Rough Translation
Page 3
ofthe framish. So after a long time, and after they looked all over allaround, they decided maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they sent some oftheir little boys and girls--the ones they didn't have room for--tosome place where they could be Carooms longer than most other places.And _that_ place," Richie said proudly, "was right here! 'Cause _here_there's almost as much gladdisl as back home and--"
"Gladdisl?" Jonathan echoed hoarsely. "What's--"
"--and after they start growing up--"
"Gladdisl," Jonathan repeated, more firmly. "Richie, what is it?"
The forehead puckered momentarily. "It's something you breathe, sortof." The boy shied away from the difficult question, trying toremember what Allavarg had said about gladdisl. "Anyway, after thelittle boys and girls start to grow up and after they framish and beGundergucks, like you and Mommy, the Carooms back home send some_more_ to take their places. And the Gundergucks who used to beCarooms here in the nursery look after the new little--"
"Wait a minute! Wait a minute!" Jonathan interrupted suspiciously. "Ithought you said Allavarg looks after them."
"He does. But there's so many little Carooms and there aren't manyAllavargs and so the Gundergucks have to help. You help," Richieassured his father. "You and Mommy help a little bit."
Big of you to admit it, old man, thought Jonathan, suppressing asmile. "But aren't you _our_ little boy?" he asked. He had a suddenvision of himself addressing the scientists at the Institute: "And so,gentlemen, our babies--who, incidentally, are really Martians--_are_brought by storks, after all. Except in those cases where--"
"The doctor brought me in a little black bag," said Richie.
* * * * *
The boy stood silent and studied his father. He sort of rememberedwhat Allavarg had said, too. Things like You _mustn't ever tell_ and_It's got to be a secret_ and _They'd only laugh at you, Richie, andif they didn't laugh, they might believe you and try to go back homeand there just isn't any room._
"I think," said Richie, "I think I better--" He took a deep breath."Here, Allavarg," he called in a soft, piping voice.
Jonathan raised his head. "Just what do you think you're doing--"
There was a sound behind him, and Jonathan turned startledly.
"Shame on you," said Allavarg, coming through the broken window.
Jonathan's words dropped away in a faint gurgle.
"I'm sorry," said Richie. "Don't be dipplefit."
"It's a mess," Allavarg replied. "It's a krandoor mess!" He waved hisarm in the air over Jonathan's head. "And don't think I'm going toforget it!" The insistent hiss of escaping gas hovered over the movingpellet in his hand. "Jivis boy!"
Jonathan coughed suddenly. He got as far as "Now look here" and thenfound that he could neither speak nor move. The gas or whatever it wasstung his eyes and burned in his throat.
"Why don't you just freeble him?" Richie asked unhappily. "You'reusing up all your gladdisl! Why don't you freeble him and get meanother one?"
"Freeble, breeble," grumbled Allavarg, shoving the capsule directlyunder Jonathan's nose. "Just like you youngsters, always wanting totake the easy way out! Gundergucks don't grow on blansercots, youknow."
Jonathan felt tears start in his eyes, partly from the fumes andpartly from a growing realization that Allavarg was sacrificingprecious air for him. He tried to think. If this was gladdisl and ifthis would keep a man in the state of being a Caroom, then--
"There," said Allavarg, looking unhappily at the emptied pellet. Heshook it, sniffed it and finally returned it to the container at hisside.
"I'm sorry," Richie whispered. "But he kept askin' me and askin' me."
"There, there," said Allavarg, going to the window. "Don't fret. Iknow you won't do it again." He turned and looked thoughtfully atJonathan. He winked at Richie and then he was gone.
* * * * *
Jonathan rubbed his eyes. He could move now. He opened his mouth andwaggled his jaws. Now that the room was beginning to be cleared of thegas, he realized that it had had a pleasant odor. He realized--
Why, it was all so simple! Remembering his sessions with Easton,Jonathan laughed aloud. So simple! The message? _Stay away from Mars!No room there! They said I could come back if I gave you the message,but I have to come back alone because there's no room for morepeople!_
No room? Nonsense! Jonathan reached for the phone, dialled theInstitute and asked for Dr. Stoughton. No room? On the paradise thatwas Mars? Well, they'd just have to make room! They couldn't keep thatto themselves!
"Hello, Fred?" He leaned back in his chair, feeling a surge of prideand power. Wait till they heard about this! "Just wanted to tell you Isolved the Easton thing. Just a simple case of hapsodon. You see,Allavarg came and gave me a tressimox of gladdisl and now that I'm aCaroom again--What? What do you mean, what's the matter? I said I'mnot a Gunderguck any more." He stared at the phone. "Why, youspebberset moron! What's the matter with you? Don't you blikkelEnglish?"
From the depths of the big chair across the room, Richie giggled.
--JEAN M. JANIS
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