by James Blish
"Perhaps some of them were put aboard this ship to be sent to another planet." Kirk glanced up and down the corridor. It was almost empty. "And these are their descendants."
They were alone now in the corridor. Kirk tried and, failed to open the Oracle Room's door. Spock touched the secret opening device set into one of the pillars. Inside, they flattened themselves against a wall. The door closed behind them. Nothing happened. Kirk, his voice low, said, "The Oracle doesn't seem to know we are here. What alerted it the first time?"
Spock moved a few steps toward the central dais. "Captain, the Oracle's misbehavior occurred when Natira knelt on that platform." Kirk stepped onto the platform. He walked carefully around it. Again, nothing happened. "Mr. Spock, continue investigating. The clue to the control place must be here somewhere." But carvings on a wall had caught Spock's attention. "More writing," he said. "It says nothing to suggest this is anything but a planet. Nor is there any question that the builders of the ship are to be considered gods."
Kirk had found a stone monolith set in a niche. It bore a carved design of a sun and planets. Spock joined him. "Eight planets, Captain. Eight. That was the number in the solar system of Fabrina."
"Then there's no doubt that these People are the Fabrini's descendants?"
"None, sir. And no doubt they have been in flight on this asteroid ship for ten thousand years." As Spock spoke, there was the sound of the door opening. They hastily slid behind the monolith. Kirk cautiously peered around it to see Natira, alone, crossing the room to the platform. She knelt. As before, hot light flared from the altar.
"Speak," said the Oracle.
"It is I, Natira."
"Speak."
"It is written that only the High Priestess of the People may select her mate."
"It is so written."
"For the rest of the People—mating and bearing is only permitted by the will of the Creators."
"Of necessity. Our world is small."
"The three strangers among us—there is one among them called McCoy. I wish him to remain with the People—as my mate."
Kirk gave a soundless whistle. Bones certainly had lost no time. Spock cocked an eyebrow, looking at Kirk.
"Does the stranger agree to this?" queried the Oracle.
"I have asked him. He has not yet given me his answer."
"He must become one of the People. He must worship the Creators and agree to the insertion of the obedience instrument."
"He will be told what must be done."
"If he agrees to all things, it is permitted. Teach him our laws so that he commits no sacrilege, no offense against the People—or the Creators."
"It shall be as you say, O most wise."
Natira rose, bowed twice, backed away from the altar and walked toward the door. As Kirk watched her go, his sleeve brushed against the monolith's carved design. The Oracle Room reverberated with a high-pitched, ululating whine. Natira wheeled from the door. The whine turned to a blazing white light. It turned to focus on Kirk and Spock. They went rigid, unable to move.
Natira rushed to the altar.
"Who are the intruders?" demanded the booming voice.
"Two of the strangers."
"McCoy is one of them?"
"No."
"These two have committed sacrilege. You know what must be done."
"I know."
Guards rushed into the room. The light that held Kirk and Spock died, leaving them dazed. Natira pointed to them. "Take them," she told the guards.
As they were seized, she walked up to them. "You have been most foolish," she said. "You have misused our hospitality. And you have more seriously sinned—a sin for which death is the punishment!"
Natira withstood the storm of McCoy's wrath quietly. As he paused in his furious pacing of her quarters, she said—and for the third time—"They entered the Oracle Room."
"And why is death the penalty for that?" he shouted, "They acted out of ignorance!"
"They said they came in friendship. They betrayed our trust. I can make no other decision." He wheeled to face her. "Natira, you must let them return to their ship!"
"I cannot."
"For me," he said. He pulled her from her couch and into his arms. "I have made my decision. I'm staying with you—here on Yonada."
She swayed with the relief of her love. Into the ear against his cheek, McCoy said, "What they did, they did because they thought they had to. You will not regret letting them go. I am happy for the first time in my life. How can I remain happy, knowing you commanded the death of my friends?"
She lifted her mouth for his kiss. "So be it," she said. "I will give you their lives to show you my love."
"My heart sings now," McCoy said. "Let me tell them. They will need their communications units to return to their ship."
"Very well, McCoy. All shall be as you wish."
He left her for the corridor where Kirk and Spock were waiting under guard. He nodded to the guards. When they disappeared down the corridor, he handed the communicators to Kirk. Kirk passed one to Spock. "Where's yours?" he asked. "You're coming with us, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not," McCoy said.
"But this isn't a planet, Bones! It's a spaceship on a collision course with Daran V!"
"Jim, I'm on something of a collision course myself."
"I order you to return to the ship, Dr. McCoy!"
"And I refuse! I intend to stay right here—on this ship. Natira has asked me to stay. So I shall stay."
"As her husband?"
"Yes. I love her." There were tears in his eyes. "Is it so much to ask, Jim, to let me love?"
"No." Kirk straightened his shoulders. "But does she know—how much of a future you'll have together?"
"Yes. I have told her."
"Bones, if the course of this ship isn't corrected, we'll have to blow it out of space."
"I'll find a way—or you will. You won't destroy Yonada and the people."
Kirk shook his head. "This isn't like you—suddenly giving up—quitting—not fighting any more. You're sick—and you're hiding behind a woman's skirts!"
McCoy swung a fist and Kirk took it square on the chin. He staggered. Spock steadied him. McCoy was yelling, "Sick? Not fighting? Come on, Captain! Try me again!"
Very grave, Spock said, "This conduct is very unlike you, Doctor."
Kirk fumbled for his communicator. "Kirk calling Enterprise. Come in, Enterprise."
"Scott here, Captain."
"Lock in on our signals. Transport Mr. Spock and me aboard at once."
"What about Dr. McCoy?"
Yes, indeed. What about Doctor McCoy? He looked at his friend. "He is staying here, Mr. Scott. Kirk out."
Spock moved to Kirk, flipping open his own communicator. McCoy backed away. They broke into sparkle—and were gone. Savagely, McCoy dragged a sleeve over his tear blinded eyes.
Custom required him to stand alone before the Oracle.
It spoke.
"To become one of the People of Yonada, the instrument of obedience must be made part of your flesh. Do you now give your consent?"
Natira came forward. She crossed to another side of the altar and opened a small casket.
"I give my consent," McCoy said. As she removed a small device from the casket, her dark eyes met his with a look of pure love. "Say now, McCoy," she said. "For once it is done, it is done."
"Let it be done," he said.
She came to him. Placing the device against his temple, she activated it. He heard a hissing sound. There was a thudding in his head. Instinctively his hand went to the place of insertion. "You are now one with my People," she said. "Kneel with me."
He reached for her hand. She said, "I here pledge you the love you want and will make beautiful your time."
"We are now of one mind," he said.
"One heart."
"One life," he said.
"We shall build the new world of the Promise together, O most wise and most perfect." They rose. She mo
ved into his arms and he kissed her.
The Oracle said, "Teach him what he must know as one of the people."
Natira bowed. Obediently, she led McCoy to the stone monolith. She touched a button—and the carved inset depicting a sun and eight planets slid aside to reveal a large book. "This is the Book of the People," she said. "It is to be opened and read when we reach the world of the Promise. It was given by the Creators."
"Do the People know the contents of the book?"
"Only that it tells of our world here. And why we must one day leave it for the new one."
"Has the reason for leaving been revealed to the People?"
"No! It has not."
Then they'd been right, McCoy realized. Yonada's inhabitants were unaware they lived on a spaceship. "Has it been revealed to you, Natira? As the Priestess of the People?"
She shook her head. "I know only of the new world promised to us, much greater than this little one—verdant and fruitful but empty of living beings. It waits for us."
"Don't you long to know the book's secrets?"
"It is enough for me to know that we shall understand all that now is hidden when we reach our home." She touched the button in the monolith. Its carved inset slid back.
"What is the law concerning the book?"
"To touch it—to allow it to be seen by a nonbeliever is blasphemy to be punished by death."
On the Enterprise Kirk had made his first act a report to Starfleet Command. It had to be told, not only of McCoy's critical illness, but of their failure to correct the collision course of the asteroid ship. Its Chief of Operations, Admiral Westervliet himself, appeared on the screen in Kirk's quarters to respond to the news.
"Medical Headquarters will supply you with a list of space physicians and their biographies, Captain. You will find a replacement for Dr. McCoy among them."
Kirk addressed the stiffly mustached face on the screen. "Yes, Admiral. However, Starfleet's orders to continue our mission is creating difficulties."
"Difficulties? Perhaps I've failed to make myself clear, Captain. You have been relieved of all responsibility for alteration of the course of the asteroid ship Yonada. Starfleet Command will take care of the situation."
"That is the problem, sir," Kirk said.
"A problem? For whom?"
"My crew, sir. Dr. McCoy's illness has become generally known. His condition forced us to leave him on Yonada. His safety depends on the safety of Yonada. To leave this area before Yonada's safety is certain would create a morale problem for the crew. It's a purely human one, of course."
Westervliet had a habit of attacking his mustache when human problems were mentioned. Now it was taking a beating.
"Yes," he said. "Well, Captain Kirk, I certainly sympathize with your wish to remain in Dr. McCoy's vicinity. But the general mission of the Enterprise is galactic investigation. You will continue with it."
"Yes, Admiral," Kirk said. "One request, however. Should a cure for Doctor McCoy's disease be discovered, will you advise the Enterprise?"
"That is not a request, Captain. Between you and me, it's an order, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
Kirk, switching off the screen, sat still in his chair. McCoy had made his choice. No appeal had been able to change it. And who was to say it wasn't the right one? A year of life with a woman's love against a year of life without it. Bones. He was going to miss him. The intercom squeaked. He rose to hit the button. "Kirk here."
"Dr. McCoy for you, Captain," Uhura said. "He has an urgent message."
"Put him on!"
"Jim?"
"Yes, Bones."
"We may be able to get these people back on course!"
Kirk's pulse raced. "Have you located the controls?"
"No—but I've seen a book that contains all the knowledge of Yonada's builders. If you can get to it, Spock can dig out the information."
"Where is it?" Kirk asked.
A scream of agony burst from the intercom. "Bones! What's happening? Bones!"
Silence. Frantic, Kirk tried again. "McCoy, what is it? What has been done to you? Bones, come in . . ."
But he knew what had happened. Torture, death.
The Oracle had taken McCoy's life in exchange for his forbidden revelation.
Kirk's jaw muscles set hard. "Transporter Room," he told the intercom.
He and Spock materialized in Natira's quarters. She was cradling McCoy's head in her arms. But his face was contorted with pain. Kirk saw him struggle to lift his head. It sank back into Natira's lap.
She looked at them. Dully, her voice toneless, she said, "You have killed your friend. I will have you put to death."
"Let me help you," Kirk said.
"Until you are dead, he will think of you and disobey. While you live, my beloved cannot forget you. So I shall see you die."
She made a move to get up and Kirk grabbed her, clapping his hand over her mouth. "Spock," he said, "help McCoy."
"Yes, Captain." Spock unslung his tricorder. From it he removed a tiny electronic device. Bending over McCoy's motionless body, he pressed the device on the spot where the instrument of obedience had been inserted. When he withdrew it, the insert was clinging to it. He jerked it clear. Then he handed it to Natira. She stared at him, unbelieving. A little moan broke from her. Kirk released her. She sank to the floor. After a moment, she pulled herself up to her hands and knees and crawled over to McCoy. She touched his temple. "My beloved is again a stranger. We are no longer one life." She burst into passionate weeping. "Why have you done this to us? Why?"
"He is still yours," Kirk said gently.
The tears choked her. "It is—forbidden. He is not of our people—now. You have released him—from his vow of obedience."
"We have released him from the cruelty of your Oracle," Kirk said.
She closed her eyes, unhearing, her body racked with sobs. Beside her, Kirk saw McCoy's eyelids flicker open. He went to him quickly, bending over him. "You spoke of a book," he said. "Where is it, Bones?"
Natira leaped to her feet with a shriek. "You must not know! You must not know that!"
McCoy looked up into Kirk's eyes. "The Oracle Room," he whispered.
"You will never see the Book!" cried Natira. "It is blasphemy!" She ran to the door, calling, "Guards! Guards!"
Kirk caught her, closing his hand over her mouth again. "You must listen to me, Natira!" She pulled away from him and he jerked her back. "Listen to me! If you do not understand what I tell you, you may call the guards. And we will accept whatever punishment is decreed. But now you must listen!"
She slowly lifted the tear-wet lashes. "What is it you wish to say?"
"I shall tell you the truth, Natira—the truth about your world of Yonada. And you will trust it as true as a child trusts what is true. Years ago, ten thousand years ago, a sun died and the sun's worlds died with it.
Its worlds were the eight ones you see pictured on the stone pillar in the Oracle Room."
"Yonada is one of those worlds," she said.
"No. It was the world of your ancestors—your creators." He paused to give her time. After a moment, he quietly added, "It no longer exists, Natira."
"You are mad," she whispered. "You are mad."
"Hear me out, Natira! Your ancestors knew their world was about to die. They wanted their race to live. So they built a great ship. On it they placed their best people. Then they sent them and the ship into space."
"You wish me to believe that Yonada is a ship?"
"Yes," Kirk said.
"But we have a sun! It did not die. And at night I see the stars!"
"No. You have never seen the sun. You have never seen the stars. You live inside a hollow ball. Your fathers created the ball to protect you—to take you on the great journey to the new safe world of the Promise."
In her face he could see half-thought thoughts reviving, completing themselves. But the growing perception was painful. Yet it had come. She spoke very slowly. "Th
e truth—why do you bring it to Yonada?"
"We had to. Your ship has done well—but its machinery is tired. It must be mended. If we don't mend it, Yonada will strike and kill another great world it knows nothing about."
Belief flooded into her. With it came the realization of betrayal.
"Why has this truth not been told us? Why have we been kept in darkness?"
Kirk went to her. But she pushed him away, overwhelmed by the sense of an incredible treachery. "No! You have lied! I believe only the Oracle! I must believe!"
Kirk said, "Let us remove the instrument of obedience. Let us remove it for the truth's sake."
She was gone, fled out the door. Kirk turned to Spock. "Do you think she understood me?" he said. But Spock was at the open door. Kirk saw him nod pleasantly to a passing guard before he quietly closed the door. "She hasn't sent the guards to detain us, Captain. It is my supposition that she understood a great deal."
Behind them, McCoy had struggled shakily to his feet. Now he pushed past them. "Natira! I have to go to her. I must go to her in the Oracle Room."
She was on her knees before the altar, her eyes shut in rapt devotion.
The thunder voice spoke. "You have listened to the words of the nonbelievers."
"I have listened."
"You felt the pain of warning."
"I felt the pain of warning."
"Why did you listen further?"
"They said they spoke the truth."
"Their truth is not your truth."
She opened her eyes. "Is truth not truth for all?"
"There is only one for you. Repent your disobedience."
"I must know the truth of the world!" she cried.
At the sound of her scream, Kirk rushed into the Oracle Room. He lifted Natira from the dais, but McCoy, reaching for her, took her in his arms, holding her close. Her body was stiff under spasms of pain. As one passed, she reached out a hand to caress his face. "Your friends have told me—much."
"They spoke the truth," McCoy said.
"I believe you. I believe . . ."
Agony convulsed her again. She fought it bravely. "I believe with you, my husband. We have been kept in darkness."
McCoy extended a hand to Spock. The tiny electronic device performed its function once more. When McCoy lifted it from Natira's temple, it held the obedience insert. He held it up for her to see. The grief of a great loss shadowed her dark eyes as she lapsed into unconsciousness.
