The Ninth Science Fiction Megapack

by Arthur C. Clarke

  “Again, my son sought to advise me. He argued that he and I must escape before it was too late. This ship, as you should know, is equipped with life boats which are capable of carrying a hundred or so Passengers. It was my son’s Plan to steal one of these and travel to the flagship, ten light years distant. Using second order type drive, this journey would have taken several years, but he was certain we could and should make it. Furthermore, he advised me that he was on the trail of just the discovery that would save the fleet government. He was close to developing a second order shield against the M-Ray, and he was confident he could complete it on board a friendly vessel such as the flagship.

  “Having learned our lesson in caution by bitter experience, we decided each to take a lifeboat, so that if one of us were apprehended the other might still have a chance of making it.

  “Just before we left, however, the Navigators, under their new leader, began their mutiny, and my son and I had to take refuge among the Passengers, whom we enlightened thoroughly concerning the whole situation. It was they who helped us effect our escape, although we were pursued. And we left behind us a ship caught in the throes of a grim war between Navigators and Passengers.

  “I succeeded in distracting our pursuers sufficiently, I believe, to help my son escape, but in the process of escaping, myself, my ship was damaged, and after the pursuers abandoned the chase and gave me up for lost, I drifted about almost helplessly. It took me about three months to repair the damage and about a year to find the ship again.

  “I was content to return here, because I knew that the Passengers and many of my old friends among the Navigators had by now been subjected to the M-Ray. Despite all rationalization, I felt responsible, not only as inventor of the M-Ray, but as the captain of my ship—a ship that had mutinied and was the seat of an unlawful government that planned to overthrow the fleet and eventually wage war on innocent worlds, subjugating millions of people to dictatorial rule.

  “As one registered as dead, I enjoyed a particular advantage. Also, I had not lost my memory, and I knew the ship better than any Navigator on board. For years I have lived in secrecy, but a relatively short time ago something new developed that made it necessary for me to disguise myself as a Passenger. It was an easy matter for me to forge identifications and even place corroborative records in the files of the Navigators. Thus I created Yiddir E5172-P, an inconsequential Passenger who was free to move about among you and select his allies. For my present venture I need about one hundred men and women, and you I have long since chosen as my principal aide.”

  “Me? Why pick on me?”

  Yiddir smiled. “Look back on your actions that led to your escape today. Need you ask me more questions. I was not quite prepared to effect your escape according to my own well laid plans, and yet when your emergency arose you were capable of taking care of yourself.”

  Nad disregarded the compliment. “But did your son ever reach the flagship?” he asked.

  Yiddir shrugged, resignedly. “How can I tell? I can intercept communications from the other arks, but I dare not try to transmit, for fear of discovery. All I have learned is that a new Fleet Governor is in charge of the flagship, which is apparently unaware of what has been going on here. However, he seems to be a very capable man. His name is Nor E-I-M. I should certainly like to contact him sometime, for I am sure he would make a worthy ally. But that would take years, and there is no time for that just now.”

  “But what about the mutineers’ plan to turn back to the solar system they wanted to invade? When will they do that?”

  Yiddir waved his hand. “My story is not yet at an end,” he said, patiently. “Listen carefully. I have not been able to verify all the facts as yet, but in rough analysis, the circumstances at present are as follows. The rebel Navigators have taken over a large portion of the fleet, just how much I cannot say, except that I know the flagship is still free and unaware of what has happened. Or else it may be that the rebels fear the flagship of Nor E-I-M, that perhaps some sort of resistance has been demonstrated. Anyway, the fact remains that this rebel portion of the fleet has already broken off from the main fleet, come to a stop, and turned back toward the solar system they plan to invade. It will take years to retrace those many light years of distance, but they are determined to do it. Meanwhile, the portion of the fleet that is still under Fleet Government is drawing further away from us all the time in the original direction taken by the expedition. Now, between our group of rebel arks and the Fleet Government arks lies the goal I am after. Listen…”

  “At the time that we slowed up to turn back, of course light from the stars was again perceptible and some important observations were made. I know that at that time the astrophysicists on board this particular ship discovered, in our own region of space, an inhabitable world. Oh it was a small one and not overly promising, because it was very young, geographically speaking. It was as yet uninhabited by the most primitive form of man, but was capable of supporting our kind. So mediocre was the find, however, that the rebel government in charge here decided not even to advise the rest of their representatives on board the other conquered ships. And of course the Fleet Government ships remained unadvised and were allowed to proceed on their way.

  “However, it was the result of my own analysis of that region of space that stirred me into action. My own instruments revealed to me that there are other systems nearby which should have been investigated. I know this ship did some searching, but the job was not thorough, and they gave it up in order to keep pace with the other rebel ships now, enroute to the inhabited solar systems they intended to invade.

  “Now, therefore, my immediate plan of action is this. In the lifeboat lockers are, as I have mentioned before, many ships, each of which is capable of transporting a hundred Passengers with reasonable comfort. As they are capable of converting cosmic energy into matter and synthesizing just like the ark does, they can support human life as indefinitely as their mother ship. It is my plan to use one of those ships and effect the escape of about a hundred Passengers, preferably young men and women, and make our way back to that small, primitive world which the Navigators discovered, and establish a base there for further exploration to discover the other solar system or systems which my instruments have indicated must exist in that region. If we fail, at least we will have one small, primitive world at our disposal on which to start a new life. And then if the rebel fleet should meet with surprise opposition and get wiped out, or if the other arks fail in their search, at least our small group will serve to rescue our species from extinction.”

  Suddenly, Yiddir fell silent, and Nad knew that he had finished. Yet there were still more questions to be asked.

  “All this is a fine plan,” he said, “and you can never appreciate what it means to me to know at last what this life of ours is all about. What I don’t like about your idea, however, is leaving the field wide open for the rebel Navigators such as Sargon and his kind.”

  “There is one faint possibility” said Yiddir, “that this great new master of the flagship, Nor E-I-M, might be in a position to cope with the rebels, but there is the risk that if I were to beam a communication to him, once we have made good our escape, it might be intercepted and result in precipitating on the Fleet Government a battle for which they are not prepared. I feel that it would be better not to take that risk, to let each segment of the fleet go its own way, so that there will be two chances of survival instead of one. Nor E-I-M has been hailed as a scientific genius, and I know that his section of the fleet is in good hands.”

  “It is too bad that your son, with his secret of M-Ray defense, could not have joined forces with Nor,” said Nad. “It is obvious he did not, because if he had done so, by now the Fleet Government would have taken action against the rebels.”

  Yiddir sighed. “That, too, is my conviction,” he said. “I have lost my son.”

  Nad reached out and squeezed Yiddir’s frail hand. “May I serve as a poor substitute?” he asked.<
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  Yiddir’s old face brightened. He grasped Nad’s hand with both of his. “Substitute, no,” he said. “You are my son, from this day forward.”

  “Thanks,” Nad replied. “But there’s just one thing you’re not going to like.”

  “What is that?”

  “I am not a complete altruist like you. I harbor a bitter hatred that must be satisfied. Before I leave here, I intend to throttle one Sargon M13-NT.”

  Yiddir shook his head in disapproval. “You must forget that,” he admonished. “Sargon is in high favor among the rebels. To expose yourself to him again would be to endanger the whole plan. You must learn to subordinate personal desires to the importance of your mission. Don’t you think that I, too, was long tempted by vengeful desire? This is my ship!” Yiddir’s eyes flashed anger. “But I held onto myself, and I pride myself that I acted in the best interests of the majority. I expect you to do the same.”

  The muscles lumped along Nad’s jaws, and he clenched his fists, but he controlled himself. “All right,” he grumbled. “Let’s get to work on this plan of yours.”

  Yiddir beamed with pride and satisfaction. “That’s the spirit, son! Self-control is your most strategic weapon now.”

  CHAPTER V

  When Nad and Yiddir acted, they worked swiftly. Contact was made with certain other Passengers on Yiddir’s long prepared list, chiefly by means of individually activated sonophones. In the privacy of his own room, a likely recruit was addressed as follows:

  “The day of liberation has arrived. You have been chosen to join us. We are returning to a natural world and a natural way of life. We have both the knowledge and the means. What was taken from your minds, your rightful heritage, will be restored by a complete revelation of the truth of your origin and your purpose. There is no time for questions. We must act swiftly. Go and contact ten of your friends, five of them young men and five of them young women. Caution them all to strictest secrecy or this whole plan will fail and your last chance will have been sacrificed. These ten people will contact only you. You have three hours to accomplish this. So act at once! When you are ready, or at the end of three hours maximum, bring your people to your own reception room and there you will be guided into liberation.”

  In the course of an hour, Nad and Yiddir thus contacted eight key men and women. It was almost time for them to start leading the first contacts and their recruits through various maintenance hatches between the walls when Nad finally tried to contact Lylwani.

  Yldra was with Ron, in Ron’s reception room. This time, Nad dared to activate the visiplate as well as the sonophone.

  “Nad!” cried Yldra, leaping to her feet. “Where are you? We thought you were either captured or dead!”

  “There is no time to explain,” he said, while his eyes searched the room through the two-way visicom. “Where is Lylwani?”

  “We don’t know,” said Yldra. “After you escaped from the guards, she disappeared.”

  Then Ron found his voice. “I think she tried some crazy scheme to save you, and the Navigators probably have her by now. Maybe Sargon.”

  “Sargon!” Nad’s face blanched and his mouth tightened. “It can’t be—not now, not at a time like this! She’s got to be here! There’s no time to lose!”

  Quickly, he gave them his recruiting message, with extra explanations to help reassure Ron, and he deputized Yldra to gather up some of her friends.

  The effect on Yldra was astonishing to Nad. As he told her the news, she seemed to come alive as though all her previous life had been lived in a shadow world. Now she seemed to perceive reality for the first time. In spite of her naturally pale Venusian complexion, a new color leaped to her cheeks and her eyes flashed with little fires of wild, new energy.

  She turned to Ron and flung her arms around his neck. “Ron!” she cried. “It’s come true at last! There is another world and another life! Nad’s dream has come true! Quick! Let’s go get Nilra and Gorn and Myrla and—”

  She stopped, amazed, because Ron did not reflect any of her mood. Sweat stood out on his forehead and his mouth was agape, his eyes round with fear…

  “They’ll kill us all!” he cried out. “It’s mutiny! I’m innocent!” he yelled. “Innocent, do you hear! I wanted none of it! I want to stay right!”

  “Ron!” shouted Nad, in a tone which he seldom used with his brother. “Shut your mouth and don’t speak another word. If you are so afraid of death, then remember this. Open your mouth once more as you have done just now and I will kill you myself!”

  Ron was left speechless, as was Yldra.

  “I can’t help it, Yldra,” Nad explained. “There is too much at stake. The whole future of humanity may be ruined by that sniveling coward. You keep him quiet if you want him to live or join us at all. Now hurry and assemble your friends in this room as quickly as you can. I’ll give you two hours. In the meantime—I’m going to find Lylwani…”

  * * * *

  Krylorno, the poet, was a vain and sensitive man. Secretly, he resented the fact that no woman had as yet gone with him to the authorities to request permission for cohabitation. He was older than the crowd he chose to associate with by some ten years, but he did everything possible to conceal the difference as it was one of the sore points of his vanity. Another blow to his vanity was Yldra’s inexplicable attachment to Ron. To think that she should prefer that club-footed, worthless coward to him!

  He was thinking of these things when Ron and Yldra approached him. It was on one of the refreshment mezzanines overlooking the great Recreation Hall. Many of his previous “suicide” group were there, but they had become divorced from their fanaticism by the unprecedented message of “X”. Since that moment a great, secret unrest had manifested itself among the Passengers. The Navigators had been able to gather that certain of the Passengers were discussing some great secret that they were somewhat unwilling to share with others of their number, and general Passenger speculation was running wild. The Navigators, suspecting that the whole thing was merely another manifestation of general discontent, had resorted to an experiment. They had released a previous ban on alcoholic refreshments, and the effect, in general, had been favorable already.

  Whereas most of the Passengers had become cheerful, Krylorno had become more moody and sensitive than usual, and was consuming liquor in large amounts. Yldra’s entrance with Ron was, therefore, the spark that kindled the smouldering fire.

  When Yldra tried to engage certain younger members of the party in private conversation, he resented it at once. Also, his curiosity was piqued by the transformation that had come over her. Her face was radiant, her eyes flashed new life and vigor, as though her existence had taken on new meaning. She spoke rapidly and excitedly, but it was obvious that he, Kyrlorno, was being excluded deliberately.

  Somewhat erratically, he walked over to her table with his half-filled glass. Everyone stopped talking as he began to give her a toast:

  “She’s made of dreams, or so it seems,

  For when she speaks to me,

  My thoughts are stilled and my heart is thrilled

  With a dreamy ecstasy;

  And in her eyes my reason dies

  And I am prison bound—”

  He paused, with upraised glass, scowling at her and the others.

  “I swear!” he said. “If you don’t all look as though you resented my presence!”

  No one said a word. Some hung their heads or looked away.

  “Why!” he said, not pleadingly, but challengingly. “What is this secret business all about? Has the voice of ‘X’ been haunting you again from out of the Abyss? Has he said you shall exclude Krylorno from the great liberation?”

  Yldra paled because Krylorno was shouting these words recklessly. She got to her feet quickly and came close to him. Her small hand clamped down over his mouth.

  “Krylorno, listen to me,” she said, softly. “You spoke to me recently great words about courage. You have demonstrated to everyone that you care
for me. Now I am asking you to prove both. For my sake, and for the sake of all our kind, be still! This is the time of salvation for a few. There is neither time nor room for more. Perhaps your time will come later, but for the present Nad says they should all be young—”

  “Young!” Krylorno fired back. “What do you think I am—an octogenarian?”

  Again the small hand closed his lips, and her dark eyes sought his, pleadingly. Finally, he shrugged.

  “All right, children,” he said, patronizingly. “What difference does it make, after all? A lifetime of certain boredom or a brief struggle for a dream that must end in certain death for all of you. Condemn me to boredom if you will.” He smiled mockingly at them. “I congratulate you!” he said, lifting his glass. “It is not every day that one may die for a heroic cause!”

  Ron broke, at last. He threw himself on Krylorno, terrified.

  “Take my place!” he exclaimed. “Go with Yldra! She’s going to take the others to my unit, where Nad will contact them. Take my place!” he cried. “I don’t want to go! I’m innocent! I want no part of it!”

  Krylorno cocked an eyebrow at him in theatrical disdain, and Yldra scowled for the first time since anyone could remember.

  “Ron,” she said, icily, “you had better hope Nad did not hear you over the sonophone. He would kill you. Remember his warning. It is evident your words to me of love and devotion were false, or you would want to be with me.”

  Ron broke down completely. He sat at a table and buried his head in his arms.

  “I do love you, Yldra,” he sobbed, “but I’m a coward. I can’t help being what I am!”

  Yldra made a sign to several of the young men beside her, and they moved to obey. They picked Ron up bodily and carried him. He screamed, once, and they knocked him senseless.

  Left alone, Krylorno bathed his internal wounds with alcohol. The drunker he became, the more distorted was his reasoning, until he was filled with bitter resentment.

  “Leave me out, will they?” he said, staggering to his feet. “Ha! I’ll teach them not to slight Krylorno!”