The Alien Web (Masters of Space Book 2)

by Robert E. Vardeman

  A flash of insight told him what it would mean if the Supreme Web were disrupted. Their decision-making capabilities would be diminished. The more arachnoids using the brain burners, the fewer would actually appear on the strands.

  He saw the lure of the Box of Delights. To always be on the side of right, no matter what your opinion. To be an absolute ruler in a world governed by democracy. No matter how strange the thought, to always have the mass voting with you — that was the diabolical promise of the Box of Delights.

  Kinsolving doubted if Fremont or the others like Hum-bolt understood the impact of introducing the brain burners into the world. If they did, they would rejoice. Not only would they be destroying or crippling huge numbers of arachnoids, they also undermined the government by removing those taking part in the consensus.

  “I have reached a decision in this matter,” said Quixx. Kinsolving pressed his hand against the strand. He could no longer detect the high-frequency vibrations. The Supreme Web had voted and decided. “Interstellar Materials will be barred from future trading on my world. Kenneth Humbolt, Cameron and the others cited by Kinsolving will be executed. Further, all humans will be denied entry to my world for fifty revolutions.”

  Kinsolving felt no surge of triumph at this. He felt drained, hollow inside. Condemning those of his own world gave him no pleasure.

  “I have also decided what will become of you for your part in this Stellar Death Plan of your kind, Kinsolving.”

  Kinsolving looked up sharply. Quixx stood and stared at him, no discernible expression on his alien face. Carefully, Kinsolving rose. If he were to be sentenced to death along with Humbolt and the others, he would accept the punishment of his feet.

  Balanced on the thick strand, Barton Kinsolving waited to hear the alien condemn him to death.

  CHAPTER XX

  Barton Kinsolving prepared to die. He looked at the ground and fleetingly considered jumping. The idea vanished instantly. He had not come this far to kill himself. If the arachnoids chose to execute him, let them. He had done all he could. He had saved them. His part in the Stellar Death Plan had been nothing but total opposition. Let the Supreme Web condemn him and all humans for what Fremont had done. That did not change his beliefs.

  “Kinsolving,” said Quixx, speaking for the entire web laden with arachnoids, “I wish to commend you.”

  Kinsolving almost fell as he turned in surprise. “Commend? Not condemn?”

  “I do not understand how an individual can oppose the will of the majority. It is never done on Web. I am always in control as the result of careful deliberation with all of high enough status chosen to be part of the Supreme Web. However, other races can be perplexing. You have acted independently and provided me with valuable information.”

  “But Humbolt and the others will be executed?”

  “I differ from other starfaring races in this regard. I believe that the only method for dealing with such action must be of a permanent nature.”

  “Death.”

  “Of course,” said Quixx, speaking for the entire world.

  “What will happen to me?” Kinsolving asked, hardly believing his good fortune. The arachnoids appreciated all he had done! Of all the aliens he had dealt with, they appreciated his sacrifices!

  “I ask that you leave the planet. Quixx had rightfully ordered your deportation earlier. You avoided this command. I will not punish you for this wrongful act since it is part of this peculiar independent behaviour pattern you human things enjoy.”

  “Thank you.” Kinsolving moved cautiously and regained his balance on the thick strand of web stuff. “I must be free to choose the planet. I don’t want to go to Gamma Tertius 4.”

  “You have violated the Supreme Web of that world,” said Quixx. His face screwed up in a totally inhuman expression of concentration. “But you have no such order in your pitiful life. There is much I do not understand. I must consider.”

  Throughout the Supreme Web the arachnoids began to ponder this strange turn. Tiny ripples moved along the strands, magnified and came rushing in to Quixx’s eight legs firmly planted on the strand.

  “You may not choose the planet,” came the answer. “I will not send you to Gamma Tertius 4, however.”

  Kinsolving nodded. He did not have the strength to pursue the matter further. Just being free of Interstellar Materials’ influence might be enough.

  But the Stellar Death Plan still existed. One small aspect had been thwarted on Zeta Orgo 4. What did Fremont and the others plot for other worlds populated by aliens — by Bizzies, as Fremont and the other bigots called them?

  Kinsolving knew that he could never stop until every last scheme had been rooted out and exposed. It might destroy IM. It might destroy him. Kinsolving did not care. This had to be done.

  “Will you help me to expose IM’s schemes on the other worlds?” he asked Quixx, knowing that the arachnoid still spoke for the Supreme Web.

  The answer came back faster than anticipated.

  “No.”

  “But why not?”

  “That is beyond the authority of the Supreme Web. I aid other worlds if possible but do not meddle in their internal affairs. I have no certain knowledge that the Supreme Web can be of service on any other world.”

  “Others might need help. They probably don’t know about the Plan.” Kinsolving did not add that he had no knowledge of future efforts Fremont might take now that Web lay secure and beyond the reach of the Plan for fifty years.

  “Then let them learn.”

  The finality in Quixx’s voice cut off any further protests. Kinsolving did not pretend to understand how the arachnoid mind worked. They were savage, yet had more than a streak of compassion. They came to decisions in a democratic process but could not understand individual effort and action. Kinsolving smiled wryly. They were as mysterious to him as he must be to them.

  But they were all intelligent beings. They had to learn to work together.

  “Down,” came Quixx’s usual shrill voice.

  Kinsolving looked around. The spider beings left the Supreme Web by dropping down cables until it seemed that the air rained arachnoids. In a few minutes all would be gone.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To carry out the wishes of the Supreme Web. This one is pleased with the decision. It is to our best interest.”

  “What would happen if you weren’t satisfied with it?”

  Quixx looked startled. “Nothing. This one would not like the decision, but it would be executed, as decided by the Supreme Web.”

  A cable flashed out and curled around Kinsolving’s waist. He tried to keep from screaming as they fell precipitously. He tried but failed. Never before had he dropped to his knees and blessed the soil for its firmness under his body.

  “Come along. We go directly to the Interstellar Materials warehouse. Those responsible for introduction of the Boxes of Delights to this world are imprisoned there.”

  “Already?”

  “There is no need to hesitate. The Supreme Web does not make mistakes. It cannot. We have penned up the human thing responsible. This one, as observer for the Supreme Web, desires to be present when the sentence is carried out.”

  “Is Cameron among them?”

  “Identifying a particular human thing is difficult. If this is a matter of importance to you, this one shall allow you to verify before your deportation.”

  “Fair enough,” said Kinsolving. They hiked back to the open-backed repulsor vehicle. This time Kinsolving started with his back to the wind. It helped keep down the wind-burn on his face, although his ears burned hotly by the time the vehicle silently descended a dozen metres from the main doors leading into the IM warehouse.

  “Where are your guards?” Kinsolving asked, frowning. He saw no patrols or any other sign that Quixx had effectively cordoned off the warehouse. “You know about the escape tunnel that leads to the shed?” He pointed.

  “Our electronics are superior to yours,” said Quixx.
“We have pinpointed the movement of everyone within. The tunnel is permanently closed.”

  “Electronics can be confused or even lied to.”

  “Yours, not ours.”

  Kinsolving had doubts. Cameron was a genius. The arachnoids might be advanced in microelectronics to a point he did not understand, but Cameron would. After the robotic assassination attempt after Andrianov’s murder had failed so miserably, Cameron would have learned much. Kinsolving did not see the sneering man making the same mistake twice.

  No matter how much it hurt his pride, Cameron would never again underestimate the abilities of the arachnoids. And they seemed oblivious to this threat.

  Kinsolving heard faint whines. He ducked down and saw Quixx’s tiny pink hands working the controls of a tiny box. The whines modulated into a more melodious sound. Only then did Quixx lift two front legs and issue the order to enter the warehouse.

  Kinsolving thought he had good eyesight. He gasped when hidden arachnoids rose up all around and moved in what appeared to be an undulating black carpet toward the doors. The sophisticated electronic locks never slowed their advance. Dozens — hundreds — of arachnoids boiled into the warehouse.

  Straining, Kinsolving heard a tiny beep!

  “The planetary supervisor, Kenneth Humbolt, has been apprehended,” said Quixx. “Come. This one wishes to confront him before the orders of the Supreme Web are executed.”

  Kinsolving had to follow at a dead run. Quixx’s rolling gait had smoothed to a sleek movement faster than any human could run. Panting, Kinsolving came to a halt just outside the supervisor’s office.

  Inside he saw Humbolt banging his fist on a desktop. Kinsolving opened the door and heard the director’s loud protests.

  “You damned Dizzies have no authority to do this! IM will restrict this planet! You’ll be cut off from all our rare earths. Where will your electronics industry be then? What will happen to your damned stardrive engines? They need lanthanum to operate. We’ll shut you off! We’ll isolate the entire damned planet!”

  “They know all that, Humbolt,” said Kinsolving. “They also know about the brain burners and the Stellar Death Plan. I told them.”

  “You — ” Humbolt saw Kinsolving for the first time, then screamed and tried to throttle him. Quixx batted the director away with a front leg, almost as a human would flick a spider off his shoulder.

  “I told them everything. You can’t hope to kill every alien in me universe.”

  “Traitor,” seethed Humbolt “You’re a traitor to your own species. Your name will be — ”

  “Forgotten,” cut in Kinsolving. “But yours will be remembered. Along with Hitler and Kubioshi and even vander Leeuw. Genocide isn’t the way to stop them from keeping us down — they don't care about us. We’re nothing to them, Humbolt. We’ve got to earn the right to even matter. Until then, we’re nothing.”

  “Burn in hell for this Kinsolving!”

  Kinsolving settled his mind. “Quixx wanted to see the person responsible for bringing the brain burners onto Web. You’re it. He’s going to execute you.”

  Fear flashed across Humbolt’s face. “The Bizzie doesn’t dare! He can’t! I’m an employee of IM. We have immunity!”

  “He will. Where’s Cameron?”

  “On his way back to GT4.”

  Those words caused Kinsolving to sag. His worst fears had been realized. Cameron had not died. And he had passed beyond the arachnoids’ power to bring him to justice.

  “It might be easier for you if you’re willing to confess everything, tell them how you distributed the brain burners, everything about the operation of the Plan on Web.”

  Humbolt opened his mouth, then froze. He held this ludicrous pose for almost a second before he began to shake uncontrollably. Humbolt fell face forward across the desk, features rigid.

  Quixx’s reactions carried him to Humbolt before Kinsolving could even reach out to catch the man. “This one is curious,” said Quixx. “The criminal human thing has died strangely.”

  “Cameron!” cried Kinsolving. He did not know how, but the assassin’s long, deadly hand had reached across light-years to touch Humbolt. “Check the room for robot killers.”

  “There is no…” Quixx’s voice trailed off. The sudden flare of burning white light blinded Kinsolving. Tiny bits of metal stung his face and hands. He simply sat down heavily.

  His vision slowly cleared. He had to rely more on hearing. The silky soft whisper of the arachnoids walking told him that many had crowded into the room.

  Quixx’s voice finally reassured him about the arachnoid’s personal safety. “This one destroyed an electronic device — a robot. You detected its presence; this one did not. How confusing.”

  “What was it?” asked Kinsolving. His eyes watered.

  “Unknown. Barely detectible, ultralow power use, it sent a pellet of self-contained poison into Humbolt.”

  “Cameron did your work for you, then,” said Kinsolving.

  “The Supreme Web entrusted that chore to me.” Quixx sounded irritated at being robbed of the chance to execute Humbolt.

  “The others are still handy,” said Kinsolving. “Do it to them.”

  “They are already dead,” came the chilling words. “This one wanted only to satisfy himself that Humbolt acted in the manner you claimed. He did. How curious.”

  “What now?” Tiredness flooded over Kinsolving.

  “The Lorr starship arrives in orbit within seven-ninetieths of a rotation. You will be placed in their custody and returned to their prison world.”

  “What?” Kinsolving shot to his feet. “But the Supreme Web, you commended me, you said I could leave, choose where I went.”

  “That is not so. It was agreed that you would not be returned to Gamma Tertius 4. Your lawbreaking against the Lorr is of no matter to the Supreme Web. You have received your commendation. Be content with it. We do not wish to debate the issue of your criminality with the Lorr, who have requested your return.”

  Kinsolving went cold inside. Better that he had dived off the web strand a thousand metres above the Supreme Web’s valley.

  Quixx turned and waddled from the room.

  “Aren’t you placing me in custody?” asked Kinsolving.

  “You will go the Hall of Leave-taking for the shuttling to orbit by the Lorr. This one’s task is completed satisfactorily.” Quixx vanished without another word.

  Kinsolving left the warehouse. Stacked neatly were the bodies of the humans who had worked for Interstellar Materials on Web. Kinsolving held back the impulse to fling himself on the nearest pile and just wait. He had vowed to never return to the alien prison world, but he saw no path for escaping that sorry fate. Every IM employee on Zeta Orgo 4 had been executed — and Cameron crossed the stars alive and successful in his assassination of Kenneth Hum-bolt.

  “But they failed. Dammit, IM failed to kill everyone on mi”

  Kinsolving started walking, not caring where he went, To passively await the loose-jointed Lorr was not possible. But to fight? He had no resources.

  He sank down, back to a wall, and closed his eyes.

  Kinsolving’s nose twitched as a gentle wind blew a strange, pleasing and familiar scent to him. His eyes shot open.

  “Lark!” he cried. Not ten metres away stood Lark Versalles. Her hair had been recoloured and blazed like a multi-coloured beacon in the night. The photochemicals swirling just beneath her perfect skin had taken on new intensity. But it had been her distinctive perfume he had smelled.

  “Hello, Bart,” she said. She walked to him, almost shyly.

  “What are you doing here? You shifted for Earth, to return the von Neumann to Rani’s brother, to get away from here, to — ”

  “Shush,” she said, placing a slender finger against his lips to silence him. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “I got into hyperspace and I was all alone. I missed you, so I told the ship to come back.”

  “You’d have to finish the trip.”

 
She shrugged her elegant shoulders and smiled. “The ship obeyed. It’s supposed to, isn’t it?”

  “Must have been an emergency override I missed. It brought you back to the nearest planet — Zeta Orgo 4, in this case. But what did you tell it? No, never mind.”

  “You’re a perfect pile of debris, Bart darling,” she said, stepping back to look at him. “You never did dress well, but this is disgraceful. The Earth Gala would heave you into a plasma torch if you showed up looking like this. Although I remember once when Dinky tried to — ”

  “Lark, we’ve got to leave. Now. Can we get back to the von Neumann and out of orbit?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with the ship,” she said. “And the shuttle is about ready to go back. The pilot said something about not lingering, that they were chasing all the humans off-planet. I don’t like their shuttle. You have to hang on to metal rings and the spacesuits aren’t comfortable and the pilot is terrible.”

  He dragged her behind him as he ran for the shuttle. With any luck at all, he could get away and aboard the von Neumann before the Lorr ship attained orbit.

  With a fabulous amount of luck, he could shift from Zeta Orgo 4 and leave behind the arachnoids and the Supreme Web and Quixx and a thwarted Stellar Death Plan. And he could again elude the Lorr.

  “Here, Bart,” said Lark. With every movement, her skin changed colours. Somehow, her hair found a complementary shade within seconds. Her flushed face had brought out corroded-copper green highlights in her hair. As she caught her breath, icy blues and cool purples swirled beneath her cheeks; the carefully shaped ends of her hair mirrored these and then turned orange and shining gold. “Here are the awful, smelly spacesuits,”

  They looked wonderful to him. He kissed her and then hurriedly dressed.

  Lark hugged him tightly. Over the suit com she said, “I missed you so, Bart darling. It was so dull without you!”

  Barton Kinsolving knew that whatever happened, it would not be dull. Not with the Lorr after him, not with the full might of Interstellar Materials turned against him, not with Cameron still alive. It would not be dull. Never!