New Title 1

by Campbell, J R

  Challenger responded to this statement as he so often reacted to doubtful assertions, by furrowing his great brows and glaring at the speaker. “What makes this correspondence so important?”

  “Well, sir, it's from Leopold.” The young lady sounded satisfied, as if the mention of the name explained everything.

  “Leopold?” Challenger repeated skeptically.

  “Yes, dear,” Jessie said, seating herself beside Catherine and placing her hand supportively over the young woman’s. “Tell my husband about Leopold.” “Well, you understand Leopold isn’t his real name,” Catherine said earnestly. “He doesn’t have a name, not as such. My mother gave him the name Leopold, after the poor prince– you understand? On account of him being so very clever but never as healthy as he ought to be.”

  “Start at the beginning dear,” Jessie Challenger urged. “You’re right, of course,” the young woman said to Mrs. Challenger, then turned her face up to the Professor. “My apologies, sir. Well, the beginning was about six months ago. My father is a fisherman and he spied poor Leopold walking along the shore with not a stitch on. Leopold is small sir, looks more like a child than anything else. My father brought his boat to shore, believing him a child in distress. Of course, Leopold gave him quite a fright. He don’t look right, not when you first lay eyes on him. His head’s all wrong, not round like it ought to be. Bits are missing from his face, like his nose, though he don't seem to suffer from the lack. There's his long arms and short legs, the strange way he twists around to look at things and from crown to heel, not a single hair on him. My father comes ashore, speaks to the boy– though, not wishing to be vulgar you understand, there’s no evidence Leopold’s a boy. Nor a girl, if it comes to that. Anyway, my father don’t have much on the boat but he's got himself a spare sweater so he gives it to Leopold to cover up. Leopold doesn’t talk, just pulls the sweater on and looks at my father in that curious way of his. Doesn't say a thing, just climbs into the boat. My father’s in a dreadful state, not knowing what to do. By then it's clear Leopold's not a lost child but what is he? He thinks on it but can't clever himself any good answer. Eventually there's nothing left to do but climb aboard and make for home. Leopold just sits on the boat, as if he knew this was what was going to happen all along and was waiting for my father to catch up to his thinking. “

  “ We put the word out but no one's reported a missing child or talked about anything like Leopold. No one comes looking for him so we let him stay with us. He's ever so helpful about the place and each morning he goes out with my father to help with the fishing. Whatever he is, he's got a gift for finding the best spots for casting nets, that's for sure. He don’t talk, not even a squeak, not for four full days. Of course, we all spoke to him. How could we help it? Those eyes of his, they watch everything and pull just like a tide. On the fourth day, he speaks for the first time. He says to me, ‘Could you read me a book?’ Just like that, no stumbling or stuttering. It was amazing and the last time any of us thought of Leopold as a child. Since then I’ve been running all over finding him books and newspapers to read. He don't sleep none, least not that we've ever seen, but he loves reading.”

  “I don’t understand,” the Professor rumbled. “What has this sickly child to do with me?” “Oh, he’s no child, sir,” Catherine said as she plucked the stuffed envelope from atop her bags. “He’s small like a child, well, a deformed child, but looking into those curious eyes of his you'd swear he was older than any of us. As for his ill health, it’s only to be expected. I’d not been in London for an hour before my eyes were hurting and my skinwas itching. I’d not even left England. Imagine how poor Leopold must feel, given the great distances he’s travelled to get here.”

  “ Great distances?” The Professor’s rumble deepened to ominous proportions.“Young lady, what in blazes are you trying to say?!”

  “ Only that Leopold's not from this world!” Catherine replied, her raised voice half-panic and half-defiance. She held the thick envelope before her like a shield.

  The Professor blinked, shook his head, than looked across the table to his wife. Jessie Challenger was seated quite calmly next to the young lady, still holding the young woman's hand. Challenger’s petulant lip emerged from his magnificent beard in a stern frown. His eyes seemed to blaze as they travelled from Ms. Lethrow to his wife. “You cannot believe this poppycock!”

  “ But I do, George,” Jessie Challenger said so calmly she might have been reminding him to wind his watch. She reached over and took the letter from the trembling Catherine.“That is, I believe there is no falsehood in Catherine here.”

  “But a creature from the depths of space?! In Cornwall?!” “ Perhaps if you read the letter George,” Jessie said, holding out the envelope. The Professor stared at it a moment, making no move to accept the offering. Turning to the young woman, Jessie spoke calmly. “It’s getting rather late. Have you a place to stay?”

  “ Not as yet, ma'am. You understand the letter was my first priority. I've a cousin in the city though, on my mother’s side, and I’m sure – “

  “I’ll not hear of it,” Jessie Challenger said, slapping the young girl’s hand in mock indignation. “I'll have Austin prepare the guest room.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t,” Catherine objected.

  “Quite right you can’t!” the Professor roared. “If you are trying to tangle me in some ridiculous” “ You can and you will,” Jessie Challenger insisted. The two women rose together, seemingly oblivious to the shaking volcano glaring at them. As she passed, Jessie Challenger held out the envelope, her eyes daring him to take it. With a swift motion the Professor snatched it, taking the envelope in his fleshy grip. Matriarchal authority shining in her eyes, she said, “Read your letter, dear.”

  Once the two women left the kitchen, Challenger fumed and stomped around the kitchen like a caged beast. Taking a seat, he tore open the sealed envelope and pulled out the pages of the letter. As he read, as the words penetrated his anger, his fierce expression transformed. His eyes widened, his sneer relaxed into open mouthed wonder. He stayed in the kitchen, sometimes sitting as he read and re-read the letter, other times pacing as he chased some thought or the other down the corridors of his mind. The sun had risen on the new day when he carefully, reverently, folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope and placed it protectively into the jacket pocket over his heart. With a mighty bellow, he called for Austin.

  The automobile was fuelled and waiting outside. Austin waited by the polished vehicle, his hand on the handle. On instructions from Mrs. Challenger he had taken the liberty of packing the Professor’s things before retiring the night before.

  The Lethrow residence was a simple fisherman's cottage, all stone and weathered, wooden shingles. It sat perched on a small rise up from the crashing surf in weary defiance. The sun was nearing its zenith as Austin brought the automobile to a halt as close to the front door as he dared. Mrs. Lethrow stood waiting at the open door to greet them, explaining that Leopold and her husband were out on the sea but were expected back shortly. Flustered at having such an important personage as the Professor in her home, she urged the travelers to seat themselves while she prepared tea and biscuits. As she emerged from the kitchen, she caught sight of her husband and Leopold making their way up the path to their home.

  “So you’ve come,” the fisherman gruffly announced. “Wasn’t sure you would. Come, me love, we best be leaving these two alone. They’ve matters to discuss.” If Challenger heard the fisherman he gave no sign of it. His attention was focused completely on Leopold. Even the loyal Austin’s voice barely penetrated the Professor’s fascination. Standing, Challenger’s long time servant announced, “It’s nearly noon. Why don’t you let me take you both for a spot of lunch. It’ll be the Professor’s treat.”

  Challenger waved vaguely in the direction of the departing hosts. Not a word was spoken until the door closed behind them. Leopold, for his part, returned Challenger’s fascination with a frank curiosity of
his own.

  “ Remarkable,” Challenger said. Leopold stood a mere fortytwo inches in height but his proportions were not those of a human. Concealed beneath a set of oddly altered trousers both of Leopold’s short legs appeared to have an additional knee, an extra joint having somehow developed in each appendage. The creature was barefooted, his pale feet apparently too wide and long for any shoes to be found in the region. Leopold's squat, round torso was enclosed in an ill-fitting shirt. The arms lacked an additional joint but the forearms seemed unusually long, his hands comically wide and his long, thin fingers remarkably delicate. Despite the myriad deformities of his small body, it was Leopold's head which most fascinated the Professor. As young Catherine had warned him, the head was not round but triangular between his brows and the point of his chin. Leopold lacked both ears and a nose, although the openings above the creature’s small mouth were reminiscent of an amphibian’s nostrils. And the eyes, slightly larger than one would expect but otherwise completely human, not at all like the eyes of any animal the Professor had ever seen. Challenger was not a man to yield to homilies, he scoffed at the notion of windows into the soul, but Leopold’s eyes seemed to glow with intelligence and curiosity.

  “Remarkable,” Challenger repeated, more audibly this time. He was not a man given to whispering. “ Professor Challenger,” The pale creature spoke in a calm and controlled voice.“I have seen your image reproduced in several publications Catherine was kind enough to bring me. I hope you received my letter?”

  “ Indeed, sir, indeed I did.” It did not seem strange to Challenger to address the diminutive creature as ‘sir’ for he judged those he met by their intellectual rather than physical size. “May I say, sir, your letter brought to me several thoughts which had not previously occurred to me. And if they’d not occurred to me, they’ve not occurred to anyone, I assure you. Before we speak further, I feel I must offer you thanks for sharing your extraordinary insight so freely.”

  Leopold nodded, pleased and almost bashful. “ I am in your debt, sir,” Challenger continued. “Your letter mentioned a troubling matter you wished to discuss with a man of science: I am your man, sir, whatever the task.”

  “Very kind of you,” Leopold replied. “Is it acceptable for me to address you as Professor?” “ Of course,” Challenger said. “I understand your hosts call you ‘Leopold’, though that is surely not your name. Is there a name or title by which I might address you?”

  “ Leopold suffices,” the frail, hairless creature assured the muscular, bearded Professor. “It is a name given with affection and I enjoy it.” Walking to where Challenger sat, Leopold pulled himself up onto one of the seats and faced the Professor.

  “Excuse me for asking,” Challenger spoke with an unaccustomed caution, “But do others of your race look as you do?” Leopold’s small mouth pulled up into an amused grin. “ I am not offended and I will answer your question but first, tell me what you would conclude based on your observations.”

  Challenger smiled back at the small creature. “I would expect your race looks nothing like you. Your appearance amazes me, sir. Despite your obvious anatomical differences there is so much about you that seems familiar. Were I to hazard a hypothesis based on the scant information at hand, I would suggest that you have adapted several Earth creatures to protect or enhance your natural form. Am I close, sir?”

  Leopold’s eyes danced with delight. “Quite close indeed. This body was fashioned from life native to this place.”

  Challenger frowned. “Fashioned? Do you mean constructed in some way?” “ It would be more proper to say it was grown in a directed manner,” Leopold said. “At the core of this body is a mechanical contrivance and this form grew around it to allow for movement, communication and, most importantly, observation in a manner consistent with how this world’s inhabitants perceive their surroundings. For all the facts we might gather, without a common perception any attempt at communication would be doomed to misunderstanding.”

  “A mechanical contrivance?” Challenger said. “You’re saying this flesh covers your metal self?” “ Yes and no, Professor,” Leopold answered, making no effort to conceal howdelighted he was with the Professor’s questions. “In essence you are correct, although the metal self you refer to is not, in fact, metal in composition. Also, it would be wrong to state that my ‘self’ is contained within the mechanism. The contrivance within this body is more of a wireless receiver. It controls this body, while my actual selves reside in orbit. We came to this world knowing little of its inhabitants. Nothing that happens to this form can harm we who control it from orbit. It was prudent. We knew nothing of this world or your people. We constructed this form according to your people's biology but we intentionally engineered differences not just for efficiency but so that your people would recognize that I am not, in fact, one of you. We came to study and learn. Our purpose is not deception.”

  “We?” Challenger asked. “How many of you are there?”

  “Many,” Leopold answered. “From many different worlds, united only in curiosity.”

  “A vague answer,” Challenger noted.

  “Yet as clear as is possible,” Leopold insisted. “The universe contains a variety of life, not all as individual as your people.” “ I must confess,” Challenger said. “I find the notion of a vessel filled with 'many' alien beings orbiting my undefended planet somewhat disconcerting.”

  “ Such is not our intention,” Leopold said. “Even if we travelled in our original forms – and we do not– and even if your world were capable of supporting life in those forms – and it is not

  – we would still have no intention of coming down to the surface in any manner beyond this form. Gravity would make us prisoners here. We who travel between stars have no wish to be confined on any planet. If I am correctly interpreting your expressions, it would seem my answers to your questions trouble you.”

  “ Yes and no,” Challenger replied, then laughed his great, shaking laugh. “Now it is my turn to be vague! I believe you, Leopold. A deception would be designed in such a way as to be easier for me to understand! Yet I feel as I have not felt in years, as if I were a student again, struggling to stretch my mind over so many concepts at once. I find myself frustrated by my own lack of comprehension! Yet as maddening as my frustration is, I must confess it is exhilarating at the same time – though apparently my face does not express it.” Challenger’s hand rose and began stroking his beard. “You have indulged me. Tolerated my questions although your letter stated you required assistance in a matter of some urgency. Tell me Leopold, how might the humble Challenger assist those who have attained the stars?”

  Leopold nodded. “Most gracious of you. Do you accept what I claim is true? Do you believe I am an intelligence from a distant star?”

  Challenger spread his arms and lifted his palms up in a gesture of surrender. “Reluctantly, sir, I must confess I do. I've no wish to be mocked again by the small-minded but I have no other explanation to account for all I have observed. Not merely the strangeness of your physical form but the remarkable insights you shared with me – I should thank you again for those - allow no other conclusion. Yes, I believe you are from beyond the familiar globe I call home.”

  Leopold nodded. “I require the insight of a fellow scientist, one knowledgeable in the ways of those who live here. My question is simple. Should we announce our presence to your people?”

  Challenger stared at the small creature. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. His hand returned to his beard and he nodded as his brow furrowed in concentration. “Damn,” he muttered.

  “ We have studied your world and learned from it. We have discovered here intelligent beings who have fed, clothed and sheltered us without expectation of reward. Such kindness deserves to be reciprocated but we would not return hospitality with unintended cruelness.”

  “How would you proclaim your existence?” Challenger asked. “ As you think wise,” Leopold answered. “Revealing ourselves is
simplicity itself, our vessel orbits this world. Illuminated it would be visible to any who looked up at the night sky.”

  “Quite a sight I imagine,” Challenger agreed. “Once your presence is made known, what then?” “ As you advise us,” Leopold said. “Our study has yielded remarkable results but we are not so vain as to believe we know your world better than those who inhabit it. We have selected you but have no objection should you wish to consult with your peers.”

  “If only I had peers,” Challenger shook his head sadly. “ There are many possibilities,” Leopold continued. “If required, we could dispatch more of these ” Leopold waved a large hand over his body. “ – forms. Perhaps as many as a dozen. They could meet with other scientists, discuss ideas. You apparently found our insight helpful, is it not possible others might benefit from such discourse? In this way we would learn more of your world and you of our universe.”

  “So you would stay?” Challenger asked, stroking his beard.

  “For a time,” Leopold said. “We could extend our mission, perhaps as long as two of your years.” “ No longer?” Challenger pressed the point. “No,” Leopold answered. “We came to study your world but our purpose is to better understand the universe. Remarkable as your planet is, it is only a small part of a larger picture. Nor are we willing to leave any of our own behind when we depart. To leave a self-aware intelligence marooned on an alien world would be morally wrong.”

  “Should I advise you not to reveal yourselves? What happens then?” “ We would leave,” Leopold said. “Our examination here is nearly complete. This form is near the end of its usefulness. Nothing in its construction or decay will betray our origins to even the most dedicated of examiners. Once we leave only the Lethrows, your companion and yourself will have been witness to our visit.”