The time is overpast to make an end. It can be done. Between them, Earth and Naqsa can impose an arrangement that is not too unfair to either side, and certainly free of the unfairness that young men die while old men live. We have an undercurrent of wish for it throughout the Federation, as our cost and commitment rise without limit and without result. But as yet this is an undercurrent. The politicians, the media, practically no one and nothing public will take any initiative. They simply do not discuss the politically awkward subject of a negotiated peace.
‘I will use you to whipsaw them into it.’
The face grinned anew, the hand waved his cigarette. ‘Oh, I have my selfish reasons, too,’ he admitted. His chuckle went dry as phoenix boughs rubbed together by the Fire Time wind. ‘What a marvelous last battle! They will cry for my impeachment, a sanity hearing, revision of the Charter to strip my office of powers, every revenge that hysteria can mouth. And I will fight back in my fashion. … Win or lose, have no fears for yourselves. You will be protected by the double jeopardy rule.
‘But – you must also be in the fight.’
Contempt crackled forth: ‘Don’t fear, either, that you need become fashionable radicals. Leave oratory, demonstrations, riots, denunciatory essays in chic magazines, solidarity with every grubby Cause that wants to hitch a ride, sermons which don’t mention God because he isn’t relevant – leave such things to the monkeys. Better, disown them, reject them. You shall simply be witnesses to the truth. You will not find that easy. The intellectual establishment that opposes you contains many skilled picadors as well as contortionists. Hardest of all will be to remain calm, reasonable, yes, truthful.’
His lips twisted. ‘What truth can you state? What effects of this unnecessary war have you personally experienced?
‘The preventable deaths of millions of beings who may well stand above us in the eyes of eternity, made probable. Peril to a high civilization which we know has unguessably much to teach us, and someday not far off ought to take its place among the stars. You have verily seen destruction and grief which need not have happened, including – as far as can be discovered – the loss of two leaders who might well have worked together for incalculable good, had we provided them a chance.
‘And Earth – on Ishtar, Earth has lost the trust of first-class minds, a trust not readily regained. Earth has lost the services of an outstanding officer: for though you be pardoned, Captain Dejerine, it is impossible for the Navy not to cashier you.’ Once more an unexpected softness flitted across him in a smile. ‘I daresay they will make a place for you yonder, and a hearty welcome.’
The milder mood continued: ‘Providentially, you likewise bring positive news, of an entire intelligent species and relics of a powerful bygone race – from either of which we may quite conceivably learn what will open whole universes. But to do that, in living lifetimes, requires vastly enlarged assistance to the Gathering; furthermore, it requires help for the Valennen folk, that they in turn may help us. And this requires peace!
‘I think, in a year or so, Earth will realize where its true interests lie.’
His head drooped. Daniel Espina was mortal too. Soon we said farewell, and the attendant woke the pilot who would take us back to our hidden quarters.
We waited outside for him. The air was quiet, thin, relentlessly cold, exultantly clear. The sun had now cleared the peaks, down whose granite its beams hunted shadows, and heaven reached sapphire.
‘A year,’ Ian breathed. Each word smoked white. ‘Or two at most. Then we go home.’
And if we’re fortunate, start over on our work, I thought.
‘That many months–’ Jill answered him. They had long stopped keeping secrets from me, or I from them. We are three. But this hour was theirs alone. ‘You’ll send for Rhoda.’
‘How can she come?’ he wondered against his own knowledge.
‘The judge can fix that. You wouldn’t be who you are, my darling, if you didn’t ask him to.’ She squared her shoulders. ‘Meanwhile–’ Presently: ‘Afterward– Well, we’ll see.’ She did not trouble to speak of matters like the fact that loving and being loved bring duties. Her glance told me I was among her ‘we’.
The pilot came. Jill led us to the flyer. Following her, I dared hope.
About the Author
Poul Anderson (1926–2001) grew up bilingual in a Danish American family. After discovering science fiction fandom and earning a physics degree at the University of Minnesota, he found writing science fiction more satisfactory. Admired for his “hard” science fiction, mysteries, historical novels, and “fantasy with rivets,” he also excelled in humor. He was the guest of honor at the 1959 World Science Fiction Convention and at many similar events, including the 1998 Contact Japan 3 and the 1999 Strannik Conference in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Besides winning the Hugo and Nebula Awards, he has received the Gandalf, Seiun, and Strannik, or “Wanderer,” Awards. A founder of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, he became a Grand Master, and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
In 1952 he met Karen Kruse; they married in Berkeley, California, where their daughter, Astrid, was born, and they later lived in Orinda, California. Astrid and her husband, science fiction author Greg Bear, now live with their family outside Seattle.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1974 by Trigonier Trust
Cover design by Mauricio Díaz
978-1-5040-2438-9
This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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