Chapter 5
In the hotel room assigned him, George Hanlon threw himself on the bedand for an hour lay there reviewing this sudden, strange turn of events,and all it presaged. He tried in vain to thrust out of his mind theastonished consternation of his classmates, the sneers of the marinesand the jeers of the civilians there at the gate, who had seen hisdisgrace. Almost in tears now, he realized at last this was but aprelude to years of being scorned and vilified as a despised outcast.
Finally he calmed a bit, then got up to pace the room, wondering whatthe next move would be. The answer came almost at once. A rap on thedoor disclosed a messenger with a package for him. On opening it, afterthe man had gone, Hanlon found the sleep-instructor and reels. On topwas a smaller reel marked, "No. 1. Listen to this awake."
He plugged in the machine, and put on the reel. It was his father'svoice.
"You've got this far, now begins your real work. You should be able tomemorize the contents of these reels in two weeks. Briefly, here is whatthey contain. Simonides Four was colonized under the direction of aGreek merchant who gave it his name. Four is the only habitable planet.Most of the original inhabitants under him were of his nationality, andthe present language is an outgrowth of modern Greek, which you knowsomewhat. There are now, of course, many variations and new words, termspeculiar to their growing and evolving culture. The reels give all thismore fully.
"The last reel tells their history, geography and economic situation asof today. Also, details about their various large cities, especially NewAthens, their capitol. We believe you will find that city the best placeto start your investigations. When you have these reels memorized, go tothe bank, get your final instructions from the box, and your money forthe trip.
"As to the problem, again briefly this is it: In the past year or soFederation agents have sensed a movement there, but have not been ableto interpret it. Whatever it is, it is very, very secret--the agentscan't even tell if it is political, religious, or merely social. Also,they have discovered that many important men, as well as dozens--maybehundreds--of less important men, have mysteriously disappeared. All thishas the smell of trouble for the Federation.
"At last the Secret Service was called in. We sent first one man, then asecond. They tried to 'bore from within' by joining whatever themovement was. But they haven't been able to get even a start--they'vehit it and bounced. The second is still there, still trying.
"As a matter of fact, we have no evidence at all, merely a sort of'hunch', or presentiment, of a plot against the peace and welfare of theFederated Planets. There may be nothing wrong at all, but we don't liketo take chances. With your ability to read minds you may be able to findout. We hope so."
Hanlon thought the message was ended, but then the voice began again. "Iwas told you came through your disgrace-scene very well. I know justwhat you are undoubtedly feeling at the moment, Spence--how sick atheart you are--and I only wish there was some way of easing your pain.But it will pass.
"Good luck, son, and safe flights. Take care of yourself. We're allbehind you, and by the devious ways you know you can call on any or allof us at need. These reels are all water soluble, so dissolve them inthe washbowl and flush down the drain as soon as you're through witheach."
* * * * *
For the next two weeks Hanlon stayed fairly close to his room, studyingby day from books obtained at the library the things he was learning atnight via the sleep-instructor.
The evening of Graduation Day he sat miserably in front of a videoscreen in his room, watching the broadcast of the stately ceremony ofwhich he would have been a part but for his decision to join the SecretService.
All the longings of the years he had wanted to become a part of theInter-Stellar Corps; all the hopes and plans he had made during his fivelong years in cadet school; all the thrilling pride he had known that hewas to be a part of the greatest organization in the Universe, swelledinside him and choked him.
When, at long last, the class rose to take the Oath of Allegiance,Hanlon found himself on his feet, rigidly at attention, repeating theimpressive ritual aloud with them.
Now, for the first time, despite his decision and his privategraduation, he truly felt himself a vital part of the Corps.
* * * * *
On the street on his way to the library the following day, Hanlonchanced to meet a small group of his former classmates, now clad intheir brand-new dress uniforms of sky-blue and crimson, their new juniorlieutenant's bars shining brightly.
"Hi, fellows!" he greeted them, only to be met by silent glares ofcontempt.
"Aw, look, fellows, you know I was framed," Hanlon planted himself infront of them, and made himself look hurt, nor was that any effort. Thisreally cut deep. But he had to "play it out"; had to make them keep onthinking his disgrace was real.
"You guys know I'd never do anything like that," he continuedplaintively. "I didn't cheat--didn't need to. I know I lost my head whenhe accused me, but anyone'd do that."
"You mean you were never caught cheating before," Trowbridge sneered."You sure had me ... us ... all fooled. Now scram, or else...." Hedoubled his fists and took a step toward Hanlon.
The latter still played out his string, but his heart was sick. He likedthe fellows--they had been among his best friends for five long, happyyears. Only now was he truly beginning to realize what a tremendousprice he was paying ... and would have to pay all his life.
He stepped in and swung ... and was instantly the target for flyingfists. He was knocked down several times, but always managed to get upagain. He had been well trained in fighting of all types--and now he wasputting all his knowledge and skill into use--but only for defense andthe pretense of attack.
Even so he was getting badly mauled, for they were as well trained--andwere five to his one. His clothes were dirty and ripped from theknock-downs, and a button was torn off his coat. His knuckles wereskinned, and he could feel that his face was becoming a mass of bruises.A hard left connected with his mouth, and he spat out a broken tooth.
"'Ten-shun!" a commanding voice suddenly broke in.
Instantly the five Corpsmen jumped back and, so ingrained was thetraining he had received, so did Hanlon, to come at salute as they saw aHigh Admiral climbing out of a ground-cab at the curb.
Hanlon, instantly realizing he wasn't in uniform and was supposedly adischarged Corpsman, quickly dropped his salute and slouchedtruculently.
"What's going on here!" the officer asked icily.
"This man's a disgraced cadet, sir. Cheated on final exams," one of themexplained. "He tried to talk to us."
"It's a lousy lie!" Hanlon rasped. "I was framed. The Corps. Paugh!" hespat in pretend disgust. "I'm getting out of here just as damned quickas I can, and as far as I can. I'll go clear to Andromeda Seven if I canraise enough credits!"
Only he, apparently saw the minute widening of the admiral's eyes atthat code-word. The officer faced the new lieutenants sternly.
"A Corpsman is supposed to be able to handle five civilians, not fiveCorpsmen to one. If this man is a disgraced cadet, you have a right tofeel as you do about him. But leave him alone--the years will bring himmore sorrow and pain than you can with your fists. And you, fellow,"turning to Hanlon. "Don't think I'm interfering just to save yourworthless skin," his tone was one of utmost contempt. "I just don't wantCorpsmen fighting on the street. Dismiss."
The five saluted smartly and marched away. The admiral winked brieflyand with respect at Hanlon before reentering his cab.
But as the young man hurried back to his hotel to clean up, he washeartsick, remembering the many, many months of pleasant companionshipwith those boys. Especially Dick Trowbridge, who had been his roommateand special chum all through cadet school, and who today had seemedparticularly disgusted and vicious in that fight.
Giving up all that had made life so happy and wonderful was more than afellow could bear, his bitter thoughts ran. What a fool he had been
tolet himself be talked into taking this on. Where were all those "vastrewards" his dad and Admiral Rogers had talked about so eloquently? Howcould anything possibly make up for losing the respect and friendship ofeveryone he had ever known?
However, he had to admit, though still doubtfully, Dad had gone throughit even to the point of giving up his son, and those last few weeks withhis adored wife, yet now seemed satisfied and content. Maybe ... maybethere was something behind it all, that time would prove. But it wasmighty hard to take, just the same.
And this throbbing toothache didn't help his feelings any, either. Theexposed nerve in that broken tooth made it ache like blazes. He'd betterget it fixed before it drove him mad.
He started to go out, then stopped with the realization he had no moneyof his own to pay a dentist for the extraction and a bridge.
"What do I do in a case like this?" he wondered. "Is it ethical in sucha purely personal matter, to use Corps funds? Dad didn't mention thingsof this sort. On the other hand, he said we got our salaries andexpenses that way. Besides, you could say I lost the tooth in line ofduty, and the Corps should replace it."
He went on, found a dentist and had the work done. Nor did he everagain feel doubt about spending the Corps' money for things he actuallyneeded ... but neither did he ever spend any on purely personal pleasuresor extra comforts save as he needed to do so to play up to whateverposition he assumed in the prosecution of his various assignments.
Evening, however, found him still with that smothered feeling ofself-pity about his fight with the fellows, and it persisted even afterhe went to bed. By the Shade of Snyder, it wasn't fair to saddle a thinglike this on a mere kid.
It wasn't until after a couple of hours of tossing sleeplessness that heremembered he hadn't turned on the sleep-instructor. Half-rebelliously,he nevertheless got up and did so ... and that little act broke hismood. He dropped asleep almost immediately after returning to bed.
At the end of the two weeks Hanlon felt he knew both the Simonideanlanguage and its customs well enough to start working. He went to thebank and, deviously, to box 1044.
Sorting through a thick sheaf of envelopes he found one with his name onit. He took it to one of the cubicles, whose door he locked from theinside, setting up full coverage.
As he read there flashed through his mind the background of this otherplanet's situation. From his knowledge of politico-history within theFederation he knew there was an iron-clad agreement that each planetcould choose its own form of government. Most of them chose thedemocratic form, but some had a type of fascistic state. One or two--themost advanced--even had an anarchistic state, with a very minimum oflaws and governing.
Simonides had, about a century earlier, reverted to the empirestatus--the only planet within the Federation to do so. It hadoriginally been colonized as a world-wide republic, but later had brokenup into five independent countries, as different sections becamepopulated more heavily with people of other national backgrounds thanGreek. These five countries had eventually been recombined, after aspectacular coup, as an empire.
Then had come this belief of the Corps that something was brewing therethat would affect the peace of the Federation, and the failure of theiragents so far to find out about it.
Now SSM Hanlon's orders were to take ship to Simonides Four, and seek tolearn what he could about these guessed-at conditions as swiftly aspossible. If he gained any impressions of who or what group was behindthis movement, he was to attempt to join it and ferret out that secretso it could be reported.
With such information in their possession, the Corps would know if itwas anything inimical to the peace and security of the Federation, andwould take the necessary steps.
His instructions ended, "The cost of a first class ticket to Simonidesis seven hundred and fifty credits, so you should draw enough to have atleast fifteen hundred, for all needed expenses. Take the '_Hellene_'which leaves Centropolis spaceport Friday of this week. We have goodreason to believe that certain interesting people will be aboard thatship."
Hanlon's mind raced. Evidently someone wanted him to see whatimpressions or evidence he could pick up from those suspected persons.He grimaced as he realized the SS had left it strictly up to him todiscover who those "interesting people" were. Perhaps they looked on itas a sort of test.
But he thrilled to the sudden awareness of what a wonderfully efficientand competent organization the SS was--how it kept careful watch on allits members, and assisted them in every possible manner.
He "dined" on the edible plastic sheets, then left the safety depositvault. He arranged for his ticket and reservations at the bank's travelagency, then went back to his hotel to pack.
Man of Many Minds Page 5
