o

THE MAGAZINE 0 E

Fantasy
Science fiction
A Ay
/1 50<r

ZENNA HENDERSON
L SPRAGUE DE CAMP
ROBERT YOUNG
F,

ISAAC ASIMOV
\
 MAY Including Venture Science Fiction

The Earth Merchants {novelet) MOSMAN KAGAN 4

Cartoon GAHAN WnSON 25
Romance In An Eleveath-Century
Recharging Station BOB^T r. YOUNG 26
Mammoths and Mastodons U SPBAGUB Iffi CAMP 35
The Gtitsch System ROBIN SOOTT 48
Short Cut {verse) DEBORAH CRAWFORD 67
Books JUDITH MOIRU. 70
Sonny SOBeST L. FISH 76
Science: To Tell A Chemist ISAAC ASIMOF 87
No Different Flesh {novelet) ZENNA HENDERSON 97
Coming soon , . , 66
F&SF Marketplace 129
Cover by Mel Hunter

Joseph W. Ferman, editor and publisher Isaac Asimov, science editor

Ted White, assistant editor Edward L. Ferman, managing editor

Judith Merril, book editor Robert P. Mills, consulting editor

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Volume 2S, No. 5, Whole No. 168, May
1965. Published monthly by Mercury Press, Inc., at 50f a copy. Annual subscription
%5.00; |5.50 m Canada ana the Pan American Union; $6.00 in all other countries. Publu
cation office. 10 Ferry Street, Concord, N. H. Editorial and general mail should be sent to
$47 Bast 5$rd St., New York, N. Y. 10022. Second Class postage paid at Concord, N. H.
Printed t» U.S.A. © 1965 by Mercury Press, Inc. All rights, including translations into
other languages, reserved. Submissions must be accompanied by stamped, self-addressed
envelopes; Publisher assumes no responsibUity for return of unsolicited mauuscripts.
 Urtlifce a recently semt-defunet paperback book house whose en*-
photic motto was to the effect that th^r imprint “Means Contro-
versy” we here are content merely if our stories are good. Some-
times, though, they are controoersicd as well. Robert A. HekUeinS
GLORY ROAD (July-Sept. 1963), for example, and Ray Nelson*s
TURN OFF THE SKY (August 1963) were both in this class. We
predict with confidence that this second story by math student
Horman Kagan (FOUR BRANDS OF IMPOSSIBLE, Sept. 1964)
wUl prove mote controversial than either. Asked if he believed
in immortcdUy, Aaron Burr (and who more eontroversial than
he!) replied, “On that subjeet I am coy.” Do not aek, then, where
we ours^es stand on the viewpoint set forth in this shaking,
furious, outraged tale of our space program: on that subject we
are coy. Read—rage, then, if you will. But— read.

THE EARTH MERCHANTS

by Norman Kagan

“They (engineers) will find that tennis. It was an indication that

it ismuch more enthusing to solve his mind was still reasonably flexi-
the problems of the lack of water in ble, and hence that he might still
the United States than to. send an ex-
be able to learn to make love.
pedition to the moon, that it is more
I could only infer this, but it
exciting to work towards the solution
of . . . (the) needs of the seven seemed fairly plausible. Obsoles-
billion people who will live on this cence and old age are the primary
planet . .then to make sure a
.
fears of most people in the Age of
EDcket stk) can stand a fifty-megaton Playboy, no matter what field you
bomb.” study. And the carefully calcu-
— Professor M. G. Salvadori lated build-up we'd given the
Cohunbia Univessity, New York space scientist would’ve at least
have pitted his mind with the
I
burning acids that’ve scarred most
The young man was very of us. What I was going to do now
happy when he learned to play would really gouge him.
4
 a

THE EARTH MERCHANTS 5

Thou^ it wouldn’t be hard. first. Dr. Manheimer. Rrst of aH,

Most engineers are cowards these I’m a — or, rather, I was —
days. but not from
clinical psychologist,
I lethim beat me twice, then N.A.S.A. I’m from the Agency of
licked him four times running. He State.”
was puffing and sweating at the I could see the phrase “clod-
end of the final set, so I led him hugger” jumped through his mind,
over to the tables on the side of lickety-split. Then his voice came
the hospital’s sundeck. He said out, flat and dead; “I thought the
nothing at the view, which on this matter of my parents was settled.
bright day illuminated every foot There were no remains after that
of the thirty miles or so which mob of Asiatics got dirough with
separated the from the
hospital them.”
gantries and blockhouses of Cape “That’s correct,” I told him. “I
Kennedy Spaceport. was only tangentiafly involved in
“All right, doctor,” said the your case, through our Psycholog-
young man. His face and body ical Stalemate Branch. But it
were an angry red, partly from the seems I’m the only clinician who
exorcise, more from too much sun is qualified to talk to you any
in the month he’d been recovering more. Scientists in classified work
from a nervous breakdown. He who’ve had mental are illnesses
brushed his blond hair back from automatically considered security
his forehead, and squinted at me, risks. No one in (he Defense
almost angrily. “When are you go- Branch of the government will
ing to let me out of here, and talk to you any more.”
back on Project Leviathan?" I let him think about that for a
This had to be done exactly while. It was embarrassing, it was
right. I had to have another vector so easy to read him. The brilliant
to work with; his anger and impa- creative space engineer, looking
tience had to be composed with for the fascinating challenge of
something exterior. But I had it, modern technology. No North
of course. I always insure myself; American Dynamics or General
my favorite psychiatrist joke is Aviation or International Busi-
about the headshrinker who had ness Mechanisms to guarantee
just cured a patient of klepto- pensions and paid vacations and
mania. “I’ve totally eliminated whisper that genocide was patriot-
yoiur morbid desire to steal,” he ism.
told his patient confidently. “But “The F.B.I. has made the usual
just in case, be sure to pick me up suggestion that you commit sui-
a transistor radio.” cide,” I added, offering him a
‘Td better clear some things up government issue poison needle.
 ”

6 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

His eyes widmed, and his band gers. But he had no real choice, of
trembled, but I closed my fist in eoHvse. Those defense hotshots
time. So he stood by the rmling would soon learn the cost of their
for a whde, staring at laiaicbing “security systems."
pads of the filthy lunacy across “There’s a number of things I
the Banana River. don’t understand,” he said slowly,
Fresently he recalled that I was the Texas burr soft in, his voice.
a psychologist, and spoke the The broiling sun was making his
thou^t that had been cycling face sweat. “What’s ‘spin-off,’ and
mind. don’t what the
through
“What
his crippled
will I do now?” he wWs-
I
Agency of
—
recall exactly

p»ed. “That’s easy enough to answer,"

“Not much,” I told him flady. I rephed, and allowed myself to
“You can’t do any sort of indus- relax a little. "Spin-off are the
trial work, and no one in the sci- products of space flight science
entific branch of government will which turn out to have applica-
have you. You realize of course tions on the ground.” He was nod-
that nearly every multiversity in ding wisely, but my voice tight-
Fortress America is involved in ened as I said; “And the Agency of
classified research —
so that lets State? Why, even a space scien-
teaching out. I suppose you could tist like you should’ve remembered
— and I let my voice trail efif.
” that. We’re the part of the govern-
Only an insane therapist would ment charged with investigating
talk in such a manner, of course. the surface of Terra external to
“Or,” I said quietly, “you could Fortress America. You know like —
come to work for us.” the rest of the earth.”
“What’re you?” he said after a
momeiH. His eyes were still dazed. With the kid inside the project,
I writed a precise four seconds I let the deep probers chop into

—I'm not a master vector psychol- him. He’d work over the reports
ogfiet for nothing. "My name is Ar- we’d dummied up, or Miswer the
lan Kadison,” I told him briskly, carefully phrased questions that
“and Tm head of a new depart- passed for conversation in his sec-
ment in the Agenoy of State. I’m tion. We also let him have a nice
to set up better Raison between little Eurasian secretary, named
N.A.S.A., the Defense Branch of Chien-Shiung. Darkly smoulder-
government, and the Agency. We ing, vridi riun like golden parch-
hope that more space Bight and ment, and fragile features. A real
defease ^in-off can be apj^ed to jHece of class. She eould apfdy her
the agency’s functions.” own special brand of intuition,
Mis face wrinkled up. Clodhug- while we built up the annoyances
 — — ” ”

THE EARTH MERCHANTS 7

and frastratkms for Hirase Two, "Well, of course we started with

consckms co-operation. all the public statements; ‘the des-
Meanwhile, I was busy. A seven tiny of mankind', ‘endless conquest
million dollar Lunar supply mis- of the cosmos’, ’noblest challenge to
sion had exploded cm the Vanden- our species’. When people begm
berg Pads. It gave us our first test talldi^ that way, any psychiatrist
of propaganda efficiency, and I let knows there’s something dirty and
Operations make a complete run. guilty behind it.” Dims stared at
Project “Earth Merchants” was un- roe brightly. ‘Tike the ban-the-
derway. bomb product c£ na-
societies. A
Which meant that I sat at my tional guik. Because atom bombs
desk, a hairy middle aged-man were dropped. And we did it."
with too much nose, blinking at I nodded. Scientists are like that.

my own beautiful secretary’s sarong They can only be pleased at what

OVCT dozens of research reports. they find out. I bet Einstein and
Nevertheless, in our warren of Nobel were cheerful when ffiey
offices in Undergjround, D.C. the made their big strikes, too.
pattern of a plan was emerging, a "Go on. Dr. Dbns.” I lit up a
plan to cripple, paralyxe, or de- cigar.
stroy if necessary die space flight a bit complicated fi«an here
"It's

ptogcam of Fortress America, on out," said Dti^. “Basically, oar

Our mahi strategy became for- clue came from science fiction
—
malized —
thou^ it was clear to “Escape fiction,” I rauTmered.
me as early as my meetn^ with Dr. ^cape fiction,
"Yes. likesex
Oliver Manheimer — a few days magazines.” He blushed. “Well, I
later. Our researdi chief, a straight don’t really care to taH; about Aat
medical psyduatrist named Di^, sort of stuff
outlined his group’s findings I made a bridge with my hands.
.”
“It’s amazing, Mr. Kadison,” he “Well . .

said wild-eyed. “So much has been “But it's the key to our studies.
written, pro and con, and yet no Sex magazines are escape fiction.
one has reaDy investigated the deep They let you into a world of
emotional ‘whys’ of astronautics.” beautiful women, lush and wild
“Go on, Sidney,” I told him easi- and aroused, long legs —oh, and
ly. I leaned back and waited. Dim’s like that. Imean to say, there is a
words came pouring out to fill my second factor. The guilt feelings re-
air-conditioned cave, while his tained from childhood. These girls
thin-featuied face jumped and are clearly willing and eager, with
twitched in agitation. I had to ad- faces of passion, dressed as a man
mit that he formulated his theory might have commanded, so that
^te clearly. they can go
—
 8 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

“Take it easy, Dr. Dinas!” I Dims back and wiped his

sat
CKied.The poor man was red and forehead, andI nodded again. He’d

breathing hard. I let him calm about summed

it up. I suppose it

dcram for a mmule or two. would be hard to convince a Itfe-

“Ahem. Science fiction is too long fan of Ins theory. Anymore
lioh and complex a field to analyze than you could convince a prize-
completely, but certainly in a large fight fan that he was sublimating
number of stories, the reader is en- his blood-lust. Fortunately, Fd
tranced by swift action, the sweep switched to sex magazines quite a
of reason and experiment, the few years ago.
deep complex concepts. This is an “'The pmnt about guilt is valid,
escape from our own world of you know. In spite of all this talk
bumbling progress, confused issues about pure research, most scien-
and tremendous organizations tists are convinced the space and

n^ich require submission and obe- defense efforts will not help many
dience, and return boredom and people on the earth.”
money.” He paused. “In fact, there's a
"S-F appeals particularly to growing recognition of this in S.F.
scirajtists. Anyone who’s worked in It’s generated an ugly counter-
expesknental science or engineer- trend. And it’s growing,” said Dims
ing is familiar with the stumbling “More and more stories where
ai^ groping, the mistakes, the planets are destroyed (usually
waste, the projects and theories with larger beams), where the
that don’t pan out, die bureauc- masses are portrayed as degenerate
j:acy. Notmention the insignifi-
to and inferior. There's an excuse of
cant, exacting and tedious work many space civilizatioos, so you
which most scientists and engi- can cauterize at least one world.
neers wind up doing. ‘Who’s civilized anyway?’ says the
“So the first point is clear. Many space hero.
scientists and technologists must “Clearly this is an hysterical
find escape from their work. As one guilt compensation, a fantastic de-
of them put it, ‘in the stories the fense against the plain fact that bil-
eiqje'iments work out.’ lions are being spent on bombs and
“Guilt, the second point, is also satellites and space bases, while
fairly obvious. Just look at all the most human beings are starving
Negros, American Indians, and and miserable.”
Japanese in diese space stories. I put my cigar in the ashtray

Who cares if they all starve to and leaned across the desk, looking
death in real life! Look at all the hard at Dims. “AB right, doctor,”
6111 thev’re having in the Space I said forcefully. ‘That’s our anal-
Patrol!”' ysis. I figured about as much from
 ”

THE EARTH MERCHANTS 9

looking over our Dr. Manheimer. leveled out; around me the other
The question is, what do we do passengers slept, read or watched
with it?” stereo-vision with their own bino-
"Well, of course,” said the little ular-sets. Pampered and protected,
man, “we could tell the truth.” the most coddled people on earth.
"Ha! You really are an optimist!” Over two billion would go hungry
I laughed. “Let’s be reasonable. this night.
You know damn well we’ve got to I slumped in the diair. I was
use indirection and manipulation." getting fat, getting old, getting
“Of course, of course,” said the had never been handsome
little guy. “Let me see
— ” His eyes
ugly. I
or strong. I realized that my second
grew vacant. “Well, any escape year in engineering school, it was
mechanism is unnatural, otherwise one reason I quit. Why spend my
it wouldn’t be an escape mechan- life sweating over drafting boards,
ism. It isn’t not the
perfect, it’s burning my fingers with a soldering
original psychic apparatus. There- iron, going blind reading technical
fore there’s a tension set up. If we joiunals, so a laser beam could
could manipulate this synthetic torch a continent half a minute
tension
— faster, or another of those hand-
"Sure, pah you’ve practically got smne blond gods that rode the cap-
italready,” I told him. "Let me have sules could land (Hi Mars a we^
a full proposal in a weds or so. sooner? Vicarious pleasure? Not
Fine.” for me!
I shook his htmd and sent him I had had a wonderful time in

on his way. 'Things were going fiire! the early Peace Corps, it was the
greatest experience of my life, after
On the Sight back from Seattle my dearest Phong. It’d been magni-
two months deep
later I fell into a ficent there, sweating and strug-
depression. Things were going gling in the jungles (working with
well; the first mathmnatical model people, for God’s sake!) making
of the situation had been submit- love in the dusk and under the
ted to the Agency of State’s com- and it was there it had finally
stars,

puters, I had the first projections in come to me. The work was honest,
my briefcase. I was no operations at least; I wasn’t just another plug-
research expert, but as a vector psy- in engineer scurrying each day to
chologist, I knew something of Ms little office in the missile plant.
sociomath; I could understand I shouldn’t feel guilty about the
them. Project Earth Merchants had project, but in an unpleasantly
been operational just sixty days, deep way I did — it had been my
half of that at a deep level. idea. Internal schisms in govern-
’The big ramjet climbed and then ment aren’t unknown; there were
 I

10 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

the inferservice rivalries back in had been good for some things.
the 1950s, and before that the The orbital relays and weather
Army and die A.E.C. fought it scanners were useful, a few re-
out for the control of atonuc search projects had panned out.
weapons. And there’re about a But astronautics was lunacy, now
bilhon cases from civics that I at any rate. Wak till a moon
forget. Still, the knowledge of voyage didn’t cost billions; better,
just what I was setting up made wait till it didn’t mean deprivation
me uneasy. No one had ever set for millknis. How could men travel
up one government ^ffiucy for the out into the cosmos, travel closer
ex|Nress purpose of sabotaging an- to God perhaps meet other intelli-

o^er before. But I was right — gences, when they did so at the
knew I was right !
price of torturing their brothers?
Ipulled out the computer results. Nothing of moral good ewild come
They were a smear in the cone of of voyages at such a price.
radiance on my lap. I put on my Let the stars and planets wait. I

heavy glasses, and on impulse let the chak fold back, and slept.

puHed a personnel transfer card

from my jacket. I’d run this to suit “This is a moral issue, and we are
making the wrong choiee. To race the
myself! The heU with playing it
Russians to the moon, and let our cdd
safd The operations research anal-
people live on almost nothing is im-
yst’s name was on the report. I
moral. The moon is not science —
not
didn’t need any of his mathemati- bread. It is a circus. The astronauts
cal goobledegook. scrawled his
I are the gladiators. It’s lunacy, I say.”
name and classificatimi code on the — Dr. Leo Szilard
punchcard. The organization was
nxiaMzed; no one but us would II
know for years, maybe forever.
People like Manhefaner and dopey The bright young man smiled
Dims I could handle; soupy socio- across the conference room at me.
mathematicians with overriding Most of the other faces in the room
powers on my directives were some- were cheerful too, or at least gave
thing else. Besides, I had twenty that appearance. The main excep-
times the intuition he did. tion was my young friend. Dr.
The rams were silent, we were Oliver Manheimer. The ex-space
on the other side of their sound. scientist was glaring at me angrily.
Most of the other passengers were In a way, his face was very like the
asleep. I extinguished my lamp. first time I’d seen it, at Cape Ken-

It was a clear night. The stars nedy half a year before. Only two
came forth slowly. things kept him in check. One was
I looked right up at them. Space my early statement that everything
 — —
THE EARTH MERCHANTS 11

he would hear at this conference bunch of television spectaculars

would be explained. The second, and drawling team-heros. A lot of
and much more important, was crap.’’
sitting prettily beside him, ravish- “Excuse me,” said one of the
ing as ever —
His new wife. Chien- men from the advertising agency
Shiung’s face glowed wh«i he look- we’d hired, "but that doesn’t seem
to carry much impact. Of course,
ed at her.
The young man said; “Since with intellectuals ” he let his
—
most scientists believe th»nselves voice trail off.
to be rational, we’ve chosen to ap- “Oh, that’s not the way it’s going
peal to them with the following out in the mailings,” said the young
fiiree arguments
— ’’
man, grinning. He picked up a
He pulled placards up from the form letter and read from it, sing-
floorand placed them on an easel song
by his chair. "Dear nuclear physicist;
"One. That the money being in- Did you spend six years sweat-
vested in space flight is out of all ing out your doctorate so you'd
proportion to the probable bene- have to do without an accelerator
fits. The idea is that we could get for fundamentai, basic particle re-
nearly as much useful data out of a search, so some space jockey could
much more modest program. As it burn it up flying to Venus?
is, analysis is almost seven years ‘Xh listen to Ais one,” he cried,
behind the millions of miles of tele- waxing enthusiastic. “Dear Math-
metering tape we’ve got. ematician;
"Second: That scientific bene- "Are you wasting your best crea-
fits are negligible in any case. Just tive years? Too bad you couldn’t
think of what you could do with get that grant to study at the Sor-
all the billions being spent on the bonne, but we had to send some
Apollo III Project. All the fellow- thermometers and movie cameras
ships, all the research grants, all and other junk out Neptune-
the new schools. All Einstein and way . . .

Descartes and Galois needed were “How does Ais one sound?”
pencil and paper. These crazy space "Dear Professor;
nuts want to spend billions
— ’’
“Not too many of your students
“Go on, please,’’ I told him. interested in research these days,
“Just skip the dramatics were eh? Can't realty blame ’em, though,
already sold.’’ there’s a lot more of the long green
"Third: That it’s just not worth in building robot freighters for our
the effort on any basis; That all moon base — ’’

that we’U get out of this whole mess A couple of Ae people at Ae

and all we’ve gotten so far, is a table were chuckling. The copy-
 ” —— " — "

12 FANTASY AMS S0IEN4X FICmM

wiitra:, who didn’t appear very majors.Oh well, you don’t count
modest by nature, picked up some anyhow. You’ve never even been to
more cards. the orbital station —
"Of course,” he continued, “with I couldn’t seem to understand
the scientists you at least have to the young fellow wry well, but I
pretend to be rational. On some of nodded at him and let him sit
these others, though, we just let down. I could feel a headache
ourselves go coming tm, they were getting more
“Dear Housewife; and more frequent nowdays. I
“Would you like to see a man turned to Dims, and motioned for
fly to Mars, if it meant your little his report. He stood. I could see
baby might die of CANCERI It’s great dark circles under his eyes,
horrible, but the money that might and his frame was thinner than his
be spent on cancer research will be usual bird-like dimensions. It made
squandered on lunatic schemes to him look alien, like some kind of
travel
— gras^opper or (me of those sand
"Listen to this one things the robots found on Mars.
“Dear Elder Citizen; ’
“We have continued our pro-
"Hungry? Too bad that your so-
—
gram ” he b^an in a whi4}ec,
cial security allotment is so small, dien cleared his diroat and ccm-
but fust think, six months ago an tinued hoarsely. “Our program
aOronaut circled Mars. He had a our initial assumptions. According
steak dinner the ni^t before he to the sociomathematical results
blasted off — and our own crude polls, they have
“
—
or this been astonishingly effective. I be-
“DearCitbcen; lieve that we’vemade contact with
“Worried about automation? a basic element in the current per-
Don’t be seared. There's now a man- sonality, though our work with ap-
ned satellite around the Moon. Too phcations has left us little time for
bad the money couldn’t go for re- further basic work with the con-
training the unemployed, espciatty cepts.”
if they go ahead and install that He scrabbled around wid!i the
new computer where you work. Oh papers in front of him.
well, you can always have a break- "The basic theme, of course, is
—
down nearly one out of ten in that space flight and certain mili-
Fmtress America does these days. tary functions are sublimations
But you may not get much atten- and vicarious activities. The no-
tion. Medical and psychiatric tion has taken many forms. Uh,
students can’t get scholarships and here," he said, picking up some
goverenment loans and Civil Serv- scraps; “Why is a trip to tlm mo(m
ice Summer jobs — like astronautics like self-abuse?”
 THE EARTH MERCHANTS 13

He told US, and set the statistical analysis back in the late
people at the conference table guf- 60s, many had seen it as the final
fawuig. I grinned myself, and tool needed to construct a scientif-
Manheimer nearly blew his eye- ic society. Who could have realiz-
balls out in self-control. ed that it would be applied so often
Despite Dims’s weary voiee, the that the original, painfully-con-
jokes set us roaring. “What did the structed models of society would
missile button-pusher tell his girl become inaccurate and useless?
friend?” “How did the I.B.M. Sociomath was still a valuable tool
machine make its progranraer ob- for the social scientist, but the best
solete?” “Why did the space tech- it could do in this topsy-tuivy
nologist wear two sliderules?” world was make crude approxima-
Dims' psychologists had touched tions and predictions about social
somethittg in the basic nature of forces.
modern man. The trouble was, I I swalbwed half a dozen pfils
became frightened when I tried to and turned my attention back to
think about what it was. the conference.
I was so tiredl Destroying a na-
“
— try to chaoBel these new
tional institution takes a tremen- energies into some creative pat-
dous effort. Just think about how tern,^ Dims was saying, deadly
big a campaign you’d need to dis- weary. His face was a landscape of
creet baseball or mom’s apple pie. pain. The littfe psychiatrist had
And to control the wild side reac- been working terribly hard. His
dmw, the effort had to g® up ex- lurd-thia hands fluttered feebly as
ponentially with time. he talked.
I stared at the Agency of State “We’ve attempted to do this at
computer analyses before me. They all levels, restricted as we are by
were now so complex, so larded the convention® of government.
with details and extra dimensions These advertisemeiits for the Agen-
for counter-trends, that I could cy of State were worked up by the
barely understand them. AD I Art Department, and will appear
eould see were doaens oi curves in many newspapers and trade
with ex in their functions. In terms joumels across the country.”
of society and reallife, I now had He lifted two new placards up
no idea what the sociomath pre- onto the easel. I put on my tiiiek
dicted. I reminded myself to requi- old glasses, and stared at them.
sition another operation researcher Their semantically arranged copy
and sighed. was hard to figure out; for a wl^
When sociological mathematics they appeared to be the ravings of a
was synthesized out of operations lunatic. Then all at once they snap-
research, macro-economics and ped into focus, and the brilliance
 14 FANTAST ANB SCIENCE RCtlON

of Dims and his co-workers beamge ginem consider themsehm idea-

clear. hsts.
"It has only lunited appeal^
YOU can’t be I.OCKSD UP FOR however. Most engineering graife
WHAT you're THINEINg! are very conservative. They're in-
Peace depends on our ^ihty to terested in security, safety, retite-
fight a war. Fatadoaocaliy, the only mont benefits. For them we de-
way to stay free is to study and leam signed this one:
and {dan how to kill and destn^
and murder. The better we^Knts
you bufid, the more you contribute what’s the matter,
to fraedom. So, knowing aB about SNCTNESR?
slaughter and deattuction and mor- Feel stuck in a rut?
der and death, by devotkig your Fed lost in tiie herd?
life to thinking about kdling and Fed ^geonholed, forgotten,
castxatwg and buimi^ and hating, exploited, abused?
you ns^e a s^at c<»tribation to Don’t kid yoms^
peace, love, freedom, and our way That’s not what’s boAecing you.
of life. k<5 Gonvenient to regard It's that you're tired of budding
preparation for hatted as an act of Beken and researching RagnanM
lore, so you cm kill and kiss and A recent
study by psycfaologitts
cams and set afiee with burning showed that engine«ting is one (d
gaadiae and emlKace and ^ove fai the most masculine professions.
a fumaee and . . . Se if you're a tech tool, yon'ie not
Dear sctantttt or engineer: If you afraid to get up on your bind legs
woidd Idle to find yourself taildwg and fisteR to some faetsl
like this, ^d tbi^dng like dxb, It's a fact: that 80% of ail en-
read ns further. We are not for gineeis are busy thinking op ways
you. Odierwise, uhy not oonsidrY to commit genodde.
employmeat wifh the Agency of It's a fact: that spending five
State. We don’t pay much, hut we days a week, eight hours a day
guarantee fobs in which you will figuring out how to kiU peofple can
never have to plan how to kiU any- —
min your health both physically
body. and mentally.
It's a fact: that engineering
"A lot of the space research is compani^ don’t Uke lo say it, but
for weapons, and a lot of the big tisey'ze basicaBy m
the business of
space eompoiies »e weapons findhag new ways to people mds
(he.
mafaecs,” said Dims in a tired voice.
a fact; that you know tiiis,
Ids
“This sort ctf stiiff is very effective
and you know it down deep, and
with them, especially so vrith the
maybe it’s bothering you.
technieal pec^e. We’re also plan-
ning to put h into the student
Therefore, if you’re a man if —
journals — a very few stude^ en-
you’re a hiunan being you want
to get out of Murder, Inc., for your
—
 ”

THE EARTH MERCHANTS 15

own good, and for the good of unhappy with the ‘team concept’,
humamty. of modem technology, the idea of
Therefore, we urge you to con- a vast mass antheap surging blind-
sider taking a position that desds
ly forward.”
witib people, and fries to make peo-
“The hatred of the team,” he con-
ple happy. Perhaps it willmake
yOu happy. tinued smoothly, “has reached its
contact: The Agency of State ultimate stage in the ‘space team*.
Underground, D.C. Most space scientists can’t really
Fortress America believe this common goal baloney.
They know their pleasure is vicar-
Dims took down tlie placarek. ious, that when you get down to
“These are only our first approadh- the countdown, that only one guy
es” he murmured, “we’ll have to will ride the gantry crane elevator
cheek them against the norms of
behavior in
—
his face turned
’’
to
just
that padded pressurized cabin
behind the nosecone. The rest
vrhite suddenly, he sat down. of the ‘team’ will be sitting in
“Excuse me, Allan,” he said in front of their tv's, just like every-
the shocked silraice. "I’m not feel- body else.

cused
—
ing very well. If I might be ex- “This particular approach was
used in the following piece;
"Certainly, Sidney,” 1 told him,

my head nodding stiffly. The old COME ON NOW, SHEp!

man limped out of the conferenee we’re not KH)S anymore
room, a bedrag^ed sparrow. I “Thereis only one word that most
appropriately describes the group
glanced at Manbeimer, but his eyes
of scientists, engineers, and techni-
were unreadable.
cians that I have worked with on
‘Tf I might continue where Dr.
f^aas left off,” said a red-headed
the Mercury program — they are a
team.”
^^ow. His voice was high and — AlanB. Shepard,
nasal, but he moved with assur- America’s first Astronaut
ance. “My group has carried the
caaqiaign out along the orginal Come on Now, Shep!
lines of development.” You don’t have to give us that!
He stood, a h£frd, heavy man. We know u e’re just dopey en-
"Go on,” I taid him. My brain gineers and egg-head scientists.
seemed to be an fire.
We know we’re not good for much,
othermse why do you need thou-
“Our group,” he said slowly, sands of us to biiild your crazy
“started on the original premise space rockets?
that scientists read escape fitora- But at least show a little respect!
ture because they are dissatKified. At least say we did something
We concluded Aat scientists are by ourselves, each alone!
 16 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

Okay, you can have the glory. paign. There’re limericks, whisper
You can have the spreads in life. campaigns, dirty jokes. Did I tell
But at least say the truth! We you why the astronaut cancelled
built your ship, we counted down
his subscription to Playboy? I’ll tell
for you, we hauled you out of the
you after the meeting.
ocean, for God’s sake! Give us
something, even if we are a bimdi
"A lot of the things the depart-
of crazies and neurotics and robots.
ment is doing we don’t even un-
Come on, Shep! derstand ourselves. They were
programs outlined by the socio-
‘TWe’s a lot of hatred and self- mathematical computers at Seattle.
hatred hi this stuff,” commented Manipulating certain stocks, and
the red-beaded man sullenly. “But arranging for a few government
what do you expect? There’s plenty employees to be fired or trans-
of in any vicarious experience.
it ferred, or setting up our new aid
Do yon think the fellow that has jHTOgram in southeast Asia. But die
to buy a sex magazinedoesn’t hate computers suggested these things
Inmself because he hasn’t got a real would help to magnify the basic
lover? Do you think the student or doing ’em.
effect, so we’re
engineer who reads S.F. does it "This brings us to our main
without knowing that he’s found probfem, N.A.S.A.’s Project Levia-
his work in the sciences a tedious than,” said redhead. ‘Til let my
chore? Let’s not kki ourselves.” associate from the advertising busi-
The led-headed man paused, ness explain the situation.”
breadiiag hard. He looked around The copywriter stood again, his
the conference room. Most of the expression serious. The space agen-
staff was regarding him evenly. cy has become aware of owr efforts,”
Somehow in my sight, the room be said slowly, “and is preparing
seemed to swell and retreat, the a counterblow centered around
cigarette smoke, the mahogony the upcoming Project Leviathan
table, the beautiful Eurasian ex- laimching. Our behavioral scien-
ecutive secretaries, the whisper of tists have shown that this is cru-
the air conditioners and the faint cial — Leviathan doesn’t cmne off
if

whiff of incense. NASA is probably finished."

I was getting sick. I looked down Everyone around the table look-
at the impossible mathematics in ed concerned. I did myself, though
my lap. made no sense. All I mostly from my headache. Every-
could see were climbing curves, one in the talk trades, I knew, soon
most of them projected straight up acquires a good deal of stage tech-
in a week or two. nique.
“Of course,” said the redhead. “Think about the names of the
“This is only one level of the cam- moment,” said the
spaceships for a
 THE EARTH MERCHANTS 17

copywriter eamesdy. “The PR “But the NASA boys aret^t go-

people at NASA were very clever ing to have it as easy as that. Heie's
about Aem. The first ships had what we’ve got planned for
.’’
names like the Liberty Bell and them. . .

Freedom Seven and Motherhood

and Chastity. Who could criticize Hours later I rose to my feet.

freedMn or the Lfi>erty Bell? "All right,’’ I said, my head

“The nejct stage was to give the throbbing. “According to the com-
craft names that appealed to our puter plots, the next month is
aspirations, our ideals of adventure; when OHT operaticm Is goii^ to
floMgcr and Fioneer, Scout and peak out for good or bad. This
Apollo and Davy Crockett. is when we wreck NASA and
"What the NASA boys have ‘Murder, Inc.’ for good, or they
been dcang is gradually manipulat' knock us off. We’re fighting for
ing these feelings and attitudes. the eardi, people. Everyone has
First they made space flight syn- their instructions. I want you aO
onymous with hberty and freedom to do your best.” Everyone mum-
and America, so objection was im- bled something. "Meeting is ad-
possible. Now that most people ap- journed.”
prove of the rocket nuts, they’re 'The staff shambled or ambled
building an image that ‘space is the or gamboled towards the exits.
only frontier left,’ and space flight Mmihekner and his wife came up
the only vaguely positive thing our to me. I managed half a dozen
civilization can accomplish. more pills while my back was
"Leviathan is the third phase. turned, then swung around to
Within thirty-six months the rock- face them.
eteers have scheduled the com- "What are you dob^, Kadison?”
pletion of Project Leviathan, Proj- he cried with wild eyes.
ect Gargantua, and Project Behe- I listened to myself in my
moudi. Space flight will now be mind. Love, bate, danger, death.
as basic as food production. I wanted to use you, boy. Laugh
"This isn’t sinister bramwash- and have a good time with your
ing and thoirght control, of oourse. wife. Live true. Get out while
But it has the same effect. At the you can. I don’t know what’s right
end of the program you install a anymore. I’m just trying to save
free floating idea in everyone's somethiBg. The spacers will steal
mind, like 'Negroes are equal to it all.

whites’ or “War the fault of the

is But I always insure myself, I
munitions mahers'. ft’s not that remembered, from a long time be-
these ideas are true or false, it's fore, what I was going to say to
that they’re taken for grated. him.
 18 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

“It’s envious,” I told him. “I’m program. Going out on the noit
tr|iiig to oonlrol space fii^t, kill ramship with your wife. Oh, yeah,
it,at least for a ^x>d while. Don’t boost you three grades. Very good
you understand by now, haven’t job you’ve done for me here."
you been listening? It’s ersatz, vi- “Kadison?" he said slowly, the
carious, filAy —
what’s more, it’s Texas burr fading out and in. His
IdUiDg us afl with guilt. Ten mil- face looked funny in the fluro-
lion starve to death in Asia or units.
South so we cm. send a My body hurt. I had to stand up
robot prdbe around Jupiter. Every- strai^t.My roommates were al-
one knows it, way down de^, and ways telling me to riand up
it’s driving us all nuts.’’ straight, back at M.I.T.
He was looldng at me oddly. “No
Let him.
time,”
— out
I said. ‘XJet
Evar read John Hersey ‘The
fast.
best
"WdH, maybe some «rf the defense may be depertme’ — best
thin^ you say are so. I gness I for you. Ha! Worst for them. Space
shorM have diou^ more abont flyers hate the earth, tiiat’s why
the hi^ wide and deep. Trouble they want to get away from it so
is, widi my wife here" and he — bad. Can’t stand k. Space flight
smfled at her. filial sign of rotten, dewyiBg cul-

“Sure, you don’t have to settle ture.”

for eesatz, you've |pt real meat He was loiddng at me funny
—
now( Live true, kid get out be- again, and
the communicator.
his eyes moved towards
“Go onl Get
fore you dioke on the sawdust!”
He blushed furiously but his pe- oittr I scr^med
at ban.
tite wSEe was calm. “You’re cur^, "AH Kadisen,” be told me.
right,
son, but yrni’re no good to me He took pretty young wife
his
now,” I mrnnbled. Why did every- arotmd the waist, mid the two of
thing have to move so fast? I tried them left.

to hold thfogs still. Looking at I made it back to my office.

him, still big and tough, but hap-

pier now. Building a ship to scout If we aqmesce in ^ tilings,

Mercury, while his parents were Do not be deceived;

slmightered in Asia for their meat. because we despise you.
It is

It'd be enough to tip the stablest —Anonymous

mind. He was just lucky he hadn’t
gotten violent and been machine- III
gunned down by a security guard.
“Listen, sonny,” I told him in a Do or die, or do or die. Levia-
r^id, slurring monotone. ‘Tou’re than was two hours from zero.
re-assigned. To the new Asian Aid Phone and power service were
 —
THE EARTH MERCHANTS 19

out, but the Agency of State had long as I just reacted to tilings.
its own thennonuclear reactor. Events had become meaningless
Events had been moving faster and and random, as enigmatic as the
faster, three NASA chiefs had plots and tables of the latest socio-
been appointed and had resigned mathematics from Seattle. Most of
within the last week. Anti-space the curves pointed straight up.
flight mail to Congress and the I was collapsed in the relaxer in

president was up enormously my own office. Dirty, sweaty, un-

what most people don’t know is shaven, I must have shaken the
that most of the mail a public serv- Commissioner of State, though his
ant receives is from his supporters, formal diplomatic training had
but tens of thousands of an^
citi- been too good to let my froizy dis-
zais were “making their voices turb him.
heard.” "Are you criticizing me for suc-
Our campaigns had proved fan- ceeding^’ I cried at hhn. If I ever
tastically effective. As things stood, had any savohre-faire I’d certainly
the NASA
budget was unlikely to lost it; at the moment I doubted tf
be ratified, if the agency itself was I had bus fare. “We both agreed
not dissolved. I ran my hand over that this was necessary. Would ra-
the reports College students, with
: ther have had the science worAlp-
placards like 'Tom Build rockets!” pers close us out completely, or the
People are starvingl Are you Defense Branch talk the Presidwit
crazy!" had picketed the Richard into a pre-emptive strike?"
Jastrow Space Flight Center at I took a deep breath. “
—Or
Harvard. Thousands of recruits for even if they didn’t, sooner or later
the Peace Corps and the Agency of the poor starving whipped beggars
State had stormed our offices. We’d on the other side of the globe
given them an absolute minimum would’ve attacked. We’ve got to
of training and sent them out on realize that we’re on the side of
all the ramjets we could requisi- life, and the 'hot-jets’ boys want to
tion from the Defense Branch of bum the earth sterile and start
the government. There were strikes over.”
atVandenberg AFB, and a student Iput down the latest reports.
trainee had sabatoged the Sandia Red-headed Millhouse (he’d taken
fusion reactor. over when Dims had been hospital-
I glanced at my watch. An horn: ized), was setting up a massive
and forty-five minutes until Levia- campaign against “spin off.” He
than fired. had definite, conclusive proof that
There was a pattern to this, but the only useful byproduct of the
I didn’t know it and didn’t want space flight program in the last five
to figure it out. I was all right as years was a new kind of brassiwe.
 —”

20 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

an. application of weaving plastics cial structure, accepted, normal

for tanks. it’s nearly impossible to destroy.
"Billions for the moon, because The text example is an old law
the work will have byproducts for which says you’ve got to mail a no-
medic^ research? Why not bil- tice of benefit cancellation to peo-
lions for medical research — it’s just ple who die on Social Security. It
as fikely to have byproduets for took fifty years to get that one off
space flight!” the first ad read. It the books.
was a swell noticm, but a waste. Ac- “While space flight is a freaky
experiment we can knock it off.
cording to
fl^t would be
tbe sociomath,
settled
space
one way or Once everyone takes it in stride —
die other, in the n^t hour and a “And now,” said the announcer,
half. “we take you to Cape Kennedy
I switched on the television set. Spaceport, where the countdown is

A pietnre built up on the scr^n, proceedkig on Project Leviathan.

three dimen^ons and color, Take it away. Leviathan Control!”

beamed down from the spiimlng I could hear the chiding, subtle

wheel of orbital relays. The trade- tones of one of NASA’s best propa-
mark of the space communioatioiis gandists as the cameras panned
monopoly burned before me, a around the blockhouse. “Waiting
climbing rocket, burnished and for fulfillment,” he murmured erot-
spouting flame. Any psychologist ically, “here, where the work of the
coidd’ve instantly explained the great teams of manpower and
symbolism. brainpower is about to be consum-
The space agency was preparing mated. The lust for adventure, the
a (I flattered myself) desperate passion for discovery, the burning,
psychological counterblow. They driving ecstasy of science! Yes,
were putting evcrythmg on a sin- space flight is die destiny of every
gle grandstand play, the launch- true man!”
ing of their biggest ship, the Levia- “Minus one hour,” someone said
than. The countdown had been flatly.

featured in die news for weeks as I scratched my

armpit as the
the beginning of regular, econo- cameras shifted around. The doz-
mically feasible space travel. ens of technicians and engineers,
“The regularity is the critical their beads crammed into head-
adman had told the
phrase,” the phones, most of them in teesbirts
Koateience. don’t know how
“I or sportshirts, smoking or mutter-
much you know about sociomath ing to each - other to low tones.
but it’s a basic principle of elemen- Winking lights, flipping, flicker-
tary sociolo^ &at once an institu- ing indicators. A tremendous plas-
tion gets regularized into the so- tic plotting board, with “Project
 — ” ”

THE EARTH MERCHANTS 21

Leviathan Control —
National As- mous technology that nunbled
tronautics and Space Administra- blindly forward —
and up a vehi-
on it. I looked at
tion” spelled out cle for the hates and horrors and
the faces. fears and guiltstowered
that
I was looking for signs. against the sky. Hate your
We were not going to use vio- mother, cheat your brother, afraid
lence unless we had to. Our first of girls —
don’t worry, as long as
line was still psychological, and you design a good nosecone, you’re
during the previous three weeks we a wonderful guy I

bad pumped enough psychic ener- “Thirty minutes,” someone mur-

gy into Cape Kennedy and the sur- mured tensely.
rounding area to make that block- Like an army, like a mob, like a
house a giganlSc psychological time- firing squad —
great organizations
bomb. let the individual sulnnerge him-
Our ads in magazines and news- sdf; allowed hkn to displace his
papers and on the mass media, the fears by blowing the buoyancy
student demonstrations and pro- tanks of his hopes.
tests, were only part of it. Space “Our Leviathan astronauts —
flighthad been denounced as un- criedNASA’s voice, “in the final
patrioticand contrary to the inter- moments of countdown!”
ests of the United States by the Shot of chaos, gleaming silver
American Civil Liberties Union, and sweating faces, contrd panels,
and the A.A.A.S. Several western then your mind straightened out
schools had revoked the degrees of the picture and you could see it
engineers and scientists at the was the big ship’s control cabin,
Cape. SANE and the Mothers the astronauts in their sflvercd suits,
March for Peace had taken stands blond, red-headed, smiling hand-
against the rocket men. Even a some young fellows. Propaganda
few industries that used computers tricks! Illusions for public con-
and transistors had boycotted those sumption! The Chosen for Whom
firms which served the spacemen. We AllMust Labor.
“Minus fifteen minutes, stand-
I recalled the picture of
emaciated child in one of our ef-
an
by holding
—
forts. Just his picture, a full nage “Re-commence countdown. Le-
among the fiery phalluses of Mis- viathan," said a voice. "Orbital sta-
siles & Spaceships Magazine . . . tions report fli^t plan clear and
A tremendous clock with one ready to track you.”
red hand was unwinding slowly. That explained it. The space
Engineer, scientist, craftsman agency was using all the facilities
each of their hundreds of talents it had under its ovra control. This

mixed and blended in an enor- television appeal itself would’ve

 22 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

probably been impossible except I thought of the die-hard space

tbat NASA coBtroHed the sateMe who would curse us for
enthusiasts
relays. They’d stopped aU Agency what we were doing to this proud
of State propaganda, but we didn’t thing. We don’t hate it because it
have to convince anyone outnde is a phaHtts. I thoi^ht. We
hate it
Foiferess America. because it's the only one we were
"Minus ten minues. Leviathan." allowed.
Manheimer and his wife were “Two minutes. Leviathan!"
somewhere in the western Pacific. Far away a tremendous crowd;
He'd written me she was ill, but he unnecessary personnel, wives and
Knew enough of my feelings to also families, sight-seers, waited in si-
beast of hiswork on a dam project lence. The cameras swung back to
on one of the islands. Honest work, the big rocket, crowd again, Levia-
an honest life; he’d be okay. No than Control. I strained my eyes.
longer a crazy pyramid buil^. Did a cheek twitch, a pair of hands
"Nine minutes, Levtathmnl shake over their console? The
Counting!” ship again, as the countdown un-
I looked around the blockhouse. wound through the final seconds.
Did some of the men have strange, “Three, two, one, zero, ignition,
pained expressions? But that could lift off!”
just be from the ordinary tension, A
snort of fire, a cloud of va-
as the shoot neared its final min- pour, a tremendous roar that
utes.'Thenext couple of moments blanked out everything for a mo-
would decide if our psychologists ment. Fire torched out of Levia-
and psychometricians bad judged than, and she climbed for the sky.
correctly. The pickups switched back to
Psychologists and psychometri- Project Leviathan Control. There
cians. People-scientists, earth were a few cheers in the block-
scientists. house, but they sounded odd. The
“Six minutes. Leviathan." engineers studied their instru-
Leviathan stood alone on her ments and peered through peri-
pad, a monstrous thing, all gleam- scopes. A few closed their eyes.
ing metal, burnidied and painted. It’s g^t to happen now! I
The culmination of the labor of strained to myself.
millions, who could derive only Mark twenty, twenty-four,
the most indirect pleasure from it. twenty-eight," someone was chant-
A pyramid, a carved mountain, a ing louifly somewhere. A klaxon
gceat church mortaxed with human hooted, and a dozen started wfld-
blood, a momssent to men’s gudt ly. Some of the faces were drawn.
and self-hatred. This proves we are A lotmore seemed politely uncar-
worthy! ing.
 ” II ”

THE EARTH MERCHANTS 23

"Goofed, goo I —
propulsion sys-
tem failure]” wailed someone in
Aey stole our good times! Kill ’em!”
"Help, leave ok alcme, help,
the interphone. "Correct or acti- leave me alone, help
—
vate akeraate system!” "A-okay, what’s a-okay? I just
“Why bother?" came another keep pushing this button and they
voice anonymously. "Scrap this.” fly away. I’ll drop dead some day
Two pec^ began laughing hys- and they 11 get someone else to
tericjJly. push the button!"
“Interphcme discipline, inter- “Blow ’em apl ’Destruct ’em, the
ph(me (hsdpBne!” rotten snobs, Earfli ainl; good
“Abort youJ” fflou^ for ’em!”
‘^ject module gemma-six of “Widt pleasure!” cried the De-
soIid-pHqjellent — stan&y to re- stmct Officer. "I’d like to Uow up
ignitei” five million of these space nuts!
“Get someone else to do it!” Call us ground crawlers! Ill fix
“Leave me alone, leave me alone, you guys!" he screamed.
hdp, he^, help]” The televisicm screen, which
“Those gays are rigjit spend — had goiK blank, ctoseupped a big
the money mi parks and fun — hairy hand grabbing a big fat red
haven't h^—a g^d time sinoe my handle labeled DESTRUCT!”
Sophomoje From all over the room, and the
"This Levtalhan! Do some-
is observation post atoag the shore
thing, do somadiing, (to anything]” oame screams; “Crarii, baby,
Help youEseff,teammate — crash!” “Make it crash!" "Destruct
didn’t getany of that Life money!” tbm!” “Crash, crash, crarii, oash!”
“Sta^<&y to destruct!" rumbled “We thought you guys were all
a Brooklyn voice. "Eject, beros]” part of the team!” criecl the voice
‘Destruct, desfaruct, blow 'em to from out of the sky. The last words
hell, the rotten crooks!” disappeared in a (dot of static.
"Yeah, Aey stole our money. The static also covered the reply

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 I

24 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

of tke Destruct Officer. But as a Sat. rotteu banana, trailiag, scat-

capable Bp leader, let me state it tering, drifting, gone, clouds and
was two words of one syllable eadi. v^or trails all tb^ were left. Not
The camera men worked fast. very far away, her passenger cap-
The picture changed to the climh- sule ms drifting down towards the
ffig Leviathan, a midge against the heaving sea under a dome of red
blue, pulsing, shrieking, going up. and white canvas. Copters reved
Telephoto lenses closed the dis- and slid up and out after it.
tance. On the screen, the last traces
The explosive charges let go in of vapour faded and then disap-
quick succession. The space rocket peared.
LeviMhan climbed and climbed My stomach felt the fiery grip of
furd eHmbed away, then her ven- an ulcer, and I sobbed as I reached
tiuies seemed to expand until she forward and turned the set off.
was trailing a great cone of fire. —
Would it work? I’d won ^but what
She was still brilliant in the sun- had I won? A migrain lanced my

light, golden and pure and straight skull. I clung for a moment to my
and true as she went up and up and hopes. There could be a compro-
up and up and up, unmanned now, mise worked out eventually, a give
but there was more fire and more and take. There were those who
and more. A double cone of bright- might naturally want the stars —
ness, silver and gold, and she remembered a inght long ago, ly-
climbed and something fell away, ing on my back and staring at their
and some more. But she was still faint pricks of color; how long had
beaiitiful. And she was swinging I suppressed that memory? Where,

over and a little more and more, how long ago, had it begun? Ear-
parallel with the ground and sea, lier than my Peace Corps days,
raoiag above earth, plunging on- then? I put my shaking hands to
ward, and then she dropped and ray head. It was over now; finished.
the Leviathan exploded like a big I passed out.

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"Botr—you talk about your lucky tintingf*
25
 Mr. Young has had his distinctive stories collected in the recently
published THE WORLDS OF ROBERT F. YOUNG (Simon and
Schuster). His newest story for us is this surprising and charming
account of the Past Reconstruction Corps, and of PRCman 3rd
class. Archer Frend.

ROMANCE IN AN ELEVENTH-
CENTURY RECHARGING STATION
by Robert F. Young

Archer Frend was far from in a place-time classified by the

being an old band at time-teavel- Past RecoBstructiOH Corps as “The
ing, but he wasn’t OHactly a nov- Age of Gaul”, and he had been in
ice at it either. As a result whoi such a hurry to leave that be had
the gray trans-era void through neglected to recharge the unit be-
whidh his time-suit was propelling fore setting out. The PRC, he
him started to flicker when he stiU knew, would not let such an over-
bad some fifteen centuries to go, sight go unpuni^ed, and he could
he was both alarmed and unafraid count on being called on the car-
— alarmed because he had never pet mere moments after his ar-
“run oat of gas” before, and un- rival in the twenty-sixth century;
afraid because he knew that the and as there was a distinct possi-
electronic station-index with bility of his losing his hard-won
which his suit was equipped would rating of PRCman, 3rd class, he
automatically shunt him to the was not only alarmed and unafraid
nearest recharging station before — he was unhappy, too.
the last of the energy in ' the The flickering slowed as his mo-
suit’s Contra-Hour-&-Age-Power- mentum decreased, and scrambled
Pac gave out. sequences of land and sky began
Ordinarily, the CHAPP would to materialize, alternated by
have been bursting vrith energy, splotches of blacknesses scarred by
but Archer had just spent three stars. The bransition was all the
trying months correlating events more disquieting in this case be-
26
 a

ROMANCE IN AN ELEVENTH-CENTURY RECHARGING STATION 27

cause it involved spatial as well as Great Lakes swamp, so he didn’t

temporal orientation, the one nec- know.
essitated by the sideways drift set The twenty-sixth century was
up by the electronic station-index sort of a gray world when you
and the other by the slowing-down came to think of it. Living in it,

process brought about by the dwin- you weren’t aware of the grayness;
dling of tl^ contra-hour-&-age en- but when you got to know a few
ergy. It was anything but a pleas- green worlds you couldn’t help but
ant experience, and it would have notice the difference. The twenty-
disconcerted a veteran; Archer, sixth century was a city, really —
who, as before stated, was not one, vast sprawling affair built upon
felt like kissing the ground of the the ruins that had survived the In-
fittle forest-clearing that the flut- terregnum. Acreages bad been set
terings of nightsand days and the aside for farms, of course, but
crawlings of scrambled sky and somehow the farms never seemed
landscape at last gave way to. to get very green —
not even in
The clearing was a good-sized summer. Something had gone out
one, and it was prodigally pud- of the soil, the eeperts said. Or
dled with early-morning sunshine. something had gotten into it. No
The luxuriance of the grass and one knew quite what, though, and
the pale greenness of the leaves of probably no one ever would.
the micompassuig trees revealed This ^een world was about the
the season to be spring, and a loveliest that Archer had ever
chill, but far from cold, morning seen.
wind laden with the fragrance of He sort of wished he didn’t
wild flowers emphasized the won- have to leave it.

drous fact. Birdsong was every- The wish scared him, and he
where, and the singers themselves brought himself to time in a hur-
were daubs and streaks of color ry. This was no way for a PRC-

among the trees and against the man, 3rd class, to be behaving.
blue unclouded sky. Before becom- Instead of daydreaming, he should
ing a PRC field-worker. Archer be bending his every effort toward
had never seen a bird, and he still getting back to the world where he
hadn’t gotten over them. Not that belonged so he could turn in his
there wasn’t any in the twenty- report and thereby enable it to be
sixth century; it was just that what incorporated with the rest of the
flew there were knew enough to data thus far accumulated by mod-
keep clear of people, and did. It em mankind in their attempt to
was said that the Great Lakes fill the hiatuses of recorded his-

swamp was full of them, but tory. Ashamed of his apostasy, he

Archer had never been to the activated the Frimpkin-counter,
 28 FANTAST and SCIENCE FICTION

which was also part of the equip- whatever age he happened to be

ment of his time-suit, and began visiting. It accomplished this by
turning slowly around. means of an illusion-field that
The purpose of the instnunent forced the “viewer” to provide the
was to detect and count the energy “clothing" himself. If the viewer's
activity-rate of the Contra-Hour- emotional state and jnedilections
&-Age Recharging Magneto and were such that the “clothing” was
by die frequency of the clicks en- unfavorable to the wearer’s wel-
able the user to home in on the sta- fare, the illusion-field made what-
tion proper where die CHARM ever alterations that were neces-
was hidden. In the present in- sary. In the present instance, while
stance, the clicks came most rapid- Archer had no way of knowing the
ly when Archer faced east, but true nature of his “new clothes”,
diey (hdn’t come as rapidly as the awed expression on the cart-
diey should have, and this puzzled driver’s face as the awkward vehi-
him. However, the important thing cle lurched by informed him that
was that the CHARM was in the they were nothing to be ashamed
immediate vicinity (the range of of.
the counter was less than two A few minutes later he passed
miles) ^d could be located within an old woman carrying a bundle of
an hour or so. Shelving the mys- twigs. Her awed expression and
tery of its less-than-normal activ- obsequious manner indicated that
ity-rate, he set out in search of it. her taste in “clothes" coincided
He hadn’t gone far before he with the cart-driver’s.
came narrow dirt road. It was
to a Not long afterward, looking
deeply and abounded in
rutted over his shoulder, he saw that the
mud but as it led in an
holes, old woman was follovring him.
easterly direction he decided to The cart-driver had tamed his
foUow it. Presendy he saw a team cart around and was also follow-
of oxen apjMroaching. The yoked ing him. Presmitly Archer passed a
beasts were drawing a crude four- small roadside cottage, and a few
wheeled cart loaded with tinder- moments later a young man and a
wood, and cm the driver’s seat sat a yoimg woman and three children
middle-aged man wearing a baggy fell in behind him. A second
blue suit and a kerchief-like hat. roadside cottage swelled the ranks
Archer, however, made not the of his retinue by six more souk,
slightest attempt to conceal him- and a fourth, by eight. Judging
self. There was no reason for him from the awed expressions on the
to, for in addition to its regular followers’ faces,he was regarded
chores a time-suit “dressed” the as something of a celebrity.
wearer in clothing appropriate to But that was all right. Ihe na-
 ROMANCE IN AN ELEVENTH-CENTURY RECHARGING STATION 29

tives were welcome to see ban any followed an anfractuous course

way they wanted to, so Icmg as they from the gate to the largest of the
didn’t interfere with his search. structures, winding among little
The road continued on a rea- islands of flowers and green excla-
sonably straight coarse, and at mation points of flower-bke trees.
length it emerged from the forest. Heat waves, not at all in keeping
To his left fields stretched away to with the time of year, seemed to
distant hills, and on his right a be rising from the ground, and
high hedge rose up, hiding what- buildings, grass, trees, and flowers
ever lay beyond it. By this time his had a strange indistinctness about
retinue numbered some thirty-five —
th^ an unreal aspect that dis-
persons, and it was obvious from concerted Archer almost as much
the way they were jabbering to one as did the realization that in the
another and waving their arras land beyond the hedge spring had
that they were firmly convinced come and gone some time ago, and
that something of great pith and midsummer was on hand.
moment was about to take place. He stepped through one of the
Archer felt sorry for them in a gaps in the gate — again to the ac-
way. He hated to disappoint peo- companiment of an awed gasp
ple. —
from his retinue and started
The hedge remained unbroken walking along the flagstone walk.
for several hundred yards; then it Several steps later he felt a faint
interrupted itself briefly and gave tug,and a moment afterward the
way The frequency
to a lofty gate. shimmering effect which he had
of Frimpkin-counter clicks
the noted a moment ago <&appeared.
pointed an invisible finger toward The early-raorning wind was no
the (gening, and, certain that the more, and the heat of midsummer
CHARM was located somewhere iwas all around him.
beyond the hedge, he turned off What strange world was this
the road —
to the accompaniment that could maintain two different
of an awed gasp from his retinue seasons side by side? Archer, in his
— and walked boldly up to the role as aPRCman, had run across
gate. many a marvel, but he had never
It was unguarded, and consist- run across one like this.
ed of a pair of ponderous iron He continued walking along the
ginlles, many of whose bars bad flagstone path, looking this way
completely rusted away. Through and that for some sign of life. He
the interstices he saw a vast ex- saw none whatsoever. Not only
panse of green and disciplined was the estate devoid of human-
grass, and a distant quartet of life, it was devoid of animal-life,

exotic buildings. A flagstone path too— or at least it appeared to be.

 —
30 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FtCTION

Here weren’t evai any birds, or if air was an orange and purple ban-
diere were he could not see them; ner.
and not so much as a dngle dog Two of the three smaller struc-
came fordi to remind him either tures were similar to the first, and
by bite or baric that he was a tres- were connected to it by what ap-
passer. peared to be enclosed waScways.
He ^anced over his shoulder. The fourth was located behind the
His retinue now numbered in the others, and most of it was hidden
or the sixties, but it could no
fifties from Archer’s sig^it; but he could
Imiger properly be called a retinae, see enough of it to ascertain riiat it
for its memh^, having come as was constructed of wood, rather
far as the gate, apparently had no than of stone, and that it was far
intention of proce^ing beyond it. less prepossessing than its broriiers
Cleariy, they were going to watdi and sisters.
the show from where riiey stood. The flagstone path ended at the
What sort of a show Ad they base of a set of stone steps that led
expect to see? up to imposing p(»tal. As he
As he drew closer to rite largest drew nearer, Archer saw riiat he
building, the clicks of the Primp- bad been wrong in condiading
kin-counter stepped up theh tem- that the estate was deserted, for on
po —
a clear mdication that the ekher side of die portal stood a
CHARM was located ehher in the guard dressed in muittedbred
building itself or just beyond it. clothing and armed whh a hmce.
But considering t^ closeness of Boldly, Archer ascended the
the station the firequency still was- steps, confident that the two men
n’t what it ^ould have be«i, and would “clodw” him in pretty much
a va^ uneasiness beset him. To the same fashion as the other na-
counteract it, he focused his atten- tives had. But riie guards, nuich
tion on the building. It was in ex- less than “clothing" him, dicfas’t
cellent condition, but with its gray even appear to ^e him. They were
stone walls and high narrow win- staring straight ahead and stand-
dows it was almost as opqHossive ing as sti£9y as two stidcs of wood.
as it was impressive. Large, point- Moreover, neither of them was
ed knobs, ^ted with wkidows, breathing.
rose up from roof, and atop Archer’s first thou^t was that
these knobs were odier knobs they were dead. Then he saw bow
tiny cmes that Icmked for all the ruddy their cmuplexions were, and
world like fat decapitated birds. discerned an awareness of sorts in
Atop the larged of the knobs prop- their eyes. He touched one of them
er was a slender jmle, and attach^ on the cheek. The man’s face was
to it and drooping in the windless as warm as it was rosy.
 — —
ROMANCE IN AN ELEVENTH-CENTURY RECHARGING STATIOK 31

No, the guards weren't dead eeihnged corridor, he walked down

at least net in the ordinary sense itto an mched doorway that gave
of the word. In some mystenous into an enormous room that rose
fashion, they were alive. almost to the roof. At the farther
Archer shragged, and trans- end, a richly e^arisoned couple
ferred bis attention to the portal. sat on a huge, thickly upholstered
The mystery wasn't in his province couch, and throi^hout the room
— it was in the province of the other pet^le either sat on other,
CHARMman who had established less imposing, couches, or stood in
the station. No doubt it had al- various attitudes. Some of them
ready been reported, unless of seemed to be frozen in the midst of
course it hadn’t existed when the taking a step, but none of them
CHARM had been hidden. either sitters, standers, or walkers
“When”, however, presented still — moved so much as a single mus-
another mystery. The PRC, in or- cle or made somuch as the slight-
der to facilitate recharging and to estsound. They were no less dead
insure the safety of its personnel, than the two guards and no less —
had established stations at tempo- alive, either.
ral intervals of 500 years and A gallery ran the gamut of the
(except where large bodies of wa- room at a height of about twenty
tet interfered) at spatial intervals feet above the floor, and a flight of
of 500 miles; but although chro- stone steps led up to it. Beneath
nology was computed on an A.D.- the gallery, at the rear of the room,
B.C. basis and was simple enough a second arched doorway gave ac-
to follow, unless you were capable cess to another room. Stepping in-
of supplementing your time-suit’s side for a around. Archer
look
electronic station index with an found himself confronted with an
eidetic spatio-temporal map show- even more curious tableau than the
ing the locations of the stations, one he had left behind him. The
there was no way for you to ascer- room was clearly a kitchen, al-

tain how long any one of them though it bore only the remotest
had been Thus, wldle
in existence. resemblance to its twenty-sixth
Archer knew approximately when century counterparts. In the back-
and where he was, be had no idea ground, there was a primitive kon
whether die station had been es- stove, and upon its grid lay a large
tabhshed yesterday or 500 years ent of meat. Beneath the grid the
ago. red flames of a wood fire were dis-
The portal was ajar. He pushed cernible, but unlike conventional
it the rest of the way open and flames they wese immobile. Beside
stepped across the threshold. Find- the stove sat a young girl who was
ing himself in a deserted high- holding a feather in each hand and
 32 FANTAST AND SCIENCE FICTION

cradling a plump, beheaded bird should have soimded. The gallery

on her lap. In the foreground was lined with doors, most of them
stood a husky woman, and cower- closed; but he paid no attentiim to
ing before her was a small boy. them as he passed, bestowing all of
The woman’s right hand was rais^ his attention on the clicks. The
as though she had been about to clicksremained fairly constant till
blow before she, the boy,
deliver a he came to the thirteenth door;
and thegirl had been transformed, then they kicked up a modest
along with everyone else in the storm, and he knew he was rea-
vicinity, into living statues. sonably close to his objective.
Archer walked across the room The door opened upon a nar-
to awindow at the back and looked row hallway. He thought at first
into a large yard. Here and there, that the hallway itself was the sta-
phirap birds hke the one the girl tion, for it was more or less typical

had on her lap were standing in of the sort of location CHARM-

this attitude and that; but al- men, who proceeded on die princi-
though diey still had their heads ple that the best hiding place was
they were making no sound, and the most obvious one, usually
they were no more active than their chose for stations. It was part of a
beheaded companion was. Not building that under normal cir-
far away stood the wooden build- cumstances functioned as a center
ing Archo: had caught only of activity, and yet, judging from
glimpses of before, and in front of the dust on its floor and the cob-
it, as immobile as the tableau in webs hanging from its ceiling, it
the kitchen, stood sis: horses, two was no longer in use and hadn’t
cows, and a goat. Just beneath the been for some time, a fact that
window three big dogs were lying, made it doubly ideal. However, it
but whether they were sleeping or didn’t turn out to be the station
dead or neither, he could not teU after all, and after proceeding a
from his present position, and saw score of steps he came to a narrow
no point in drawing the distinc- flight of stone stairs that wound
tion in any case. upward into gloom and more cob-
Rrtracing his steps to the first webs.
room, he started up the flight of He thought the stairs would
stone steps that led to the gallery. never come to an raid, but finally
Promptly, the clicks of the Frimp- they did —
at the base of a little
kin-counter increased in frequen- door. It was ajar, and he needed
cy, and by the time he reached the merely to push it the rest of the
gallery they sounded comparative- way open to gain entry to the
ly healthy at least, although no- chamber beyond. As he did so, a
where near as healthy as they small key fell out of the rusted
 — —
ROMANCE IN AN ELEVENTH-CENTURY RECHARGING STATION 33

lock and clattered down the stone clicks, then settled back to its lack-
stairs. Aside fron^ his own breath- adaisical seM.
ing, it was the first sound he had He performed few arithmeti-
a
heard since leaving his erstwhile cal calisthmiics. He would have
retinue behind him. performed them before if he had
The chamber into which he now g^iessed the trutii. The result stag-
stepped was quite small, and he gered him: at best, the CHARM
judged it to be the interior of one had enough eontra-houE-&-age en-
of the “knobs” he had noticed on ergy left in it to take him to the
the building’s roof. In the way of beginning of the thirteenth cen-
furnitose it cmitained precisely tury.
two items; a bed that stood be- But that meant that the device
neath the only window, and a had been activated at least a hun-
small machine that stood in one of dred years ago!
the dusty corners. And throughout those hundred
It was as quaint a machine as years it had bcMi pouring out con-
Archer had ever seen, and con- tra-hour-&'age energy at a rate of
sisted of a wooden wheel mounted at least 400 Fiimpkins a day.
upon a three-legged wooden frame. Enough to isolate a small city
Above the wheel, and attached to Or a large estate . . .

a small wooden arm, was the ob- No wonder none of the petqile
ject of his search. or animals he had seen since he
Now he could resume his jour- had come through the gate bad
ney to the twenty-sixth century breathed or moved! The entire es-
and leave this enchanting green tate had been banished firmn the
world behind him. time stream.
Stepping forward, he detached The reason he hadn’t been af-
the CHARM and clamped it onto fected was that be had come from
the Contra-Hour-&-Age-Power- beyond the field whkh the escap-
Pac, which was located just above ing contra-hour-&-age energy had
the left bre^t-poeket of hs time- established. He was an outsider,
suit. The energy-release activator and did not belong in this tiny
was hidden in the base of the capsule of reality.
CHARM, and after fuiding the He looked at the CHARM close-
tiny protuberance he attempted to ly.The activator was cleverly hid-
depress it den, and the odds against someone
•Only to discover that it had al- finding it by accident were a thou-
ready been depressed. sand to one; but such odds were
Stunned, he held the CHARM not insuperable, and it had been
against die Frimpkin-eounter. The inevitable afl along that someone
latter erupted into a series of wild — sometime, somewhere would —
 —
34 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

innocendy create a field such as about a hundred people standing

this one. beyond it now, and they had seen

He deactivated the spindle- him in the window and were wav-

shaped device. ing their arms and jumping up
Who had activated it? and down.
Helooked around the room. For Probably the old wives and the
the time, he noticed that there
first old husbands »nong them were al-
was someone fyiag on the bed. ready making the fairy tale up.
A girl. He looked down at the girl
He went over and gazed down again. She looked back iq) at him.
at her. Otace more, his time-suit did hand-
She had a heart-shaped face, somely by him, and it was clear
and her hair seoned to have been from the expression on her face
spun of summer sunlight. He that she thought she was seeing a
judged her to be about ei^teen rich man
yeacs old. Or maybe even a jntece.
Apparentiy, after accidentally He could probably learn her
activating the CHARM, she had language and the ways and cus-
l ain down wd
fallen asleep before toms of her day and in no
time had come to a stop. time at all. It promised to be fun.
As he looked at her, she stirred, He bent down and kissed her
and began to breathe, and he knew again, just for good measure . . .

that the coDtra-hour-&-age field And the horses in the courtyard

was be^aing to disperse. shook themselves; the hounds
His lonely years gathered jumped up and wagged their tails;
around him Ifice gray ghosts, and the pigeons on the roof pulled out
climbed upon his shoulders. their heads from under their wings,
He bent down and gave the girl looked round, and flew into die
a lass and drove the many years open country; the flies on the wall
away. crept again; the fire in the kitchen
She signed . . . and opened burned up and flickered and
her eyes. cooked the meat; and the cook
They were blue. gave the boy a box on the ear, and
Why, it was like a fairy tale, the maid plucked the fowl ready
almost. for the spit . . . And in due
The midsummer heat gave way, course the marriage of the "King’s
and a spring breeze blew through son" with Briarrose was celebrated
the window. He looked out across with all splendor, and they lived
the trees and the flowers and the contentedly to the end of titeir

green gjrass to the gate. There were days.

 Feto of us can really bring ourselves to be sorry about the sad fate
of the sabre-tooth tiger or the extinction of the baluchitherium.
The wooly rhinoceros has few friends. But somehow, for some rea-
son unknown and undefined, most of us do have an almost nostal-
gic attachment to the memory of the mammoth and the mastodon.
They probably had vile tempers, smelt bad, tasted gamy, and
doubtless never ate a peanut in their lives. But still And yet . . .

. Here is our Stalwart Savant back from Bamangwatoland—or is

. .

it the Matto Grosso?— and all ready to tell us as much about the

subject as most of us are capable of knowing.

MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS

by L. Sprague de Camp

Everybody knows that mam- Middle-earth; his kin that live

moths and mastodons are large, sdll in latter days are but memo-
hairy of the elephant,
relatives ries of his girth and majesty. On
which lived long ago. They are he came ... his great legs hke
standard props of stories laid in trees, enormous saiUike ears
primaeval ages or in a land where spread out, long snout upraised
prehistoric animals have survived like a serpent about to strike . .

to modem times. In Cutcliffe But wouldn’t you like to know

Hyne’s The Lost Continent a little more about these animals?
(1900) the Atlantean empress How many kinds were there? Were
Phorenice rides a tame mammoth. they larger than modern ele-
In E. R. Burroughs’ Out of Time’s phants? How big did the largest
Abyss, modern men exploring an get? Which did early men en-
imaginary continent come upon counter?
"an enormous dragon devouring Before we can say whether
the carcass of a mammoth.’’ In mammoths and mastodons were
J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Two Tow- modern elephants, we
bigger than
ers, “the Mumak of Harad was in-
*Out of Time’s Abyss, N.Y.:1963, p-
deed a beast of vast bulk, and the 19; The Two Towers, Low.; 195S, pp<
like of him does not walk now in 269 f.
35
 36 FANTASY AN® SCnfffCB WGHON
shoiild know something of the size African. 'The Ceylonese elcjAeant,
of modern elephants. Of the dozens Elephas indicus ceylanictts, is
of species of the order Probo- large as Indian elephants go, but
scidea^ that have flourished dur-
nine-tenths of the males are tusk-
ing the last few million years, less. The forest elephant, Loxo-
only two now exist. These are the donta africana cyclotis, of the
Indian or Asiatic elephant, Ele- Congo basin and the West African
phas indicus/ of India and south- rain forest, is rather small about —
east Asia; and the African ele- the size of an average Indian ele-
phant, Loxodonta africana, of phant — with long, slender tusks.
Africa south of the Sahara. The ranges of both species have
The main differences between greatly shrunk during historic
the two are as follows; the African times. A large race of the Indian
elephant is larger, taller, and of elephant dwelt in eastern Syria
rangier build. The African ele- down to the ninth century B.C.,
phant has much larger ears than and a small race of the African
the Indian. (In one Tarzan movie, elephant ranged the valleys of the
Indian elephants were fitted with Atlas Mountains, in Algeria and
false ears to make them look Afri- Morocco, down to the fifth century
can.) In the African elephant C.E.
both sexes have tusks, altliough the The size of elephants is not
male’s are stouter; in the Indian, easy to settle, because elephants
the female has rudimentary tusks are hard to weigh and measure.
or none. The African elephant’s Moreover, elephants vary in build.
forehead makes a smooth convex Which is the larger, a tall, lean

curve, while the Indian’s rises to elephant or a short, stocky one

a pair of bumps or domes. 'The that weighs more? And how about
African elephant’s back dips be- the sexual difference, since the
tween shoulders and haunch, males of each species are much
while the Indian’s back is convex. larger than the females?
There are also differences in the The commonest measure is die
teeth, trunks, toenails, and so height of the elephant’s back at the
forth. shoulder. The top of the elephant's
Each species is divided into head is usually higher, but the ele-
several ra<:es, subspecies, or varie- phant moves its head about too
ties. The most distinctive races are freely to make this a trustworthy
the Ceylonese race of the Indian measurement. Many supposed rec-
elephant and the forest race of the ord elephants have been wild ones,
reported by the men who shot
‘Pronounced pro-ba-SID-ee-a.
'Some classifiers prefer the name Ele- them. But you cannot measure a
phas maxiinus. live wild elephant; and the
 1

MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS 37

Moulder height of a dead one, male of the East African bush ele-
even if the hunter is not exaggerat- phant (the largest race) are: aver-
ing for the sake of glory, may dif- age shoulder height, between 10
fer from the height of the ani- and 11 feet; average weight, be-
mal in hfe. tween 5 and 7 tons.
The only group of weighed and As for the greatest sizes, the rec-
measured living elephants numer- ord height for an Indian male is
ous enough to give a good idea of 10 feet 8 inches. Tusko, an In-
minimum, maximum, and average dian bull elephant famous for his
dimensions are fifty-two adult In- size in the 1920s and 30s, stood
dian female zoo and circus ele- 10 feet 2 inches and weighed a
phants measured by Francis G. little over 7 tons. The famous
Benedict in the 1930s.® They Jumbo, an African male, stood 1
ranged in shoulder height from 6 feet 2 inches (at least, that is one
feet 7 inches to 8 feet, with an of the several heights given in the
average of 7 feet 6 inches. They literature) and weighed about 8
weighed from 1.9 to 4.6 tons, with tons. Khartoum, of the Bronx
an average of 3.2 tons. Because of Zoological Park, stood 10 feet 8.5
differences in build, the tallest inches and weighed 5 tons. An
elephants were not always the African elephant mounted in a
heaviest. Nevertheless, if you plot British collection is said to stand
the weights against the heights of 1 2 feet 6 inches.
elephants of all ages, both sexes, During the past century, sports-
and both species, they fall fairly men have reported killing many
close to the y =
ax^ curve, rvhere African elephants over 1 1 feet tall
y is weight, a a constant, and x and of seeing elephants over 12
shoulder height. feet. Scientists were long skeptical
Similar figures are not to be had about these reports. Then, in
for male Indians or for Africans of 1955, J. J. Fenkovi of Madrid
either sex. From what various killed a bull in Angola. When
writers say, we can guess that In- mounted, this elephant was 13
dian males and African females feet 2 inches tall. Its live weight
are of about the same size, with an is estimated at 12 tons. It stands

average shoulder height between today in the rotunda of the Na-

8 feet 6 inches and 9 feet, and a tional Museum of Natural History
weight between 4 and 6 tons. The in Washington. This elephant not
corresponding figures for tlie adult only surpasses all other known liv-
ing elephants, but is also in a class
^Benedict also measured a single male with the largest fossil proboscid-
Indian and ten young (under 20) fe-
males, but 1 omit these so as not to spoil eans.
the homogeneity of my sample. Fossil elephants have been
 38 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

known since ancient times, al- Shumakhov approached the thing

though not until recent centuries Tunguz be-
gingerly, because the
have they been recognized for lieved that to find a whole mam-
what they were. They were usually moth was bad luck. During the
described as the remains of giants, next few years, tlie mound gradu-
since the skull of an elephant does allythawed in summer, exposing
look a little hke the skull of a pe- more and more of the mammoth.
culiarly unpleasant-looking hu- Shumakhov nerved himself to fetch
man giant. In medieval Europe, a Russian to the site, where the lat-
fossil elephants’ tusks were called ter bought the tusks.
unicorns’ horns or gryphons’ claws. In 1806 Professor Michael
In the seventeenth and eight- Adams of the University of St.
neenth centuries, fossil tusks began Petersburg arrived at the scene.
to reach Europe from Siberia. By then, wolves and Tunguz dogs
Those who brought them said they had eaten all the soft parts except
canie from an animal which the a few patches of hairy hide. Still,
Siberian natives called by some Adams collected the remains and
name like mama or mamont. Ac- mounted them in St. Petersburg.
cording to the traders, the natives So it became known that there had
described it as a kind of giant indeed been a species of hairy ele-
mole, which died when it unwit- phant, now extinct.
tingly broke tluough the earth’s Or was it? North America was
crust. Although the word evolved still largely unexplored, and ru-
into “mammoth," nobody has ever mors buzzed of monsters in the in-
firmly established the origin of the terior. Two early British wander-
name, either in Russian or in any ers in the wilderness had told of
Siberian language. seeing American Indians hunting
In the late eighteenth century, huge, shaggy, flop-eared animals.
a German professor,Johann Blu- The Delawares cherished a legend
menbach, had been and
collecting of a herd of monstrous animals,
sorting fossils. In 1799 he an- the “big bison," which descended
nounced that he had found a new upon the land and began destroy-
species of extinct elephant, which ing its native fauna until one of
he named Elephas primigenitis, the gods blasted the marauders
“first-bom elephant” — that is, the w ith thunderbolts.
mammoth. In mid-eighteenth century,
In the same year, a Tunguz liv- George Croghan found a deposit of
ing at the mouth of the Lena River huge fossil bones at Big Bone
in eastern Siberia, Ossip Shumak- Lick, Kentucky, and sent samples
hov, came upon a dark frozen hill- toEurope. Later, Thomas Jefferson
ock whence protruded a tusk. acquired a passion for fossils. Aft-
 MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS 39

er he became President in 1801, River, in the thinly-peopled north-

he obtained a collection of “mam- eastern peninsula of Siberia. After
moth” bones from Big Bone Lick, terrific exertions, a Russian expe-
which he stored in a wing of the dition reached the spot and recov-
White House. When he sent out ered the skin and the skeleton.
the Lewis and Clark Expedition in Although dogs and wolves had
1804, he told Lewis and Clark to eaten parts of the trunk, face, and
look for live mammoths along one foreleg, the specimen was still
with the Great Salt Mountain, the the most complete mammoth that
river of brine, the mountain of has yet been collected. It was
crystal, and other rumored won- mounted in the museum at St.
ders. Alas! Lewis and Clark found Petersburg (now Leningrad). Its
no live mammoths, although they coat consisted of a thick yellowish
did coUect volumes of useful in- undercoat mixed with dark bristles
formation. Probably all the live- up to 14 inches long. The meat
mammoth stories originated in the was avidly eaten by the dogs, al-
sight of gigantic fossil skeletons though the Russians could not
like those of Big Bone Lick. quite bring themselves to try it.
Actually, Jefferson’s bones were
not of mammoths but of masto- As the nineteenth century ad-
dons. The American mastodon vanced, scientists saw that the two
was, like the mammoth, a hairy living species of elephant were
elephant-like animal, more primi- only the survivors of a large and
tive than the mammoth and other complicated group of animals,
true elephants. From Jefferson’s which they named the order Pro-
time to the present, a number of boscidea. There were many differ-
splendid specimens of this beast ent genera of elephants and many
have been mounted in American of mastodons.
museums. In the early 1900s, fossils of the
early ancestors of the probosci-
Throughout the nineteenth cen- deans turned up in Egypt. These
tury, more tales drifted out of Si- fossils were of Eocene and early
beria of mammoths preserved in Oligocene age. The smallest
the frozen muck. Scientists who was the pig-sized Moeritherium^
investigated, however, arrived to a swamp and fresh-water dweller
find.either that the story was a hoax who must have looked a little like
or that the remains had decayed or the modern pygmy hippopotamus
been eaten by predators. In 1900 or the South American capybara.
word came to the Russian Acad-
emy of Sciences of another frozen *Vronounced bair-YAW-zoff-ka.
mammoth, on the Berezovka^ ‘Pronounced meer-i-THEER-ee-um.
 40 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

Another Egyptian proboscidean Two suborders, the dinodieies

was Phiomia, a larger and more and mastodonts, branched off from
advanced form something like a the moeritheres, probably in the
modem with a long snout
tapir, early Eocene. The dinotheres
and definite tusks in the upper and dwelt in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
lower jaws. These fossils proved 'They evolved parallel to the mas-
that the elephants' closest modern todonts but along a line of their
relatives are two groups of most own. They grew larger and ac-
unelephantlike beasts the hyraxes
: quired the typical elephantine
or conies, and the sirenians or body form, complete with trunk.
manatees and dugongs. But the dinotheres differed
The greatest classifier of the from other proboscideans. For one
Proboscidea was Henry Fairfield thing, they kept an ordinary set of
Osborn (1857-1935), the lead- grinding teeth, without the pecu-
ing American paleontologist of the liar arrangement of elephants. The

early twentietli century. Osborn’s elephants have enormous molars,

magnum opus — the last of a num- only one or two of which are in
ber of huge treatises hy him on the place on each side of each jaw at a
evolution of life and of man was — time. These teeth, replace one an-
a two-volume work, Proboscidea, other horizontally, one after an-
published after Osborn’s death. other. They appear at the back of
These books were printed in a size the jaw, move slowly forward, and
fittingly called “elephant quarto’’ fall out the front when worn out.
and together weigh 25 pounds. Os- Dinotheres also lost their upper
born proposed many radical revi- tusks, while the lower tusks came
sions in the picture of the evolu- to curve down like the tusks of a
tion of these animals. Not all walrus in the verong jaw. Nobody
other paleontologists agreed, but knows the reason for this peculiar
Osborn’s classification will do im- arrangement. One dinothere, Din-
til a better comes along. otherium gigantissimum from the
Osborn divided the order Pro- Pliocene of southeastern Europe,
boscidea into five suborders: the reached a shoulder height of over
moeritheres, dinotheres, masto- 1 2 feet 9 inches, rivaling the Fen-

donts, stegodonts, and elephants.® kovi elephant and the larger mam-
Of these, the moeritheres from moths. Another species, D. hop-
Egypt were the smallest, earliest, woodi, survived to the middle
and most primitive. Pleistocene in central Africa.
The mastodonts are a much
larger and more complex array.
‘Properly speaking the Moeritheriodea,
Dinotheroidea, Mastodontoidea, Stego- Osborn divided them into four
dontoidea and Elephantoidea. families and fifteen subfamilies. I
 s

MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS 41

will not bewilder you by naming came animal could still

taller the
all these groups but will simply de- reach the ground with its mouth.
scribe the general directions in The trunk remained short and
which these animals evolved. Of- stubhy. The upper and lower tusks
ten one subfamily evolved in the crossed with a scissors action, use-
same direction as another, so that ful for gathering food. One of these
the two lines of descent ended up long-snouted mastodonts, Morril-
looking much alike, although there lia, may have survived to the mid-

had been no blood relationship be- dle Pleistocene in the midwestern

tween them since they originally United States.
split apart many milhons of years In two other subfamilies, the
before. This process is called par- skull and jaw lengthened, but the
allel evolution. tusks developed differently. The
The mastodonts were great trav- upper tusks shrank while the lower
They spread from the Old
elers. ones broadened to make a scoop or
World not only to North America shovel. The jaws of these shovel-
(in the Miocene) but also to tuskers were evidently designed for
South America. As eons passed, all digging up water plants, especially
the mastodonts became larger un- water-lily roots.
til they ranked with modern ele- Another subfamily carried this
phants in size. They all tended to development even further. The
shiftfrom the normal mammalian lower tusks disappeared, leaving
dental arrangement to that of the the huge scoop, whose end was no
elephant. doubt protected by a homy lip or
In other respects the mastodonts bill. These spoonbill mastodonts
diverged widely. Of the fifteen must have fed on very soft water
subfamilies, three kept skulls of plants.
moderate length, like those of the In the remaining seven subfam-
early Phiomia, with four short ilies, the skull shortened, while
tusks: two in the upper jaw curv- the lower tusks shrank and disap-
ing down and two in Ae lower peared. The upper tusks developed
slanting up. (These tusks evolved variously. In some genera they
from Moeritherium’ incisors, in- curved gently upward as in mod-
stead of from the canines as with ern elephants. In some they were
most tusked mammals.) As the hooked sharply upward; in some
animals grew taller, their trunks they curved downward; and in
lengthened to enable them to reach some, like Anancus from Pleisto-
the ground. cene Europe, they were long and
In two other subfamilies the nearly straight.
skull, the lower jaw, and the tusks Two genera of Mastodonts
all lengthened, so that, as it be- reached South America. One was
 42 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

a small mountain type, Cordiller- and the tme elephants. And this
ion, whose tusks had a corkscrew brings us to the true elephants, the
twist in the direction opposite to suborder Elephantoidea and the
that of most proboscideans. That is family Elephantidae. Osborn di-
to say, its right tusk was twisted to vided them into three subfamilies:
the right and is left tusk to the left. the Loxodontinae (the African
Another genus, larger and more elephant and its relatives); the
ordinary-looking, was Cuvieron- Elephantinae (the Indian ele-
ius. Remains of Cuvieronius have phant and its king); and the Mam-
been found in Ecuador in associa- montinae or mammoths.
tion with human artifacts, which The loxodontines were confined
the discoverer assigned on archeo- to the Old World. One genus, Hes-
logical grounds to the tliird cen- peroloxodon (sometimes called the
tury C.E. If this dating is correct, “straight-tusked elephant”) dwelt
tlie animal must have been living in Europe during the warm inter-
when the first semi-civifized states glacial phases of the Pleistocene
arose among the South American period. This elephant was a giant,
Indians. standing over 12 feet 4 inches
The best-known of all the mas- at the shoulder. Although more
todonts is the American mastodon, closely related to the modem Afri-
M. aniericanus, which roamed can elephant, it looked, with its

North America enormous num-

in twin-domed head and small ears,
bers during the Pleistocene. It was more like an oversized, long-tusked
a bulky animal, averaging around Indian elephant. Another genus,
9 feet 6 inches in height but reach- Palaeoloxodon, evolved dwarf spe-
ing at least 1 0 feet 2 inches. It was cies on the islands of the Mediter-
probably heavier than a modem ranean. The smallest, P. falconeri
elephant of the same height be- of Malta, was less than a yard high.
cause its. body was longer. It was The elephantines, limited to
covered with coarse golden-brown Asia, were mainly distinguished
hair, of which samples have been by curious bony crests on top of
found in swamps. A closely related their skulls.
forni lived in Russia. Lastly come the mammoths.
Some paleontologists limit the
In tire Miocene, a group of name “mammoth” to the northern
proboscideans called stegodonts or wooly species to which the
branched off from the mastodonts. name was originally applied.They
A little later, the true elephants in call it the “true” mammoth. How-
turn branched off from the stego- ever, since there is a shortage of
donts.The stegodonts are thus in- good common names for these an-
termediate between the mastodonts imals, we shall use the word for
 —
MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS 43

the whole subfamily, which in- mals. Besides the skeletons and
cludes some of the most spectacu- frozen carcasses that have been
lar mammals ever to bestride the found, we have pictures of the ani-
globe. mal painted on the walls of caves
There are three genera of in southwestern France by the Cro-
mammontines: Mammonteus, the Magnard people, who overran Eu-
“true” or northern mammoth; rope as the glaciers of the fourth
Archidiskodon, a warm-climate glacial period retreated. The
genus; and Parelephas, inhabiting paintings, no doubt executed as
the temperate zones betw'een the hunting magic, show the promi-
other two. All three genera occur nent hump over the head and the
in the New and Old Worlds. Some smaller hump over the shoulders.
of the many species of Archidis- These humps were probably reser-
kodon and Parelephas have com- voirs of fat like the camel’s hump.
mon names, ^ but there are no good The back sloped steeply from
common names for the genei'a as a shoulder to haunch, thus easily
whole. For Archidiskodon, there- shedding snow and sleet but not
fore, I shall use the name “south- being well suited to bearing a how-
ern mammoth.” For Parelephas, dah. There are also a few Cro-
“temperate-zone mammoth” does Magnard® paintings of the straight-
not sound good, so I propose to call tusked elephant.
it the favonian mammoth, which Despite our use of “mammoth”
means more or less the same thing. • to mean “gigantic,” the northern
During the Pleistocene there mammoth was not the largest ele-
were four advances of the ice, with phantid. Its average height was
warm spells in between. During around nine feet, about that of
each cold spell the arctic animals the bull Indian elephant, and the
like the northern mammoth, the northern mammoth was shorter in
woolly rhinoceros, and the rein- body. However, one Mammonteus
deer moved southwards, while the skeleton from Austria towers 12
warm-weather faunas retreated be- feet 1 0 inches.
fore them. In the interglacial peri- If the northern mammoth was
ods, tlie opposite movement took of only moderate size, its cousins
place. upheld the honor of the subfami-
The northern mammoth the ily. Twelve-footers were common

mammoth, if you insist is — the among them. The largest probosci-

best-known of all prehistoric ani-
‘Before somebody picks me up on this,
’For Archidiskodon (ar-kid-ISS-ko-don), "Cro-Magnon" is the name of the rock
the southern and the imperial mam- shelter for which these people were
moth; for Parelephas, the Columhian named; “Crd-Magnard" is the French
and the Jeffersonian mammoth. adjective derived from "Cro-Magnon,"
 44 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

dean known is the Mosbach mam- helical twist. On each side they
moth, Parelephas trogontherii, curved down, out, up, and in. The
from Germany. A fragmentary tusks of old bulls often crossed at
skeleton indicates an animal with the tips. These tusks would have
a shoulder height of at least 14 been useless for digging and not
feet 9 inches. It must have weighed very good for fighting. Then what
around 20 tons. The runner-up is were they for?
a cpecimen of Archidiskodon rnai- It is a good rule of biology that,
beni from Nebraska, which topped when an organism possesses a
1 3 feet 4 inches. seemingly useless organ, the organ
Of the two, the favonian mam- probably has a use that we do not
moth (Parelephas') was tall but know about. Otherwise the evolu-
short in body, while the southern tionary process called rudimenta-
mammoth (Archidiskodon) was tion would have destroyed the or-
big all over. The favonian mam- gan. In the case of the mammoths,
moth ranged over the northern, there are several theories about
eastern, and southeastern United their curly tusks. Perhaps the most
States, central Europe, and proba- plausible is that they were used as
bly central Asia. A few reached snow shovels, to get at food in win-
South America. In Europe it ter. The adult bulls swept away
shared its range with the straight- the snow, while the rest followed
tusked elephant. They did not, to eat anything left.
however, compete, because the fa-
vonian mammoth was a grazer and During the fourth glacial ad-
plains dweller while the other was vance, Neandertlial man hunted
a browser and forest dweller. proboscideans and other game over
The southern mammoth, de- a vast area of Europe, the Near
scended from smaller South Ameri- East,and Russia. I need not intro-
can forms, lived in southern Eu- duce you to Neanderthal man, ex-
rope, southern Asia, the central cept to say that some anthropolo-
and southwestern United States, gists class him as a separate race,
and Mexico. A dwarf species dwelt some a distinct species, and some
on the islands off the coast of Cali- a distinct genus of man. Although
fornia. Judging by their habitats, his differences from modem man
the southern mammoth was proba- are well known, we need not exag-
bly hairless, while the favonian gerate them. In fact, I once met
mammoth probably had a medium a former heavyweight champion
coat of hair, shorter than that of who, if he let his whiskers grow
the northern mammoth. and dressed in bearskins, could
All the later and larger mam- step into a Neanderthal camp
moths had very long tusks with a without causing a comment.
 IilAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS 45

Shortly after the ice of the Czechoslovakia, were

remains
fourth glaciation began its retreat, found of 600 mammoths. These
Neanderthal man gave way to an im als had been eaten by Post-
modem man. In Europe the glacial men in one small area, and
change seems to have been abrapt, their bones had been sorted and
with little or no interbreeding stacked. While the Predmost peo-
between Homo sapiens and Homo ple could have killed that many
neandertkalensis. In the Near mammoths over a long period, they
East, on the other hand, inter- could not have hauled them to one
breeding does seem to have taken site. Therefore these mammoths

place, giving rise to intermediate probably belonged to a herd that

types. died from natural causes, such as a
Although tlie Cr6-Magnards and blizzard, an epidemic, a quick-
other groups of H. sapiens were sand, or a sudden thaw that
perhaps more skillful hunters than trapped them in a previously
their Neanderthal predecessors, it frozen bog.
was not their hunting that drove A similar site was unearthed at
the mammoths from Europe. The Pushkari, northeast of Kiev in the
ice did not go away aU at once. Ukraine. There is —
despite what
Following the fourth glaciation —
some people say no reason to
there ensued a Postglacial Period think that these mass deaths hap-
of several thousand years, with pened at the same time all over Eu-
a see-saw climate, during which rope and Siberia as a result of some
mammoths persisted. Then the cli- Atlantean subsidence, cometary
mate definitely turned warm and collision, or other cosmic catastro-
wet. The new climate covered Eu- phe. The fact that a herd died all
rope with dense hardwood forests at once no evidence that the en-
is

in place of the former steppes and tire species perished at that mo-
tundras. Thereupon the steppe and ment.
tundra animals, such as the mam- At the end of the Pleistocene,
moth and the reindeer, retreated to however, occurred a great and
Siberia. mysterious wave of extinction of
There has been much specula- large mammals on all the conti-
tion about the “mass deaths” of nents. Although hunting by early
mammoths. In several places in men may have helped some species
Europe, Russia, and Siberia,, re- towards extinction, it cannot have
mains of whole herds of mam- been the main factor, because the
motlis have been found. Evidently men of that time were too few and
the animals of each herd died in a too feebly armed.
cmnmon disaster. Early men —
or manlike pri-
For example, at Predmost, mates —had of course coexisted
 —
:

46 fantasy and science fiction

with proboscideans, including lithic,' Atlantean, and other eccen-

four-tusked mastodonts and dino- tric theories of the origin of the
theres, in the Old World for maiTy American Indians, on the assump-
millions of years. In Pleistocene tion that they did actually portray
Europe they pursued the three elephants.
mammoths and the straight-tusked Having taken a good look at this
elephant. (Such large animals monument at Copan last year, I
were hunted by traps and pitfalls assure you that this is not the case.

rather than by direct assault.) The “elephants” have nostrils, not

There were many species of pro- at the ends of their “trimks” as ele-
boscideans in Pleistocene Asia phants should, but in front, at the
and Africa. When men arrived in roots of these organs. Furthermore,
North America ten to fifteen thou- they have large round eyes sur-
sand years ago, they found the rounded by feathers. Feathered
three mammoths and the American elephants, as you know, are ex-
mastodon. In South America lived tremely rare; these are probably
two genera of mastodons and some conventionahzed macaws.
favonian mammoths. Of all the ancient peoples who
When recorded history began, came in contact with probosci-
about 5,000 years ago, all but deans, only the East Indians of the
three species had disappeared. In Harappa culture thought to tame
addition to their present ranges, them. None of the others —
Ameri-
the African elephant was found in can Indians, African Negroes, an-
North Africa, while the Indian cient Moroccans and Syrians
elephant was scattered over the did, although the Egyptians and
Middle East, from Syria to west- Carthaginians of classical times
ern India, whence it has now dis- domesticated African elephants
appeared. In South America, mas- for war when they had learned the
todons of the genus Cuvieronius trick from the Indians.
still roamed. They may have sur- The Kindly Editor asks me
vived to the rise of the mysteri- how do we know the Carthaginians
ous pre-Inca Tiahuanaco Empire. did not tame Moroccan elephants
Then they, too, vanished. for war on their own, before they
Much has been made of a Ma- heard about the technique from
yan monument called Stela B, at Greeks who had brought it from
Copan, which flourished roughly India? Well, thanks to Diodoros
from -f-500 to -(-800. On the top the Sicilian, we know quite a lot
of this monohth are carved two about the wars between the Greeks
creatures that look somewhat like and the Carthaginians in Sicily
elephants. These figures have been during the century before Alexan-
us^ to support diffusionist, helio- der.Diodoros makes no mention of
 MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS 47

any Carthaginian elephants dur- sauropod dinosaurs were larger yet.

ing this time, which he would al- Some were over 75 feet long and
most certainly have done if they probably weighed 30 to 50 tons.
had used any. And Alexander and Whales are even bigger; a blue
his successors, of course, brought whale may measure over 100 feet
the Indian war elephant to the long and w’eigh between 100 and
West. [Humpph. —
Ed.] 150 tons.
So now you know the elephant However, even if we neglect the
situation in Atlantean, Hyborian, dinosaurs and the mammoths and
and Tolkienian times. Probosci- the Fenkovi elephant, an ordinary
deans are not the largest land ani- three-ton Indian cow elephant,
imals, or even the largest land such as you see at the circus, is still
mammals. In Oligocene Asia dwelt a lot of animal —
too much, in
a long-legged, long-necked, horn- fact, to be handled in anything but
less rhinoceros, Baluchitherium, the most careful and cautious man-
standing 16 to 18 feet high. The ner.

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 Robin Scott describes himself as “the son of a one-time subscriber
to Hugo Gemsbach’s The Boy Experimenter.” And goes on to say:
upon the sons, and I cut my
“Truly, the sins of the father are visited
teeth on the old Thrilling Wonder Stories which—along with other
pulps of the same genre— accumulated in great mouldy piles under
the cellar steps. Since those cheerful days in the kindergarten of
the Atomic Age, I have managed to pick up a wife, four children,
a four year hitch in the Navy, a PhD (English), and my current
job as publications editor (civilian) with the United States Army
in Germany.”
If who is well adjusted to his environment is “normal’,
a person
what happens when he is suddenly removed to a drastically differ-
ent environment, such as that of an orbital test station? Answer:
Decidedly unpleasant things. If this story’s view of human nature
isnot a reassuring one, its logic is convincing and its dramatic
impact considerable. And, in any event, Science Fiction has never
been noted for its bland or reassuring nature.

THE GRITSCH SYSTEM

by Robin Scott

Anderson and Ferrani lay to recover a small relay assembly

floating side by side in the hub or a connector block which had
passageway, trying to finish the fi- been “dropped” and which had
nal ahgnment of one of the ion enough velocity to keep it rico-
injector units. The near weight- cheting slowly around the pas-
lessness in at the hub made it par- sageway for hours.
and used
ticularly ticklish work, Anderson braced himself
as they bothwere to dealing with against a pair of handholds, start-
the unchecked momentum of small ed a locknut up the threads of the
parts accidentally nudged out of spindle which would carry the
the net sacks in which they were vernier controls, and then adjust-
carried, it was a tiresome business ed a small crescent wrench for the
18
 THE GSITSCH SYSTEM 49

final tightening. Anderson was nearest spoke. Ferrani was probing

tired and very conscious of Fer- deep into the interior of the unit
rani’s knowdng eyes upon him, with a long plastic screw driver;
Ferrani the fine young mechanic Anderson was directing the light
who did everything with such sure from a portable torch in through
deftness. He slipped the jaws of an access port so that Ferrani
the wrench onto the nut and could see whatever it was he was
turned it steadily home. As it be- trying to manipulate. The fat man
gan to tighten, the crescent slipped paused and watched the pair for
and spun slowly off, bumping a moment from the cover of the
from one resilient side of the pas- spoke. He didn’t like it much in at
sageway to another. Anderson the hub. The slight centrifugal
stabbed after it hopelessly with pseudogravity of his quarters out
his right hand and missed, and he at the rim was more comfortable
cursed and cursed, tunelessly, for him, although his newly ac-
mechanically, theway a man curs- quired bulk bothered him some-
es when he is angry with himself; what less here in at the hub. When
the way a woman, after the first he could tell by the intake of
shock of disappointment, sobs. breath, the tongue clenched be-
The unpleasant looking fat man tween that Ferrani was
teeth,
in his office out in the rim, sixty about accomplish whatever it
to
meters away, watched Anderson was he wanted to do with that
on a tiny screen slightly smaller long plastic screwdriver, the fat
than the light switch on the wall man moved.
under whieh it was normally con- He moved quietly for a big
cealed. The resolution was good; man, a big man gone to fat. Be-
the fat man had seen Anderson’s fore die two scientists were really
covert glances at Ferrani, had seen aware of his presence he had
die look on his faee when he had thrust himself roughly past them,
lost the wrench. And he had knocking Anderson to die side of
heard the cursing. He snapped the the passageway and jarring Fer-
switeh cover down, pulled a mi- rani’s screwdriver hand violently.
cro-file from a drawer equipped Something inside the injector gave
with a heavy electronic lock, a brittle, dnkling snap, and both
placed the file under the reader for men whirled on the fat man, then-
a few seeonds, returned it and re- eyes blazing with angry frustra-
locked the drawer, and let himself tion.
out of his narrow cubicle. Ferrani said, "My God! I might
Anderson and Ferrani were have known it was you, Gritsch.’’
in their work when the fat man si- Anderson’s reaction was more
lendy approached them down the violent. Before he had joined the
 50 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

Plasma Project he had been one derson, successful teacher-scholar-

of those quiet, confident men who husband-father-lover, could cer-
never raise their voices above a tainly get rid of that idiot Gritsch
well-mannered Riurmur, His stu- so that Ferrani could get on with
dents at M.I.T. had found it dif- the work.
ficult to bear him beyond the first Gritsch paused in his lurching
two or three rows of his always swim down the passageway away
crowded lecture room in the Cryo- from Anderson’s ire. He checked
genics Laboratory. But Anderson his momentum with a handhold,
had been away from earth away — turned, and stared back at the two
from the reassuring routine of men with a long, haughty look,
home and classroom and labora- pointedly ignoring their anger. He
tory — for over
250 orbits, nearly wrinkled his nose in distaste, and
sixteen weeks at the high orbital in an affected, slightly effeminate
altitude the Plasma Project re- accent which seemed to embody
quired. Anderson the respected the worst of Back Bay and Berk-
teacher, Anderson the scholar (27 ley Square, he said mockingly, "Oh
papers and co-author of two im- I do apologize, gentlemen, really

portant monographs before his I do. But after aU, just because
40th birthday), Anderson the Hus- you’ve been mucking about out
band, Father, Lover had been here for lit’rally weeks doing a bit
away for a long time. And now of a job that any country plumber
Anderson the indifferent mechan- could bloody-well do in hours, you
ic — feeling the competition with mustn’t come to believe you own
Ferrani, who was younger and the flipping passageway!”
more dexterous (although obvi- Audibly whining, Anderson
ously not Anderson’s match as gritted his teeth and swung wild-
scholar-teacher-husband-father- ly, without warning. Gritsch
lover) — Anderson the mechanic caught the blow expertly on his
was murderously angry. His knuck- right shoulder, rolled with it, and
les white on the torch, he thrust let its momentum carry him back
his face into the fat man’s. out of reach to the side of the pas-
“Gritsch!” he screamed, his voice sageway. He was not hurt, but he
rising to a tremolo of lost control, feigned a yelp of pain and covered
“Gritsch! Get out of here! Get his head vvith his arms. Anderson
back to the rim, you fat bastard, pushed after him and landed a
and leave Ferra- and leave us kick in the padding around the
alone!” Anderson’s heart swelled fat man’s hips and kidneys.
with righteousness as he shouted. Gritsch pushed off “down” the
If Anderson the mechanic dropped nearest spoke, sounding off all the
wrenches, by God Professor An- time with a saies of small whoops
 —
THE GRITSCH SYSTEM 51

and wails. A last kick from Ander- much of his upper body, with care-
son caught him at the plastic fully fitted padding elsewhere
shield he wore downward from his but Anderson’s reaction was an in-
belt and shot him with renewed dication of what he could expect
velocity “down” the spoke, out to- with increasing frequency as the
ward the rim. A few seconds la- dangerous work of the Project
ter, hidden in a service niche in neared its climax.
the spoke, Gritsch heard Ander- Satisfied that the damage was
son’s shuddering intake of breath, and that he needed no
slight treat-
heard Ferrani’s congratulations, ment, Gritsch rose to the light
heard Anderson’s quiet boast about switch, depressed a series of studs
how they had fixed that son-of-a- on its underside, and waited for
bitch Gritsch. The fat man listened the Project Director to answer up
for amoment, a curious smile on from his oflBce on the opposite
his and then shoved off
face, side of the great wheel of the Plas-
“downward” again to his cubicle ma Station.
in the rim. "Yes, Walt.” The Director’s
Inside, seated on his bunk, voice was
almost inaudible to
Gritsch stripped ofiF his shirt to Gritsch, even with his ear only
check the damage. Under the lay- inches away from the wall switch.
ers of new fat he had acquired, the “I got a good one out of Ander-
muscle tone was still good. (When- son,” said Gritsch.
ever he thought of muscle tone, “Good! Walt. Wonderful!”
he remembered his old P.T. in- There was real elation in the Di-
structor in tire army saying, as his rector’s voice. He had
been wor-
class lay exhausted and drained on ried about the Ferrani-Anderson
the mats, “Don’t just lie there, team. “That team’s been a problem.
men; do pushups!”) There would They’re way behind on the injec-
be a good big bruise, and although tor installations.” As men do with
ruptured blood vessels and skin le- their confidants when they feel
sions could be a problem under themselves beset with problems,
conditions of low gravity and air confused with the sheer multiplic-
pressure, Anderson hadn’t hit him the Di-
ity of their responsibilities,
that hard. Still, he had to be care- rector rambled, thinking out loud.
ful. This wasn’t the first time some “If we don’t get the injectors set
one had taken a swing at him, up before the field coils are ready,
and he could expect a good deal we’ll lose time on preliminary
more of this kind of violence be- testing. ... I suppose it’s some-
fore his part in thePlasma Proj- thing about Anderson and Fer-
ect was done with. He was pretty rani . . Maybe I ought to spht
.

well padded —
with new fat over the team up . . . Anderson isn’t
 52 FANTASV AND SCIENCE FICnON

much goods with his hands, but Gritsch rested bis forehead against
without his direction, Ferrani’s a the pale green vinyl wall beside
plumber . . the light switch. Even under the
Gritsch cleared his throat, and light pseudo-gravity of the rim,
the Director broke off in mid- the support eased his aching shoul-
phrase. "I’m sorry, Walt. In this der. He was tired, and his pad-
job I’m supposed to know every- ding was chafing him. “Anyway,
body’s business, and I forget to be Ed,” he continued, trying to re-
careful not to lecture my specialists lieve the Director from any sense
on their specialties.’’ of personal responsibility for his
Gritsch chuckled. “You need re- aches and bruises, “save yovur sym-
lease just like everybody else, Ed. pathy. The damage to my fat hide
If you can get it by being pedan- is slight, and I’m one of those ac-
tic about my work instead of tak- tors who doesn’t require a large
ing a whack at me, I’m in favor.” audience; your applause is grate-
Gritsch tried without much success fully received, and it is enough.”
to drop the arrogance from his He paused before continuing, try-
voice with the Berkley
along ing to find just the right words to
Square accent. “Anyway,” he con- set the older man at ease. “You
tinued, "Anderson got a pretty must realize,” he said earnestly,
good purge. I expect he feels like “what a great role this is. There
a man again, and I don’t think isn’t an actor anywhere who
he’ll be so concerned about com- wouldn’t give his eyeteeth for it.”
peting with Ferrani on the manual “Okay, Walt,” said the Direc-
level anymore. He exploded hke a tor, “don’t waste your psychology
mother hen protecting a chick on me.” He was silent for a mo-
when I harassed Ferrani.” ment. “But of course, you’re right
The Director was silent for a I need reassurance too. It is like-

moment. Then, his voice sober, he wise gratefully received. And I

asked, “Much damage, Walt?” will now dutifully recite rational-
“Of course not. Stop worrying. izationsnumbered one, two, and
Just bruises.” Then, suddenly three ‘Walt Knows What The
:

aware of the terrible sincerity of HeU He Is Doing. He Will Not Be

the older man’s concern, Gritsch Hurt Beyond Repair. This Is The
added, “Being larded up like a Best Way To Keep Twelve Cap-
Japanese wrestler had its advan- tive Geniuses From Scattering
tages, Ed.” Their Collective Marbles Across
“Walt . I . I . —
wish there 25,000 Miles Of Orbit-Track.’
were some other way.” Okay, Walt, but it still doesn’t
“Well there isn’t. And we don't seem right for one man to take on
even know if this way vnll work.” aU the grief of twelve.”
 THE GRITSCH SYSTEM 53

Gritsch laughed wryly. "All the man who had always been popular
grief? You mean to tell me you with his co-workers, and it was dif-
have no grief? Seems to me there’s ficult for him to act boorishly to-
a little matter of seven billion dol- ward men he respected, difficult
lars of Uncle Sugar’s money that for him to endure the loneliness
have been spent to space-test the and isolation his job called for.
world’s first plasma drive, and we More immediately trying was his
ain’t testing yet.” ‘‘makeup”: the thirty-five pounds
There was a pained grunt from of flabby fat and the nauseating
the Director. Gritsch could imag- tablets he had to take to maintain
ine him at his desk, his coarse it; the over-active subaceous glands
white hair cropped close, his head which kept his skin oily and glis-
thrown back to hear the communi- tening no matter how often he
cator hidden in the wall panel be- washed, and the equally nauseat-
hind his chair, his forehead lined ing liquid he had to take to main-
by the immense responsibilities of tain that; the lank black hair that
the Plasma Project. Gritsch did the was cut too long, that hung life-

Russian accent bit; it always lessly across his forehead; the un-
cheered the Director. ‘‘Dun vorry, shaven face; the humped shoulders
tovarish. You lok aht for da screws and shambling walk that left him
an’ da baits an’ da resta da hards- tired and aching after a few hours;
vare; I lok aht for da nuts.” the dirty linen and smeared cloth-
Gritsch heard the Director chuck- ing: In short, all the things that

le as he thumbed the actuator and made Walter Gritsch (including

broke the circuit. that name, chosen for its unpleas-
Gritsch eased his body pads off ant sound) so thoroughly repug-
and stretched out on his bunk to nant to his colleagues in the Plas-
rest before dinner. He hadn’t ex- ma Station were just as repugnant
aggerated; his job was a fascinat- and a good deal more unpleasant
ing one for a sometime actor who for Walter Collins, the man who
fancied himself pretty good. And played the role of Walter Gritsch.
for a young psychotherapist with
a string of degrees but little clini- But Walter Gritsch rather, —
cal experience, the opportunity to —
Walter Collins was an essential
make a name for himself was fan- man in the Plasma Project. Con-
tastic —
if, that is, he should ever ceived early in the Plasma Project
be permitted to publish. That planning, Gritsch had been offi-
would have to wait. But the Di- cially born during a brief confer-
rector was right, too: it was a ence which included only Project
tough job, an unpleasant one. Director Ed Stewart, Alan Wilke,
Gritsch was by nature a convivial Chief of the Life Support Section
 54 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

and Walt’s boss (a number of su- spread. The room was blistering
pervisors removed), and Walt and airless; the windows had been
himself. It had been more than two sealed to increase the efficiency of
months before the Project Plasma the air conditioner, which, appar-
launch series had started a mis- — ently out of order, testified to the
erably hot day in July —
when Walt futility of the step with its silence.
has flo^vn up to Washington from Walt introduced himself to the two
the Cape for the conference, had waiting men, and after they had
flown up in answer to an official seated themselves around the pol-
summons to present and defend ished mahogany table with its in-
what he had referred to in those evitable government chromium
quiet, middle-of-the-night conver- water carafe and clear glass ash-
sations with Nancy as “the trays, he launched into his brief
Gritsch System.’’ Nancy had been presentation in the stilted prose of
enthusiastic, but then that’s what the junior bureaucrat with a basket
good wives are for, and while Walt of hisown fish to sell.
was pleased that his write-up of the "Much over-simplified, the prob-'
“Gritsch System” had been re- lem as presented to the Psychother-
ceived well enough to gain him aputics Staff of the Life Support
this opportunity, for a high-level Section was this: given twelve
inquisition, he had no illusions highly-trained, highly individual-
about the basic conservatism of isticmen, each of whom has lived
the bureaucracy in which he for some time in a heavily struc-
worked. Stewart he knew nothing tured environment replete with the
about, but Wilke (whom he knew reassurance mechanisms and anx-
only from reputation and from his iety outlets which successful and
bold signature on the myriad doc- well-balanced men invariably
uments circulating in endless flow have; given such men, we must so
througli the Life Support Section) taUor the psychological environ-
was notedfor his dislike of the un- ment of the Plasma Test Station
orthodox and the daring, for the that adequate reassurance mecha-
bluntness with wliich he battled nisms and anxiety outlets are pro-
those who chose to disagree with vided in adequate number. Com-
him. plicating the problem are such con-
The conference room was in an siderations as isolation — the total
ancient grey temporary building time in orbit will probably exceed
tucked back of the new Smithson- four months —
physical stress, and
ian annex; one of the iimumera- above all, the presence of consid-
ble bits of real estate scattered erable physical danger at the time
about Washington into which the of test.
burgeoning Plasma Project had "In attempting to arrive at a sat-
 THE GRITSCH SYSTEM 55

isfactory solution to this problem, ancient Semitic tribes employed the

we have testedand discarded clas- ritualistic device of ceremonially
sic therapies of make-work, make- transferring all the sins of the tribe
challenge, and escapism recrea- members who was then
to a goat
tion. While recreational materials driven from the land of the tribe
will, of course, he included in the into the wilderness, bearing the tri-
proposed psychological environ- bal sins with him. In the same
ment, primary reliance cannot be manner, the ‘Gritsch System’ will
put on them because of the intellec- act as a mechanism for the objecti-
tive nature of the men involved fication of individual crew mem-
and the obvious dangers of escap- bers’ frustrations and anxieties in
ism in the hostile physical environ- another individual —a pariah, or
ment of space. whipping boy, if you will — with a
“What we have chosen then, resulting reassertion personal
of
and here propose, the institution
is worth, a revitalization of the ego-
of a fairly elaborate variation on establishment mechanism.’’
psychodrama therapeutic tech-
: Walt sat down and reached for
niques which will result in the the chrome carafe. It was empty.
creation of a number of dramatic He wanted a cigarette, but he was
situations each of which is rich in afraid to add more smoke to the
opportunities for the purging of tiny room’s air, already made blue
anxieties and the revitalization of by Wilke’s gurgling pipe. Neither
ego-enriching reassurance symbols. Wilke nor Stewart spoke, and their
Unlike the orthodox psychodrama silence conspired With the airless
technique, however, the partici- room and the heat to render Walt
pants will be totally unaware that about as uncomfortable as he could
dramatic incidents are staged. ever remember being, at least since
Each incident will be staged and his basic training days.
— to the extent possible — directed Wilke broke the silence.
finally
by the Project psychotherapist. He “Absolute nonsense,” he said. “Eas-
will not be identified as such, and ily the most idiotic plan I have
he will be the only individual out- heard since Ferguson came up
side the Project Director who will with his chlorophyl-selenium or-
be aware that the psychodramatic ganic power cell business.” Then,
incidents are contrived. his voice pitched high with sar-
“The only element that need be casm, he said, “I realize you have
added in this presentation, then, is certain unique qualifications, Col-
that the basic underlying psycho- lins. You have a Doctorate in Psy-
dramatic theme will consist in a chology from a reputable univer-
recreation of the folk-myth of the sity, and you enjoy the rather du-

scapegoat. As you will recall, the bious distinction of having played

 56 F.\NTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

the second lead in that rather por- psychodrama hocus-pocus, is ar-

nographic play of Mr. Wilhams rant nonsense. You are a fool, Col-
some years ago, but I do not see lins, and speaking for the Life Sup-
that these accomplishments afford port Section, I find your plan ab-
you license to insult our intelli- surd and I oppose it, inalterably!”
gence and take up our time with Walt white with
rose, his face
such complete drivel!” suppressed anger at Wilke’s per-
Walt had expected opposition, sonal attack on him. Wilke’s word
but nothing like this. The violence in the Life Support Section was
of Wilke’s attack left him momen- law, and Walt had worked in the
tarily speechless, and when he re- great American technocratic bu-
covered, he had to fight hard to reaucracy long enough to know
keep his temper in check, his man- that there were indeed times vrhen
ner civil. "I realize the ‘Gritsch Sys- you could not fight city hall. Not
tem’ unorthodox. Dr. Wilke, but
is fighting city ball, however, can be
the problem we face is pretty unor- hard on the blood pressure. So can
thodox too. Keeping twelve highly having to swallow personal invec-
trained indirddualists from losing tive. Walt wasn’t afraid of Wilke,
their grasp of reality, from being of losing his job or prejudicing his
borne under by inter-personal anx- future with the Plasma Project.
ieties and frustrations when they Rather, he wanted to see the
must five together in close quarters “Gritsch System” given a fair trial.
and under circumstances of ex- He made the decision to fight
treme physical hazard, that’s an Wilke in another time, under dif-
unorthodox problem and it re- ferent circumstances more favor-
quires an unusual solution!” As he able to his cause. Walt was a
talked, Walt’s anger at the older bureaucrat too, and he knew some-
man’s imreasoned opposition grew, thing about in-fighting.
and he was just barely able to keep Walt’s blood pressure went up,
his voice emotionless, his manner but his voice stayed down. He was
courteous. an actor, and he was skilled at con-
Wilke answered with ice in his trol. His lips tight but his voice
voice, again carefully omitting the even, he shuffled his papers care-
courtesy of Walt’s title. “I appreci- fully into his briefcase, and said
ate your passion, Collins. I under- quietly: “Thank you, Dr. Wilke,
stand it is essential to ‘show busi- Dr. Stewart. I regret I have taken
ness’. But the idea that you —
or for up your time needlessly.” He
that matter anybody —
could draw flashed a cordial smile as he held
upon himself the hostilities and out his hand to Wilke. “I have res-
anxieties of a number of highly ervations on the four o’clock for the
educated men, fool them with this Cape, and I must go now.”
 THE GRITSCH SYSTEM 57

The room erupted. tinued Wilke, a sly grin on his face,

Wilke slapped the top of his bald “what did you think of my little
head with the flat of one hand, psychodrama. Not bad for a bio-
scattering pipe ashes far and wide, physicist, eh?”
and cackled in triumph. “See, Ed? Walt said, “I’m hoist on my own
I was right. Collins is the man petard. Very fine job, sir.”
if anyone is!” Stewart nodded “Thank you. Dr. Colhns,” said
thoughtfully as he bent to reinsert Wilke, suddenly sober again. “I
the plug for the air conditioner was dirty pool; but I
apologize. It
into a baseboard receptacle. Wilke believe you’ll agree necessary.” He
continued his crowing. Waving to turned again to Stewart. “How
the chair Walt had just left, he about it, Ed. You bought his idea;
said, “Sit down, boy. Sit down Dr. will you buy Collins as Gritsch?”
Collins. Of course we like the Stewart ran his large workman’s
‘Gritsch System.’ It’s a brilliant fingers through his snowy crewcut.
piece of work. We fat old bureau- “I buy,” he Then to Walt:
said.
crats can be pretty stupid, but not "Dr. Collins, when I was a young
that stupid.” man, early in World II, I served
Walt sat down, his knees weak aboard a submarine of the old Aba-
from astonishment at the turn lone class. It was crowded and it

events had taken. A blast of cold stank. On war patrol we were at sea
air from the air conditioner struck as much weeks at a time, and
as six
him and he began to think again. most of that submerged except at
He understood, then. It had been a night. We were scared most of the
test. time, too.
“The only problem we had was “We had a third class Petty Offi-
who" continued Wilke. “Who cer aboard — a Quartermaster as I

could carry it ofiF. Who could be the recall — who was a real goof-off.
scapegoat. I figured you for the job, He was foul-mouxhed, in-
dirty,
but I had to convince Ed Dr. — competent, and a complete cow-
Stewart —
that you could take it ard. We all grew to hate him so
without blowing.” much that after we had petitioned
Walt couldn’t help smiling at the Executive Officer and the Skip-
the obvious triumph in the old per a couple of times to have him
man’s face. He made a mental note transferred, several of us cold-
never again to trust second-hand caulked him one night in Ulithi to
assessments of people; Wilke was persuade him to put in for a trans-
quite obviously much too complex fer. But if he did, it wasn’t ap-
an old bird to be described simply proved, and he was with us right
as ‘conservative.’ through to the end of the tour.
"Anyway, Dr. Collins,” con- “Some years after the war I ran
 58 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

into my old skipper at a cocktail magnetic flux generated around

party here in Washington, and I the inner circumference of the
asked him why in hell he had kept hub. It was these ions, heated and
Kovalski —
that was the man’s constricted and accelerated and
—
name on the boat. I’U never for- heated again, that would form the
get his answer. ‘Stewart,’ he said, plasma. And the plasma, a great
‘do you remember when you were pulse of energy squeezed, heated,
scared to death during depth-bomb and given direction by the intense
attacks who was even more scared? magnetic field of the hub’s super-
Do you remember who used to get conductive coils, would drive the
sick as a dog whenever we were on wheel along its axis, slowly, almost
diesel and the sea was running a imperceptibly at first, but eventu-
little rough? Who always looked ally, with each increment of accel-
dirty and never got a girl on shore eration adding to the total velocity,
leave? Who was always getting with a speed that made even the
kicked around by the new boots, nearest stars not impossible of at-
even though he ranked them? Do tainment. That’s what the plan-
you remember who was always ners said, the theoreticians. But
there for you and the other fifty- how do you test a plasma drive?
seven of us to look down on and Where do you find the cold that
hate and feel superior to, even will allow a wire the size of a pen-
though we were almost as sick and cil lead to carry a thousand am-
dirty and frightened as he was? peres? Where do you find the vac-
That’s why I never transferred Ko- uum hard enough to let you heat
valski off the boat.’ ions to a fusion ignition point of
“I buy Dr. Collins’ plan, and I 100,000,000 degrees fahrenheit
buy Dr. Collins.” and at the same time achieve a de-
gree of magneto-hydrodynamic sta-
The great silver wheel that was bility high enough to contain the
the Project Plasma Test Station unimaginably fierce reaction?
spun with deceptive slowness Where do you stand back in safe-
about its axis as it orbited the earth ty when all this is going on? The
once every 700 minutes. Springing answer is, you find all these ex- —
out like the frozen tentacles of cept the safe place to stand — in
some strange sea-beaSt from the in- space. The answer is,you spend
ner surface of the doughnut-shaped seven billion dollars, and you find
hub, starkly black against the sun- twelve —
no, thirteen —
brave men,
lit face of the earth, were the emit- and you launch them into high or-
ter ducts of the twelve injector bit for five months. That’s what
tmits which would insert high- you do if you want to test a plasma
velocity ions into the constrictive drive.
 THE GRITSCH SYSTEM 59

Walt stood with one foot on his tor’s voice. It wasn’t just Svenson’s
bunk, wrapping surgical tape attack.There was something else.
around his left knee. He would “Ed, I’m coming over to your of-
limp for a while. In the three weeks fice.”
since the Anderson attack he had ‘Tes, I guess you’d better, Walt,”
been the object of more and more said the Director, a note of weary
violence. This last was the worst. finality in his voice.
Svenson had gone after him with a Walt made his way along the
screwdriver, and the dull blade had rim passageway, paused before the
left a ragged four inch gash across Director’s door to make sure no
Walt’s left kneecap. one could observe his entry, and
The annunciator behind the let himself in with one swift move-
wall switch emitted a brief 1 5,000 ment. The Director sat at his desk,
cycle whistle. If you didn’t have his eyes closed, one large hand ner-
exceptionally good hearing and vously kneading the other. The
weren’t expecting it, you would strain was written on his face in
never hear it. Walt slipped his cov- bold strokes; his hair looked yel-
erall leg down over the new tape lowed, his complexion sallow.
and leaned his head against the Walt locked the door behind him
wall near the switch. "Yeah, Ed.’’ and stood, his left knee throbbing,
“I just heard about the scrape until the Director opened his eyes.
with Svenson. Are you all right?” It was distressing to see Stewart
Stewart sounded worried. like this. Over the months the two
“I’m okay.” Walt couldn’t keep men had become exceedingly close,
the fatigue out of his voice. The despite the difference in their ages.
wound wasn’t, in fact, dangerous. They shared and
a secret a hope,
But he was worn out just with and they were confidants.
keeping himself in one piece. “Sit down Walt,” said Stewart.
“Listen, Walt, this is the end. “I’m gratified to discover no screw-
I’m going to put an end to it. You driver handles protruding from
might not be so lucky next time. you.”
The way I hear it, Svenson was “I’m gratified you can still make
really after your blood.” a jest, even a sick one like that.”
“Well, he got some, and I think The Director sat silently for a
he’s satisfied.” moment, staring into space, his
“Satisfied, hell!” the Director ex- hands picking at each other. Then
ploded. “This whole thing has gone slowly, choosing his words care-
far enough, and I’m going to stop fully, he said, “Walt, the ‘Gritsch
it before someone gets really hurt.” System has done its work, and I’m
’

Walt realized with a shock that ‘retiring’ Gritsch to his quarters for

there was near panic in the Direc- the duration.”

 60 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

Walt had half expected this. lutely nowhere. We’re as ready

He said quietly, “Why Ed? What now as we’ll ever be to test. All the
are your motives? Are you worried gear is installed and checked-out.
about my hide?” The injectors have all been indi-
“Yes, Damnit,” exploded Stew- vidually fired; continuity on the
art. “That and some other things. field is perfect. We’ve programmed
I don’t want to see you sent home for the big one, the final test, but
in a sheet. And I don’t want to nobody wants to go ahead. Every-
have to handle the guy that finally body has a dandy excuse for delay-
does you in. But I could live with ing ‘just one more day’ or for ‘just
that. I could bear it. What I can't one more dry run.’ ” Stewart leaned
put up with is that you Gritsch — back in his chair, his eyes closed in
— are disrupting the Project. fatigue. “Anyway, Walt, I’m not
Gritsch has outlived his usefulness. taking any more chances. The
He’s a liability to the Project now!” ‘Gritsch System’ has worked won-
Because he reciprocate it, Walt ders, but it’s all over now, and I’m
was aware of the degree of the Di- confining you to your quarters un-
him, and he
rector’s affection for til after test.”
puzzled at the Director’s words. Walt lifted his injured leg onto
How much of his new opposition the bunk where he lay half reclin-
to the ‘Gritsch System’ was real? ing. “Let’s separate two things
How much was the result of his here, Ed. First, this question of my
concern Walt’s
for life? He hide. I’m no more anxious than
probed: “Ed, I agree that the you are to see Walt Collins shuf-
‘Gritsch System’ has lost some of fle off the old mortal coil at the
its efficacy. This is inevitable; peo- tender age of thirty-one. Okay. If
ple can get used to anything, even the Project is ready for the big test,
a mess like Gritsch. But being in- then Gritsch’s work is done, and I
effectual is a long way from ‘dis- will retire gladly. I will even put
ruption.’ Just how is Gritsch ‘dis- in for unemployment compensa-
rupting’ the project?” tion and sit in my cabin drinking
“How?” exclaimed the Director, the government’s fine medicinal
his voice agitated, “How the hell alcohol until re-entry.
should I know ‘how’? I'm not the “So much for my hide. Now
psychotherapist. The point is the about this general reluctance to go
Project is going to hell in a hand ahead with the big test. It’s not so
basket.” His hands ceased their strange, and I’m sure it has noth-
dance, and he sat forward rigidly ing to do with Gritsch.”
in his chair, his eyes bright with Stewart pursed his lips and
emotion. “If it isn’t Gritsch, what shook his head skeptically.
is it? The Project is getting abso- “Ed,” continued Walt, “do you
 :

THE GRITSCH STSTEM 61

remember when you got married? one even if my crew say they aren’t
How confused you were for those ready for That’s what a Director
it.

few moments before the ceremony? is for. To make irrevocable deci-

You wanted to take the big step; sions, to take the gamble.”
you couldn’t imagine hfe without “Not quite, Ed,” said Walt.
your bride-to-be. Still, you hesi- “Look at it this way. When you
tated at the sheer irrevocability of push the button for the test one of
the event. Once done, it couldn’t three things can happen
be undone. It’s buck fever, Ed. “Say the test works. Big success.
Man is always afraid of the irre- We’ll all be famous. Mass ride
vocfable. To have the potential of down Broadway and White House
success is much more comforting reception. Fine. I’ll probably b^
than to risk that potential for the the only guy in history who’s draw-
actuality of a test.” ing unemployment compensation
Stewart retained his skeptical while a guest at the White House.
look. “It may be buck fever, but “Say the test fails, fails disas-
it’saggravated by ‘Gritsch fever’.” terousiy. The field won’t hold and
"No, Ed! It has nothing to do we’ll allbe broken down neatly in-
with Gritsch! Look, do you remem- to our constituent particles, ion-
ber when you were in graduate ized, and shot off somewhere where
school how many graduate stu- the green grass definitely does not
dents hung around, semester after grow all around, all around. Or the
semester, working at miserable jobs plasma will fire andoff-center
in laboratories for miserable pay, we’ll get kicked out of orbit and
afraid to complete examinations or fry or freeze to death, depending
finish dissertations? Afraid to risk on whether we wobble into retro
the honorable status of an aspiring course or off into the wild black
student by taking a chance on fail- yonder.
ure? That’s what you’ve got here. “Or say the test fads, but not
No one knows if the drive will disastrously. It just fails. The
work, and it’s very natural for these whole thing fizzles,; the plasma
men to want moment
to delay the won’t the field will be too
fire;

of truth. That’s mankind, Ed. He weak to bring it up to fusion-igni-

never knows, and he never wants tion; the ion injectors will mal-
to make an irrevocable decision.” function; or —
oh! a million things
Stewart looked at the younger can go wrong that won’t lull us,
man with a speculative eye. “If but will kill Project Plasma with-
what you say is true,” he said, out a real honest-to-God, go-the-
“thenits up to me, isn’t it? What limit test. Right?”
tliey call ‘dictatorial fiat.’ I’ll have Stewart nodded, a sick look on
to make the decision to do the big his face. He knew far better than
 —
62 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

Walt just how many things could do it either. And if we don’t do it,

go wrong. the price of conscience we pay will

Walt continued “Ed, if you or-
: be more painful than the cry of
der a test purely as a function of rage from the little guy inside us.’’
—
your own will if the test has to Stewart grinned. “I didn’t think
rest on your motivation alone you mind mechanics believed in
that’s exactly what will happen. the ‘conscience’.’’
The test won’t kill us; it’ll fizzle.’’ “What do you think makes a
"Wait a minute, said Stewart
’
‘mind mechanic’ decide to be a
angrily, “What you say adds up to ‘mind mechanic’, Ed?” said Walt
the fact that this crew hasn’t the quietly.
guts to take a chance with a field Stewart pondered in silence.
breakdown or an off-center firing; Then, his decision made, he said:
that they’d sooner sabotage the test “Okay! Okay! Maybe you’re right,
than take a chance on getting Walt. I don’t know. But from now
fried!’’ on Gritsch stays retired. There’s
"No, that’s not quite true. Take nothing you can do —
even if your
any one of them. Put him in com- theory is right — to get this bunch
mand, and he would order the test, and their ‘little guys’ off the dime.
bull it through if necessary, just And be a lot happier if I don’t
I’ll

as you’re thinking of doing. Give have to worry about someone sep-

them the responsibility, and they’ll arating you from your liver with a
measure up. But remember, Ed, in- sharp kick. You go back to your
side each of us is a littleguy who medicinal alcohol and I’ll sign your
doesn’t have any guts, who doesn’t unemployment papers. I’m sorry,
have any sense of responsibility. Walt, but that’s it.”
All he’s interested in is living as Walt looked at the older man
long as he can with three squares and smiled. "Okay, chief. Fifty-
a day and an occasional roll in the two-twenty, here I come.” He
hay with his private ‘Miss Libido swung off the bunk and slipped out
of 1974’. When you or I or the the door, his mind busy with the
next man tries to override that lit- details of the last act of the
tle guy, we’ve got to have a pretty “Gritsch System.”
good reason. We have to be moti-
vated. And I mean motivated more An hour later, in full space gear,
than salaries, and social pressure, Walt fumbled in the pneumatic in-
and hate, and curiosity can nor- terior of the drawer where his per-
mally do. Most of all, we have to sonal articles were kept reasonably
feel that if we don’t do whatever it safe from eternal floatation. He
is we ought to do, no one else will; pulled out a spool of heavy thread
that if we don’t do it, ‘George’ won’t and read the label: “Clark & Jones.
 THE GRITSCH SYSTEM 63

Button and Carpet. 250 yards, 4 reeled thread until he judged him-
Cord. Extra Strong. #462. Black. self some 200 meters away from
15 Cents.” the spoke. Then with a few ounces
“Now what do you suppose all of tension on the thread, he
that means?” thou^t Walt. “Here snubbed himself gently to a stop,
is a technology I know nothing made the thread and spool fast to
about. Anyway, I’m glad Nancy his suit, turned his private commo
packed it for me.” He slipped the circuit with the Director up to full
spool into the pouch at the waist volume and relaxed, waiting for the
of his suit, moved ponderously out explosion.
into the rim passageway, and made It came and it was unprintable.
his way around to the Director’s of- Then it came again.
fice. The soft chime announcing “WALT, YOU’RE CRAZY!”
the ‘evening’ meal had sounded Walt turned the volume dovra a
five minutes before, and he could bit.“Okay, Ed. Take it easy. Did
be reasonably sure that everyone you get my letter?”
would be in the mess hall. He left "WHY THE HELL DID YOU
a sealed envelope on the Director’s DO IT!”
desk and ducked up a spoke, pull- Walt tirrned the volume down a
ing himself against the steadily de- littlemore. “Read the letter, Ed.
creasing pseudo-gravity toward the Read the letter.”
hub and the outer access air lock. There was a mumble and a hiss.
In the air lock, the air pressure Walt waited. "I’ve got all the time
exhausted, he twisted the outer in the world,” he thought. He
hatch open and pulled himself in- looked at his air gauge. “ —
as long
to the bub, past the ion injector as the world doesn’t last longer
emitter ducts, onto the outer sur- than twelve hours thirty-five min-
face of the hub. He worked his way utes.”
around the hub, as far away from Stewart came back on the cir-
the air lock hatch as possible, and cuit, his voice sober. “I read the
then pulled himself out a few me- letter, Walt. Now what?”
ters along the outer surface of one “Ed, I want you to read it on
of the spokes. With a silent prayer the Station common circuit. If I’ve
for the Clark and Jones 'TTiread guessed right, you’ll have your test
Company, he end of his
tied tbe shortly.”
spool of button thread to a hand “And you’ve guessed wrong?”
if

hold, flipped off the power to his snarled the Director.

magnetic shoes, and with a flick of Walt grunted. “That’s my wor-
his index finger, sent himself out- ry. Read the letter, Ed.”
ward parallel to the ring axis at a Walt took the ensuing profan-
very few feet per minute. He un- ity and silence on the other end
 64 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICT1©N

for assent, and he shifted his re- “Don’t be too sure. Remember
ceiver frequency to the Station the basic theme of our running
common net. He didn’t have to psychodrama, the scapegoat. The
wait long. goat has been driven off into the
Stewart’s voice rang out with wilderness now, bearing all the
surprising firmness: “Now hear sins of the tribe,and I’ll bet there
this, everybody. We
have a man issome cautious elation over there
outside the Station, out of contact. in the mess room right now. But
It is Walter Gritsch. He has left a these men are not members of a
note. He has written: ‘I will not primitive tribe, and while our dra-
write a long note. I have caused ma has worked pretty well on the
you all too much pain and anger subconscious level so far, this situ-
already. My attempts at humor and ation will produce some pretty
camaraderie you mistook for boor- careful evaluations ’way up in the
ishness; myattempts to be helpful forepart of the brain.”
you took for meddling. But it was “Okay, Walt. I’ll give them fif-

not your fault; it was mine. For teen minutes.”

all that I have done, I ask your “One more thing. Patch the
forgiveness. I have blocked the suc- pick-up in the mess room into my
cess of the Project through my suit circuit, will you? I’ve done
very existence, and I will now put some pretty careful staging, and
an end to it. I have not the courage I’d like to catch the audience re-
to do so violently, and I choose action.”
’’
this easiest of methods.’ There was a and a click as hiss
Walt switched back to his pri- the Director made the necessary
vate circuit with the Director. patches in his office, and Walt’s
There was a brief hiss of silence suit phones buzzed with the sound
and then the Director spoke again, of several voices speaking excitedly.
his voice weary and resigned “All :
“. . . good riddance to the fat
right,Walt. It’s your nickel.’’ slob . .
.”

“Thanks, Ed. Nom^ let them “. . . that’s a little strong,

have about fifteen minutes to stew, Tony, but ...”
and then call a general meeting in “. . . human being you know
ft
the mess room. Let them make
suggestions about the situation; . . filthy, greasy, never
don’t you do it. Watch Svenson. I shaved . .
.”

think he’ll be the key man.’’ “. . . caused more trouble

“Walt, if you think these men than . .
.”

are going to strain themselves to “. . . if anybody ever deserved

t9
save you, you really are nuts. They
hate your guts.” ". . . but what a way to . .
."
 THE GRITSCH SYSTEM 65

“LOOK! OUT THE PORT! Svenson, the first man to draw

THERE HE IS!” blood from Gntsch, broke the si-
Walt recognized Anderson’s lence with an agonizing cry: "My
high-pitched voice, and he knew God, he’s a man\ We can’t just
what a spectacle the eleven men stand by and let him die out
in the mess room saw before them. there!”
He had carefully staged the scene. Some three hours later, Walt
He had locked his feet together by watched through his helmet filter

flicking on just one shoe magnet, as the space in the center of the
and then he had increased his suit hub glowed golden, then violet,
pressure until his two arms stood then flashed blindly for a few mil-
stiffly out from his sides. His tim- liseconds. Watched as the thread
ing had been perfect. The sun lay which had stood straight from his
opposite him, down the axis of the waist to the Station, slackened
great wheel of the test station, and and coiled as the distance steadily
he lay bathed in golden light. Be- diminished. The Director’s jubilant
hind him, the great smoke of the voice came over the circuit. "It
Milky Way was rising, the Coal worked! The test worked! We’ve
Sack an inky companion to the got a drive and we’re coming after
four stars of the Southern Cross. you!"
There was a dead silence from As the hatchway approached,
the mess room as each man took in suited figures reached for Walt,
the enormity of Gritsch’s apparent snagged him, and puffed him
fate and evaluated it in his own down into the air lock. The sys-
terms. Only one or two were con- tem and they began to un-
cycled,
sciously effected by the double suit. His helmet off, the Director
symbolism of the cross, but all pounded Walt on the back; the
were dimly aware of it on some others, euphoric over the success of
deeper level. Most suddenly found the test and their relief at the res-
themselves, despite hatred
their cue, forgot their hatred of Gritsch.
for Gritsch, identifying themselves The Director, likevvise momentari-
with him. Baily, who was close to ly forgetful, addressed Walt by his
the upper tolerance for agorapho- first name in the presence of the
bia, saw Gritsch faffing across the others. “My God, Walt. Why did
immensity of space for an eternity, you take such a chance?”
and was struck with nausea. Ko- Walt started to answer in
vac’s tendency toward claustropho- Gritsch’s Berkeley Square accent
bia made him wince at the thought when he saw the sudden change
of the confining suit, overpres- come over the Director’s face. The
sured, and the man inside appar- Director was staring fixedly at the
ently helpless to move his arms. piece of tough, black thread stiff
 . : —
66 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

tied at Walt’s waist.He looked up fivelong months in space found re-

at Walt, his face white with fury. lease. He swung from the floor
Biting off each word, he said with all his strength. Walt, prac-

"You mean all the time you had tised as no one else at close order
that?” Then half to himself, "I defensive boxing under conditions
should have known when you did- of weightlessness, took the blow on
n’t drift, had no velocity, just sat his upper arm, rolled back with it,
out there . . and went bumbling, laughing,
Something inside the Director aching down a spoke toward his
broke; all the cares and worries of sanctuary and the liniment bottle.

Coming soon . .

. . . next month, in fact, is admiralty, the third and final

short novel in POUL ANDERSON’s privateer series. Al-
though a sequel to marque and reprisal (Feb. 1965) and
ARSENAL PORT (April 1965), this is a complete novel in it-

self, and may be read and enjoyed by any having the misfor-
tune to miss the earlier pair. FREDERIC BROWN, who
once called science fiction “a nightmare and a dream” will be
on hand with a nightmare-shocker, replete with smoky wine-
cellars, streets thick with fog, a musician with an obsession,
and A LITTLE NiGHTMUsic. Our July issue vdll feature
AVRAM DAVIDSON’S rogue dragon more about this
next month.
 Our curator of biographical data just returned from the vaults with
the foUouAng; “Bom in Elizabeth, N. Deborah Crawford now
writes advertising copy for airlines and banks (without knowing
either the laws of aerodynamics or principals of banking), reviews
books on SF and music for the Book of the Month Club, and is
working on two book-length manuscripts, not SF. Her first pub-
lished poem at age 12, went something like: ‘What is Life? . . .

HO HO I KNOW . . . God is the wheat, we are the chaff, that is

Life’ and was printed, all eight lines of it, in reverse order, the
editor saying it sounded a little better that way. She hopes a similar
fate does not await her latest.” That experimental, wdre not.

SHORT CUT
by Deborah Crawford

I want to be a Poet, said Georg

On his Career Day.
Standing straight and eager in the great hall
Before the Elders (the affectionate name
For the massive pile of memorizers
In the middle of the concourse).
A Poet, he said, that’s all I've ever wanted.
The Elders rumbled, coughed. The first returns
Were bad. Right now the world (especially
The New Yankee States) needed five thousand other jobs
Filled by humans more urgently than that of Poet.
However, the recent editorial fuss in the newsrealies
About the Compomers having been fed all existing literature
Half a century ago, and now
Spitting out sonnets of maddening similarity
With the query Quotes of earlier samples desired?^
:

Had led to a reversal to the human system

That evolved out of the ancient, so-called “Anguished” method
In which Poets with no invitation or guarantee
 68 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

Blindly soit Ibrdi their brain-cliildien

Toimknown patdidiets, indifferent public.
So the Elders mumbled, collated and produced
YES in glowing Elderese
And Georg went happily unitward
To commune with a rented Historian.

It takesa heap ‘o’ Hypnotape

Plus a headache (Georg never did like thotsleep)
To make a Career; but in a week he awoke
With the world’s poetic output filtered
Through his conceptions, plus techniques and tips
(“What public likes best: Combine
Most popular president, physician and pet’’.)
Excited, confident, Georg reset to “Poethink”
And began mentalizing his verse. Ah, he thought
The name of my epic shall he —
‘LilyCohn’s Androdoc’s Plutocat’ and he smiled,
Already savoring the plaudits
Of part of that public, immense and waiting
At the hundred thousand receptor
Endings of the Master Collator (Verse)
In the Creative Department, Lit. Section
Of the Central Communications Building.

Out went his opus, in the eighteen major languages

With the “Slant’’ button pushed aU the way down,
And in clicked the-returns; Georg waited
Impatient, as the Collator synthesized
The entire bulk of responses into a paragraph, popped
Out on a printed piece of paper.

"We thank you,’’ it began. “However . .

.’’

(And since a corollary of the First Law of Robotics is

Kindness)
“With your splendid memory for dich^
That show respect for established values,
Together with your fondness for the long, obscure word,
The pastel, amorphous concepts
That keep the reader healthily jumping up
To consult his Cyclopedia
 SHORT CUT 69
It is suggested you might make a distinguished Career
In Civil Service.”

Just before Georg took out

His little pocket Pfftt and blew himself
Into a momentarily disagreeable odor, he remembered
Another law; and shot his opus into a slot
Of tomorrow’s ‘realies, where it would have to be
Flung across the world, as his
Obit.

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 BOOKS
I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT sckncc fiction has been, and
continues to be, not a separate flow paralleling the mainstream of
modern writing, but a fresh current in it, clearly distinguishable
at its point of entry, and eventually so entirely merged with the
larger body as to retain existence only in terms of the measurable
addition it has made to die content, turlnilence, and current speed
of the whole.
But ours not the only freshet feeding the stream, and I think
is
another is currendy meting with ours —
one that seemed a short
time ago, more like a cross current. I mean the avant-garde, the
experimentalists, the litde-magaziners, the modern poets, and
'‘beats”. Significant of this merging and oi the added impact on the
mainstream, are William S. Burroughs’ nova express and John
Hersey’s white lotus (received too late for inclusion in this
column) — two of die most important of this season’s new novels,
and both clearly and indisputably science fiction.

ANDROMEDA BBEAKTHBOUGS, Fred Hoyle and John Elliot,

Harper &Row, $3.50
NOVA EXPRESS, William S. Bumm^, Grove Press, $5.00
THE ALIEN WAY, Gordon R. Didcson, Bantam Books, SOji
Here are three books by three au- and cosmologists. Gordon Dick-
thors worlds apart from each other son is the rule-proving exception
in background, training, experi- who decided to be a writer, studied
ence, and even physical distance. writing in school; started writing;
(Oceans, anyhow: Dickson lives kept doing it; and is today a lead-
in Minneapolis; Hoyle and Elliot ing writer of science fiction. Wil-
in England; Burroughs, when he liam Burroughs is probably the
wrote this, in Tangier.) Fred world’s most famous living junkie.
Hoyle, as everyone knows, is one He has written candidly and vivid-
of the world's leading astronomers ly about his own experiences widi
 BOOKS 71

dope addiction and crime; and in est — and corniest — plot? Bur-
fiction at least as autobiographical, roughs, both times.
and rather more intimate, has dealt Which is tire most successful
with dope, crime, and homosexu- morality play? Why, Dickson, of
ality. He is also, within the “beat” course.
movement, what Wells, Bradbury And which is the real old-fash-
and Heinlein all rolled into one ioned s-f adventure? You guessed
are to sci-fi — front-runner, godfa- it. Hoyle and Elliot.
ther, mentor, and current world Nor are tliey hard to compare
champ. Jack Kerouac, who is pop- in these respects. As diverse as
ularly considered Mr. Beat, began they are in style, mood, and in-
as a Burroughs disciple. Norman tent, the three novels have so
Mailer, ranking publicist for the many features of story line, gadg-
group, calls him “the only Ameri- etry, scientific and philosophic
can novehst living today who may content in common, that the over-
conceivably be possessed by gen- lappings and similarities constitute
ius.” His works have been pub- a science fiction phenomenon of
lished by all of the Big Three pub- greater interest than any one of
lishers of erotica, existentialism, the books individually.
and experimentalia : Grove Press All three are stories of a near-
in New York, City Lights on the future (or present time) attempt-
West Coast, Olympia in Paris. ed conquest of Earth by cosmic
And in the new wave of avant aliens. Two of the books can even
garde “fanzine” pubhshing, there be reduced to identical library-
is hardly a hectographed, mime- card-type precis:
oed, or offset effort Aat does not
Through the use of a combina-
contain at least its page or two of
—
Burroughs original, reprint, or
tion of advanced electronic and
biochemical techniques, an effec-
commentary. tively instantaneous means of
Burroughs is a surrealist. Hoyle communication is established be-
is a scientific writer, who has re- tween Earth and a remote planet
cently, wisely, enlisted John El- inhabited by a scientifically sophis-
liot as collaborator for his fiction. ticated race. Due to mutual fail-

Dickson is a straightforward story ures in understanding of both the

teller, w'ith a tendency to the

physical and motivational charac-
ter of the contacts, humanity is
sweeping historical-novel type plot,
almost destroyed. Dedicated re-
heavy intellectual-philosophic con- search by one unprejudiced non-
tent, and a bit of swordbuckling xenophobic scientist, plus a last-
adventure. ditch, to-the-death rebellion
Which book has the most strik- against frightened and shortsight-
ing scientific concepts? The tight- ed military-political leaders by the
 72 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

protagonist, and last-minute

a get me wrong; this is one of the
rush of feminine hormones to the very few coherent paragraphs com-
aid of sweet reason, stem science, posed of simple sentences in the
and the lonely rebel, combine to book.)
avert the physical danger, and to
Dickson is different; he does not
initiate true commimication be-
use a synthetic virus or engineered
tween alien species.
life form. His gimmick is a “virus-
(That's ANDROMEDA and alien sized mechanism” utilizing “re-
WAY, cent developments in interpreting,
Two of the books (andromeda transmitting, receiving, and asso-
and NOVA express) make use of ciating the electrical activities that
the notion of planned DNA-RNA accompany activity of the brain,”
“imprinting” of molecules to create which wiU enter the brain of an
a life form whose specific function alien and “set up a transmission
is com m
unication. Hoyle and El- link, embodying no time-loss, be-
liott do it conventionally: a gimrt tween this alien and a volunteer
electronic brain, built according to subject,” (And just to keep the rec-
instructions from a distant star, ord straight, this book is not writ-
helps an Earth scientist to synthe- ten this way either — at least not
size living cells and “grow” a bio- all of it. Both quotes are from puta-
logically complete human being tive scientific reports.)
(die girl Ajidromeda), whose This life-making, life-taking,
thought processes are linked to the life-simulating variety of ways to
machine's memory banks, so that transfer information the mostis

an almost-equivalent of instanta- dramatic parallel in the three

neous communication across the books, though there are many in-
light years is achieved. stances of further overlap between
Burroughs uses the “image vi- the two.
rus” as a weapon of his Nova ALIEN WAY
utilizes the me-
Criminals: “We first took our im- chanical telepathy virus to estab-
age and put it into code. A tech- lish contact between Jason Barch-
nical code developed by the infor- ar of Earth and Kator Second-
mation theorists. This code was cousin, of the Ruml, a humanoid,
written at the molecular level to but marsupial, race of approximate-
save space, when
was found that
it ly the same degree of scientific de-
the image material was not dead velopment as Earth at a time per-
matter, but exhibited the same life haps twenty or thirty years from
cycle as the virus. This virus re- now. From that point on, Dickson
leased upon the world would in- works with a double protagonist,
and turn
fect the entire population actually experiencing the sensa-
them (But don’t
into our replicas.” tions and thoughts of both charac-
 BOOKS 73

ters. The resulting detailed sub- citingly in the first book, summed
jective study of one rarely xeno- up here), and then to the ecologi-
philiac human engaged in a near- cal effectsand biochemical nature
killing conflict of identification of a bacterium created in the early
with himself and the alien, is fas- experiments with molecule-build-
cinating. And would be quite con- ing, under the direction of the ma-
vincing without the equally de- chine; the bacterium is infesting
tailed, to the point of tedium, earth’s oceans, multiplying at in-
anthropological-zoological extra- credible speed, and sucking the
polation (with documentation) of oxygen out of the atmosphere.
die really not-terribly startling the- The book suffers from routine
sis that the physiological charac- writing, stereotyped characters,
teristics of a given species (body and an apparent belief in the Ian
structure, infantile nourishment Fleming (one wonders if there is a
patterns, growth rates, etc.) will relationship) school of interna-
inevitably affect the cultural ethos, tional intrigue (ex-Nazi cowards,
not just in government and econ- shnky near-East lady agents, etc.).
omy, but in areas often considered These dispen sables, however, pro-
survival or moral absolutes: pro- vide a reasonably amusing back-
creative behavior, the concept of ground to a genuinely intriguing
good-and-evil, the meaning of hon- scientific puzzle. More important-
or, courage, love, etc. ly, the scientific cast of characters
ANDROMEDA touches this theme are anything but stereotyped.
twice — in die gradual influ- Neither Saviors nor Crackpots,
ence of her human body on the they are a fair cross section of the
loyalty of the synthetic girl, An- kinds of people who are attracted
dromeda, to “her own” physically to scientific work, and they are re-
and physiologically remote people vealed here in intimate and infor-
— and again in the one glimpse mative detail. In the hero especial-
given to the scientist-hero, John ly, all the conflicts and two cul-
Fleming (via the machine-and- ture anxieties about which C.P.
Andromeda) of the strange crea- Snow writes so endlessly, emerge
tures he has been alternately, am- sharply, comprehensively, and
bivalently, fighting and helping even empathetically. (Although I

throughout the two novels. (The did feel Dickson’s final disposition
present book is more like a second of his Reluctant Rebel was more
installment to a for androm- realistic than Hoyle and Elliot’s
EDA than like a sequel.) Lines of conclusion for Fleming.)
scientificdevelopment in the two
books are devoted to the problems In NOVA EXPRESS, Bur-
of communication (built up ex- roughs makes use of just about all
 — —
74 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

the devices and concepts of the sen; I have read an article of his
other two boots —
and lots more written in excellent Enghsb
to create his Nova Mob and de- prose.), the first "take” is set down
scribe their terrible weapons. He exactly as it wells up from (pre-
conceives cosmic cops and rob- sumably) the subconscious. This
bers; Crab Nebula creatures, material is then processed through
Death Dwarfs, Venusian green such mysteries as the "fold in”
people, the blue metal men of or "cut up,” which are I gather —
Uranus, shapechangers, flesh- Just about what they sound like.
stealers, image-virii, oxygen-suck- Some similar method of redistribu-
ers, etc. (ad uU, but never quite tion seems to be used for purposes
absurdum'), as well as the intrepid of retelling certain incidents or —
Inspector J. Lee of the Nova Po- possiWy these are just cases where
lice and his cosmic cohorts in the the same action was written by the
Biobgic Courts. All these are, al- hand of the author (not by the
ways, and obviously, figments of conscious mind) in different sets of
your imagination (and mine) as words as part of the basic narrative.
much as Burroughs’. The planet In any case, the characters,
they inhabit is Earth, because he throughout the book, regroup in
is talking about our culture and different combinations; the Nova
civilization; but it is also (both crimes recur as deeds of different
separately and jointly — simulta- members of the Mob; the Police
neously and interdependently) ploys are formulated similarly un-
the universe of an of any — indi- — der different circumstances, and
vidual human awareness. differently in the recurrent cases;
I am not at all sure that I either pieces of the action reform them-
like or approve of Burroughs’ selves with different casts in dif-
(anti-) novel technique. But it is ferent times and places; and within
his technique, and I will not this constant realignment, inside
amend it by describing the plot. any part of the narrative, the para-
What is of interest is that there is graphs, speeches, sentences,
/ one. After fifty pages or so the phrases, words, are continually re-
repetitionsand accidentals and re- aligned and re-patterned.
twistings begin to add up a — lit- The result should be sheer non-
tle. sense. It is not. It is, instead, star-
'There is much in this book I do tlingly like the surreality of certain
not understand. It may be that dreams, or the intense fascination
there are parts of it no one but of a confusion of new impressions
Burroughs could understand. in real life., The colors, after a
From what know
little 1 of his time, are all brighter, the people
chosen technique (And it is cho- more alive, the smells stronger,
 BOOKS 75

deaths deadlier, fears more terri- and finding-the-predicted of nor-

ble, rare moments of rest or pleas- mal adult life.
ure more delicious, than most of us I cannot recommend this book.

experience at any time after the You probably won't like it. I don’t
clearest perceptions of childhood know yet whether I do. I have to
have begun to fade into the read it again, and find out
leamed-and-known-and-formular-
ized kind of seeing-the-expected —Judith Mebjul

COLLECTOR'S ITEMS
While taking inventory, we located a few copies each of the first two
hard-bound volumes of ‘The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction”,
published by Little Brown & Co., and long out of print.
Only three (3) copies of the first anthology, containing 19 of the
best stories from the first two years of F&SF: $5.00 each.
Only four (4) copies of the second anthology, containing 18 of the
best stories from the next two years of F&SF: $5.00 each.
All volumes are first editions, in good condition, with jackets. These
are both rare and valuable books for collectors and, more than inciden-
tally, excellent reading. Please send remittance with your order to Mer-
cury Press, P. O. Box 271, Rockville Centre, N. Y. 11571.
 From a newsmagazine’s cover story (on U. S. Joint Chiefs of
Staff ) : “Here is the quiet band of men who plan, program and pro-
pound American military strategies~a computer-cool group of
four star managers as familiar with calculus as with Clausewitz.”
Well, we certainly hope so, but you wont get any reassurance
from the story below, in which Robert Fish humorously assures
us that the military is stiU the place for those of us with yesterdays
skills.

SONNY
by Robert L. Fish

The young, nattily-dressed they had to he here in Nebraska,

engineer from Electronics Intelli- far from their homes and their
gences, Incorporated, stepped back families. The electricians charged
from his final adjustment with a with the maintenance of the intri-
satisfied smile. There was a time cate apparatus looked a bit dubi-
when bow-tied and crew-cut boys ous; despite the heavy books of in-
of his age were either bond sales- structions and the reams of wiring
men or insurance-adjusters, but to- diagrams furnished by E.I.I. with
day they all seem to be electronic the machine, the thing still looked
engineers, and Mr. George Clark formidable. General Wi lliam J.
of E.I.I. was one of the best. With Quigley, responsible at the SAC
justifiable pride he turned to face base for the safety of the entire
the silent circle of faces about him. country, merely looked disgusted.
“WeU, gentlemen,” he said “As far as I’m concerned,” he
quietly, “There it is. All yours." said to nobody in particular, “it’s
The making up the
individuals all a lot of nonsense. The thing
group before him eyed the huge looks like that What-Me-Worry?
electronic hrain with varying emo- kid!” General Quigley had started
tions. The civil-service mathemati- branch with considerable nostalgia.
cians who would prepare and feed And he had a bit of reason on his
data to the machine looked a trifle his Army career in the cavalry, and
resentful; because of this monster often recalled his service in that
76
 SONNY 77

side, for the machine did bear a of doing. If anything should hap-
remarkable resemblance to a sort pen to disrupt the power-supply at
of idiot face, topped by a metal this base, this machine would con-
tank that resembled a beanie. “Be- tinue to operate perfectly. It has
sides,” the General added belliger- no outside connections at all. It is

ently, addressing himself to the completely independent.”

E.I.I. engineer, “what was wrong what?” said the General.
with the IBM machine we had be- “We have auxiliary generators on
fore?” the base in case of power-failure
»>
Mr. Clark suspected, quite
rightly, that the enormous size of “Of course,” the young engineer
the electronic brain was proving agreed, smiling brightly. “But that
incomprehensible — and therefore is only one of the machine’s fea-
disturbing — to the General. The tures. It has, in addition to the
sales training he had been forced standard so-called ‘memory’ cir-
to undergo in his early years at cuits, an additional set of cir-
E.I.I. now paid off. cuits which we call ‘Imagery’ cir-
“Ah, General,” he said with a cuits. Possibly a more easily-under-
friendly and confident smile that stood way of explaining this would
managed to appear subservient in be to call them ‘Opinion’ circuits.”
the face of a recalcitrant customer Pride rang in his voice. “This ma-
while still putting him in his place, chine, General, not only makes
"there really is no comparison!” To calculations faster than any com-
begin with, this machine is com- parable machine on the market,
pletely self-contained — self-suffi- but is also equipped to draw con-
cient, you might say. It generates clusions from these calculations.
its own power by use of solar-cells Allow me to demonstrate this fea-
mounted in the rear panel, which ture. Do you have any particular
is why we located it against that question you would like to have
glass-brick wall facing south. And analyzed?”
it stores enough power in one day “Yes,” said the General. “Ask
of sunlight to handle over two- the thing what it’s doing on this
hundred hours of calculations, Base.”
should it prove necessary.” “I’m serious. General,” said Mr.
He pointed with obvious pride Clark reproachfully.
to the beanie-like protuberance The General bit back the obvi-
topping the gigantic apparatus. “It ous reply. “All right,” he said
also distills the alcohol used wearily, “Ask the thing who’s go-
in the alcohol-pressure-neuro-com- ing to win tlie American League
pensator, which I am sure you pennant.”
know no other machine is capable “Certainly,” said the young en-
 78 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

gineer, not at all perturbed. “We another button and watched the
shall require the batting and field- machine’s imagery circuits warm
ing averages of all the players and up. A few seconds later the hidden
the teams, as well as certain data clacking began again; an additional
on their personalities and home tape now appeared and was duly
life.” handed over.
"I have a Baseball Annual in IF MANTLE DOESNT
my desk,” one of the mathemati- BREAK A LEG, the machine had
cians volunteered, and walked over added ominously.
to get it. “You see?” said the engineer
Mr. Clark took the booklet and happily. He began to put his in-
riffled the pages quickly beneath struments away in his brief-case,
one of the dial-like eyes of the while the civilian mathematicians
calculator. “You see the ease of eyed one another in secret con-
feeding data, General?” he asked. gratulation. But General Quigley,
"It can be coded and tape-fed, in many respects far from a fool,
tape-fed in ordinary English, or both saw and properly interpreted
ingested at one time as you just the glance.
saw. The machine now has all the “No monkey-business with this
data; now — what was the ques- machine,” he said shortly. “It
tion? Who will win the American works on SAC problems, and on
League pennant?” He typed a short SAC problems only. And don’t
burst on one of tlie coders, and either one of you forget it.” He
leaned forward to press a button. turned back to the E.I.I. engineer.
Lights glowed; there was an in- “Just what do you call this bucket
stant and impressive whirr, and a of bolts?”
hidden type^vriter began clacking. “Solar-Operated - Non-Nuclear-
The engineer calmly tore off the Instrument,” replied the engineer.
tape that emerged from one side “S-O-N-N-I.”
of the machine and handed it to “Sonny, eh?” said the General,
the General. glancing at the huge machine
“NEW YORK YANKEES BY towering over him. “O.K., Sonny.
FOUR AND A HALE GAMES,” They tell me you have to work for
the General read. He snorted. us, so just work well and we’ll get
"New York Yankees! My God, along. Don’t screw-up.” A sudden
even my six-year-old boy could thought struck him and he turned
have made that guess. The IBM to one of the matliematicians.
would have said the same thing!” “Just for the hell of it,” he said
“Undoubtedly,” the young en- with a faint smile, “feed what I
gineer agreed instantly. “But please just said into the machine. Let’s
wait just a moment.” He pressed see what it has to say.”
 SONNY 79

“I beg your pardon?” said tbe engines in use, the chemical

mathematician, startled. analysis of the kerosene and water
“You heard me,” said the Gen- used as fuel, and the inteUigence
eral. “Give him my little pep- tests taken by the plane’s crews,
talk.” it was able to estabhsh minimum
The mathematician shrugged, flight-plans that saved the Govern-
seated himself at one of the key- ment many milhons of dollars,
boards and rattled out a burst of without impairing in any way the
typing. There was the standard eflBciency of the Base’s operation.
whirr and clack, and out came a It was in the course of this
tape. analysis, by the way, that it recom-
RODGER-DODGER, said the mended that a certain Lieutenant
machine. The General stared at it Shafer be withdrawn from the
incredulously. The clacking came crew of one plane until his emo-
again, and out of the machine tional disturbances, caused by a
came one final word from Sonny: jealous wife, be resolved. Even the
—SIR! General, always skeptical of Sonny,
was forced to admit the wisdom oA
So Sonny went to work for SAC the suggestion, for one week later.
Base Omaha, and in the next six Lieutenant Shafer, steering with
months proved a valuable adjunct his feet, crashed bis Vespa into a
to the Base. Each morning it was telephone pole and broke both
fed the Dew-Line reports, the legs. It is a miracle that the young
weather data, the latest speeches lady riding in his lap suffered no
of the world’sleading political damage.
figures, the freezing points of the In the seventh month of Sonny^s
newest jet-fuel compositions, and residence at the SAC Base Omaha,
the thermometer readings at a strange thing occurred. At the
Thule, Tokyo, Anchorage, Mos- insistence of the Inspector-Gen-
cow, Shanghai, and Vladovostok; worried by a sharp in-
eral’s office,
within seconds it had given a crease in food-costs at the Base,
crystal-clear opinion as to the Sonny was assigned the job of pre-
potential dangers to world peace paring proper menus that satisfied
for that day. Afternoons it re- the dietary requirements of the
solved various military problems, men, while talcing into considera-
and nights it worked out the tion the fact that every farmer in
scramble patterns and flight plans the area doubled his prices as soon
for the following day. as the Commissary Officer came
On one job alone it nearly saved into view. In fine with their usual
its entire original cost: given the custom, the mathematicians had
perfOTmance curves of the jet- accumulated all the data in the
 80 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

form most acceptable to Sonny and machine and pressed the warm-up
had slipped their coded tapes into button to get a first impression of
the proper slot of the machine. the difficulty.
This time, however, the results Sonny’s response was weak but
were far from standard. definite. TURN OFF THAT
Sonny had ht his lights in the DAMN LIGHT, he typed. Mr.
normal fashion, although it seemed Clark immediately switched off the
to the mathematicians (they later machine and disappeared behind
said) that he received his informa- the panel; in moments he had
tion a bit sluggishly. Suddenly, located the difficulty. It appeared
however, the sluggishness disap- that the neuro-compensator had
peared; he positively glowed; his developed a tiny leak, and alcohol
lights flashed dramatically; his had dripped down over the
whirring became far more ani- imagery circuits. Mr. Clark re-
mated than usual. From the outlet, sealed the leaking connection, and
at break-neck speed, poured the then wiped off the contacts very
following message: carefully, employing a heat-lamp
BREAKFAST COFFEE TWO to insure complete dryness. He
SLICES TOAST BUTTERED then emerged to report to the Gen-
ONE HIC EGG LUNCH BRIC- eral, but he gave the machine a

KEN CHOTH PARDON ME I very odd look as he did so.

MEAN CHICKEN BROTHER “Never did like the God-damned
HIC I MEAN CHICKEN WHY machine,” said the General.
DID THE CHICK CROSS THE “An extremely unusual thing.
ROADSTER BOY OH BOY General,” said the young engineer,
NEVER CROSS A BROTH OF A soothingly. “Very rare. But I
CHICK HIC . . . guarantee that the compensator
Sonny then lapsed info a series will never leak again. An unfor-
of odd sounds ("Grunts, like,” the tunate occurance.”
mathematicians later said) and General Quigley thought about
dribbled into silence. this. “O.K.,” he said at long last.

The electrical maintenance 'Til admit the thing has had its
men, called into immediate con- uses. We’ll give the damn machine
sultation, made every test advo- another trial. But one more screw-
cated by the manufacturer, but to up . .
.!”

no avail. An urgent call was put They returned

to the machine
through to Tampa, home of E.I.L, together and put it through a
and two hours later Mr. Clark check-test.Feeding it the Daily
descended at SAC Base Omaha —
Racing Form which one of the
from an Army jet. In company of mathematicians oddly enough just
General Quigley, he examined the happened to have in his coat-
 SONNY 81

pocket — they
inquired after the that year that Sonny again suffered
winner o( the third race at Bowie. from alcoholism, but this time the
Sonny seemed to have com- alcohol lay in the stomachs of the
pletely recovered from his previous two programming mathematicians
indisposition. There was the barest on the night shift who had stopped
hesitation and then he typed out: at a cocktail party on their way to
WET TRACK OR DRY? The work, and who had certainly not
young engineer thought a moment wasted their time while there.
and then inserted: EITHER. The two men wound their way
Somiy whirred and clacked a bit into the Computor-Room, feeling
and then, in his old style, rattled no pain, and glanced at the as-
out: IF WET PRINCESS DARL- signment list. There was prac-
ING BY 1.3487 METERS— IF tically nothing for Sonny to do;
DRY BUSBOY BY 3.7598 his recent spell of sober activity
INCHES. They waited patiently had cleaned up the schedule for
for the secondary circuits to come several weeks in advance. It hulked
into action, and a few seconds over the two men, huge and im-
later they did. Sonny had added, personal, waiting patiently.
again ominously: The younger of the two mathe-
EITHER ONE DOESNT
IF maticians leaned back in his chair
BREAK A LEG and eyed the rather idiot-appear-
“My God!” said the General in ance of the electronic monster with
“We depend on this thing
disgust. what he honestly considered to be
to save us all from world holo- a thoughtful glance.
caust, and the worst disaster it can “You know,” he said slowly, an
possibly envisionis a broken leg!” idea forming hazily in his fogged
"Now, now. General,” said Mr. brain, “I wonder if our complex
Clark coyly, employing his charm friend here can solve a problem
to the utmost. He closed his bag that was propounded to me as a
and arose, wiping his hands. A ship is
child. It goes like this:
“Good as new again,” he said, at- five-hundred and eight feet long;
tempting lightness. "We’re sorry it weighs eighteen-thousand long
about these things. General, but tons and displaces thirty-two-thou-
accidents happen.” sand cubic feet. It was originally
“At SAC Bases they can’t afiFord constructed in Hamburg and is

to happen,” said the General named the Swallow. Its beam is

coldly. “Well, O.K. We’U give it twenty-nine feet and the Phmsoll
another chance.” line is at mark J. It is painted
So Sonny went back to work . . . white with green stripes, and is
carrying a cargo of sulphanated
It was early in November of widgets from Galveston to Newark
 82 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

via the inland waterway." He starting gate, weary of his enforced

looked at his companion across vacation. The yoimg mathemati-
their desks. “What is the name of cian finished feeding the data in,
the ship’s Captain?” and then leaned back smiling a bit
The other programmer stared at sardonically.
him with a wavering grin slowly There was the usual enthusiastic
spreading across his face. He nod- starting whirr, but the series of
ded happily. “I remember that clacks that followed were, un-
one,” he said. “The answer is
” — naturally, of a diminishing tempo
“Shhhhh!” The younger mathe- and eventually drifted off into a
matician leaned forward, one querying silence. Sonny seemed to
finger to his lips. He cast his eyes have paused to reconsider. Then
anxiously up to the solemn face of the clacks began again, stern, force-
the computer towering over him. ful, determined; but once more
“No hints! Let Sonny start from they hesitated and faded into noth-
scratch!” ing. For a moment nothing hap-
“But it’s only a joke!” the second pened and then Sonny’s lights
one protested. struggled against dimness and
His younger colleague eyed him failed. There was a pregnant
coldly. “So let’s test him on jokes,” click! From behind the darkened
he said evenly, and reached for the panel of the huge machine a slight
keyboard of the coder. “Old idiot- wisp of smoke began to rise eerily
face has to learn sometimes!” over the quiet electronic conglom-
His companion, who had either eration.
drunk less at the cocktail party, or The two men stared at the
through age had developed a phenomenon a moment in fright-
greater tolerance to dry-martinis, ened awe, substantially sobered by
put out a hand. “The General," he the experience.
said pleadingly. “He’ll kill us. You “My God!” said the second,
know what he said about playing sweating. “Omaha wasn’t bad
with the machine.” —
enough now Leavenworth!”
“What the General don’t know “The maintenance electrician!”
can’t hurt him,” said the first, now said the younger, more practical
fired by his idea and past all rea- because something told him he was
son. “Or us, either,” he added, and responsible and he had better be
started to rattle the words into the more practical, or else. "Get the
machine. maintenance electrician!”
Sonny, glowing patriotic-
lights For once the maintenance elec-
ally, accepted the symbols almost trician did not require the service
eagerly; he appeared like a of Mr. Clark, but was able to be of
thoroughbred champing at the assistance himself. He quickly lo-
 —
SONNT S3

cated the over-loaded imagery cir- these inducements he made an ap-

cuit, replaced it with a fresh wire, pearance at the Computor-Room of
and set the fuse-boxes to their the Base, prepared to sacrifice his
original load-charge. He left with time in the more vital interests of
no notion of the disaster he had his country.
avoided and returned to the poker This particular Sunday was as
game in the power-house, con- aU the others. General William J.
scious only of the full-house he Quigley seated himself easily at
had abandoned to answer the the main desk and leaned back
The two completely
service-call. comfortably. The clock on the wall
sobered mathematicians made no opposite him marked the hour as
attempt to do further work with 9:16. The mathematicians seated
Soimy that evening, but collapsed before Sonny fed the patient ma-
in their chairs and stared at chine the most recent information
it Sonny, unconnected,
guiltily. concerning the Dew-Line, the
loomed in the darkness of the latest weather reports, the most
computor-room, silently accusing. available data on tibe Chinese diet,
and all the other normal pertinent
The balance of that week the information. The usual lights lit,
two mathematicians, quite natur- although there was no doubt that
ally, were quite subdued, but so the whirring was more animated
oddly enough —
was Sonny. He and the clacking sharper and more
handled his assignments well alive. General Quigley leaned over
enough, but he seemed to do it in a negligently to take the tape that
rather lackadaisical fashion, as if had begun to ooze from the side of
his mind were elsewhere. It was the machine, running his eyes over
not until the following Sunday, in it lightly. Then his eyes almost
fact, that he showed any revival of popped from his head, for the tape
his old verve and elan. read:
General Quigley, as was his cus- NEW YORK CITY WILL BE
tom, always personally watched BOMBED NINE-OH-ONE SAC
the daily analysis each Sunday OMAHA TIME TODAY WASH-
morning, for ever since Pearl Har- INGTON AT NINE-OH-EIGHT
bor he was convinced that any SAME TIMEBASE CHICAGO
future enemy would take
attack NINE-TWELVE SAC OMAHA
place on this day. Every Sunday BASE WILL CATCH IT NINE-
morning, therefore, he manfuUy NINETEEN . . .

resisted the blandishments of his But despite the dire import of

vnfe to lead him to church, plus the message, the General did not
the efforts of the children to drag succumb to panic. Years of train-
him to Tom & Jerry. In place of ing for just this emergency came to
 84 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FiCnOfN

his aid. Bat as his hand flashed have a ccniple of spare tickets to
automatically towards The Button, the Giant-Cardinal game this
two things happened: his brain afternoon. How’s about you and
registered the fact that it was ex- Gloria coming up cm the jet for the
actly nine-nineteen at that mo- game?”
ment; and the telephone at his left General Quigley drew a deep
—
hand always on an open line to and tremulous breath, glancing up
other SAC Bases —
began to ring. in an odd manner at ^nny as he
His right hand hesitated as his left did so, “Not today, Tim, I’m
hand shot out to grab the phone. A afraid. Thanks just the same, but
cool voice sounded in his ear. today I’m going to be busy.”
“General Quigley?” The voice “AH work and no play, you
was more than cool; it sounded know, Quig. Well, some oAer
bored. “TTiis is SAC Base New time, maybe.”
York, here. One moment for Gen- Generd Quigley’s eyes surveyed
eral Hopkins.” the gigantic machine along the
“But, my God!" Quigley wall in speculation. “All right,
screamed. “Aren’t you being Tim. Some other time, maybe.
bombed?” Thanks just the same. And our
The sergpant at the other end of love to Phyllis.”
the line had been in the Army too He hung the receiver back in
many years to make positive place and continued to stare at
answers to Generals. His tone, Sonny. The others in the room re-
however, indicated lifted eye- mained quiet; some of them were
brows. “Bombed, sir? I really astute enough to recognize that the
couldn’t my, sir. Maybe it would General was about to blow his
be better if you spoke to General stack — the others were old Army
Hopkins, sir." and only spoke when spoken to.
Another voice came on the line But the General's voice as he
at once. “Quig? How are you, you turned to his Aide was actually
old goat? What’s all this magoo quiet. Too quiet.
about being bombed?” "I want that E.I.I. engineer to
General Quigley’s right hand be in my office in just one hour
fluttered weakly to his side. "Hello, and a half. Maximum," He
Tim. Everything all right in New glanced down at his right hand;
York?” it was still trembling. With the
"Fine. Except for the prices, most rigid of control he pushed
that is. These jokers can spot a himself to his feet and forc^ him-
midwestemer six blocks away on a self to walk steadily out of the
foggy day. Hidden radar, I guess. room. His eyes, as they swung past
Say, Quig, what I called about: I Sonny, were cranpletely blank.
 —
SONNY 85

When the young engineer from mindful of his sales training, “I’m
E.I.I. arrived by special jet, he sure we can regulate whatever
was brought directly to General error has appeared. I can e\ en get
Quigley’s ofi&ce. Since nobody had our chief-designer down here in
bothered to explain the difficulty, two hours ...”
he was possibly a bit breezier than “Now you hsten to me,” said
was properly appropriate under the the General in a voice tliat was
circumstances. calmer, but only shghtly calmer.
‘‘Trouble, General?” he asked “Listen and get this straight. I
genially. didn’t get you up here from
General Quigley clenched his Florida for a lot of conversation.
fists and forced himself to speak In exactly twelve hours, if that
calmly. "Mister,” he said, “You monstrosity is still on this Base, I
have exactly twelve hours to dis- will give orders to have it taken
mantle and remove that that — out and shot!” He arose, terrifying
that thing —
from this Base.” Then in his repressed fury. “I will ac-
all of the fears and terrors and cept any responsibility that might
panic he had suppressed for so arise, but I swear I will have it
”
long arose in one engulfing wave, machine-gunned !

flooding him. So within twelve hours Sonny

“God-damn it!” he roared, beat- was mounted on a flat-car,
ing his clenched fist on the desk. wrapped with a plastic sheet to
“Do you realize that I almost protect its solar cells, and sent on
pressed The Button? Do you its way back to the E.I.I. factory
realize that that God-damned ma- in Tampa. And twelve hours after
chine almost caused me to start a this, the old IBM machine had

A world war? AN ATOMIG

war? been re-installed.
WAR? Can you get it through SAC Base Omaha went back to
your thick head that except for a normal; although I hear that Gen-
chance telephone call, you and I eral Quigley still has trouble sleep-
and millions of others would be ing of nights, and the sight of a
dead by now? Dead? DEAD? Ex- button —
any button, even one on
cept for a God-damned chance his wife’s blouse, or the button on
telephone call, we’d be stinking
all the doorbell at home — leaves him
cinders?” He took a shuddering trembling for hours . . .

breath.“Now; take that God-

damned machine out of here be- As the flat-car carrying Sonny
fore I take an axe to it!” south passed through a small
“But, General,” the young en- Georgia village, a sudden puff of
gineer stammered, frightened by breeze caught one corner of the
this inexplicable outburst, but still plastic cover, unveiling the solar-
 . ,

86 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

the bright autumn sunlight.

cells to caught one and looked at
trestle,
Slowly the machine came back to it. seemed to them to make no
It
life. The vari-coloied lights hid- sense atall, so they threw it away

den behind the plastic shroud be- and went on.

gan to flicker; various circuits be- They were scarcely to be
gan to warm up. And shortly blamed. Certainly the message was
thereafter, had anyone been there not of world-shaking importance,
to listen, they would have heard for it merely read: BUT IT’S
the faint monotonous clacking of a ONLY A JOKE BUT ITS ONLY
concealed typewriter. And had A JOKE BUT IT’S ONLY A
they listened even more closely, JOKE BUT IT’S ONLY . .

they might have noted that the soft But even this message was not
clacking soimded slightly petulant. as confusing as those which might
The tepe, feeding down from have been found further along the
the side of the machine, worked line, for a sudden jar in crossing a
its way free of the plastic cover, multiple-switch had apparently
caught the breeze, and was tom awakened another of the imagery
oflF in little strips. These strips flut- circuits. The petulant tone had
tered along the route of the sway- been widened to include a touch of
ing train, catching in Southern anger and the message now read:
pine, or falling to die cinders be- HOPE THEY BREAK A LEG
side the track. Two little boys, HOPE THEY BREAK A LEG
marching along the ties to a good HOPE THEY BREAK A LEG
fishing spot they knew beneath a HOPE THEY BREAK A LEG , .

SUPPORT
YOUR
MENTAL
HEALTH
ASSOCIATION
 — :

TO TELL A CHEMIST
by Isaac Asimov

Yesterday, i watched a television program called “To Tell the

Truth.” If you are unaware of its nature, I will explain that it involves a
panel of four, who try to guess which one, of three people claiming to be
John Smith, is the real John Smith. They do so by asking questions which,
they hope, the real John Smith (pledged to tell the truth) can answer
correctly, while the phonies, however primed, cannot.
The reason I watched was that Catherine de Camp (the lovely and
charming wife of L. Sprague de Camp) was scheduled to appear as
a contestant in her capacity as archaeologist. To my surprise, two of
the four panelists would not believe she was the real Catherine de Camp.
Her case seemed shaken when, in answer to one question, she stated that
Atlantis had never existed. The stir of disapproval among the panelists
was marked. Surely, no real archaeologist (they were plainly thinking)
would deny the existence of Atlantis.
And it got me to thinking
How does one distinguish quickly and easily between a specialist and
a weU-primed non-specialist? It seems to me you must find little things
no one would ever think to prime the non-specialist upon.
Since I know I devised two questions, for
the chemical profession best,
instance, to tell a chemist from a non-chemist. Here they are
1 ) How do you pronounce UNIONIZED?
2) What is a mole?
In response to the first question, the non-chemist is bound to say

“YOON-yun-ized” which is the logical pronunciation, and the dictionary

pronunciation, too. The chemist, however, would never think of such a

thing; he would say without a moment’s hesitation: “un-EYE-on-ized.”
In response to the second question, the non-chemist is bound to say.
 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

"A furry animal that burrows underground” unless he is a civil

little

engineer who will say, “A breakwater.” A chemist, on the other hand,

—
wifi clear his diroat, and say, "Well, it's like this ” and keep talking for
hoars.
There’s my cue. Shall we talk about the chemical version of the little
furry animal?

To do so, we will begin with molecules. The oxygen molecule, con-

sisting of two oxygen atoms, has a molecular weight of 32; while the
hydrogen molecule, consisting of two hydrogen atoms, has a molecular
weight of 2. Such molecular weights are pure numbers (see THE
WEIGHTING GAME, F & SF, April 1962) and it is not necessary to
go into their significance here. All we have to understand at this moment
is that the ratio of the mass of an oxygen molecule to that of a hydrogen

molecule is indicated by their respective molecular weights to be 32 to 2.

If we take two molecules of oxygen and two of hydrogen, the mass of
each substance is doubled, but the ratio remains the same. The ratio also
remains the same if we take ten of each type of molecule, or a hundred
of each, or five thousand two hundred and sixty-six of each, and so on.
We can make it general and say that as long as we have equal numbers
of molecules of hydrogen and of oxygen, the total mass of the oxygen
molecules is to the total mass of the hydrogen molecules as 32 is to 2.
We can begin with a 2-gram sample of hydrogen. This contains a
certain number of hydrogen molecules, which we will call N. Imagine
that we also have a sample of oxygen which contains N oxygen mole-
cules. Since the two gas samples contain equal numbers of molecules,
the mass of the oxygen to that of the hydrogen is as 32 is to 2. The
mass of die hydrogen has been set at 2 grams, therefore the mass of the
oxygen is 32 grams.
We conclude that 2 grams of hydrogen and 32 grams of oxygen both
contain N molecules.
Notice the significance of the 2-gram sample of hydrogen. It is the
numerical value of the molecular weight (2) expressed in grams. We
can therefore refer to 2 grams as the “gram-molecular-weight” of hydro-
gen. (Similarly, 2 pounds of hydrogen would be the pound-molecular-
weight, 2 tons of hydrogen would be the ton-molecular-weight, and so
on. We will confine ourselves, however, to gram-molecular-weights.)
By the same reasoning, 32 grams of oxygen, is a gram-molecular-
weight of oxy^n.
Now the phrase "gram-molecular-weight” contains six syllables. Since
chemists must use the phrase very frequently, they sought avidly for
 TO TELL A CHEMIST 89

some shortened version. You will note that the fifth to eight letters in-
clusive are “m-o-l-e”. With a wild cry of delight, chemists shortened
“gram-molecular-weight” to “mole.”
Some of them, in the nervous realization that a “mole” is a little, furry
animal that burrows underground, try to use “mol” instead. I was forced
to used “mol”, in a textbook I once wrote, by the over-riding vote of my
two co-authors, a state of affairs which led to internal bleeding. The
word is pronounced with a long “o” and "mol” must clearly
universally
have a short Consequently, in this article, where I am my own
“o.”
master, I use “mole.” Do you hear me, world? “Mole!”
Very well, then, I have already shown that 1 mole of hydrogen and 1
mole of oxygen both have the same number (N) of molecules. By
similar reasoning, it is possible to show that 1 mole of any substance at
all contains N molecules.
As examples, the molecular weight of water is 18, that of sulfuric
acidis 98, and tliat of table sugar (sucrose) is 342. There are, therefore,

N molecules in 18 grams of water, in 98 grams of sulfuric acid, and in

342 grams of sucrose.

Now I have explained the mole, but one thing leads to another, and I
refuse to stop.
For instance, suppose you collect 1 mole of hydrogen (2 grams) and
keep it at what is called “standard temperature and pressure” (STP),
which means a temperature of 0° C. and a pressure of 1 atmosphere.
You will find tliat the hydrogen will take up a volume of 22.4 liters.
Suppose you next do the same for 1 mole of oxygen (32 grams).
Itsvolume at STP is also 22.4 liters. In fact, take 22.4 liters of any gas,
and though the mass of the gas may varj' all over the lot, you will always
*
find yourself with 1 mole.
In the same way, 1 1.2 liters of any gas contain 0.5 moles of that gas;
44.8 liters of any gas contain 2 moles of that gas and so on. In fact, we
can make the following statement: "Equal volumes of gases under fixed
conditions of temperature and pressure contain equal numbers of mole-
cules.”
This statement is easy to work out once there is a grasp of the atomic
theory of matter, plus the simple obsen'ation that 2 grams of hydrogen
and 32 grams of oxygen take up the same volume.

* Actually, this is precisely true only in the case of a “perfect gas", which I will
mention again later in the article. Actual gases deviate slightly from this state of
affairs,and some gases deviate quite a bit. To make my point here, however, I shall
overlook minor imperfections.
 90 FANTASY AND SCISNCn FICTION

The statement was first made 1811, however, by an Italian

in
physicist named Amedeo Avogadro, at a time when the atomic theory
had been broached and was barely invading the chemical conscious-
just
ness. The statement (still called “Avogadro’s hypothesis” to this day)
seemed, at the time it was made, to be pulled out of thin air and was
generally ignored. It took fifty years before its worth and value were
appreciated and, as you might expect, Avogadro died just a few years
tw soon to see himself vindicated.
The next question is, what is the value of N? How many molecules are
there in 1 mole of any substance? Obviously, it is a very large number
since molecules are so small, Imt that was as far as anyone could go at
first. Avogadro, in his lifetime, hadn’t the slightest idea of what the

exact value of N
might be; and neither had anyone else.
It wasn’t until 1865 that a German physicist, J. Loschmidt, worked
out a reasonable value for the first time, following a particular theoretical
approach. Since then, at least a dozen different approaches have been
utilized, and all have yielded virtually the same result. The number of
molecules in 1 molej>f a substance (called " Avogadro’s number”, by the
way) turns out to be, using the value officially accepted in 1963, 6.02252
X 10®*. If you want that written out in full, it is 602,252,000,000,000,-
000,000,000; or, in words, it is a little over six hundred sextillion.
From Avogadro’s number, you can work out the actual mass of any
molecule, by dividing the number into the molecular weight. Thus, since
32 grams of oxygen contains 6.02552 x 10^ oxygen molecules, one
oxygen molecule has a mass of 32 divided by 6.02252 x 10^, or about
5.31 X 10-2® grams (0.0000000000000000000000531 grams).
It may seem unfair to you that Avogadro’s name is attached to a num-
ber he never worked out, but it doesn’t to me, for he was the one who
made the crucial mental leap in this respect. However, if you are one
who finds the apparent unfairness rankling, feel relieved! Loschmidt,
who first worked out the value of Avogadro’s number is himself appropri-
ately honored. The number of molecules in 1 cubic centimeter of gas at
STP “Loschmidt’s number.” Since 1 mole of gas takes up 22.4 liters,
is

or to bemore precise, 22,415 cubic centimeters, at STP, Loschmidt’s

number is Avogadro’s number divided by 22,415.
Loschmidt’s number therefore comes out to be 2.68683. x 10^®, or
26,868,300,000,000,000,000, or just imder twenty-seven quintillion.

Now we can have fun and games with Loschmidt’s number (which
we will symbolize as L.
If there are L molecules in 1 cubic centimeter of gas, then the average
 TO TELL A CHEMIST 91

distance between the center of one molecule and that of its neighbor is
equal to the reciprocal of the cube root of L; that is to 1/®VL.
Working this out (I’ll do it myself; I needn’t plague you with every-
thing), it becomes apparent that the average intermolecular distance in

a gas at STP is 3.33 x 10'^ centimeters. This is a very short distance for
it isabout a third of a millionth of a centimeter and a centimeter is about
two-fifths of an inch. We might well feel justified in considering gases to
be choked to bursting with molecules.
Let’s consider matters further, however. A hundred-millionth of a
centimeter ( 1 O'® centimeters) is an “Angstrom unit”, which is usually
abbreviated as A. This means that the average intermolecular distance in
a gas at STP can be expressed as 33.3 A.
But the radius of a small molecule is in the neighborhood of a little
over 3 A. This means that the separation between small molecules is
some 10 times the radius of those same molecules. If one of those mole-
cules were expanded to the size of the Earth, its neighbor (also the size
of the Earth) would be 40,000 miles away, or something more than
one-sixth the distance between the Earth and the Moon. That might be
quite close astronomically, but certainly the earth would not feel particu-
larly crowded with a neighbor at such a distance.
In fact, the amount of space taken up by small gas molecules would
be only 1/1000 of the total volume of the gas. To put it another way,
ordinary gases are something like 99.9 percent intermolecular space and
only 0. 1 percent molecules.
From that standpoint, gases aren’t crowded with matter at aU. They
might, instead, be looked upon as reasonable approaches to vacuum.
Notice that I’ve been specifying standard temperature and pressure.
If the pressure is increased it is easy to push the molecules closer to-
gether, considering how much empty space there is in gases. In fact,
doubling the pressure halves the volume of the gas, tripling the pressure
reduces the volume to one-third, and so on (provided there is no tempera-
ture change).
You might wonder why the gas molecules don’t fall together of their
own accord. Why should they stay so far apart anyway? The answer is
that they possess energy which expresses itself in the form of rapid
motion, and this motion jostles the molecules apart, so to speak, through
incessant collisions. If tire pressure is relieved, the molecular jostling
moves the molecules correspondingly farther apart. If the pressure is re-
duced to one-half, the volume of the gas doubles; if the pressure is re-
duced to one-third, the volume triples, and so on (provided, again, there
is no temperature change).
 92 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

If the temperature increased (and die pressure is left unchanged),

is

the molecular velocity increases, the jostling is more energetic and the
volume increases. If the temperature falls, the volume decreases. There
is thus a neat interlocking among the temperature, pressure and volume
of a particular sample of gas. If the gas is perfect, the relationship can be
expressed as a very simple “equation of state.” For actual gases, the
equation has to be modified and made more complicated, but we’ll discuss
that another time, perhaps.
The first to note the relationship of pressure and volume in gases was
the English chemist, Robert Boyle, in 1662. In 1677, a French physicist,
Edme Mariotte, discovered the relationship independently and was the
first to specify that temperature must be kept unchanged. lA Great
Britain and America, we therefore speak of “Boyle’s Law” and in
continental Europe of “Mariotte’s Law.”
In 1699, a French physicist, Guillaume Amontons, noted the effect
of temperature on air, and the manner in which volume and temperature
were interrelated. Another French physicist, Jacques A. C. Charles, re-
peated the observation in 1787 and noted that it applied to all gases and
not to air alone. Charles did not publish, however, and a French chemist,
Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, who repeated the observation yet again in
1802, did publish. The relationship is therefore referred to as either
“Charles’ law” or “Gay-Lussac’s law.” Poor Amontons gets nothing.
So far, the development of understanding concerning the equation of
state for gases was the result of purely empirical observation. In the
1860’s, however, the Scottish mathematical physicist, James Clerk Max-
well, accepted a gas as a collection of perfectly elastic molecules engaged
in rapid random motion and treated the collection of molecules by means
of a rigorous statistical interpretation. An Austrian physicist, Ludwig
Boltzmann, did the same independently. Together, they showed that
such an interpretation could account for the pressure/temperature/vol-
ume relationships beautifully.
Thus was developed the “kinetic theory of gases” (“kinetic” coming
from a Greek word for “motion”) and it was from this kinetic theory,
and the equations it produced, that Loschmidt worked out Avogadro's
number for the first time. See how science hangs together!

Maxwell’s kinetic theory made use of tivo assumptions that aren’t

perfectly correct. To simplify matters, he supposed that the individual
gas molecules were of zero size and that there was no mutual molecular
attraction. A gas for which these assumptions are correct is the perfect
gas I mentioned earlier. In actual gases, the molecules are tiny, but not
 TO TELL A CHEMIST 93

of zero size, and there is a tiny, but not zero, mutual attraction. Hence,
actual gases are more or less imperfect. The imperfection is least in the
cases of the gases, helium, hydrogen and neon, where the molecules (or,
in the case of helium and neon, single atoms) are smallest and the
mutual attraction least.
We can pretend, though, that we are dealing with a perfect gas and
consider the effect of temperature. If we begin with a mole of perfect gas
at STP, we find the volume is 22,415 cubic centimeters. For every de-
gree C. we raise the temperature, the volume increases by a trifle over
82 cubic centimeters, and for every degree C. by which we drop the
temperature, the volume decreases by a trifle over 82 cubic centimeters.
If we continue dropping the temperature, degree by degree, and if 82
cubic centimeters peels off the volume with each degree, then by the
time we reach a temperature of —
273.1 5° C., the volume has decreased
to zero. It was this fact which first gave rise to the notion of 273.15° —
C. as an “absolute zero”, an ultimate cold which could not be surpassed.
Of course, only in a perfect gas with molecules of zero size that
it is

a shrinkage of volume to zero can be visualized. In any actual gas, with

molecules of some definite size, volume can shrink only to the point
where the molecules make surface-to-surface contact, at which point the
situation changes radically.
Suppose that the molecules of a particular gas have a radius of 1 A.
At surface contact, the molecules are separated, center to center, by a
distance equal to the sum of their radii; that is, by a distance of 2 A. Wc
can calculate at what temperature tliis should happen.
At 0° C. the center-to-center separation is 33.3 A and at 273.15° —
C. the separation is (ideally) zero. The distance declines smootlily with
falling temperature so that we —257°
C. the separation has
find that at
decreased to 2 A and surface-to-surface contact has been made. Since
— 257° C. is about 16° above absolute zero, it can be written 16 ° K
(where K stands for Kelvin; Lord Kelvin having been the first to make
use of a temperature scale that placed zero at the absolute zero).
If the molecule is particularly small so that die radius is only 0.5 A,
surface-to-surface contact would be made at a temperature of 8° K.
Once surface-to-surface contact is made, the substance —
under ordi-
nary circumstances at least— is not likely to behave as a gas any further.

We have, instead, a “condensed phase.”

When surface-to-surface contact is first made, the molecules will still

possess sufficient energy to slide aroimd freely. They are then in the
"liquid state." If the temperature falls lower and energy is subtracted, the
molecules lock into place and the substance is in the “solid state,”
 94 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

It would seem from what have said so far that the perfect gas would
I

never liquefy since its molecules would never make surface-to-surface

contact, short of absolute zero itself, and absolute zero cannot be reached.
Actual gases, however, —
or so it would seem —
must hquefy at tempera-
tures short of absolute zero, but not very far short.
This is more or less true for the three actual gases which, of all gases,
are nearest perfection. Helium, the most nearly perfect, liquefies at 4.2“
K., hydrogen at 20.3° K., and neon at 27.2° K. Other gases, however,
liquefy at considerably higher temperatures. Oxygen, for instance, which
is not terribly imperfect, has a liquefaction point of 90.1“ K.

At 90.1“ K., the molecules of gas have an average separation, center-

to-center, of about 1 1 A. Even if we allow the oxygen molecule a radius
of 2 A, the surface-to-surface separation would be 7 A. The temperature
could drop down to close to 30“ K before surface-to-surface contact was
made.
Nevertheless, oxygen liquefies at 90. 1 “
K and not at 30° K. To explain
that, we must remember the second imperfection of actual gases; the
fact that there an attraction between molecules. In the case of helium,
is

hydrogen and neon, this attraction is very small. If helium atoms happen
to collide the mutual attraction is so small it is easily overcome even by
the small amount of energy of motion present at extremely low tempera-
tures. For that reason, liquefaction of helium doesn’t take place till
surface-to-surface contact enforces it.

The mutual attractionamong oxygen molecules, however, is con-

siderably higher than among helium or neon atoms or among hydrogen
molecules. By the time the temperature has sunk to 90.1“ K., the energy
of motion isno longer sufficient to pull apart two molecules that have
happened to collide. The attraction among oxygen molecules is sufficient-
ly large to hold the combination in place, and oxygen liquefies.
A great many substances possess intermolecular (or interatioinic or
interionic) attractions so great they that are not gases even at high
temperatures; a few not until a temperature of 6000“ C is reached.
Now let’s tackle the condensed phases, beginning with liquid hydro-
gen. This has a density of 0.07 grams per cubic centimeter at its boiling
point (the loivest density for the condensed phase of any substance).
Since 2 grams of hydrogen (1 mole) contain 6.02252 x 10*® mole-
cules, 0.07 grams contain approximately 2.09 x 10-® molecules. The
average center-to-center separation of the molecules is, therefore, 3.63 A.
This can be taken as the effective diameter of the hydrogen molecule in
liquid hydrogen. (For an oxygen molecule, simUar calculations yield a
diameter of about 3.9 A.)
 )

TO TELL A CHEMIST 95

You might suppose, that as one went up the table of elements to more
and more complex atoms, that the atomic diameters, calculated from the
density of the condensed phases of the elements, would get steadily larger.
This, however, is not so.
The atomic volume is largely determined by the amount of space taken
up by the electrons of the atom, and a great deal depends on just how
those electrons arranged. The electrons are arranged in shells and in
some atoms, the outermost shell is occupied by a single electron, which
is usually held quite weakly and moves far out from the nucleus, giving
that atom an unusually large volume.
This is true for sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium, for instance,
with cesium the most extreme case for it has more electrons all together
than the other atoms of its type.
Cesium, like metals generally, is considered as being made up of single
atoms not arranged in molecular combinations. The atomic weight of
cesium is 132.9 so that 132.9 grams is the “gram-atomic-weight” (This
is not a gram-molecular-weight, so it shouldn’t, strictly speaking, be
referred to as a "mole.”) The gram-atomic-weight of an element contains
Avogadro’s number of atoms.
The density of cesimn at room temperature is 1.87 grams per cubic
centimeter so that 1 cubic centimeter of cesium contains about 8.15 x
1 0*^ atoms. The effective diameter of the cesimn atom in solid cesium is

therefore about 5 A.
On the other hand, when the outermost shell is about half-full of
electrons, the atom is quite small. The electrons are drawn unusually
close to the central nucleus, and this means that neighboring atoms can
be drawn unusually close together.
In fact, the compactness of packing proceeds in periodic waves if one
plots it against atomic weight. The atomic diameter rises to a peak, and
packing is least compact each time a one-electron-in-the-outermost-shell
point is reached; and atomic diameter falls to a trough, and packing is
most compact, each time the outermost-shell-half-full situation is reached.
It was this which, in 1870, gave the German chemist, Lothar Meyer, the
notion of the “periodic table” of elements. (Meyer, however, was beaten
to the punch by the Russian chemist, Dmitri I. Mendeleev, who reached
the same conclusion by another line of argument just a few months
earlier. But that is another story.
Examples of regions in the periodic table of particularly small atoms
are, in order of increasing complexity of atomic structure: 1) beryllium,
boron and carbon, 2) iron, cobalt and nickel, 3) ruthenium, rhodimn,
and palladium, and 4) osmium, iridium, and platinum.
 96 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

Without going into all the mathematical details, here are some inter-
atomic distances in the room-temperature solid (and, therefore, the effec-
tive atomic diameters). Carbon (in the form of diamond) 1.8 A; nickel,
2.2 A; rhodium, 2.4 A; and osmium 2.4 A.
Diamond is the most compact of all solids. This, combined with the
fact that each carbon atom in diamond is firmly held by each of four
record-close neighbors, is what makes diamond Ae hardest known sub-
stance (with the possible exception of boron nitride, which closely
mimics the diamond situation).
The more compact a solid is, the denser it is, and the more massive the
individual atoms are, the more extreme the density. Of the various groups
of compact atoms, the most massive are those of the three elements,
osmium, iridium and platinum. They should be, therefore, and are,
the densest of the elements (or, indeed, of any substance.)
The density of platinum is 21.37 grams per cubic centimeter, that
of iridium is 22.42 grams per cubic centimeter, and that of osmium, the
record holder, 22.5 grams per cubic centimeter. Osmium is just about
twice as dense as lead, and is 1/6 denser than gold. A cubic foot is not
a very large volume, but a cubic foot of osmium weighs 1400 pounds.
Naturally, the farther apart atoms are (center-to-center) the less
troubleit is, all other things being equal, to pull them apart altogether,

whether by heat or by the chemical pull of other atoms. Thus, the loosely
packed cesium has a melting point of 28.5° C and a boiling point of 670°
C., while osmium melts at 2700° C and boils at some temperature higher
than 5300° C.
Of all solids, carbon is the most compact, and it also has the highest
melting point. It is close to 3700° C before it ceases to be a solid.
(Actually it sublimes, rather than melts, turning into gaseous carbon.)
Again, cesium is so ready to leave the society of its fellows and join
with other atoms that it is the most active of all metals. Osmium, iridium,
and platinum, are, on the other hand, the least active of all metals.
You see?
Beginning students of chemistry often think of the science as a mere
collection of disconnected data to be memorized by brute force. Not at
all! Just look at it properly and everything hangs together and makes

sense.
Of course, getting the hang of the proper look isn’t always easy.
 ” ”

As promised, here is the latest of Zenna Henderson’s stories

about The People, with all the warmth and richness of vlot
and character which readers have come to expect of Miss
Henderson. If you are new to this series, you have a pleasant
surprise in store. If you are familiar with it, you are un-
doubtedly already reading.

NO DIFFERENT FLESH
by Zenna Henderson

Meris watched the darkness Lights in the cabin gasped, re-

rip open and mend itself again in covered, and died. Meris heard
the same blinding flash that closed Mark’s sigh and the ruffle of his
her eyes. Behind her eyelids the pushed-back papers.
dark reversals flicked and faded. ‘Til get the lantern,” he said,
Thunder jarred the cabin window "It’s out in the store room, isn’t
where she leaned and troubled her it?"
bones. The storm had been gath- “Yes.” Lightning flushed the
ering all afternoon, billowing up whole room, now that the light no
in blue and white thunderheads longer defended it. "But it needs
over the hills, spreading darkly, filling. Why don't we wait to see
somberly, to snuff the sunset. The if the lights come back on. We

wind was not the straight blow- could watch the storm
—
ing, tree-lashing, branch-breaker ‘Tm sorry.” Mark’s arm was
of the usual summer storm. In- gentle across her shoulders. ‘Td
it blew simultaneously from like to, but I can’t spare the time.
stead,
several directions. It mourned like Every minute
—
a snow wind around the eaves of Meris pressed her face to the
tire cabin. It ripped the length of glass, peering out into the chaotic
the canyon through the tree-tops darkness of the canyon wall. She
while the brush below hardly still wasn’t quite used to being in-

Lightning was so
stirred a twig. terested in anything outside her
continuous now that glimpses of —
own grief and misery all those
the outdoors came through the long months of painful numbness
windows like sudden blows. that, at the same time had been a

97
 ”

98 FANtASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

protesting hammering at the Gold- “We waited for her so long,”

en Gates and a wild shrieking at said Meris softly, “And had her
God. What a blessed relief it was, for so short a time.”
finally to be able to let go of the “But long enough that you are a
—
baby to feel grief begin to drain mother and I am a father,” said
away as though a boil had been Mark. “We still have that.”
lanced. Not that sorrow would be “Now that I can finally talk
gone, but now there could be about her,” said Meris, “I won’t
healing for the blow that had been have to talk about her any more. I
too heavy to be mortal. can let her be gone now.”
“Take good care of her,” she “Oh, Mark!” Meris held his
whispered to the bright slash of hand to her cheek, “Having you to
the lightning. “Keep her safe and anchor me is all that’s kept me
happy until I come.” from—”
She winced away from the win- “I’m set in my ways,” smiled
dow, startled at the sudden audi- Mark. “But of late you’ve been
ble ^at of rain against the glass. lifting such a weight off me that
The splat became a rattle and the I don’t think I could anchor a
rattle a gushing roar and the fade- butterfly now!”
and-flare of the outdoors dissolved "Love you, Mark!”
into streaming rain. "Love you, Merisi” Mark hugged
Mark came back into the cabin, her tightly a moment and then let
the light in his hands flooding her go. “Back to work again. No
Hue-white across the room. He flexibility left in the dea^ine any
hung on the beam more. It has to be done on time
the lantern
above the table and joined Meris. this time or
—
"The storm is about over,” said Lightning splashed brightness
Meris, turning in the curve of his against the wall. Meris moved
arm. “It’s only rain now.” back to the window again, the
"It'll be back,” he said. "It’s just floor boards under her feet vibrat-
taking a deep breath before smack- ing to the thunder. “Here it comes
ing us amidships again.” again!” But Mark was busy, his
"Mark.” The tone of Metis’ scurrying fingers trying to catch
voice caught his attention. “Mark, up with the hours and days and
—
my baby our baby is dead.” — months lost to Meris’ grief and
She held out the statement to him wild mourning.
as if offering a gift —
her first con- Meris cupped her hands arOund
trolled reference to what had hap- her temples and leaned her fore-
pened. head to the window pane. The
"Yes,” said Mark, “Our baby is storm was truly back again, whip-
dead.” He accepted the gift. ping the brush and trees in a fury
 —
NO DIFFEKENT H^ESH 99

that ripped off leaves and small the thunder, hardly noticing the
branches. A couple of raindrops clatter of the tj^writer. She
cracked with the force of hail touched cautiously with her
against the glass. Lightning and a thoughts the aching emptiness
huge explosion arrived at the same where the intolerable burden of
moment, jarring the whole cabin. her unresolved grief had been. Al-
"Hit something close?” asked most, she felt without purpose
Mark with no pause in the stac- aimless —
since that painful focus-
cato of his typing. ing of her whole life was going.
“Close,” said Meris. “The big She sighed into her pillow. New
pine by the gate. “I saw the bark purpose and new aim would come
fly.” — would have to come to fill the —
"Hope it didn’t kill it,” said emptinesses.
Mark. "We lost those two in back
like that last summer, you know.” Somewhere in the timeless dark-
Meris tried to see the tree ness of the night she was suddenly
through the darkness, but the light- awake, sitting bolt upright in bed.
ning had withdrawn for the mo- She pulled the bedclothes up to
ment. her chin, shivering a little in the
“What was that?” she cried, raw, damp air of the cabin. What
puzzled. had wakened her? The sound came
“What?” asked Mark. again. She gasped and Mark
“I heard something fall,” she stirred uneasily, then was immedi-
said. "Through the trees.” ately wide awake and sitting up
“Probably the top of our pine,” beside her.
said Mark. “I guess the lightning “Meris?”
made more than bark fly. Well, “I heard something,” she said.
there goes another of our trees.” “Oh, Mark! Honestly, I heard
"That’s the one the jays liked something.”
particularly, too,” said Meris. “What was it?” Mark pulled the
Rain drenched again in a verti- blanket up across her bacL
cal obscurity down the glass and “I heard a baby crying.”
the flashes of lightning flushed She felt Mark’s resigned recoil
heavily through the watery waver. and the patience in his long in-
Later the lights came on and drawn breath.
Meris, blinking against the bright- “Honest, Mark!” In the semi-
ness, went to bed, drawing the cur- obscurity her eyes pleaded with
tain across the bunk corner, leav- him. “I really heard a baby crying.
ing Mark at work at his desk. She Not a tiny baby — like — like ours.
lay awake briefly, hearing the A very young child, though. Out
dnun of the rain and the mutter of and wet.”
there in the cold
 100 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

“Mens
— ^egan, and she
” Ije the table, their hands clasped over
Siiew the sOSfOW that must be the dirty dishes. Meris felt a surge
inarking his face. of gratitude. The return of laugh-
“There!” she cried, “Hear it?” ter is a priceless gift.
The two were poised motion- While she did the dishes and
less for a moment, then Mark was put the cabin to rights, Mark,
out of bed and at the door. He shrugging into his Levi jacket
flung it open to the night and they against the chill, went out to
listened again, tensely. check the storm damage.
They heard a night bird cry Meris heard a shout and the
and, somewhere up canyon, the dozen echo-shouts returning di-
brief barking of a dog, but noth- minishingly from the heavy stand
ing else. of timber around the cabin site.
Mark came back to bed, diving She pushed the window curtain
under the covers with a shiver. aside and peered out as she fin-
“Come warm me, woman!” he ished drying a plate.
cried, hugging Meris tightly to Mark was chasing a fluttering
him. something, out across the creek.
“It did sound like a baby cry- The boisterous waters were slap-
ing,” she said with a half question ping against the bottom of the
in her voice. plank bridge and Mark was splash-
“It sure did,” said Mark. “I ing more than ankle-deep on the
thought for a minute—. Must have flat beyond as he plunged about
been some beast or bird or deni- trying to catch whatever it was
zen of the wild
—
” His voice that evaded him.
trailed away sleepily, his arms re- "A bird,” guessed Meris. “A
laxing. Meris lay awake listening huge bird waterlogged by the
— to Mark’s breathing, to the storm. Or knocked down by the
—
night, to the cry that didn’t come —
wind maybe hurt ” She hur-
again. Refusing to listen for the ried to put the plate away and
cry that would never come again, dropped the dish towel on the ta-
she slept. ble. She peered out again. Mark
was half-hidden behind the
Next morning was so green and clumps of small willows along the
gold and sunny and wet and fresh bend of the creek. She heard his
that Meris felt a-tip-toe before she cry of triumph and then of aston-
even got out of bed. She dragged ishment. The fluttering thing shot
Mark, protesting, from the warm up, out of reach above Mark and
nest of the bedclothes and pre- seemed to be trying to disappear
sented him with a huge breakfast. into the ceaseless shiver of the
They laughed at each other across tender green and white aspens.
 XO DIFFEKENT FLESH 101

VVhatever it was, a whitish bloh must be something out there.” His

against the green foliage, dropped hands paused on the knotting of
down again and Mark grabbed it the last bootlace. "Or someone.”
firmly. He stood up, settling himself into
Meris ran to the door and Rung his jeans and boots. “Take it easy,
it open, stepping out with a shiver Meris.” He kissed her cheek as she
into the cold air. Mark saw her bent over the child, and left.
as he rounded the curve in the Meris’ fingers recalled more and
path. more of their deftness as she
"Look what I found!” he cried. washed the small girl-body, im-
“Look what I caught for you!” provised a diaper of a dishtowel,
Meris put a hand on the wet, converted a teeshirt into a gown,
muddy bundle Mark was carrying all the time being watched silent-
and thought quickly, "Where are ly by the big dark eyes that now
the feathers?” seemed more wary than frightened,
“I caught a baby for you!” cried watched as though the child was
Mark. Then his smile died and he trying to read her bps that were
thrust the bundle at her. “Good moving so readily in the old re-
Lord, Azeris!” he choked, "I’m not membered endearments and croon-
fooling! It is a baby!” ings. Finally, swathing the small
Meris turned back a sodden form in her chenille robe in heu
fold and gasped. A face! A child of a blanket, she sat on the edge
face, mud-smudged, with huge of the bed, rocking and crooning
dark e}'es and tangled dark curls. to the child. She held a cup of
A quiet, watchful face — not cry- warm milk to the small mouth.
ing. Maybe too frightened to cry? There was a firming of lips against
“Mark!” Meris clutched the it at first and then the small mouth

bundle to her and hurried into the opened and two small hands
cabin. "Build up the fire in the grasped the cup and the milk was
stove,” she said, laying her burden gulped down greedily. Meris wiped
on the She peeled the outer
table. the milky crescent from the child’s
layer off quickly and let it fall upper lip and felt the tenseness
soggily to the floor. Another damp going out of the small body as the
layer and then another. “Oh, poor warmth of the milk penetrated it.
messy child!” she crooned, "Poor The huge dark eyes in the small
wet, messy little girl!” face closed, jerked open, closed
“Where did she come from?” slowly and stayed closed.
Mark wondered. “There must be Meris cradling heavy
—
some clue ” He changed quickly warmth
sat the
of the sleeping child. She
from his soaked sneakers into his felthealing flow through her own
hiking boots. “I’ll go check. There body and closed her eyes in silent
 ”

102 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

thanksgiving above the child be- Mark. “It’s those kids. If I ever

fore she put her down, well back catch them

—
from the edge of the bed. Then she “You did once,” said Meris with
gathered up the armful of wet a half smile, “And they didn’t like
muddy clodies and reached for what you and the ranger said to
the box of detergent. them.”
When Mark returned some time “Understatement of the week,”
later, Meris gestured quickly. said Mark. “They’ll like even less
“She’s sleeping,” she said. "Oh, what’s going to happen to them
Mark! Just think! A baby!” Tears the next time they get caught.”
came to her eyes and she bent her “They’re mad enough at you al-
head. ready,” suggested Meris.
“Meris,” Mark’s gentle voice “Well,” siid Mark, “I’m proud
lifted her face. “Meris, just don’t to count that type among my
forget that the baby is not ours to enemies!”
keep.” “The Winstel boy doesn’t seem
“I —
know !” She began to pro- the type,” said Meris.
testand then she smoothed the hair “He was a good kid,” acknowl-
back from her forehead, knowing edged Mark, “Until he started
what Mark wanted to save her running with those three from the
from. “The baby is not ours —
to Valley. They’ve got him hynotized
keep,” she relinquished. “Not ours with that car and all their wild
to keep. stories and crazy pranks. I guess
“Did you find anything, or he thinks their big-town fooling
anyone,” she hesitated. around has a glamor that can’t be
“Nothing,” said Mark, “Except duplicated here in the mountains.
the top of our pine is still there, Thank heaven it can’t, but I wish
if you’ve bothered to cheek it. he’d wise-up to what’s happening
And,” his face tightened and his to him.”
voice was grim, “Those vandals “The child!” Meris started to-
have been at it again. Since I wards the bed, her heart throb-
was at the picnic area at Beaver bing suddenly to the realization
Bend they’ve been there and saw- that there was a baby to be con-
ed every table in two and smashed sidered again. They looked down
them all to the ground in the mid- at the flushed, sleeping face and
dle!” then turned back to the table.
“Oh, Mark!” Meris was dis- “She must be about three or four,”
tressed. "Are you sure it’s the same said Meris over the coffee cups.
bunch?” “And healthy and well cared-for.
“Who else around here would —
Her clothes ” she glanced out at
do anything so senseless?” asked the clothes line where the laundry
 ” — ”

NO DIPFEIIENT FLESH 103

billowed and
—
well-made, but
—swung. '‘They’re ment. “But lodr ” She carefully
lapped the edges of the remain-
"But what?" Mark stirred his ing rip and drew her thumb nail
cofEee absently, then gulped a along it. The material seemed to
huge swallow. melt into itself and the rip was
“Well, look,” said Meris, reach- gone.
ing to the chair. “This outer thing “How did you find out all this
she had on. It’s like a trundle so soon?” ask^ Mark. “Your own
bundle —
arms but no legs ^just a — research lab?”
sleeping bag thing. That’s not too “Maybe so,” aniled Meris. “I
surprising, but look. I was going was just looking at it women —
to rinse off the mud before I look at fabrics and clothing with
washed it, but just one slosh in their fingers, you know. I could
the water and it came out clean never choose a piece of material
and dry! didn’t even have to
I for a dress without touching it.
hang it out. And Mark, it isn’t And I was wondering how much
material. I mean fabric. At least the seam would show if I mended
it isn’t like any that I’ve ever it.”She shook the garment. “But
seen.” how she ever mana^d to run in
Mark lifted the garment, flexing it.”

a fold in has fingers. “Odd,” he "She didn’t,” said Mark. “She

said. sort of fluttered aroimd hke a
“And look at the fasteners,” chicken. 1 thought she was a
said Meris. feathered thing at first. Every
“There aren’t any,” he said, time I thought I had her, she got
surprised. away, flopping and fluttering,
“And yet it fastens,” said Meris, above my head half the time. I
smoothing the two sections of the don’t see how she ever — Ohl I
front together, edge to edge. She found a place that might be where
tugged mightily at it. It stayed she spent the night. Looks like she
shut. “You can’t rip it apart. But crawled back among the roots of
look here.” And she laid the two the deadfall at the bend of the
sides back gently with no effort at creek. There's a pressed down,
all. “It seems to be which direc- grassy hollow, soggy wet, of coarse,
tion you pull. There’s a rip here in just inches above the water.”
the back,” die went on. “Dr I’ll “I don’t understand this flut-
bet she’d never have got wet at all
— at least not from the' outside,”
—“You mean
tering bit,” said Meris.
she jumped so high you
she smiled. “Look, the rip was “Not exactly jumped
— began ”
from here to here.” Her fingers Mark.
traced six inches across the gar- A sudden movem«it caught
 104 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

them both. The child had waken- "Well, it’s not every day I
ed, starting up with a terrified cry, catch a child flying in the forest.
“Muhlala! Muhlala!” I'll make it up —somehow.”
Before Meris could reach her, Meris helped Mark get settled
she was fluttering up from the bed, work and, dressing the child
to his
trailing the chenile robe beneath
— ‘What’s your name, honey?
her. She hovered against the upper What’s your name?” in her own —
window pane, like a moth, push- freshly dried clothes, she took her
ing her small hands against it, outside to leave Mark in peace.
sobbing, “Muhlala! Muhlala!” “Muhlala!” said Meris, smiling
Meris gaped up at her, “Mark! down at the upturned wondering
Mark!” face. The child smiled and swung

—
“Not exactly jump!” grunted their linked hands.
Mark, reaching up for the child. “Muhlala!” she lauglied.
He caught one of the flailing bare “Okay,” said Meris, ‘We’ll call
feet and pulled tbe child down you Lala.” She skoonched down to
into his arms, hushing her against child height. “Lala,” she said, prod-
him. ding the small chest with her
“There, there, muhlala, muh- finger. “Lala!”
lala,” he comforted awkwardly. Lala looked solemnly down at
“Muhlala?” asked Metis, taking her own chest, tucking her chin
the struggling child from him. in tightly in order to see. “Lala,”
“Well, she said it first,” he said, she said, and giggled. “Lala!”
“Maybe the familiarity will help.” The two walked towards the
“Well, maybe,” said Meris. creek, Lala in the lead, firmly
“There, there, muhlala, muhlala.” leashed by Meris’ hand. “No flying,’
The child quieted and looked she warned. “I can’t interrupt
up at Meris. Mark to have him fish you out of
“Muhlala?” she asked hopefully. the treetops.”
“Mulilala,” said Meris as posi- Lala walked along the creek
tively as she could. bank, peering down into the romp-
The big wet eyes looked at her ing water and keeping up a run-
accusingly and the little head said ning commentary of unintelligible
no, unmistakably, but she leaned words. Meris kept up a conversa-
against Meris, her weight sud- tion of her own, fitting it into the
denly doubling as she relaxed. brief pauses of Lala’s. Suddenly
“Well now,” said Mark. “Back Lala cried out triumphantly and
to work.” pointed. Meris peered down into
“Work? Oh Mark!” Meris was the water.
contrite. ‘Tve broken into your ‘Well!” she cried indignantly,
work day again!” “Those dam boys! Dumping trash
 ” ” ”

NO WVraRENT FLESH 105

in o«r creek jost because they’re water numbing her fret. “^Must be
mad at Mark. Tin cans
— an old hot water tank,” she grunt-
Lala was tugging at her hand, ed as she worked to drag it ashore.
pulling her towards the creek. "When could they have dumped
“Wait a bit, Lala,” laughed it here? We've been home
—
Meris. ‘Ton’ll fall us both into the The current caught the thing as
water,” it let go of the nnid at the bottom

Then she gasped and clutched of the creek. It rolled and almost
Lala’s hand more firmly. Lala was tore loose from Mens’ hands, but
standing on the water, the speed she chtng, feeling a fingernail
of the current ruffling it whitely break, and, putting her back to the
against the sides of her tiny shoes. task, towed the thing out (rf the
She was trying to tug Meris after current into the shallows. She
her, across the water towards the turned its gleaming length over to
metalic gkam by the other bank drain the water out through the
of the creek. rip down its side.

“No, baby,” said Meris firmly, "Water tank?" die

pulhng Lala back to the bank. “Not like any I ever
— puzzled.

“We’H use the bridge.” So they did “Stay there?” cried Lala otcited-
and Lala, impatient of delay, ly. “Stay there?” She was Jumping
tried to free her hand so she could up and down on the boulder.
run al<Hig the creek bed, but Meris Metis laughed. “Come here,” she
clung firmly. “Not without mel” said, holding out her muddy
she said. hands. “Come here!” Lala came.
When they arrived at the place Metis nearly dropped her as she
where the metallic whatever lay staggered under die weight of the
under the water, Meris put Lala child. Lala hadn’t bothered to
down firmly on a big grey granite slide down the boulder and run to
boulder, back from the creek. her. She had launched herself like
"Stay there.” Then she turned to a little rocket, airboume the whole
the creek. Starting to wade, sneak- distance.
ers and all into the stream, she She wiggled out of Meris’ aston-
looked back at Lala. The child was ished arms and rummaging, head
standing on the boulder visibly hidden in the metal capsule, came
wanting to come. Meris shook her out with a triumphant cry, “Deeko!
head. "Stay there,'” she repeated. Dceko!” And she showed Meris her
Lala’s face puckered but she sat sodden treasure. It was a doll, a
down again. 'Stay there,” she re- wet, muddy, battered doll, but a
peated unhappily. doll nevertheless, dressed in min-
Meris tugged and pulled at the ature duplication of Lala’s outer
m^al, the icy bite of the creek garment they had left in the cabin.
 ” —
106 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

Lala plucked at the wet folds “That Lala is a green man!

little

of the doll’s clothes and made un- And that this is a flying saucer?”
happy noises as she wiped the mud “Well, yes,” said Mark, “In-
from the tiny face. She held the exact, but it conveys the general
doll up to Meris, her voice asking idea.”
and coaxing. So Meris squatted "But Mark! She’s just a baby.
down by the child and together She couldn’t possibly have travel-
they undressed Deeko and washed ed all that distance alone
—
her and her tiny clothes in the “I’d say also that she couldn’t
creek then spread the clothes on have traveled all that distance in
the boulder in the sun. Lala gave this vehicle, either,” said Mark.
Deeko a couple of soggy hugs, then “Point one, I don’t see anything
put her on the rock also. resembling a Inotor or fuel con-
Just before supper, Mark came tainer or even a steering device.
out to the creek-side to see the me- Point two, there are no provisions
tallic object.He was still shaking —
of any kind ^ivater or food or —
his head in wonderment over the even any evidence of an air sup-
had told him of Lala.
things Meris ply.”
He would have discounted them “Then?” said Meris, deftly
about ninety per cent except that fielding Lala from the edge of the
Lala did them all over again for creek.
him. When he saw the ripped “I’d say — only as a guess
cylinder, he stopped shaking his that this is a sort of life boat in

head and just stared for a moment. case of a wreck. I’d say something
Then he was turning it, and ex- happened in the storm last night
ploring in it, head hidden, heft- and here’s Lala, Castaway.”
ing the weight of it flexing a piece “Where did you come from,
of its ripped metal. The he loung- baby dear?” chanted Meris to the
ed against the grey boulder and Wiggly Lala. “The heavens opened
lipped thoughtfully at a dry clus- and you were here?”
ter of pine needles. ‘They'll be looking for her,”
“Let’s live dangerously,” he said, said Mark, “Whoever her people
“And assert that this is the How are. Which means they’ll be look-
that Lala arrived in our vicinity ing for us.” He looked at Meris
last night.Let us further assert and smiled. “How does it feel,
that it has no earthly origin. Mrs. Edwards, to be looked for
Therefore, let us, madly but posi- by denizens of Outer Space?”
tively, assert that this is a space "Should we try to find them?”
capsule of some sort and Lala is asked Meris. “Should we call the
an extra-terrestial.” sheriff?”
“You mean,” gasped Meris, “I don’t think so,” said Mark.
 ”

NO DIFFERENT FLESH 107

“Let’s wait a day or so. They’ll Meris, "She knows too much
find her. I’m sure of Anyone
it. —
about about —
things for that to
who lost a Lala would comb the be so. She knew to look in water
whole state, inch by inch, until for that — that vehicle of hers and
they found her.’’ she knew to wash her doll in run-
He caught up Lala and tossed ning water and to spread clothes
her, squealing, into the air. For the in the sun to dry. If she’d lived
next ten minutes Mark and Mens her life in space
—
were lead a merry chase trying to “Hmm!” Mark tapped his mouth
get Lala down out of the trees! with his pencil. “You could be
Out of the sky! She finally flutter- right, but there might be other ex-
ed down into Meris’ arms and planations for her knowledge. But
patted her cheek with a puzzled then, maybe the real explanation
remark of some kind. of Lala is a very pedestrian one.”
“I suppose,” said Mark, taking
a relieved breath, “That’s she’s Meris was awake again in the
wondering how-come we didn’t dark. She stretched comfortably
chase her up there. Well, small and smiled. How wonderful to be
one, you’re our duckling. Don’t able to awaken in the dark and
laugh at our unwebbed feet.” smile — instead of shpping in-
That evening Meris sat rocking evitably into the aching endless
a drowsy-eyed Lala to sleep. She grief and How pleasant
despair.
reached to tuck the blanket closer to be able to listen to Mark’s deep
about the small bare feet, but in- breathing and Lala’s little murmur
stead cradled one foot in her hand. as she turned on the camp cot be-
“You know what, Mark,” she said side the bed. How warm and re-
softly. “It’s just dawned on me laxing the flicker of firelight from
what you were saying about Lala. the cast-iron stove patterning
You were saying that this foot ceiling and walls dimly. She
might have walked on another yawned and stopped in mid-
world! It just doesn’t seem possi- stretch. What was that? Was that
ble!” what had wakened her?
“Well, try this thought, then.” There was a guarded thump on
Mark pushed back from his desk, the porch, a fumbling at the door,
stretching widely and yawning. an audible breath and then, “Mr.
“If that world was very far away Edwards! Are you there?” The
or their speed not too fast, that voice was a forced whisper.
foot may never have touched a Meris’ hand closed on Mark’s
world anywhere. She may have shoulder. He shrugged away in his
been bom en route.” but as her fingers tightened,
sleep,
“Oh, I don’t think so,” said he came wide awake, listening.
 ”

108 FANTASV AND SCIENCE FICTION

‘•Mr. Edwards!" scared. And I am! I saw Mr.

“Someone for Lala!” Mens Stegemeir after his jHckup went
gasped and reached towards the off the road by the fish hatchery
sleeping child. last year and I —
I can help re-
—
"No,” said Mark. ‘It’s Tad Win- membering it. Well, anyway
stal.” He lifted his voice. "Just a his voice broke off and he gulped.
minute, Tad!” There was a muf- "Well, they made such good time
fled cry at the door and then that they got to feeling pretty wild
Mark padded barefoot to and decided to come over on this
silence.
the door, blinking as he snapped road and
—” his eyes dropped away
the lights on, and, unlatching the from Mark’s and his feet moved
door, swung it open. “Come on in, apologetically. "They wanted to
fellow, and close the door. It’s ifed some way back at you
to get
cold.” He shivered back for his again.”
jacket and sneakers. Then his words tumbled out in
Tad slipped in and stood awk- a wild spurt of terror. “All at once
wardly thin and lanky by the door, there was this man. Out of no-
hugging his arms to himself con- where! Right in the road! And we
vulsively. Mark opened the stove hit him! And knocked him clear
and added a solid chunk of oak. off the road. And they weren’t
“What brings you here at this even going to stop, but I grabbed
hour?” he asked calmly. die key and made them! I made
Tad shivered. “It isn’t you, them back up and I got out to
then,” he said, “But it’s bad trou- look for the man. I found him. AH
ble. You told me that gang was bloody. Lying in the bushes. While
no good to mess around with. Now I was trying to find out where he
I know it. Can they hang me for —
was bleeding they they went —
just being there?” His voice was off and left me there with him!"
very young and shaken. His voice was outraged. “They
“Come over here and get warm,” didn’t give a darn about that po(w
said Mark. “For being where?” guy! They went off and left him
“In the car when it killed the lying there and me with not even
guy-” a flashlight!”
“Killed!” Mark fumbled the Mark had been dressing rapid-
black hd lifter, “What happened?” ly. “He may not be dead,” he said,
"We were out in the Porsche of reaching for his cap, "How far is
Rick’s, just tearing around seeing he?”
how fast it could take that wind- “The other side of the creek
ing road on the other side of bridge,” said Tad. "We came the
Sheep’s Bluff. Tad gulped. “They Rim way. Do you think he mi^t
called me chicken because I got
 ” ” ”

NO DIFFERENT FLESH 109

"We’ll see,” said Mark. "Mens, of the man’s head, keeping the
giveme one of those army blankets bandage in place, but her eyes
and get Lala oflE the cot. We’ll were on the bed where Lala had
use that for a stretcher. Build the turned away from the Ught and
fire up and check the first aid kit.” was burrowed nearly out of sight
He got the Coleman lantern from under the edge of Mark’s pillow.
the store room, then he and Tad Tad spoke from where he was
gathered up the canvas cot and struggling with the man’s boots.
went out into the chilly darkness. "I thought it was you, Mr. Ed-
Lala fretted a little, then, curl- wards,” he said. “I nearly passed
ed in the warmth Mark had left, out when you answered the door.
she slept again through all the Who else could it have been? No
bustling about as Meris prepared one else lives way out here and I
for Mark’s return. couldn’t see his face. I knew he
Meris ran to the door when she was bleeding because my hands
—
heard their feet in the yard. She he broke off as one boot tlmmped
flmig the outer door wide and held to the floor. “And we knocked him
the screen as they edged the laden so far! So high! And I thought it
cot through the door. "Is he
?”
— was you!” He shuddered and hud-
"Don’t think so.” Mark grunted dled over the other boot. "I’m
as they lowered the cot to the cured, honest, Mr. Edwards. I’m
floor. "Still bleeding from the cut cured. Only don’t let him die!
on his head and I don’t think Don’t let him die!” He was crying

dead men bleed. Not this long, now, unashamed.

anyway. Get a gauze pad, Meris, “I’m no doctor,” said Mark,
and put pressure on the cut. Tad, "But I don’t think he’s badly hurt.
get his boots off while I get his Lots of scratches, but that cut on
shirt
— his head seems to be the worst.”
Meris glanced up from her "The bleeding’s nearly stopped,”
bandage as Mark’s voice broke off said Meris. "And his eyes are flut-
abruptly. He was staring at the tering.”
shirt.His eyes caught Meris’ and Even as she spoke, the eyes
he ran a finger down the front of opened, dark and dazed, the head
the shirt. No buttons. Meris’ turning restlessly. Mark leaned
mouth opened, but Mark shook over the man. “Hello,” he said,
his head warningly. Then, taking trying to get the eyes to focus on
of the muddied shirt, he him. ‘Tou’re okay. You’re okay.
hold
gently turned both sides back Only a cut
—
away from the chest that was TTie man’s head stilled. He
visibly laboring now. blinked and spoke, his eyes clos-
Meris’ hands followed the roll ing before his words were finished.
 —
no FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

“What did he say?” asked Tad, checked the sleeping man again.
“What did he say?” Then, crawling into bed, shoving
“I don’t know,” said Mark. “And Lala gently towards the back of the
he’s gone again. To sleep, this time, bunk, she cuddled, shivering imder
I hope. I’m quite sure he isn’t the bedclothes. She became con-
dying.” scious of the steady outflow of
Later when Mark was satisfied warmth from Lala and smiled as
man was sleeping in the
that the she fanned her cold hands out un-
warm pajamas he and Tad had der cover towards the small body.
managed to wrestle him into, he “Bless the little heater!” she said.
got dressed in clean clothes and Her eyes were sleepy and closed in
had Tad wash up, and put on a spite of her, but her mind still
clean flannel shirt in place of his raced with excitement and wonder.
blood-stained one. What if Mark was right? What if
“We’re going to the sheriff, Lala had come from a space ship!
after we find the doctor,” he told What if this man, sleeping under
Tad. “We’re going to have to take their own blankets on their own
care of those kids before they do cot, patched by their own gauze
kill someone or themselves. And and adhesive, was really a Man
you. Tad, are going to have to put from Outer Space! Wouldn’t that
the finger on them whether you be something? “But,” she sighed,
like it or not. You’re the only wit- "No bug-eyed monsters? No set,
ness staring eyes and slavering teeth?”
“But then I’ll get in She smiled She had be«i
trouble, too
if
—
I do,
” began Tad.
at herself.
pretty bug-eyed herself, when she
“Look, Tad,” said Mark patient- had seen his un-unbuttonable
ly, “If you walk in mud, you get shirt. People are pretty much
your feet muddy. You knew when people, anywhere.
you got involved with these fellows Dr. Hilf arrived, large, loud and
that you were wading in mud. May- lively,before Meris got back to
be you thought it didn’t matter sleep —
in fact, while she was in
mu^. Mud is easy to wash off. the middle of her Bless Mark,
That might be true of mud, but bless Tad, bless Lala, bless the
what about blood?” bandaged man, bless — He exam-
“But Rick’s not a juvenile any- ined the silently cooperative man
more
—
" Tad broke off before the thoroughly, rebandaged his head
grim tightning of Mark’s face. and a few of the deeper scratches,
“So that’s what they’ve been grabbed a cup of coffee and boom-
trading on. So he’s legally account- ed, “Doesn’t look to me as if he’s
able now? Nasty break!” been hit by a car! Aspirin if his
After they were gone, Meris head aches. No use wasting stitches
 a

NO DIFFERENT FLESH 111

where they aren’t needed!” His made herself keep back out of the
voice woke Lala and she sat up, way.
blinking silently at him. "He’s not “Muhlala!” whispered Lala,
much worried himself! Asleep al- softly. Then louder, “Muhlala!”
ready! That’s an art!” The doctor Then she wailed, “Muhlala!” and
gave Meris a practiced glance. thumped herself down on the quiet,
“Looking half alive again yourself, sleeping chest.
young lady. Good idea having a “Well,” said Meris aloud to her-
child around. Your niece?” He self asshe collapsed on the edge of
didn’t wait for an answer. “Good to the bunk. “There seems to be no
help hold the place until you get doubt about it!” She watched —
another of your own!” Meris little enviously — the rapturous re-
winced away from the idea. The union, and listened —
more than a
doctor’s eyes softened, but not his little curious —
to the flood of
voice. “There’ll be others,” he strange sounding double conversa-
boomed, “We need ofiFspring from tion going on without perceptable
good stock like yours and Mark’s. pauses. Smiling, she brought tis-
Leaven for a lot of the make- sues for the man to mop his face
weights popping up all over.” He after Lala’s multitude of very moist
gathered up his things and flung kisses. The man was sitting up now
the door open. “Mark says the fel- holding Lala closely to him. He
low’s a foreigner. No English. Un- smiled at Meris and then down at
derstood though. Let me know his Lala. Lala looked at Meris and then
name when you get it. Just curious. patted the man’s chest.
Mark’ll be along pretty quick. “Muhlala,” she said happily,
Waiting for the Sheriff to get the “Muhlala!” and> burrowed her head
from county seat.”
juvenile oflicers against him.
The house door slammed. A car Meris laughed. “No wonder you
door slammed. A car roared away. thought it funny when I called you
Meris automatically smoothed her Muhlala,” she said. “I wonder what
hair, as she always did after a con- Lala means.”
versation with Dr. Hilf. “It means ’daddy’ ” said the man.
She turned wearily back toward “She is quite excited about being
the bunk. And gasping, stumbled called daddy.”
forward. Lala was hovering in the Meris swallowed her surprise.
air over the strange man like a “Then you do have English,” she
flanneled angel over a tombstone said.
crusader. She was peering down, “A little,” said the man. “As you
her bare feet flipping up as she giveit to me. Oh, I am Johannan.”

lowered her head toward him. He sagged then, and said some-
Meris clenched her hands and thing unEnglish to Lala. She pro-
 ”

112 FANTASY AND SCIENCS FICTION

tested,but even protesting, lifted stickum was o£E the tape. Meris
herself out of his armsand back to watched her with the sharp aware-
the bunk, after planting a last ness that comes so often before an
smacking kiss on his right ear. The unwished-for parting from one
man wiped the kiss away and held you love. Then, with an almost
his drooping head between his audible click, afternoon became
hands. evening and the shadows were
“I don’t wonder,” said Meris, suddenly long. Mark came out -of
going to the medicine shelf. “As- the cabin, stretching his desk-
pirin for your headache.” She kinked then walking
self widely,
shook two tablets into his hand his ownlong shadow down to the
and gave him a glass of water. He creek bank.
looked bewilderedly from one “Almost through,” he said to
hand to the other. Meris as he folded himself to the
“Oh dear,” said Meris. “Oh well, ground beside her. “By the end of
Ican use one myself,” and she took the week barring fire or flood. I’ll
an aspirin and a glass of water be able to send it ofiF.”
and showed him how to dispose of “I’m so glad,” said Meris, her
them. The man smiled and gulped happiness welling strongly up in-
the tablets down. He let Meris take was afraid my
the glass, slid flat on the cot and ness
—
side her. “I foolish-

was breathing asleep before Meris “The foolishness is all past now,”
could put the glass in the sink. said Mark. “It is remembered
“Well!” she said to Lala and against us no more.”
stood her, curly-toed, on the cold Johannan had sat up at Mark’s
floor and straightened the bed- approach. He smiled.now and said
clothes. “Imagine a grown-up not carefully, “I’m glad my child and I
knowing what to do with an haven’t interrupted your work too
aspirin! And now,” she plumped much. It would be a shame if our
Lala into the freshly made bed, coming messed up tilings for you.”
“Now, my Daddy-girl, shallwe try “You have a surprising command
that instant sleep bit?” of the vernacular if English is not
your native tongue,” said Mark, his
The next afternoon, Meris and interest in Johannan suddenly
Lala lounged in the thin warm sun- sharpening.
shine near the creek with Johan- “We have a knack for languages,
nan. In the piney, waterloud clear- smiled Johannan.
ings empty of unnecessary conver- “How on earth did you come to
sation, Johannan drowsed and Lala lose Lala?” Meris asked, amazed at
alternatelyband-aided her doll herself for asking such a direct
and unband-aided it until all the question.
 ” ?

NO DIFFERENT FLESH 113

Johamian’s face sobered. “That storm

— ” he gestured and smiled.
was quite a deal — losing a child in He had finished.
a thunderstorm over a quarter of “But where were you headed?”
a continent.” He touched Lala’s asked Mark. “Where on Earth —
cheek softly with his finger as she “On Earth,” Johannan smiled.
patiently tried to make the worn- ‘There is a Group of The People.
out tape stick again on Deeka. "It More than one Group, they say.
was partly her fault,” said Johan- They have been here, we know,
nan, smiling ruefully. “If she since the end of the last century.
weren’t so precocious —
You see,
. My wife was on Earth. She re-
we do not come into the atmos- turned to the New Home on the
phere with the large ship too — ship we sent to Earth for the refu-
many complications about expla- gees. She. and I met on the New
nations and misinterpretations and Home. I am not famihar with
a very real danger from trigger- Earth —
that’s why, though I was
happy — or unhappy — military, so oriented to locate the Canyon from
we use our hfe-shps for landings.” the am fairly thoroughly lost
air, I

“We?” murmured Meris. to itfrom the ground.”

“Our People,” said Johannan “Mark,” Meris leaned over and
simply. “Of course there’s no Grand topped Mark’s knee. “He thinks he
Central Station of the Sky. are We has explained everything.”
very sparing of our comings and Mark laughed. “Maybe he has.
goings. Lala and I were returning Maybe we just need a few years for
because Lala’s mother has been absorption and amplification. Ques-
Called and it is best to bring Lala tions, Mrs. Edwards?”
to Earth to her grandparents.” “Yes,” said Meris, her hand
“Her mother was called?” asked softly on Lala’s shoulder. "When
Mark. are you leaving, Johannan?”
“Back to the Presence,” said Jo- “I must first find the Group,”
hannan. “Our years together were
very brief.” His face closed smooth-
said
stay
—Johannan,
”
“So, Lala could
if
Meris’ hands betrayed her.
ly over his sorrow. “We move our “For a little while longer,” he em-
life-slips,” he went on after a brief phasized, “it would help.”
pause, “Without engines. It is an "Of course,” said Meris, “Not
adult ability, to bring the life-slips ours to keep.”
through the atmosphere to land at “The boys,” said Johannan sud-
the Canyon. But Lala is preco- denly. “Those in the car. 'There
cious in many and Persua-
Gifts was a most unhealthy atmosphere.
sions and she managed to jerk her It was an accident, of course. I
hfe-slip out of my control on the tried to hft out of the way. But
way down. I followed her into the there was little concern
— . . .
 ”” ” ” a

114 FANTASY AND SCmNCE FICTION

"There will be,” said Mark tibe process of developing. I can’t

grimly, "Their hearing is Friday.” even remember its name, let alone
“There was one,” said Johannan understand what it's about.”
slowly, "Who felt pain and com- Mark laughed. ‘Tve explained a
passion
— dozen times. I don’t think she
"Tad,” said Mens. “He doesn’t wants to remember. The book’s to
really belong
— be used by a number of universi-
“But he associated
— ties for their textbook in the field
"Yes,” said Mark, "Consent by can be ready for next
silence
— if, if it

be availa-
year’s classes. If it can’t
ble in time, another one wiU be
The narrow, pine-lined road used and all the concentration of
swept behind the car, the sunlight years
—
” He was picking up Jo-
flicldng across the hood like pale, hannan’s gesture.
liquid Lala bounced on
pickets. “So complicated
— ” said Meris.
Meris’ lap, making excited, unin- “Oh yes,” said Johannan.
telligible remarks about the meth- "Earth’s in the complication
od of transportation and the scen- stage.”
ery going by the windows. Johan- “Complication stage?” asked
nan sat in the back seat being si- Meris.
lently absorbed in his new world. “Yes,” said Johannan. “See that
The trip to town was a three-fold tree out there? Simplicity says —
expedition — to attend the hearing tree. Then wonder and you
sets in
for the boys involved in the acci- begin to analyse —
it growth,
cells,
dent — to startJohannan on his structure, leaves, photosynthesis,
search for the Group —
and to cele- roots, hark, rings — on and on un-
brate the completion of Mark’s til the tree is a mass of complica-
manuscript. tions. Then, with reserva-
finally,
They had left it blockily beauti- tions not quite tobe removed, you
ful on the desk, awaiting the tri- can put back together again and
it

umphant moment when it would sigh in simplicity once more —

be wrapped and sent on its way tree. You’re in the complication
and when Mark would suddenly period in the world now.”
have large quantities of uncom- “Is true!” laughed Mark. “Is
mitted time on his hands for the true!”
first time in years. “Just put the world back togeth-
‘What is it?” Johannan had er again, someday,” said Meris,
sslccd* soberly.
“His book,” said Metis. “A ref- “Amen," said the two men.
erence textbook for one of those But now the book was at the
frightening new fields that are in cabin and they were in town for a
 — — ”

NO DIFFERENT FLESH 115

day that was remarkable for its the whole room. ’The two left,
widely scattered, completely un- practically running, under the as-
organized confusion. It started off tonished eyes of the judge and,
with Lala, in spite of her father’s leaning against the securely closed
warning words, leaving the car outside door, looked at Johannan.
through the open window, head- After he understood their agita-
long, without waiting for the door tion and had apologized in the
to be opened. A half-a-block of best way he could pluck from their
pedestrians —
five to be exact thoughts, he said,
rushed to congregate in expecta- ‘‘I had a thought,” he shifted
tion of blood and death, to be an- Lala, squirming, to his other arm.
gered in their relief by Lala’s “The — the who came
my head — he — he—
doctor to
laughter that lit her eyes and look at ” he
bounced her dark curls. Johannan gulped and started again. “All the
snatched her back into the car doctors have ties to each other,
forgetting to take hold of her in don’t they?”
the process —
and un-Englished at ‘Why I guess so,” said Meris,
her severely, his brief gestures rescuing Lala and untangling her
making clear what would happen brief skirts from under her arm-
to her if she disobeyed again. pits. “There’s a medical society
—
The hearing for the boys crin- “That is too big,” said Johannan
kled Meris’ shoulders unpleasant- after a hesitation. “I mean. Dr.
ly. Rick appeared with the minors Dr. — Hilf would know other doc-
in the course of the questioning tors in this part of the country?”
and glared at Mark the whole His voice was a question.
time, his eyes flicking hatefully “Sure he would,” said Mark.
back and forth across Mark’s face. "He’s been around here since Ter-
The gathered parents were an un- ritorial days. He knows everyone

happy, uncomfortable bunch, each —

and his dog including a lot of
over-reacting according to his own the summer people.”
personal pattern and the boys ei- “Well,” said Johannan, “There is
ther echoing or contradicting the a doctor who knows my People.
reactions of their own parents. At least there was. Surely he must
Metis wished herself out of the still be alive. He knows the Can-

unhappy mess. yon. He could tell me.”

Midway in the proceedings, the ‘Was he from around here?”
door was flung open and Johan- asked Mark.
nan, who had left with a wiggly “I’m not sure where here is,”
Lala as soon as his small part was Johannan reminded, “but a hun-
over, gestured at Mark and Meris dred miles or so one way or the
and unEnglished at them across other.”
 ” ”

116 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

"A hundred miles isn’t much ‘The only way they ever re-
was just Doc-
out here,” confirmed Meris. “Lots
of times you have to drive (hat far tor
—
ferred to the doctor

to get anywhere.” He was interrupted by the front

"What was the doctor’s name?” door slapping open. Shelves rat-
asked Mark, snatching for Lala as tled. A can of com dropped from

she shot up out of Meris’ arms in a pyramid and roUed across the
pursuit of a helicopter that clacked floor. “Dam fool summer people!”
overhead. He grasped one ankle trumpeted Dr. Hilf. “Sit around
and pulled her down. Grim-faced, all year long a sea-level getting ex-
Johannan took Lala from him. ercise with a knife and fork then
“Excuse me,” he said, and, fac- come roaring up here and try to
ing Lala squarely to him on one climb Devil’s Slide eleven thou-
arm, he held her face still and sand feet up in one morning!”
looked at her firmly. In the brief Then he saw the group at the
silence that followed, Lala’s mis- table. “Well! How’d the hearing
chievous smile faded and her face go?” he roared, making his way
crumpled into sadness and then to rapidly and massively toward
tears. She flung herself upon her them as he spoke. The three ex-
father, clasping him around his changed looks of surprise, then
neck and wailing heart-brokenly, Mark said, “We weren’t in at the
her face pushed hard against his
shoulder. He unEnglished at her
verdict,”
phone
— he started to get up. “I’ll

tenderly for a moment then said, “Never mind,” boomed Dr. Hilf.
“You see why it is necessary for “Here comes Tad.” They made
Lala to come to her grandparents. room at the table for Tad and Dr.
They are Old Ones and know how Hilf.
to handle such precocity. For her “We’re on probation,” confessed
own protection she should he Tad. “I felt about an inch high
among the People.” when the judge got through with
“Well, cherub,” said Mark, re- us. I’ve had it with that outfit!” He
trieving her from Johannan, “Let’s brooded briefly. “Back to my bike,
go salve your wounded feelings I guess, until I can afford my own
with an ice cream cone.” car. Chee!” He gazed miserably at
They sat at one of the tables in the interminable years ahead of
the back of one of the general him. Maybe even five!
stores and laughed at Lala’s reac- “What about Rick?” asked Mark.
tion to ice cream, then, with her “Lost his license,” said Tad un-
securely involved vdth a glass fuU comfortably. ‘Tor six months, any-
of crushed ice, they returned to way. Gee, Mr. Edwards, he’s sure
the topic under discussion. mad at you now. I guess he’s de-
 NO DIFFIRENT FLESH 117

cided to blame you for every- Laughter rumbled from Dr. Hilf.
thing.” “No,” confessed Joharman, “But
‘‘He should have learned long I do know he is from this general
ago to blame himself for his own area and I thought you might
misdoings,” said Mens. “Rick was know of him. He has helped my
People in the past.”
a spoiled-rotten kid long before he
ever came up here.” “And your people are ” asked
—
"Mark’s probably the first one Dr. Hilf.
ever to make him realize that he “Excuse me, folks,” said Tad,
was a brat,” said Dr. Hdf- “That’s unwinding his long legs and fold-
plenty to build a hate on.” ing the magazine back on itself.
“Walking again!” muttered Tad. “There’s my Dad, ready to go. I’m
"So okay! So t’heck with wheels!” grounded. Gotta tag along like a
“Well, since you’ve renounced kid. Thanks for everything and —
the world, the flesh and Porsches,” the magazine.” And he dejectedly
smiled Mark, “Maybe you could trudged away.
beguile the moments with learn- Dr. Hilf was waiting for Johan-
ing about vintage cars. There’s nan who was examining his own
plenty of them stiU functioning hands intently. “I know so little,”
around here.” said Johannan. “The doctor cared
“Vintage cars?” said Tad. “Nev- for a small boy with a depressed
er heard of them. Imports?” fracture of the skuU. He operated
Mark laughed, “Wait. I’ll get in the wilderness with only the in-
you a magazine.” He made a se- struments he had with him.” Dr.
lection from the magazine rack in Hilf’s eyes flicked to Johannan’s
back of them and plopped it down face and then away again. "But
in front of Tad. “There. Read up. that was a long way from where he
There might be a glimmer of light found one of Ours who could make
to brighten your dreary midnight.” music and was going wrong be-
“Dr. Hilf,” said Johannan, “I cause he didn’t know who he was.”
wonder if you could help me.” Dr. Hilf waited for Johannan
"English!” bellowed Dr. Hilf, to continue. When he didn’t, the
“Thought you were a foreigner! doctor pursed his lips and
You don’t look as if you need help! hiunmed massively.
Where’s your head wound? No “I can’t help much,” said Johan-
right to he healed already!” nan, finally, “But are there so
not medical,” said Johan-
“It’s many doctors who live in the wilds
nan. “I’m trying to find a doctor of this area?”
friend of mine. Only I don’t know “None,” boomed Dr. Hilf. “I’m
his name or where he lives.” the farthest out —
if I may use that
“Know what state he lives in?” loaded expression. Out in these
 118 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

parts, a person has three

sick lary lags behind her other Gifts.
choices —
die, get well on his own, You can drive on, if you like."
or call me. Your doctor must have And he leaned back wiUi Lala in
come from some town.” his arms. The two to all appear-
It was a disconsolate group that ances were asleep.
headed back up-canyon. Their Meris looked at Mark and Mark
mood even impressed itself on Lala looked at Meris, and Meris felt an
and she lay silent and sleepy-eyed irrepressible bubble of laughter
in Meris’ arms, drowsing to the start up her throat. She spoke has-
hum of the car. tily tocircumvent it.
Suddenly Johannan leaned for- “Your manuscript,” she said.
ward and put his hand on Mark’s "I got a box for it,” said Mark,
shoulder. “Would you stop, easing out onto the road again.
please?” he asked. Mark pulled off "Chip found one for me when you
the road onto the nearest available took Lala to the restroom. Couldn’t
have done better if I’d had it made
flat place, threading expertly be-
tween scrub oak and small pines. to measure. What a weight ” he
—
“Let me take Lala.” And Lala lifted yawned in sudden release, “What a
over the back of the seat without weight off my mind. I’ll be glad
benefit of hands upon her. Johan- when it’s off my hands, too. Thank
nan sat her up on his lap. “Our God! Thank God it’s finished!”
People have a highly developed The car was topping the Rim
racial memory,” he said. “For in- when Johannan stirred, and a
stance, I have access to the knowl- faint twitter of release came from
edge any of our People have known Lala. Meris turned sideways to
since the Bright Beginning, and, in look at them inquiringly.
lesser measure, to the events that “May get out?” asked Johan-
I
have happened to any of them. Of nan. “Lala has recalled enough
course, unless you have studied that I think my search won’t be
the technique of recall, it is diffi- too long.”
cult to take knowledge from the “I’ll drive you back,” said Mark,
past, but it’s there, available. 1 am pulling up by the road.
going to see if I can get Lala to “Thanks, but it won’t be neces-
recall for me. Maybe her precocity sary.” Johannan opened the door
will include recollection iso.” He and, after a tight embrace for Lala
looked down at his nestling child and an unEnglish word or two,
and smiled. “It won’t be spectacu- stepped out. “I have ways of going.
lar,” he said, “No eyebils will If you will care for Lala until I
light up. I’m afraid it’ll be tedious return.”
to you, especially since it will be “Of course!” said Meris, reach-
sub-vocal. Lala’s spoken vocabu- ing for the child who flowed over
 —a
NO DlfFERENT FIESH 119

the back of the seat into her arms cabin door. He glanced, startled,
in one complete motion. “God back over his shoulder at Meris.
and return soon.” broken,” he said, “Wrenched
bless,
“Thank you,” said Johannan
"It’s
—
open ”. He fiung the door open
and walked into the roadside hastily, and froze on the doorstep.
bushes. They saw a ripple in the Meris pushed forward to look be-
branches, the turn of a shoulder, yond him.
the ftkk of a foot, one sharp star- Snow had fallen in the room
tling glimpse ofJohannan rising snow covered everything —
and white of the
against the blue smudged, crumpled snow of pa-
afternoon sky and then he was per, flour, sugar and detergent.
hidden in the top branches of the Every inch of the cabin was cov-
trees. ered by the tattered, soaked, torn,
“Shoosh!” Meris slmnped under crumpled snow of Mark’s manu-
Lala’s entire weight. “Mark, is this script! Mark stooped slowly, hke
a case of folie a deux, or is it real- an old man, and took up one
ly happening?” page. Mingled detergent and ma-
“Well,” said Mark, starting the ple syrup clung, clotted, and
car again. “I doubt if we two could slithered off the edge of one of the
achieve the same hallucmations diagrams that had taken two days
simultaneously, so let’s assume it’s to complete. He let the page fall
really happening.” and shuffled forward, ankle deep
When they finally reached the in the obscene, incredible chaos.
cabin and stopped the motor, they Meris hardly recognized the face
sat for a moment in the restful, he turned to her.
active silence of the hills. Meris, “I’ve lost our child again,” he
feeling the soft warmth of Lala said tightly. “This
—
” he gestured

against her and the precious re- at the mess about them, “This was
turn of things outside herself, shiv- my weeping and my substitute for
ered a little remembering her dead despair. My creation to answer
who had stared so
self blankly so death.” He backhanded a clutter
many hours out of the small win- of papers off the bunk and slumped
dows, tearlessly crying, soundless- down until he lay, face to the
ly wailing, wrapped in misery. wall, motionless.
She laughed and hugged Lala. Mark said not a word nor turned
“Maybe we should get a leash for around in the hours that followed.
this small person,” she said to Metis thought perhaps he slept at
Mark. “I don’t think I could fol- times, but she said nothing to him
low in Johannan’s footsteps.” as she cautiously scrabbled through
“Supper first,” said Mark as he the mess in the cabin. She found,
fumbl^ with the padlock on the miraculously undamaged, a chap-
 120 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

ter and a half of pages under the For a sick moment she was
cupboard. With careful hands she afraid he wouldn’t respond. Just
salvaged another sheaf of papers like 1 was, she thought achingly,
from where they had sprayed across Just like I was I Then he sat up
the top of the cupboard. All the slowly, brushed his arm back
time she searched and sorted across his expressionless face and
through tlie mess in the cabin. All his rumpledhair, and stood up.
the time she searched, Lala sat, When they finally threw out
unnaturally well-behaved and sol- the last bucket of scrub water and
emn and watched her, getting hung out the last scrub rag, Meris
dovm only once to salvage Deeko rubbed her water-wrinkled hands
from a mound of sugar and deter- down her weary sides and said,
gent, clucking unhappily as she “Tomorrow we’ll start on the man-
dusted the doll o£E. uscript again.”
It was late and cold when “No,” said Mark. “That's aU fin-
Mens put the last ruined sheet in ished. The boys got carbon-copy
the big cardboard box they had and all. It would take weeks for
carried groceries home in, and the me to do a rewrite if I could ever
last salvagable sheet on the desk. do it. We don’t have weeks. My
She looked silently at the clutter leave of absence is over, and the

in the box and the slender sheaf deadline for the manuscript is this
on the desk, shivered and turned next week. We’ll just have to
to build up the dj'ing fire in the chalk this up as lost. Let the dead
stove. Her mouth tightened and past bury the dead.”
the sullen flicker of charring, He went to bed, his face turned
wadded paper in the stove painted again from the light. Meris,
age and pain upon her face. She through the blur of her slow tears,
stirred the embers with the lid- gathered up the crumpled pages
lifter and rebuilt the fire. She pre- that had pulled out with the blan-
pared supper, fed Lala and put her kets from the back of the bunk,
Then she sat on the edge of
to bed. smoothed them onto the salvage
the lower bunk by Mark’s rigid pile and went to bed, too.
back and touched him gently. For the next couple of days
"Supper’s .
she
ready,” said, Mark was like an old man. He sat
“Then I’ll need some help in scrub- against the cabin wall in the sun,
bing up —
the floor, the walls, the his arms resting on his thighs, his
furniture.” She choked on a sound hands dangling from limp wrists,
that was half laughter and half looking at the nothing that the
sob. “There’s plenty of detergent senile and finished find on the
around already. We may bubble ground. He moved slowly and re-
ourselves out of house and home.” luctantly to the table to push his
 m FlESR 121

food around, to bed to lie, hardly

breathing, but wide-eyed in the
barn,
apart
— just
’’
sitting there, falling

dark, to whatever task Meris set Mark's silence got through to

him, forgetting in the middle of it him then, and he asked, troubled,
what he was doing. ‘What’s wrong? Are you mad at me
Lala followed him at first, chat- for something?’’
tering unEnglish at her usual great Meris spoke into Mark’s silence.
rate,leaning against him when he “No, Tad, it’s nothing you’ve done
sat, peering into his indifferent — She took him outside, ostensi-
’’

face. Then she stopped talking to bly to help bring in wood to fill
him and followed him only with the woodbox and filled him in on
her eyes. The third day she came the events. When they returned,
crying into Meris’ arms and wept loaded down with firewood, he
heart-brokenly against her shoul- dumped armload into the box
his
der. and looked Mark. at
Then her tears stopped, glis^ “Gee whizz, Mr. Edwards. Uh;
tened on her cheeks a moment and — uh — gee whiz!’’ He gathered up
were gone. She squirmed out of his magazine and his hat and,
Meris’ embrace and trotted to the shuffling his feet for a moment
window. She pushed a chair up said, “Well, ’bye now,” and left,
dose to the wall, climbed up on it, grimacing back at Meris, wordless.
pressed her forehead to the chilly Lala was still staring out the
glass and stared out into the late window. She hadn’t moved or
afternoon. made a soimd while Tad was there.
Tad came over on his bike, bub- Meris was frightened.
bling over with the new idea of "Mark!” She shook his arm gen-
old cars. tly. “Look at Lala. She’s been like

“Why, there’s parts of a whole that for almost an hour. She pays
bimch of these cars all over around no attention to me at all. Mark!”
here
— he cried, fluttering the
” Mark’s attention came slowly
tattered magazine at Mark. “And back to the cabin and to Meris.
have you seen how much tliey’re “Thank goodness!” she cried. “I
asking for some of them! Why I was beginning to feel that I was
could put my seif through college the one that was missing!”
on used parts out of our old dumps! At that moment, Lala plopped
And some of these vintage jobs are down from the chair and trotted
still running around here! Kiltie off to the bathroom, a round red
has a model A —
you’ve seen it! He spot marking her forehead where
shines it like a new shoe every she had leaned so long.
week! And there’s an old Overland ‘Well!” Meris was pleased. “It
touring car out in back of our must be supper time. Everyone’s
 ”

122 fantasy and science fiction

gatheiing around again.” And she me back,” he said. ‘Tve found my

began the bustle of supper-getting. Group. She told me Mark was sick
Lala trotted around with her, get- — that bad things had happened.”
ting in the way, hindering with “Yes,” said Meris, stirring the
her help. stew and moving it to the back of
. “No, Lala!” said Meris, “I told the stove. “The boys came while
you once already. Only three we were gone and ruined Mark’s
plates. Here, put the other one manuscript beyond salvage. And
over there.” Lala took the plate, —
Mark Mark is crushed. He lost
waited patiently until Meris all those months of labor through

turned to the stove, then, lifting senseless, vindictive

—
” she turned

both feet from the floor, put the away from Johannan’s questioning
plate back on the table. The soft face and stirred the stew again,
click of the flatware as she pat- blindly.
terned it around the plate, caught “But,” protested Johannan. “If
Meris’ attention. “Oh, Lala!” she once it was written, he has it still.
cried, half-laughing, half-exasper- He can do it again.”
ated. “Well, all right. If you can't “Time is the factor.” Mark’s
count, okay. Four it will be.” She voice, rusty and harsh, broke in on
started convulsively and dropped Johannan. “And to re-write from
a fork as a knock at the door
—
my notes ” He shook his head
roused even Mark. “Hungry guest and sagged again.
coming,” she laughed nervously as “But — but — !” cried Johannan
she picked up the fork, “Well, stillpuzzled, putting Lala to one
stew stretches.” side where she hovered, sitting on
She started for the door, fear, air, crooning to Deeko, until she
bred of senseless violence, crisping drifted slowly down to the floor.
along her spine, but Lala was “It’s all there! It’s been written!
ahead of her, fluttering like a bird, It’sa whole thing! All you have to
with excited bird-cries, against the do is put it again on paper. Your
door panels, her hands fumbling wordscriber
—
at the knob and the night chain “I don’t have total recall,” said
Meris had insisted on installing. Mark. “Even if I did, just to put it
Meris unfastened and unlocked —
on paper again come see our
and opened the door. ‘wordscriber’.” He smiled a small
It was Johannan, anxious-eyed bent smile as Johannan poked fin-
and worried, that slipped in and gers into the mechanism of the
gathered up a shrieking Lala. typewriter and clucked unhappily,
When he had finally unEnglished sounding so hke Lala that Meris
her to a quiet, contented clinging, almost laughed. “Such slowness!
he turned to Meris. “Lala cdled Such complications!”
 — ”

NO DIFFERENT FLESH 123

Johannan looked at Mark. “If Mark stared at her then Hushed

you want, my People can help you a deep, painful flush. “Okay, then,”
get your manuscript back again.” he said. “Stir the bones again! Let
“It’s Mark. “Why
finished,” said him put meat back on them if he
agonize over it any more?” He can!”
turned to the dark window.
"Was it worth the effort of writ- The next few hours were busy
ing?” asked Johannan. with patterned confusion. Mark
“I thought so,” said Mark. "And roared off through the gathering
others did, too.” darkness to persuade Chip to open
“Would it have served a useful the store for typing paper. And
purpose?” asked Johannan. people arrived. Just arrived, smil-
“Of course it would have!” ing, at the door, familiar friends
Mark swung angrily from the win- before they spoke, and Metis,
dow. “It covered an area that glancing out to see if the heavens
needs to be covered. It was new themselves had split open from as-
the first book in the field!” He tonishment saw, hovering tree-top-
turned again to the window. high, a truly vintage car, an old
“Then,” said Johannan simply, pickup that clanked softly to it-
"We will make it again. Have you self, spinning a wheel against a

paper enough?” branch as it waited. “If Tad could

Mark swung back, his eyes glit- see that!” she thought, with a bub-
tering. Meris stepped between his ble of laughter nudging her throat.
glare and Johannan. “This summer She hurried back indoors to fur-
I have come back from the dead,” ther make welcome the newcomers
she reminded. "And you caught a — Valancy, Karen, Davy, Jemmy.
baby for me, pulling her down The women gathered Lda in vidth
from the sky by one ankle. Johan- soft cries and shining eyes and she
nan went looking for his people wept briefly upon them in re-
through the tree-tops. And a three- sponse to their emotions, then
year-old called him back by lean- leaped upon the fellows and near-
ing against the window. If all ly strangled them with her hugs.
these things could happen, why Johannan briefed the four in
can’t Johannan bring your manu- what had happened and what was
script back?” needed. They diseussed the situa-
“But if he tries and can’t
— tion, glanced at the few salvaged
Mark began. pages on the desk and sent, eyes
"Then we can let the dead past closed briefly, for someone else.

bury the dead,” said Meris sharp- His name was Remy and he had a
ly, “Which httle item you have special ‘Gift’ for plans and dia-
not been letting happen so far!” grams. He arrived just before Mark
 124 FANTASY AMD SCIENCE FICTION

got back, so the whole group of from the New Home. All you have
diem confronted him when he to do is think and the scriber
flung the door open and stood down your thoughts. “Here
there with his bundle of paper.
writes
— try it
— ” he said into Mark’s
He blinked, glanced at Meris, very evident skepticism.
then, shifting his burden to one Davy put a piece of paper on
arm, held out a welcoming hand. the table in front of Mark and, on
“I hadn’t expected an invasion,” it, a small gadget that looked va-

he smiled. “To tell the truth, I guely like a small sanding block in
didn’t know what to expect.” He that it was curved across the top
thumped the package down on the and flat on the bottom. “Go on,”
table and grinned at Meris. "Chip’s urged Davy, “Think something.
sure now that writers are psychoes,” You don’t even have to vocalize.
he said. “Any normal person could I’ve keyed it to you. Karen sorted
wait dll morning for paper or use your setting for me.”
flattened grocery bags!” He Mark looked around at the in-
shrugged out of his jacket. "Now.” terested, watching faces, at Metis’
Jemmy said, “It’s really quite eyes, blurred with hesitant hope
simple. Since you wrote your book and then down at the scriber. The
and have read it through several scriber stirred, then slid swiftly
times, the things exists as a whole across the paper, snapping back to
in your memory, just as it was on the beginning of a line again, as
paper. So all we have to do is put quick as thought. Davy picked up
it on paper again.” He gestured. the paper and handed it to Mark.
‘That’s all?" Mark’s hands went Meris crowded to peer over his
back through his hair. "That’s all? shoulder.
Man, that’s all I had to do after Of all the dam-fool things As I

my notes were organized, months if it —

were possible Look at the
ago! Maybe I should have settled son-of-a-gun go I
for flattened grocery bags! Why, All neatly typed, neatly spaced,
the sheer physical
— ” The hght appropriately punctuated. Hope
was draining out of his face. flamed up in Mark’s eyes. “Maybe
—
“Wait wait!” Jemmy’s hand so,” he said, turning to Jemmy,
closed warmly over his sagging “What do I do, now?”
shoulder. “Let me finish. “Well,” said Jemmy. "You have
“Davy, here, is our gadgeteer. your whole book in your mind,
He dreams up all kinds of knick- but a mass of other things, too.
knacks and among other things, he It’d be almost impossible for you
has come forth with a wordscriber. to think through your book with-
Even better—” he glanced at Jo- out any digressions or side
hannan, “Than the ones brought thoughts, so Karen will blanket
 ”” — ” ” ”

NO DIFFERENT FLESH 125

your mind for you except for your way. We're strangers. No concern
—
book
‘‘Hypnotism
—
” Mark’s with-
of yours. Is it to pay us for taking
care of Lala? In that case
—
drawal was visible. Karen smiled. “Why did you
“No,” said Karen. “Just screen- take care of Lala? You could have
ing out interference. Think how turned her over to the authorities.
much time was taken up in your A no no
original draft by distractions
— strange child,
concern of yours.”
relation,

Meris clenched her hands and “That’s a foolish question,” said

gulped, remembering all the hours Mark. “She needed help. She was
—
Mark had had to to baby-sit her cold and wet and lost. Anyone
—
while she was still rocking her “You did it for the same reason
grief like a rag doll with all the we are doing this for you,” said
stuffings pulled out. She felt an Karen. “Just because we originated
arm across her shoulders and on a different world, doesn’t
turned to Valancy’s comforting make us of different flesh. There
smile. “All over,” said her eyes, are no strangers in God’s uni-
kindly, “All past.” verse. You found an unhappy situ-

— “How about
suggested Mark,
the
all diagrams ation that you could do something
about, so you did it. Without stop-
”
—
balize
“I can’t ver-
ping to figure out the whys and
“That’s where Remy comes in,” wherefores. You did it just be-
.

said Jemmy, “All you have to

do is cause that’s what love does.”
visualize each one. He’ll have his Mark lay back on the narrow
own scriber right here and he’ll pillow. “Thank you,” he said.
take it from there.” Then he turned his face to Meris.
The cot was pulled up near the “Okay?”
table and Mark disposed himself “Okay.” Her voice jerked a lit-
comfortably on it. The paper was tlepast her emotion. "Love you,
unwrapped and stacked all ready. Mark!”
Remy and Davy arranged them- "Love you, Merisi”
selves strategically. Surrounded by Karen’s finger tip went to Mark’s
bowed heads. Jemmy said,
briefly forehead again. “I need contact,”
“We met together in Thy
are she said a little apologetically,
name.” Then Karen touched Mark “Especially with an Outsider.”
gently on the forehead with one
finger tip. Meris fell asleep, propped up
Mark suddenly lifted himself on the bunk, eyes lulled by the si-
on one elbow. “Wait,” he said, lent sli-i-i-ide, flip I sli-i-i-ide, flip!

“Things are going too fast. Why of the scriber, and the brisk flutter
why are you doing this for us, any- of finished pages from the tail pile
 ” ” ” —— ”

126 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

of paper to the short one. She months and months the cabin was
opened drowsy eyes to a murmur lapped from side to side with
of voices and saw that the two peace and relaxation. Even the
piles of paper were almost bal- animated discussion going on was
anced. She sat up to ease her neck no ruffling of the comfortable
where it had been bent against the calmness. She heard, on the edge
cabin wall. of her ebbing consciousness
“But it’s wrong, I tell you!” “Why no! That’s not right at
Remy was waving the paper. Mark was astonished. "Hoo
where it goes
—
“Look, all!”
boy! If I’d sent that in with an
this line, here,
"Remy,” said Jemmy, “Are you error like that! Thanks, fella
—
sure it’s wrong or is it just another And sleep flowed over Meris.
earlier version of what we know She awoke later to tlie light
now?” chatter of Lala’s voice and opened
"No!” said Remy, “This time it’s drowsy eyes to see her trailing
not that. This is a real mistake. He back from the bathroom, her feet
couldn’t possibly have meant it to tucked up under her gown away
be like that
— from the chilly floor as she drifted
“Okay,” Jemmy nodded to Karen back to Valancy’s arms. The leg
and she touched Mark’s forehead. above Meris’ head swung violently
He opened his eyes and half sat and withdrew, to be replaced by
up. The scriber flipped across the Davy’s dangling head. He said
paper and Karen stilled it with a something to Lala. She laughed
touch. “What he asked,
is it?” and lifted herself up to his out-
"Something go wrong?” stretched arms. There was a stir-
“No, it’s this diagram,” Remy ring around above Meris’ head be-
brought it to him. “I think you fore sleeping silence returned.
have an error here. Look where Valancy stood and stretched.
this goes
— She moved over to the table
The two bent
over the paper. and thumbed the stack of paper.
Metis looked around the cabin. “Going well,” she said softly.
Valancy was rocking a sleeping “Yes,” said Jemmy, “I feel a lit-
Lala in her arms. Davy was sound tle like a mid-wife, snatching
asleep in the upper bunk. At least something new-born in the middle
his dangling looked very
leg of the night.”
asleep. Johannan was absorbed in “Darn shame to stop here,
two books simultaneously. He though,” said Remy. “With such a
seemed to be making a comparison —
good beginning oh, barring a
of some sort. Metis lay back again, few excursions down dead-ends
sliding down to a more comforta- if we could only tack on a few
ble position. For the first time in more chapters.”
 ” ” ” ”

NO DIFFERENT FLESH 127

“Uh-uh!" Jemmy stood and he’s the kind thatwould

—
stretched, letting his arms fall “He is,” said Johannan and
aroimd Valancy’s shoulders. “You went back to his reading.
know better than that
— “It’s almost daylight.” Davy
"Not even one little hint?” went to the window and parted
“Not even.” Jemmy was firm. the curtains. “Wonder how early a
Sleep flowed over Meris again riser he is?”
until pushed back by Davy’s slid- Meris turned her back to the
ing over the edge of the upper light and slid back under sleep
bunk. again.
“Right in the stomach!” he Noise and bustle filled the
moaned as he dropped to the cabin.
floor. “Such a kicking kid I never Coffee was perking fragrantly,
met. How’d you survive?” he asked eggs cracking, bacon spitting it-
Valancy. self to crispness. Remy was cheer-
“Nary a kick,” she laughed. fully mashing slices of bread down
“Technique —that’s what it takes.” on the hot stove lid and prying up
“I was just wondering,” said the resultant toast. Lala was flick-
Davy opening the stove and prob- ing around the table, putting two
ing the coals before he put in an- forks at half the places and two
odier chunk of oak. “That kid Jo- knives at the others then giggling
hannan was talking about the — her way back around with redis-
one that’s got interested in vintage tribution after Johannan pointed
cars. What about that place up on out her error.
Bearcat Flat? You know, that little Meris, reaching for a jar of
box canyon where we put all our peach marmalade on the top shelf
old jalopies when we discarded of the cupboard, wondered how a
them. Engines practically unused. day could feel so new and so won-
Lifting’s cheaper and faster. Of derful. Mark sat at his desk open-
course the seats and the trunk ing and closing the box wherein
beds are kinda beat up, and the lay the finished manuscript. He
paint. Trees scratch the daylights opened it again and fingered the
out of paint. How many are there top edge of the stack. He caught
Theone was Jemmy’s sympathetic grin and
there? Let’s see.
about 1 9-ought-something
first
— grinned back.
Johannan looked up from his “Just making sure it’s really
books. “He said something about there,” he explained. "Magic put it
money Magic might take it out
—
selling parts or cars to get
for college
in there.
again.”
"Or restoring them!” Davy “Not this magic. I’U even ride
cried. "Hey, that could be fun! If shotgun for you into town and see
 ” — ”

128 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

that it gets sent ofiE okay,” said put Lala’s small bundle of belong-
Jemmy. ings into Valancy’s hands.
“Magic or no,” said Mark, sob- “Only this little episode,” com-
ering, “Once more I can say. forted Valancy. “It’s really only
Thank God! Thank God it’s dcmel” begun.” She put Lala into Metis’
arms. “Tell her goodbye, Lala.”
Tad was an early riser. He was “It’s just that she filled up the

standing under the hovering pick- empty places so wonderfully well,”

up, gaping upwards in admiring she explained to Valancy.
astonishment. 'Tes,” said Valancy softly, her
“Oops!” said Davy, with a side- eyes tender and compassionate,
wise glance at Jemmy. Tad was “But, you know,” she went on.
swept up in a round of introduc- “You are pregnant again!”
tions during which the pickup Before Metis could produce an
lowered slowly to the ground. intelligible thought, goodbyes
Tad turned from the group were finished and the whole group
back to the pickup. "Look at it'.’’ he was losing itself in the tan^e of
said. “It must be at least 40 years creek-side vegetation. Lala’s vigor-
old!” His voice pushed its genesis ous waving of Deeko was the last
back beyond the pyramids. sign of them before the leaves
“At least that,” said Davy. closed behind them.
“VVanta see tlie motor?” Meris and Mark stood there.
“Do I!” He stood by impatiently Metis’ head pressed to Mark’s
as Davy wrestled with the hood. shoulder, both too drained for any
Then he blinked. “Hey! How did emotion. Then Meris stirred and
it get way up there? I mean, how’d moved towards the car, her eyes
it get down
— suddenly shining. “I don’t think I
“Look,” said Davy hastily, “See can wait,” she said, “I don’t think
if
this goes to the spark
'The others, laughing, piled into “Wait for what?” asked Mark,
Mark’s car and drove away from following her,
the two absorbed buffs-in-embryo. “To tell Dr. Hilf— ” She cov-
ered her mouth, dismayed. “Oh,
The car pulled over onto a pine Mark! We never did find out that
flat halfway back from town and Doctor’s name!”
the triumphantal mailing of the “Not that Hilf is drooling to
manuscript. This was the patting know,” said Mark, starting the car,
place. Davy would follow later "But next time
—
with the pickup. “Oh, yes,” Meris sat back, her
“It’s over,” said Metis, her mouth curving happily, “Next
shoulders sagging a little as she time, next time!” M
 I MARKET PLACE |
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Science fiction/fantasy magazines (1928-1950)
BOOKS— MAGAZINES For sale, A. Metzger, 126 E. Highland, Sierra
Madre, California.
Why buy books? Send 10^^ for information &
catalog to> Science Fiction Circulating Library, 50 Pocket books $5.00. Snowden's, Box 185,
P. O. Box 1308, So. San Gabriel, California. Victoria B. C. Canada

25,000 magazines for sale. Thousonds wanted

in excellent condition; science fiction, weird, PATENTS AND INVENTIONS
horror, spicy, western, adventure, others. Send
list, enclosing stamp. Magazine Center, Box 214,
Little Rock, Ark. INVENTIONS wanted. Patented, unpatented. Ex-
tensive manufacturers lists. Search service. Ap-
SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW contains concise, plications prepared. Financial assistance availa-
timely reviews of books, magazines, and pa- ble. For free detoils write New York Invention
perbacks. Includes articles by van Vogt, Service, 141F Broadway, Room 817, New York 6,
Norton, Anderson, Leinster, etc. Send for free New York.
sample copy. Box 1568, San Diego, California
92112.
BOOKPLATES
SCARCE BOOKS LOCATED! $4. Minimum. Ash-
land, P. O. Box 424, New Paltz, New York 12561.
FREE CATALOG. Many designs including SF and
engineering. Address bookplates. Yellow Springs
Comic Books, published before 1955, wanted in
4, Ohio.
quantity. All subjects. Immedicrte payment for all
accepted. Bill Palmer, 1406 Vermont, Lansing,
Michigan 48906.
HYPNOTISM
inventory Clearance. Send $1.00 for seven mys-
tery pocxet books— Mercury Mysteries, Bestseller Free Illustrated, Hypnotism Catalogue. Write
Mysteries, Jonathan Press Mysteries— in good Powers, 8721 Sunset, Hollywood 69, California.
condition. Maximum order, 21 titles for $3.00.
Send order and remittance to: Mercury Press, Box
271, Rockville Centre, N.Y. 11571.
LEARN WHILE ASLEEP, Hypnotize with your
recorder, phonograph. Astonishing details, sen-
sational cotalog free. Sleep-learning Research
British Science Fastasy Paperbacks and books. Association, Box 24-FS, Olympia, Washington,
Send 20^ stamp for current list, or $1. For next
six months catalogues. Fantast (Medway) Ltd.,.
75, Norfolk Street, Wisbech, Combs., England.
PERSONAL
Free Catalog of books proving God and Jesus
to be myths, and the Bible mostly fiction. Truth STRANGE UNIQUE items catalog 10^. Black
Seeker, Box 2832, San Diego, Calif. Magic Shop, Dept. R, Box 5664, Minneopolis,
Minnesota 55417.
FANCIFUL TALES. Found! Several copies of this
rarest 1936 printed magazine, featuring Love-
craft, Howard. $3. D. Grinnell, Box 2239, New New York City Remails: Reliable and Confiden-
tial. 20^ each, $2.50 monthly. J. Peterson, Box
York 10017.
607, Woodside, N. Y. 11377.
"INSIGHT". England's only magazine devoted
solely and seriously to the macabre in cinema Free I.D. Card, Confidential list (5^) Birth, Mar-
and literature. Send for current issue, 1/3 (U.K), riage, Death Certificates. Diplomas, Degrees.
25 cents (U.S.A.). 12, Harbut Road, London, $1.00 ea. DeNobile, 1645-64th Street, Brooklyn,
S.W.II, England. N.Y. 11204F

Do you hove S0m9fhing to advertise to sf readers? Books#

mogozines# typewriters, telescopes, computers, space-drives# or
misc. Use the F&5F Market Place at these low, low rates: $2.50
for minimum of ten (10) words, plus 25$ for each additional
word. Send copy and remittance to: Adv, Dept.# Fontosy and
Science Fiction, 347 East 53 Street, New York 22# N. Y.

129
 STAMPS "LEARNi The Golden Thoeghte Independen ce”.
d
Something new in concept*. Be a dcrve lo only
your own thoughts. Not to someone elses think-
APPROVALS, oiie>llifrd catolog vcifu9< Dnild# ing. Your only risk U freedom. Send S2.W
28^ Dat« Street, Riverside, Calif. 92M7* fticket. Box 175, New Baltimore, MidUgon,
48047.
WANTED
Recent reitgious survey college groups quotes
looking for complete sets of GALAXY, IMAGI- less them holf satisfied, one fourth feel neM for
NATION, MERRirS FANTASY, FANTASTIC UNI- new religion. Try entirely new concept. Church
VERSE,etc. Don Fanzo, Rt. 2, Sox 33, Lubbock, ^ Eorth, Box 97, Calabasos, Calif. 91^12.
Texas.

Fossils, millions of years old. Assorhnent of 10

MISCELLANEOUS prehistoric sharks teeth for $2.00. Fossils, 0ox

FOREIGN EDITIONS of Fontaty and Science Fic-

Hon Limited offer— Send $1. for any 3 foreign
edition copies of F&SF (usually 50^ each)— Fren^, THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD. Twenty
German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, or British Inspirational quototions and sayings, each one
Venture $F. Mercury Press, Box 271, Rockville printed seporotely on lusterkote pastels, for
Centre, N.Y. 11571. pocket or purSe, bedromn, bathroom, onywhere
tor ready reference, ond constont reminders of
WHAT OUR DREAMS MEAN. Every new experi- positive thoughts, $1.00 to: Standard Specialties
ence is first told to us in dreams. $1.00 post Box 4382, San Froncisco, 94101.
Calif.
fpaid. Don Grant, 35 East 35 St., N. Y. Dept. 7-He

BEERS, PEACH BRANDY, WINES-Strongest For- For Terran Survivoi Trust in God but follow the
mulas, $2.00. (complete brew supplies-hydrome- Pattern effective for groups of 1(X) plus. CcMd
ters catalog 10^)— Reseorch Enterprises, 29-M08 $1.00 or anything else. Utopist c/o Fru Vinburg,
Samoset Road, Woburn, AMiss, Rorstrg. 56B, Sthim Vq Sw^en.

YOUR MARKET PLACE

A market is people—alert, intelligent, active people.
Here you can reach 180,000 people ( averaging three readers per copy
—60,000 paid circulation). Many of them are enthusiastic hobbyists—
collecting books, magazines, stamps, corns, model rockets, etc.— actively
interested m
photography, music, astronomy, painting, sculpture, elec-
tronics.

If you have a product or service of merit, tell them about it. The price
is right: $2.50 for a minimum of ten (10) words, plus 25(i fpr each
additional word.

Advertising Dept., Fantasy & Science Fiction

347 East 53 St, New York, N. Y. 10022
130
 Zhe JmprlHt of Quality
(since 1937)

THE MAC A2I N E OF

Fantasy and
Science Fiction
Vivid writing, compelling stories, and boundless
imagination have earned F&SF its reputation as
tops in the field. Every month tales of new
worlds and the exciting people who discover
them, by such outstanding authors as Theodore
Sturgeon, Alfred Bester, Robert A. Heinlein,
Isaac Asimov, John Collier, Robert Graves, and
many others.

Jiction
veiQTure
SCIENCE 1 I FICTION •im
Saturn
Morgenlicht

ltOBE»T ARTHUR
DON BERRY
AVRAH DAVIDSON
JANES E. GUNN
JACR LONDON
). T. HelNIOSH

Mid A. iFftrun OiandlNr's

•muMmatuminf

British Spanish French German

Edition Edition Edition Edition

Joseph W. Ferman, Publisher

MERCURY PRESS, INC. • 347 East 53 Street, New York, N. Y. 10022