaceful, if primitive, nature of the the memory of what she had just
other Earth continents. I felt that if told us.
my maddened people were destroyed, “Not so,” I said quickly. “Hind-
the race of Man on Earth might have sight is never a good judge.”

some chance for a righteous and “True. But error does not nullify
peaceful future, uncontaminated by responsibility— and a country’s ruler
the mad war fever that had gripped is responsible for his country,”
Earth’s most civilized race in 50,000 “But you were not yet the ruler.
years. You were never officially crowned.”
“Because Pan was my responsi- “You are kind,” she said, smiling
bility, I was given a part in the at me, once more her cheery self.
work to destroy it and save the rest “But you will find that such judg-
of Earth’s inhabitants. From this ment is an error. One must suffer
larger moon, we performed an inter- for error, to learn how to do cor-
planetary engineering miracle that rectly. It is our acts which bring re-
has never been equaled in this area sults, not ceremony. My act was of
of space. To put it briefly, we were tremendous significance, and I have
able to guide the Second Moon into learned a tremendous lesson thereby.
a crash directly in Tri-continental And because of what I have learned,
Pan. I have chosen to throw in my lot
“The Second Moon was small, tiny- with Raharana to prevent this new
by comparison with Earth, but it danger which threatens the world of
smashed a hole through the surface my birth.
crust to the internal fires, and “It was only just that now, 21,000
136 OTHER WORLDS
years after that first atomic bomb, “But what if I tell all I’ve seen
retribution should be visited on the here,when I get back?”
remnant of my people, the Zhapa- “You think they will believe?”
nese. Those who live by the sword I stared at her a moment.
“No,” I said.
“Then America has own retri- She smiled slightly, and pointed
bution in store
— its

” I interrupted. below us. “There is the most famous

“Perhaps, perhaps not. It may be fruit garden in the entire solar sys-
that the cycle is completed. Ameri- tem. It contains the fruits of every
ca may only have been the instru- planet, of every satellite or asteroid
ment, and the responsibility lies else- capable of bearing life. It contains,
where. But I agree that war is not moreover, the of a thousand
fruits
a wise course, and all participants invisible worlds, and of hundreds of
will suffer. It may be, however, that other solar systems. It has been add-
we can prevent a new basis for ret- ed to for more than seventy thous-
ribution, do something to save and years, and ships come here from
Earth’s newest civilization from the distant galaxies merely to make their
same destruction that visited its an- contribution to the famous collec-
cient forerunner.” tion.”
“But Raharana said you weren’t am more interested in your
“I
interfering in the affairs of Earth- story,” I said. “You have told me
men, that we still had our free will.” of your few years on Pan, but what
“That is true. Just what effect, of the hundreds of centuries since?
do you think, the affair of the flying What have you been doing?”
saucers is having on the conduct of “I haven’t always been historian
the war plans of the Earth nations?” and keeper of the archives,” she
“Apparently none,” I admitted. said.“For many centuries I traveled
“And the blue lights that many the spaceways, and I have worked
Earthmen have seen; the flashes of on many invisible worlds, and on
our explosions of seas of gas in your some- visible ones. Always I have
upper atmosphere?” accepted what responsibility was giv-
I shrugged. en me, but never since that fatal
“No more than the blue flash of decision to fight on Pan have I
lightning,” she said. taken any responsibility to myself.
“But then, what is the purpose Consequently, I have become rather
of the explosions?” well-known for my many successful
“I will leave that for Raharana to missions, and I hope to become as
tell you. Perhaps he may chose not successful here. As for the details
to tell you, prefering that you also of those centuries, they do not con-
maintain any free mental attitude cern you now, nor the problem at
you may have.” hand, which is actually your prob-
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER i37

lem. In seeking so stubbornly for are the same ones that were opened
the answer to the mystery of the fly- in Noah’s time, according to the bib-
ing saucers (our ships venturing in- lical legend.”
to your denser atmosphere) you have “You mean rain?” I said with a
in a way taken on a responsibility, frown.
which, fortunately, is solely to your- “I’m afraid I do. But we won’t
self. I am sure that Raharana will have time to go into it now. Rahara-
want you to tell your story to Earth na wants us to come to his control
people to prove to you that he is cabin.”
right that our actions in no wise in- “He does?” I said stupidly.
fluence the exercise of your free will “Yes.”
or the free will of any other Earth- I turned to look at Lee-La, but
man or woman.” she was gone. We were alone in the
air-car, just now landing before the
SUDDENLY she became rigid, and main entrance to the Star of Indus.”
-?
lk
after an instant of intent con- I groaned. “That’s one thing I’ll

centration, as though she heard a never get used to!” I said. “For an
faraway voice, she shot the air-car instant I thought she’d fallen out!”
downward toward the building that Archie grinned as he led the way
now represented Raharana’s ship, the into the ship. “Lee-La couldn’t fall,”
Star oj Indus. “We have unexpected he said. “At an air-
least not out of

work to do,” she said tensely. “A car!”

hydrogen-bomb explosion has just Inside the ship all was orderly
taken place on Earth, at a place call- bustle. We made our way to the
ed Kwajalein. We must hurry to pre- control room, where we found Ra-
vent a disaster. Now you will see harana and Lee-La busily poring over
why we employ the gas explosions!” complex charts and making computa-
I gripped her arm. “Disaster,” I tions incomprehensible to me.
said. “To whom?” Raharana finished, turned to us
“To the people of your own coun- with a smile. “Now you are to see
try, America. We must hurry to in action what I promised to explain
close the ‘windows of heaven’ that to you.”
bomb has opened — if you don’t mind “What’s going on?” I asked. “Lee-
my reference to a biblical phrase?” La said something about an H-Bomb
“I don’t mind,” I mumbled, com- explosion on Earth ...”
pletely baffled. I turned to Archie. For answer, Raharana turned to
“Do you know what’s going on?” the wall and fingered a switch. A
He nodded soberly. “Partially. But large panel on the wall suddenly be-
my experience has been with pluton- came translucent, then swam with
ium bombs, not hydrogen. I can only color that became an aerial scene
deduce that the ‘windows of heaven’ on Earth. I recognized the circular
138 OTHER WORLDS
ring of islands known as Kwajalein At first I could not recognize the
from pictures I’d seen of it during scene as the same. Instead of metal
the war. “You can see for yourself towers hundreds of feet in height,
. he said. the crowded island with its myriad

As I watched, I saw huge steel of 'objects, there was only a blasted,

towers on one small island of the
group which formed the ring. It was
completely deserted, but miles away,
at protected vantage points, observ-
ers were posted. In the air were
unrecognizable, rocky surface, fused
here and there with fantastic lumps
that might have been almost any-
thing. Only around the shores of the
island were there things recognizable

pilotless planes, and in the water

— here a shattered tank, there a
and on the island, multitudes of re- blasted tree stump, in another place
cording contraptions, penned animals, the water-level hulk of a destroyed
weird construction of buildings, con- landing craft or small boat.
crete emplacements, metal structures, “The whole island was destroyed,
tanks, guns, autos, railroad cars, loc- a result far in excess of their an-
omotives, every conceivable weapon ticipations,” Raharana volunteered.
of warfare, mode of transportation, “It’s incredible!” I said stupidly.
stationary setup. Even a glass green- “It is as though the gates of Hell
house. blasted open on that place.”
whole screen went
All at once the Raharana touched another switch
brilliant white, with a brilliance to and suddenly the whole Earth was
rival the sun. Then an awesome visible in the scene. Surrounding it,

pillar of flame and smoke shot sky- in a weird violet color was what I
ward at incredible speed. The whole guessed instantly to be its atmo-
test island disappeared. Observation sphere, although it extended to an
planes in the sky dissolved in the incredible distance, at least 10,000
blast and were no more. I was wit- miles. Above the Pacific, a tremen-
nessing the most terrific atom explo- dous funnel, rotating swiftly in an
sion in the history of atom explo- upward direction, had formed in the
sions. stratosphere. As I watched, new col-
“My God!” said Archie. ors came into being, as though il-

I didn’t say anything; I couldn’t. lustrating air currents, and a flood

The scene faded. of red surged across the Pacific from
all directions, convergingon Kwaja-
t tTX THAT you saw was a rec- lein, and then tunneling upward in
»ord,” said Raharana. “Now the reversed whirlpool. A blanket of
we’ll look at the events going on blue moved down across North
presently ...” He touched the America from the polar regions.
switch again, and the scene became “You are witnessing what is hap-
vivid in the light of a tropic day. pening to the air currents in the
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER 139
lower atmosphere of Earth, the cur- ready near Earth. Raharana
quite
rents which make the weather.” Ra- smiled at me. “We are nearing our
harana’s voice was disturbed. “Ob- destination now,” he said quietly.
serve how the yellow wave is sweep- “Come, we will prepare to restore
ing up the Mississippi Valley from the air currents to normal, and pre-
the Gulf of Mexico. That is water cipitate the dust.”
vapor, and observe how it is becom-
ing green where it meets the blue TTE led the way into the bowels
from the pole, over Kansas and Mis- AA of the ship, and here I found
souri. That is a cold front meeting incredible machines, composing a
a warm front, and it is producing great portion of the ship. There were
rain. Incredible rain. It is that rain huge tanks containing a violet liquid,
we must lessen in volume to prevent and thousands of nozzles leading
a disaster.” from them to the exterior of the
Lee-La broke in. “This bomb ex- ship. Already many were turned on,
plosion has done what all bombs have and as the ship came to a halt above
done, punched a hole in the strato- the Pacific, a huge amount of violet
sphere and created currents which gas began seeping down and spread-
make for flash floods, intense cold ing itself in clouds in the- strato-
waves, earthquakes, and violent sphere. After almost an hour the
windstorms —only this time a tre- operation stopped and the Star of
mendous quantity of dust has been Indus shot upward. Below us, as Ra-
released in the upper seas which most harana gave an" '.Jer. there was a
of your scientists do not suspect ex- blinding blue flash that spread
ist. There mention of it in the
is through the whole cloud of gas,
Old Testament, of the “waters above which had become invisible as it dis-
the waters” and “the firmament sipated through the atmosphere.
above and the firmament below,” in There was no blast, as in an explo-
Genesis. If this water begins to con- sion, but I got the distinct impres-
dense around the dust particles, sion that there had been a tremen-
which are necessary as the nucleus dous explosion.
of every drop of rain, there will be “That’s what got me!” said Archie,
a flood to rival the Flood of Noah. gripping my arm. “I flew right into
That we must prevent.” the middle of such a cloud of gas
I glanced about wildly. “Then and touched it off prematurely.”
why don’t we hurry back to Earth I looked once more at the blue
and begin ...” My voice stopped light, fading now, then at Archie.
as I saw, with utter surprise, that “Archie,” I said hoarsely. “You were
the Star of Indus was no longer a in an explosion like that, and lived
building in a city of an unknown to be picked up?”
Moon of Earth, but in space, al- “No,” he said. “I wasn’t alive .” . .
140 OTHER WORLDS
He looked at me strangely. surface magnetic field of the Earth.
“Then what yon meant
that’s Your scientists already know some-
when you was a difference
said there thing ofwhat happens to matter out
between the way I was picked up here —they
sent up a rocket to 250
and the way you were picked up, miles which never came down. They
and why I couldn’t be immortal as have a good idea of what happened
you claim you now are?” to it.”
Raharana spoke up. “The human “What?”
life can be reconstructed on sub- “Much the same thing as hap-
atomic even after death. We
levels, pened to the dust cloud we have just
brought Archie back to life, even neutralized — that dust will never
though his sub-form had been shat- come down either, nor any water
tered by the sub-atomic blast. Basic- with it.”

ally,he was deprived of his magnetic Lee-La added: “The water in the
field which forms the binding force upper air is normal water, but is
for his sub-atomic structure, just as acted upon by entirely different elec-
we have disrupted the magnetic field tro-magnetic forces, so that it is wa-
locally in the Earth’s atmosphere, ter only to people like us, and not
and destroyed the rising cloud of to people on the surface. As an ex-
dust particles which would unite with ample, just what is water like six
the moisture in the upper air and miles deep in the ocean, under such
precipitateit if allowed to do so. We terrific pressure and different electro-

cannot reconstruc. 'rchie’s physical magnetic currents? Again, your sci-

form as it originally was although — entists suspect the truth, that it is

it could be done at surface levels,
where he originally existed, in a sort
of pseudo form, just as our ships
and instruments take on a sort of
pseudo-form substance out of the el-
ements of the atmosphere and thus
become visible to human eyes oper-
ating in the visual range of ordinary
light.”
I looked about me with the hackles
suddenly rising on
“Ghosts, that’s what you are!
—
don’t you say it you’re dead, all of
you ” !
“No,” denied Raharana. “We are-
n’t dead. We’d be no different from
you if we descended into the full
not ordinary water at all, but more
like a solid than a fluid.”
CG’VT'OU see,” said Raharana gent-
* “we are not acting to int-
ly,
erfere Man’s affairs. We could
in
prevent his use of atomics, but we
do not. We only give him a chance
to continue his free use of ideas and
talents —
by striving to protect him
my neck. from unforeseen disaster at his own
Why hands; such as this torrent from the
upper air we have just averted.”
I was silent a moment, then I
nodded. “I see,” I said.
“We are only sorry that we can-
not prevent the disaster that is ov-
 I FLEW IN A FLYING SAUCER
ertaking Kansas and Missouri. Nor- matically. “I have been here eleven
mal rainfall will cause a flood that thousand years, and I expect to be
will be known as the worst in Amer- here a good many thousands
ican history. Luckily, there a lim- is more ...”
it to the amount of rainfall that can Thoughts whirling in my head, I
come from the sub stratosphere.” turned to Lee-La and took her hand.
Archie turned to me and stuck She smiled at me, and then kissed
out his hand. “Well, A. G.,” he said. me on the cheek. “Goodbye,” she
“This is where we say goodbye . . said. “I have a hunch you’ll see us
I looked surprised. “Goodbye .
t .
all again, from the thoughts in your
but what .
?”. . mind now.”
“Archie has developed many pow- I turned and stepped into my ship,
ers had not suspected he might,
I and almost at once the ports in the
so laughed Raharana. “He
soon,” side of the Star of Indus opened and
has just read in my mind that we the plane floated out into the air.

are going to drop you off in your Below us was. the shore of California,
plane again, because we have other as I turned in the cockpit to look at
work to do and we won’t be coming the ship, I could see Raharana and
back this way very soon. I had in- Lee-La and Archie standing on the
tended showing you more, but it bridge waving at me. All at once
would serve no good purpose. I see the ship disappeared as I floated
you are convinced of our good in- through the brilliant photosphere
tentions, and of your surface peo- which was once more magnetically
ple’s continued freedom of action— surrounding it, and the peculiar
which is why I had you picked up. crackling of electricity came into my
Now it’s time for you to return. Be- plane and my body tingled. I felt

sides, there might be unpredictable the strange paralysis that lasted only
results to your sub-atomic structure a few minutes as the plane dropped
if your stay here were greatly length- swiftly into denser air. Then as the
ened.” paralysis left me, I heard Archie’s
I gripped Archie and embraced voice in my mind.
him. There were tears in his eyes. As “Take it easy, pal. And don’t
I stepped back, I found that all of us —
chase flying saucers now that you
were standing beside my plane in know what they are.”
the crystal chamber in which I’d Then the voice was gone, and I
first seen the interior of the Star of looked up to see the giant ship, but
Indus. I took Raharana’s hand too, it was gone too. Nowhere was there

and thanked him. even a speck of brilliance that might

“Will I ever see you again?” I be the Star of Indus. It had van-
asked, doubt in my voice. ished.
“If you wish it,” he returned enig- “Into the sub-atomic!” I said
142 OTHER WORLDS
aloud, with impulsive conviction. refueling. I’m sure they must have
checked all the possible places I
* * * could have refueled to determine the
truth of my story. But I have never
T LANDED the plane in California. had any indication that they did. If
-* I had been aloft nearly two days, they didn’t, they are avoiding that
and my gasoline supply wasn’t half confirmation for a reason. Maybe it’s

exhausted. I reported to Wright Field fear that they might find I hadn’t
and said I’d changed my mind about refueled —and Project Saucer does-
joining Project Saucer. n’t like mysteries. The Flying Saucer
Riley and Wellington flew to me is an hallucination. If you don’t be-
for an interview, and I decided to lieve it, ask them, anytime!

tell them the whole story. They You don’t have to believe me eith-
didn’t believe me. Or at least they er. After all, look where you’re read-

acted as if they didn’t. I think I ing this story . . .

puzzled them a lot. But next time you see blue flashes
But what puzzled them most was in the sky and hear no thunder,
how I stayed aloft two days without maybe it isn’t lightning.

THE END

COMING NEXT ISSUE!

Hog Phillips' greatest work,even greater than his famous "So Shall Ye Reap"
which stands today as a grim reminder of tomorrow which is backed up
by all atomic experts. Now, in this new novel, 76,000 tremendously signi-
ficant words, he has achieved his masterpiece. Don't miss

"THESE ARE MY CHILDREN"

Richard Ashby gives us the final installment of his sensational serial, in which
occurs a miracle that will thrill the reader as no fictional event in the
past with his

"ACT OF GOD"
Kenneth Arnold gives OTHER WORLDS an exclusive and conclusive assembly
of the TRUE facts on the REALITY of the mysterious aircraft misnamed
“The Flying Saucers." The famed pilot who first reported them to the
public gives proof that those who deny them are lying!

THE REAL FLYING SAUCERS"

 ®ub33IS3 e) e) $
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Science Fiction Book Reviews
There has never been anyone in Dr. Smith brought out of the wings
science fiction quite like “Skylark” the directors, and, if you like pro-
Smith. He didn’t invent space opera ducers, of the galactic pageant he
—Edmond Hamilton, for one, had was developing in the Lensman yarns
been doing very well by space battles, — two vastly old, vastly powerful rac-
bug-eyed-monsters, and world-savings es, Arisia as the personification of
for some time before Dr. E. E. Smith good, Eddore as the ultimate in evil.

introduced us to Seaton, Crane, and He introduces us to Conway Costi-

the first “Skylark of Space” He was- gan and Virgil Samms of the Patrol
n’t —and isn’t —a master at charac- and enlists us with them in an all-
terization, intricate plottings, or out war against the fiendish Gray
breathtaking scientific concepts. But Roger and his space pirates, then in-
from the first page of the first Sky- to an even more bitter struggle with
lark yarn there has been a kind of the monstrous iron-seeking Nevians
youthful enthusiasm about every from the other side of the Galaxy.
fresh Smith tale which somehow With Costigan, the glamorous Clio
makes the most preposterous ex- Marsden, and the durable Captain
ploits of the most incredible people Bradley prisoners of Nevia, Samms
believable —or at least makes you and Company on the outside making
want to believe in them! with ever-more-super scientific de-
In 1936 Dr. Smith launched his fense and offense, and Roger supply-
Lensman series with “Galactic Pa- ing an uncomfortable third corner,
trol,” and we all knew he had top- hell breaks loose in a quiet way. It

ped himself. As story followed story, always does in a Smith yarn.

it was evident that he was holding “First Lensman” is brand new,
something in reserve that he was — written especially to link “Triplan-
working out a pattern of cosmic vil- etary” with the Lensman series pro-
lainy and heroism purely his own. per. Virgil Samms goes to Arisia
“Galactic Patrol,” now published by and is fitted with the first Lens, that
Fantasy Press (273 p. III. $3.00), literally living jewel, attuned to its

turns out to be not the first but the wearer’s life-force and personality,
third of the Lensmanwhich series, which enables him to tap the mental
began with “Triplanetary” ( Fantasy and physical powers bred into him
Press, Reading, Pa. 1948. 287 p. III. and his race. Nevia had forced man-
$3.00) and was continued in the kind out of the Solar System into
completely new book, “First Lens- the hurly-burly of the Galaxy itself,
man” ( Fantasy Press. 1950. 306 p. and that is the scene on which this
III. $3.00. new act is played out. The founding
In the rewritten “Triplanetary” of the Galactic Patrol results as man-

144
 BOOK REVIEWS
kind comes up against the mysterious shape, but there was always one more
forces of Boskone on assorted planets revelation to be made, one more
and among assorted races. Good and mystery to be solved behind Bos- —
evil come to grips in a thoroughly kone, behind Ploor. The impact of
delightful political and physical she- the final design was tremendously ef-
mozzle ending in the inauguration of fective. For a good many of us, Doc
one Roderick (“Rod the Rock”) Smith spoiled a good deal of this
Kinnison as President of North suspense when he dragged Arisia and
America. Eddore into the open in the rewrit-
Now, with “Galactic Patrol,” we ten “Triplanetary” and kept them
are at last fully launched into the there, pulling on the strings of their
final upswelling of Civilization under human and monstrous puppets, in
the guidance and guardianship of “First Lensman.” He has thought
the brotherhood of the Lens. From better of this in “Galactic patrol”
here in the story belongs to the Kin- and left the development of the story
nisons, though the line of Samms is just about if not entirely as it was
hovering nearby in the person of its —and it is a better story for the fact.
offshoot, Clarissa MacDougall. Indeed, for maximum enjoyment of
Probing for trouble with the ranks the Lensman yarns I recommend that
of Boskone, Kim Kinnison meets it you start reading them with “Ga-
in double portions. Slapped down, lactic Patrol,” follow straight on
but hard, he is picked up by the through to the penultimate “Children
reptilian Velantian Worsel, who is of the Lens,” and then go back to
going to be a very old and very good “Triplanetary” and read ’em all
friend before the series ends. He through again.
helps the Velantian obliterate the Lloyd Eshbach, maestro of Fan-
unspeakable Overlords of Delgon, tasy Press, is giving the Lensman
meets another non-human pal in books one of his smoothest produc-
Tregonsee of Rigel IV on the in- tion jobs. In the first two Donnell
credible planet Trenco, gets himself handled the very effective vignettes
mashed to little bits by the Wheel- which introduce each chapter; in the
men of Aldebaran I (and fitted to- new volume a new artist, Ric Bink-
gether again by the flaming-haired ley, is carrying on the old traditior
Mac), and back to Arisia
after going and doing it well. He has created e
for further instruction, comes face to Clarissa MacDougall with individ
face with Helmuth, “who speaks for uality and character in place of thi
Boskone,” in an all-out showdown. usual Hollywood prettiness, and fo
In the original Lensman serials, that he rates a special medal. We’l
Doc Smith kept Arisia a mystery be waiting for the rest. To coin ;

and Eddore completely behind the word, they’re cosmic,

scenes. Gradually the pattern took P. SCHUYLER MILLER
 PERSONALS
Don Willson, N. R. S. S., North Wil- of Pellucidar, Land of Terror, The
mington, Mass, wants the address of Land That Time Forgot, War Chief,
John Rosso who lives somewhere in Back To The Stone Age, Would al-
Missouri. Also, will sell or trade: so like to correspond with Burroughs
—
Books 1984 , The Cosmic Geoids, fans. Karl Olsen Jr., 64 4th St.,
The Conquest of Space, The Big Eye, Wood-Ridge, N. J. . . . Will sell the
A Matter Of Life And Death, Great following books, in fine or mint
Mischief, and Looking Backward; condition for as low as half price
pocketbooks: The Science Fiction plus shipping costs: The Martian
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of Science; magazines: aSF Jan ’46, Book of Science Fiction; Sidewise In
Aug & Sept ’47, Feb, June July, Aug, Time; A Gnome There Was; The
Sept, Oct, Nov & Dec '48, Jan, Feb, World of Null A; Beyond This Hori-
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1, featuring material by Will F. Jen- St., New York 25, N. Y. Doug-
. . .

kins ( Murray Leinster), Oscar J. las Mitchell, Ste. 11-406 Notre Dame
Friend, Clark Ashton Smith and Ave., Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada
Frank Belknap Long, as well as hav- wants back issues of Other Worlds . .

ing a printed cover by Joe Gross The old Stf Trader has been reviv-
and illustrations by Marv Friedman, ed by Jack Irwin, Box 3, Tyro, Kan-
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Send to Queens Science Fiction specializes in ads for selling and
League, P. O. Box 4, Steinway Sta- trading back issues of mags . . .

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, . Graff, 300 W trade five stf mags ( recent back is-
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:

dition: Horror, Terror, Strange Dia-Gram, Flash Answer or any oth-

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?. R. Burroughs’ Moon Maid, Tanar
1
& Oct '50; AS, Oct & Dec ’49, Feb,
i

146
 .

PERSONALS 147

Mar, Apr, May & June ’50. Jim Deppe, 12 S. 6th St, Wilmington, N.
Phillips, 1458 W. Wilson Ave, Chi- Car ... A state-wide stf club for
cago 40, III For sale or trade:
. . . Texans is now circulating a round-
Twice In Time, Alien Intelligence, robin letter for organizational pur-
Chessboard Of Mars (all 3 in one poses. Any Texas fan is invited to
volume, paper-backed) pocket books ;
write to R. J. Banks Jr., Ill S. 15 th
Hold Your Breath, Lost God and St, Corsicana, Texas, for further in-
Other Stories. Will trade for or formation. Banks is also announc-
buy: Feb,, Mar, July & Aug '50 aSF. ing special all-professional, all-fic-
A. Siemon, 648 E. Broadway, Gir- tion issue of his fanzine Utopian.
ard, Ohio Anthony Lauria, Jr.,
. . . It will contain a minimum of 12
873 E 181 St, New York 60, Y N short stories, and will be a limited
wants: aSF ’46 & ’47; Fantasy & SF edition of 300 copies Mrs. Lorena
. .

1 & Land of Unreason pb’s Time

3; ;
Laing would like to hear from any
Trap, Murder Of The USA) aSF fans who have back issues of mags
Mar ’48 & Mar ’49; IMAGINATION to give away or sell at a reasonable
Feb, ’61; Marvel May ’61; AS Feb price.Her address is P. O. Box 654,
’48. Will sell or trade aSF Nov : Brownfield, Texas . Would like to
. .

’49; OW Mar ’50; Galaxy Oct ’50 . . complete set of E. R. Burroughs

Eldon K. Everett, P. O. Box 513, books. Have Tarzan & Martian se-
Tacoma, Wash, has the following ries but some of his other works are
items for sale or will trade for missing. Would appreciate list and
British Burroughs pocket books: prices and a statement of their con-
Green Mouse, Chambers, 1st ed., dition. Also want AS, Feb & Apr
good, $3.50; Sea Fairies and Sky Is- ’dp, ; Blue Book, Apr ’40 & Jan ’42;

land, L. F. Baum, will sell or trade Adventures, June ’40; Thrilling Ad-
as set only, $5; An Egyptian Love ventures Mar-May ’39. State con-
Spell, M. H. Billings, 1st ed., good, dition. Must have covers. Ronald
$3 . . . Will sell or trade Titus L. Smith, 332 E. Date St., Oxnard,
Groan (430 page fantasy novel, Calif.
d/w) by Mervyn Peake for The Man
Who Sold The Moon by Heinlein;
Mr. Aladdin by Carlos Drake (d/w)
for Sinister Barrier by E. F. Rus-
sell; The Yellow Room (d/w) by
Mary Roberts Rinehart for Seetee
Shock by Will Steward; The Last
Trump (d/w) by Louis de Rouge-
mont for The Humanoids by Jack
Williamson ( Simon & Shuster ed).
Must have d/ws and be in good con-
dition. Regis J. Murphy, 932 Lan-
t or man
Ave, Youngstown, Ohio . . .

Let’s trade stf mags. Send 10 or 15

stf mags and$1. I will return an
equal number, all different by re-
turn mail. Pocket books will be ac-
cepted. 1st issues and foreign mags
count as two. All my items are in
good condition with covers. Bill
 —

D R. Rhine of
has made
Duke University
quite a sensation in
his experiments with extra-sen-
the following setup: One participant
was absolutely unaware of the fact
that any experiment was going on,
sory perception, known familiarly as although all spectators, and there
ESP. First he proved that some peo- were many of them, were fully aware
ple can tell what a card
is merely of it. The experiment was simple
from concentrating on the back of a marked deck (called readers) was
it. He proved that the card could be being used by the second party in
identified by what seems to be tele- the experiment. It was deemed that
pathy by having a person in one room in Dr. Rhine’s ESP, knowing what
look at the card and visualize it, cards were coming, and being able
while the subject, in another room, to “see the other side” would give a
called it out. This could even be done gambler an advantage hard to beat.
hundreds of miles distant. Later he Thus, neither of the two participants
proved that not only the card be- having any ESP, deliberate cheating
ing concentrated on could be identi- was employed.
fied, but following ones, or precog- Yes, you guessed it: at ic per
nition, the ability to foretell the fu- point, the participant who knew the
ture. Then he proved that concen- deck was marked, who could read
trating on the fall of dice could ef- every card as it came up, LOST
fect their fall, so that a better than $63.00 in the month. For thirty days,
average score could be made. each day, gin-rummy was played,
All this excited the gamblers. It before witnesses, for several hours.
seemed that a person with ESP could The result should have been obvious.
“break the bank” at Monte Carlo or It wasn’t.
anywhere else. If Dr. Rhine’s re- The conclusion? That ESP would
search is valid, and many scientists not be a help against William L.
admit it is, then we have the rea- Hamling, one of the participants in
son for many of the phenomenal runs this case, and could only handicap
of luck in cards, dice, etcetera. the other, Ray Palmer! As he’d only
But not so long ago two eminent know a larger than average percent-
science fiction scientists engaged in age of pure guesses on the cards, not
a duel which went as follows: They ALL of them.
played gin-rummy for one month on Where does that put scientific in-

148
 OTHER WORLDS 149

vestigation, as done at Duke Uni- of going to sleep as soon as the

versity? Handing is laughing yeti show began. He would tuck his
* * * three heads under his body and sit

T TOW old is the Earth? Let us on them duck hatching eggs.

like a
* -* quote few of the answers
a On this particular trip, the Captain
given in textbooks available in any became annoyed at the disinterest
library: One billion years. Two bil- of his pet, and decided to get him

lion years. One and one-half billion into the act and force him to wake

years. Five hundred fifty thousand up. Accordingly he took a large

years. Close to three billion years. sheet and threw it over the cage.

Between ten billion and a trillion The spleuxgfyk poked one of its
years. And if we are to use the heads out from under its belly and
textbook, observed the covering. It winked
Bible as a 5,955 years.
Rocks give one answer, Radioactives one eye sleepily, then muttered a
give another, Fossils give a third, “Thanks, Cap” and went back to
and Religion fourth. OTHER sleep, thinking the Captain had been
a
WORLDS thoughtful enough to provide him
guess 350,000 years
is

with Man no older (and no younger) with at least some protection from
than 80,000 years. If you want to the show, visual if not audible.

add your guess, you’ll be number Accordingly the spleuxgfyk did not
5,690 on the list of guessers - - all see the passes the Captain was mak-
experts! ing over his cage. Nor did he see
* * * the sheet being whipped off by the
It seems the captain of a certain Captain with a terrific flourish. For
spaceliner making the regular trip that matter, neither did the audience.
from Jupiter to Earth had a pet For at that moment a huge meteor
talking spleuxgfyk bird (not related smashed through the ship.
to Earth’s parrot which has only Instantly the lights went out. All
two feet) which he kept in a cage was confusion.Women and men
in main salon. It also seems that
the screamed. Women because they were
each trip, on the last day out or in, afraid, and men because they were
an amateur show was staged in the - - afraid. There was the shrill
salon, with members of the crew and whistle of escaping air, the banging
passenger list taking part. Like most of bulkhead doors, sealing off the
amateur shows, it was typically damaged compartments, the hoarse
amateur, and the spleuxgfyk bird had shouts of the Captain ordering the
been forced to sit (or stand, because abandonment of ship, the heaving
it had so many feet it could not sit) and pitching as the ship turned end
through all of them. Naturally, it over end in space, the pandemonium
was very bored with the whole thing, as the artificial gravity went hay-
and eventually adopted the practice wire, the roar of exploding rockets
150 FUN WITH SCIENCE
astern, the whine of overloaded gen- burst altogether, and his head dis-
erators. appeared in a froth in the vacuum,
As the Captain struggled into the spleuxgfyk’s third head came
his space suit, he yelled orders to erect with decided interest on its

passengers to do the same. He even features.

helped one fat man squeeze into As all three heads turned around
one, then ran to take charge of the and around, surveying the incredible
lifeboats. Then he ran back, gather- scene, they began to nod in approval,
ed up the cage with the spleuxgfyk even expressing audible huzzah’s at
in and literally hurled it
it, into a the Captain’s final exhibition.
lifeboat. At that instant a terrific But as nothing further happened,
explosion rent the ship in twain, one of the heads looked a bit dis-
and blew the port of the lifeboat appointed, and began to tuck itself
shut with the spleuxgfyk inside and back for a few more winks - - but
the Captain outside. then abruptly brightened and
Another terrific explosion came, straightened up.
and the liner was literally blown With a loud squawk of antici-

to bits. The spleuxgfyk found him- pation it looked out at the Captain’s
self drifting in the lifeboat in space, floating “Okay, Cap.
bodyi Now
surrounded by the most collossal let’s see you put it together!”
array of debris he had ever seen. * * *
Not even the memorable amateur At the Westercon (science fiction
show staged on the 78th Voyage convention June 29 and 30 at San
had been as badly fouled up. Francisco) somebody described Dia-
Beside the lifeboat floated the netics as“push button psychology.”
awkwardly kicking body of the Cap- WTiereupon he chortled:
tain, still in his space suit. His hel- “You push the button here,
met was cracked, and air was leaking The engrams go ’round and ’round,
out in a fine spurt of snow. And you come out clear!”
The spleuxgfyk had removed one Help! Help! This column depends
of his three heads from beneath his on its readers! Do you know any
belly, and now, as a rocket-fuel tank good sf jokes? Have you had any
floating in space exploded in a funny experiences in science fiction?
tremendous glare of light that lit Can you give a gentle rib to science?
up the whole array of shattered Can you make us laugh? Got any
debris, and revealed the Captain’s cartoons? If you do, you can make -

frantic efforts to reach the lifeboat, this column worthwhile. This is its
another of the spleuxgfyk’s heads first appearance, and even Bea
came out, registering a reluctant Mahaffey will admit the only thing
degree of interest. that’s funny about Ray Palmer is
Then, as the Captain’s helmet his editing. Help him out!
WILLIAM J. DOHERTY, JR. Maybe this issue will show you what
I have just finished reading the we mean. Ed.
September issue of your wonderful
mag. I can’t tell how much I en- RONALD D. RENTZ
joyed Russell’s “The Witness”. Next I have read science fiction for a
in line was “A Word From Our number of years, but have never been
Sponsor”. I’d like to see more of an active fan. Now, however, I am
Brown. “Down In The Misty interested in joining one of the many
Mountains” had a good plot, but in fan clubs in existence. It would be
my opinion, it ranks third. By the appreciated if some of your readers

way, what was that on page 144? would send me the details of a few
Being a new reader, I’d like to good ones. I was very much inter-
know what’s all the noise about back ested in the one mentioned by Robert
issues? I mean before 1940. Were Hoskins in the September letters
they really better than today’s s-f column. However, he gave no ad-
magazines? Having little capital and dress to write to. I think your mag
less time, I’ve never really bothered is great. I happened to start read-

to find out. Anybody got an old pulp ing it quite by accident. During my
with a few stories in it they’d like to vacation I felt like reading some SF
send me? Before I close, one last so I went down to the nearest store
request. Put some staples in the and looked through the stock of
magazine. science magazines.Your Sept, cover
made me buy yours because I figured
23 Florence St., anyone that can get articles by well-
Cambridge 39, Mass. known men like Willy Ley and Eric
Floyd Scrttch, on page 144 oj the Frank Russell must put out a darn
September issue, was a parody on the good issue. After I had read every
new “science” oj Dianetics. Nothing page in it, I was sold on your mag-
is sacred to OTHER WORLDS! azine for life.

As jor back issues, and how much 130 Vera Street

better they were, bosh, William. West Hartford 7, Conn.
They weren’t. The rush jor them is Robert P. Hoskins, Lyons Falls,
because science fiction collections N.Y. ( there’s your address, Ronald).
are a hobby, and are worth money, Ed.
like stamps. PFC ALBEN HOLLINGSWORTH
We’re installing new machinery to Having read scientification maga-
make the binding more substantial. number of years, I think
zines for a
 iS2 OTHER WORLDS
it about time I put in my two
is be brothers. It would be like saying
cents. I have followed your mag for Jimmy Jones and Jimmy Smith had
the whole time it has been in print. I the same family name. Shame on
like. OW
and Imagination are way you, Gibson.
up there. The September issue in
particular. “Down In The
Rating: But it was a nice story, I note that

Misty Mountains”. An adventure it strayed rather far afield from its

story, fast moving, with a good end- original locale and content, however.
ing. Illustrations by Cartier as usual The first was rather
half of the thing
- - unsurpassed. “A Word From Our disconnected, as if Gibson were un-

Sponsor.” Deep with meaning, well sure just what he wanted to say next,
written and above all, true. “The and then <once he got onto the Venus-
Witness.” Mediocre — enough said. ian idea he really began to click. It’s
“My Struggle”: Deserves no com- refreshing to read such a simple,
ment. I will continue to buy OW. It well-put-together story.
sure helps a lonely service man when The fannish names were amusing,
he is not in class. ASF is better, but too. Pirate MacSneary is something
has been going longer. If you keep I can well imagine.
going at this rate, you’ll be on top
The editorial says you’re going in
of the heap.
for longer stories. This is without
AF12375436 a doubt the most welcome news I
Box 975, 3411 Stud. Sqdn.
have read the past two years.
in
Keesler AFB, Miss.
What do I Astounding - - no
see?
Thanks, Alben. We like loyal more Marvel - - the readers
serials.
readers like you. Your support helps prefer short-shorts. Well, you and
us to keep on improving. Ed. Gold and Hamling are on the ball.
Don’t give up the short stories,
DON WILSON however. I think that the last couple
Well,do believe it is time to be
I of years have been the first in science-
writing my
annual letter of comment when the shorts have
fiction’s history
to your most imaginative, galactic been readable. Your two in this issue
magazine. You editors are so lucky. are good examples of the New Era,
“Down In The Misty Mountains” when shorts are no longer merely
by Joe Gibson. W'ell, it’s like this. fillers. Ah well, Russell and Brown
You see, in China, the family name are good writers.
is first. Thus, if a Chinese’ name The sweetest thing of all in this
were Yin Chao-tang (it’s customary, issue is Cartier’s matchless illustra-
by the way, not to capitalize the tions, which are gorgeous, beautiful,
second half of the second name), superlative, and downright goshwow-
Yin is his family name. Yin Chao- boyoboy. All Cartier is the best thing
tang and Wu Chao-tang wouldn’t that you could have happen to you.
 LETTERS 153

On the cover, now, you may (you is a new and different Floyd Scrilch.
have my permission) continue to use Ed.
Settles and Smith and Mac.
And Galaxy makes such a fuss JERRY SYMMONDS
about its wash drawings. I have just finished the September
Floyd Scrilch’s adventure was a OW and didn’t stop once. Need I
mite impossible, since this boy under- say more?
went “The Weird Doom Of Floyd I would like to be one of the first

Scrilch” in Fantastic Adventures back to say that I agree wholeheartedly

in1942 or some such time, and dead with your opinions on science-fiction
men can’t have adventures. But which you stated in no roundabout
Bloch is a treasure, anyway. I’m fashion in your editorial, and I also
glad to see that you’re not practis- feel that most fans take the same
ing neutralism (the curse applied attitude.
to countries which won’t follow the Hurray for the coming policy of
USA) with regard to St. LRon’s longer stories. I thoroughly enjoyed
goat-hormone panacea. the Gibson story and hope to see
Ley was good too. How about many longer stories in OW.
running one of your inside cover The cover was great. I always had
stories on your boss? a weakness for covers with space-
Cal Hall, UR ships, rockets, and scientific what-
Redlands, Calif. zits and doohickies. Let’s have more.

OW is always willing to oblige its The stories, with the possible ex-
readers whenever possible - - here’s ception of “A Word From Our
your cover feature on Rap, almost Sponsor”, were very enjoyable.
before you asked for it, Don. And Willy Ley’s article was also good
as for the point you bring up re- and I would like to see more like it
garding Chinese names, “Hey, Gib- in the future.
son, what have you got to say about Box 150
this?” So Bloch killed off Floyd Lockwood, Mo.
Scrilch years ago, did he? Now In with our longer story pol-
line
that you mention it, we do remem- icy, we are presenting Richard Ash-
ber the story. Scrilch had a pen- by’s 38,000 word serial (in two parts)
chant for getting in trouble by ans- and beginning next issue, Rog Phil-
wering ads way back then, too. But lips’ 76,000 word story “These Are
let’s be reasonable, Don, just because My Children”. In passing, we want
one John Jones dies doesn’t mean to comment on Phillips’ new novel :

that all people named John Jones DON’T MISS IT!

In our opinion
cease to exist. Let’s give Bloch ( and it is appear in
the finest novel to
your editors’ memories) the benefit science fiction bar none. Naturally
°f the doubt and assume that this we could mention a dozen other
i54 OTHER WORLDS
terrific novels, but we’d be UNABLE meat of your letter. We don’t usual-

to say they were any more than ly cut adverse comment, but we got-
equal to it. BUT, some-
this one’s ta have room to answer you!)
thing we think has more than just One short but seemingly import-
entertainment in it, or scientific ant sentence in this September edi-
“newness”, or daring concept - - it torial intrigued me. To quote: “It

faces the crisis before humanity (sf) does say ‘here’s how it can be’
squarely, for the first time t It is a and it also says “here’s how it will
prophetic story in the TIME HON- be’.”
ORED TRADITION of science I, personally, disagree — at least
fiction, first set by the old Aristo- partially. Stating that science fiction
crat, AMAZING STORIES. This presents possbility (“can be”) is

one makes us proud that we are repetition of an easily evident fact.

science fiction fans. Proud that we However, stating that sf, in any re-

are editors uiith another bulls-eye to spect whatsoever, presents certainty

chalk down on our -list of worthy (“will he”) is, in my opinion, a ser-
achievements. Proud to know that a ious misinterpretation of the field as
writer we developed has come to his it exists today.
full and magnificent maturity. But No writer, no reader, of sf can say
most important, this story will thrill “here’s how it will be,” because such
you, satisfy you, add to your mental a statement is limited, by human
stature and your memories of good ability if nothing else, to God or at
things, more than anything else you least one of Doc Smith’s Arisians
have read recently. PLEASE don’t with visualization of the Cosmic All.
miss it, you readers of all s-f! Ray Science fiction does not now, nor
Palmer knows what he’s talking will it ever, have the ability to pro-
about, here! Believe met phesy the FUTURE, the future of
As for covers, what do you think “will be.” What science fiction can
of the cover this issue? And if you do —and does do so admirably — is

do, don’t miss the March cover! predict a future, one of the infinity
We’ve really got something coming, of “can be’s” that exist as a product
almost every issue! Our cover sched- of men’s minds. And that is where
ule is the most exciting we’ve ever sf’s mission (if indeed sf has any
contemplated in fourteen years of such) lies. In the “can be’s” and,
scheduling them! Next issue is a only indirectly, in the “will be”, for
Mac Girl. —Ed. inability to prophesy the FUTURE
does not necessarily imply complete
HERBERT KUSHNER lack of control over it. (I refer you
(The editor apologizes for cutting to John W. Campbell’s editorial in
out how lousy you think Gibson and the November 1949 issue of aSF, in
Bloch were — so’s we can get to the which he made this very excellent
 LETTERS 155
point: the mere existence of an idea Campbell. Refer to his own state-
as such first, and perhaps the
is the ment, then follow me: An actuality
hardest, step toward the existence is a reality. An actual thing is a real
of that idea as material actuality.) thing. It is a "be.” Thus, the idea
Thus, if enough people are warn- of a thing is a “will be” BECAUSE
ed fictionally of the inescapable re- it is the FIRST step (in a series of
sult of atomic warfare, atomic war- steps ) toward MATERIAL ACTU-
fare will be opposed by just that ALITY. I am glad I did not have
many more people; and, in a like to make that point on my OWN
manner, if five sf authors write five authority, although it is one of my
stories giving five different space FIRM tenets of existence. Now, let’s
drives or space drive modifications, go further down the same road: An
and if these authors have injected idea is a reality, being the first step
any scientific plausibility at all in- of a reality.Thus if a writer pre-
to their stories, space drive research sents an idea ( you say based in
by five ideas. There
will be richer plausibility —
you mean, no doubt,
you have “can be’s” affecting “will based on OTHER and PREVIOUS
be”. And while such a case is ob- ideas, but no matter ) based or un-
viously rigged, the principle never- based, it is a REALITY Thus, it is .

theless holds true: tell —or warn a “ will be” and CAN BE NOTH-
enough people about something ING ELSE. Actually Campbell is

enough times and those people will a philosopher. Out of philosophy

start thinking; and when the time comes science. Philosophy is the eyes
comes to put that something into of reality, Science is the legs. Neith-
practice, thought will have brought er can go anywhere wthout the oth-
results. er. Remember the old fable of the
Such is my disagreement. blind man and the legless man who
Nevertheless, you did make a got along very well together? Camp-
statement in the same editorial that bell repeated a tenet of all mystics
holds true to anyone with the slight- all over the world. Personally, I
est insight into the wonderful thing agree with him, being rather a mys-
that science fiction can be —and usu- tic myself. I believe in the reality
ally is. of thought. A part of a chair is the
Science fiction is prophecy with concept of it. Remove the concept
a vengeance. Could be that the fu- and the chair no longer exists, wood,
ture is science fiction with a ven- glue and nails notwithstanding. I
geance tool say SCIENCE FICTION is a state-
1501 W. Lexington St. ment of the WILL BE. But I won’t
Baltimore 23, Md. base this on just my say-s». I will
Let's base our reply to you on take up your challenge. I will write
your OWN authority, John W. a story, for publication in a future
iS6 OTHER WORLDS
issue, which will be labeled a WILL our own ideas. Or that we are pup-
BE. And I will personally write pets of an unknown destiny. No, sf
what 1 think will be jacts , and if is merely an expression of ideas. I
they are not facts within one year think they are REAL ideas.
after publication, / will eat the pag- Your letter closes by saying sf IS
es of the story at the s) convention prophecy. By that you mean the
held the followng year, and further, ideas of sf DO control the future,
will pay your transportation to that but that a complexity of them mod-
convention to see me eat it! ify the future reality . You modify
Naturally, if it DOES come true, the “will be” to the “can be.” There
you will pay my transportation and is no “can be.” Imagine yourself liv-

yourself do Are you

the eating. ing in a universe in a perpetual state
game ? Will you back up your dis- of “could be only it ain’t yet.” No,
agreement? the Universe, no matter where we
By the way, OTHER WORLDS’ look, is a “be” and it WAS a “will
pulp paper is edible! be” in the past. Just WHOSE idea
And now, on my own ... it is ab- made it what it is, isn’t my purpose

solutely true that we can control to argue at all. You call it God. I

the future with our ideas. It is not have “ideas” on that myself, and I
true that a large variety of ideas call it Man. I think God is made in

mean a large variety of “possibili- Man’s image, at least the God most
ties.” There is only ONE future, religions picture to us. As for the

and ALL ideas together will make REAL God, I think He’s BEYOND
that future “be.” ALL of today’s concept. FOREVER beyond. So
ideas about space drives will result there is no sense in trying to ad-
in (1) ONE space drive, then any vance ideas concerning Him, other
new ideas will MODIFY
it, resulting than the oldest of all ideas, that

in OTHER space drives. (2) There God is ALL. All takes in a lot of
may be A DIVISION of ideas re-
territory, you’ll agree, than which
sulting intwo or three space drives, there is no more • — Your science fic-

perhaps, simultaneously, but they tion philosopher, Rap.

will be ONE FUTURE, involving
ALL TWO FUTURES in
of us, not MARIAN C. H. SCHLOEDER
parallel. Or perhaps your concept I am reading my second issue of
does not make such an obvious com- OW and enjoy it very much, but
ment? If I misinterpret your letter, must confess that your Letters de-
my apologies. I admire a reader who partment annoys me very much, as
HAS ideas, and one of them I agree they all seem to think that Astound-
with — stf has no “mission.” How ing Science Fiction and Galaxy are
silly! A “mission” would imply a the only sf magazines worth read-
previously planned future outside ing, except your own; and evea you
 LETTERS 157

must take second or third place to And their careful blending of all
them. types of fiction with the necessary
I have been readng and reveling leavening of humor always makes
in sf for a long time, but I should for a wonderful issue.
like to bring out the fact that en- This is a hastily compiled protest,
joyable as OW is, there is another and quite true, it hasn’t been pol-
magazine that is tops in my esti- ished. I have no expectations of hav-
mation This is The Magazine Of Fan- ing the letter printed. I just wanted
tasy And Science Fiction, edited by to make my point — to emphasize
Anthony Boucher, who is undoubted- quality plus humor. And I hope
human and vers-
ly one of the most you’ll realize that I am writing you
atile ofmen and editors. There are because I genuinely love OW and
many who enjoy his literary
of us want to see it continue tops.
ragouts; he hits every mood and 17 E. Garfield Ave.,
tempo, with an emphasis on a satiric Atlantic Highlands, N. J.
sense of humor. We love you too! Because you're
think you will be honest enough
I so deliciously womanlike — incon-
to admit that very few of the sf sistent. No slam, there, Marian. We
magazines have a light quality. And LIKE our women the way you are!
in these times a story with a smile You get womanlike
annoyed, then
can feel 'very good indeed. do exactly the thing that annoys
I should like to request that you, —
you place F&SF ahead of OW.
too, indulge in a little chuckle-binge —
Sure it is in its field! As for Anth-
once in awhile. comes to theIf it ony Boucher, we’ve loved him for
worst (and believe me it would be years. He IS tops. And you DID
the worst) I shall write one for you make your point. We like humor
myself. and darned if we
too, aren’t going

I think Robert Bloch would be to try toget more of it for you.

able to do the trick for you. Or JUST for you, which is manlike.
Theodore Sturgeon. I have seen We men are suckers for you girls!

some of their more humorous efforts We’ll do anything to please you.

in Suspense and they were very good Then, womanlike, you turn around
indeed. and say TWICE that we are TOPS,
I am not praising F&SF to your in spite of your remark about F&SF.
detriment. You work a different Well, in reality, you ARE consist-

field. And in one way, you are to ent, because you place all these

be the higher praised. Your stuff is “tops" in different categories, which

ALL new. But I like their idea that is where they SHOULD be placed.

if there is no more new best avail- In short, Marian, you’re a smart girl,
able, they’ll give us and
reprints and we agree with you thoroughly.
give their readers the best anyway. THE END
 NEWS OF THE MONTH
latest reports m what m renders are deiag. fm
Ms, social events and persnalfies n tfc feUfto.

A rather
F fandom
new

organization.
organization in S-
is

We
the Fan-Vet’s
hear that
Howard Browne,
ing Stories, has just returned from
a vacation in
editor of

California
Amaz-

where he
it will hold its second annual con- tied up a few of the top writers in
vention in April, 1952. Exact date the Hollywood area.
to be announced soon, and we’ll give Hamling,
Bill of Imagination
it to you in OW. All fans in the spent a week in Wisconsin, stopping
armed forces are asked to contact off at Ray Palmer’s farm. Ray took
the Fan-Vets so that Fan-Vet ser- him fishing and Bill caught an 18”
vices can be made available to them. black bass weighing 3 lbs., 4 ounces,
Write Ray Van Houten, 127 Spring and a speckled trout 17 and a half
N. J.
"Streets, Patterson 3, inches and weighing just under two
NEA is launching a science comic pounds. Bill went into the far north
stripthis November (tentatively). and got skunked in his effort to beat
Watch Editor and Publisher for full the fishing at Palmer’s! P.S. There
announcement. It is drawn by Art ain’t no better!
Sansom, and the script is by Russ S- J. Byrne is finishing up a new
Winterbotham (also known as R.R. novel related to his Prometheus II
Winterbotham, stf writer). The and Colossus I, II, III series. It

name of the strip is Chris Welkin. is reputed to be a real sensation-

Chris from Columbus, explorer, and getter.
“welkin” meaning Heavens. Science fiction movies is the next
The Canadian Science Fiction BIG deal for Hollywood. It will
Assn. Newsletter No. 2 is out. If shade anything Hollywood has ever
you’re interested in it, write Chester done in the field of the spectacular.
D. Cuthbert, 54 Ellesmere Ave., St. This is due to the tremendous “sets”

Vital,Manitoba, Canada. necessary to film really good stf.

As this page goes to press, OTHER Hollywood plans to invest millions
WORLDS’ managing editor, Bea in what it thinks a “sure thing.”
Mahaffey, is attending the science Welcome news to stf readers!
fiction convention at New Orleans. Two new magazines are on the
Her itinery includes a trip to Flor- “planning board” of the Clark Pub-
ida, a visit at her home in Cincinnati, lishing Co. One will interest science
and, of course, the Nolacon. fiction fans.
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false? Can tke mysterious feats per-
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to

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 For the convenience of readers of OTHER WORLDS, we are listing
here a number of science fiction and kindred books that can be se-
cured directly from us. If you wish any of the following titles, ad-
dress your order to OTHER WORLDS
Bookshop, 1144 Ashland
Avenue, Evanston, 111, Only prepaid orders accepted. We pay
postage.

WHO GOES THERE? By John W. Campbell, Jr.

Seven strange stories, including Blindness, a tale of Prometheus reborn,
snatching atomic energy from the sun itself; Twilight and Night, pro-
phetic visions of the future. $3.00

THE MAN WHO SOLD THE MOON By Robert A. Hernia in

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the Future History series, spanning the years of the near future.
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SPACE ON MY HANDS By Fredrie Brown

Nine of the best stories of this well-known writer including Pi In The
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THE WHEELS OF IF By L. Sprague de Camp

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SIDEWISE IN TIME By Murray Leinster

The cream of the writings of America’s favorite fiction author, includ-
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THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION STORIES: 1950 By Bleiler and Dikty

A collection of the best stories in this fascinating new field, to help
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SLAVES OF SLEEP By L. Ron Hubbard

A swashbuckling novel of parallel worlds and strange adventures, by
the creator of Dianetics. $3.00

160
 BOOK SHOP 161

THE WORLD BELOW By S. Fowler Wright

Into the world of a half-million years hence journeys the Time Traveler
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THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH By Robert A. Heinlein

The second volume in the Future History series, with Rhysling, The
Blind Singer, and the adventure of the entire solar system. $3.00

BEYOND THESE WALLS By Rena M. Vale

A tremendous novel of passion and conflict in the world of the future.
The surprise “science-fiction” find of the year. (Not yet issued)
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CLOAK OF AESIR By John W. Campbell, Jr.

The second great collection of “Don A. Stuart” stories, including the
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SPACEHOUNDS OF IPC By E. E. Smith, Ph.Dt

Thethrilling space adventure that made “Doc” Smith the best-loved of
all science fiction authors. $3.00

THE FORBIDDEN GARDEN By John Taine

One of the most exotic novels of all time. $3.00

THE BLACK FLAME By Stanley G. Weinbaum

One of the classic novels of the author whose star outshone of his
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contemporaries while he lived. A novel of gigantic stature and vivid
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TRIPLANlETARY By E. E. Smith, Ph.D.

A novel of adventure and science on three worlds. $3.00

BEYOND THIS HORIZON By Robert A. Heinlein

SINISTER BARRIER By Erie Frank Russell
SKYLARK THREE By E. E. Smith, Ph.D.
DIVIDE AND RULE By L. Sprague deCamp
DARKER THAN YOU THINK By Jack Williamson
SKYLARK OF VALERON By E. E. Smith, Ph.D.
A MARTIAN ODYSSEY By Stanley G. Weinbaum
SEVEN OUT OF TIME By A. L. Zagat
THE INCREDIBLE PLANET By John W. Campbell, Jr.
FIRST LENSMAN By E. E. Smith, Ph.D.
MASTERS OF TIME By A. E. van Vogt
THE BRIDGE OF LIGHT By A. Hyatt Verrill
SKYLARK OF SPACE By E. E. Smith, Ph.D.
A*ll $3.00
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162
Printed in the C.S.A.
ZJL People WL Wale OTHER WORLDS
NO. 1. The Editor

AYMOND A. Palmer (better

R known
August
“Rap”) was born
as
1910 in Milwaukee,
1,
Wisconsin. From the first he was
one of those persons known by in-
surance companies as having a ten-
dency toward accidents. At 7 he suf-
fered a broken back in an auto acci-
dent. Those years were years of read-
ing Edgar Rice Burroughs, every
book as it came off the press; Jules
Verne, Henty, H. Rider Haggard, H.
G. Wells, Jack London, Serviss.
At 13, two more years in bed.
At 20, the back again. More hospi-
tal. off roofs, off ladders.
Falls
But at 16, the great event of his
life — the
discovery of his first copy
of Amazing Stories on the news-
stand. Within six months he grew
impatient with the magazine, as he
saw so much that he wanted it to
be. Decided then and there, at 17,
to become editor of the magazine.
In 1937, quit his job as a sheet met-
al worker to wait. Nobody under- ed on the unusual, ala Fort) and
stood. But in February 1938 came a OTHER lyORLDS. In 1950 founded
fateful telegram. February 14, 1938 IMAGINATION.
he became managing editor of June 4, 1950 saw him paralyzed
Amazing Stories. from the waist down by an acci-
At Ziff-Davis, publishers of dental fall. Doctors agreed, perma-
Amazing Stories, his self-training in nent paralysis. But it wasn’t.
writing since 17 (first story sold to Ray Palmer is a believer in the
Hugo Gernsback in 1928) which impossible. He believed Jesse James
counted sales to Amazing Stories, As- still living, sent John Shevlin, great-
tounding Stories, Wonder Stories est living detective, to track him
and many other magazines including down. He prodded Kenneth Ar-
murder, gangster, sex, western, mys- nold’s flying saucers into national
tery and flying— proved of inestima- headlines for two years, was accused
ble value. Over 3,000,000 published by Project Saucer of fostering a
words backed up his story sense. tremendous hoax.
Amazing Stories rose from lowest in He doesn’t consider his readers
sales to highest. Founded Fantastic customers, regards them as friends
Adventures and also became editor — knows thousands of them person-
of five other magazines. ally. Intends to spend the rest of
In 1949 he resigned from Ziff- his life trying to entertain them
Davis to publish his own magazines, with his magazines, of which they
the first of which was FATE
(bas- haven’t seen the last.
 .

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The Most Exciting Book Since Merritt's "MOON POOL ,,

A few of the book’s chapter headings will give you some idea of the tremendous
scope of the story: Trail Of The Wizard; Votaries Of Ys; Darla Of The Sea-Green
Eyes; City Of The Sorcerers; Captives Of The Great Dimension; The Seven Sisters
Of Light; The Morning After Eternity; The White Archdruid; In The Grotto Of
The Lizard; Vor And The Onyx Key; The Place Of Thunders; The Black Tower
. . . twenty-six great chapters in all!

Price $3.50 —352 Pages; Cloth Bound; Jacket by Hannes Bok

KINSMEN OF 1HE DRAGON

By STANLEY MULLEN

SHASTA PUBLISHERS, 5525 s. blackstone, CHICAGO 37, Illinois

Gentlemen: I enclose $3.50 check money order cash

Send KINSMEN OF THE DRAGON by return mail, prepaid, to:

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