On Parkman's Peninsula there was a great field of Dowar flowers. In the space of a heartbeat, they turned brown and died.
In the small village of Goodnight a tiny herd refused to give milk. Seconds later a shoal of silvery thrad beached themselves in a frenzied rush from the sea.
In Formantown, three things dissolved: half a pier, two crystal altarpieces and four marriages.
On the other side of the planet in the city of Gallagher, hundreds of cats broke into the peaceforcer station and killed a third of the local force before the alarmed cityfolk, the other peaceforcers, and the local veterinarians (there were three) could drive them out.
In Repler City, every inhabitant, from Orvenalix to the Governor to Porsupah, experienced several seconds of vertigo. This continued at irregular intervals. It had a disconcerting effect on the population.
In Haven, all fell into a deep sleep. All except a small monkey-like primate from Carson's World, name of Ev Taars. A mechanic, Taars continued to work for several minutes, unaware that his six-toed feet floated four millimeters off the ground.
On the other side of the universe, a tiny intelligence suddenly expired violently, screaming. Its companion observed and commenced thoughts that would change the destiny of a hundred worlds. The operator of the single interspace weapon on board the customs' korvette panicked and would have started shooting. Fortunately, the tracker had enough presence of mind to cut power to the lethal laser. When the gunner saw what was following behind the ship he'd nearly taken a shot at, he fainted.
The AAnn battle fleet, sixty ships strong, moved with precision into synchronous orbit about Repler. There were few commercial vessels floating in the section of space Baron Riidi WW selected. Those that were there elected to move rapidly elsewhere. The intruders made no hostile gestures. Yet it was apparent to experienced merchantmen that the AAnn warships were not there for pleasure. Formation told them that, formation and the fact that this many AAnn vessels had not been seen' together since the last humanx- AAnn conflict.
The special shuttle bearing the Baron and a select company of scientists and commandos entered atmosphere, dropping slowly towards the planet circling below. The inhospitableness of the globe was clearly illustrated by incredible bodies of water, thick masses of moist air; and tropical vegetation. The Baron felt unusual sympathy for the local commander. Under the best of circumstances this would not be a pleasant place to be stationed. Put conservatively, it was a hell-hole.
Yes, any questions of failure or incompetence here would have to take into account the horrible climatic conditions.
A Communicator Second entered the luxurious main cabin, saluted.
"Sir, the flagship gives word that the Governor of the humanx colony has attempted another communication."
"I believe I instructed Captain Elbraack to relay the standard message about indisposition of forces, technical difficulties, and the like."
"Your pardon, sir, but Captain Elbraack advises that he has been doing precisely that. He informs that the Governor declines to acknowledge all such attempts."
"Then what is he complaining about? We have a standoff. I told the Captain that I do not wish to be bothered until I have had time to evaluate the situation on .the ground. I suggested one method of doing this. Inform the Captain that if he feels he is incapable of handling the situation without running to the communicator like a newborn hatchling at every small difficulty, I will be happy to replace him with someone who feels otherwise."
"Yes, Baron." The communicator hastily backed out of the room, forgetting to salute.
Riidi did not call the nye back. On some ships in the Imperial Navy, forgetting to do proper obeisance to a personage of Baronial rank would result in a short session at the hands of the paingivers, or reduction in class. The Baron was notorious among his equals for disciplinary laxity. This and other idiosyncrasies should have seen him ridden out of the Navy long ago. There were, however, a number of ameliorating factors, not the least of which was the fact that the Baron was brilliant
Not particularly genius-brilliant, but natural-smart brilliant. He had the ability to absorb a great deal of information, reduce cogent facts to pithy solutions, examine and evaluate all alternatives, and do the Right Thing.
He was a good reptile to have in a tight spot. This made him valuable enough to survive most of the petty jealousies which some claimed had held the AAnn back more seriously than all the actions of enemy races.
The landing was made with practically no belt) from the ground, since the Enclave's survivors hadn't been able to scrounge much of the proper equipment from the wreckage. Despite intensive battle training, the pilot wasn't prepared for so much mist and moist fog. Moreover, the island was a tiny enough target in clear weather. The landing was thus predictably rough, but Riidi said nothing. He was content to have landed on dry land. Although on this planet, he reflected, there really wasn't any such.
The officer who greeted him had a haunted look about the eyes. But his bearing was still straight, his tattered uniform correctly aligned, and natural dignity subsituted for a lack of pomp and ceremony. He was flanked by two junior officers, each of whom had that same haunted, distant look. There was also a single elderly human.
Riidi was not surprised. The Commander had informed him via transceiver to expect the mammal
Parquit saluted smartly. "Glory to the Emperor's line. His servant awaits you." The Baron returned the salute, muttered, "Glory." His salute was sloppy and brief. Already his eyes were taking in what was left of the Enclave. Taking in the twisted metal, the shattered foundations, not missing even the pulped vegetation, massive treetrunks snapped off at the base.
"One creature did all this." It was not a question.
"One creature," said Parquit, staring at the Baron. The noble's gaze returned to the Commander.
"And you had nothing to stop it?"
"Baron, we tried everything, following the initial surprise. All our weaponry had no effect on it whatsoever. Nor did some small but powerful humans devices."
"Ali! The locals have had belligerent contact with it also, then?"
"On a small scale, as far as I know. Yes. The contact was brief." Parquit made an effort to change the subject. "How soon can the nye be taken off? There are some in need of extensive medical care. I could have submitted them to a humans: infirmary center, but such was unthinkable, of course. The wounded concurred."
"Of course. What of your personnel elsewhere on the planet at the time of the attack?"
"There were not many. Away from the Enclave they were forced often to experience the local weather. A punishing duty for even a short while."
"I can well imagine." Riidi sniffed the moist, sticky air with distaste.
"The last returned this morning. They were recalled gradually, so as not to provoke awareness of anything unusual among the humanx populace. Such precautions are no longer necessary since you have arrived. The Consul himself, of course, will remain in the capital until the situation has been clarified."
Riidi noticed the human smiling at him, paused.
"And what of this grinning primate, who finds the occasion so amusing?"
"A local. A drugger and trafficker in many things. Bloodhype, for one."
"I am that," said Rose, feeling it was time he said something. "Got a goodly sample of my wares with me, too." He held up the lethal case.
"What interest have you," asked Riidi, "with such as this?"
"Ploy and counter-ploy, sir. With the result that he has my word of safe conduct off-planet to a point of his choosing. Like all vermin with a talent for survival, he is basely intelligent."
"I think I understand, Commander. I prefer thinking of the situation that way, rather than trying to envision you making a voluntary agreement with such. Where is this monster now?"
"When it became clear we could not resist the creature, an ultra-high-frequency emergency signal was transceived to our scattered personnel. This drew them back to us. Until they arr
ived with their ships, we had no proper receiving equipment for local castings. Judging from what we have been able to intercept since then from the Rectory and receive from the Consulate, the creature appears to be lying just offshore the capital city itself."
"Which could complicate the procedure of bombardment," said the Baron.
Parquit glanced at Rose. "Yes, Baron. The prospect does not bother you, human?"
"Nothing to endear me to this clump of earth." The old drugger shrugged. "Unless ... maybe I shouldn't leave here after all." He looked thoughtful.
Parquit was so surprised by this announcement that he momentarily forgot the Baron. "You have changed your mind, after all you have gone through to assure your safe leaving?"
"Naw. Just a crazy thought. From what I've been able to worm out, it just might be possible to communicate with the thing, somehow."
"What makes you believe that?"
"Well, it seems pretty clear to me that it can detect thoughts of other intelligent beings. It sure knew what you were up to. All your fancy equipment and all probably wasn't even necessary. Bet it would understand you if you just thought at it. Seems to be practically invulnerable. Sure, the thing turned on you once. Doesn't mean it's all-over evil. Might just have been defending itself, frightened, or uncertain, or who knows what? Properly approached in an unconfined situation, like now, it might prove docile enough to handle."
"Do you not realize," began Parquit, "that the monster deliberately carried out a complex program of deception? That it waited until it felt ready to break free?" The Commander made a sharp, angry gesture. "Is this the work of a potentially docile creature? I think not."
"Mebbee not. But the idea of controlling a thing as powerful as this has a heap of appeal. Even if the association was set up on an equal basis, say."
"An arrangement at best worse than uncertain," said Riidi in clipped tones. "Besides, the thing is not, as the Commander states, apparently inclined to friendly discourse. And we have no evidence of this unique invulnerability you speak of beyond the original records of the first expedition."
"But it is!" the drugger protested. "Ask your own people. You should've seen it, with lasers and torpedoes and all bouncing right off!"
"Yet we have no permanent- confirmation," said Riidi, seeming to waver slightly. "I cannot risk recommending a single nye without more than verbal proof to present to my superiors. Not even that of my own subordinate." He looked pointedly at Parquit.
"Look, with half a chance I'd take it myself," said Rose. "Some day, but not today. But there is concrete proof. There was a special recorder going the whole time. I saw it activated and it never stopped until the thing broke in."
"You are observant," conceded Parquit. "Indeed, I set it myself. Yet it was smashed in the general destruction, I fear."
"You're crazy! It's back in the shelter, right where you left it. A big dumb-bell-shaped affair."
"You must be mistaken," said Parquit. "Yet your description is accurate enough."
"You must be blind. It's setting there still, I'll bet"
"Could you find it?" asked Riidi. "The Commander seems to believe it does not still exist."
"Sure I can get it."
"Do so, then, and I will see you receive proper recompense. The records themselves will be invaluable. Yet we cannot remain here much longer. You have," he glanced at a chronometer, "four time-parts." The Baron turned to face Parquit. "If the human is right, you will suffer for it."
"Baron, I...
"We've got a bargain, then," said Rose. "I'll be back in two." He whirled and headed back into the ruins.
Parquit waited till the human was out of -sight, then turned back to the fleet commander. "My thanks, Baron."
"Thanks are accepted, if not necessary. Not where the subject is mere vermin control. Your suggestion worked well. He is blinded by greed and thoughts of power."
"You had him thinking too fast to be reflective," said Parquit. "As to your own instructions, shall we return to the ship?"
"If all your people are boarded by now, as planned."
"Yes. I regret the need of treating such as that with such elaborate planning. Yet the drug he threatened us with requires the most delicate handling. Once released we would have had no second chance. I am relieved to have it out of my sight."
"I understand," the Baron said. He turned and led the way back towards the shuttle, Parquit keeping pace at one side. "And now we come back to the problem itself. And the simple question of a possible interstellar conflict neither party would wish."
"I would suggest following the official conversation with the Governor with a private one involving the local military leader. He is sufficiently prosaic, enough to countenance the bombardment if convinced of its need."
"I wish it so," replied Riidi. "If this creature gains in power as rapidly as you imply, it should be destroyed as soon as possible. If it can be arranged, such action must be taken with the approval and agreement of the vermin authorities. If such is not forthcoming ... well, the red sand blows where it will, Commander, where it will."
Rose heard the muffled growl of the AAnn shuttle when its engines caught. He turned and ran without thinking. After covering a few meters, be slowed and stopped Such exertion was not good for a man of his age. Nor practical. So he watched quietly as the AAnn vessel made a perfect lift-off and rose on a pillar of yellow-red waxen fire. It disappeared into the comforting clouds.
He permitted himself a few choice cuss words. Actually, he was more unhappy at being outfoxed than being left behind. That lizard had set him up perfect and he, Rose, had been picked off clean and clear.
He brightened abruptly. If what the snake had said was true, then he wasn't completely marooned here. There should be some sleek Enclave hoverafts and maybe a foilskipper or two tied up in the ruined harbor. The ones that those scattered diplomatic personnel had returned on. If just one held a fair amount of fuel, it wouldn't be impossible for him to make it back to the capital.
Once there- well, the same trick worked on different folks. The death he toted was very democratic. And there was another possibility, interesting in light of his prospects for the future. If the AAnn chanced across him again he'd be incinerated without thought-if he were lucky. With a complete record of his drug-running and other illegal activities, the humanx were unlikely to greet him with rosewater and lemonbeef. Nor would his colleagues in the underworld consider him a safe risk anymore. Even his friends would consider him too hot to help.
There remained that other choice. He'd only flippantly meant what he'd said about attempting a single-mind contact with the monster. Given his other chances, the idea took on a certain reckless appeal. Perhaps it had bolted off in a sudden snit. Maybe it would be amenable to some form of control or direction. Or ff it were as intelligent as it seemed, an alliance? Rose spun thoughts insideout, the reverse of small spiders. Such power! Ain't it worth a try for such a prize? Always do the unexpected, old man! You're running out o£ alternatives. The law off averages is ready to prosecute. Take the sun-risk, side-pockets, take it!
You're gonna die soon anyway. And there are plenty ready to give you a hand-down. Bootstraps, old man, bootstraps?
He realized the decision wasn't entirely sane. But it was made. So the creature was lying offshore the capital? That would take care of the usual commerce patrols. He would go there.
Perhaps all it soak to make comprehensible contact with an evil-minded being was another evil-minded being.
He began walking towards the harbor. The laugh that bubbled up out of him was a little too high and west on a little too long.
There were a few standard hoverafts- and the big cargo waveskimmer. Deity knew what the AAnn, who hated water-Contact, did with an open-decked craft. But it would take a beam or shell better than the lower lying, thinner-hulled rafts. And its tank was three-quarters full. It was a locally built craft and not an imported AAnn device, so the controls were familiar. The foredeck had been built up even higher
to keep out any hint of spray. Even so, it would get cold up there.
The thing was built for long jaunts. He'd have a margin of safety in the tanks that a raft couldn't afford. No point in making it to the city and stopping dead in the water. He'd like the option of further travel. It would be fast enough.
The Vom and the Guardian fought.
On certain levels molecules were badly battered. There was a change due and both sensed it. The Vom could not tell how or when, but it was still jubilant over the arrival of the AAnn fleet. For this was one way it had traveled between worlds, on the ships and backs and minds of other races, chained to the Vom-self. Chained.
Kitten piloted the hoveraft over a mild sea. Whitecaps sparkled like citrine in the early morning sun. The mist was burning upwards and it would be clear and bright soon.
If he weren't involved in an impossible series of events culminating in an absurd search, Mal might have enjoyed the sight. He wasn't hungry, nor tired, for the first time in some while. He longed wishfully for the routine and peace of a normal trading cruise, light-years from everything. He was just about fed up.
"Look, Kitten. I've been dragged through this once before. Government secrecy or no, dammit, this time I'd like to know what I'm getting into before it up and smacks me in the chops."
"Okay, we're looking for ... you remember our late friend Rose?"
"I'm afraid so. What about him?"
"I never saw him without that case of bloodhype on the AAnns' island. He never put it down or let go of it for a second. I'd guess he slept chained to it." She was staring straight ahead, speaking softly. "I think it's safe to assume it'll still be with him."
"Sure ... wherever the body is. You should pardon the sentiment, `so what?' Are you so concerned about collecting evidence for a posthumous prosecution? If the case is still intact and unbroken, it'll stay put. The government can recover it anytime," he concluded.
"Don't you remember what Peot said?" she continued. "About the monster not being affected by energy weapons? What about biological ones?"
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