The Secret of Spring

by Piers Anthony

  Herb had not been asleep very long when the insistent tapping at the front door awakened him. For a moment he wondered where he was until remembering that Moon Maiden was in his bed. But first, he had to answer the door. Who would be knocking so late at night? He went quickly and opened the door a crack, not turning on the bulb, as he didn’t want to disturb Moon Maiden. He peeped through the crevice. It was Lily, of all people.

  “Lily! Of all people,” he exclaimed nervously. “What are you doing here?”

  She held up a small black case. “Your briefcase. You left it at the house.” She smiled. “I saw it when I got up for a drink of water. I remembered you had that important meeting in the morning and knew you’d need it.”

  “That’s right.” He had forgotten all about the meeting, what with everything else that had happened. Moon Maiden! Lily must not see her. He took the case and began to close the door again. “Thank you for the case. I don’t know what I’d do without you, dear.”

  The bulb snapped on behind him, flooding the room in bright light. Spring sat up in bed, sleepily rubbing her eyes. “Herb? Is that you? What’s wrong?” she asked.

  Lily pushed the door open, then stood perfectly still, wide eyes taking in the scene over Herb’s shoulders. Herb in his night robe; a strange, foreign girl sleeping in his bed. She looked at Herb angrily, tears beginning to seep out the corners of her eyes. “It looks as if you do very nicely without me,” she snapped, running away into the night.

  Herb called after her. “Lily! Wait!”

  “Herb?” Moon Maiden said again. “Is something the matter?” Her first thought was that Elton might have found her again. “Herb!” she called, upset.

  Herb shut the door and returned to her. How would he ever explain this one to Lily?

  13

  Lies

  These are lovely flowers,” Elton said.

  “Children,” Lily said, wondering who the off planet visitor was and what business he had at the nursery. “I don’t mean to be rude, sir, but it is obvious you are new to our sphere. Do you seek directions?”

  Elton looked nonplused. “No, I know where I am. Actually, I wished to speak with you, if you have a few moments?”

  “Me? Yes, there is time before the next feeding. Step into the office, please,” Lily said, more curious than apprehensive, now.

  Elton pulled a picture from his coat and presented it to Lily. “Have you ever seen this girl before?” he asked.

  Lily drew in a breath. It was the passionflower! Who was she that so many men were drawn to her?

  “Who is this girl?” she asked casually, examining the photo with trembling hands. There could be no doubt. She would know those pale limbs anywhere.

  “My wife,” Elton answered.

  Lily almost dropped the picture. “Your wife?”

  “Yes. She is missing, you see. This is somewhat embarrassing to admit, but we were on vacation and had a silly quarrel. When the starship landed, my wife got off without telling me. I discovered she wasn’t aboard only moments before take-off.”

  Lily listened in shocked silence. Herb bedded a unionized woman? How could he do such a terrible thing?

  “It was a disagreement over nothing, really,” Elton continued. “But my wife is a very impulsive individual. That was always part of her charm for me, of course. But I’m sure she must be frantic by now, alone here on a strange planet with unfamiliar ways.”

  “I’m sure. But why ask me?” Lily hedged. His wife was impulsive? She looked settled in last night!

  “Oh, not only you, dear lady. The lightport is near this area, and I have since discovered that rooms are not easy to come by. I thought to inquire at the local business places, in case she had asked information there. You see, I fear I took your establishment for a flower shop,” he added apologetically.

  “Yes, most offworlders aren’t familiar with how our different species reproduce young. This is indeed a nursery, but not in the way you thought,” she explained. “We raise the offspring of working mothers while they are at their jobs.”

  “My sincere apology for the error. I have no wish to offend anyone, I assure you. I wish only to locate my wife.”

  Lily was torn. While she had no love for the young woman in the photo, she was sure her husband would not be pleased to learn that his wife had bedded with another. A unionized woman. She certainly did not take her union vows very seriously. True, offworlders had different values, but how could she tell this to the offworlder?

  He might even hurt Herb. She had heard stories of how violent foreigners could be. While not approving of what Herb had done, Lily did not want to be responsible for him being beaten or even worse. In spite of it all, she still cared for him.

  She pondered going to Herb and explaining what she had learned. It was possible he did not even know that the woman was unionized. If she was so impulsive and charming, she may have pressed herself on him. Forcing him beyond what any man could reasonably endure. Men were only human. And Herb was half human. She could have easily taken advantage of poor Herb. Lily began to realize what a jealous fool she had been to storm off in Herb’s time of need.

  “I see you recognize the photograph,” Elton said. “Do you know where she has gone?”

  “Recognize it? Oh, no. Forgive me if I gave you the wrong impression. I was only looking so intently because I have never seen a pale offworlder woman before. I will ask some of the others in this neighborhood for you, and if they have seen her I will let you know. Come back this evening.” She was trying to buy time.

  “That is very kind of you,” Elton said, tucking the photo back into his pocket. “Until then.” He made a slight bow and left.

  Once outside, Elton smiled broadly and gave himself a mental pat on the back. He could tell she believed his story; he could see it in her eyes. Spring had eluded him aboard the starship, but he would soon find her out.

  He had almost believed she was not at the Moon sanctuary until one of Zygote’s other spies had successfully infiltrated the compound and found proof that a girl of Spring’s description had been there until the day the ship left. True, they did not admit him, but they were quick to accept a new “Pledge.”

  The spy had searched the girl’s room, discovering part of a torn photograph in the bathroom. Spring had probably tried to destroy all evidence of her destination. It was a photo of a male Veganoid, native of P#23, Paradise, one of the stops of the starship.

  The spy had wired it and the information to Elton aboard the starship via photogram. He had searched the ship from top to bottom without result, but knew she had gotten off on P#23. Luck was running out for Gabriel’s unfortunate daughter, Elton thought smugly.

  Still, the search had not been without effort. Elton had no idea of the true identity of the plant man, and could hardly wander the sphere, searching aimlessly for him. The direct approach was sometimes the best. Therefore, when he entered the government building for his Visitor’s Pass, he made other inquiries as well.

  Claiming to be a business acquaintance, he said he had lost the man’s name and address. It turned out that the government of Paradise kept scrupulous census records, complete with current photographs. A quick check through the Identimatch machine with his torn picture, and he learned the man’s name was Herb Moss, son of a prominent local businessman. He was given an office address, but the home address was protected by the Privacy Act.

  Elton had gone directly to the firm and asked to see Herb. It was his intention to say he was Spring’s brother and needed to see her on urgent family business. He learned that Herb had taken the day off for illness. They would not release his home address either, but one of the secretaries he had gone out of his way to flirt with saw fit to mention that Herb’s fiance, Lily, worked at the Nursery uptown. She might be willing to pass along his message.

  Naturally he could not come right out and ask Lily where Herb lived. He didn’t know how much she knew. If they were in it together, she would only put him off. Yet, she was no fr
iend to Spring. He could see that from the way she eyed the photograph.

  There had been recognition, though. He was certain she knew something and he was going to find out what that certain something was. All it took was a little patience.

  Fortunately for him, he did not have long to wait. Just as he had suspected, Lily was going to lead him to the elusive Herb Moss. He watched as she slipped outside the back door of the Nursery, pausing to look surreptitiously about before proceeding swiftly down the street. Elton followed at a safe distance. His trap for Spring was about to be sprung.

  14

  And More Lies

  It was sweet of you to take the day off to help me find a place to stay, Herb, but won’t you get in trouble with your boss?” Spring asked.

  “The boss is my father,” Herb said, laughing. “Besides, I called in sick. No one should try to communicate, but just in case, I have looped the communiline. It will give off a busy signal to anyone who tries.”

  “What about that meeting you had this morning? Your poor secretary even made a special trip last night to bring your case,” she protested.

  Herb had thought it the better part of discretion not to mention his scene with Lily. It would only upset Moon, and one distraught female at a time was all he could handle. Besides that, he had also failed to mention his upcoming union in correspondence with Moon. An unfortunate oversight. How would she feel now to learn she had travelled all that way to visit a man who wasn’t even free to escort her in broad daylight? Would she think him as despicable as that other man who had lied to her? Who had left her so broken and untrusting? Herb could not risk her reaction.

  Lily had stormed away by the time his overnight guest had fully awakened, so she remembered only the sounds of voices and the slamming door. Herb had assured her it was nothing to worry her pretty sleepy head about, and sent her back to bed. When Moon inquired about the incident in the morning, he had contrived the secretary story to quell her curiosity.

  The best thing now was to find proper lodgings for her, so she could work on that thesis for her entry to the Jupiter Institute. Herb would try to arrange his schedule so he could show her around without disturbing Lily. It was obvious what his intended believed she had seen. While he might think of some explanation she would accept, he knew she would never forgive him should she discover him in Moon’s company a second time. Lily was usually a trusting woman, but there were limits to her credulity.

  Much as Herb admired the pale girl, he now wished he had never answered that ad. Even an exchange of letters was more than Lily would countenance. The vine grew more tangled with each new event.

  Moon, as he now called her for short, had offered no other name. She had currently disappeared into the shower room and busied herself with the items he had shopped for earlier. Herb jotted down the addresses of homes that might be willing to take her in. She returned quietly and tapped him on the shoulder. Herb turned and almost dropped his pen and lily pad.

  “Lily,” he exclaimed, startled to see his girlfriend.

  “Who’s Lily?” asked Spring. “Do I look like someone you know?”

  Herb felt like a fool. Of course it wasn’t Lily. “No, that is, you don’t look like you, Moon.”

  “Good. That’s the idea. So, how do you like me?” she asked twirling around, causing the floral patterned skirt to lift, revealing slim, shapely legs.

  “They’re nice. That is, you look nice,” Herb babbled. He could hardly ignore the well grown limbs of an attractive girl, despite having seem them before. Each time sent him into a new spin. “You look just like a Veganette.”

  The transformation was remarkable. The spray-on hair coloring gave her tresses a lovely dark shade of green. The makeup completely covered over her pale skin, changing it to a normal light greenish hue. The dress was typical of one a smartly dressed Veganette would choose.

  The dress! Now Herb realized why he had thought Moon was Lily. Lily had a dress exactly like that one. Probably that was why it had caught his eye so quickly in the shop. He had always liked that style on Lily, and it looked just as good on Moon. In fact, Moon perhaps filled out the top a bit fuller, though it was the same size as Lily’s dress.

  “No one will know me from a native,” Spring exclaimed, pleased with her new disguise. At least here, she could be her own sex.

  “I thought you looked lovely the way you were before,” Herb commented, almost too sincerely.

  “Thanks, but I feel people will open up to me better if I don’t look so different,” Spring said. “You told me how many people are wary of strangers. I think this is best.” She also thought Elton would have a tougher time tracking her down if she blended in with the locals. Her white skin made her conspicuous among all the green folk.

  Herb didn’t fully understand why she felt it was necessary, but if it made her happy, he had no objections. He knew how she really looked underneath. He would never forget it. But he shouldn’t dwell on that. He had just decided to tell her about some of the homes on his list, when there was a knock at the door.

  Both jumped, but for personal reasons unknown to the other. Herb wondered if his father had sent someone over to check on him after all. Spring feared Zygote’s spies.

  Herb peeked through the small viewer in the door and saw the top of a woman’s head below. Then she looked up and knocked again. Lily.

  Herb’s heart plunged into his stomach. Why was she back? She didn’t even look angry. Why couldn’t she behave like a normal woman and never speak to him again? Of course he didn’t mean that, but her timing was incredibly bad for him. He signaled for Moon to leave the room.

  “It’s my secretary again,” he whispered. “Hide in the shower. If the office sent her, they might not understand why I have company if I’m sick.”

  Spring nodded and exited the room, pulling the wallflower partition shut after her.

  Herb opened the door cautiously, not knowing what to say. “Lily. What a surprise.”

  “Not half the one I had last night,” she said dryly, pushing past him, and looking around. “Sleep well?”

  “I, uh, didn’t expect to see you today,” he said lamely, closing the door.

  “No, I imagine not. Herb, I must know. Are you having an affair with that—that passionflower?”

  Clearly Lily was upset. She never used such language. “Affair? Ha. Of course I’m not having an affair with anyone. I know what you thought. But it wasn’t that way at all. It was perfectly innocent.” He was dying on the vine.

  “Buttercup. I knew it. I knew you had an explanation,” cried Lily, throwing her arms about his neck, nearly strangling him in the process.

  “You did?” he gasped, trying not to choke. “What is it?”

  She released her hold, and he took a deep breath.

  “1 knew all along it had to be that girl’s doing. She is unionized.”

  “What?” Herb was certain his hearing was going. He thought Lily said Spring was married.

  “Yes, it’s true. A unionized woman, acting that way,” Lily said disapprovingly.

  Herb was shocked. What nonsense was she sprouting?

  “I see you are as shocked as I was,” Lily said. “Her husband came to the nursery today looking for her. He showed me a photosynthe-graph. It was her all right. He said they had a quarrel and she left the starship in a huff. Now he’s looking for her everywhere. I didn’t tell him that she was here last night. I didn’t know what he might do to you.”

  Herb was more shocked. Moon had a husband? He sat down in the chair. “Are you absolutely sure of this?” he asked weakly.

  “Yes. They were on vacation. He said she was very impulsive. I thought about it, and I knew you would never bed a unionized woman. Not intentionally.” She looked at the floor forlornly.

  “I didn’t bed anyone. She just needed a place to spend the night. You must believe me!”

  “I do. I really do,” Lily said, hopping into his lap. “And I am so sorry for jumping to all the wrong conclusions.
Can you ever forgive me?”

  Herb cleared his throat, and spoke righteously. “Yes, I think we can let it go this time, Lily, but if we are to have a good union you must trust me in the future.” He remembered an old Earth story, and wondered whether his nose would sprout a few inches.

  “Yes, Herb,” Lily said docilely. “She is gone now?” Her eyes darted about like an eagle’s, searching for tell-tale signs of her rival.

  “You can see for yourself,” Herb said nervously. “Now, you run along like a good girl so I can get some rest. I had to call in sick today because I barely got a wink of sleep sitting up in that hard chair all night.” That part was true.

  “Oh, poor Herb,” Lily said, hopping up and opening the door, pausing only to blow him a kiss. “I promise never to doubt you again.”

  Herb smiled and waved, and slammed the door. And locked it. He sat back down. So much to vegetate on. Could it be true? Had Moon lied to him? He had only her word for her life on New Moon. Could she be just a bored housewife looking for alien playmates for new thrills? Well, Herb Moss was nobody’s joy toy.

  “Moon Maiden. Come here,” he called firmly. “Now.”

  Spring emerged from her hiding place behind the shower curtain. “What’s wrong, Herb?”

  “Never mind. I want the truth. Are you in Union?”

  “I don’t have a job,” she answered, confused.

  “Married. Are you married?” he shouted.

  “What are you shouting about?”

  “I am not shouting,” he yelled. “I want to know if you are married. Are you?”

  “But why ask such a thing?”

  “Because Lily, that is, my secretary, told me a man claiming to be your husband asked for you at the Nursery, uh, office. Why would someone say that if it wasn’t so?”

  Why indeed, thought Spring. She sank down upon the bed, her sudden pallor showing through the makeup. “A man asked for me? How would he know where to find me this soon?” she asked, more to herself than Herb.