‘Why, do you suppose?’ she stared into his face, wanting to believe him but unable to bring herself to do so. They seemed to have been fated for disaster, and the knowledge was hard inside her.
Condor considered it, his ice-cold brain calculating like a computer. For a moment he was silent, staring at the ominous figures now moving away.
‘I think I have it,’ he said softly. ‘They’ve killed Ozen! There can be no doubt about that. They know I’m here on their planet, and they haven’t seen you or Ozen. They’ve killed him and they think it was me!’
‘So they’re going back to their places happy in the knowledge that the alien threat is over,’ Ethne said tightly. ‘I hope you’re right, Professor.’
He nodded slowly. ‘It’s about time you started calling me Rez,’ he commented. ‘Since you’ve been here you’ve let me know that you are in love with me. No matter what happens now, Ethne, I’ll never forget that. I’ve always been too involved with what I’ve been doing to have any free time for myself. But if we manage to beat Aubin then there will be lots of changes made, and I’ll make sure I get some time to myself.’
She smiled happily, and glanced across the cloudless sky. There were no signs now of the Cranum craft, and the Humics were still moving away from the valley.
‘We’d better go,’ she said. ‘Let’s get away while we can, Rez. I wouldn’t have missed this trip for anything, but I’ll be glad to get back to Earth.’
‘Despite what’s waiting for us?’ He smiled as he got to his feet and then helped her up. ‘All right. Duty has always been a harsh mistress towards me. But I know where my duty lies. We’d better check on Ozen before getting back to the rendezvous. Let’s be careful, shall we?’
She nodded, her face sobering as she considered the odds still against them. They went forward hand in hand, and Condor was very alert as they skirted the rocks and kept to coyer.
When they reached the spot where they had seen the battle taking place it was Condor who saw the brown smear on the ground that was all that was left of Herri Ozen. Ethne gave a little cry and buried her face against Condor’s shoulder, and he stared stonily at the mess that had been the general.
‘If his soul escaped then I hope it will know eternal peace, Ethne,’ Condor said softly. ‘It seems to me that Ozen saved our lives. It will be ironic if by saving us he’s signed the warrant for Aubin’s death.’
Ethne shivered and turned away, starting up the slope towards the wrecked Cranum craft, and beyond it she could see the heap she had made of the equipment she had brought along from the Lab. She paused to look around worriedly, but there were now no signs of the Humics, and the sky was clear.
Condor was still wary. He did not speak until they reached the wreckage, and then they paused and Ethne looked at the dead Cranum.
‘They’re a strange race,’ she said, looking up into
Condor’s face. ‘Did you have anything to do with the wrecking of this craft?’
‘I did.’ He began to tell her about his adventures, and as she listened she recalled the long, worrying hours she’d spent trying to return him to Earth. Now she knew what had happened, and she was impatient to get away before anything else occurred. She walked on while he recounted what had happened to him, and he stayed at her side. Eventually they came to the landing point, and Condor gave a great sigh and sat down, peering around as he tried to relax.
‘I thought I’d never see this spot again,’ he said. ‘Come here, Ethne, and stay close, in case the Celertron is set in motion. We must go together when it happens.’
She nodded, looking around. ‘I’m afraid now,’ she said. ‘If something came up we’d be in serious trouble. Look, I’ve got a generator over there with the equipment I brought. We could set up a force field around this spot, just in case. Those Cranums are very intelligent, and they might keep patrols moving around in this area, just in case.’
‘I’ll set it up,’ he said, pushing himself to his feet. ‘You sit here and hold your laser ready. Keep watching the sky and all approaches. If trouble does come then don’t hesitate to use the weapon.’
‘I won’t,’ she said through set teeth taking the fearsome weapon and holding it tightly.
Condor smiled and moved to the pile of equipment. He sorted through it, and began setting up a force field that would cover them from surprise attack. He switched on the generator to check it, and then switched it off hurriedly. Ethne, who had been watching him closely, frowned at his action, and glanced around before asking what was wrong.
‘I don’t think we’d better risk attracting unwelcome attention to ourselves,’ he replied. ‘If the Cranums have detectors or sensors operating on this planet they will pick up our power output and be able to track it down.’
The girl looked worried, and she got to her feet, coming towards him quickly. Condor glanced at her.
‘Go back, Ethne, in case the Celertron is activated. Once an hour, you said. Well let’s get off here as soon as possible. We’d better stay within the area you marked. I don’t think we’ll get any more trouble if we stay quiet and still.’
‘Do you think they have sensors of some kind operating?’ she asked.
‘It’s probable, especially since they know an alien has landed on their planet.’ He tried not to sound too convincing.
‘And would they have picked up our power output? How long was it operating?’
‘Only a few seconds! No more than seven or eight, I’d guess. I doubt if it was sufficient to arouse anyone. Don’t worry about it. We could be whisked away from here at any moment.’
They sat down again and waited, and the silence was heavy and oppressive. Ethne was filled with impatience and nervous tension. She marvelled at Condor’s outward composure, and he seemed to have come through his adventures remarkably unscathed.
‘I’d like to come back to this place when we’ve settled our business with Aubin,’ he remarked presently. ‘Our civilization has explored every reach of the Solar System, and humans are living on all the planets. But we can never hope to get this far out from our galaxy in a thousand years, and Celertron has opened up the way. If we beat Aubin I’m going to try and devote my future to exploring these alien worlds, trying to establish contact between ourselves and all the other peoples living in Space.’
‘You tried to establish contact here,’ Ethne said practically. ‘But look what happened. No matter what race it is, violence is never far from the surface in any situation. I used to think that violence was the prerequisite of the human race, but it seems as if it is the only answer to most problems.’
‘It won’t be until we’ve got together with all the other peoples living in the Universe that we’ll be able to forget about violence,’ Condor said softly. ‘We may not see it within the span of our lifetime, Ethne, but one day there will be universal understanding.’
‘I hope there will be.’ She nodded slowly. ‘If we do overcome Aubin will you let me continue to work with you, Rez?’
‘I hope you’ll want to. We could spend a lifetime probing the surface of this new invention. It is the answer men have looked for ever since they first went into an orbit around the Earth and tried to break free of Earth’s clutches. We can conquer Space now, Ethne. We can travel outside the limits of our own minds. It’s breath-taking! It’s so incredible that I still cannot grasp all the facts.’
‘It may take time to get rid of the World Master,’ she warned.
Condor shook his head slowly. ‘When I get back I’ll set up a coordinator, feed calculations into the computer, and turn the Celertron upon Retarc. Nothing will save Aubin.’
‘Will it be as simple as that?’ She sighed heavily. ‘My intuition is against it, Rez.’
‘Intuition!’ He chuckled harshly. ‘Science is more stable and reliable than intuition.’
‘And what about you? Can you kill Aubin in cold blood, Rez?’
The smile died from his face and he stared into her eyes, his face showing a variety of fleetin
g emotions. He sighed heavily as he nodded.
‘I’ve given a great deal of thought to this,’ he admitted slowly. ‘I realize that someone has got to do it, and I’m the most available man at this time. I think I could do it when the times comes, but I shan’t know for certain until the right moment.’
‘Is that good enough, considering what’s at stake?’ Ethne let her gaze flicker past him and she stared around at the sky. ‘Surely one of the men from the Space Fleet should be projected on to Retarc! We need a professional man for the job. But you are too valuable in the Lab. We shouldn’t take chances with your life!’
‘Are you saying that from common sense or from your heart, Ethne?’ he asked softly.
‘A little of both are mixed up in it,’ she confessed. ‘But I do think you would serve the Cause better by letting someone else do the killing.’
‘It doesn’t have to be like that,’ he said musingly. ‘I could bring him down off Retarc without stirring out of the Lab. He could have a reception committee waiting for him. They would take him and make him stand trial for his inhumanities. They would have him executed.’
‘That idea was one of the first to be put forward,’ she commented thoughtfully. ‘Why was it put aside?’
‘Because it was feared that Aubin might escape Justice and regain the initiative if he wasn’t slain immediately.’ Condor heaved a sigh as he glanced around. ‘But let us not cross our bridges until we come to them, Ethne.’ She nodded, her pulses racing. She was filled with anticipation and. dread, and she knew her intuition would not betray her. Looking around once more, she suddenly stiffened. Condor caught her swiftly changing expression, and twisted quickly, looking in the same direction.
‘What did you see?’ he demanded.
‘A movement!’ There was a slight tremor in her tones.
‘Tell me where!’ He was gripping the laser now, and she saw that the knuckles of his skilled hands were white with tension.
‘Over there by that cluster of rocks. See the tall one that looks like a dome? Beside that!’
Condor located the rock and narrowed his blue eyes. He saw nothing suspicious, and was about to say so when a figure appeared furtively from behind the massive rock and came running swiftly towards them.
‘It’s one of the Nethers,’ Condor said quickly, filled with relief although he didn’t show it.
‘It’s the woman you talked to,’ Ethne said, and was aware of a pang of jealousy as she spoke. But Condor did not notice it. He was frowning as he stared at the approaching woman. ‘Don’t leave this spot now, Rez,’ Ethne went on. ‘We could be reprocessed at any time.’
Condor nodded. He glanced around, checking the background as the Nether woman came straight towards them. He was relieved that it wasn’t more activity by the Cranums and Humics. The woman slowed as she neared them, and Condor switched on the transmuter.
‘Please don’t come any closer,’ he said, and the woman stopped instantly. ‘We are about to depart to our own world, and if you approach this spot you will be caught up and taken with us. Have you come to talk with me?’
He held out a microphone in her direction and waited for her reply. She seemed nervous, and glanced around continually. Then she came a few steps closer.
‘We have been told by the Cranums that we shall all be killed on the next Sport day,’ she said. ‘I have explained how you can talk with me, and I have been asked to approach you for help. You have powerful weapons to deal with the Cranums.’
‘This is something I cannot decide,’ Condor said instantly. ‘It would be wrong for me to step in and fight on one side or the other.’
‘It would be equally wrong for you to ignore the fact that a tribe of people are to be slaughtered,’ Ethne said in his ear.
Condor stared at her, and he nodded slowly as he considered. His eyes flickered around, but there was nothing to see in the background.
‘When is the next Sport day?’ he demanded.
She held up her hands, and touched eight fingers in rapid succession. Then she looked up at the brassy sky and swung a pointed finger from horizon to horizon, touching her fingers again.
‘About eight days,’ Ethne said. ‘But how long is a Cranan day?’
‘I’ve been watching the suns,’ Condor said. ‘I’d say the days here are about as long as those on Earth. That gives us a little time. But we have to attend to our own business first.’ He looked at the waiting woman. ‘I have to go back to my planet now,’ he told her. ‘But I shall return before the next Sport day. If I can do anything then I will. But it is not in me to interfere with the situation on another world. I will come to your village when I return. Watch for me. Don’t antagonize the Cranums.’
She nodded and turned away immediately, and Condor watched her lithe figure as she ran back to cover. Ethne sighed sharply, and when he glanced at the girl Condor saw concern on her lovely face.
‘You’re getting in too deep here,’ she said. ‘How can you help those people? How can you know if you would be in the right to do so?’
‘The Nethers are slaves. It can’t be right that the Cranums treat them so. It is wrong in any world.’
‘I don’t question that! But you don’t know if you can come back. If the World Master is not vanquished then we shall be, and the Nethers will be waiting here hopefully for aid that will never come.’
Condor nodded slowly, his teeth clenched in indecision. ‘It’s frightening when you think of the means we have in our power to travel anywhere through Space! But it’s terrible to understand that right through Space and Time there are superiors and inferiors, that violence and oppression is rife on many worlds and not just peculiar to our own! ’
‘But you can’t go crusading through Space, Rez,’ Ethne said. ‘You would spend the rest of your life flitting from world to world, and you don’t have the right to that. If this is the line your mind is following then it might be better for everyone concerned if you destroy Celertron the minute we get back to Earth.’
‘We’re not back yet,’ he said tightly, and she gave a little gasp when she stared in the direction in which he was gazing. Two Humics had appeared on a nearby ridge, and when she looked around she saw several more appearing. In the space of a few minutes they were completely surrounded by more than a hundred Humics and when the grim circle was complete, the Humics began to come forward, ponderously and frighteningly inexorable…
Chapter Twelve
‘Is there anything we can do, Rez?’ Ethne demanded in scared tones. The sight of the slowly constricting circle around them was almost too much for the girl’s taut nerves. ‘I wish you’d put up the force field when you started. Can you do it now?’
Condor did not move. ‘I’ve found out in the past that if we remain still and flat on the ground they have difficulty in picking us up,’ he said. ‘But at this late stage we can’t afford to take chances.’
‘I wish Celertron would take us out of here,’ Ethne said, taking a deep breath. ‘They’ll be on us in five minutes at that rate, Rez! ’
‘It would take me ten minutes to get the force field in action.’ Condor’s eyes were narrowed and bright as he considered. ‘But the Humics are robots. They must be receiving signals. Is there a transmitter-receiver in the equipment you brought along, Ethne?’
‘Of course,’ the girl said instantly.
‘Let’s get it.’ Condor started to his feet. Ethne joined him and they ran to the nearby pile of equipment.
Taking the two-way communicator, Condor led the way back to their landing point, and they squatted quickly. Putting the equipment into operation, Condor plugged the transmuter into it and then ranged over the frequencies. Ethne sat tensely at his side, and the girl’s harsh breathing was an indication of her state of fear.
‘They’re getting very close,’ she said suddenly.
Condor glanced around. He was getting strange interference in his ears, then suddenly heard a reedy voice babbling in some unknown language. It didn’t take the transm
uter more than twenty seconds to computerize the language, and then the unintelligible babble came through in English.
‘All units move straight ahead. The distance is seventy paces. The two humans are under visual attention. They will be taken alive. Do not activate slay-weapons.’
Condor stepped up the output power on the transmitter and began to countermand the orders, the transmuter changing his English into Cranum. He watched the oncoming robots tensely, and kept giving countermands, using more power than the Cranum controller. Ethne was pressing in closely against him now, very much afraid, and Condor began to think of taking on the Humics with the laser.
Then two or three Humics suddenly turned about and began to retreat. Condor stared, his pulses racing, and he redoubled his countermands, giving every order he could think of except the one to advance.
‘It’s working, Rez,’ Ethne said excitedly.
Condor was smiling. The Humics were in a state of panic now, some turning and shambling off back the way they had come and others walking around aimlessly in small circles. But none of them were still coming forward. He increased the output, and kept giving orders, jamming out the Cranum controller.
‘If I do get back here later then I’ll know how to take care of the Humics,’ Condor retorted.
‘Up there,’ Ethne said sharply, and Condor glanced into the sky. His lips thinned when he saw a dot which grew rapidly larger, and he reached for the laser.
‘More trouble,’ he retorted. ‘You know how to set up that force field, Ethne. You’d better get started on it while I try and fight a holding action.’
The girl nodded and left his side immediately, and Condor, having ceased giving countermands to the Humics, saw the robots begin to turn towards them again. He continued calling fresh countermands, and when the Humics started moving aimlessly once more he forced himself to concentrate upon what he had to do.
The dot in the sky was getting large, taking on details of a Humic craft, and Condor lifted the laser, his eyes narrowed and glinting as he weighed their chances. Out of the comer of his eyes he saw Ethne hurrying to rig up the projectors for the force field, and he wished he’d taken care of it as soon as they had returned to this vital spot. With a dome-shaped field of force around them they would have been immune to all attacks.
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