by Keith Laumer
The open silo yawned in Mallon’s path now, but he didn’t see it. The mighty Bolo came on, guns bellowing in the night, closing for the kill. On the brink of the fifty-foot-wide, hundred-yard-deep pit, it hesitated as though sensing danger. Then it moved forward.
I saw it rock, dropping its titanic prow, showing its broad back, gouging the blasted pavement as its guns bore on the ground. Great sheets of sparks flew as the treads reversed, too late. The Bolo hung for a moment longer, then slid down majestically as a sinking liner, its guns still firing into the pit like a challenge to Hell. And then it was gone. A dust cloud boiled for a moment, then whipped away as displaced air tornadoed from the open mouth of the silo.
And the earth trembled under the impact far below.
10
The doors of the Primary Site blockhouse were nine-foot-high, eight-inch-thick panels of solid chromalloy that even a Bolo would have slowed down for, but they slid aside for my electropass like a shower curtain at the YW. I went into a shadowy room where eighty years of silence hung like black crepe on a coffin. The tiled floor was still immaculate, the air fresh. Here at the heart of the Aerospace Center, all systems were still go.
In the Central Control bunker, nine rows of green lights glowed on the high panel over red letters that spelled out STAND BY TO FIRE. A foot to the left, the big white lever stood in the unlocked position, six inches from the outstretched fingertips of the mummified corpse strapped into the controller’s chair. To the right, a red glow on the monitor panel indicated the lock doors open.
I rode the lift down to K level, stepped out onto the steel-railed platform that hugged the sweep of the starship’s hull and stepped through into the narrow COC.
On my right, three empty stasis tanks stood open, festooned cabling draped in disorder. To the left were the four sealed covers under which Day, Macy, Cruciani, and Black waited. I went close, read dials. Slender needles trembled minutely to the beating of sluggish hearts.
They were alive.
I left the ship, sealed the inner and outer ports. Back in the control bunker, the monitor panel showed ALL CLEAR FOR LAUNCH now. I studied the timer, set it, turned back to the master panel. The white lever was smooth and cool under my hand. It seated with a click. The red hand of the launch clock moved off jerkily, the ticking harsh in the silence.
Outside, the Bolo waited. I climbed to a perch in the open conning tower twenty feet above the broken pavement, moved off toward the west where sunrise colors picked out the high towers of the palace.
I rested the weight of my splinted and wrapped arm on the balcony rail, looking out across the valley and the town to the misty plain under which Prometheus waited.
“There’s something happening now,” Renada said. I took the binoculars, watched as the silo doors rolled back.
“There’s smoke,” Renada said.
“Don’t worry, just cooling gases being vented off.” I looked at my watch. “Another minute or two and man makes the biggest jump since the first lungfish crawled out on a mud flat.”
“What will they find out there?”
I shook my head. “Homo terra firma can’t even conceive of what Homo astra has ahead of him.”
“Twenty years they’ll be gone. It’s a long time to wait.”
“We’ll be busy trying to put together a world for them to come back to. I don’t think we’ll be bored.”
“Look!” Renada gripped my good arm. A long silvery shape, huge even at the distance of miles, rose slowly out of the earth, poised on a brilliant ball of white fire. Then the sound came, a thunder that penetrated my bones, shook the railing under my hand. The fireball lengthened into a silver-white column with the ship balanced at its tip. Then the column broke free, rose up, up …
I felt Renada’s hand touch mine. I gripped it hard. Together we watched as Prometheus took man’s gift of fire back to the heavens.
COURIER
“IT IS RATHER unusual,” Magnan said, “to assign an officer of your rank to courier duty, but this is an unusual mission.”
Retief sat relaxed and said nothing. Just before the silence grew awkward, Magnan went on.
“There are four planets in the group,” he said. “Two double planets, all rather close to an unimportant star listed as DRI-G 33987. They’re called Jorgensen’s Worlds, and in themselves are of no importance whatever. However, they lie deep in the sector into which the Soetti have been penetrating.
“Now—” Magnan leaned forward and lowered his voice—“we have learned that the Soetti plan a bold step forward. Since they’ve met no opposition so far in their infiltration of Terrestrial space, they intend to seize Jorgensen’s Worlds by force.”
Magnan leaned back, waiting for Retief’s reaction. Retief drew carefully on his cigar and looked at Magnan. Magnan frowned.
“This is open aggression, Retief,” he said, “in case I haven’t made myself clear. Aggression on Terrestrial-occupied territory by an alien species. Obviously, we can’t allow it.”
Magnan drew a large folder from his desk.
“A show of resistance at this point is necessary. Unfortunately, Jorgensen’s Worlds are technologically undeveloped areas. They’re farmers or traders. Their industry is limited to a minor role in their economy—enough to support the merchant fleet, no more. The war potential, by conventional standards, is nil.”
Magnan tapped the folder before him.
“I have here,” he said solemnly, “information which will change that picture completely.” He leaned back and blinked at Retief.
“All right, Mr. Counselor,” Retief said. “I’ll play along; what’s in the folder?”
Magnan spread his fingers, folded one down.
“First,” he said. “The Soetti War Plan—in detail. We were fortunate enough to make contact with a defector from a party of renegade Terrestrials who’ve been advising the Soetti.” He folded another finger. “Next, a battle plan for the Jorgensen’s people, worked out by the Theory group.” He wrestled a third finger down. “Lastly, an Utter Top Secret schematic for conversion of a standard antiacceleration field into a potent weapon—a development our systems people have been holding in reserve for just such a situation.”
“Is that all?” Retief said. “You’ve still got two fingers sticking up.”
Magnan looked at the fingers and put them away.
“This is no occasion for flippancy, Retief. In the wrong hands, this information could be catastrophic. You’ll memorize it before you leave this building.”
“I’ll carry it, sealed,” Retief said. “That way nobody can sweat it out of me.”
Magnan started to shake his head.
“Well,” he said. “If it’s trapped for destruction, I suppose—”
“I’ve heard of these Jorgensen’s Worlds,” Retief said. “I remember an agent, a big blond fellow, very quick on the uptake. A wizard with cards and dice. Never played for money, though.”
“Umm,” Magnan said. “Don’t make the error of personalizing this situation, Retief. Overall policy calls for a defense of these backwater worlds. Otherwise the Corps would allow history to follow its natural course, as always.”
“When does this attack happen?”
“Less than four weeks.”
“That doesn’t leave me much time.”
“I have your itinerary here. Your accommodations are clear as far as Aldo Cerise. You’ll have to rely on your ingenuity to get you the rest of the way.”
“That’s a pretty rough trip, Mr. Counselor. Suppose I don’t make it?”
Magnan looked sour. “Someone at a policy-making level has chosen to put all our eggs in one basket, Retief. I hope their confidence in you is not misplaced.”
“This antiac conversion; how long does it take?”
“A skilled electronics crew can do the job in a matter of minutes. The Jorgensens can handle it very nicely; every other man is a mechanic of some sort.”
Retief opened the envelope Magnan handed him and looked at th
e tickets inside.
“Less than four hours to departure time,” he said. “I’d better not start any long books.”
“You’d better waste no time getting over to Indoctrination,” Magnan said.
Retief stood up. “If I hurry, maybe I can catch the cartoon.”
“The allusion escapes me,” Magnan said coldly. “And one last word. The Soetti are patrolling the trade lanes into Jorgensen’s Worlds; don’t get yourself interned.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Retief said soberly. “In a pinch, I’ll mention your name.”
“You’ll be traveling with Class X credentials,” Magnan snapped. “There must be nothing to connect you with the Corps.”
“They’ll never guess,” Retief said. “I’ll pose as a gentleman.”
“You’d better be getting started,” Magnan said, shuffling papers.
“You’re right,” Retief said. “If I work at it, I might manage a snootful by takeoff.” He went to the door. “No objection to my checking out a needler, is there?”
Magnan looked up. “I suppose not. What do you want with it?”
“Just a feeling I’ve got.”
“Please yourself.”
“Some day,” Retief said, “I may take you up on that.”
2
Retief put down the heavy travel-battered suitcase and leaned on the counter, studying the schedules chalked on the board under the legend “ALDO CERISE—INTERPLANETARY.” A thin clerk in a faded sequined blouse and a plastic snakeskin cummerbund groomed his fingernails, watching Retief from the corner of his eye.
Retief glanced at him.
The clerk nipped off a ragged corner with rabbitlike front teeth and spat it on the floor.
“Was there something?” he said.
“Two twenty-eight, due out today for the Jorgensen group,” Retief said. “Is it on schedule?”
The clerk sampled the inside of his right cheek, eyed Retief. “Filled up. Try again in a couple of weeks.”
“What time does it leave?”
“I don’t think—”
“Let’s stick to facts,” Retief said. “Don’t try to think. What time is it due out?”
The clerk smiled pityingly. “It’s my lunch hour,” he said. “I’ll be open in an hour.” He held up a thumbnail, frowned at it.
“If I have to come around this counter,” Retief said, “I’ll feed that thumb to you the hard way.”
The clerk looked up and opened his mouth. Then he caught Retief’s eye, closed his mouth and swallowed.
“Like it says there,” he said, jerking a thumb at the board. “Lifts in an hour. But you won’t be on it,” he added.
Retief looked at him.
“Some … ah … VIP’s required accommodation,” he said. He hooked a finger inside the sequined collar. “All tourist reservations were canceled. You’ll have to try to get space on the Four-Planet Line ship next—”
“Which gate?” Retief said.
“For … ah …?”
“For two twenty-eight for Jorgensen’s Worlds,” Retief said.
“Well,” the clerk said. “Gate nineteen,” he added quickly. “But—”
Retief picked up his suitcase and walked away toward the glare sign reading To Gates 16-30.
“Another smart alec,” the clerk said behind him.
Retief followed the signs, threaded his way through crowds, found a covered ramp with the number 228 posted over it. A heavy-shouldered man with a scarred jawline and small eyes was slouching there in a rumpled gray uniform. He put out a hand as Retief started past him.
“Lessee your boarding pass,” he muttered.
Retief pulled a paper from an inside pocket, handed it over.
The guard blinked at it.
“Whassat?”
“A gram confirming my space,” Retief said. “Your boy on the counter says he’s out to lunch.”
The guard crumpled the gram, dropped it on the floor and lounged back against the handrail.
“On your way, bub,” he said.
Retief put his suitcase carefully on the floor, took a step, and drove a right into the guard’s midriff. He stepped aside as the man doubled and went to his knees.
“You were wide open, ugly. I couldn’t resist. Tell your boss I sneaked past while you were resting your eyes.” He picked up his bag, stepped over the man, and went up the gangway into the ship.
A cabin boy in stained whites came along the corridor.
“Which way to cabin fifty-seven, son?” Retief asked.
“Up there.” The boy jerked his head and hurried on. Retief made his way along the narrow hall, found signs, followed them to cabin fifty-seven. The door was open. Inside, baggage was piled in the center of the floor. It was expensive looking baggage.
Retief put his bag down. He turned at a sound behind him. A tall, florid man with an expensive coat belted over a massive paunch stood in the open door, looking at Retief. Retief looked back. The florid man clamped his jaws together, turned to speak over his shoulder.
“Somebody in the cabin. Get ’em out.” As he backed out of the room he rolled a cold eye at Retief. A short, thick-necked man appeared.
“What are you doing in Mr. Tony’s room?” he barked. “Never mind! Clear out of here, fellow! You’re keeping Mr. Tony waiting.”
“Too bad,” Retief said. “Finders keepers.”
“You nuts?” The thick-necked man stared at Retief. “I said it’s Mr. Tony’s room.”
“I don’t know Mr. Tony. He’ll have to bull his way into other quarters.”
“We’ll see about you, mister.” The man turned and went out. Retief sat on the bunk and lit a cigar. There was a sound of voices in the corridor. Two burly baggage-smashers appeared, straining at an oversized trunk. They maneuvered it through the door, lowered it, glanced at Retief and went out. The thick-necked man returned.
“All right, you. Out,” he growled. “Or have I got to have you thrown out?”
Retief rose and clamped the cigar between his teeth. He gripped a handle of the brass-bound trunk in each hand, bent his knees and heaved the trunk up to chest level, then raised it overhead. He turned to the door.
“Catch,” he said between clenched teeth. The trunk slammed against the far wall of the corridor and burst.
Retief turned to the baggage on the floor, tossed it into the hall. The face of the thick-necked man appeared cautiously around the door jamb.
“Mister, you must be—”
“If you’ll excuse me,” Retief said, “I want to catch a nap.” He flipped the door shut, pulled off his shoes and stretched out on the bed.
Five minutes passed before the door rattled and burst open.
Retief looked up. A gaunt leathery-skinned man wearing white ducks, a blue turtleneck sweater, and a peaked cap tilted raffishly over one eye stared at Retief.
“Is this the joker?” he grated.
The thick-necked man edged past him, looked at Retief and snorted, “That’s him, sure.”
“I’m Captain of this vessel,” the first man said. “You’ve got two minutes to haul your freight out of here, buster.”
“When you can spare the time from your other duties,” Retief said, “take a look at Section Three, Paragraph One, of the Uniform Code. That spells out the law on confirmed space on vessels engaged in interplanetary commerce.”
“A space lawyer.” The Captain turned. “Throw him out, boys.”
Two big men edged into the cabin, looking at Retief.
“Go on, pitch him out,” the Captain snapped.
Retief put his cigar in an ashtray, and swung his feet off the bunk.
“Don’t try it,” he said softly.
One of the two wiped his nose on a sleeve, spat on his right palm and stepped forward, then hesitated.
“Hey,” he said. “This the guy tossed the trunk off the wall?”
“That’s him,” the thick-necked man called. “Spilled Mr. Tony’s possessions right on the deck.”
“Deal me out,” the bouncer said. “He can stay put as long as he wants to. I signed on to move cargo. Let’s go, Moe.”
“You’d better be getting back to the bridge, Captain,” Retief said. “We’re due to lift in twenty minutes.”
The thick-necked man and the Captain both shouted at once. The Captain’s voice prevailed.
“—twenty minutes … uniform Code … gonna do?”
“Close the door as you leave,” Retief said.
The thick-necked man paused at the door. “We’ll see you when you come out.”
3
Four waiters passed Retief’s table without stopping. A fifth leaned against the wall nearby, a menu under his arm.
At a table across the room, the Captain, now wearing a dress uniform and with his thin red hair neatly parted, sat with a table of male passengers. He talked loudly and laughed frequently, casting occasional glances Retief’s way.
A panel opened in the wall behind Retief’s chair. Bright blue eyes peered out from under a white chef’s cap.
“Givin’ you the cold shoulder, heh, mister?”
“Looks like it, old timer,” Retief said. “Maybe I’d better go join the skipper. His party seems to be having all the fun.”
“Feller has to be mighty careless who he eats with to set over there.”
“I see your point.”
“You set right where you’re at, mister. I’ll rustle you up a plate.”
Five minutes later, Retief cut into a thirty-two-ounce Delmonico backed up with mushrooms and garlic butter.
“I’m Chip,” the chef said. “I don’t like the Cap’n. You can tell him I said so. Don’t like his friends, either. Don’t like them dern Sweaties, look at a man like he was a worm.”
“You’ve got the right idea on frying a steak, Chip. And you’ve got the right idea on the Soetti, too,” Retief said. He poured red wine into a glass. “Here’s to you.”
“Dern right,” Chip said. “Dunno whoever thought up broiling ’em. Steaks, that is. I got a Baked Alaska coming up in here for dessert. You like brandy in yer coffee?”