Astounding Science Fiction Stories Vol 1

by Anthology

  Okay. Now where was she and how did it work? Could he find her and haul her off silly tilt-a-whirl? He thought not. Either his eyes were bad or this thing had appeared from nowhere. Something inside snapped: Quit thinking that way! Whatever it looked like--think right. Follow the rules. Look for the dame. His grin deepened.

  Sure.

  He started walking. Around the eerie corridor in the direction opposite that taken by Orin and Alma Dakin. He walked a long time and there were no doors or anything else so the only thing to do was keep walking. He thought: When I come to that stairway I'll be back where I started but where's that? What good is a hall you keep going around and around in?

  The ship lurched and threw him to the floor. It was going somewhere.

  But it didn't go anywhere. Of that he was sure. Maybe he'd been fooled but it seemed the ship settled back after that single lurch and lay there like a choice segment out of someone's pet nightmare. Kirk got to his feet and rubbed the place his leg had violently met the floor.

  He walked on and there was the steel stairway again and it was all very damned silly because he knew he'd circled the ship at least three times.

  But lucky because the footsteps sounded again and as he dived toward the pocket, the wall of the ship opened to form a doorway. They forgot something, he thought. What kind of supermen are these? They can build a ship that has a stairway every third trip around and still they go away and forget things.

  The grin was tighter than ever. Whistle in the dark, boy, but admit it--you're scared. Sure, but what's that got to do with it?

  Orin and Alma left the ship. Martin Kirk pushed his head around the staircase. He crouched for sometime, staring through the open segment of the hull at the outside world. And his poor stupid orthodox mind asked a pitifully logical question:

  How could it get light, with the sun at high noon, in fifteen minutes?

  After a long, motionless time, the silence became such a roaring thing in Kirk's ears he could stand it no longer. He got up and walked to the doorway.

  Something had gone somewhere; either the ship or the world he'd known, because out there was a different world and he knew damn well he'd never seen it before.

  Chapter VII

  Martin Kirk stepped out into a circle of lush vegetation. And in doing so, he learned something. He learned that the human mind is a far more adaptable mechanism than most people imagine; that they can pelt you with goof balls and you get sweat on your lip and have to talk to yourself to keep from sliding off your rocker, but after a while when your mind seems half-way over the edge, it straightens up suddenly and starts going along. A defense mechanism against insanity? He didn't know.

  He only knew that when the tiger roared, he whirled around with his gun leveled, saw the six-inch teeth, got wholesomely and sanely scared, and then everything was all right. He knew he was all right when he got the right reaction from sight of the almost naked girl holding the tiger.

  For a long moment it was a frozen-action tableau. The huge orange and black beast. The wide-eyed young brunette nudist, and the tropical forest with the great big fat sun overhead. The girl's voice nailed it all down. "Don't be afraid. Rondo won't hurt you."

  Kirk's resentment flared warmly and, had resentment been a tangible thing, he would have kissed it. "You're tootin' right he won't, sister. This isn't a toy I'm holding."

  "Rondo is very gentle."

  Kirk eyed the girl. "Why don't you put some clothes on?"

  Her teeth were as bright and even as little white knives but her smile took the edge off them. "Only people in the city wear clothes. I wear them when I'm in the city. When I come out here I--"

  "--you don't wear any clothes. Tell me--where am I?"

  "Don't you know?"

  "Let's not play games. If I knew I wouldn't ask you."

  "Did you come on the ship?"

  "You saw me get out of it didn't you? Now answer my question." And he realized how certain he was of what her answer would be.

  "On Mythox."

  "Well fancy that. Now tell me something else. Do you know what language you're speaking?"

  "Of course. English."

  "And why should you speak English on Mythox? Haven't you got a language of your own?"

  "Certainly. But you're obviously from Earth. I thought you were a Watcher. I tried English. If you hadn't responded I'd have spoken to you in the other Earth languages."

  "How many do you know?"

  "Eleven hundred and seventeen. With various dialects, four thousand and--"

  "There aren't that many."

  She looked puzzled. Then her face cleared. "Oh you mean Earth languages. I was referring to those of the Five Galaxies."

  I'm not going to be surprised at anything, he told himself doggedly. Not at anything. "Do you know anyone named Naia North?"

  * * * * *

  There was a childlike seriousness in her manner. It tended to deny the maturity of her body. Or was it the other way around? Martin Kirk wasn't sure, and grimly assured himself that he didn't give a damn.

  The girl said, "I don't know anyone by that name. But I could find her for you."

  "How would you go about it?"

  "I'd go to the city and check the video-directory, naturally."

  "Naturally. And you'd put your clothes on before you went?"

  "Of course I would. We go without clothing only out here in the playground."

  Kirk realized he'd been holding the gun rigidly in front of him. The tiger had dropped to the ground and lay outstretched like a lazy, good-natured dog. Kirk lowered the gun, setting his eyes again on the girl. "A minute ago you said you thought I was a Watcher. What did you mean?"

  He would have framed his questions with more guile, but something told him it wasn't necessary. This child of nature was utterly without guile. She said, "An Earth Watcher. What did you think I meant?"

  "I didn't know or I wouldn't have asked."

  It clarified. Dakin is watching. Sure. What the hell else would a Watcher do but watch? But why, and for what? Kirk was mystified. But it didn't matter, he asserted inwardly, and turned his mind back to the straight line. The cop's line. "Will you put on your clothes and go into the city and locate Naia North for me?"

  "If it will help you."

  "It will. Where can I wait for you?"

  "If you want to see Naia North why don't you come with me?"

  Kirk shrugged. Why not? So long as the score was completely unknown to him, why not follow the path of least resistance? "Get your clothes on," he said.

  The girl turned and started leading the tiger back toward a grove of trees. After a few steps she turned back, a look of sober thought on her face. "Are all Earthlings so assertive?" she asked. Kirk grinned. As long as it works, this one is, baby. But what if it stops working? His reply was not audible and the girl turned finally to disappear into the bushes.

  Kirk then experienced a strange feeling of unreality which persisted until the girl returned.

  * * * * *

  "My name is Raima," the girl said solemnly. She wore tight-fitting trousers, a loose blouse and had a silver colored air car with room in back for the tiger.

  Kirk knew it was an air car when the craft lifted from the ground from no apparent means of acceleration and skimmed along just above the trees. He sat beside Raima and asked, "About that ship I came here in? How fast does it travel and how far is it from Mythox to Earth?"

  "The distance is around two hundred thousand light years but the ship doesn't really travel at all."

  "Maybe you could go into a little more detail," Kirk said wearily.

  "It's very simple. Distance, as you Earthlings regard it, is not distance at all. Space bends to a greater or lesser degree depending upon its immediate function in whatever time-space equation you are using."

  "Thank you very much," Kirk replied and silently added: Keep to the line. Hold to your own values. On Earth, wherever it is, a man is waiting to go to the chair for a murder he didn't commit.
Use whatever equation you want to--that still adds up the same. These people may be a lot smarter than you are, but they can't twist that one and make you believe it comes out any different.

  A strange city of graceful flying spirals was coming over the horizon. It moved closer and the air car arced in to a halt on a huge cement landing area punctuated with small circles of a different material.

  Raima jumped from the cockpit and Kirk followed to hear the soft thud of the cat's four paws landing beside him. The cat went over and sat down on one of the circles. Raima followed, stood beside the animal and called, "Don't you want to go down to street level?"

  "Of course. How stupid of me not to know how."

  The circle dropped silently beneath them in a bright metal tube in which a door soon appeared to let them out into a broad street filled with casually moving pedestrians. Kirk noted that none of them seemed in any hurry; that here and there was an individual dressed like himself. Watchers on furlough or vacation, he thought a trifle bitterly. This picture was far from complete but enough of it added up to furnish a name for them. Quizling was a good one. Perhaps traitor was better.

  All in all, he found one satisfaction. He could travel about as he pleased.

  A short walk brought them to a huge four or five story wall, the like of which Kirk had never seen. It was symmetrically covered with small, opaque, glass windows, beside each of which was a dial not unlike the ones on Earth telephones. Catwalks of some bright metal covered the wall. On these catwalks, numerous people were busy with a strange business Kirk could not follow.

  "This is the video-directory," Raima said. She gave no further explanation, but while Rondo lazily rubbed noses with a bear cub sitting on its haunches waiting for its master, she spun the dial with practiced efficiency. "Now, if Naia North is in the city and wishes to see you, her image will appear in the mirror."

  As Kirk watched and the bear slapped the grinning tiger with a playful paw, the opaque glass cleared and the tall, willowy figure of Naia North appeared in miniature.

  "You may speak in here," Raima said, solemnly indicating a small screened opening beside the mirror. "My! She's pretty, isn't she?"

  Naia North was entirely composed. She wore a pale blue gown and from the background in the mirror, Kirk gathered that she was at home. "Aren't you surprised?" Kirk asked.

  Now a slight frown creased the lovely Naia's brow. "A little perhaps. How did you get to Mythox? And why did you come?"

  "A slight matter of murder. A murder you confessed to, or has it slipped your mind?"

  "Aren't you being rather absurd? That's all done with."

  "Not so far as Paul Cordell is concerned. He's going to the chair--only he isn't. We're going back and straighten a few things out."

  Genuine surprise was reflected now. And possibly a certain contempt. "My opinion of you lessens. I hadn't rated you as a complete fool. How did you get here?"

  "The same way you did I suppose, is there more than one way?"

  Naia's frown deepened. "Do you mean you were brought--?"

  "Not intentionally, I stowed away on that funny round ship that doesn't go anywhere and travels far."

  The beautiful brow immediately cleared. "Oh, I see," Naia observed with amusement. "And you know exactly how you'll get me back to Earth I suppose? Thousands of light years. It's a long walk."

  "I'll take one thing at a time and worry about them in order of appearance. The main thing for you to remember, is this: You may be as smart as all get out but you broke an American law on American soil by your own confession and by God you're going back and answer for it!"

  "Idiot! I can have you--"

  * * * * *

  Kirk's mood changed to the quizzical. "It's entirely beside the point, but still I don't get you, baby. Why the switcheroo? You walked in and confessed. Then you took a powder. Now you sneer in my teeth. What do you use for a rudder, sweetheart?"

  "I followed orders," Naia flared with a mixture of anger and sullenness. "I am now free of the assignment."

  Kirk pursed his lips thoughtfully. "You wouldn't be sort of a hatchet-woman for this high-blown outfit, would you? I can think offhand of a few other names. Karney, Blatz, Kennedy. What gives with knocking off nuclear physicists, baby?"

  Naia did not answer. When she started to turn away from the mirror, Kirk glanced at the silent Raima standing with her hand on the tiger's head. "Is there any way I can call on the lady in the mirror personally?"

  "Not if she doesn't want to receive you," Raimu said. She was studying Kirk, with wistful dark eyes.

  Naia turned back quickly. "I'll be glad to receive you. It's time I taught you a lesson."

  "Fine. What's your address?"

  But Naia was gone. The little mirror turned opaque. Kirk shot a questioning glance at Raimu. "Does yes mean no on this cockeyed planet?"

  "Her car will come." Raima murmured. But the petite dark beauty seemed interested in other things. "You didn't tell me your name."

  "Sorry. Rude of me. It's Martin Kirk. You've been pretty nice to me. I wish there was some way I could show my appreciation."

  "You're going to see Naia North?"

  "Yes. She's a murderess. I'm taking her back to my planet."

  "I'm afraid that wouldn't be possible."

  "You too, honey?" Kirk reached out and flicked one of the raven curls. "If things were different you and I might be able to have fun."

  "I spend a lot of time--where you found me. Maybe--"

  "I doubt if I can make it. But keep your clothes on after this--as a personal favor to me."

  She was the very soul of solemnity. "I don't understand you. I really don't understand you at all."

  At that moment, an air car--much smaller than Raima's, dropped gently into the street beside Kirk. "Good lord! Did this thing smell me out?"

  "It came to the mirror on Naia's private wave-length. Get in. It will take you to her."

  Kirk crawled into the car. The last thing he saw before it lifted into the air, were Raima's dazzling black eyes. The last words he heard were, "Goodbye, Martin Kirk. I will visualize you."

  The car swung up above the graceful, spidery buttresses and moved across the city. Kirk filled in the time by trying to figure out what made the thing go. He hadn't gotten to first base when the car lost altitude and came to rest on a balcony hung with seeming perilousness on a sheer white wall. Kirk stepped out. A large glass panel had been pushed back and Naia stood waiting in the opening.

  "Nice of you to receive me," Kirk said. "Have you got your bags packed for a trip stateside?"

  "Please come this way."

  Naia turned and moved through the room just off the balcony. On the far side another door gave exit. She passed through it and turned as though waiting for Kirk. He took one step, two, three, four.

  Then something came from somewhere and almost tore his jaw off. He went out in an explosion of black light.

  Chapter VIII

  Kirk came to with the feeling that his period of unconsciousness had been momentary. Naia was standing as she had stood before, just beyond the inner doorway. The mocking smile was still on her face. "Did you trip?"

  Kirk got groggily to his feet. "No, angel. That's the way I always cross a room." As he came upright his hand reached toward the bulge made by his shoulder holster. But it didn't get that far.

  He had not seen from whence the first blow came but that was not true with the second. From a tiny opening in the door jamb, a pinpoint of light appeared. It hung there for a moment. Then it brightened, expanded, and shot forth as a slim beam. It contained a silvery radiance and the kick of a Missouri mule. It slammed against Kirk's jaw, but not quite so hard this time; only hard enough to send him down again amidst a cloud of shooting stars.

  He shook his head and got to his hands and knees. "Wha's 'at? A trained flashlight?" He began coming up. As soon as he didn't need his right hand for rising he reached for his gun. The light beam seemed to resent this. It hit him in the solar plexus this tim
e; a sickening blow that fed nausea down through his legs. He tightened his stomach against the agony and began getting up again.

  "You see how useless it is?" Naia asked. "Beside us, you Earthlings are children. Will you stop being foolish, or must I kill you?"

  Kirk squinted craftily at the pinpoint of light with one closed eye. Clever little devil. What the hell! Nude innocents. Tigers on leashes. Light beams that knocked your teeth out. Paul Cordell with a shaved spot on his head.

  "You got your bag packed for a little trip, baby?"

  For a brief moment, genuine fear flamed in Naia's eyes. And in Kirk's mind: Dumb babe. What's she got to be scared of? They hit you with nothing and make it stick. Kirk croaked, "Grab your bag, baby. We'll go find that flying biscuit. We got a date with Arthur Kahler Troy."

  He was really cagey this time. When the light beam shot out, he hurled himself to the side. But he could have saved the effort. A beam came from the other door jamb and he stepped right into it. That one really tore his head off.

  * * * * *

  Somebody was talking. It was a man and he had a deep resonant voice: a voice full of authority--and censure. "I'm surprised at you Naia. I never suspected you of having a sadistic streak."

  Naia's sullen reply. "Do you think anyone can do the work I do and remain unmarked?"

  "I suppose not. But as I remember it, you asked to serve."

  "As a benefit to humanity."

  "We won't go into it."

  But Naia pressed the point. "I have always followed orders. I placed myself in possible jeopardy on Earth by clearing Paul Cordell."

  "But Paul Cordell was not cleared."

  "Not through any fault of mine."

  "But why this? What end does torturing this poor unfortunate serve?"

  Martin Kirk cautiously opened one eye. It brought to his brain the image of a large blue globe. A man of fine and commanding appearance stood within the globe, suspended about a foot from the floor. The globe and the man gave every indication of having just come through the opaque glass wall of the room, and as Kirk watched, the man was lowered slowly to the floor and the globe became a blue mist that spiralled lazily and was gone.