The Secret of Spring

by Piers Anthony

  The address turned out to be an old deserted greenhouse. The glass was cracked and dirty, and it had not been used for many a season by the look of it. It was a setting tailor-made for kidnappers.

  As agreed, they met Cling Ling a short way down the street. He had scouted the area and climbed onto the roof of the fragile structure to look for signs of Lily. He reported that there was only one guard attending her, and that the other parts of the building appeared empty for the present. If they could entice the guard outside for a minute, someone could sneak in through the back way and free Lily.

  Their loosely conceived plan was to have Spring bait the guard. Herb would then go to get Lily, while Cling Ling covered him in case of trouble. In her Veganette disguise it was unlikely anyone would recognize Spring as the girl they were seeking. She would simply knock at the front door and pretend to be lost.

  The plan would fail if the guard decided not to answer the door, but they were betting he wouldn’t want undue attention called to the hideout, and would attempt to quiet whoever was there.

  They guessed correctly. The Vinese signaled from his post on the roof to let her know the goon was approaching the door. As agreed, Spring removed a shoe and used it to bash in some of the glass, covering the noise of Herb breaking in from the opposite direction in back.

  The guard opened the door and glared out. He looked about eight feet tall.

  Spring tried to act innocent and smiled up at him sweetly. “Oops. Guess I knocked too hard,” she laughed nervously. “Is this the residence of Mr. Smith?”

  The guard stared at her in disbelief. “How did you get out?” he growled, reaching for her with his hairy arms.

  “Hey. What are you doing?” she gasped as he pulled her inside and slammed the door behind them. That wasn’t part of the plan. How could he have possibly recognized her? She was totally green. Struggling in vain to escape his grip, she saw Herb making good his escape with Lily out the back. And now she understood.

  For some reason, she and Lily were dressed exactly the same. No wonder this idiot had grabbed her. He thought she was Lily. Damn that Herb Moss. He had dressed her up like his girlfriend. She should have known the outfit showed too much taste for a man to have selected on such short notice. Just her bad luck that Lily had chosen to wear it that day.

  The goon thrust Spring down in the chair Lily had just vacated and began binding her wrists. At least Lily was free and Spring took satisfaction from that. The plan had worked like a charm except for that one little flaw.

  “Looks like our day for unexpected company, Trog.”

  Spring looked up as a well-dressed woman entered, herding Lily and Herb ahead of her with the deadly vapor gun pointed at their backs.

  “Miss Eloise,” Trog said. “You’re back.”

  Eloise? Spring looked directly into Elton’s steely eyes. The Ki was dressed like a female now, but she would know “him” anywhere.

  “Elton,” she corrected for the others present. Make that two little flaws.

  16

  Lady Be Cool

  Elton had great timing and a big gun. It was hard to argue with a winning combination. Spring and Lily looked each other over with cool appraisal. Herb looked upward to the heavens, but no miracle was forthcoming.

  “Don’t bother with the rope, Trog. Throw them in the cage,” Elton ordered, “her” manicured hand motioning with the slim handle of the vapor gun.

  “Uh-huh,” answered Trog, typical of Elton’s intellectual hirelings of late. He yanked Spring up roughly and pushed the others ahead of him. They were quickly routed out into a small room at the back of the greenhouse. It really was a cage.

  Herb explained to Spring that it was where the wild flowers had been kept at one time; they tended to wander about unless confined. Then the goon locked them inside and positioned himself on an old crate nearby. Elton stood gazing at the two identical green ladies.

  “Twins. How very original. But your warpaint is wearing a bit thin, my dear,” he sneered to Spring.

  It was true. There were long smears of white skin showing through the makeup where his goon had grappled with her. The stain she’d used for the lightship trip had been much more reliable. It seemed the masquerade was over. Not to mention the party.

  Lily had begun to realize who her look-alike was, as well.

  “The foreigner,” she exclaimed, looking nettles at Herb.

  “I’ll explain later,” Herb said miserably. If there was a later, he thought.

  The shock of capture had worn off at last and Spring spoke up now. “Let the others go, Elton. I’m the only one you need. They don’t know anything about all this.”

  “How noble,” Elton said sarcastically. “But you should have thought of that before you chose to involve innocents. Master Zygote has plans for you, so I can’t take the chance. You could be right about the little flower there, but you’ve been cozied up with your boyfriend for several hours now. I’m sure he knows the score, right hero?”

  Herb only glared.

  “You’re wrong. I didn’t tell him anything,” Spring protested.

  “Perhaps. But Master Zygote wants that secret kept a secret.”

  “Zygote. He killed my father. He’ll get nothing from me,” Spring spat.

  “I fear you’ve little choice in the matter. Better get used to the idea, my girl. After all, he will soon be your first love,” Elton laughed.

  “That bag of bones touch me? I’d rather die. Why, I would as soon sleep with you—Eloise,” she said with loathing. The remark was meant as the ultimate put down, but caused a surprising reaction.

  The Ki stood pondering, a strange look coming over “her” face. “Would you really?” said the Ki thoughtfully. “Now, what an interesting notion.”

  “What?” Spring said with disgust. What kind of game was the Ki playing with her now?

  “Yes, indeed,” said the Ki, warming to the possibilities. “Why should Zygote be the one to gain all the riches and power? Why not—me? Haven’t I always done his dirty work? Where is my compensation?” The Ki smiled meanly to itself, lost in thought.

  “You can’t,” Spring exclaimed in horror.

  Herb began to catch his drift and was appalled. “You can’t,” he repeated. “You’re a—a woman.”

  “At the moment. But we Kis are adaptable. I just need a little time to change into someone more comfortable. Trog!” he called out impatiently. “Where did he go?”

  “Here,” called the goon, emerging from another room. “Have message from Master.”

  “Give me that,” Elton said, snatching it from the goon. His face registered annoyance and fear. The message was definitely not to his liking. “Trog, bring the girl in to me when I call.”

  “Girl? Which girl?” the creature asked dumbly.

  “Look at the arms, man. Bring the one with the white on her arms. That’s easy to remember, isn’t it?”

  Trog looked at the girls’ arms. “Easy,” he answered.

  Elton exited into the other room adjoining them. Trog returned to his packing crate and sat down to wait. The troubled captives huddled at the far corner of the small cell. Lily looked from Herb to Spring, from Spring back to Herb.

  “All right,” she said, “Who wants to go first?”

  Herb didn’t want to, but knew he could no longer avoid an explanation. He began by revealing his connection to Spring, how they had become pen pals before she came to their planet to work on her school thesis. He finished with the account of how the strange, dangerous aliens began chasing her and how they plotted the ill-fated rescue.

  Spring in turn, had to explain that was what Herb had believed since it was what she had told him, but that she had never been married to Elton. That the Ki had been searching for her ever since her father’s death, so she had sought to hide on P#23 until devising a plan to bring Zygote to justice for his crimes. She assured Lily that there was nothing between her and Herb but friendship and that he had behaved as a perfect gentleman throughout
their time together.

  Lily had remained silent through the alternate explanations, and listened compassionately at the events surrounding Spring’s father’s death, and how the evil magician, Zygote, wanted the secret that would pass to him when Spring lost her virginity. At last she spoke.

  “There’s only one solution,” she said.

  “One? I can’t think of any,” said an amazed Herb.

  “As I see it,” continued Lily, “the most important thing for us to do now is prevent anyone from, uh, molesting Spring.”

  “Yes,” agreed Herb emphatically, “No one must touch her.”

  Lily looked at him sharply, but said nothing.

  “I don’t see how we can stop them,” Spring said, despondently.

  “That disgusting weasel is determined to have the secret. It’s in there now, preparing.”

  “It is terrible for you,” Lily said, “but it will affect all of us in the long run. If what you say of these men is true, I do not think they will confine their greed to one planet. What could such men do with unlimited power?”

  “She’s right, Herb. Both Elton and Zygote are power hungry. They won’t stop at anything less than ruling the universe.”

  “The secret you possess? It is that powerful?” Herb said in awe.

  “In evil hands, yes, I think it could be,” Spring said. “Don’t forget that Zygote is no ordinary man, but a magician. With those additional powers there would be no stopping him.”

  “This Zygote, is he truly that evil?” asked Lily.

  “Yes. He killed my father. He’s heartless. Old. A conniver. A thief and a murderer. Does that answer your question?”

  “I am sorry. Of course you would hate him. I only wanted to understand what we were up against. This Elton ?”

  “Two peas in a pod,” Herb said. The idea of these aliens wanting to place their nasty hands on Spring was more than he could tolerate. “We have to stop them.”

  He shook the bars of the cage in futile anger. The goon reached out and shoved him backward. He went flying and slammed against the window behind them. It also had bars.

  Lily reached into her pocket and took out a small object. It resembled an eye shadow case, but Spring recognized it as the makeup kit used by the green-skinned women of the planet. Lily edged behind Herb and passed it across to Spring.

  “Repair the smears on your arms,” she whispered.

  “What for?” asked Spring. It hardly mattered what she looked like now. The disguise had failed.

  “Just do it,” Lily hissed.

  Spring did it, but she was still perplexed. In a few moments, she was as green as Lily again. She returned the case and Lily opened another section, smearing her own arms with some white cream. Suddenly, Spring understood.

  “No. You can’t,” Spring whispered.

  “I must. I wanted to have a union with Herb and raise our family more than anything else, but I don’t know if that will be possible. They won’t let us go. I know that now.”

  “But you can’t fool Elton. He’ll know you’re not me. If not before, then—afterward.”

  “But we have to try. We need time. Don’t forget Cling Ling. He probably went for the Patrol. They may be surrounding this green-house right now,” Lily said hopefully.

  “That’s right,” Herb said. He had been listening to the confusing conversation about makeup. He never realized what a good mind Lily had before. Perhaps because he had never given her a chance. No wonder she had become so passive. She thought that was what he wanted from a wife. They had both made so many mistakes!

  “The Patrol? I doubt that,” Spring said. “Remember Herb, you told me the story of how the offworlders were never punished for murdering your children. Elton has immunity. More than likely the Patrol would be only too glad to help Elton claim his wayward ‘wife’ and vacate the planet. They would hasten the process just to get rid of undesirable elements as soon as possible.”

  Herb realized she was probably correct, but he had difficulty in thinking of Spring as undesirable.

  Herb sighed. “Yes, I suppose the Patrol would be no help after all. But Cling Ling may realize that. I know he wouldn’t desert us now.”

  “Then I must buy that time. I must make Elton believe I am Spring,” Lily said firmly.

  Herb couldn’t believe his ears. Lily was actually volunteering to bed with Elton in place of Spring? In all the years he had known her, she would never let him near her that way. A strong social conscience was one thing, but surely there were limits.

  “Lily, you can’t actually—” he began.

  “Try to understand, Herb. I wanted the first time to be with you, naturally. I see now how foolish I have been, denying our pleasure until it’s too late. If we get out of this, I will understand if you no longer wish union with me. I will be—soiled.”

  “Don’t say that. Cling Ling will help us before that happens,” Herb exclaimed, hoping it would be true.

  “Trosh,” Elton’s slurred voice called from beyond the door. “Bring Sping, uh, Spern, ah, bring the girl in.”

  “Too late,” sighed Lily.

  “Wait. He’s sloshed,” exclaimed Spring.

  “What?” asked Herb.

  “Drunk. Maybe he was looking for some manhood in the bottle.”

  “Oh, you mean he drank distilled water?” Herb asked.

  “Yes, and too much of it from the sound of him. This could be a lucky break for us. Maybe Lily can fool him, after all.”

  Trog had moved to the cage and was looking over the two girls to see which was which. Lily stepped forward to keep him from examining them too closely and discovering the deception.

  “I’m ready,” she said to Trog, exiting before him. Trog slammed the door shut again, and Lily was ushered off to the room where Elton awaited her.

  Meanwhile, Spring was pacing up and down in the cage, consumed with guilt. The notion that Lily should submit to that evil little twerp was more than she could bear. They could hear loud voices issuing from behind the door, mainly Elton’s. Why was he shouting? Poor Lily, she must be terrified. If only they could understand what they were yelling, but the walls were too thick.

  Herb had retreated to the cell window, overlooking an alley. He assumed it was an alley; they were on a split-level at the back of the building, but the window was so caked with dirt, it was impossible to see.

  Then, as he watched, some of the dirt began to flake away from the outside glass. A small circle appeared and the pointed tip of a leaf. It was Cling Ling! At last!

  His vine pointed to the guard, then beckoned to the window as he made a striking gesture with his leaf. Herb understood.

  Moving slowly so as not to attract attention, Herb leaned against Spring and whispered for her to stand away from the window. She didn’t know what he had in mind, but at that point, any kind of plan was welcome. She obeyed without hesitation and watched to see what would happen next. With a sudden motion, Herb beat his fists against the bars of the window, the vibration causing the glass to break and fall down to the street below.

  As expected, the goon unlocked the door and rushed to silence Herb. As he entered, Herb grabbed for his huge, hairy arm, pulling him toward the window. Caught by surprise, the guard fell back exactly as Herb hoped he would.

  Cling Ling was waiting. Quick as a flash, his strong vines shot out and flew through the bars to wrap around the guard’s thick neck. They tightened and jerked. Trog groaned and fell in a slump to the floor of the cage. He did not get up.

  Spring gasped at the sudden altercation. “Is he dead?” she whispered.

  “No, merely out,” answered the Vinese. He had used a paralyzing grip that worked on the nerves in the neck region. “It should keep him out of our foliage for now, however.”

  Herb and Spring dashed from the cage and slammed the door, locking the lummox inside. That would slow him down if he came to. Then Spring ran to the front and opened the door so Cling Ling could enter. He rolled along behind as they stormed th
e door where Elton had taken Lily. It was not even locked.

  The room was totally dark. Spring fumbled for a switch and soon the room was flooded with a bright light. The three stood staring at the scene on the broken down old sofa. Only Elton lay sprawled out, clutching an empty bottle in his hand. He looked up with swimming vision at Spring and sputtered in confusion.

  “You? You’re gone. Zygote sent the Freesher,” he babbled.

  “Freezer, you mean?” asked Spring.

  “He thinks you are Lily,” Herb said.

  “You are Lily. Spring is gone. She’s on ice,” he giggled foolishly.

  “You vile excuse for a man. You’ve raped her,” yelled Herb, reaching for him.

  “Rape?” snorted Elton. “Did you hear any screams?”

  “Only yours,” admitted Herb, “But I know she didn’t want to be with you, so it was still rape even if she submitted.” He tried to yank Elton to his feet, but the Ki fell down again; the drink had taken its toll.

  “Stop,” pleaded the Ki. “It wasn’t that way. I tried to change before Zygote’s men came for her, but there wasn’t enough time.”

  “The message Trog gave him. They were coming to make the pickup!” Spring said.

  “Yessh. I tried. I tried. But it takes time to change sex. I took this stimulant to help accelerate the process, but too late. They came before it was completed.”

  Herb let go of Elton’s hair and allowed him to fall back on the sofa again. “Are you saying you never touched her? Why should I believe you? You’d say anything to save your miserable skin.”

  “Ish true. That privilish has been saved for Master Zygote after aaall.” The sentence trailed away as Elton passed out cold. He had overdone the stimulant. Herb tried to shake him awake but it was no use.

  “Herb, forget about Elton,” Spring said. “It just registered with me what he said about Lily. He put her on a Freezer.”

  “So? They’re taking her to Zygote.”