[Jan Darzek 05] - The Whirligig of Time

by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.

  Darzek returned to tell Miss Schlupe what had happened. They agreed that the results would probably be the same at all of the factories, but a check would have to be made, so she took Melris's list and went off to put her investigators to work. Darzek rocked in her rocking chair and tried to figure out what Qwasrolk had been doing in the warehouse.

  Then Gud Baxak entered with a message from UrsNollf. Supreme had been unable to supply the final, critical steps in Qwasrolk's calculations. It had, instead, found three serious errors in the work already completed - errors that made further steps in the calculations impossible.

  18

  The Prime Number of the Zarstans called on Darzek - an unprecedented event, since that august and austere individual by tradition never left Zarst.

  The Zarstans were highly disturbed. The threat to Vezpro could not endanger their world. At long intervals, when the worlds were in conjunction, the surface of Zarst facing the new sun might get uncomfortably warm; but at present its temperature was frigid, and neither heat nor cold could affect them in their deep tunnels. What worried them, and brought the Prime Number to see Darzek, was the economic threat. Vezpro's industry provided them with most of their business. Vital supplies - food, manufactured goods, even air and water - could be obtained on Vezpro and transmitted inexpensively to Zarst. Without Vezpro, Zarst would face a drastic loss of income and an enormous increase in expenses. The Order would have to move. It insisted on owning its own world, and it almost certainly would be unable to obtain one as conveniently located as Zarst.

  "We must prevent this," the Prime Number said solemnly. "The entire talent of my Order will be dedicated to that."

  Darzek's first impulse was to refer him to Naz Forlan. Then he remembered that Forlan's group of scientists was suspect - and so, probably, were the Zarstans and Raf Lolln - but one group had to be innocent. If he kept their activities separated, the innocent one might accomplish something.

  He excused himself, went to his safe, and got the plan that Qwasrolk had been working on. He presented it to the Prime Number, along with Supreme's analysis and description of the three fatal errors, and explained the plan's origin, though he was cautious enough not to name Qwasrolk.

  The Prime Number said slowly, "Then you believe that the person who made this was trying to reproduce the actual plan from memory?"

  "Trying, and coming close," Darzek said. "Probably the calculations weren't carried to a conclusion because the errors were making the thing come out wrong,"

  "I see. You'd like us to correct the errors and then carry the calculations to a correct conclusion, And then what?"

  "I don't know," Darzek said frankly. "This thing could be horribly dangerous in the hands of the wrong person. I don't want every scientist in the galaxy knowing about it, In fact, I'd prefer that no one knows. What we need is a means of stopping such a device, not the knowledge to build one. The question is whether we can devise a defense against it without first finding out how it works,"

  "I understand," the Prime Number said. "I shall set up a special group within the order, and no one but its members will know about its work - not even me. It will report directly to you, If it first has to find out how the device works, few will know, and those few will be older scientists whose loyalty to the Order is beyond question and who can be relied upon to consider this the Order's ultimate secret, Is that satisfactory?"

  "Perfectly," Darzek said.

  "Should Raf Lolln be included in the group?"

  "If your scientists think he would be of value - and if he will agree not to leave Zarst before the new year,"

  The Prime Number smiled, "You have a rare wisdom, Gul Darr, It's unfortunate that you did not study science, The Order could have used you,"

  "Perhaps you'd change your mind when you got to know me better," Darzek murmured,

  Darzek's next visitor was Eld Wolndur. The young scientist clearly was unhappy, "I can't think of anything to do," he confessed, "I was wondering - the mas, the former mas, has established a research center, and he probably could find employment for me."

  "What is he researching?" Darzek asked.

  "Many things, He has taken over an unused factory complex, and there will be a large staff of scientists. Some are already at work. Others will start as quickly as equipment is available. One project I saw is working on the assumption that a device that turns a world into a sun must have a trigger of some kind and probably a timing control as well. It will explore the possibility of putting artificial satellites in orbit that would keep the entire surface of the world bathed with waves to inhibit the device's operation - stop the timing control or prevent the trigger from functioning."

  "What if the device is underground?" Darzek asked, "Would the waves still reach it?"

  "I don't know. There are many problems. Not knowing the type of metal used is the one they were most worried about. By the way, the mas - the ex-mas - invites you to visit and observe any time you like,"

  "That's kind of him," Darzek said. "I trust that you didn't discuss our work with him."

  "Of course not!"

  "Good. At present, I think you're likely to make a more valuable contribution working with me,"

  "What is there for me to do?" Wolndur demanded,

  Miss Schlupe had come in and stopped to listen to them, "I have a job for him," she said,

  "What is it?" Wolndur asked,

  "Find Qwasrolk." Before he could protest, she went on, "I have investigators looking for him, but he was a scientist, and you're a scientist, and you should be able to help. Why was he out in the country drawing a plan? What was he doing in that warehouse? Where is he likely to turn up next? We need someone who can think the way he does."

  Wolndur looked at her doubtfully,

  "I'll tell you this," Miss Schlupe said, "Nothing you could do for Forlan would be a tenth as important. We've simply got to find Qwasrolk."

  "Well,.. " Wolndur was resigned but still doubtful. "If you think I can help, I'll try,"

  He left them, still looking unhappy,

  "If you really think he'll be useful, fine," Darzek said, "But it isn't another scientist you need, it's another teleport,"

  "Look," Miss Schlupe said, "We've got to find him, Right?" "We've certainly got to try,"

  "Who in the Galactic Synthesis is more expert in tracking down people than us?"

  "Probably no one, But on a world like this one, where the transmitter is virtually universal, I doubt that anyone could be an expert, When you complicate the situation with a teleport, expertise isn't enough, An idiot with a rabbit's foot would probably do better,"

  "Have you considered how amazing it is that Qwasrolk's still alive?" Miss Schlupe asked,

  "Amazing isn't the word for it, considering the massive dose of radiation he suffered, but I haven't figured out a way to use that to find him, He doesn't glow in the dark, and if a Geiger counter would detect his presence, you'd have to get into his presence to use it,"

  "That isn't what I meant. Hasn't it occurred to you that we aren't the only ones looking for him? And that may be why he vanishes the moment anyone sees him?"

  "Why would anyone else be looking for him?" Darzek asked. "Because Qwasrolk, if his radiation burns have anything to do with Nifron D or the experiments that led up to it, is the only person we know who can provide us with a link to the villain, He may even know who he is, Surely the villain is aware of that, So we're trying to find Qwasrolk to probe his seared memory, but the villain will be trying to find him to kill him, I'll be surprised if he hasn't done it already, because he certainly knows more about Qwasrolk than we do. With the right kind of weapon, he'll only need a glimpse of him,"

  "You're right, as usual," Darzek said, "But there's one thing in our favor, If the villain is looking for Qwasrolk at the same time we're looking for him, somewhere along the way we might accidentally meet, I'd enjoy that,"

  E-Wusk came waddling in, and for once he did not look his
jovial self, "The first refugees are leaving," he said.

  "Congratulations," Darzek told him, "That was fast work, I was afraid you'd have trouble getting things moving,"

  "This is none of my doing," E-Wusk said, "These refugees made their own arrangements. The transfer station manager says there's trouble,"

  "What sort of trouble?" Darzek asked,

  E-Wusk delivered himself of a massive, multilimbed shrug, "I don't know, I thought you'd like to see what's happening,"

  "I think I'd better," Darzek agreed, He summoned Miss Schlupe, and the two of them went together.

  The transfer station was crowded, and the crowd was an unruly, shouting mob, It subsided somewhat as Darzek and Miss Schlupe entered; they looked about bewilderedly and then turned toward the restaurant. A moment later a group of Naz Forlan's people, the refugees from the incinerated world of Hlaswann, entered and started across the room toward the embarkation transmitters. The uproar became deafening, The Vezpronians spat, threw objects, snatched at the personal belongings and luggage the Hlaswannians carried, aimed three-armed blows at them. The Hlaswannians finally fought their way through the room and disappeared into an embarkation transmitter.

  Miss Schlupe nudged Darzek and pointed, The Vezpronian chief proctor was looking on approvingly, "I'll handle the mob," she shouted above the din. "Will you handle him?"

  Darzek nodded, She pushed toward the exit transmitters, and he moved toward the chief proctor, When he got close enough to make himself heard, he announced icily, "You are suspended for gross neglect of duty, Report to the masfiln immediately,"

  The chief proctor turned, stared bewilderedly at Darzek, and would have protested had Darzek not pointed a stern finger toward the exits, He began to struggle through the crowd, Mercifully, no more Hlaswannians appeared before Miss Schlupe returned with a company of her commandos, All of them were armed with long staves, and it took them less than five minutes to clear the station.

  "I was afraid something like this might happen," Miss Schlupe told Darzek, as they watched the last of the unruly populace being expertly herded into transmitters. "So I gave them a course in riot control."

  "Good thing," Darzek agreed,

  When the next Hlaswannians appeared, they walked peacefully to the embarkation transmitters through a double row of Miss Schlupe's commandos, and other commandos were checking all arrivals to make certain that their business was legitimate,

  "Maybe you'd better train more commandos," Darzek told Miss Schlupe, "I have a feeling this is only the beginning."

  He left her in charge of the transfer station and returned to the Trans-Star office, and there he found Min Kallof waiting for him, along with several of his mases.

  "Have your seen your chief proctor?" Darzek asked him. "No -".

  "I just suspended him, I want him to receive the most severe penalty your law permits," Darzek described the scene at the transfer station,

  Min Kallof heaved a long sigh; his head had acquired a multitude of new wrinkles since Darzek had last seen him. The mases were silent. Kallof strode to the viewing screen, activated it, dialed a number.

  They looked down on a park filled with a different sort of screaming mob, One middle-aged Vezpronian was speaking; the screams came after every statement he made.

  "Politician?" Darzek asked,

  Min Kallof gestured an affirmative,

  Darzek studied the crowd, The Vezpronians had spent a lifetime free from threats of war, or crime, or economic crisis, or civil disorder. Now, suddenly, everything they'd ever known or owned, along with their very existence, was threatened. They were both frightened and angry,

  Min Kallof described an opposition revolt that had occurred in the Dezmas that morning, He had handled it, but now the opposing politicians were taking their case to the people, They were claiming that the threat to Vezpro was a hoax invented by the government to keep itself in power, He needed more information about the evacuation plans in order to reassure the people, Where would they be taken? And if the threat did prove to be a hoax, were there plans to return them safely and quickly? What about the solvency to pay for transportation, housing, and food for five billion refugees? And what about valuable possessions, family pets, records, historical treasures.

  Darzek took the group next door to E-Wusk's headquarters, and the old trader, who had the talent to reduce every crisis to a matter of logistics, greeted them jovially with a multitude of waving, telescoping limbs, got all of them seated comfortably, and began an outpouring of statistics, Living quarters and supplies already were prepared for the first loads of evacuees, At each refugee encampment, materials were being stockpiled to expand it. The moment the first group arrived, its members would be put to work building quarters for the next group and storage facilities for more supplies, Skilled technicians would be assigned to each site to teach and assist. Medical facilities would be provided, Community kitchens would prepare food, Eventually the world of Skarnaf would take five million refugees; the world of Rulloz, two million; the world of Vormf, a million - he read down a long list. Solvency had been made available for all of this, as well as the transportation, by the Galactic Synthesis. The citizens who cooperated and left early would' be permitted to take more personal property with them than those who left later, And, the moment scientists declared Vezpro safe, those who left early would be the first ones to return,

  "But," E-Wusk declared solemnly, "if the evacuation is not started immediately, there are not enough spaceships in the galaxy to complete it in time,"

  He produced charts; the masfiln and his mases began to study them, and Darzek quietly withdrew, E-Wusk's management of an operation such as this one was incomparable, but neither he nor Darzek would be able to convince a rioting population that the evacuation was necessary, Darzek wondered if the politicians would be able to, He switched the viewer from one park to another, and in each one the scene was the same, Min Kallof would have to reassure his citizens in a hurry,

  Melris Angoz arrived with an addition to the list of firms from which nuclear materials seemed to have disappeared. While Darzek was studying it, Miss Schlupe returned,

  She looked careworn and extremely tired, He remembered, with a wrench of conscience, that she was more than seventy years old, and she had been carrying a physical burden that exceeded his,

  "You need to take a day off," he announced,

  She halted abruptly, "What catastrophe has struck now?"

  "There are protest mobs in all the parks, Min Kallof and his delegates are with E-Wusk, getting data on the evacuation so they can quiet things. There's nothing either of us can do about it. Why don't you take a nap, or go shopping, or something?"

  "I'm going to visit a mushroom farm," she said, "I need to make my mind a complete blank, and I can't think of a better way to do it than by watching mushrooms grow,"

  "Mushroom farm? Where is it?"

  "No idea. In a cellar or cave or somewhere like that, I suppose, I was praising the gourmet fungus dishes to one of the native traders, and he offered to show me a farm, I suppose he hopes to sell me a ton or two, If I knew now to preserve the stuff, I'd buy it,"

  "Go ahead," Darzek said, "And buy enough for supper, anyway," He turned to the viewer again, but one mob looked very much like another, and there was something decidedly artificial about their performances, He realized finally that these people were in a mood to riot but didn't know how, They had never felt this way before, never seen it done, They were like a motion picture cast awkwardly moving through a first rehearsal and waiting for a director to tell them what they were doing wrong,

  Then came a special announcement: the masfiln would address the world that evening, Klinoz time, In the meantime, he asked all citizens to go home or go to work, The world's factories needed full production right up to the moment their employees were evacuated, This plea was boomed to the milling populace, which seemed not to notice it, Darzek turned off the screen and resumed his analysis of Melris
's latest report,

  The swirl of events was preventing his keeping things in proper perspective, Riots, evacuating a world, mushroom farms - none of these was his concern, The lists Melris had compiled constituted the only traces they'd found of the villain's activities, Every item on them should be followed up at once, even though it was virtually certain that all the records had long since been wiped out,

  But Qwasrolk had sat in that warehouse, in front of the records file, Perhaps he had done the wiping out himself, a moment before they arrived,

  Or was it possible that Qwasrolk was making some kind of search of his own? He could gain admittance to any factory or warehouse without an argument with the management,

  Miss Schlupe had started some of her investigators on this task, but those few hadn't even reported. The matter hadn't seemed urgent. Now he would have to call her troops off the various piddling assignments that had them chasing in all directions and put them to work on a systematic search. They might find Qwasrolk in the process. They might even find the villain.

  By Darzek's personal sense of time, it was two hours later, He could not break himself of thinking in terms of hours, even though lengths of days differed on different worlds, and native populations divided them to suit their own convenience, or on religious principles, or by happenstance,

  In those two hours Darzek had found one of Miss Schlupe's lieutenants and told him to start all available personnel on a search of the firms Melris had listed, And then he had taken part of the list to work on himself and immediately fumbled his way into a world he had not known existed,

  It was a tunneled world of small shops, crafts establishments, and food and produce marts that was located somewhere under the city. At first Darzek was amazed; then he was amazed at - his amazement. On Earth, fads in handmade items, in organic foods, in imported novelties, came and went, and there was no reason why the people of Vezpro should not indulge themselves in the same way, He remembered Miss Schlupe describing a similar place, where she'd found the shop that made her rocking chair, He could understand that a handcrafted chair in some distinctive pattern might add a note of irregularity and satisfying charm to the cell-like residences most of the population occupied, As for the foods, the unvarying menu offered by the planet's food transmitters would certainly drive a portion of the population into doing its own cooking, and there were special gadgets on sale here, from crude smokeless burners to the latest forms of nuclear cookers, to enable people to do just that,