ae van vogt - black destroyer

7/28/2019 AE Van Vogt - Black Destroyer

1/18

BLACK DESTROYER

by

A. E. VAN VOGT

ON AND ON COEURL PROWLED! The black, moonless, almost starless night yielerelctantly be"ore a grim reish a#n that cre$t $ "rom his le"t% A &age, ll light it #as, thatga&e no sense o" a$$roaching #armth, no com"ort, nothing bt a col, i""se lightness, slo#ly

re&ealing a nightmare lansca$e%'lack, (agge rock an black, nli&ing $lain took "orm aron him, as a $ale)re sn $eere at

last abo&e the grotes*e hori+on% t #as then Coerl recogni+e senly that he #as on "amiliargron%

-e sto$$e short% Tenseness "lame along his ner&es% -is mscles $resse #ith sen,nrelenting strength against his bones% -is great "orelegs.t#ice as long as his hinlegs.t#itche#ith a shering mo&ement that arche e&ery ra+or)shar$ cla#% The thick tentacles that s$rote"rom his sholers cease their #ea&ing nlation, an gre# tat #ith an/ios alertness%

Utterly a$$alle, he t#iste his great cat hea "rom sie to sie,#hile the little hairlike tenrils that "orme each ear &ibrate "rantically, testing e&ery &agrantbree+e, e&ery throb in the ether%

't there #as %no res$onse, no s#i"t tingling along his intricate ner&os system, not the "aintestsggestion any#here o" the $resence o" the all)necessary % -o$elessly, Coerl croche, an

enormos catlike "igre silhoette against the im reish skyline, like a istorte etching o" ablack tiger resting on a black rock in a shao# #orl%-e ha kno#n this ay #ol come% Throgh all the centries o" restless search, this ay ha

loome e&er nearer, blacker, more "rightening.this ine&itable hor #hen he mst retrn to the


2/18

$oint #here he began his systematic hnt in a #orl almost e$lete o" icreatres%The trth strck in #a&es like an enless, rhythmic ache at the seat o" his ego% When he ha

starte, there ha been a "e# icreatres in e&ery hnre s*are miles, to be mercilessly rooteot% Only too #ell Coerl kne# in this ltimate hor that he ha misse none% There #ere no i)creatres le"t to eat% n all the hnres o" thosans o" s*are miles that h0 ha mae his o#n byright o" rthless con*est.ntil no neighboring coerl are to *estion his so&ereignty.there#as no to "ee the other#ise immortal engine that #as his boy%

1*are "oot by s*are "oot he ha gone o&er it% An no#.he recogni+e the knoll o" rock (stahea, an the black rock brige that "orme a *eer, crling tnnel to his right% t #as in that

tnnel he h0 lain "or ays, #aiting "or the sim$le)mine, snakelike icreatre to come "orth"rom its hole in the rock to bask in the sn.( his "irst kill a"ter he ha reali+e the absoltenecessity o" organi+e e/termination%

-e licke his li$s in brie" gloating memory o" the moment his sla&ering (a#s tore the &ictiminto $recios toothsome bits% 't the ark "ear o" an iless ni&erse s#e$t the s#eet remembrance"rom his consciosness, lea&ing only certainty o" eath%

-e snarle aibly, a e"iant, e&ilish son that *a&ere on the air, echoe an re)echoeamong the rocks, an shere back along his ner&es.instincti&e an hellish e/$ression o" his#ill to li&e%

An then.abr$tly.it came%

-e sa# it emerge ot o" the istance on a long o#n#ar slant, a tiny glo#ing s$ot that gre#enormosly into a metal ball% The great shining globe hisse by abo&e Coerl, slo#ing &isibly in*ick eceleration% t s$e o&er a black line o" hills to the right, ho&ere almost motionless "or a

secon, then sank o#n ot o" sight%Coerl e/$loe "rom his startle immobility% With tiger s$ee, he "lo#e o#n among the

rocks% -is ron, black eyes brne #ith the horrible esire that #as an agony #ithin him% -is eartenrils &ibrate a message o" i in sch tremenos *antities that his boy "elt sick #ith the$angs o" his abnormal hnger%

The little re sn #as a crimson ball in the $r$le)black hea&ens #hen he cre$t $ "rom behina mass o" rock an ga+e "rom its shao#s at the crmbling, gigantic rins o" the city thats$ra#le belo# him% The sil&ery globe, in s$ite o" its great si+e, looke strangely incons$icosagainst that &ast, "airylike reach o" rins% 2et abot it #as a leashe ali&eness, a ynamic*iescence that, a"ter a moment, mae it stan ot, ominating the "oregron% A massi&e, rock)crshing thing o" metal, it reste on a crale mae by its o#n #eight in the harsh, resisting $lain#hich began abr$tly at the otskirts o" the ea metro$olis%

Coerl ga+e at the strange, t#o)legge creatres #ho stoo in little gro$s near the brilliantly

lighte o$ening that ya#ne at the base o" the shi$% -is throat thickene #ith the immeiacy o" hisnee3 an his brain gre# ark #ith the "irst #il im$lse to brst "orth in "rios charge an smashthese "limsy, hel$less)looking creatres #hose boies emitte the i)&ibrations%

4ists o" memory sto$$e that ma rsh #hen it #as still only electricity srging throgh hismscles% 4emory that broght "ear in an aci stream o" #eakness, $oring along his ner&es,$oisoning the reser&oirs o" his strength% -e ha time to see that the creatres #ore things o&ertheir real boies, shimmering trans$arent material that glittere in strange, brning "lashes in therays o" the sn%

Other memories came senly% O" im ays #hen the city that s$rea belo# #as the li&ing,breathing heart o" an age o" glory that issol&e in a single centry be"ore "laming gns #hose#ielers kne# only that "or the sr&i&ors there #ol be an e&er)narro#ing s$$ly o" i%

t #as the remembrance o" those gns that hel him there, cringing in a #a&e o" terror thatblrre his reason% -e sa# himsel" smashe by balls o" metal an brne by searing "lame%

Came cnning.nerstaning o" the $resence o" these creatres% This, Coerl reasone "or the"irst time, #as a scienti"ic e/$eition "rom another star% n the olen ays, the coerls ha thoghto"s$ace tra&el, bt isaster came too s#i"tly "or it e&er to be more than a thoght%


3/18

1cientists meant, in&estigation, not estrction% 1cientists in their #ay #ere "ools% 'ol #ith hiskno#lege, he emerge into the o$en% -e sa# the creatres become a#are o" him% They trnean stare% One, the smallest o" the gro$, etache a shining metal ro "rom a sheath, an hel itcasally in one han% Coerl lo$e on, shaken to his core by the action3 bt it #as too late to trnback%

Commaner -al 4orton hear little 5regory 6ent, the chemist, lagh #ith the embarrassehal" grgle #ith #hich he in&ariably annonce inner ncertainty% -e sa# 6ent "ingering thes$inly metalite #ea$on%

6ent sai7 89ll take no chances #ith anything as big as that%:Commaner 4orton allo#e his o#n ee$ chckle to echo along the commnicators% 8That,:he grnte "inally, 8is one o" the reasons #hy yo9re on this e/$eition, 6ent.becase yo ne&erlea&e anything to chance%:

-is chckle traile o"" into silence% nstincti&ely, as he #atche the monster a$$roach themacross that black rock $lain, he mo&e "or#ar ntil he stoo a little in a&ance o" the others, hishge "orm blking the trans$arent metalite sit% The comments o" the men $attere throgh theraio commnicator into his ears7

89 hate to meet that baby on a ark night in an alley%:8Don9t be silly% This is ob&iosly an intelligent creatre% Probably a member o" the rling race%:8t looks like nothing else than a big cat, i" yo "orget those tentacles sticking ot "rom its

sholers, an make allo#ances "or those monster "orelegs%:8ts $hysical e&elo$ment,: sai a &oice, #hich 4orton recogni+e as that o" 1ieel, the

$sychologist0 8$res$$oses an animal)like aa$tation to srronings, not an intellectal one% On

the other han, its coming to s like this is not the act o" an animal bt o" a creatre $ossessing amental a#areness o" or $ossible ientity% 2o #ill notice that its mo&ements are sti"", enotingcation, #hich sggests "ear an consciosness o" or #ea$ons% 9 like to get a goo look at theen o" its tentacles% " they ta$er into hanlike a$$enages that can really gri$ ob(ects, then theconclsion #ol be inesca$able that it is a escenant o" the inhabitants o" this city% t #ol be agreat hel$ i" #e col establish commnication #ith it, e&en thogh a$$earances inicate that ithas egenerate into a historyless $rimiti&e%:

Coerl sto$$e #hen he #as still ten "eet "rom the "oremost creatre% The sense o" i #as soo&er#helming that his brain ri"te to the ltimate &erge o" chaos% -e "elt as i" his limbs #erebathe in molten li*i3 his &ery &ision #as not *ite clear, as the sheer sensality o" his esirethnere throgh his being%

The men.all e/ce$t the little one #ith the shining metal ro in his "ingers.came closer%Coerl sa# that they #ere "rankly an criosly e/amining him% Their li$s #ere mo&ing, an their

&oices beat in a monotonos, meaningless rhythm on his ear tenrils% At the same time he ha thesense o" #a&es o" a mch higher "re*ency. his o#n commnication le&el.only it #as amachinelike clicking that (arre his brain% With a istinct e""ort to a$$ear "rienly, he broacast hisname "rom his ear tenrils, at the same time $ointing at himsel" #ith one cr&ing tentacle%

5orlay, chie" o" commnications, ra#le7 8 got a sort o" static in my raio #hen he #igglethose hairs, 4orton% Do yo think.:

8Looks &ery mch like it,: the leaer ans#ere the n"inishe *estion% 8That means a (ob "oryo, 5orlay% " it s$eaks by means o" raio #a&es, it might not be altogether im$ossible that yocan create some sort o" tele&ision $ictre o" its &ibrations, or teach him the 4orse coe%:

8Ah,: sai 1ieel% 8 #as right% The tentacles each e&elo$ into se&en strong "ingers% Pro&iethe ner&os system is com$licate enogh, those "ingers col, #ith training, o$erate anymachine%:

4orton sai7 8 think #e9 better go in an ha&e some lnch% A"ter#ar, #e9&e got to get bsy%The material men can set $ their machines an start gathering ata on the $lanet9s metal$ossibilities, an so on% The others can o a little care"l e/$loring% 9 like some notes onarchitectre an on the scienti"ic e&elo$ment o" this race, an $articlarly #hat ha$$ene to


4/18

#reck the ci&ili+ation% On earth ci&ili+ation a"ter ci&ili+ation crmble, bt al#ays a ne# ones$rang $ in its st% Why in9t that ha$$en here; Any *estions;:

82es% What abot $ssy; Look, he #ants to come in #ith s%:Commaner 4orton "ro#ne, an action that em$hasi+e the ee$)s$ace $allor o" his "ace% 8

#ish there #as some #ay #e col take it in #ith s, #ithot "orcibly ca$tring it% 6ent, #hat oyo think;:

8 think #e shol "irst ecie #hether it9s an it or a him, an call it one or the other% 9m in"a&or o" him% As "or taking him in #ith s.: The little chemist shook his hea ecisi&ely%8m$ossible% This atmos$here is t#enty)eight $er cent chlorine% Or o/ygen #ol be $re

ynamite to his lngs%:The commaner chckle% 8-e oesn9t belie&e that, a$$arently%: -e #atche the catlikemonster "ollo# the "irst t#o men throgh the great oor% The men ke$t an an/ios istance "romhim, then glance at 4orton *estioningly% 4orton #a&e his han% 8


5/18

i% The cra&ing tore throgh his $al$itant mscles, an throbbe like a li&ing thing in his brain% -ise&ery ner&e *i&ere to be o"" a"ter the men #ho ha #anere into the city% One o" them, hekne#, ha gone.alone%

The ragging mintes "le0 an still he restraine himsel", still he lay there #atching, a#arethat the men kne# he #atche% They "loate a metal machine "rom the shi$ to the rock mass thatblocke the great hal")o$en oor, ner the irection o" a thir man% No "licker o" their "ingersesca$e his "ierce stare, an slo#ly, as the sim$licity o" the machinery became a$$arent to him,contem$t gre# $on him%

-e kne# #hat to e/$ect "inally, #hen the "lame "lare in incanescent &iolence an ate

ra&enosly at the har rock beneath% 't in s$ite o" his $rekno#lege, he eliberately (m$e ansnarle as i" in "ear, as that #hite heat brst "orth% -is ear tenrils caght the laghter o" the men,their crios $leasre at his simlate i0may%

The oor #as release, an 4orton came o&er an #ent insie #ith the thir man% The lattershook his hea%

8t9s a shambles% 2o can catch the ri"t o" the st""% Ob&iosly, they se atomic energy, bt . . .bt it9s in #heel "orm% That9s a $ecliar e&elo$ment% n or science, atomic energy broght in thenon#heel machine% t9s $ossible that here they9&e $rogresse "rther to a ne# ty$e o" #heelmechanics% ho$e their libraries are better $reser&e than this, or #e9ll ne&er kno#% What colha&e ha$$ene to aci&ili+ation to make it &anish like this;:

A thir &oice broke throgh the commnicators7 8This is 1ieel% hear yor *estion,Pennons% Psychologically an sociologically s$eaking, the only reason #hy a territory becomesninhabite is lack o" "oo%:

8't they9re so a&ance scienti"ically, #hy in9t they e&elo$ s$ace "lying an go else#here

"or their "oo;:8Ask 5nlie Lester,: inter(ecte 4orton% 8 hear him e/$oning some theory e&en be"ore #e

lane%:The astronomer ans#ere the "irst call% 89&e still got to &eri"y all my "acts, bt this esolate

#orl is the only $lanet re&ol&ing aron that miserable re sn% There9s nothing else% No moon,not e&en a $lanetoi% An the nearest star system is nine hundred light-years a#ay%

81o tremenos #ol ha&e been the $roblem o" the rling race o" this #orl, that in one (m$they #ol not only ha&e ha to sol&e inter$lanetary bt interstellar s$ace tra&eling% =When yoconsier ho# slo# or o#n e&elo$ment #as."irst the moon, then >ens.each sccess leaingto the ne/t, an a"ter centries to the nearest stars3 an last o" all to the anti)accelerators that$ermitte galactic tra&el.consiering all this, maintain it #ol be im$ossible "or any race tocreate sch machines #ithot $ractical e/$erience% An, #ith the nearest star so "ar a#ay, they hano incenti&e "or the s$ace a&entring that makes "or e/$erience%:

Coerl #as trotting briskly o&er to another gro$% 't no#, in the ri&ing a$$etite thatconsme him, an in the "ren+y o" his high scorn, he $ai no attention to #hat they #ere oing%4emories o" $ast kno#lege, (arre into acti&ity by #hat he ha seen, "lo#e into hisconsciosness in an e&er e&elo$ing an more &i&i stream%

?rom gro$ to gro$ he s$e, a ner&os ynamo.(m$y, sick #ith bis a#"l hnger% A littlecar rolle $, sto$$ing in "ront o" him, an a "ormiable camera #hirre as it took a $ictre o"him% O&er on a mon o" rock, a gigantic telesco$e #as rearing $ to#ar the sky% Nearby, aisintegrating machine rille its searing "ire into an e&er)ee$ening hole, o#n an o#n,straight o#n%

Coerl9s min became a blr o" things he #atche #ith hal" attention% An e&er more imminentgre# the moment #hen he kne# lie col no longer carry on the tortre o" acting% -is brainstraine#ith an irresistible im$atience3 his boy brne #ith the "ry o" his eagerness to be o"" a"ter theman #ho ha gone alone into the city%

-e col stan it no longer% A green "oam miste his moth, maening him% -e sa# that, "orthe bare moment, noboy #as looking%


6/18


7/18

8'esies,: sai one o" the men, 8he #as ne&er ot o" my sight%:'e"ore 4orton col s$eak, 1ieel, the $sychologist, sna$$e, 8Positi&e abot that;:The man hesitate% 84aybe he #as "or a "e# mintes% -e #as #anering aron so mch,

looking at e&erything%:8E/actly,: sai 1ieel #ith satis"action% -e trne to 4orton% 82o see, commaner, , too, ha

the im$ression that he #as al#aysaron3 an yet, thinking back o&er it, "in ga$s% There #ere moments.$robably long mintes.#hen he #as com$letely ot o" sight%:

4orton9s "ace #as ark #ith thoght, as 6ent broke in "iercely7

8 say, take no chances% 6ill the brte on ss$icion be"ore he oes any more amage%:4orton sai slo#ly7 86orita, yo9&e been #anering aron #ith Cranessy an >an -ome% Doyo think $ssy is a escenant o" the rling class o" this $lanet;:

The tall @a$anese archeologist stare at the sky as i" collecting his min% 8Commaner 4orton,:he sai "inally, res$ect"lly, 8there is a mystery here% Take a look, all o" yo, at that ma(esticskyline% Notice the almost 5othic otline o" the architectre% n s$ite o" the megalo$olis #hichthey create, these $eo$le #ere close to the soil% The bilings are not sim$ly ornamente% Theyare ornamental in themsel&es% -ere is the e*i&alent o" the Done colmn, the Egy$tian $yrami,the 5othic catheral, gro#ing ot o" the gron, earnest, big #ith estiny% " this lonely, esolate#orl can be regare as a mother earth, then the lan ha a #arm, a s$irital $lace in the heartso" the race%

8The e""ect is em$hasi+e by the #ining streets% Their machines $ro&e they #eremathematicians, bt they #ere artists "irst3 an so they i not create the geometrically esignecities o" the ltra)so$histicate #orl metro$olis% There is a genine artistic abanon, a ee$

(oyos emotion #ritten in the cr&ing an nmathematical arrangements o" hoses, bilings ana&enes3 a sense o" intensity, o" i&ine belie" in an inner certainty% This is not a ecaent, hoary)#ith)age ci&ili+ation, bt a yong an &igoros cltre, con"ient, strong #ith $r$ose%

8There it ene% Abr$tly, as i" at this $oint cltre ha its 'attle o" Tors, an began tocolla$se like the ancient 4ohammean ci&ili+ation% Or as i" in one lea$ it s$anne the centriesan entere the $erio o" contening states% n the Chinese ci&ili+ation that $erio occ$ie B


8/18

comes "rom a $erio earlier than or o#n; That is, #e are entering the highly ci&ili+e era o" orcltre, #hile he became senly historyless in the most &igoros $erio o" his% But it is $ossiblethat his cltre is a later one on this $lanet than ors is in the galactic)#ie system #e ha&eci&ili+e;:

8E/actly% -is may be the mile o" the tenth ci&ili+ation o" his #orl3 #hile ors is the en o"the eighth s$rng "rom earth, each o" the ten, o" corse, ha&ing been bile on the rins o" theone be"ore it%:

8n that case, $ssy #ol not kno# anything abot the ske$ticism that mae it $ossible "or sto "in him ot so $ositi&ely as a criminal an mrerer;:

8No3 it #ol be literally magic to him%:4orton #as smiling grimly% 8Then think yo9ll get yor #ish, 1mith% We9ll let $ssy li&e3 ani" there are any "atalities, no# that #e kno# him, it #ill be e to rank carelessness% There9s (stthe chance, o" corse, that #e9re #rong% Like 1ieel, also ha&e the im$ressionthat he #as al#ays aron% 't no#.#e can9t lea&e $oor @ar&ey here like this% We9ll $t him in aco""in an bry him%:

8No, #e #on9t!: 6ent barke% -e "lshe% 8 beg yor $aron, commaner% in9t mean it that#ay% maintain $ssy #ante something "rom that boy% t looks to be all there, bt somethingmst be missing% 9m going to "in ot #hat, an $in this mrer on him so that yo9ll ha&e tobelie&e it beyon the shao# o" a obt%:

t #as late night #hen 4orton looke $ "rom a book an sa# 6ent emerge throgh the oorthat le "rom the laboratories belo#%

6ent carrie a large, "lat bo#l in his hans3 his tire eyes "lashe across at 4orton, an he sai

in a #eary, yet harsh, &oice7 8No# #atch!:-e starte to#ar Coerl, #ho lay s$ra#le on the great rg, $retening to be aslee$%4orton sto$$e him% 8Wait a minte, 6ent% Any other time, #oln9t *estion yor actions,

bt yo look ill3 yo9re o&er#roght% What ha&e yo got there;:6ent trne, an 4orton sa# that his "irst im$ression ha been bt a "lashing glim$se o" the

trth% There #ere ark $oches ner the little chemist9s gray eyes.eyes that ga+e "e&erishly"rom snken cheeks in an ascetic "ace%

89&e "on the missing element,: 6ent sai% 8t9s $hos$hors% There #asn9t so mch as as*are millimeter o" $hos$hors le"t in @ar&ey9s bones% E&ery bit o" it ha been raine ot.by#hat s$er)chemistry on9t kno#% There are #ays o" getting $hos$hors ot o" the hman boy%?or instance, a *ick #ay #as #hat ha$$ene to the #orkman #ho hel$e bil this shi$%Remember, he "ell into "i"teen tons o" molten metalite.at least, so his relati&es claime.bt thecom$any #oln9t $ay com$ensation ntil the metalite, on analysis, #as "on to contain a high

$ercentage o" $hos$hors.:8What abot the bo#l o" "oo;: someboy interr$te% 4en #ere $tting a#ay maga+ines an

books, looking $ #ith interest%8t9s got organic $hos$hors in it% -e9ll get the scent, or #hate&er it is that he ses instea o"

scent.:8 think he gets the &ibrations9 o" things,: 5orlay inter(ecte la+ily% 81ometimes, #hen he

#iggles those tenrils, get a istinct static on the raio% An then, again, there9s no reaction, (stas i" he9s mo&e higher or lo#er on the #a&e scale% -e seems to control the &ibrations at #ill%:

6ent #aite #ith ob&ios im$atience ntil 5orlay9s last #or, thenabr$tly #ent on7 8All right, then, #hen he gets the &ibration o" the $hos$hors an reacts to itlike an animal, then.#ell, #e can ecie #hat #e9&e $ro&e by his reaction% 4ay go ahea,4orton;:

8There are three things #rong #ith yor $lan,: 4orton sai% 8n the "irst $lace, yo seem toassme that he is only animal3 yo seem to ha&e "orgotten he may not be hngry a"ter @ar&ey3 yoseem to think that he #ill not be ss$icios% 't set the bo#l o#n% -is reaction may tell ssomething%:

Coerl stare #ith nblinking black eyes as the man set the bo#l be"ore him% -is ear tenrils


9/18

instantly caght the i)&ibrations "rom the contents o" the bo#l.an he ga&e it not e&en a seconglance%

-e recogni+e this t#o)legge being as the one #ho ha hel the #ea$on that morning%Danger! With a snarl, he "loate to his "eet% -e caght the bo#l #ith the "ingerlike a$$enages atthe en o" one loo$ing tentacle, an em$tie its contents into the "ace o" 6ent, #ho shrank back#ith a yell%

E/$losi&ely, Coerl "lng the bo#l asie an sna$$e a ha#ser)thick tentacle aron thecrsing man9s #aist% -e in9t bother #ith the gn that hng "rom 6ent9s belt% t #as only a&ibration gn, he sense

.atomic $o#ere, bt not an atomic isintegrator% -e tosse the kicking 6ent onto the nearestcoch.an reali+e #ith a hiss o" ismay that he shol ha&e isarme the man%Not that the gn #as angeros.bt, as the man "riosly #i$e the grel "rom his "ace #ith

one han, he reache #ith the other "or his #ea$on% Coerl croche back as the gn #as raiseslo#ly an a #hite beam o" "lame #as ischarge at his massi&e hea%

-is ear tenrils hmme as they cancele the e""orts o" the &ibration gn% -is ron, black eyesnarro#e as he caght the mo&ement o" men reaching "or their metalite gns% 4orton9s &oicelashe across the silence%

81to$!:

6ent clicke o"" his #ea$on3 an Coerl croche o#n, *i&ering #ith "ry at this man #hoha "orce him to re&eal something o" his $o#er%

86ent,: sai 4orton colly, 8yo9re not the ty$e to lose yor hea% 2o eliberately trie to kill$ssy, kno#ing that the ma(ority o" s are in "a&or o" kee$ing him ali&e% 2o kno# #hat or rle

is7 " anyone ob(ects to my ecisions, he mst say so at the time% " the ma(ority ob(ect, myecisions are o&errle% n this case, no one bt yo ob(ecte, an, there"ore, yor action in takingthe la# into yor o#nhans is most re$rehensible, an atomatically ebars yo "rom &oting "or a year%:

6ent stare grimly at the circle o" "aces% 86orita #as right #hen he sai ors #as a highlyci&ili+e age% t9s ecaent%: Passion "lame harshly in his &oice% 84y 5o, isn9t there a man here#ho can see the horror o" the sitation; @ar&ey ea only a "e# hors, an this creatre, #hom #eall kno# to be gilty, lying there nchaine, $lanning his ne/t mrer3 an the &ictim is right herein this room% What kin o" men are #e."ools, cynics, ghols)or is it that or ci&ili+ation is sostee$e in reason that #e can contem$late a mrerer sym$athetically;:

-e "i/e brooing eyes on Coerl% 82o #ere right, 4orton, that9s no animal% That9s a e&il"rom the ee$est hell o" this "orgotten $lanet, #hirling its solitary #ay aron a ying sn%:

8Don9t go meloramatic on s,: 4orton sai% 82or analysis is all #rong, so "ar as am

concerne% We9re not ghols or cynics3 #e9re sim$ly scientists, an $ssy here is going to bestie% No# that #e ss$ect him, #e obt his ability to tra$ any o" s% One against a hnrehasn9t a chance%: -e glance aron% 8Do s$eak "or all o" s;:

8Not "or me, commaner!: t #as 1mith #ho s$oke, an, as 4orton stare in ama+ement, hecontine7 8n the e/citement an momentary con"sion, no one seems to ha&e notice that #hen6ent "ire his &ibration gn, the beam hit this creatre s*arely on his cat hea.an in9t hrthim%:

4orton9s ama+e glance #ent "rom 1mith to Coerl, an back to 1mith again% 8Are yo certainit hit him; As yo say, it all ha$$ene so s#i"tly.#hen $ssy #asn9t hrt sim$ly assme that6ent ha misse him%:

8-e hit him in the "ace,: 1mith sai $ositi&ely% 8A &ibration gn, o" corse, can9t e&en kill aman right a#ay.bt it can in(re him% There9s no sign o" in(ry on $ssy, thogh, not e&en asinge hair%:

8Perha$s his skin is a goo inslation against heat o" any kin%:8Perha$s% 't in &ie# o" or ncertainty, think #e shol lock him $ in the cage%:While 4orton "ro#ne arkly in thoght, 6ent s$oke $% 8No# yo9re talking sense, 1mith%:4orton aske7 8Then yo #ol be satis"ie, 6ent, i" #e $t him in the cage;:


10/18

6ent consiere, "inally7 82es% " "or inches o" micro)steel can9t hol him, #e9 better gi&ehim the shi$%:

Coerl "ollo#e the men as they #ent ot into the corrior% -e trotte ocilely along as 4ortonnmistakably motione him throgh a oor he ha not hitherto seen% -e "on himsel" in a s*are,soli metal room% The oor clange metallically behin him3 he "elt the "lo# o" $o#er as theelectric lock clicke home%

-is li$s $arte in a grimace o" hate, as he reali+e the tra$, bt he ga&e no other ot#arreaction% t occrre to him that he ha $rogresse a long #ay "rom the snk)into)$rimiti&enesscreatre #ho, a "e# hors be"ore, ha gone incoherent #ith "ear in an ele&ator cage% No#, a

thosan memories o" his $o#ers #ere rea#akene in his brain3 ten thosan cnnings #ere, a"terages o" isse, once again $art o" his &ery being%-e sat *ite still "or a moment on the short, hea&y hanches into #hich his boy ta$ere, his ear

tenrils e/amining his srronings% ?inally, he lay o#n, his eyes glo#ing #ith contem$tos"ire% The "ools! The $oor "ools!

t #as abot an hor later #hen he hear the man.1mith."mbling o&erhea% >ibrations$ore $on him, an "or (st an instant he #as startle% -e lea$e to his "eet in $re terror.anthen reali+e that the &ibrations #ere &ibrations, not atomic e/$losions% 1omeboy #as taking$ictres o" the insie o" his boy%

-e croche o#n again, bt his ear tenrils &ibrate, an he thoght contem$tosly7 the silly"ool #ol be sr$rise #hen he trie to e&elo$ those $ictres%

A"ter a #hile the man #ent a#ay, an "or a long time there #ere noises o" men oing things "ara#ay% That, too, ie a#ay slo#ly%

CoeHrl lay #aiting, as he "elt the silence cree$ o&er the shi$% n the long ago, be"ore the a#n o"

immortality, the coerls, too, ha sle$t at night3 an the memory o" it ha been re&i&e the aybe"ore #hen he sa# some o" the men o+ing% At last, the &ibration o" t#o $airs o" "eet, $acing,$acing enlessly, #as the only hman)mae "re*ency that throbbe on his ear tenrils%

Tensely, he listene to the t#o #atchmen% The "irst one #alke slo#ly $ast the cage oor% Thenabot thirty "eet behin him came the secon% Coerl sense the alertness o" these men3 kne# thathe col ne&er sr$rise either #hile they #alke se$arately% t meant. he mst be obly care"l!

?i"teen mintes, an they came again% The moment they #ere $ast, he s#itche his senses "romtheir &ibrations to a &astly higher range% The $lsating &iolence o" the atomic engines stammereits so"t story to his brain% The electric ynamos hmme their m""lesong o" $re $o#er% -e "elt the #his$er o" that "lo# throgh the #ires in the #alls o" his cage, anthrogh the electric lock o" his oor% -e "orce his *i&ering boy into straining immobility, hissenses seeking, searching, to tne in on that sibilant tem$est o" energy% 1enly, his ear tenrils&ibrate in harmony.he caght the srging change into shrillness o" that ri$$ling "orce #a&e%

There #as a shar$ click o" metal on metal% With a gentle toch o" one tentacle, Coerl $sheo$en the oor, an glie ot into the lly gleaming corrior% ?or (st a moment he "elt contem$t,a glo# o" s$eriority, as he thoght o" the st$i creatres #ho are to match their #it against acoerl% An in that moment, he senly thoght o" other coerls% A *eer, e/ltant sense o" race$one throgh his being3 the ri&ing hate o" centries o" rthless com$etition yiele relctantlybe"ore $rie o" kinshi$ #ith the "tre rlers o" all s$ace%

1enly, he "elt #eighe o#n by his limitations, his nee "or other coerls, his aloneness)oneagainst a hnre, #ith the stake all eternity3 the starry ni&erse itsel" beckone his ra$acios,&alting ambition% " he "aile, there #ol ne&er be a secon chance.no time to re&i&e long)rotte machinery, an attem$t to sol&e the secret o" s$ace tra&el%

-e $ae along on tense $a#s.throgh the salon.into the ne/t corrior.an came to the"irst beroom oor% t stoo hal" o$en% One s#i"t "lo# o" synchroni+e mscles, one s#i"tlylashing tentacle that caght the nresisting throat o" the slee$ing man, crshing it, an the li"elesshea rolle cra+ily, the boy t#itche once%

1e&en berooms3 se&en ea men% t #as the se&enth taste o" mrer that broght a senretrn o" lst, a $re, nbone esire to kill, retrn o" a millennim)ol habit o" estroying


11/18

e&erything containing0e $recios i%As the iE09e(0th man sli$$e con&lsi&ely into eath, Coerl emerge abr$tly

"rom0th00ensos (oy o" the kill to the son o" "ootste$s%They #ere not near.that #as #hat broght #a&e a"ter #a&e o" "right s#irling into the chaos

that senly became his brain%

The #atchmen #ere coming slo#ly along the corrior to#ar the oor o" the cage #here he habeen im$risone% n a moment, the "irst man #ol see the o$en oor.an son the alarm%

Coerl caght at the &anishing remnants o" his reason% With "rantic s$ee, careless no# o"

acciental sons, he race.along thecorrior #ith its beroom oors.throgh the salon% -e emerge into the ne/t corrior, cringing ina#"l antici$ation o" the atomic "lame he e/$ecte #ol stab into his "ace%

The t#o men #ere together, staning sie by sie% ?or one single instant, Coerl col scarcelybelie&e his tremenos goo lck% Like a "ool the secon ha come rnning #hen he sa# the othersto$ be"ore the o$en oor% They looke $, $araly+e, be"ore the nightmare o" cla#s an tentacles,the "erocios cat hea an hate)"ille eyes%

The "irst man #ent "or his gn, bt the secon, $hysically "ro+en be"ore the oom he sa#,ttere a shriek, a shrill cry o" horror that "loate along the corriors.an ene in a criosgrgle, as Coerl "lng the t#o cor$ses #ith one irresistible motion the "ll length o" the corrior%-e in9t #ant the ea boies "on near the cage% That #as his one ho$e%

1haking in e&ery ner&e an mscle, conscios o" the terrible error he ha mae, nable to thinkcoherently, he $lnge into the cage% The oor clicke so"tly sht behin him% Po#er "lo#e oncemore throgh the electric lock%

-e croche tensely, simlating slee$, as he hear the rsh o" many "eet, caght the &ibration o"e/cite &oices% -e kne# #hen someboy actate the cage aiosco$e an looke in% A "e#moments no#, an the other boies #ol be isco&ere%

81i0el gone!: 4orton sai nmbly% 8What are #e going to o #ithot 1ieel; An'reckenrige! An Colter an. -orrible!:

-e co&ere his "ace #ith his hans, bt only "or an instant% -e looke $ grimly, his hea&y chinotthrst as he stare into the stern "aces that srrone him% 8" anyboy9s got so mch as agerm o" an iea, bring it ot%:

81$ace maness!:89&e thoght o" that% 't there hasn9t been a case o" a man going ma "or "i"ty years% Dr% Eggert

#ill test e&eryboy, o" corse, an right no# he9s looking at the boies #ith that $ossibility inmin%:

As he "inishe, he sa# the octor coming throgh the oor% 4en cro#e asie to make #ay "orhim%

8 hear yo, commaner,: Dr% Eggert sai, 8an think can say right no# that the s$ace)maness theory is ot% The throats o" these men ha&e been s*ee+e to a (elly% No hman beingcol ha&e e/erte sch enormos strength #ithot sing a machine%:

4orton sa# that the octor9s eyes ke$t looking o#n the corrior, an he shook his hea angroane7

8t9s no se ss$ecting $ssy, octor% -e9s in his cage, $acing $ an o#n% Ob&iosly hearthe racket an. 4an ali&e! 2o can9t ss$ect him% That cage #as bilt to hol literally anything."or inches o" micro)steel.an there9s not a scratch on the oor% 6ent, e&en yo #on9t say,=6ill him on ss$icion,9 becase there can9t be any ss$icion, nless there9s a ne# science here,beyon anything #e can imagine.:

8On the contrary,: sai 1mith "latly, 8#e ha&e all the e&ience #e nee% se the tele"lor onhim.yo kno# the arrangement #e ha&e on to$ o" the cage.an trie to take some $ictres%They (st blrre% Pssy (m$e #hen the tele"lor #as trne on, as i" he "elt the &ibrations%

82o all kno# #hat 5orlay sai be"ore; This beast can a$$arently recei&e an sen &ibrationso" any lengths% The #ay he ominate the $o#er o0I6ent9s gn is "inal $roo" o" his s$ecial ability


12/18

to inter"ere #ith energy%:I8What in th0JIname o" all the hells ha&e #e got here;: One o" the men groane% 8Why, i" he

can control that $o#er, an sent it ot in any &ibrations, there0s nothing to sto$ him killing all o"s%:

8WThich $ro&es,: sna$$e 4orton, 8that he isn9t in&incible, or he #ol ha&e one it longago%:

>ery eliberately, he #alke o&er to the mechanism that controlle the $rison cage%82o9re not going to o$en the oor!: 6ent gas$e, reaching "or his gn%8No, bt i" $ll this s#itch, electricity #ill "lo# throgh the "loor, an electrocte #hate&er9s

insie% We9&e ne&er ha to se this be"ore, so yo ha $robably "orgotten abot it%:-e (erke the s#itch har o&er% 'le "ire "lashe "rom the metal, an a bank o" "ses abo&e hishea e/$loe #ith a single bang%

4orton "ro#ne% 8That9s "nny% Those "ses sholn9t ha&e blo#n! Well, #e can9t e&en look in,no#% That #recke the aios, too%:

1mith sai7 8" he col inter"ere #ith the electric lock, enogh to o$en the oor, then he$robably $robe e&ery $ossible anger an #as reay to inter"ere #hen yo thre# that s#itch%:

8At least, it $ro&es he9s &lnerable to or energies!: 4orton smile grimly% 8'ecase herenere them harmless% The im$ortant thing is, #e9&e got him behin "or inches o" the toghesto" metal% At the #orst #e can o$en the oor an ray him to eath% 't "irst, think #e9ll try to sethe tele"lor $o#er cable.:

A commotion "rom insie the cage interr$te his #ors% A hea&y boy crashe against a #all,"ollo#e by a ll thm$%

8-e kno#s #hat #e #ere trying to o!: 1mith grnte to 4orton% 8An 9ll bet it9s a &ery sick

$ssy in there% What a "ool he #as to go back into that cage an oes he reali+e it!:The tension #as rela/ing3 men #ere smiling ner&osly, an there #as e&en a ri$$le o"

hmorless laghter at the $ictre 1mith re# o" the monster9s iscom"itre%8What 9 like to kno#,: sai Pennons, the engineer, 8is, #hy i the tele"lor meter ial (m$

an #a&er at "ll $o#er #hen $ssy mae that noise; t9s right ner my nose here, an the ial(m$e like a hose a"ire!:

There #as silence both #ithot an #ithin the cage, then 4orton sii7 8t may mean he9scoming ot% 'ack, e&eryboy, an kee$ yor gns reay% Pssy #as a "ool to think he colcon*er a hnre men, bt he9s by "ar the most "ormiable creatre in the galactic system% -emay come ot o" that oor, rather than ie like a rat in a tra$% An he9s (st togh enogh to takesome o" s #ith him.i" #e9re not care"l%:

The men backe slo#ly in a soli boy3 an someboy sai7 8That9s "nny% thoght hearthe ele&ator%:

8Ele&ator!: 4orton echoe% 8Are yo sre, man;:8@st "or a moment #as!: The man, a member o" the cre#, hesitate% 8We #ere all sh""ling

or "eet.:8Take someboy #ith yo, an go look% 'ring #hoe&er are to rn o"" back here):The0e #as a (ar, a horrible (erk, as the #hole gigantic boy o" the shi$ careene ner them%

4orton #as "lng to the "loor #ith a &iolence that stnne him% -e "oght back to consciosness,a#are o" the other men lying all aron him% -e shote7 8Who the e&il starte those engines!:

The agoni+ing acceleration contine3 his "eet ragge #ith a#"l e/ertion, as he "mble #iththe nearest aiosco$e, an $nche the engine)room nmber% The $ictre that "looe onto thescreen broght a ee$ bello# to his li$s7

8t9s $ssy! -e9s in the engine room.an #e9re heaing straight ot into s$ace%:The screen #ent black e&en as he s$oke, an he col see no more%

t #as 4orton #ho "irst staggere across the salon "loor to the s$$ly room #here thes$acesits #ere ke$t% A"ter "mbling almost blinlyinto his o#n sit, he ct the e""ects o" the boy)tortring acceleration, an broght sits to thesemiconscios men on the "loor% n a "e# moments, other men #ere assisting him3 an then it #as


13/18

only a matter o" mintes be"ore e&eryboy #as cla in metalite, #ith anti)acceleration motorsrnning at hal" $o#er%

t #as 4orton then #ho, a"ter "irst looking into the cage, o$ene the oor an stoo, silent asthe others cro#e abot him, to stare at the ga$ing hole in the rear #all% The hole #as a "right"lthing o" (agge eges an horribly bent metal, an it o$ene $on another corrior%

89ll s#ear,: #his$ere Pennons, 8that it9s im$ossible% The ten)ton hammer in the machinesho$s coln9t more than ent "or inches o" micro #ith one blo#.an #e only hear one% t#ol take at least a minte "or an atomic isintegrator to o the (ob% 4orton, this is a s$er)being%:

4orton sa# that 1mith #as e/amining the break in the #all% The biologist looke $% 8" only'reckinrige #eren9t ea! We nee a metallrgist to e/$lain this% Look!:-e toche the broken ege o" the metal% A $iece crmble in his "inger an slithere a#ay in a

"ine sho#er o" st to the "loor% 4orton notice "or the "irst time that there #as a little $ile o"metallic ebris an st%

82o9&e hit it%: 4orton noe% 8No miracle o" strength here% The monster merely se hiss$ecial $o#ers to inter"ere #ith the electronic tensions holing the metal together% That #olaccont, too, "or the rain on the tele"lor $o#er cable that Pennons notice% The thing se the$o#er #ith his boy as a trans"orming meim, smashe throgh the #all, ran o#n the corriorto the ele&ator9 sha"t, an so o#n to the engine room%:

8n the meantime, commaner,: 6ent sai *ietly, 8#e are "ace #ith a s$er)being in controlo" the shi$, com$letely ominating the engine room an its almost nlimite $o#er, an in$ossession o" the best $art o" the machine sho$s%:

4orton "elt the silence, #hile the men $onere the chemist9s #ors% Their an/iety #as a

tangible thing that lay hea&ily $on their "aces3 in e&ery e/$ression #as the gro#ing reali+ationthat here #as the ltimate sitation in their li&es3 their &ery e/istence #as at stake an $erha$smch more% 4orton &oice the thoght in e&eryboy9s min7

81$$ose he #ins% -e9s tterly rthless, an he $robably sees galactic $o#er #ithin his gras$%:86ent is #rong,: barke the chie" na&igator% 8The thing oesn9t ominate the engine room%

We9&e still got the control room, an that gi&es s "irst control o" all the machines% 2o "ello#smay not kno# the mechanical set)$ #e ha&e3 bt, thogh he 0an e&entally isconnect s, #ecan ct o"" all the s#itches in the engine room no#% Commaner, #hy in9t yo (st sht o"" the$o#er instea o" $tting s into s$acesits; At the &ery least yo col ha&e a(ste the shi$ tothe acceleration%:

8?or t#o reasons,: 4orton ans#ere% 8ni&ially, #e9re sa"er #ithin the "orce "iels o" ors$acesits% An #e can9t a""or to gi&e $ or a&antages in $anicky mo&es%:

8A&antages! What other a&antages ha&e #e got;:

8We kno# things abot him,: 4orton re$lie% 8An right no#, #e9re going to make a test%Pennons, etail "i&e men to e ch o" the "or a$$roaches to the engine room% Take atomic isinteators to blast throgh the big oors% They9re all sht, notice% -e9s locke himsel" in%

81elenski, yo go $ to the control room an sht o"" e&erything e/ce$t the ri&e engines% 5earthem to the master s#itch, an sht them o"" all at once% One thing, thogh.lea&e the accelerationon "ll blast% No anti)acceleration mst be a$$lie to the shi$% Unerstan;:

8Aye, sir!: The $ilot salte%8An re$ort to me throgh the commnicators i" any o" the machines start to rn again%: -e

"ace the men% 89m going to lea the main a$$roach% 6ent, yo take No% a3 1mith, No% , anPennons, No% % We9re going to "in ot right no# i" #e9re ealing #ith nlimite science, or acreatre limite like the rest o" s% 9ll bet on the secon $ossibility%:

4orton ha an em$ty sense o" #alking enlessly, as he mo&e, a giant o" a man in histrans$arent s$ace armor, along the glistening metal tbe that #as the main corrior o" the engine)room "loor% Reason tol him the creatre ha alreay sho#n "eet o" clay, yet the "eeling that here#as an in&incible being $ersiste%

-e s$oke into the commnicator7 8t9s no se trying to sneak $ on him% -e can $robably =hear


14/18

a $in ro$% 1o (st #heel $ yor nits% -e hasn9t been in that engine room long enogh to oanything%

8As 9&e sai, this is largely a test attack% n the "irst $lace, #e col ne&er "orgi&e orsel&es i"#e in9t try to con*er him no#, be"ore he9s ha time to $re$are against s% 't, asie "rom the$ossibility that #e can estroy him immeiately, ha&e a theory%

8The iea goes something like this7 Those oors are bilt to #ithstan acciental atomice/$losions, an it #ill take "i"teen mintes "or the atomic isintegrators to smash them% Dringthat $erio the monster #ill ha&e no $o#er% Tre, the ri&e #ill be on, bt that9s straight atomice/$losion% 4y theory is, he can9t toch st"" like that3 an in a "e# mintes yo9ll see #hat mean

. ho$e%:-is &oice #as senly cris$7 8Reay, 1elenski;:8Aye, reay%:8Then ct the master s#itch%:The corrior.the #hole shi$, 4orton kne#.#as abr$tly $lnge into arkness% 4orton

clicke on the a++ling light o" his s$acesit3 the other men i the same, their "aces $ale anra#n%

8'last!: 4orton barke into his commnicator%The mobile nits throbbe3 an then $re atomic "lame ra&ene ot an $ore $on the har

metal o" the oor% The "irst molten ro$let rolle relctantly, not o#n, bt $ the oor% Thesecon #as more normal% t "ollo#e a shaky o#n#ar corse% The thir rolle sie#ays."orthis #as $re "orce, not sb(ect to gra&itation% Other ro$s "ollo#e ntil a o+en streams trickleseately yet ne&enly in e&ery irection.streams o" hellish, s$arkling "ire, bright as "airy gems,ali&e #ith the corscating "ry o" atoms senly tortre, an rnning blinly, cra+y #ith $ain%

The mintes ate at time like a slo# aci% At last 4orton aske hskily781elenski;:8Nothing yet, commaner%:4orton hal" #his$ere7 8't he mst be oing something% -e can9t be (st #aiting in there like

a cornere rat% 1elenski;:8Nothing, commaner%:1e&en mintes, eight mintes, then t#el&e%8Commaner!: t #as 1elenski9s &oice, tat% 8-e9s got the electric ynamo rnning%:4orton re# a ee$ breath, an hear one o" his men say78That9s "nny% We can9t get any ee$er% 'oss, take a look at this%:4orton looke% The little scintillating streams ha "ro+en rigi% The "erocity o" the

isintegrators &ente in &ain against metal gro#n senly in&lnerable%4orton sighe% 8Or test is o&er% Lea&e t#o men garing e&ery corrior% The others come $

to the control room%:

-e seate himsel" a "e# mintes later be"ore the massi&e control keyboar% 81o "ar as 9mconcerne the test #as a sccess% We kno#that o" all the machines in the engine room, the most im$ortant to the monster #as the electricynamo% -e mst ha&e #orke in a "ren+y o" terror #hile #e #ere at the oors%:

8O" corse, it9s easy to see #hat he i,: Penrions sai% 8Once he ha the $o#er he increasethe electronic tensions o" the oor to their ltimate%:

8The main thing is this,: 1mith chime in% 8-e #orks #ith &ibrations only so "ar as his s$ecial$o#ers are concerne, an the energy mst come "rom otsie himsel"% Atomic energy in its $re"orm, not being &ibration, he can9t hanle any i""erently than #e can%:

6ent sai glmly7 8The main $oint in my K9$inion is that he sto$$e s col% What9s the gooo" kno#ing that his, control o&er &ibrations i it; " #e can9t break throgh those oors #ith oratomic isintegrators, #e9re "inishe%:

4orton shook his hea% 8Not "inishe.bt #e9ll ha&e to o some $lanning% ?irst, thogh, 9llstart these engines% t9ll be harer "or him to get control o" them #hen they9re rnning%:

-e $lle the master s#itch back into $lace #ith a (erk% There #as a hm, as scores o" machines


15/18

lea$e into &iolent li"e in the engine room a hnre "eet belo#% The noises sank to a steay&ibration o" throbbing $o#er%

Three hors later, 4orton $ace $ an o#n be"ore the men gathere in the salon% -is arkhair #as ncombe3 the s$ace $allor o" his strong "ace em$hasi+e rather than etracte "rom theot)thrst aggressi&eness o" his (a#% When he s$oke, his ee$ &oice #as cris$ to the $oint o"shar$ness7

8To make sre that or $lans are "lly co)orinate, 9m going to ask each e/$ert in trn tootline his $art in the o&er$o#ering o" this creatre% Pennons "irst!:

Pennons stoo $ briskly% -e #as not a big man, 4orton thoght, yet he looke big, $erha$s

becase o" his air o" athority% This man kne# engines, an the history o" engines% 4orton hahear him trace a machine throgh its e&oltion "rom a sim$le toy to the highly com$licatemoern instrment% -e ha stie machine e&elo$ment on a hnre $lanets3 an there #asliterally nothing "namental that he in9t kno# abot mechanics% t #as almost #eir to hearPennons, #ho col ha&e s$oken "or a thosan hors an still only ha&e toche $on hissb(ect, say #ith absr bre&ity7

8We9&e set $ a relay in the control room to start an sto$ e&ery engine rhythmically% The tri$le&er #ill #ork a hnre times a secon, an the e""ect #ill be to create &ibrations o" e&eryescri$tion%There is (st a $ossibility that one or more o" the machines #ill brst, on the $rinci$le o" solierscrossing a brige in ste$.yo9&e hear that ol story, no obt.bt in my o$inion there is noreal anger o" a break o" that togh metal% The main $r$ose is sim$ly to inter"ere #ith theinter"erence o" the creatre, an smash throgh the oors%:

85orlay ne/t!: barke 4orton%

5orlay climbe la+ily to his "eet% -e looke slee$y, as i" he #as some#hat bore by the #hole$roceeings, yet 4orton kne# he lo&e $eo$le to think him la+y, a goo)"or)nothing sloch, #hos$ent his ays in slmber an his nights catching "orty #inks% -is title #as chie" commnicationengineer, bt his kno#lege e/tene to e&ery &ibration "iel3 an he #as $robably, #ith the$ossible e/ce$tion o" 6ent, the "astest thinker on the shi$% -is &oice ra#le ot, an. 4ortonnote.the &ery eliberate assrance o" it ha a soothing e""ect on the men.an/ios "acesrela/e, boies leane back more rest"lly7

8Once insie,: 5orlay sai, 8#e9&e rigge $ &ibration screens o" $re "orce that shol sto$nearly e&erything he9s got on the ball% They #ork on the $rinci$le o" re"lection, so that e&erythinghe sens #ill be re"lecte back to him% n aition, #e9&e got $lenty o" s$are electric energy that#e9ll (st "ee him "rom mobile co$$er c$s% There mst be a limit to his ca$acity "or hanling$o#er #ith those inslate ner&es o" his%:

81elenski!: calle 4orton%

The chie" $ilot #as alreay staning, as i" he ha antici$ate 4orton9s call% An that, 4ortonre"lecte, #as the man% -is ner&es ha that rocklike steainess #hich is the "irst re*irement o" themaster controller o" a great shi$9s mo&ements3 yet that &ery steainess seeme to rest on ynamitereay to e/$loe at its o#ner9s &olition% -e #as not a man o" great learning, bt he 8reacte: tostimli so "ast that he al#ays seeme to be antici$ating%

8The im$ression 9&e recei&e o" the $lan is that it mst be cmlati&e% @st #hen the creatrethinks that he can9t stan any more, another thing ha$$ens to a to his troble an con"sion%When the $roar9s at its height, 9m s$$ose to ct in the anti)accelerators% The commanerthinks #ith 5nlie Lester that these creatres #ill kno# nothing abot anti)acceleration% t9s ae&elo$ment, $re an sim$le, o" the science o" interstellar "light, an coln9t ha&e beene&elo$e in any other #ay% We think #hen the creatre "eels the"irst e""ects o" the anti)acceleration.yo all remember the ca&e)in "eeling yo ha the "irstmonth.it #on9t kno# #hat to think or o%:

86orita ne/t%:8 can only o""er yo encoragement,: sai the archeologist, 8on the basis o" my theory that the

monster has all the characteristics o" a criminal o" the early ages o" any ci&ili+ation, com$licate


16/18

by an a$$arent re&ersion to $rimiti&eness% The sggestion has been mae by 1mith that hiskno#lege o" science is $++linNg0 an col only mean that #e are ealing #ith an actalinhabitant, n0 a escenant o" the inhabitants o" the ea city #e &isite% This #oW0 ascribe a&irtal immortality to or enemy, a $ossibility #hich is home ot by his ability to breathe botho/ygen an chlorine)or neither.bt e&en that makes no i""erence% -e comes "rom a certain agein his ci&ili+ation3 an he has snk so lo# that his ieas are mostly memories o" that age%

8n s$ite o" all the $o#ers o" his boy, he lost his hea in the ele&ator the "irst morning, ntil heremembere% -e $lace himsel" in sch a $osition that he #as "orce to re&eal his s$ecial $o#ersagainst &ibrations% -e bngle the mass mrers a "e# hors ago% n "act, his #hole recor is one

o" the io# cnning o" the $rimiti&e, egotistical min #hich has little or no conce$tion o" the &astorgani+ation #ith #hich it is con"ronte%8-e is like the ancient 5erman solier #ho "elt s$erior to the elerly Roman scholar, yet the

latter #as $art o" a mighty ci&ili+ation o" #hich the 5ermans o" that ay stoo in a#e%82otli may sggest that the sack o" Rome by the 5ermans in later years e"eats my argment3

ho#e&er, moern historians agree that the =sack9 #as an historical accient, an not history in thetre sense o" the #or% The mo&ement o" the =1ea)$eo$les9 #hich set in against the Egy$tianci&ili+ation "rom 1400 '% C% scceee only as regars the Cretan islan)realm.their mightye/$eitions against the Libyan an Phoenician coasts, #ith the accom$animent o" &iking "leets,"aile as those o" the -ns "aile against the Chinese Em$ire% Rome #ol ha&e been abanonein any e&ent% Ancient, glorios 1amarra #as esolate by the tenth centry3 Patali$tra, Asoka9sgreat ca$ital, #as an immense an com$letely ninhabite #aste o" hoses #hen the Chinesetra&eler -sinan)tang &isite it abot A% D% G%

8We ha&e, then, a $rimiti&e, an that $rimiti&e is no# "ar ot in s$ace, com$letely otsie o" his

natral habitat% say, let9s go in an #in%:One o" the men grmble, as 6orita "inishe7 82o can talk abot the sack o" Rome being an

accient, an abot this "ello# being a $rimiti&e, bt the "acts are "acts% t looks to me as i" Romeis abot to "all again3 an it #on9t be no $rimiti&e that i it, either% This gy9s got $lenty o" #hatit takes%:

4orton smile grimly at the man, a member o" the cre#% 8We9ll see abot that.right no#!:

n the bla+ing brilliance o" the gigantic machine sho$, Coerl sla&e% The "orty)"oot, cigar)sha$e s$aceshi$ #as nearly "inishe% With a grnt o" e""ort, he com$lete the laboriosinstallation o" the ri&e engines, an $ase to sr&ey his cra"t%

ts interior, &isible throgh the one a$ertre in the oter #all, #as $iti"lly small% There #asliterally room "or nothing bt the engines.an a narro# s$ace "or himsel"%

-e $lnge "rantically back to #ork as he hear the a$$roach o" the men, an the senchange in the tem$est)like thner o" the engines.a rhythmical o"")an)on hm, shriller in tone,shar$er, more ner&e)racking than the ee$)throate, steay throb that ha $recee it% 1enly,there #ere the atomic isintegrators again at the massi&e oter oors%

-e "oght them o"", bt ne&er #a&ere "rom his task% E&ery mighty mscle o" his $o#er"lboy straine as he carrie great loas o" tools, machines an instrments, an m$e them intothe bottom o" his makeshi"t shi$% There #as no time to "it anything into $lace, no time "or anything.no time.no time%

The thoght $one at his reason% -e "elt strangely #eary "or the "irst time in his long an&igoros e/istence% With a last, tortre hea&e, he (erke the gigantic sheet o" metal into thega$ing a$ertre o" the shi$.an stoo there "or a terrible minte, balancing it $recariosly%

-e kne# the oors #ere going o#n% -al" a o+en isintegators concentrating on one $oint#ere irresistibly, thogh slo#ly, eating a#ay the remaining inches% With a gas$, he release hismin "rom the oors an concentrate e&ery once o" his min on the yar)thick oter #all,to#ar #hich the blnt nose o" his shi$ #as $ointing%

-is boy cringe "rom the srging $o#er that "lo#e "rom the electric ynamo throgh his eartenrils into that resisting #all% The #hole insie o" him "elt on "ire, an he kne# that he #as


17/18

angerosly close to carrying his ltimate loa%An still he stoo there, shering #ith the a#"l $ain, holing the n"astene metal $late

#ith har)clenche tentacles% -is massi&e hea $ointe as in rea "ascination at that bitterly har#all%

-e hear one o" the engine)room oors crash in#ar% 4en shote3 isintegrators rolle"or#ar, their raging $o#er nchecke% Coerl hear the "loor o" the engine room hiss in $rotest,as those beams o" atomic energy tore e&erything in their $ath to bits% @h0 machines rolle closer3catios "ootste$s sone )behin)))thth0% n a minte they #ol be at the "limsy oorsse$arating the engine room "rom the machine sho$%

1enly, Coerl #as satis"ie% With a snarl o" hate, a &inicti&e glo# o" "eral eyes, he ckeinto his little cra"t, an $lle the metal $late o#n into $lace as i" it #as a hatch#ay%-is ear tenrils hmme, as he so"tene the eges o" the srron% ing metal% n an instant, the

$late #as more than #ele.it #as $art o" his shi$, a seamless, ri&etless $art o" a #hole that #assoli o$a*e metal e/ce$t "or t#o trans$arent areas, one in the "ront, one in the rear%

-is tentacle embrace the $o#er ri&e #ith almost sensos tenerness% There #as a "or#arsrge o" his, "ragile machine, straight at the great oter #all o" the machine sho$s% The nose o" the"orty)"oot cra"t toche.an the #all issol&e in a glittering sho#er o" st%

Coerl "elt the barest retaring mo&ement3 an then he kicke the nose o" the machine ot intothe col o" s$ace, t#iste it abot, an heae back in the irection "rom #hich the big shi$ habeen coming all these hors%

4en in s$ace armor stoo in the (agge hole that ya#ne in the lo#er reaches o" the giganticglobe% The men an the great shi$ gre# smaller% Then the men #ere gone3 an there #as only theshi$ #ith its bla+e o" a thosan blrring $ortholes% The ball shrank increibly, too small no# "or

ini&ial $ortholes to be &isible%Almost straight ahea, Coerl sa# a tiny, im, =reish ball.his o#n sn, he reali+e% -e

heae to#ar it at "ll s$ee% There #ere ca&es #here he col hie an #ith other coerls bilsecretly a s$aceshi$ in #hich they col reach other $lanets sa"ely.no# that he kne# ho#%

-is boy ache "rom the agony o" acceleration, yet he are not let $ "or a single instant% -eglance back, hal" in terror% The globe #as still there, a tiny ot o" light in the immense blacknesso" s$ace% 1enly it t#inkle an #as gone%

?or a brie" moment, he ha the em$ty, "rightene im$ression that (st be"ore it isa$$eare, itmo&e% 't he col see nothing% -e col not, esca$e the belie" that they ha sht o"" all theirlights, an #ere sneaking $ on him in the arkness% Worrie an ncertain, he looke throgh the"or#ar trans$arent $late%

A tremor o" ismay shot throgh him% The im re sn to#ar #hich he #as heaing #as not

gro#ing larger% t wasbecomingsmallerby the instant, an it gre# &isibly tinier ring the ne/t"i&e mintes, became a $ale)re ot in the sky.an &anishe like the shi$%

?ear came then, a blining srge o" it, that s#e$t throgh his being an le"t him chille #ith thesense o" the nkno#n% ?or mintes, he stare "rantically into the s$ace ahea, searching "or somelanmark% 't only the remote stars glimmere there, n#inking $oints against a &el&etbackgron o" n"athomable istance%

Wait! One o" the $oints #as gro#ing larger% With e&ery mscle an ner&e tense, Coerl#atche the $oint becoming a ot, a ron9 ball o" light.re light% 'igger, bigger, it gre#%1enly, the re light shimmere an trne #hite.an there, be"ore him, #as the great globe o"the s$aceshi$, lights glaring "rom e&ery $orthole, the &ery shi$ #hich a "e# mintes be"ore he ha#atche &anish behin him%

1omething ha$$ene to Coerl in that moment% -is brain #as s$inning like a "ly#heel, "aster,"aster, more incoherently% 1enly, the #heel "le# a$art into a million aching "ragments% -is eyesalmost starte "rom their sockets as, like a maene animal, he rage in his small *arters%

-is tentacles cltche at $recios instrments an "lng them insensately3 his $a#s smashe in"ry at the &ery #alls o" his shi$% ?inally, in a brie" "lash o" sanity, he kne# that he coln9t "acethe ine&itable "ire o" atomic isintegrators%


18/18

t #as a sim$le thing to create the &iolent isorgani+ation that "ree e&ery ro$ o" i "rom his&ital organs%

They "on him lying ea in a little $ool o" $hos$hors%8Poor $ssy,: sai 4orton% 8 #oner #hat he thoght #hen he sa# s a$$ear ahea o" him,

a"ter his o#n sn isa$$eare% 6no#ing nothing o" anti)accelerators, he coln9t kno# that #ecol sto$ short in s$ace, #hereas it #ol take him more than three hors to ecelerate3 an inthe meantime he9 be ra#ing "arther an "arther a#ay "rom #here he #ante to go% -e coln9tkno# that by sto$$ing, #e "lashe $ast him at millions o" miles a secon% O" corse, he, in9tha&e a chance once he le"t or shi$% The #hole #orl mst ha&e seeme to$sy)tr&y%:

8Ne&er min the sym$athy,: he hear 6ent say behin him% 8We9&e got a (ob.to kill e&ery catin that miserable #orl%:6orita mrmre so"tly7 8That shol be simii$M0 They are bt $rimiti&es3 an #e ha&e

merely to sit o#n, an the09#i@sorne to s, cnningly e/$ecting to ele s%:1mith sna$$e7 82o "ello#s make me sick! Pssy #as the toghest nt #e e&er ha to crack%

-e ha e&erything he neee to e"eat s.:4orton smile as 6orita interr$te blanly7 8E/actly, my ear 1mith, e/ce$t that he reacte

accoring to the biological im$lses o" his ty$e% -is e"eat #as alreay "oreshao#e #hen #enerringly analy+e him as a criminal "rom a certain era o" his ci&ili+ation%

8t #as history, honorable 4r% 1mith, or kno#lege o" history that e"eate him,: sai the@a$anese archeologist, re&erting to the ancient $oliteness o" his race%

ae van vogt - black destroyer

Documents