by Isaac Asimov
“It is a star. I know not its name.”
“But except for the two companion stars, it’s the closest of all the stars to Alpha. It is only a parsec away.”
Hiroko said, “Sayest thou so? I know that not.”
“Might it not be the star about which Earth revolves?”
Hiroko looked at the star with a faint flash of interest. “I know not. I have never heard any person say so.”
“Don’t you think it might be?”
“How can I say? None knoweth where Earth might be. I—I must leave thee, now. I will be taking my shift in the fields tomorrow morning before the beach festival. I’ll see you all there, right after lunch. Yes? Yes?”
“Certainly, Hiroko.”
She left suddenly, half-running in the dark. Trevize looked after her, then followed the others into the dimly lit cottage.
He said, “Can you tell whether she was lying about Earth, Bliss?”
Bliss shook her head. “I don’t think she was. She is under enormous tension, something I was not aware of until after the concert. It existed before you asked her about the stars.”
“Because she gave away her flute, then?”
“Perhaps. I can’t tell.” She turned to Fallom. “Now, Fallom, I want you to go into your room. When you’re ready for bed, go to the outhouse, use the potty, then wash your hands, your face, and your teeth.”
“I would like to play the flute, Bliss.”
“Just for a little while, and very quietly. Do you understand, Fallom? And you must stop when I tell you to.”
“Yes, Bliss.”
The three were now alone; Bliss in the one chair and the men sitting each on his cot.
Bliss said, “Is there any point in staying on this planet any longer?”
Trevize shrugged. “We never did get to discuss Earth in connection with the ancient instruments, and we might find something there. It might also pay to wait for the fishing fleet to return. The men might know something the stay-at-homes don’t.”
“Very unlikely, I think,” said Bliss. “Are you sure it’s not Hiroko’s dark eyes that hold you?”
Trevize said impatiently, “I don’t understand, Bliss. What have you to do with what I choose to do? Why do you seem to arrogate to yourself the right of sitting in moral judgment on me?”
“I’m not concerned with your morals. The matter affects our expedition. You want to find Earth so that you can finally decide whether you are right in choosing Galaxia over Isolate worlds. I want you to so decide. You say you need to visit Earth to make the decision and you seem to be convinced that Earth revolves about that bright star in the sky. Let us go there, then. I admit it would be useful to have some information about it before we go, but it is clear to me that the information is not forthcoming here. I do not wish to remain simply because you enjoy Hiroko.”
“Perhaps we’ll leave,” said Trevize. “Let me think about it, and Hiroko will play no part in my decision, I assure you.”
Pelorat said, “I feel we ought to move on to Earth, if only to see whether it is radioactive or not. I see no point in waiting longer.”
“Are you sure it’s not Bliss’s dark eyes that drive you?” said Trevize, a bit spitefully. Then, almost at once, “No, I take that back, Janov. I was just being childish. Still—this is a charming world, quite apart from Hiroko, and I must say that under other circumstances, I would be tempted to remain indefinitely. —Don’t you think, Bliss, that Alpha destroys your theory about Isolates?”
“In what way?” asked Bliss.
“You’ve been maintaining that every truly isolated world turns dangerous and hostile.”
“Even Comporellon,” said Bliss evenly, “which is rather out of the main current of Galactic activity for all that it is, in theory, an Associated Power of the Foundation Federation.”
“But not Alpha. This world is totally isolated, but can you complain of their friendliness and hospitality? They feed us, clothe us, shelter us, put on festivals in our honor, urge us to stay on. What fault is there to find with them?”
“None, apparently. Hiroko even gives you her body.”
Trevize said angrily, “Bliss, what bothers you about that? She didn’t give me her body. We gave each other our bodies. It was entirely mutual, entirely pleasurable. Nor can you say that you hesitate to give your body as it suits you.”
“Please, Bliss,” said Pelorat. “Golan is entirely right. There is no reason to object to his private pleasures.”
“As long as they don’t affect us,” said Bliss obdurately.
“They do not affect us,” said Trevize. “We will leave, I assure you. A delay to search further for information will not be long.”
“Yet I don’t trust Isolates,” said Bliss, “even when they come bearing gifts.”
Trevize flung up his arms. “Reach a conclusion, then twist the evidence to fit. How like a—”
“Don’t say it,” said Bliss dangerously. “I am not a woman. I am Gaia. It is Gaia, not I, who is uneasy.”
“There is no reason to—” And at that point there was a scratching at the door.
Trevize froze. “What’s that?” he said, in a low voice.
Bliss shrugged lightly. “Open the door and see. You tell us this is a kindly world that offers no danger.”
Nevertheless, Trevize hesitated, until a soft voice from the other side of the door called out softly, “Please. It is I!”
It was Hiroko’s voice. Trevize threw the door open.
Hiroko entered quickly. Her cheeks were wet.
“Close the door,” she gasped.
“What is it?” asked Bliss.
Hiroko clutched at Trevize. “I could not stay away. I tried, but I endured it not. Go thou, and all of you. Take the youngster with you quickly. Take the ship away—away from Alpha—while it is yet dark.”
“But why?” asked Trevize.
“Because else wilt thou die; and all of you.”
84.
THE THREE OUTWORLDERS STARED FROZENLY AT Hiroko for a long moment. Then Trevize said, “Are you saying your people will kill us?”
Hiroko said, as the tears rolled down her cheeks, “Thou art already on the road to death, respected Trevize. And the others with you. —Long ago, those of learning devised a virus, harmless to us, but deadly to Outworlders. We have been made immune.” She shook Trevize’s arm in distraction. “Thou art infected.”
“How?”
“When we had our pleasure. It is one way.”
Trevize said, “But I feel entirely well.”
“The virus is as yet inactive. It will be made active when the fishing fleet returns. By our laws, all must decide on such a thing—even the men. All will surely decide it must be done, and we keep you here till that time, two mornings hence. Leave now while it is yet dark and none suspects.”
Bliss said sharply, “Why do your people do this?”
“For our safety. We are few and have much. We do not wish Outworlders to intrude. If one cometh and then reporteth our lot, others will come, and so when, once in a long while, a ship arriveth, we must make certain it leaveth not.”
“But then,” said Trevize, “why do you warn us away?”
“Ask not the reason. —Nay, but I will tell you, since I hear it again. Listen—”
From the next room, they could hear Fallom playing softly—and infinitely sweetly.
Hiroko said, “I cannot bear the destruction of that music, for the young one will also die.”
Trevize said sternly, “Is that why you gave the flute to Fallom? Because you knew you would have it once again when she was dead?”
Hiroko looked horrified. “Nay, that was not in my mind. And when it came to mind at length, I knew it must not be done. Leave with the child, and with her, take the flute that I may never see it more. Thou wilt be safe back in space and, left inactive, the virus now in thy body will die after a time. In return, I ask that none of you ever speak of this world, that none else may know of it.”
“We will not speak of it,” said Trevize.
Hiroko looked up. In a lower voice, she said, “May I not kiss thee once ere thou leavest?”
Trevize said, “No. I have been infected once and surely that is enough.” And then, a little less roughly, he added, “Don’t cry. People will ask why you are crying and you’ll be unable to reply. —I’ll forgive what you did to me in view of your present effort to save us.”
Hiroko straightened, carefully wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands, took a deep breath, and said, “I thank thee for that,” and left quickly.
Trevize said, “We will put out the light, and we will wait awhile, and then we will leave. —Bliss, tell Fallom to stop playing her instrument. Remember to take the flute, of course. —Then we will make our way to the ship, if we can find it in the dark.”
“I will find it,” said Bliss. “Clothing of mine is on board and, however dimly, that, too, is Gaia. Gaia will have no trouble finding Gaia.” And she vanished into her room to collect Fallom.
Pelorat said, “Do you suppose that they’ve managed to damage our ship in order to keep us on the planet?”
“They lack the technology to do it,” said Trevize grimly. When Bliss emerged, holding Fallom by the hand, Trevize put out the lights.
They sat quietly in the dark for what seemed half the night, and might have been half an hour. Then Trevize slowly and silently opened the door. The sky seemed a bit more cloudy, but stars shone. High in the sky now was Cassiopeia, with what might be Earth’s sun burning brightly at its lower tip. The air was still and there was no sound.
Carefully, Trevize stepped out, motioning the others to follow. One of his hands dropped, almost automatically, to the butt of his neuronic whip. He was sure he would not have to use it, but—
Bliss took the lead, holding Pelorat’s hand, who held Trevize’s. Bliss’s other hand held Fallom, and Fallom’s other hand held the flute. Feeling gently with her feet in the nearly total darkness, Bliss guided the others toward where she felt, very weakly, the Gaia-ness of her clothing on board the Far Star.
PART VII
EARTH
19
Radioactive?
85.
THE FAR STAR TOOK OFF QUIETLY, RISING SLOWLY through the atmosphere, leaving the dark island below. The few faint dots of light beneath them dimmed and vanished, and as the atmosphere grew thinner with height, the ship’s speed grew greater, and the dots of light in the sky above them grew more numerous and brighter.
Eventually, they looked down upon the planet, Alpha, with only a crescent illuminated and that crescent largely wreathed in clouds.
Pelorat said, “I suppose they don’t have an active space technology. They can’t follow us.”
“I’m not sure that that cheers me up much,” said Trevize, his face dour, his voice disheartened. “I’m infected.”
“But with an inactive strain,” said Bliss.
“Still, it can be made active. They had a method. What is the method?”
Bliss shrugged. “Hiroko said the virus, left inactive, would eventually die in a body unadapted to it—as yours is.”
“Yes?” said Trevize angrily. “How does she know that? For that matter, how do I know that Hiroko’s statement wasn’t a self-consoling lie? And isn’t it possible that the method of activation, whatever it is, might not be duplicated naturally? A particular chemical, a type of radiation, a—a—who knows what? I may sicken suddenly, and then the three of you would die, too. Or if it happens after we have reached a populated world, there may be a vicious pandemic which fleeing refugees would carry to other worlds.”
He looked at Bliss. “Is there something you can do about it?”
Slowly, Bliss shook her head. “Not easily. There are parasites making up Gaia—microorganisms, worms. They are a benign part of the ecological balance. They live and contribute to the world consciousness, but never over-grow. They live without doing noticeable harm. The trouble is, Trevize, the virus that affects you is not part of Gaia.”
“You say ‘not easily,’ ” said Trevize, frowning. “Under the circumstances, can you take the trouble to do it even though it might be difficult? Can you locate the virus in me and destroy it? Can you, failing that, at least strengthen my defenses?”
“Do you realize what you ask, Trevize? I am not acquainted with the microscopic flora of your body. I might not easily tell a virus in the cells of your body from the normal genes inhabiting them. It would be even more difficult to distinguish between viruses your body is accustomed to and those with which Hiroko infected you. I will try to do it, Trevize, but it will take time and I may not succeed.”
“Take time,” said Trevize. “Try.”
“Certainly,” said Bliss.
Pelorat said, “If Hiroko told the truth, Bliss, you might be able to find viruses that seem to be already diminishing in vitality, and you could accelerate their decline.”
“I could do that,” said Bliss. “It is a good thought.”
“You won’t weaken?” said Trevize. “You will have to destroy precious bits of life when you kill those viruses, you know.”
“You are being sardonic, Trevize,” said Bliss coolly, “but, sardonic or not, you are pointing out a true difficulty. Still, I can scarcely fail to put you ahead of the virus. I will kill them if I have the chance, never fear. After all, even if I fail to consider you”—and her mouth twitched as though she were repressing a smile—“then certainly Pelorat and Fallom are also at risk, and you might feel more confidence in my feeling for them than in my feeling for you. You might even remember that I myself am at risk.”
“I have no faith in your self-love,” muttered Trevize. “You’re perfectly ready to give up your life for some high motive. I’ll accept your concern for Pelorat, however.” Then, he said, “I don’t hear Fallom’s flute. Is anything wrong with her?”
“No,” said Bliss. “She’s asleep. A perfectly natural sleep that I had nothing to do with. And I would suggest that, after you work out the Jump to the star we think is Earth’s sun, we all do likewise. I need it badly and I suspect you do, too, Trevize.”
“Yes, if I can manage. —You were right, you know, Bliss.”
“About what, Trevize?”
“About Isolates. New Earth was not a paradise, however much it might have seemed like one. That hospitality—all that outgoing friendliness at first—was to put us off our guard, so that one of us might be easily infected. And all the hospitality afterward, the festivals of this and that, were designed to keep us there till the fishing fleet returned and the activation could be carried through. And it would have worked but for Fallom and her music. It might be you were right there, too.”
“About Fallom?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to take her along, and I’ve never been happy with her being on the ship. It was your doing, Bliss, that we have her here and it was she who, unwittingly, saved us. And yet—”
“And yet what?”
“Despite that, I’m still uneasy at Fallom’s presence. I don’t know why.”
“If it will make you feel better, Trevize, I don’t know that we can lay all the credit at Fallom’s feet. Hiroko advanced Fallom’s music as her excuse for committing what the other Alphans would surely consider to be an act of treason. She may even have believed this, but there was something in her mind in addition, something that I vaguely detected but could not surely identify, something that perhaps she was ashamed to let emerge into her conscious mind. I am under the impression that she felt a warmth for you, and would not willingly see you die, regardless of Fallom and her music.”
“Do you really think so?” said Trevize, smiling slightly for the first time since they had left Alpha.
“I think so. You must have a certain proficiency at dealing with women. You persuaded Minister Lizalor to allow us to take our ship and leave Comporellon, and you helped influence Hiroko to save our lives. Credit where it’s due.”
Trevize smiled more broadly.
“Well, if you say so. —On to Earth, then.” He disappeared into the pilot-room with a step that was almost jaunty.
Pelorat, lingering behind, said, “You soothed him after all, didn’t you, Bliss?”
“No, Pelorat, I never touched his mind.”
“You certainly did when you pampered his male vanity so outrageously.”
“Entirely indirect,” said Bliss, smiling.
“Even so, thank you, Bliss.”
86.
AFTER THE JUMP, THE STAR THAT MIGHT WELL BE Earth’s sun was still a tenth of a parsec away. It was the brightest object in the sky by far, but it was still no more than a star.
Trevize kept its light filtered for ease of viewing, and studied it somberly.
He said, “There seems no doubt that it is the virtual twin of Alpha, the star that New Earth circles. Yet Alpha is in the computer map and this star is not. We don’t have a name for this star, we aren’t given its statistics, we lack any information concerning its planetary system, if it has one.”
Pelorat said, “Isn’t that what we would expect if Earth circles this sun? Such a blackout of information would fit with the fact that all information about Earth seems to have been eliminated.”
“Yes, but it could also mean that it’s a Spacer world that just happened not to be on the list on the wall of the Melpomenian building. We can’t be altogether sure that that list was complete. Or this star could be without planets and therefore perhaps not worth listing on a computer map which is primarily used for military and commercial purposes. —Janov, is there any legend that tells of Earth’s sun being a mere parsec or so from a twin of itself.”
Pelorat shook his head. “I’m sorry, Golan, but no such legend occurs to me. There may be one, though. My memory isn’t perfect. I’ll search for it.”
“It’s not important. Is there any name given to Earth’s sun?”
“Some different names are given. I imagine there must be a name in each of the different languages.”
“I keep forgetting that Earth had many languages.”
