"I get that thought," said Gander Eye, "but I ain't never heard the like of it."
"Neither have I," admitted Doc gravely. "And I'm waiting for the answer to your question, Jim. What if another universe should touch ours? What would happen?"
Crispin seemed to shake all over. "It's happened," he said.
"What are you telling us?" Doc said, his voice sharp at last.
"The truth. A dying man tells the truth, and I don't suppose I have more than half an hour left." Crispin pointed a finger. "I say it's happened here, right here, within five or six miles of where we're talking. Up there on Dogged Mountain where the Kimbers hold their baptism ceremonies."
Gander Eye changed position in his chair again. He thought of telling them that he had been there and had seen the place, but he said nothing. He had a feeling that Crispin already knew about it.
"All right, how long ago did the two universes touch at that point?" Doc was asking, his voice calm again, as though he wanted to know about symptoms in a patient.
"Oh, I can't tell you that exactly," admitted Crispin. "I should say a hundred years ago, maybe more. Anyway," and he twisted his bearded lips, "the universes touched, came together. The point where they touched was just about here, and it made an opening from one universe into the other."
"Understand what he's saying, Gander Eye?" asked Doc, and Gander Eye nodded silently.
"They touched," said Crispin again, "and the creatures of the other universe began to decide how they could come over into this one."
Doc turned his spectacles toward Gander Eye. "Old friend," he said gently, "I'm beginning to realize that I owe you an apology about something."
"Never mind apologizing now, Doc," said Gander Eye. "Just at present, I'm a-harking at Jim here, about this place where he says there's things a-coming through on Dogged Mountain. You said a-hundred years back, Jim. They been a right good spell a-making the trip, ain't they? How come them to tarry by the way?"
"It's not easy for them to manage," said Crispin. "That's why it will be hard on our world at last. The way it must be hard on the Moon when we walk there, on Mars when we reach Mars with manned satellites, maybe get out and walk there, too."
Again Crispin broke off and gestured in his helpless fashion. He moved his trembling lips, as though trying again to choose words.
"There's no point in arguing that such things shouldn't happen," he said. "Who decides what's meant to happen where universes are concerned? The thing happens. It's happening here where we are, and it will be tragically hard on people in the way—even on people who aren't in the way. That's how invasions go."
"They mean to damage us?" asked Doc.
"They got gold and all like that," said Gander Eye. "They tried to give me a couple chunks of gold."
"I know about that happening, Gander Eye," said Crispin wretchedly. "I've been on the inside, I'm only getting out now. There seems to be a notion that you can be of some use in their coming across and getting established here among us."
"Why haven't they become established if they can get through to us?" Doc asked. "As Gander Eye pointed out, they've had plenty of time, a century or so of it."
"They need people, I tell you—human beings of this world!" Crispin's voice rose shakily. "People who have ruled here up to now, and are too dull-witted to see that they aren't going to rule any more!" He dropped his head shaking. "I was one of them," he said. "Of the ones who would help them."
"What you mean is, you ain't a-going to help them no more," said Gander Eye.
"No. I've said I wouldn't. I've given that up. Slowly—she made me understand."
"Well, good for Slowly, then," said Doc, still scientifically calm. "I'm beginning to understand, too. They need help where they can get it, the way the first European settlers had to have the Indians everywhere, to help them through the first winter."
"That's it," said Crispin, more rationally. "They need to use us to get a foothold. It's hard for them to live or move here, in that armor they have to wear."
"Armor?" repeated Doc.
"They need a hot atmosphere, or a hot environment if it isn't an atmosphere. I don't know what temperature, but it must be something above boiling point. They can't live otherwise. So they enclose themselves in armor when they visit here."
"I seen them," put in Gander Eye.
"Like astronauts on the moon," elaborated Crispin. "Carrying their own air, their own temperature, their own pressure—their whole living condition with them, inside those space suits."
"Exactly," agreed Doc. He sounded like someone taking notes.
"Now hold on just a second," spoke up Gander Eye. "What I'm a-waiting to hear tell is how Jim comes to know so much. "
Crispin shuddered again. "I told you that, I'm one of their tame human beings. I was brought up for that, by the Kimbers." He creased his face wretchedly. "And I was sent here to make Sky Notch ready for them."
"The hell you say," muttered Gander Eye. He fumbled out a cigarette and looked at it, but did not light it.
"I'm profoundly interested in everything you say about yourself, Jim," said Doc, "but maybe you'd better start back before you were born. Start with the Kimbers and tell us how these Beyonders —if that's the right name—came among them."
"Yes, I've got to tell you about that. I said, it was long ago, maybe a couple of lifetimes ago. The Beyonders emerged, some of them, painfully and strangely, and the Kimbers thought it was a miraculous appearance. They were afraid, then they were fascinated. The Beyonders came seeking help from these natives and started by giving them gold. And they had some sort of power that made crops grow richly—"
"That's how come your flowers grew up thataway," put in Gander Eye. The anger with which he had entered Crispin's cabin had abated. He was too busy understanding Crispin to be angry.
"That's right. And all these gifts convinced the Kimbers that it was a visitation from heaven. They thought they were visited by some kind of angels— grotesque angels, maybe, but helpful. I suppose some sort of communication was set up. The Beyonders can communicate with some of their tame men."
"How?" wondered Doc.
"I don't know how. I never could do it. But the Kimbers accepted the Beyonders and broke off with the church they'd been going to, and the program started."
"Then the Kimbers are in with them," Doc said.
"No, the Kimbers are under them. They're the first of the human race the Beyonders took over. Since then, they've found more, working various ways through the Kimbers. Bit by bit, year by year, they've used people to help them toward getting established here. Some of these are scientists; maybe there are a few politicians. And the whole takeover is about ready to happen now."
"What for?" burst out Gander Eye. "How come they want in here if they can't breathe our air or stand how cold it is? What in hell do they want from us?"
"What does mankind want from the airless, lifeless moon, or dying Mars, or Jupiter where there's the wrong gravity, the wrong atmosphere, the wrong temperature?" demanded Crispin in his turn. "They found a way to get in here to us, and they have the wish and the method to try it."
"That figures," agreed Doc. "Now then, Jim, back to you. You say you were born here with the Kimbers."
"No, I think I was born in New York. The couple that raised me was of Kimber origin. They may or may not have been my real parents, I can't be sure. But they were fairly good to me, anyway. My father designed type-faces for printers, and my mother taught ceramics—clay modelling—in an art school. We lived in a nice apartment uptown. Friends came in to talk and play bridge. I think most of them may have been in the setup that has been working with the Beyonders. As soon as I was old enough to understand, I was told wonderful stories about the Beyonders and of how some day they would rule the world."
"Rule the world," said Doc after him. "Where did you expect to come into that kind of plan?"
"Oh," said Crispin, "I was taught that I'd be one of the chosen few, the faithful helpers that wou
ld get wonderful rewards. But I was also diligently forbidden to talk about these things to anyone."
"Did you ever talk?" asked Doc, half smiling. "Before now, I mean?"
"Yes, once I did, at school. But the other boys and girls only thought I was making it up out of my head. I was considered to be more or less peculiar, anyway. You see, I wanted to draw pictures."
"Which you do mighty well," said Doc.
"Some of the group we knew discussed how my being a painter could be of use to the Beyonders. So I went to art school, and apparently I came here as advance agent. And," Crispin spread his trembling hands again, as though in an appeal for mercy, "that's more or less my story, my friends. I'm telling it to you because I must. Call me a traitor to the whole Beyonder program if you want to."
"Not you," said Doc, who had not once stirred in his chair. "You were brought up to being a traitor to the human race and the world you live in. But you've turned back to humanity, where you belong. Two negatives make a good affirmative."
He rose at last, and tried to put a hand on Crispin's shoulder. Crispin pulled away.
"Never mind trying to comfort me. I'm done for. Struve knew what I was going to do and told me I was done for."
"Is he fetching them Beyonders to kill you?" demanded Gander Eye.
"No, they haven't been in a position to use weapons they have. It'll be Struve who does it. He'll be back before long."
"We can handle Struve," said Gander Eye. "Look, Jim, you got a gun?"
"No gun," said Crispin. "Not even a beanshooter. I wouldn't know how to use a gun, anyway."
"Well, I know how to use one," vowed Gander Eye. "I'll just go over to my place and get me one."
He rose, but Doc caught him by the elbow.
"We've got to hear everything first," he said. "And we've got to know why Jim's decided to tell it to us."
"It was Slowly," said Crispin, swinging around so that his face was almost against the wall.
"You done said something like that already," said Gander Eye, feeling a new rise of angry protest. "What's been betwixt you and her?"
"I tried to tell her what was coming. To tell her that she could be saved—she could be happy under the new rule. And she refused it. She said—"
Crispin's body shook. He seemed to be weeping. Again Doc reached to put his hand on Crispin's shoulder, and this time Crispin allowed it.
"Gander Eye and I believe what you've told us, every word," said Doc emphatically. "We're glad you've said these things, and we're going to help you."
Crispin whirled suddenly around to face them. Tears ran down his cheeks and twinkled in his beard.
"You can't help me, Doc," he wept. "Struve had sneaked into that back room and heard me tell Slowly, and he went away to bring those who will kill me."
"We'll help you," said Gander Eye.
"You can't. You don't understand. When the Beyonders are brought in, it will be . . . the end of things you know!" His voice turned shrill. "What Hitler did, what Attila and his Huns did, what Genghis Khan did—those are nothing! Whatever sort of life any human being has ever thought to live, it will simply come to an end!"
Gander Eye, too, walked close to Crispin. 'Take it easy, Jim," he pleaded. "Just how do you reckon they'll go about putting us under thataway?"
"The logical way, the certain way," jabbered Crispin. "It's all set up. They can't work straight out of their way in—they need a place like this with electricity and so on. But it's all set up, with people in other towns, in other countries, to keep it going. There'll be a gathering of scientists here at Sky Notch—"
"That ought to be what's needed," said Doc. "A gathering of scientists."
"But scientists don't ever understand anything," burst out Crispin. "All they'll think of is the scientific excitement, with an alien visit to the world. The greatest minds in our science will hurry here to welcome them in and never think for a minute what it can mean."
"It's still hard for the Beyonders to live and move here," said Doc. "What will they do their conquering with? What about their weapons?"
"I don't know about their weapons; those will come later when they're established. Just now they have vassals among human beings to help persuade . . . to help give them a base. And I don't know how they communicate, I've never done that. I've hardly even seen one."
"I have," Gander Eye told him.
"But they'll take over Sky Notch, base themselves here, convince the scientists—"
"You keep a-talking about scientists, big scientists," said Gander Eye. "Edison and folks like him, wouldn't they see what's what?"
"Science is impersonal," said Crispin. "All the scientific mind will grasp is that there are visitors from beyond space, creatures to study and welcome and enthuse over. Several scientists have been secretly contacted—yes, Gander Eye, big scientists—they'll go along with the plan of arrival."
"Right here in Sky Notch!" said Gander Eye. "All them big boys."
"Yes. And here's where the Beyonders will set up their base and operate from, with help from people like Mayor Ballinger and—" He shook his head at them for emphasis. "A base where they can have their own temperature, their own living conditions, and venture out to build other bases, take other positions, flow all over the world, encroach—once they have that base and set up their machines and weapons."
He broke off again.
"This is what Ballinger meant when he talked about a big, rich organization coming to expand and develop Sky Notch for us," said Doc, who still had not shown a tremulous excitement. "I suppose you and he thought I might be of some scientific help. But if these Beyonders are so limited here in our environment, how can they get to where they overthrow and conquer?"
"By their human auxiliaries, I told you," said Crispin. "And I was one. Struve is another. There must be many. I explained how it began with the Kimbers, how some of them spread to other towns and states, to help make things ready. The Kimbers think it's an act of some kind of god, a judgment day when only the righteous will be spared. So they'll help the Beyonders establish the sort of planet the Beyonders want here, with no human beings left in it but those who are useful as slaves."
Again his voice rose, almost screamed. "Slaves, I said! Whether you're in a soft, luxurious job or just hewing wood and drawing water or whatever it happens to be, you'll live only as a slave!"
Doc went to a shelf and picked up a bottle. "Rum." He read the label aloud. "Here, Jim, take a little nip of this."
He poured some into a glass. Crispin took it in both his hands, steadied it and peered into it, then drained it to the bottom.
"Thanks," he said to Doc. He stood steady on his feet for the first time since they had entered. "All right," he said, "I've told you what's getting ready to happen. And I've also told you I won't live to see it. Now, I suggest that you two go away and leave me here, for whatever happens to me."
"Just a goddam second," said Gander Eye. "What I want to know is how come Struve to be here when Slowly came to pose."
Crispin drew up his bearded face. "I said I didn't know he was here. He came in through the back door without my hearing him; he waited in that room. I was talking to Slowly, something the way I talked to you two. I said that the Beyonders were practically upon us, that the Kimbers would help them come to Sky Notch and then there'd be a new race of rulers here on our earth. I told her that I'd look after her, keep her safe—and she wouldn't have it."
"Wouldn't have it?" repeated Gander Eye.
"She turned it down," declared Crispin. "She said she'd raise up some kind of resistance to it. Then Struve came out and called me a traitor, told me to enjoy every minute of life because I didn't have more than a few. I told Slowly to bring you two. They both left—Slowly to fetch you, Struve I don't know where."
Gander Eye set his teeth. "Struve hadn't never better come back here no more."
"He'll come back, he must be on the way here now," said Crispin, in a voice of dead calm at last. "Go on, leave me alone here. I
order you to leave, if I can still give an order in my own house."
"I'll be back here looking for Struve with something other than a pair of field glasses," said Gander Eye.
He fairly ripped the door open and went out. Doc came out in his wake.
"That was quite a tale he told," said Doc, catching up. "What have you got in mind that we'd better do?"
"Maybe talk with one or two of the fellows," Gander Eye made answer. "You come along with me to talk, maybe they'll know you mean what you say. We can get Bo—he's got a gun or two— and Duffy. Maybe Bill Longcohr. Then we'll head back and help Jim wait for that Struve fellow. We just might could make Struve plumb out disgusted with what he's putting himself up to."
They crossed the bridge and came opposite Doc's front yard.
"Who's that coming into town?" said Doc suddenly, looking up Main Street toward the church.
A sedan, dull black and dented, was rolling toward them.
"I don't know that car from round here," said Gander Eye.
They watched it move past them. Four men rode inside. It turned into the old gravelled way beside the schoolhouse that led to the Kimber road. Stopping there, it backed out again, then returned toward where Doc and Gander Eye waited.
"By God, that's Struve up beside the driver," said Gander Eye.
The sedan braked to a squealing halt beside them, and the door opened and Struve got out. He wore his well-cut leisure suit of jeans and carried a squat submachine gun, of the same dull black as the sedan.
"Mr. Gentry," said Struve cheerfully, "Dr. Hannum. It's convenient finding the two of you together. I'll do you a favor by asking you to do me a favor."
"What in the hell you talking about?" blazed Gander Eye.
The submachine gun pointed at Gander Eye's belly. The other men were getting out, too. They wore dungarees and work shirts. All of them had submachine guns.
"If I didn't think I could make good use of both of you later on, I'd not even talk," said Struve. "I'd just cut you down where you stand. But be sensible, if you know what that means. Go to your houses and relax. Because, as of now, this pleasant little town of yours is operating under new auspices."
The Beyonders Page 14
